Dallas to Arizona Road Trip Itinerary
See the best of West Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona as you hit the open road on this Dallas to Arizona road trip itinerary!
Straight through from Dallas to Flagstaff in the middle of Arizona is 14 hours driving time on I-40.
But that’s no fun.
I love a good road trip, and if I have a long trip to complete, you know I’m going to be researching different places to stop along the way.
Below, you’ll find just that for each step of your journey from the heart of Texas into the Grand Canyon State.
I’ve also shared ways to extend your trip into various areas of Arizona.
In short, prepare for an epic road trip into the Southwest filled with national parks visits, roadside attractions, and vintage Americana!
The author and her son on a paddleboard on Lake Grapevine near Dallas
Dallas to Arizona Road Trip Itinerary: Stop-by-Stop
NOTE: If you’re looking for a place to camp while you’re in the Dallas area, I highly recommend the Vineyards campground in Grapevine, Texas.
Not only is this one of the prettiest campgrounds we’ve stayed at, but it also has huge lots, water sports rentals, a private beach, and daily activities. It’s like summer camp without the counselors!
Stop 1: Abilene, Texas
Begin your road trip by heading out of Dallas towards New Mexico.
PIN ME!
Pick up I-20 on the western side of Fort Worth and follow it 150 miles to our first stop in Abilene.
NOTE: About 75 miles west of Fort Worth, you can stop at Palo Pinto State Park, Texas’ newest state park. While it isn’t fully completed yet, the state park will eventually have hiking, camping, fishing, and non-motorized boating. If you’re planning to visit this area in 2025 and beyond, check to see which of the park’s planned recreational activities has been completed.
Next, we need to stop in Abilene, Texas, where you’ll find plenty of Texas history and arts-themed activities.
The Grace Museum is excellent for the entire family with kid-friendly exhibits, history areas, photography gallery, and more across 5 different sections.
For even more American history, step into yesteryear at Frontier Texas!, an interactive history museum tracing the steps of both the Native Americans and the pioneers during Westward Expansion.
Your childhood literary favorites are larger than life along the storybook trail through downtown Abilene, where you can find sculptures of Horton (from Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who), Charlotte and Wilbur (from E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web), and so many more. See the entire route on the storybook sculpture map here.
Abilene Zoo boasts more than 250 species across 8 areas of the park. In addition to viewing the animals, kids can go gem mining, ride a train, go fishing in Tittle Lake, and go on behind the scenes tours.
Stop 2: Carlsbad, New Mexico
Today, we’re visiting the oil fields of West Texas on our way to Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Keep on I-20 until you get to Big Spring, and then take Texas Highway 176 from Big Spring to New Mexico Highway 62. Highway 62 will take you directly into Carlsbad.
Once you leave Big Spring and Interstate I-20, the area becomes very remote very quickly, and you will likely go miles without seeing anything but oil rigs bobbing up and down.
As someone who’s from a place without any oil production, I found this area fascinating, but I also freely admit that it is rough and tumble, and not the place that I’d like to have car trouble.
Fill up and eat before you leave the interstate because the gas stations and food options between Big Spring and Carlsbad are sparse at best.
The Camping Kiddos inside Carlsbad Caverns
Once you get to Carlsbad, you’ve got plenty to do, see, and eat as it’s easily the largest city in the southeastern corner of New Mexico.
Here, you can pick up supplies from Walmart, dine out at one of the area’s many restaurants, and explore 2 different national parks.
Start with 2 days at Carlsbad Caverns, one of the most incredible cave systems we’ve visited so far.
Don’t forget to book the ranger-led King’s Palace Tour for extra time exploring a less-traveled section of the caverns. There is a small fee associated with the tour, but it’s worth it!
Just 30 minutes south of Carlsbad Caverns is the less-visited but still amazing Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Located on the border of New Mexico and Texas, Guadalupe Mountains National Park boasts 8 of the 10 highest peaks in Texas.
