Ambitious Southwest US National Parks Adventure
I'm about to embark on a month long US National Parks adventure to check out the southwest region starting on Monday, May 11, 2026. We (married couple/no kids) have never been to any of these parks, so I'm seeking collective advice on the can't miss hikes, sites, activities, etc. We are car camping for the majority of this trip and have already booked our stays.
Since this is a truly ambitious endeavor (12 parks with only 1-2 full days at each), it's important that I get an idea of what to prioritize to get the most out of this trip. My hope is that once we get a taste of each park, we can plan a longer trip in the future if we feel like we want to explore further.
Any advice on dealing with potentially extreme weather would be appreciated as well.
Here's my list:
Saguaro (2 nights/1 full day)
Guadalupe Mountains (2 nights/1 full day)
Carlsbad Caverns (1 night/1 full day) - Secured entry time reservation and plan on getting King's Palace tour upon arrival
Big Bend (3 nights/2 full days)
White Sands (2 nights/1 full day)
Great Sand Dunes (2 nights/1 full day)
Black Canyon of the Gunnison (2 nights/1 full day)
Mesa Verde (2 nights/1 full day)
Canyonlands/Arches (3 nights/2 full days)
Capitol Reef (2 nights/1 full day)
Great Basin (2 nights/1 full day) - Secured Gothic Palace Lantern tour