A San Antonio to Las Vegas road trip takes about 19 hours and covers more than 1,200 miles. During such a long RV trip through some of the country's most iconic surroundings, it makes sense to take time to view the scenery along the way. Driving from San Antonio to Las Vegas will take you through four states, two time zones and many historic landmarks and scenic parks, including the Desert Botanical Gardens, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Dripping Springs Ruins and El Paso Tin Mines. Every traveler on this route should be sure to check out the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park in Pine, Ariz., between Phoenix and Flagstaff.
The trip from San Antonio to Las Vegas will take you close to some of the most iconic national parks in the Southwest. The arid landscape creates breathtaking rock formations and canyons all along the 1,283-mile journey.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Salt Flat, Texas, is home to the Guadalupe Peak Trail. Whether you're hiking or biking, this trail will take you through some amazing scenery and stunning vistas overlooking the desert mountain peaks and wind-carved buttes. The combination of fossilized reef mountains and grasslands makes this national park well worth the three-hour detour from the main route.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a system of natural underground caverns in Carlsbad, N.M. Inside the caverns, there are lights and pathways for visitors to follow while taking in the incredible sights. No matter what time of the year you visit Carlsbad Caverns, the temperature underground will be around 55 degrees. A tour through the caverns takes about 2.5 hours, and tours usually begin around 9:30 a.m.
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park in Tucson has some of the country's most recognizable desert formations. Guided hikes through the mountains will take you past stands of saguaro cacti, known for their tall trunks and upward-stretching limbs.
Petrified Forest National Park
The Petrified Forest National Park is a big stretch of desert to the west of Flagstaff, Ariz. It includes part of Arizona's Painted Desert as well as an ancient forest of colorful petrified trees. Tours through this park are self-guided and include several possible routes.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park is famous all over the world for its staggering views and historic trails. The deepest canyons in the park reach about a mile from top to bottom, and visitors can ride rafts on the Colorado River, which runs through the park.
Since there are dozens of state parks located directly on the route, you can enjoy the mountains and deserts of the American Southwest without adding too much time to your trip. No road trip from San Antonio to Las Vegas would be complete without a visit to at least one or two state parks.
Davis Mountains State Park
With plenty of wildlife and beautiful scenery to look at, Davis Mountains State Park in Fort Davis, Texas, is a great place to stop on your trip. Travelers love this park for its many hiking trails, mountains and clear desert skies filled with stars at night. The park has a designated area for RV campers to park overnight. Visitors can step inside the rustic lodge located on park grounds.
Franklin Mountains State Park
Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, Texas, consists of over 24,000 acres of desert landscape with scenic views and overnight camping spots for RV drivers. The network of hiking trails and mountain paths leads visitors along a journey through the West Texas desert. Rock climbers can take advantage of the many challenging cliffs and rock faces available.
Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park
Along the Rio Grande in Las Cruces, N.M., Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park offers visitors a wealth of opportunities for adventure. From hiking to camping to river rafting, the activities available in this park are fun and exciting. Most visitors come to Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park to view the wildlife, which includes hundreds of species of birds.
Oracle State Park
Oracle State Park is a large wildlife refuge located in Oracle, Ariz. It's home to miles of hiking trails and beautiful landscapes dotted with traditional adobe buildings. Visitors can look at the plants and animals that are native to this region of the country.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
The Tonto Natural Bridge State Park in Pine, Ariz., is a great place to stop for sightseeing, hiking and birding. The natural land bridge crosses over Pine Creek, which brings water and plant life to the desert landscape.
El Paso Tin Mines
Your road trip itinerary from San Antonio to Las Vegas should include a stop at the historic El Paso Tin Mines. This underground mining network was built into the beautiful desert landscape of the Franklin Mountains. It contains many challenging hiking trails and scenic views.
Dripping Springs Ruins
Dripping Springs Ruins is a 19th-century outpost in Las Cruces, N.M., that has been converted into a modern hiking trail network with a visitor center. It offers a fun way to spend the morning or afternoon and an ideal place to park your RV for a rest.
Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Ariz., boasts a beautiful collection of 50,000 desert plants growing in carefully manicured beds on 140 acres of land. If you're interested in how plant life can thrive in the desert, this is an essential stop on your San Antonio to Las Vegas RV road trip.
Fort Stockton
On a long road trip from San Antonio to Las Vegas, it's important to have several stopping-off points. Fort Stockton is a historic small city in midwest Texas. It offers plenty of landmarks, restaurants, gas stations and RV parks for long-distance travelers. It's only about four hours from San Antonio, so you can take advantage of its close proximity on your journey.
El Paso
El Paso is a big city on the boundary between Texas, Mexico and New Mexico. RV drivers can find dump stations and convenient campgrounds for overnight stays in El Paso. With many exciting sights to see, this West Texas city offers travelers a place to rest and recuperate for the journey ahead. If you're looking for a dump station in the area, you can enjoy on-site services if you stay at Mission RV Park or El Paso West/Anthony KOA Journey.
Las Cruces
Las Cruces is the first city you'll come to in New Mexico. It's a small, historic city filled with adobe houses, prickly pear cacti and excellent campgrounds. You can also find a full-service dump station at the Las Cruces TA Travel Center. Because Las Cruces is just 46 miles from El Paso, most travelers won't need to stay overnight in both cities on the same trip. Both locations are worth the time and attention, and they're both located directly en route.
Tucson
Tucson is the next city you'll pass on your way to Las Vegas. It's a big, historic city about 113 miles southeast of Phoenix. Tucson offers travelers a wealth of sights and places to rest and recharge for the remainder of the journey. There are also many RV dump stations and campgrounds in the area.
Phoenix
Phoenix is the last big city you'll see before you get to Las Vegas. It's the capital of Arizona and a great place to find RV dump stations, campgrounds, restaurants, shopping malls and other facilities. Depending on your level of fatigue, you may want to make Phoenix your last stop before arriving at Las Vegas.
A San Antonio to Las Vegas road trip presents a great experience for vacationers and travelers. The cities, sights and historical landmarks offer so many things to do that the trip could easily stretch out for weeks. At RVshare, we offer RV rental options to fit any situation, so take a look at the great deals we have available in San Antonio and Las Vegas.
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