One Week Southwest Road Trip Inspiration and Trip Planner

The American Southwest is a diverse cultural, historical and natural region that highlights some of the best the United States has to offer. Because of its vast geographical boundaries, a road trip to the region is most ideal for a focused visit. Additionally, if you are limited to one week, planning is key for an optimal road trip experience.

Natural beauty abounds in the Southwest. The whole region is spotted with some of America’s most important geological land forms within a dense population of national parks. With the epic Grand Canyon in Arizona; the sauntering Rio Grande, which flows from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico; the snow-capped peaks of the southern Rocky Mountains in Colorado; and various unique desert landscapes like the dynamic dunes in White Sands, New Mexico, there are more than enough natural attractions to fill a week-long road trip.

Serving up a history lesson on settlers of the region, the Southwest’s cuisine is a gastronomical fusion of Spanish, Mexican and Native American influences. Generally, the cuisine within each state is unique, such as New Mexico’s black bean preference over Texas’ fondness for the refried variety; however, chilies and heat level bring culinary pride to foodies of the region. Each state has its own variation of salsa, and its own adaptation to classic dishes such as burritos and mole which beg to be sampled. If Southwestern cuisine whets your appetite, consider a culinary discovery road trip of the region's specialties.

Ghost towns of the American Southwest appeal to the eccentric and adventurous traveler. Undeniably, there is something eerie and thrilling about exploring an abandoned town, and the Southwest is chock-full of them. For a historic approach, consider Berlin, Nevada, an abandoned mining town which has been preserved as a historic landmark and provides visitors information for self-guided tours. Chloride, New Mexico, was once a thriving refuge for workers of the local mine, but now hosts the remains of a town, complete with a saloon, jailhouse and hanging tree.

The Southwest’s vast history of settlement, dating back 9,000 years, and multiple eras of colonialism foreshadow its current environment. The region not only hosted some of America’s most significant wars and historical accolades, it also provided a fertile ground for cultural melding that paved the way for the region’s present culture. Explore Native American history through prehistoric landmarks such as the Anasazi cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado or the prolific cave paintings at Petroglyph National Park in New Mexico; investigate the region's colonial history by visiting settlement sites such as Arizona's San Xavier Del Bac mission church, which exemplifies Spanish and religious conquest of the American Southwest.