The park’s development has been an emphasis on hiking in the park, as many of the most spectacular overlooks are accessible only on foot. (This is in direct opposition to other national parks, like Shenandoah National Park, which are organized around a roadway.)
You’ll want to bring a good pair of hiking boots, a day pack, and plenty of water to see the Salt Basin sand dunes, Frijole Ranch, McKittrick Canyon, and more.
If you’re not sure what you need for this adventure, check out my gear guides:
Suggested place to camp near Carlsbad, New Mexico: Lake Brantley State Park, which I think is one of New Mexico’s best campgrounds. This inexpensive campground has areas for RV and primitive camping. While it feels remote, the campground is just minutes from Carlsbad on Highway 285.
Our travel trailer at sunset in the Limestone campground in Lake Brantley State Park
Stop 3: Roswell, New Mexico
The Camping Kiddos in front of a mural in Roswell, New Mexico
Yes, it is weird, and that’s just the way that Roswell likes it.
This little town’s claim to fame occurred back in 1947 when a rancher about 80 miles away claimed to have found pieces of a flying saucer. The military quickly got involved, but the plot just thickens from there.
Was it a weather balloon prototype? Some sort of secret military craft? Or something truly alien?
Whatever was going on all those decades ago still has the world enraptured as Roswell sees visitors from all corners of the globe (including the Camping Kiddos since I can’t resist a weird locale!).
From the UFO-shaped streetlights to the massive alien-themed murals, you quickly get the idea that this town loves the hype.
If you’d like to dive into the strangeness that started all of it, head into the International UFO Museum and Research Center. Here, you’ll get detailed accounts of what happened back in 1947 and beyond, including video and audio interview clips, newspaper articles, and other ephemera.
Even if you’re not a believer, the kitschy alien displays (with moving UFO!) and the extensive library are worth a stop.
Stop 4: Alamogordo, New Mexico
The Camping Kiddos and I at the White Sands National Park sign that needs to be updated
Hanging out with the World’s Largest Pistachio outside of Pistachioland in Alamogordo
Add in your second national park of this trip when you visit Alamogordo.
Here, you can explore the incredible White Sands National Park, which only became a national park in 2020 after decades of being a national monument.
See how you can effectively spend one day in White Sands with hikes, the Junior Ranger program, ranger-led events, and more.
You’ll absolutely want to spend part of your day sand sledding, so check out my complete guide to White Sands sledding tips!
Extend your trip with even more incredible places to visit near White Sands and Alamogordo, ranging from space history museums to mountain hikes.
You really need at least 2 or 3 days here to fully explore everything. Don’t forget to try the pistachio ice cream at Pistachioland, a working pistachio farm just north of Alamogordo.
Suggested place to camp near Alamogordo: We stayed at the Alamogordo/ White Sands KOA in Alamogordo, and it was wonderful. The owners are incredibly nice, offering up free coffee and hot chocolate in the mornings, a huge game room, and a movie library.
The Camping Kiddos cruise through the Alamogordo/White Sands KOA
Stop 5: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Take Highway 54 out of Alamogordo and then follow it out of Tularosa.
You’ll pick up New Mexico 3, which is a very rural road, at Duran. Follow New Mexico 3 to Encino, then hop onto 285 North towards Santa Fe. While 285 is a bigger road than New Mexico 3, there are still very, very few gas stations and food options along the way.
Stop at Clines Corners, which is has been serving customers since historic Route 66 came through here. (Nearby I-40 is now overlaid on Route 66 in this part of the state.)
Cline Corners is huge with multiple gas pumps, RV parking, a convenience store, and a gift shop.
You’re less than an hour to Santa Fe from here, so keep on Highway 285 and you’ll run straight into Santa Fe.
The Camping Kiddos at the Loretto Chapel in historic Santa Fe
Did you know that Santa Fe was established in 1607, the same year that the English colony of Jamestown was settled?
Unlike Jamestown, Santa Fe has thrived since its first days, and it is now a hub of art and culture in the Southwest.
You cannot visit Santa Fe without spending some time exploring the historic downtown area.
