Southwest Desert Circuit — 14-Day RV Trip From Phoenix
Typical rate: $6,500-$7,500 all-in for two people, 14 days
Take this route with you Tap to open the full route in Google Maps — save it or start turn-by-turn navigation from your phone. Open in Google Maps → The two most expensive things on this trip aren’t the rig — they’re the guided tours and the mileage. When I pulled live listings in July 2026, the national median sat at $150/night across 3,398 rigs, and Phoenix and Las Vegas both came in below that — the cheap launch markets for the Southwest. But this loop runs about 2,000 miles and stacks two paid tours on top of the rental, so the rig is only part of the math. Starting from Phoenix, 14 days links Sedona, both rims of the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, and Joshua Tree across Arizona, a corner of Utah, and California.
What does the route look like at a glance?
Fourteen days, ~2,000 miles, five signature desert landscapes, best driven in spring or fall.
- Launch: Phoenix, AZ (or reverse from Las Vegas)
- Distance: ~2,000 miles round trip
- Recommended class: Class C 26–28 ft — fits Mather’s 30-ft cap, Sedona’s streets, and Joshua Tree
- All-in budget: $6,500–$7,500 for two people
- Best months: March–May and October–November (avoid summer heat at low elevation; North Rim open mid-May–mid-October)
Day-by-day route
Day 1: Phoenix pickup → Sedona
- Morning: Pick up the rig in Phoenix
- Drive: Phoenix → Sedona — 120 mi, 2h via I-17 N
- Evening: Bell Rock or Cathedral Rock sunset · Camp: Rancho Sedona RV Park ($55–85) or Manzanita ($25)
Day 2: Sedona full day
- Morning: Devils Bridge (4 mi round-trip) · Afternoon: Slide Rock State Park or Oak Creek Canyon
- Evening: Airport Mesa sunset · Camp: same as Day 1
Day 3: Sedona → Grand Canyon South Rim
- Drive: Sedona → Mather Campground — 110 mi, 2h 30min via US-89 and AZ-64
- Evening: Mather Point sunset · Camp: Mather Campground ($18–30)
Day 4: Grand Canyon South Rim full day
- Morning: Bright Angel Trail to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse · Afternoon: Hermit Road shuttle to Hopi, Mohave, Pima Points
- Evening: Lipan or Desert View sunset · Camp: Mather
Day 5: Grand Canyon → Page, AZ
- Drive: GC → Page — 135 mi, 2h 30min via AZ-64 E and US-89 N
- Stops: Desert View Watchtower, Cameron Trading Post
- Evening: Horseshoe Bend overlook · Camp: Page-Lake Powell Campground ($45–65)
Day 6: Antelope Canyon + Lake Powell
- Morning: Lower or Upper Antelope Canyon guided tour (required for both; book ahead)
- Afternoon: Wahweap Marina, Lake Powell · Camp: same as Day 5
Day 7: Page → Monument Valley
- Drive: Page → Monument Valley — 130 mi, 2h 30min via US-89 S and US-160 E (Arizona into the Utah border country)
- Evening: Navajo-guided sunset tour · Camp: The View Campground ($30–45)
Day 8: Monument Valley full day
- Morning: Navajo-guided tour into the restricted areas (more access than the self-drive loop)
- Afternoon: Mexican Hat Rock · Evening: John Ford Point sunset · Camp: The View
Day 9: Monument Valley → Grand Canyon North Rim
- Drive: Monument Valley → North Rim — 270 mi, 5h via UT-163 S and US-89A W (Lees Ferry crossing)
- Note: Long day; Marble Canyon is a fallback overnight
- Camp: North Rim Campground ($30) — open May 15–Oct 15 only
Day 10: Grand Canyon North Rim full day
- Morning: Bright Angel Point (1 mi round-trip) · Afternoon: Cape Royal drive (23 mi each way) to Angels Window
- Evening: Grand Lodge porch · Camp: North Rim
Day 11: North Rim → Joshua Tree (long haul)
- Drive: North Rim → Joshua Tree — 460 mi, 8h; split it with an overnight
- Recommended: Cedar Pocket RV Park (St. George, UT) breaks the drive; routing through Las Vegas adds ~100 mi but gives a comfortable overnight in Nevada
- Camp: St. George RV park, or push through to Joshua Tree
Day 12: Joshua Tree National Park
- Morning: Arrive Joshua Tree; set up at Jumbo Rocks or Black Rock (reservations required)
- Afternoon: Hidden Valley trail, Skull Rock · Evening: Keys View sunset · Camp: Jumbo Rocks ($25)
Day 13: Joshua Tree full day
- Morning: Cholla Cactus Garden in first light · Afternoon: Barker Dam Trail
- Evening: Stargazing (International Dark Sky Park) · Camp: same as Day 12
Day 14: Joshua Tree → Phoenix return
- Drive: Joshua Tree → Phoenix — 250 mi, 4h via I-10 E
- Late morning: Dump tanks, refuel · Afternoon: Return the rig in Phoenix
What does it cost all-in?
