Itinerary 1: Eastern Utah and the Red-Rock Borderlands
Saturday, December 19, 2026 — San Jose to Bakersfield
Drive to Bakersfield; stretch your legs with an evening downtown walk and early dinner.
Sunday, December 20, 2026 — Bakersfield to Las Vegas
Drive to Las Vegas; do a relaxed evening stroll and lights walk.
Monday, December 21, 2026 — Las Vegas to Torrey
Drive to Torrey; finish with a short sunset stop near Capitol Reef.
Tuesday, December 22, 2026 — Capitol Reef National Park
Scenic drive, petroglyph stop, and one easy family hike.
Wednesday, December 23, 2026 — Capitol Reef National Park
Slow second park day with viewpoints, Fruita area, and another short trail.
Thursday, December 24, 2026 — Goblin Valley and transfer south
Explore Goblin Valley, then continue toward Bluff or Mexican Hat.
Friday, December 25, 2026 — Natural Bridges National Monument
Do the scenic loop, bridge viewpoints, and a short walk plus stargazing if skies are clear.
Saturday, December 26, 2026 — Monument Valley
Spend the day on the Monument Valley scenic drive with photo stops.
Sunday, December 27, 2026 — Monument Valley to Moab
Drive to Moab; take an easy sunset viewpoint stop after arrival.
Monday, December 28, 2026 — Arches National Park
Full Arches highlights day with short walks and classic overlooks.
Tuesday, December 29, 2026 — Canyonlands National Park
Big overlook day in Canyonlands with easy trails and scenic viewpoints.
Wednesday, December 30, 2026 — Moab flex day
Use this for a second Arches visit, a scenic drive, or a light adventure day in Moab.
Thursday, December 31, 2026 — Moab to St. George
Drive to St. George; add a short evening walk in town or at a desert viewpoint.
Friday, January 1, 2027 — Snow Canyon / St. George area
Easy New Year’s Day outdoors with a scenic drive and short walks in the red rocks.
Saturday, January 2, 2027 — St. George to San Luis Obispo
Drive west; break it up with lunch and finish with a relaxed downtown or beach sunset.
Sunday, January 3, 2027 — San Luis Obispo to San Jose
Slow breakfast, one last coastal stop, and return to San Jose.
Itinerary 2: Southern Arizona Desert Loop
Saturday, December 19, 2026 — San Jose to Yuma
Drive to Yuma; do a sunset walk by the river and a relaxed dinner.
Sunday, December 20, 2026 — Yuma to Tucson
Drive to Tucson; finish with a cactus-and-sunset stop on the edge of town.
Monday, December 21, 2026 — Saguaro National Park West
Scenic loop, easy desert walks, and sunset among giant saguaros.
Tuesday, December 22, 2026 — Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Spend the day on animals, desert plants, and outdoor exhibits.
Wednesday, December 23, 2026 — Saguaro National Park East
Do the Cactus Forest scenic drive and a couple of short family walks.
Thursday, December 24, 2026 — Mount Lemmon scenic day
Drive up Mount Lemmon for cooler air, mountain views, and village time.
Friday, December 25, 2026 — Colossal Cave Mountain Park
Take a cave tour and enjoy the desert setting around the park.
Saturday, December 26, 2026 — Kartchner Caverns
Make this a cave day with a relaxed afternoon in Benson afterward.
Sunday, December 27, 2026 — Tombstone
Walk the town, enjoy the western atmosphere, and catch a low-key show or stroll.
Monday, December 28, 2026 — Bisbee
Spend the day wandering Old Bisbee’s streets, shops, viewpoints, and cafés.
Tuesday, December 29, 2026 — Bisbee / Cochise County scenic day
Do a lighter day with a scenic drive, a nature stop, and more time in the area.
Wednesday, December 30, 2026 — Return to Tucson
Drive back to Tucson; enjoy a relaxed evening in a fun neighborhood.
Thursday, December 31, 2026 — Tucson easy outdoor day
Repeat a favorite Saguaro side or do a short desert walk and a celebratory dinner.
Friday, January 1, 2027 — Tucson to Borrego Springs
Drive into California desert country; finish with a quiet evening under big skies.
Saturday, January 2, 2027 — Borrego Springs to San Luis Obispo
Drive northwest; break it with a lunch stop and end with a mellow downtown stroll.
