Our Favorite Winter Road Trip through the National Parks

Ready to escape the winter blues? Join us on an unforgettable 10-day winter road trip through the national parks, where we explore the best of Zion, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree!

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we share a perfect itinerary that combines breathtaking landscapes, unique adventures, and delicious foodie stops. From the solitude of Zion’s Narrows to the vibrant colors of Death Valley’s Artists Drive and the iconic trees of Joshua Tree, this journey is the ultimate winter getaway for families and adventurers alike.

Let’s hit the road!

Podcast Episode Overview

It’s time for another road trip! In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we embark on an epic 10-day winter road trip to three unforgettable national parks: Zion, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree.

If you’ve got the time, we’ve got the perfect itinerary for you, complete with bonus activities from John—for the sake of fun!

Here’s what we’ll cover:

The best time of year to hit the road for this trip
What to explore in Zion National Park during the winter
The must-see state park you shouldn’t skip along the way
Our favorite foodie stops that are perfect for refueling
The coolest hike that you can’t miss on this trip
Must-do activities in Death Valley
Hidden gems in the Mojave Preserve
Top experiences in Joshua Tree

This road trip is the ideal winter escape for the whole family, offering the best of each park when they’re at their finest. We hope you get to experience it this year!

We want to hear from you! What’s your quirky, off-the-beaten-path family road trip stop? The one only you seem to enjoy? Head over to the Dirt in My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and share your favorites—we’re building a list!

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Listen here.

Day 1 – Fly into Las Vegas

Your epic 10-day road trip includes stops at Death Valley, Joshua Tree, and Zion (and a state park or two!). The best time of year to visit these warmer national parks is January, February, or March. It’s the perfect getaway after the holidays while the cold winter winds set in.

Your trip starts by flying into Las Vegas. It’s the perfect hub to start and end your journey. You can also drive, depending on where you’re heading from and the amount of time you have for your vacation. Like our 10-day epic journey through Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky national parks, this trip can be a choose-your-own-adventure!

After landing in Las Vegas, you’ll have a three-hour drive to Springdale to set up to explore Zion. Of course, you can stop to gamble or see the sights in Las Vegas before you go, of which there are plenty!

We suggest staying in or near Springdale. There are a couple of great options inside the park, like the Zion Lodge or the Watchman Campground.

Days 2 and 3 – Zion National Park

Days 2 and 3 are your chance to explore Zion with fewer crowds than you’ll find during the summer! The temperatures are usually around 50°F, and some ice or snow may hang around in the shady alcoves of the park. The shuttle doesn’t run in the winter, so you can drive your own vehicle into Zion Canyon.

Check out our Zion National Park itinerary for all the details on planning two days in Zion!

The Narrows route is open in the winter, but you need the right gear. Head to Zion Guru to ensure you have what you need to stay warm. It’s an entirely different experience when you have solitude in The Narrows!

Angels Landing may have snow, so proceed with caution on the chains section. You can hike up to the start of Angels Landing if the idea of snow freaks you out like it does for me! The National Park Service requires everyone to have a permit to hike Angels Landing.

Emerald Pools, Canyon Overlook, the Pa’rus Trail, and our favorite secret hikes are all open in the winter, as well.

Check out our YouTube channel, podcast episodes, and blog posts for other free resources on planning your Zion adventure!

If you want to cut out a day, you can spend just one day in Zion, but we recommend at least two days for the full experience!

Day 4 – Valley of Fire State Park

Ready for warmer temperatures? Let’s head to Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada! Valley of Fire is only one hour outside of Las Vegas. It’s two and a half hours from Zion, so you need to get an early start to beat the crowds.

Along the road from Zion to Valley of Fire, you can stop at one of our favorite places! In Mesquite, Nevada, there is the Virgin River Hotel and Casino with a named buffet – Sierra’s Buffet. It’s John’s favorite buffet in the world, but Ash tolerates it :).

Valley of Fire is home to the Fire Wave hike, one of the most picturesque parts of Nevada. The state park stands out from the surrounding landscape with its glowing red rocks. There’s no way you want to miss this park. We often see bighorn sheep among the rock formations.

White Domes, Mouses Tank, and Petroglyph Canyon are great hikes in Valley of Fire State Park. For the Star Trek aficionados out there, you’ll also find Captain Kirk’s “burial site” in the Valley of Fire.

In the evening, drive about two and a half hours to Pahrump, Nevada, to set yourself up for Days 5 and 6!

Days 5 and 6 – Death Valley National Park

On the morning of Day 5, move your base camp to Death Valley. On your way into the park, stop at Dantes View to catch the most stunning views of Death Valley. If you’re an early riser, you might even catch sunrise after your hour-long drive from Pahrump!

We have a few podcast episodes and free resources diving into the best parts of Death Valley to explore.

Zabriskie Point and Badwater Basin are iconic places to stop on your way into the park as well. Can you believe Death Valley is North America’s lowest, hottest, and driest place, and you can find it all in one national park? And at 3 million acres, it’s the largest national park in the contiguous United States!

The sand dunes are great for sunset hiking. Artists Drive is a great way to spend an afternoon, taking in all the colors of Death Valley.

You heard it here first – Ash is working on a new itinerary for Death Valley National Park!

If you need to cut out another day from your trip, you can spend just one day in Death Valley.

Day 7 – Mojave National Preserve

It’s time to drive to Joshua Tree National Park! Before you get there, we’re going to take you somewhere you’ve probably never been before – the Mojave National Preserve. It’s about a four-hour drive from Death Valley to Joshua Tree, but you can drive right through the Mojave Preserve on your way. You’ll want to stop to stretch your legs here!

There’s room to choose where you want to go on this route. We love the Kelso Depot, though it’s not always open at regular hours. If nothing else, it’s an excellent place for a bathroom break. There is a side road here that you can take to see the Kelso Dunes.

In the Mojave desert, there’s a lone mailbox that people pilgrimage to. There’s a frog shrine, art installations, and all sorts of weird stuff to find out in the desert! Just don’t wander too far from your car without being prepared.

After exploring the Mojave, you can finish your journey to Joshua Tree and stay the night there.

Days 8 and 9 – Joshua Tree National Park

It’s time to explore Joshua Tree! If you need to cut your trip down by another day, you can spend just one day in Joshua Tree. Otherwise, get ready to explore these incredible trees and an expansive desert with some of the best rock climbing in the world!

Joshua Tree is known around the world for its incredible rock climbing. You will see people climbing all over the park! We love to rock climb while we’re visiting. If you’ve never climbed or want help from a guide, check out Cliffhanger Guides. They’ll take any age, from children to people 90+ years old. You can plan for half a day or a full day of climbing.

Hidden Valley, Keys Ranch, the Cholla Cactus Garden, and Ryan Mountain are all great hikes for Day 9. We have more podcast episodes and free resources to help you plan your perfect Joshua Tree trip. And stay tuned for our Joshua Tree itinerary, which is coming out soon!

You have to stop to get a date shake at Hadley Fruit Orchards when you go to Joshua Tree. It tastes caramel-y like we think butter beer should. Yucca Kabob is incredible for a meal, too. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a roadside vendor selling bags of oranges.

Day 10 – Head back to Las Vegas

And that’s the end of your trip! Your last day is your travel day back home. Over 10 days, you’ve seen three national parks, quirky desert art, and had some fantastic food!

We hope you had fun following along with our road trip! We hope you can take this road trip with your family because it’s definitely one of our favorite winter routes to experience the national parks.

Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

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