How We Visited 7 National Parks in 2 Weeks

 

Written by Carol Carimi Acutt

We have camped extensively over the years visiting state and national parks along the way. Our national park trips stand out as some of our favorites. They truly are special places that we love to spend time exploring, relaxing and cooking around the campfire. They are filled with joyful moments shared with our kids and friends over the years. The 400 parks throughout the country are truly national treasures that every American should see at least a few in their lifetime. 

Since time is always a challenge, one year, we were able to cram in seven parks in about two weeks. And what an amazing experience it was!  We even hit some beautiful state parks on the way, but that’s for another blog. 

If you start in Las Vegas, NV and make a round trip, you can see six national parks and one national monument in about two weeks, driving included. First, you must prepare for this epic journey.  

1. Make campsite reservations 6 to 13 months in advance for each park. Do your best to camp inside the park for the full immersive experience. 

2. Pack the essentials to make life sweet while you’re on the road. Never leave your driveway without an outdoor tablecloth for lovely outdoor dining at your campsite, reusable and leak-proof stainless steel tumblers for each family member, and lightweight camping chairs and tables.

3. Most importantly, bring bikes! There’s nothing like riding a bike in a national park, you get to cover a lot of territory in a leisurely manner while picnicking along the way. If you're bringing your dog or kids, a bike trailer is essential!

4. Download the RVLife Pro app so you can map out the best route for your rig. Bonus: if you use this link, you get 25% off the first year!

5. Plan out your meals for the duration of the trip (or at least dinners and shoot from the hip for breakfast and lunch)

6. If you’re bringing your dog, don’t forget the long light-up leash for the campgrounds.

7. Encourage friends to meet you along the way. 

START: Las Vegas, NV to Zion

PARK #1: Zion National Park 

Recommended nights in Zion: 3 nights, 3 full days

If you are flying into Vegas and renting an RV, this is the place to begin your trip.  From Vegas, drive to Zion National Park, which is about a 2.5 to 3 hour drive.  You can stay at the Watchman Campground right inside of Zion and there are also RV parks right outside of the entrance which are just as nice. We stayed at the Zion Canyon Campground along the river.  Be sure to bring rafts and your camping chairs to hang out for a day near your campsite on the river.  

Zion doesn’t allow cars inside most areas of the park, but they offer a shuttle service that stops at all of the hiking spots.  Be prepared with lunch and snacks packed along with towels, sunblock, and water. There are water refilling stations at each shuttle stop. 

In Zion, some favorite hikes are the Zion Narrows, Angels Landing and Emerald Pools.  The Narrows can take all day, so keep that in mind.  The little town of Springfield, UT also has cute restaurants and shops to visit after your day at the park.  

PARK #2: Bryce Canyon National Park

Recommended nights in Bryce Canyon: 1 night, 1.5 days

Bryce is about an hour and 45 minutes from Zion. It has stunning views of the hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations that will take your breath away.  If you only have a few hours, head to Sunset Point to catch a park ranger rim trail tour and hike the easy but gorgeous Navajo Loop Trail. 

PARK #3:  Capitol Reef National Park

Recommended nights in Capitol Reef: 1 night, 1.5 days 

In the late afternoon, head to Capitol Reef National Park, which is about 2 hours from Bryce.  This is a gorgeous canyon and a real treat to see it at sunset.   Stay at Fruita Campground, a charming campground that actually has fruit orchards (yes, fruit orchards!) and a shop that sells delicious homemade pies. We made the mistake the first morning of arriving to the late morning and barely got the last pie! Get there early! There are picnic tables near the shop where you can enjoy eating your pie. You are also allowed to pick fruit from the orchard to eat. This is absolutely a wonderful experience. 

Head out the next day and hike on a trail on your way out. There are a few along the road that are great, like the Hickman Bridge trail off of Route 24.   

PARK #4:  Arches National Park

Recommended nights in Arches: 2 nights, 1.5 days 

Arches National Park is 2 hours and 15 minutes from Capitol Reef.  Once you arrive that evening, settle in and use the next day to explore. This park can be very hot in the summer, so bring hats, lots of water,  sunscreen and rest in the shade as often as possible.  The arches truly are a sight to behold and worth every bead of sweat.  Some of the most well-known hikes are Delicate Arch Trail, Fiery Furnace, Balanced Rock and The Windows.

PARK # 5: Canyonlands National Park

Recommended nights: Day trip from Arches campground (or spend an extra night in Needles or Island of the Sky districts) 

After spending your second night in Arches, head to Canyonlands on your way out, which is a 45 minute drive from Arches.  If you plan to be at Canyonlands for only a day, head to the Island in the Sky district to hike Mesa Arch or Grand View Point for shorter, easier hikes. If you prefer to get off the beaten path, The Needles are an incredible maze of hoodoos and you might even spot Anasazi Indian petroglyphs.This might add a day or two to your trip.

PARK/MONUMENT #6: Monument Valley 

Recommended nights: 1 night, 1 day

Canyonlands to Monument Valley is a 3 hour stellar drive.  Once you arrive to Oljato Monument Valley, enjoy the views the Goulding campground has to offer. It’s usually on the quieter side and a nice place to take a break from exploring. Make some good food, watch the sunset and enjoy the stars. The view is fabulous.

PARK #7: Grand Canyon National Park South Rim

Recommended nights: 3 nights, 4 days  

The Grand Canyon National Park is about 3+ hours from Monument Valley. Check the RVLife Pro app to get an accurate timeline when planning your trip. The Grand Canyon is a busy place, so be prepared to see lots of people and have patience. If you are lucky enough to get a campground inside of the park, we like Trailer Village RV Park. Reservations are accepted up to 13 months in advance, so plan ahead!   If you're lucky, you might have some elk visit your campsite. It's also only a 10 minute bike ride to Grand Canyon Village. 

 Biking along The Rim is wonderful, just be sure to pack a lunch and water.  If you prefer to walk around The Rim, consider scheduling a tour with a park ranger to hear about the interesting history of the Grand Canyon while enjoying breathtaking views. You can also take a shuttle bus to the other sites. The Grand Canyon Village also has a few museums, shops and restaurants if you need to get out of the elements or want a rest.

After making your way to some of the amazing views at Mather Point, Yavapai Point, Yaki Point or Ooh Aah Point, hop on the Grand Canyon Shuttle to catch Powell Point at sunset. This may be one of the best sunsets of your life and a great photo opportunity for those holiday cards.  

Lastly, the Grand Canyon is also known for phenomenal star gazing experiences. Don’t miss the constellation talks offered by the rangers in the evening, these are absolutely fantastic and not to be missed. Or, travel to Mather Point, Moran Point or Lipan Point to do your own star gazing. The Grand Canyon has been named one of the International Dark Sky Parks for a good reason. We find using a constellation app makes the experience even more fun.

Now that your epic adventure has come to a close, enjoy the drive back home. We have a feeling it’s highly likely that you’ll be planning the next national park trip while traveling back home on the open road.

Happy Camping!