Why Arizona was my favorite USA road trip

I haven’t had the chance to take a road trip across the United States (starting from New York), but I have managed to drive through much of Arizona.

I’ll tell you this – out of all my travels, the topography in Arizona is arguably the most unique in the United States.

The endless red hues, the random tumbleweeds, and the rock formations hardened by years of weathering are sights to see. The American West has plenty of national parks, landscapes, and beauty, but Arizona is a place that will stick with you when you go for the first time.

Desertland has its own unique character; I never expected to be so intrigued on the drive. It feels like you’ve left Earth on those barren backroads, and you realize your hometown is not “the middle of nowhere” after all.

If you get the chance, I highly recommend taking an Arizona road-trip. Here’s everything I did and saw during my own road trip:

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A quick stop in Las Vegas (one night was enough for me).

People partying in Las Vegas at night — *One night is more than enough*

So, I’ll make a very quick note that we started the road trip in Las Vegas. Well, I flew into the Las Vegas International Airport and rented a car from the airport.

My friends and I thought, “Why not spend one night in Vegas and see what the hype is all about?”

One night was more than enough for me. Sorry to any gamblers or Vegas enthusiasts, but the chain restaurants, overpriced drinks, and scores of drunk people stumbling across the Las Vegas Strip at all hours wasn’t my cup of tea. I know there’s more to do in Vegas, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

I’ll give it the credit it’s due, though, and it’s your quintessential bachelor/bachelorette stop for some solid fun. Hey, Kaskade was performing at the Marquee, so I guess my $40 drink was worth it.

The Hoover Dam is a must-see stop – but be mindful of the heat!

An infrastructure over The Hoover Dam — *The second biggest dam in The United States*

The Hoover Dam is an incredibly cool place. We had to do a quick stop and check it out since it’s only about a forty-minute drive from Las Vegas.

The history is nothing short of astounding, especially when you see it. The Dam is a National Historic Landmark built during the Great Depression in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. [Source]

I can’t imagine how anyone could build that in such suffocating weather. Coming from the Northeast, I was not ready for the dry, desert heat. (Seriously, drink a ton of water!)

The infrastructure of the Dam is fascinating, and it’s huge in person. Depending on the time of year you go, it’s a bucket list stop. We could only handle walking around for about twenty minutes because the heat was intense in early September.

Speaking of, maybe the best time for an Arizona trip is in the winter when the temperatures come down!

The Southwest’s terrain is unique at every turn

View of the white rocks from the car driving along the road — *White rocks on the way to Arizona from Nevada*

The signage of Arizona along the road — *Entering Arizona and surrounded by red rocks and mountains*

Once we couldn’t bear the heat any longer, we exited The Hoover Dam and continued on our way.

We took a quick drive through Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, a beautifully scenic drive that piqued my interest in the Southwest’s unique terrain. The rocky formations as tall as mountains vary in color from white to deep reds.

The desert cliffs are vast, and you feel surrounded. This was an odd sensation because I’ve taken many road trips in the Northeast and never felt the kind of “road loneliness” that I felt driving through the Southwest.

The endless rock mountains and lack of vegetation gave “the middle of nowhere” a new meaning. You’re driving for what seems like an eternity, and suddenly, you come across an eye-catching desert canyon with patches of greenery and the sun shining in all the right places.

Horseshoe Bend is both terrifying and beautiful

View of the feet on the edge overlooking the Horseshoe Bend at sunset — *Getting this close to the edge was scary – but the views are worth it*

Horseshoe Bend is located in the small town of Page, Arizona, and it was my favorite place we stopped on our trip. I suppose this would be a “tourist trap,” but because of the vastness of the terrain, you never feel overrun by people on Arizona’s backroads.

Introverts, this trip is for you.

What’s interesting about the location is that the town of Page is a small and close-knit community. You will get a local feel, and the warmth is there from the hospitable people. This is a great town to see in Arizona if you plan on visiting the state. Not at all the kind of “touristy” you would expect.

The landmark meander of the Colorado River is a famous spectacle in Glen Canyon Park. Going there, you appreciate what mother nature can produce.

I will warn you that walking around the rugged ground is hard because it’s uneven. We managed to get some good photos. But with no barricades at the edges, walking around Horseshoe Bend takes a bit of courage.

Now might be a good time to mention that hiking the red rocks can be dangerous!

A group of friends hiking at the Red Rocks — *The grooves in the rocks make it easy to fall*

Two hikers helping each other at the Red Rocks — *We had to help each other to climb – way harder than it looks*

Hiking in Arizona requires additional safety precautions. Here are 3 things to remember:

Wear sneakers or hiking boots
Don’t go alone
Bring TONS of water

A spontaneous swim in the Colorado River

View of the Colorado River at the bottom of the Red Rocks — *We pulled over to go for a swim in shallow water – great break from the desert heat*

We pulled over at a rest stop, and to our surprise, we stumbled on a shallow part of the Colorado River.

