ITINERARIES
Southwest Road Trip - San Antonio to Tucson
One Week Trip for Families
This road trip goes through so much beauty! See 4 National Parks and so much more! This trip is most recommended for kids ages 5 and up (not napping and able to hike on their own).
- Deciding when to go – The shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit for weather, crowds, and cost. But this can also be a great summer trip! If going during summer, make sure you are prepared to handle the heat. See out packing list for tips.
- Flights – We recommend flying into San Antonio (SAT) and out of Phoenix (PHX) for this trip to save time driving. You can also combine this trip with our Arizona to Vegas itinerary and fly out of Vegas instead. You can also reverse the itinerary and fly into Phoenix and out of San Antonio. If you can drive to one of these places – even better! Rent a car and do a one-way flight home.
- Car Rental – This flight will require a car rental unless you have an RV or want to do a lot of driving in your own car. I recommend comparing prices on Expedia and Booking.com – both usually have great prices. If you have kids that still need a car seat or booster, you can rent these through car rental places, or pack your own.
- Lodging – This trip involves hopping around to multiple locations so we recommend doing hotels over rentals. The hotels below are ones we recommend. You can also consider using an RV and staying in campgrounds. Contact us for our list of recommended campgrounds.
(Please consider using our links below to book your lodging. It is no extra cost to you, but we earn a small commission which is what keeps this site alive. Thank you!)
- San Antonio (1 night) – We recommend staying near The Alamo and Riverwalk area. We stayed at SpringHill Suites – Downtown/Riverwalk and liked that it has easy surface parking for a lower fee than others, was a short walk to the Riverwalk, and had a good free breakfast.
- Fredericksburg (2 nights) – We recommend staying within walking distance of the main historic street downtown, where there are lots of shops and restaurants. Fredericksburg Inn and Suites has nice rooms, 2 outdoor heated pools (one of which has a small slide which kids will love), free breakfast, and is within walking distance to Main Street.
- Carlsbad (1 night) – Your best option is White City Cavern Inn. This is the only hotel close to Carlsbad Caverns, and it has a great outdoor pool area with 2 large waterslides and a kids water play area, plus free breakfast.
- Las Cruces (1 night) – You’ll be heading up to White Sands, so choosing something up near Hwy 70 is best. We enjoyed staying at Townplace Suites. Another good option in that area is Home2Suites is you want to compare prices.
- Tucson (1 night) – Depending on when you are flying out, you may want to stay near the airport. There is a Townplace Suites near the airport that is nice and has free breakfast and a pool.
- If you have more time, see the tab below about options for extending your trip. This will mean booking extra hotel nights.
- NOTE for families of 5 or 6: Some of the hotels above won’t sleep your full party. You can book two rooms or do what we did – we bought an air mattress early in the trip and used it at the hotels that only slept 4 people.
- Other Reservations and Tickets Needed in Advance:
- America the Beautiful Pass – You’ll be visiting multiple National Parks so getting an annual pass will be best. Ordering online in advance and having the pass shipped to you will save time and avoid you having to visit a Visitor’s Center to purchase the pass (hours and staffing are sometimes limited.) Buy the America the Beautiful Pass online >
- Alamo Reservation – See the Alamo tab below under Day 1 for a breakdown of the different ticket options, then buy your tickets online >
- Schlitterbahn Tickets – If you’ll be visiting this awesome waterpark, you can save time and money buying your tickets online in advance >
- Enchanted Rock State Park – We recommend buying your passes in advance because the park can fill to capacity some days. Make a reservation online >
- Carlsbad Caverns – Your America the Beautiful Pass gets you in, but you still have to reserve a time for entering the caverns. We recommend reserving a time after lunch, like around 1pm on the day you’ll be visiting. Make a Carlsbad Cavern reservation online >
- Clothes that match the season. Check the 10-day weather forecast for the locations you’ll be visiting and plan to pack layers.
- Comfortable shoes with good traction that you can hike in
- Sandals or water shoes for heading to the pool or water park
- Bathing suits
- All Toiletries
- Backpack, fanny pack, or cross-shoulder bag to carry around essentials during the day
- A water backpack like this can be very helpful for days you will be hiking and don’t want to carry water bottles
- All chargers – phones, watches, tablets, etc.
