8 Day Southwest States Road Trip with Kids

The Southwest is a special part of the United States that is full of natural wonders. Since many of the top destinations in this area aren’t close to an airport (or even to each other for that matter), we decided that the best way for our family to explore would be to take a road trip.  If you’re planning a road trip through Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado with the kids, here are some of the top spots to visit.

We visited these three Southwestern US states road-trip style with our two teen boys, and this is our 8-day itinerary and the places we stopped along the way. This 8-day American Southwest road trip itinerary guides you through the best way to see some of the highlights of the United States Southwest.

If you like road trips, make sure to check out these other road trip itineraries: 9 Day Western States Road Trip with Kids and 8 Day California Road Trip with Kids. 

Southwest States Attractions Map

An interactive map to all the best things to do on a Southwest States road trip with kids

Click for the interactive map here.

8 Day Road Trip Through Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado

Day 1 - Travel to Las Vegas, NV

Arrive in Harry Reid International Airport and rent a car. (To make the most of travel day one, plan to arrive early in Las Vegas, so that you still have at least a half day left to explore.)

Head to your hotel to drop off your luggage and then explore the hotels on the strip! In this case, splurging to stay in a hotel on the strip is part of the fun - you'll be right in the middle of the action! Fun hotels to explore include the Bellagio (Chihuly sculptures and gardens in the lobby and a fountain outside), New York New York (the kids will love the roller coaster inside), Linq Hotel (high roller), Venetian (gondola rides), and The Flamingo (flamingo habitat).

Set aside time to eat lunch, snacks, and dinner at special restaurants - you're in Vegas! These are CrazyShakes from Black Tap restaurant in the Venetian.

Visit the Neon Museum to take a tour as night falls. This attraction is not to be missed - the guided tour provides a lot of history on Las Vegas and you get to see many neon signs from former hotels and restaurants.

Day 2 - Las Vegas, NV

Wake up early and go get a photo at the Welcome to Las Vegas Sign (it will be easier to get a photo early on day 2 versus trying to do it as soon as you arrive on day 1). Park in the parking lot adjacent to the sign, and if Elvis is there, tip him a small amount to take your photo. You'll be surprised at the great photos you'll get.

Explore any hotels that you didn't get a chance to visit on day 1.

Take advantage of the great food again today for lunch, snacks, and dinner! These macaron cupcakes are from Sweet Sin bakery in the Linq Promenade.

Go see a kid-friendly show. We chose to see Piff the Magic Dragon with the amazing Mr. Piffles (a long-haired Chihuahua). This show is a combination magic and comedy show, and I would say is THE PERFECT SHOW for families with teenagers - he was hilarious. 10 out of 10 stars - would recommend!

Enjoy the bright lights of Las Vegas on your walk back to your hotel from the show.

Day 3 - Hoover Dam, NV (and AZ)

Depart for Hoover Dam and plan to arrive when they open. This will ensure that you are in one of the first tour groups and you have time for driving the second half of the day.

We took the Guided Hoover Dam tour and those tickets are only available for purchase on-site the day of your visit. The tour lasted about 3 hours, and we ate lunch at the café there before heading to our next destination - The Grand Canyon.

We arrived at the Grand Canyon with time still left in the day, spotting a herd of bison on our way into the park. We ate dinner near our lodge and were able to explore several scenic overlooks that evening.

Day 4 - Grand Canyon, AZ

Wake up early and explore on your own. Check in for any activities that you have planned. We had tickets for mule rides around the rim of the Grand Canyon and they departed at 8:30AM.

After planned activities, stop at any final overlooks as you make your way out of the Grand Canyon on the way to the next destination - Four Corners.

Four Corners is the only place in the United States where four states meet in one place: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. Stop at Four Corners for a photo op before continuing on your journey to your final destination of the day - your hotel near Mesa Verde. For a small donation to the Navajo Nation, you can see this roadside attraction. It's also a nice place to stretch your legs. 

Day 5 - Mesa Verde, CO

Wake up and head out to Mesa Verde National Park. You'll want to devote at least half your day to exploring this park and the Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites contained in it. If your kids love history, then this stop is a must-see on your Southwest road trip.

Stop for lunch in one of the cafes in the park before heading on to Colorado Springs.

Day 6 - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs has lots of fun things to do with kids. Start today early by heading to Garden of the Gods Park, a registered national landmark. Choose several different hiking trails and explore the park's red rock formations, plants, and even animals. (We saw a deer!) Plan to spend at least half the day here.

Later in the day, head over to Cave of the Winds for a guided cave tour. We took the Discovery Tour, which lasted 45 minutes. There are other attractions at Cave of the Winds, but they are much more "touristy" in nature. If you have a kiddo in your group who usually loves natural history or natural science museums and is fascinated with rocks, minerals, and the natural world, the guided cave tour will be, by far, the best part of this park and a must-see attraction for your group.

Day 7 - Colorado Springs, CO

Head over to the Pikes Peak Depot to board the Cog Railway - you're going to ride a train all the way to the top of the mountain! Pikes Peak is the most visited summit in North America, and while you can also drive to the top, this is a particularly special way to get to the top if you have kids who like trains in your group. Remember to bring extra-warm layers of clothing with you for your visit since the top of Pikes Peak is COLD (even in the summer time when we visited)!

Explore the top of Pikes Peak, including the Visitors' Center and the new exhibits there, and then get ready for your descent down the mountain. The total trip time for the train ride was about 3 hours.

After visiting Pikes Peak, head to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, where you can see (and if you choose, walk across) one of the world's highest suspension bridges, which is built over Royal Gorge Canyon. If you can muster up the courage to walk across, they feature a short Birds of Prey show every hour on the hour on the far side of the bridge. Animal lovers in your group will enjoy this show.

Once you wrap up here, head to your hotel in downtown Denver.

Day 8 - Denver, CO

Start out the day with a quick walking tour of downtown Denver. Fun stops include the Big Blue Bear (outside the Colorado Convention Center) and the one mile above sea level marker (on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol Building).

Head out to take a tour of a candy factory. Kids in your group will enjoy seeing how candy is made close up. We visited Hammond's Candy Factory for a free tour. Of course, this tour is adjacent to Hammond's flagship store in Denver, so we made sure to do a little shopping as well!

Travel to Union Station, a 100-year-old historic landmark. Formerly a train station, it has been converted to shops and restaurants in downtown Denver, the perfect stop for lunch time! We visited on a Saturday, and they also had a Farmers' Market there that day.

After lunch, spend the rest of the day at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. This museum is huge and was such a fun find for our vacation! We were really impressed with the exhibits, including a special Egyptian exhibit that was there while we visited. If you have kids who love natural science in your group, then you definitely need to stop here and make sure you devote enough time to the three floors of exhibits!

Day 9 - Travel Home

Fly out of Denver International Airport. 

Note: If you truly want to do this Southwest itinerary in 8 days, you could easily fly out on the evening of Day 8. We just opted to fly out the morning of Day 9 because we live all the way across the country (so it takes quite a bit of flying to get back home).

Planning Your Own Southwest States Road Trip with Kids

And that marks the end of our 8 Day Southwest States Itinerary through Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado! If you are planning a trip to America’s Southwest, make sure to add these states to the top of your list. The natural beauty, national historic sites, and fun adventures certainly make the trip a worthwhile one.

As you’re putting together your own itinerary for a road trip through Southwest states with kids, I hope our experience helps you with your planning.

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