USA Camper Van Trip
If a camper van trip has always been on your bucket list, I encourage you to try it. Living in a van and driving around a country is an incredible and unique experience everyone should try at least once in their lives. One of the best places to do a trip like this is in the United States. Known for its diversity of landscapes, and national parks, the USA is a perfect place to explore in a van. This 10-day itinerary will provide you with the perfect route to hit some of the best spots in the United States.
Day 1: Arrival in Phoenix/Evening in Sedona
Day 1 is all about getting your feet wet. Familiarize yourself with the van and shop for groceries and any items you may need for the trip. Once you are all set, drive through Sedona and spend the night camping there (we didn’t get to do this as our flight was delayed).
Tip: Make a shopping list beforehand to avoid forgetting critical items
Day 2: Grand Canyon
Early morning start today after completing your first night in a van! Now the fun part- Getting ready in a van! It’ll feel weird and not comfortable at first, but I promise you will get used to it!
Once you all set, head over to the Grand Canyon, where you will spend the entire day.
To Do:
- Mather Point
- Mather Trail
- Kaibab Hike to Ooh Ahh Point (or further Down)
- Sunrise and or Sunset at the Park
Where to Stay
- Mather Campground (inside Grand Canyon)
- Forrest Service Road 328 (Dispersed)
- Forrest Road 302 (Dispersed)
- Long Jim Loop (Dispersed)
Day 3: Monument Valley
Next stop-Monument Valley! The landscape of Monument Valley will make your mouth drop as you feel like you have arrived on a movie set. This was one of my favorite stops on the trip.
To Do:
- 17 Mile Loop
- Forrest Gump Point
- Mexican Hat
Where to Stay
- Mexican Hat Dispersed Camping (Highly Recommend)
- Sunset View Campground
- Gouldings Lodge Campground
Day 4: Antelope + Horseshoe Bend
Optional early start to see the sunrise at monument valley (it is awesome)! From there, you will return to Arizona as you make your way to Antelope Canyon. Antelope Canyon provides yet another unique landscape to marvel at on this trip. Slide your way through the beautiful slot canyons before heading to the next stop, Horseshoe Bend (15 minutes away). Spend the rest of the afternoon/evening re-energizing and relaxing!
Tip: Antelope Canyon can only be seen via a tour. Upper and Lower Canyon tickets should be bought well in advance. Alternatively, you can save some money (and crowd hassle) by checking out Canyon X. It is a very similar experience to the more famous upper canyon without the light beam picture op.
Where to Stay
- Kaibab Paiute Tribal Campground
- Hurricane Cliffs Sites 1-12 (Dispersed)
- Messa Road Zion Views (Dispersed)
Day 5: Zion
No matter, when you visit Zion, you can expect lots of visitors. As one local told us- “This is the Disney Land for Adults!”. Zion is beautiful and one of my favorite national parks in the U.S. The park is smaller than many expect and can be finished in a day (especially if renting an e-bike to get around). However, if you wish to hike both the Narrows and Angels Landing, you may want to spend 1.5 days here to split up the strenuous hike.
To Do:
- E-bike around Zion
- Angles Landing (Strenuous and Dangerous)
- Narrows Hike
- Emerald Pool
- Canyon Overlook Trail For Sunset
Where to Stay
- Kaibab Paiute Tribal Campground
- Hurricane Cliffs Sites 1-12 (Dispersed)
- Messa Road Zion Views (Dispersed)
Day 6: Zion-Half Day Zion and Vegas
If you had planned to do both Angles Landing and the Narrows, use the first half of the day to complete what you weren’t able to on Day 5. Check out anything else that you missed in Zion before rewarding yourself with a night in Vegas (2.5 hours away)! Alternatively, you can spend the first half of the day at Valley of Fire State Park.
Where to Stay
- Circus Circus RV Campground
- Treat Yourself to Vegas Hotel!
Day 7: Death Valley
A night in Vegas = a late start, and that is ok! The focus of today is getting to Death valley by mid-afternoon (2.5 hours). When you arrive, try and hit a few of the points near the entrance (Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View) before setting up camp for the night!
Tip: Fill gas and stock up with everything you need prior to arriving at Death Valley! Gas is expensive and stores are limited. Additionally, download offline maps.
To Do:
- Zabriskie point
- Dante’s View
Where to Stay
- Death Valley Dispersed Camping (East side of the park)-Highly Recommend!
- Within the Park
Day 8: Death Valley
Death Valley is massive, so another day is warranted! Explore the park and enjoy its incredible diversity of landscapes.
To Do:
- Zabriskie point
- Dante’s View
- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- Artists Palette Drive
- Bad Water Basin
- Star Gazing at Harmony Borax Works (look for a ranger-guided program)
Where to Stay
- Death Valley Dispersed Camping (East side of the park)-Highly Recommend!
- Within the Park
Day 9: Joshua Tree
The trip is coming down to its last leg. The final national park stop is Joshua Tree (4-hour drive) If you get to the park by early afternoon, you should have plenty of time to see a majority of the park. While I loved looking at the Joshua trees and the night stargazing, the park was slightly overrated, in my opinion. Half a day is more than enough time (if you arent into bouldering). Alternatively, if you arent interested in visiting Joshua Tree, you could add a day in Bryce (after day 4) and shift the rest of the itinerary down.
To Do:
- Cholla Cactus Garden
- Skull Rock
- Hidden Valley Trail
- Key Views for Sunset
- Stargazing!
Where to Stay
- Joshua Tree North BLM
Day 10: Joshua Tree and Return
If you missed anything in Joshua Tree, spend the morning wrapping up the park. Then it is the dreaded drive back to home base (Pheonix).
