Southwest national parks
13 Southwest national parks are spread across 5 states, from Great Basin National Park in the west to Big Bend National Park in the east.
11 of the 13 have something on Recreation.gov to book before you arrive, and every one of those covers a single hike, road, or tour rather than getting into the park.
Driving between these parks
7 of them form one chain in which every park is within a 4-hour drive of another in the group: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Grand Canyon, Great Basin, and Zion.
| From | To | Distance | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 30.5 mi (49.1 km) | 1 hr 5 min |
| Arches National Park | Canyonlands National Park | 38.5 mi (61.9 km) | 1 hr 18 min |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Zion National Park | 51.2 mi (82.5 km) | 1 hr 40 min |
| Canyonlands National Park | Capitol Reef National Park | 67.3 mi (108 km) | 2 hr 3 min |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Capitol Reef National Park | 70.2 mi (113 km) | 2 hr 7 min |
| Grand Canyon National Park | Zion National Park | 100 mi (161 km) | 2 hr 49 min |
| Guadalupe Mountains National Park | White Sands National Park | 104 mi (167 km) | 2 hr 55 min |
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | White Sands National Park | 118 mi (190 km) | 3 hr 15 min |
Drive times come from straight-line distance and a road-circuity factor, not from a routing service, so use them to sort options rather than to plan an arrival time.
What to book before you go
Recreation.gov lists 22 permits or lotteries, 6 guided tours, and 1 road or area reservation for Southwest national parks, and each park's own page carries its full list.
Recreation.gov lists 28 campgrounds at 10 Southwest parks, all of them bookable in advance.
When to go
Southwest national parks run on 2 seasonal calendars rather than one, and the largest group is 12 parks best March through May, then October through November.
Summer heat is the real hazard, not the crowds. Hike at dawn, skip exposed trails after mid-morning, and never rely on finding water.
Pick the park before the month. A date that works for Arches National Park can be the wrong month for Great Basin National Park, which is best July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow.
All 13 Southwest national parks
| Park | Where | Best window | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arches National Park | UT | March through May, then October through November | Permit or reservation |
| Big Bend National Park | TX | March through May, then October through November | Campsites only |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | UT | March through May, then October through November | Permit or reservation |
| Canyonlands National Park | UT | March through May, then October through November | Permit or reservation |
| Capitol Reef National Park | UT | March through May, then October through November | Permit or reservation |
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | NM | March through May, then October through November | Guided tour ticket |
| Grand Canyon National Park | AZ | March through May, then October through November | Permit or reservation |
| Great Basin National Park | NV | July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow | Guided tour ticket |
| Guadalupe Mountains National Park | TX | March through May, then October through November | Permit or reservation |
| Petrified Forest National Park | AZ | March through May, then October through November | Permit or reservation |
| Saguaro National Park | AZ | March through May, then October through November | Campsites only |
| White Sands National Park | NM | March through May, then October through November | Permit or reservation |
| Zion National Park | UT | March through May, then October through November | Permit or reservation |
Go state by state
Each state page lists that state's parks and the towns closest to them, which is the quicker route when you already know where you are starting from.
Other U.S. regions
Common questions
Do any Southwest national parks need a reservation just to get in?
No Southwest national park sells a park-wide entry reservation on Recreation.gov, where the bookings cover individual hikes, roads, tours, and campsites. Entry rules are set park by park and change between years, so check the park's own site for your dates.
Which two Southwest national parks are closest together?
Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park are the closest pair in the Southwest, roughly 1 hr 5 min apart by road.
When is the best time to visit the Southwest?
12 national parks in the Southwest are best March through May, then October through November, which is the largest single group. The one remaining park runs on a different calendar, so the answer depends on which park you are going to.
How many campgrounds do Southwest national parks have?
Southwest national parks have 28 campgrounds on Recreation.gov, all of them reservable in advance.
Which states this covers
The Southwest on this site means Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.
No Census region matches. This is the Colorado Plateau and Chihuahuan Desert half of the Mountain division, plus Texas and Oklahoma.