Road trip · 3 parks · 6+ days · ~658 miles

Desert Winter Escape Road Trip

Three desert parks at their best in the cold months: below sea level, boulders and giant cacti.

Best time to go: November through April. Avoid this trip from June to September, when temperatures are dangerous.

The route

Start: Las Vegas, NV

  1. Death Valley National Park

    2 days · Best Nov–Mar

    ↓ ~243 miles · 5 hr to Joshua Tree

  2. Joshua Tree National Park

    2 days · Best Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov

    ↓ ~415 miles · 8½ hr to Saguaro

  3. Saguaro National Park

    2 days · Best Nov–Apr

End: Phoenix, AZ. Distances are approximate.

Best months for this trip

Average rating across all stops.

Stop by stop

Questions

What is the best time for a Desert Winter Escape road trip?

November through April are the best months, when every stop is rated good or better at the same time.

How many days do you need for Desert Winter Escape?

Plan at least 6 days in the parks, plus travel days. The park-to-park driving is roughly 658 miles.

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