You’re walking in the footsteps of Native American traders, Spanish monks, and early European explorers who traveled the Old Santa Fe Trail.
Visit the Museum of New Mexico History to get a grasp on the major events that have happened in the state. As part of this experience, you’ll be able to walk into the original Governor’s Palace, which is the oldest public building in the United States.
The Plaza outside of the Palace is a great place to eat lunch while listening to one of the live musicians that are often set up here.
After lunch, explore some of the other historic spots within walking distance, including the Loretto Chapel and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
Elsewhere in Santa Fe, you can’t miss Meow Wolf: House of Eternal Return, which is a mind-bending interactive art project.
The multiverse is right through the refrigerator door at Meow Wolf Santa Fe!
Suggested place to camp in Santa Fe: We enjoyed our time at the Santa Fe KOA, which had on-site gem mining, a game room with arcade games, and a playground. The sites were small but level and shaded. There were lots of kids around, which my children appreciated.
Playing on the Santa Fe KOA playground
Stop 6: Albuquerque, New Mexico
A New Mexico themed balloon carries passengers up.
The capital of New Mexico is the next stop on your road trip as you make your way to the southwest towards Arizona.
But, before we can get to the Grand Canyon State, Albuquerque is worth a day or two of your time.
The city is best known for its incredible balloon festival, which is held in October each year. If you’re in town during that time, absolutely make an effort to get out there for a portion of your visit.
Albuquerque has plenty to do if you’re in town outside of the festival’s date. If you’re still set on an Albuquerque balloon ride, the Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Co. offers up daily tours over the Rio Grande Valley.
The Sandia Peak tramway offers up long range views of the surrounding area as you’re taken to the top of the Sandia mountains to hike or dine.
While as large or impressive as the historic area in downtown Santa Fe, Old Albuquerque is worth a visit. Take a guided tour of the Old Town to delve into the unique legends and history.
Stop 7: Grants, New Mexico
As you set out from Albuquerque, the landscape outside of your car will be filled with rolling red deserts, sagebrush, and craggy cliffs.
However, as you approach Grants, New Mexico, that landscape begins to resemble the surface of the moon.
Huge chunks of a matte black substance push their way past the grass on either side of the road, and you might be left wondering if an asphalt truck blew up on this section of the highway.
But the answer is one that’s far more exciting than a malfunctioning piece of road machinery.
You’re seeing the results of volcanic activity that reshaped this part of western New Mexico between 700,000 and just 3,900 years ago.
You can explore more of this incredible natural wonder at the 2 main sites near Grants, New Mexico.
El Malpais National Monument
This NPS sites allows you to hike through and learn about the lava flows.
You’ll see how the unique geological formations here provided shelter to generations of Native Americans, particularly the Zuni and Acoma tribes, as well as Spanish explorers, the Navajo nation, and pioneers.
There are a variety of surface trails that allow you to access the different lava flow areas. More adventurous visitors can take a self-guided tour into one of the many lava tubes, but you’ll want to bring the appropriate safety gear.
The national monument is open year round, although some of the caves are off limits to the public during the winter to protect resident bats.
Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano
A privately owned site, the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano is another great way to explore this fascinating landscape.
It’s not as large as the nearby NPS site, but it’s still worth a visit.
Included in the admission cost is a museum filled with Native American artifacts and 2 self-guided hikes. The Ice Cave stays chilly year round with naturally occurring sheets of ice on the walls.
It does close in the winter from November 1-March 1.
Stop 8: Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
The next major stop on I-40 West is going to be the exit for the Painted Desert Visitors Center at Petrified Forest National Park.
At the visitors center, you can grab a map of the park, pick up a souvenir, watch the park’s history movie, or have a picnic.
There’s also a gas station here. It’s really expensive, but convenient. There’s no other gas at this exit or anywhere in the park for another 25-30 miles.
Once you’re in the park, you’ll be able to see the southern end of the Painted Desert, which has red, orange, grey, blue, purple, and yellow layers in the worn away rock.