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses – essential for ALL – especially at White Sands National Park
- Medicines
- Coats/jackets – even if the weather is hot you’ll want a jacket or sweatshirt for your day in Carlsbad Caverns.
- Ponchos or rain coats if there’s rain in the forecast
- Sound machine (if you’re sharing a hotel room with your whole family a sound machine really helps block out noises!)
- Car seats and/or boosters if needed, or you can rent them from the car rental company.
- Families of 5 – pack an air mattress for rooms that don’t sleep 5, or plan to buy one after your flight.
Prices are always going to vary! But here are some ranges/estimates to help you budget:
- Flights – $300-700 per person (consider using points if you have them!)
- 6 hotel nights – $100-300 per night (based on our recommended places to stay)
- Food (estimates based on averages and assuming free breakfasts at hotels) – $30-80/adult per day, $20-40/kid per day
- Shopping – this can vary a lot depending on your shopping habits, but it’s hard not to shop at some of the great Visitor’s Centers. It’s best to have a shopping budget in mind to stick to.
- Activity costs:
– America the Beautiful Pass – $80 (covers the whole family)
– The Alamo – $14-48/adult and $10-38 per kid, depending on the type of tour chosen (see Alamo tab under Day 1 for info)
– Riverwalk cruise – $15/person
– Schlitterbahn tickets – $42/person (varies – check website)
– Enchanted Rock State Park – $8/adult, children 12 and under free - Total Budget Range for a family of 4: $3,000-5,000
This itinerary packs a lot in a short time, but there is a lot more you can explore if you have more time.
Ideas:
1. Add a day in San Antonio. You could visit:
- Six Flags Siesta Texas – a classic theme park with a mix of thrill and kid rides
- Sea World San Antonio – part aquarium, part theme park, lots of fun!
- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch – a drive through wildlife park where you can get up close and personal to many exotic animals and feed them from your car.
- San Antonio Zoo – a great zoo with lots of animals.
3. Add another night in Tucson. You could visit:
- Check out the other side of Saguaro National Park
- Arizona-Sonor Desert Museum – a zoo, botanical garden, and natural history museum all in one! This place is beautiful!
- Reid Park Zoo – see over 400 animals at this city zoo. People usually spend about 2 hours.
- Pima Air & Space Museum – do you have kids who love airplanes? They will love this museum!
Jump to a Day
Day 1
San Antonio
Depending on where you live, fly or drive to San Antonio. This plan assumes you can fly in early in the day so you’ll have time to enjoy the city the same day. If flying in late, you’ll need to do the things below on the next day.
If flying in, you’ll need to rent a car (see information in the Advanced Prep tab above). Pick up your rental car and drive downtown. Park in one of the parking garages near the Alamo and the Riverwalk:
- Closest to the Alamo: 110 Losoya St, San Antonio, TX 78205
- Riverwalk Parking Garage: 408 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205
- Rivercenter Parking Garage: 849 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205
The Alamo is the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, a pivotal battle in the Texas Revolution against Mexico. It was originally a Catholic mission, then became a military garrison. It is a symbol of Texan courage and sacrifice.
It is a great piece of history to experience, but if your kids aren’t very interested in history they may not want to spend a long time here. I still think you should do it! But think about what your kids would enjoy when booking a reservation.
Touring options:
- FREE – Just visit the historic church. This is the main building that you think of as The Alamo. Even though it’s free it requires a reservation.
- $14/adult, $10/child – Add entry to the Alamo Exhibit. This museum has lots of artifacts and interactive exhibits that help tell the story of the Alamo. I think it’s worth adding.
- $20/adult, $18/child – Entry to the Alamo Exhibit PLUS an audio tour of the whole complex. The self-guided audio tour includes 11 stops at the church, grounds, and the exhibit. Worth adding for older kids or teens that can pay attention to an audio tour.
- $10/person – Add “Surrounded! The Alamo Augmented Experience”. Use a tablet to bring history to life in The Long Barrack through 6 portal. (We have not done this yet. Learn more here >)
- $48/adult, $38/child – Remember the Alamo™ Guided Tour. A guided walking tour led by a history interpreter that includes the church, the exhibit, and “Surrounded! The Alamo Augmented Experience.” Best for older kids and teens that can pay attention to a tour guide.
