Four Corners Southwest Road Trip – FAMILYTRAVELSUSA

From Santa Fe, continue on to Chama, which is home to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. It’s an amazing 64 mile ride on a historic steam-operated, narrow-gauge  railroad, reaching over 10,000 feet in elevation along the way. Plan to spend a full day riding the rails, with lunch included. Our kids wanted to spend a lot of time in the open rail cars, so be sure to bring a hat and sunglasses. ​Spend the night in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. If you have time, unwind with a soak in some of the local hot springs. In the morning, travel about two hours through Durango to Mesa Verde.

Next, on your way to Moab, Utah, visit the Four Corners Monument, where you can use your hands and feet to be in 4 states at once!  It’s in a remote location, but definitely a cool photo opportunity. Note: find the latest information about hours of operation. 
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When you get near Moab, take a break from hotels and stay in a cabin at the Archview Resort and Campground (now Sun Outdoors Canyonlands Gateway). There is a small pool for kids and views of the surrounding area. The resort is located between Canyonlands and Arches National Park. Spend some time in both of these unique parks, filled with unusual natural beauty.  Arches is like nowhere else on earth, featuring natural sandstone arches and rock formations. There are many ways to see the arches up close, including auto touring and hiking. Just remember to try to beat the heat and get out early in the summertime. Find details about 2025 timed entry reservations for Arches National Park here.

After leaving the land of hoodoos at Bryce, travel to Zion National Park. If you are staying in Springdale, you will have to pass through Zion to reach your destination for the night. The hotels literally have the peaks of Zion in their backyards. If you need a larger room, check out the Driftwood Lodge, with outdoor patios and space for the kids to run.  We had horses in our backyard and amazing views of Zion from the pool. With the summer heat, we decided to head out for an early morning ranger hike, then took a horse trek to see the famous Patriarchs. There are many levels of hiking trails available in the park for all ages.     

If you want to experience the Colorado River without rafting through the Grand Canyon, then book a float trip (we used Colorado River Discovery). The guides put the rafts in at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam and travel downriver, ending at historic Lees Ferry.  As you can see from the picture, the views from the raft in the early morning were pretty amazing. It was a perfect trip with younger kids as there are no rapids. Other popular things to do in the area are to take in the view at Horseshoe Bend, and take a slot canyon tour. Since our original trip, several family members have returned to the area and taken tours, including the Secret Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Overlook Tour. 

​When you are done, head south to the more popular South Rim. You can spend as many days here as you want, hiking, horseback/mule riding, bus tours, ranger programs and much more.  If staying in the park is a priority, book as far ahead as you can. There are more lodging options outside of the park for the South Rim. If you stop at the Cameron Trading Post, be sure to try the Navajo Taco! From the Grand Canyon, head south, enjoying the scenery, and spend the night in Flagstaff.  

If you need to make an additional overnight stop, Gallup is a good place to stay along the way.  Otherwise, continue on to Albuquerque to end your journey. Stop for one last southwestern meal at an outdoor café in Old Town before departing.