Travel Guide: From Central Texas to Utah
Going on a road trip is tiring, grueling, yet very exciting. Just like everything in life, there are good ideas and bad ideas. For example, driving 24 hours straight from Utah back to Central Texas probably isn’t the best idea (speaking from experience). It’s very important to plan ahead and have an itinerary. However, definitely leave room for some spontaneity!
My friends and I drove from Temple, Texas, to the White Sands National Monument, the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Four Corners National Monument over Spring Break in 2017. We camped at two national parks—and while it was insane checking each of these places off our list in such a short period of time—I highly recommend it! Here are all of the spots we hit:
Roswell, New Mexico
The land of aliens! This is certainly a unique town to visit, even if you just have a chance to drive through it. There are UFO and alien museums, gifts, and models all over this town. While it is a touristy destination, everyone should see a giant green alien at least once in their lifetime!
White Sands National Monument
Sand, sun, and fun. That's what you'll find at White Sands National Monument. Make sure to stop by the Visitor Center before you drive through the monument. You can buy a plastic sled for $10 and sled off of the dunes! Don't forget to get some wax, too. Sledding on the sand is a lot of fun. Admission into the area is $5 per person. You can easily spend hours roaming the interesting terrain and playing in the sand.
Grand Canyon National Park
What can I say about the Grand Canyon other than pictures don't do it justice? This trip was my second time visiting this amazing place and it still took my breath away the moment I saw it again. I highly recommend catching the sunset at the Desert View Watchtower. It has a (grand) landscape view of the canyon along with an old tower and park rangers that can tell you cool things.
If you plan to camp at the Grand Canyon, the Mather Campground at the South Rim is clean, well-kept, and beautiful. Each tent campsite has a fire pit and picnic table. If hiking is on your list, I recommend the South Kaibab Trail. Take this trail to the "Ooh Aah" point and back for a nice 2-3 hour round trip. Want a more grueling hike? HIKE THE BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL. I did this trail with some friends on my first trip to the GC. We made it to the bottom of the canyon in a few hours, which was an incredible experience. Just remember, "going down is optional, going up is required." Whether you're hiking a short trail or all the way down to camp at Phantom Ranch, do some training beforehand and be prepared to work for it. Pack snacks and listen to your body; the elevation, weather, and other variables could affect you in ways you didn't expect.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a beautiful place. We hiked the Hidden Canyon trail. This was a 1,000 foot drop (on one side) and it was awesome! Once you reach a certain point, you can climb through some nature to find a slot canyon. The hike was challenging and icy in March, so I recommend wearing hiking boots and bringing lots of water and snacks.
Bryce Canyon National Park
I bet you don't know what a hoodoo is. Well, go to Bryce Canyon and you will see hundreds of tall rock formations called "hoodoos." We just walked the rim of this sunset trail, but it was a wonderful view with hoodoos for miles. I would love to go back and hike down into these canyons. Maybe next year!
Four Corners National Monument
It's pretty cool to say you have been in Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado at the same time. Four Corners National Monument is a big tourist spot, but it's okay to indulge every once in a while! Admission is $5 a person. It's totally worth it to take a picture standing in each state.
These are some of my favorite places in the Utah/Arizona/New Mexico area. Everyone should see these sites at least once! Before you plan a trip, research the amount of time/miles it will take you to get to each destination. Don't overload your trip with too much driving, if at all possible. Remember to enjoy the moments. Be safe and be smart!