About $6,500–$7,500 for two people over 14 days — the two guided tours and the mileage are what set this apart from a cheaper week-long loop.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Class C rental: $229/night × 14 (July 2026 median; Phoenix/Vegas often run under this) | $3,206 |
| Booking fees + insurance + cleaning | $700–$900 |
| Fuel (2,000 mi @ 8 mpg @ $3.75/gal) | $940 |
| NPS America the Beautiful pass | $80 |
| Campground fees (NPS $18–30, private $45–85) | $400–$600 |
| Antelope Canyon tour ($60–100 × 2) | $120–$200 |
| Monument Valley Navajo tour ($80–120 × 2) | $160–$240 |
| Food, propane, dining (2 people) | $1,000–$1,400 |
| All-in 14-day loop | $6,606–$7,566 |
That’s the Class C median as of our July 2026 pull. A travel trailer at the $125 median cuts the rental line hard if you already tow, and the flip side is a Class A at $300 — but a big Class A won’t fit Mather, so the class choice does double duty here. The RV rental cost guide walks the full method.
Which RV class fits this route?
A Class C 26–28 ft — the only class that clears Mather’s ~30-ft cap, Sedona’s streets, and Monument Valley’s dirt loop without a fight.
| Class | Southwest fit | July 2026 median |
|---|---|---|
| Travel trailer | Cheapest if you tow; watch length at Mather | $125/night |
| Class B under 22 ft | Fits everywhere; cramped for 14 days | $245/night |
| Class C 26–28 ft | Sweet spot — fits Mather and Jumbo Rocks | $229/night |
| Class C 30–32 ft | Watch Joshua Tree and Mather length caps | $229/night |
| Class A 35+ ft | Skip — shut out of Mather, rough on the Monument Valley loop | $300/night |
For most renters, Class C 26–28 ft is the rig.
What can go wrong out here?
Heat and length limits, mostly — both are predictable, so plan around them. Phoenix, Page, and Joshua Tree all clear 100°F in summer, which is why this is a spring or fall trip. The North Rim closes outside roughly May 15–October 15, so a shoulder-season plan has to respect that window. Mather Campground caps RVs near 30 feet, which quietly rules out the biggest Class A rigs. Monument Valley’s Valley Drive is a 17-mile unpaved loop — a Class C can manage it slowly, but the Navajo-guided tour reaches restricted country you can’t self-drive anyway. And cell service drops out across Navajo Nation and the Page area, so download offline maps before you leave pavement.
When do you need to book?
Six months ahead for Mather, and it can sell out within minutes for peak dates. Mather (South Rim) and the North Rim Campground both open six months out on Recreation.gov. The View at Monument Valley books direct through the Navajo Tribal Park. Antelope Canyon tours go 4–6 weeks ahead through independent operators, and Joshua Tree’s Jumbo Rocks opens six months out. Book Mather first — everything else has more give.
Bottom line
Launch cheap from Phoenix or Las Vegas, run a Class C 26–28 ft, budget $6,500–$7,500 for two, and drive it in spring or fall. Book Mather the day it opens six months out. If two weeks is more than you’ve got, the Utah Mighty 5 loop is a tighter 10-day red-rock trip, and our hubs for RV trips from Las Vegas and RV trips from Phoenix lay out shorter options from either launch city. See also our Arizona, Utah, and Nevada state guides, plus the Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree park guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for the Southwest Desert Circuit?
Fourteen is the honest number if you want both Grand Canyon rims plus Monument Valley and Joshua Tree without living in the driver's seat. You can compress to 10 by dropping either Sedona or Monument Valley and giving Page a single night, but the full loop is a two-week trip.
What does a 14-day Southwest RV trip cost?
About $6,500–$7,500 all-in for two people. A Class C at our July 2026 median of $229/night runs roughly $3,206 for 14 nights, plus $700–$900 in fees and insurance, about $940 in fuel for 2,000 miles, an $80 park pass, $400–$600 in campgrounds, $280–$440 for the Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley tours, and $1,000–$1,400 for food.
Is it cheaper to launch from Phoenix or Las Vegas?
Both are cheap markets relative to the national median. Phoenix is the more direct start for Sedona and Joshua Tree; Las Vegas is closer to the western end and trims fuel if you reverse the loop. Our July 2026 pull showed both running below the $150/night national median, so pick on routing, not price.
What size RV fits the whole loop?
A Class C, 26–28 feet. It clears Mather Campground's 30-foot cap on the South Rim, handles Sedona's tight streets, and fits Joshua Tree's Jumbo Rocks. A Class A over 35 ft gets shut out of Mather and struggles on Monument Valley's dirt loop.
When should I drive it?
March through May or October through November. Summer puts Phoenix, Page, and Joshua Tree well past 100°F at low elevation, and the North Rim is closed outside roughly May 15–October 15. Spring and fall give you open roads and nights you can actually sleep in.
Which reservations are the hardest to get?
Mather Campground on the South Rim, which opens six months ahead on Recreation.gov and can vanish within minutes for peak dates. Book that first, then the North Rim Campground, The View at Monument Valley (booked direct through the Navajo Tribal Park), your Antelope Canyon tour, and Joshua Tree's Jumbo Rocks.