With only a few fishermen and maybe five other tourists, it was a great chance to cool off and enjoy the fresh water. Having the place to ourselves was a highlight of the road trip!

Sadly, I can’t remember the exact location of where we pulled over. But Travel Lemming Writer and Arizona local, Betty, wrote this awesome list of lakes in Arizona.

Learning about the land and Native culture through canyon tours with Native American locals

The author Niamh Hayes walking along the narrow pathway in Lower Antelope Canyon — *Lower Antelope Canyon*

A woman taking a photo in the Lower Antelope Canyon — *Fun Fact: The inside stays cool while outside it was 110 degrees Fahrenheit*

The West shares a rich history with the native populations who have inhabited the land for generations.

You feel the dedication to keeping historical archives of the Native American communities alive, and you come to appreciate their culture from a first-person point of view.

What’s unique about Arizona is that the state honors tribal laws in addition to local and federal laws. Laws are enforced by the neighboring Native populations in their respective territories. [Source]

I didn’t know this before my trip! It was a nice surprise to learn about their history alongside sightseeing.

We booked a tour of both Upper & Antelope Canyons with the Navajo Tribe, who were incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the land. I don’t think you could visit Arizona without walking through the canyons.

From the inside, every inch of the canyon’s interior is uniquely shaped and looks like a sculpture. The sunlight peers through the top, and you have a medley of red colors beaming from the sunlight. The formations developed from millions of years of wind and water.

This is the only place in the United States to appreciate such incredible desert structures. Arizona’s canyons are in a league of their own. Having a tour with the local Navajo tribe makes it even more interesting – a 10/10 experience!

We pulled over as much as possible to watch the sunset

Scenic sunset views over the cacti — *Desert sunsets are superb*

This was the best part of driving in the evening: the sunsets.

As soon as the sun had begun to dip, the desert felt like a perfect backdrop for a Denis Villeneuve film. The sky’s scattered light against the red rocks give a color enhancement to everything the light touches.

Arizona sunsets can do no wrong if you’re looking for a romantic setting.

You’re in the desert, though, so be prepared for temperatures to drop at night. Bring a few extra blankets if you plan on parking out in the Wild West to enjoy the evening.

We ended up packing some wine and snacks to enjoy the sunset on one of our final nights. I assure you, the memories will be unmatched.

Plant life in the Southwest is unlike anywhere else in the United States

The small cacti in the Desert Botanical Garden — *Photo taken at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ*

View of the different species of cacti on the ground — *Hundreds of species of cacti*

If you’re visiting Phoenix, put the Desert Botanical Garden at the top of your list for one of the best things to do.

I’ve visited botanical gardens across the country, and I’m always fascinated by the local plant life of an area. Each garden is unique, and you get a renewed appreciation for nature.

The Desert Botanical Garden is far more positively unusual. With so many cactus species and desert plants, the gardens look different than your typical tulips and roses. Did you know cacti can be pretty? I didn’t.

You can see wildlife and plant species scattered throughout Arizona, but they’re few and far between due to the heat. The botanical garden was beautiful and curated to perfection. Also, it’s a lot bigger than you would think! The desert is very much alive and well.

Quick note on water depletion in the American Southwest

The author Niamh Hayes enjoying the overlooking view of Lake Powell — *The Colorado River supplies much of Arizona’s water* (*Photo: Me at Lake Powell*)

While the West is breathtaking, and my experience was positive, I couldn’t write this article without bringing attention to a looming water crisis.

As heat and drought worsen, you can see depleted water reserves throughout Arizona.

We stopped by Lake Powell, a human-made reservoir located on the Colorado River bordering Utah and Arizona. We noticed the shallow water quite quickly, and a local Arizonian told us the levels have been dropping for decades.

On the plus side, a thriving ecosystem with vegetation has emerged as water levels dropped. [Source] Maybe some good comes with the bad? One can only hope. A ton of vegetation and animal life would make the backdrop even more beautiful than it already is.

No need to travel to Mars when we have Arizona at home

View of the red rocks from the road — *Daytime drive: Breathtaking. Nighttime drive: Terrifying*

I don’t understand why Elon Musk is so concerned with colonizing Mars. I mean, Arizona is Mars, but with oxygen.

The Grand Canyon State was a fantastic road trip. With its terrain and topography, you can’t find anything like it in the Western Hemisphere. After my trip concluded, I suddenly understood the American fascination with Western movies and cowboys.

As long as you’re mindful of the heat, you can’t go wrong with a road trip with some good friends; the memories will be unforgettable.

Just make sure you fill up your gas tank every chance you get. Those barren roads can stretch for miles, and you don’t want to get stuck out there in the wild!