The Camping Kiddos, my dad, and I at Kachina Point overlooking the Painted Desert
For a larger national park, it’s surprisingly easy to tour Petrified Forest National Park in one day. By sticking to the main park road and touring north to south, you’ll be able to see the park’s highlights in a relatively short period of time.
The best way to see the park is to complete a couple of the easy hikes in Petrified Forest, which will allow you to get into the heart of the petrified wood fields, the Painted Desert, Blue Mesa, and more.
On the end of the park closest to Holbrook, you’ll be able to see fields of petrified trees from the forest that once stood here more than 250 million years ago.
Suggested place to camp near Petrified Forest: Holbrook/ Petrified Forest KOA, which I think is the best camping near Petrified Forest National Park. You can’t RV camp inside the park, so the closest place to leave your rig is at this KOA. We loved the daily breakfast and dinner options, heated pool, and large playground.
Our Winnebago Micro Minnie 1800BH at the Holbrook KOA
Stop 8: Route 66 Towns
There are 2 towns on the original Route 66 that are worth stopping at during your road trip from Dallas to Arizona.
First, Holbrook, Arizona, is home to several fun spots, including the inspiration for the Cozy Cone Motel in Cars. We stayed in one of the sister locations of the Wigwam Villages while in Cave City, Kentucky!
Holbrook also has a couple of shops that sell petrified wood and other minerals. It’s illegal to take wood from the national park, so this is a good alternative if you’d like a souvenir.
The Camping Kiddos in the heart of Winslow, Arizona
Winslow, Arizona, is about 30 minutes west, and it’s bigger than Holbrook with even more reasons to stop.
For fans of ‘70s rock, you won’t want to miss Standin’ on a Corner Park in the heart of downtown Winslow, Arizona.
This little town was immortalized in the second verse of The Eagles’ 1972 hit, “Take It Easy.” Winslow is noted in the song and was inspired by a road trip that the members took as they were trying to finish their debut album.
>> Check out more things to do in Winslow, Arizona on Route 66 here! <<
Another interesting stop near Winslow is Homolovi Ruins State Park, where you can hike to a Mormon pioneer cemetery and see 2 Native American living areas dating from 1000-1300 CE.
Bring a picnic to eat under one of the covered shelters. Several have incredible views of the desert. You might even see some of the native donkeys that roam the park.
Stop 9: Meteor Crater
My daughter on the side of Meteor Crater
If you’ve ever wanted to feel small, Meteor Crater is an excellent place to do so.
Created by a meteor about 50,000 years ago, this massive site is so much more than just a big hole in the ground.
Of course, the crater itself is a highlight—and you must make time for the 45-minute tour of the crater rim (included in the cost of admission).
You can also see and touch a piece of the meteor, walk through multiple interactive museum areas, experience a 4D ride about space and the crater, and shop for space-themed souvenirs.
Kids should complete the scavenger hunt booklets to receive a free science ranger patch.
Meteor Crater was one of my kids’ favorite things to do—and they still talk about visiting here regularly. It’s SO much more than just a hole in the ground!
Final Stop: Flagstaff (and Beyond)
Me and my daughter on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
While I’m ending the road trip itinerary here in Flagstaff, this doesn’t really mean goodbye.
Flagstaff is the central Arizona, so you’re set up for ending your road trip here, or continuing to explore the Grand Canyon State.
There are several other incredible places to visit in Arizona depending on where you’d like to your end destination to be!
You could head south to Sedona, Phoenix, and Saguaro National Park.
Or, you could continue on west to Kingman, additional Route 66 towns, and, ultimately Las Vegas.
To add a third national park to your trip, you can head north from Flagstaff to visit the Grand Canyon. Check out our guides to make sure your visit is great:
Visiting Monument Valley with kids is a guaranteed amazing family vacation!
Located on the border of Arizona and Utah, this stretch of land is one of the most beautiful parts of Arizona that we’ve visited.
Here, you can explore the Navajo Nation’s incredible site, where you’ll learn about unique geological features, see where dozens of Westerns were filmed, and drive the scenic loop around the valley.
