Roadtrip with RVshare Los Angeles to Dallas

By taking a Los Angeles to Dallas road trip, you'll get to experience the best attractions between the coast of California and the western part of Texas. When you visit the national parks along your route, you'll have the chance to see some great desert parks full of cacti, desert sands, caverns, and canyons. If you want to hit the water or hike on some lovely trails, then you'll be able to relax at some nice state parks. Some of the Southwest's most exciting cities are also on your route, so you'll have plenty of choices for your road trip itinerary from Los Angeles to Dallas.

Nearby National Parks

Joshua Tree National Park  

The entrance to Joshua Tree National Park is just 40 minutes from Palm Springs, California. At this rugged desert park, you'll not only get to see plenty of alien-like Joshua trees, but you'll also be able to view many additional desert plants and animals. There are numerous awesome rock formations and mountain ranges here, thanks to the ever-shifting tectonic plates under the park. Hiking, biking, and backcountry camping are all possible thanks to the many excellent trails in the park. Bird-watching, rock climbing, and stargazing are also popular pastimes here.

Saguaro National Park  

Saguaro National Park is only five minutes off of your route as it heads into Tucson, Arizona, so it's a must-see on your road trip from Los Angeles to Dallas. There are, of course, plenty of Saguaro cacti on display here, but you'll be able to take in plenty of wildflowers, wildlife, waterfalls, mountain views, and city views on the park's multiple scenic trails. If you want to explore this desert park via vehicle, then you can also take advantage of the park's scenic drives. Since Tucson is so close, you can park your camper here while you explore both the park and the city. 

White Sands National Park  

You can reach White Sands National Park by driving 50 minutes from Las Cruces, New Mexico. People visit here primarily to take in the pristine white sands of the gypsum dunes that give the park its name. A handful of established pathways take you through the park, giving you the means to walk through this sea of white sand. If you're feeling adventurous, you might want to participate in the park tradition of dune-sledding in order to truly experience the wonder of these gypsum dunes. You can pick up a dune sled and information about this fascinating park at the White Sands National Park Visitor Center.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park  

An hour and a half north of Van Horn, Texas, is Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The most popular attractions here are, of course, underground, so you'll probably spend the bulk of your time here exploring the fossilized limestone caverns beneath the surface. There are, however, a handful of trails above-ground that will take you through part of the Chihuahuan Desert and past an old mine. The stargazing is excellent here, and you might get to take part in a star walk or moon hike if you visit at the right time. 

Big Bend National Park  

If you want to spend some time on the US/Mexico border, then you should travel two and a half hours south of Fort Davis, Texas, to Big Bend National Park. The Rio Grande provides plenty of places for fishing and boating, while the Chisos and Del Carmen Mountains are great areas for hiking, climbing, biking, and more. No other national park in America has darker skies than Big Bend, so you'll get to see some stunning night skies while you're camped here. 

Nearby State Parks

Lake Perris State Recreation Area  

Lake Perris State Recreation Area is half an hour south of Redlands, California. Obviously, you'll want to spend some quality time at Lake Perris, which is ideal for swimming, boating, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Away from the water, you'll be able to hike or bike on nine miles of trails in the park. If you want to go rock climbing, you can visit Big Rock, which has multiple climbing opportunities for beginners and experts alike. 

Lake Havasu State Park  

You can reach the shores of Lake Havasu State Park by traveling an hour and 20 minutes north of Quartzite, Arizona. Lake Havasu is an excellent place to go swimming, fishing, and boating; some lovely trails will take you around the lake and into the surrounding lowland desert. If you want to learn more about the plant and wildlife inside the park, you should visit the Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden. 

Sonoita Creek State Natural Area  

The entrance to Sonoita Creek State Natural Area is 55 minutes south of Mountain View Ranch, Arizona. The star of this park is the 20-mile trail network that takes hikers along the creek and into the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts; an additional eight miles of trails are designed with horseback riders in mind. Other popular activities here include birding and touring the visitor center. 

City of Rocks State Park  

City of Rocks State Park may only be a square mile large, but this park half an hour from Deming, New Mexico, contains some stunning rock formations. These large monoliths made of volcanic ash can stand 40 feet tall in some places, so they're quite impressive. Also impressive are the stargazing opportunities here, thanks to the presence of the Star Observatory. Multiple hiking trails will take you to some awesome viewpoints of these stone formations and the Chihuahuan Desert.

Possum Kingdom State Park  

If you want to get out on a lake that's 18,000 acres large, then you'll want to travel 45 minutes from Ranger, Texas, to Possum Kingdom State Park. The fishing is outstanding here, so this is a great place to try to catch catfish, crappie, and bass. Watersports are also popular here; you can take advantage of the park's boat ramp to launch your craft. If you'd prefer to stay on dry land, you can hike or bike on nine miles of trails.

Along the Way

Papago Park  

Papago Park is just 15 minutes from your route as it heads through Phoenix, Arizona, so you should put it on your road trip itinerary from Los Angeles to Dallas. This is arguably Phoenix's most popular park due to the presence of hot attractions like the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo, and Hole in the Rock. 

Trail Dust Town  

About 20 minutes from your route in Tucson, Arizona, is Trail Dust Town. If you want to explore a replica pioneer town on your road trip from Los Angeles to Dallas, then stopping by this attraction is a must. Whether you want to chow down on a Cowboy Steak at Pinnacle Peak, buy souvenirs at the Trail Dust Trading Company, or take in the Pistoleros Wild West Stunt Show, you'll find plenty of adventure at this attraction.

Chiricahua National Monument  

Chiricahua National Monument is known as the "Wonderland of Rocks" due to the unique rock formations found here, so it's worth traveling 40 minutes south of Wilcox, Arizona, to see. Hiking through these unique rock formations is the most popular activity here, but you can also take a scenic drive through Bonita Canyon and tour Faraway Ranch.

El Paso Zoo  

Five minutes off of your route through El Paso, Texas, and close to the US/Mexico border is the El Paso Zoo. Exotic animals from around the world call this 35-acre zoo home, as do attractions like the African Star Train, the Hunt Family Endangered Species Carousel, and the Foster Tree-house Playground.

Fort Worth Stockyards  

If you want to learn more about Texas's livestock industry on your Los Angeles to Dallas RV road trip, then you'll want to stop and explore the Fort Worth Stockyards. In this historic district, you can walk on original brick walkways, watch part of a cattle drive, view the Legends of Texas Gunfight, and more. You'll also be able to visit steakhouses, a boot shop, a mercantile, and a saloon at this Western destination.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Phoenix, Arizona  

Whether you want to visit Phoenix’s multiple championship golf courses or explore the Musical Instrument Museum, you’ll find plenty to do here. Numerous dump stations and campgrounds are in this area. 

Tucson, Arizona

Tourists often come here to see Saguaro National Park, but you should also visit the Pima Air and Space Museum and the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Plenty of nice dump stations and campgrounds are close by.

Las Cruces, New Mexico  

New Mexico State University and Old Mesilla Village are two attractions that call this desert oasis home. Also in the area are some quality dump stations and campgrounds.

El Paso, Texas  

By visiting places like the El Paso Museum of Art and Scenic Drive – Overlook, you can get a feel for this Texas border town. Multiple comfortable campgrounds are nearby.

Fort Worth, Texas  

Before you reach Dallas, you should explore some of Fort Worth’s best places like the Fort Worth Zoo and Six Flags Over Texas. There are some top-notch dump stations and campgrounds in the Fort Worth area.

Find Adventure from Los Angeles to Dallas

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from Los Angeles to Dallas, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in Los Angeles or Dallas.