The Southwest

The Southwest is where most families picture the great American road trip — and it lives up to the daydream. Red rock canyons, star-filled desert nights and the greatest hits of the national park system all sit within a comfortable loop of one another, which is exactly why this region makes such a confident first RV route. You are never far from the next unforgettable stop, and the roads that link them are some of the most scenic driving in the country.

Zion and Bryce Canyon are the natural place to begin. Zion's shuttle system keeps the valley calm and car-free, so even young children can ride to the trailheads while you leave the RV parked. Bryce, an hour up the road, trades slot canyons for a hillside of glowing orange hoodoos that kids tend to describe as a fairy-tale city. Keep hikes short and shaded, carry far more water than feels necessary, and start early — the desert rewards families who are back at camp by the time the midday heat settles in.

The Grand Canyon deserves a full rest day rather than a fly-by. The South Rim has the most family infrastructure: a free shuttle, a paved rim trail with railings, ranger programmes and a proper visitor centre. Give everyone time simply to sit with the view, then pick one gentle stretch of the rim to walk together rather than chasing a big descent. Little legs and steep switchbacks in the sun are not a happy combination.

Page ties the loop together and is worth its own overnight. Horseshoe Bend is a short walk from the car park, and the guided Antelope Canyon tours are genuinely magical for children old enough to stay on their feet in a crowd. From here, Las Vegas works less as a destination and more as a practical hub — a place to fly in, collect the RV, stock up on supplies and drop back at the end without a long repositioning drive.

The trade-offs are heat and altitude, and both are easy to manage once you plan around them. Book campgrounds inside the parks several months ahead in high season, favour spring and autumn over the fierce summer midday, and don't underestimate the distances between stops — the map compresses the miles that the desert stretches out. Bank in a slow day or two, and the Southwest gives back far more than it asks.