Sunday, January 3, 2027 — San Luis Obispo to San Jose
Easy breakfast, one final stop, and return home.
Itinerary 3: White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and the Desert Edge
Saturday, December 19, 2026 — San Jose to Blythe
Drive to Blythe; do a short riverfront sunset stop and easy dinner.
Sunday, December 20, 2026 — Blythe to Tucson
Drive to Tucson; finish with a short evening desert walk or sunset viewpoint.
Monday, December 21, 2026 — Tucson to Las Cruces
Drive to Las Cruces; spend the evening in Mesilla or on a short scenic walk.
Tuesday, December 22, 2026 — Las Cruces to Alamogordo / White Sands sunset
Drive to Alamogordo and go straight to White Sands for a first sunset visit.
Wednesday, December 23, 2026 — White Sands National Park
Do the dunes drive, short walks, and a full sand-sledding afternoon.
Thursday, December 24, 2026 — Alamogordo easy day
Take a lighter day with Cloudcroft or a scenic mountain/desert contrast drive.
Friday, December 25, 2026 — Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Use Christmas Day for a scenic mountain day with viewpoints and one short hike.
Saturday, December 26, 2026 — Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Make this the full cavern day with the main cave experience as the focus.
Sunday, December 27, 2026 — Living Desert Zoo & Gardens
Do an easy wildlife-and-desert-plant day in Carlsbad.
Monday, December 28, 2026 — Carlsbad / Guadalupe flex day
Use this for a second scenic mountain day, an easy local nature stop, or recovery time.
Tuesday, December 29, 2026 — Carlsbad to Tucson
Drive back to Tucson; keep the evening simple with a good dinner and short walk.
Wednesday, December 30, 2026 — Tucson outdoor day
Do a light desert activity day so the return route still feels like vacation.
Thursday, December 31, 2026 — Tucson to Yuma
Drive west; finish with a river walk and low-key New Year’s Eve dinner.
Friday, January 1, 2027 — Yuma to Santa Barbara
Head into California; make New Year’s Day a scenic coast arrival and sunset day.
Saturday, January 2, 2027 — Santa Barbara to Monterey / Central Coast
Drive north with a relaxed lunch stop and an oceanfront evening walk.
Sunday, January 3, 2027 — Monterey / Central Coast to San Jose
Have breakfast, add one final coastal stop, and return to San Jose.
Itinerary 4 - Arizona loop
Saturday, December 19, 2026 — San Jose to Yuma
Drive to Yuma; enjoy a sunset walk and a relaxed dinner.
Sunday, December 20, 2026 — Yuma to Tucson via Sonoran Desert National Monument
Drive east with a scenic desert stop, then continue on to Tucson.
Monday, December 21, 2026 — Saguaro National Park West
Scenic loop, easy desert walks, and sunset among giant saguaros.
Tuesday, December 22, 2026 — Saguaro National Park East
Do the Cactus Forest scenic drive and a couple of short family walks.
Wednesday, December 23, 2026 — Tucson easy desert day
Keep it light with a relaxed scenic outing and an easy evening.
Thursday, December 24, 2026 — Tucson to Sedona
Drive north to Sedona and settle in for red-rock scenery.
Friday, December 25, 2026 — Sedona scenic day
Enjoy red-rock views, a short hike, and a relaxed sunset stop.
Saturday, December 26, 2026 — Oak Creek Canyon scenic day
Drive through Oak Creek Canyon with overlooks, forest scenery, and easy stops.
Sunday, December 27, 2026 — Sedona to Flagstaff
Make the short move to Flagstaff and enjoy a relaxed mountain-town evening.
Monday, December 28, 2026 — Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Spend the day on lava flows, volcanic views, and the scenic loop.
Tuesday, December 29, 2026 — Meteor Crater
Make this a geology day with crater views and a science-focused stop.
Wednesday, December 30, 2026 — Northern Arizona flexible scenic day
Revisit a favorite Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, or Flagstaff-area stop.
Thursday, December 31, 2026 — Northern Arizona to Southern California desert
Use this as a longer transition day west with a relaxed evening at the end.
Friday, January 1, 2027 — Borrego Springs
Enjoy a quiet desert day with big skies and an easy pace.
