Monumental Road Trip from Chicago to the Rocky Mountains and the American Southwest
This iconic trip offers a peak experience of Middle America and the American West. The journey begins in Chicago, the magnificent Midwest capital — a city of great food and skyscrapers on the shores of Lake Michigan. From there, you head west, crossing the Mississippi River and diving into the vast Great Plains.
As you ascend the Rocky Mountains, you’ll encounter some of America’s most majestic landmarks, foremost among them Mount Rushmore — the colossal sculpture of four U.S. presidents that has become an American icon. From Mount Rushmore, continue to Yellowstone National Park, the birthplace of American nature conservation.
From Yellowstone, you head south through Grand Teton National Park, reaching the highest peaks of the Rockies in Colorado, and then return to civilization in the city of Denver.
Colorado River and the Wild West Canyons
The Colorado River carves its way from the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains through a vast desert plateau known as the Colorado Plateau, famously associated with the American “Wild West.” This elevated plateau features soft Navajo sandstone layered atop older, harder rock formations. The carving of the Colorado River and its tributaries has created a unique geological formation of canyons.
Along this river route are some of the most famous canyons in the U.S., with the Grand Canyon being the most iconic. Beyond the canyons, the desert landscape is filled with stunning natural formations such as buttes, mesas, arches, and pillars.
Southwest Road Trip from Las Vegas
Starting from Las Vegas, you can visit all these geological wonders, which are located in popular national parks and nature reserves. The circular route east of Las Vegas includes these parks and sites:
Valley of Fire State Park
Hoover Dam
Grand Canyon National Park
Monument Valley
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Kodachrome Basin State Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Dixie National Forest
Zion National Park
Red Cliffs National Conservation Area
Coyote Buttes
Glen Canyon
This route perfectly combines breathtaking natural beauty, iconic landmarks, and a true taste of the American West’s history and geology.
Monument Valley – The Iconic Wonder of the Navajo Nation Monument Valley, located in the heart of the Navajo Nation’s independent territory, is one of
Yellowstone – 10 Family-Friendly Accommodation Options Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is the birthplace of the national park culture in the USA. The closest place
Discovering Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited parks in the world. Not far from the big city
Bryce Canyon – The Unique Stone Hoodoos in Utah’s National Park Bryce Canyon National Park, located in southern Utah, is one of the most unique
Zion National Park – The Stunning Nature of Utah Zion National Park stretches along the breathtaking canyon of Navajo Sandstone, carved by the erosion of
Grand Teton – The Untamed Park Nestled near the rare geothermal sites of Yellowstone Park lies a particularly verdant and pastoral alpine valley, under the
Yellowstone – The First National Park Yellowstone National Park is the birthplace of the conservation movement. It is the first national park in the world,
Grand Canyon – The Awe-Inspiring Canyon The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most famous icons among the stunning national parks in the
Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills Mount Rushmore is one of the most iconic sculptures in the entire United States. The ambitious project was supported