🏞️ Discover the 5 Most Beautiful National Parks in West America
Start your adventure from Las Vegas!
The USA is home to over 400 protected natural areas, including 61 official national parks—each one more stunning than the last. Most of these natural wonders are located in the western part of the country, making it the perfect region for a road trip packed with breathtaking landscapes.
Of course, visiting all national parks in one trip would take months (or even a year!), so we picked 5 must-see parks that you can easily combine in a one- or two-week itinerary from Las Vegas.
✈ Best Time to Travel
The best months to visit West America’s national parks are April, May, September, and October. We travelled in October and had amazing weather—sunny days and mild temperatures.
☀️ Avoid July and August if you can: it’s high season, very crowded, and extremely hot.
❄️ Winter months can bring snow, so hiking and park access may be limited.
📶 Internet in the USA
Heads up: your European mobile data plan won’t work in the U.S. Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi, but if you want to stay connected on the go, we highly recommend using an eSIM.
🌍 We always use Airalo for our eSIMs. It’s super easy to install and gives you access to local 4G or 5G networks within minutes.
✈ How to Get to Las Vegas
Las Vegas is just a 10-hour direct flight from Amsterdam, making it an ideal base for your American adventure. Combine the buzz of the Strip with a nature-packed road trip, and you’ve got the ultimate family getaway.
🚀 Direct flights are available with KLM.
💸 Looking for cheaper options? Use Skyscanner to compare flight dates and Tix.nl for the best deals.
🚗 How to Visit the National Parks from Las Vegas
You have two great options:
- By rental car (our top choice)
- By guided tour
🚘 Renting a Car in the USA
Traveling by car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Roads are wide, well maintained, and easy to navigate—even with kids!
We always book with Sunny Cars because you’re fully insured with no hidden costs. Want to compare options? Check Rentalcars.com and EasyTerra.
🚌 Going on a Tour
Prefer someone else to do the driving? No worries!
We joined a 3-day tour with Empire Vacations and were blown away by the experience.
Even better—you can book the same trip via GetYourGuide, which offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. Perfect if you like to keep your travel plans flexible.
🌄 Our Top 5 National Parks You Can’t Miss
- Grand Canyon National Park
Let’s start with the obvious one: the Grand Canyon. It’s the most iconic park in the USA—and for good reason.
This immense canyon stretches 435 km long and up to 29 km wide, with the Colorado River carving its way through the layers of red rock. You can see up to 100 km into the distance, making you feel incredibly small (in the best way!).
📍Closest park entrance: Grand Canyon South Rim (ideal from Las Vegas)
- Antelope Canyon
This surreal slot canyon is smaller than the Grand Canyon but just as spectacular. Wind and water have sculpted the rocks into smooth, flowing curves—perfect for photographers and nature lovers alike.
Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo land, and you can only visit with a guided tour.
🧭 Tip: Book your time slot far in advance, especially if you’re traveling by rental car.
🚐 If you’re on a group tour, it’s already included!
- Bryce Canyon National Park
Unlike anything you’ve seen before, Bryce Canyon is famous for its orange-and-white hoodoos—tall, thin spires of rock that seem to defy gravity.
🥾 Don’t miss the chance to hike into the canyon itself! Walking among the formations gives you a completely different perspective than viewing from above.
- Zion National Park
Zion is pure magic—a place where emerald rivers wind through deep red canyons, and towering cliffs hide lush forests and waterfalls. Whether you’re into hiking, cycling, or just soaking in the views, Zion has something for everyone.
🍁 We visited in October, and the fall colors made it even more magical.
- Death Valley National Park
Welcome to the hottest place on Earth! Death Valley sits 86 meters below sea level and regularly hits temperatures above 50°C in the summer.
🔥 Avoid visiting in July or August. Instead, go in spring or autumn to explore the dramatic desert landscapes, salt flats, and canyons.
You can visit independently or book this tour from Las Vegas.
🎒 What to Pack for Your National Parks Trip
Here are our favorite travel essentials for a comfortable and organized road trip:
- ✅ RFID neck pouch to safely store your passport and money
- ✅ Phone lanyard so your phone is always within reach
- ✅ Packing Cubes for organized luggage (with compression zipper!)
- ✅ Hanging toiletry bag with 360° hook
- ✅ Silicone travel bottles for liquids
- ✅ Solid shampoo, conditioner & body bars in an organizer—eco-friendly & carry-on approved!
- ✅ Refillable perfume atomizer
- ✅ Reusable cotton pads + face bar
- ✅ Mini Sawyer water filter—drink from any tap without plastic waste!
Ready for Your American Adventure?
Whether you go by car or join a tour, the national parks of West America will leave you speechless. From deep canyons to painted cliffs and desert valleys, every stop feels like a movie scene.
👉 Have questions? Want help planning your route? Send us a DM on Instagram traveliciousfromnl or leave a comment below!
Let the adventure begin!