Once you’re done exploring the Alamo, you can walk to the Riverwalk. Head to the nearest dock location for Go Rio River Cruises. The location near 706 River Walk, San Antonio, TX 78205 is closest, but the one at Rivercenter isn’t far either. The walk should take about 10 minutes.
You can purchase your ticket at the dock or online. No reservation needed. Tours board every 15-20 minutes and last 35 minutes.
Not all restaurants near the Riverwalk are family friendly. Some are more of a party atmosphere in the evening. Some kid-friendly options include:
- Rainforest Cafe – A little tacky and touristy? Of course! But kids love it! And honestly the food is pretty good.
- Crockett Tavern – Up near the Alamo, this is a fun Western-themed restaurant.
- Rita’s on the River – If you want a place with river views, this is a good kid-friendly one, unless it’s too late in the evening.
- Chart House – This is not a cheap option, but if your kids are eyeing the tower and want to go up in it, you can make a reservation for this rotating restaurant on top of the tower. It is more upscale, but well behaved kids are welcome and will enjoy the views.
Goodnight!
Day 2
In Summer: Schlitterbahn Waterpark
See alternatives below if it’s not summer, if the weather is bad, or you don’t like amazing water parks.
Eat breakfast at your hotel if they offer free breakfast, or save time and grab some fast food on the road. Pack up and pack a small bag with bathing suits, sunscreen, water shoes, sunglasses, and anything else you need for a water park day. Check out of the hotel and drive toward Schlitterbahn Waterpark.
Check the hours for that day (the park usually opens at 10am) and plan to arrive 30-45 minutes to give you time to park and go through security. The first hour of the day will have the shortest lines. The drive will take about 40 minutes, but can vary with traffic.
This is an awesome and unique waterpark! And also very popular!
Important Info:
- There are actually 2 parks. The old park (West side) and the new park (East side).
- In general, the West/old side has shorter wait times and longer rides. This is also the side that is the most unique and what I think of when I think Schlitterbahn. The East/new side has longer lines and shorter but more thrilling rides. It has more things that are typical of other water parks.
- If this is your first time visiting and you only have a day, I would spend most of your time on the West side, but check out the park map and the attraction list and decide what’s best for your family.
- You can’t do it all in a day! Look at the map and list of attractions in advance and try to decide what your “must-dos” are. I recommend doing things that are unique to this park and not just spending time in a pool or typical water slides. Talk to your family about this idea before you arrive so everyone is on the same page.
Recommended course of action with kids over 36″:
- Park and start on the West side (the old park). Leave valuables locked in your car and just take essentials for the day – towels, sunscreen, water shoes, phone – ideally with a waterproof case.
- Set your stuff downstairs near the lagoon where there are lots of tables and shade. Leave your bag and towels, keep your water shoes on if you have them.
- Go get in line for the Hillside Tube Chute because it can get a long, slow line later. This ride will put you out in the big lagoon.
- Next walk over to White Water. White Water will put you out near Cliff Hanger, so do that next. Then do the body slides near the exit of Cliffhanger.
- Next head to Raging River (it’s near the lagoon where your stuff is). This is a wonderful and long ride that will end on the other side of the West section.
- Explore this side of the West park! Do the Congo River Expedition, then check out other rides in this area like the Bow Wow Blaster Water Coaster and the Der Bahn Speed Slides.
- Keep an eye on the time and decide when you’d like to take the shuttle to the East side.
- On the East side, we recommend doing Master Blaster and Torrent Tidal River. Only do Wolfpack if the line isn’t too long (in our opinion).
- Definitely do The Falls Tube Shute if it’s open. This is the one with the giant conveyor belt that takes you back up to the top while you sit in your tube.
- On the East side of the East side, we recommend doing Dragon’s Revenge Water Coaster.
I would take turns letting the adults or older kids in your group go do the fun stuff while one adult stays with the little in the kid areas. There are kid sections in both areas of the park.
It’s about an hour and a half (without traffic) to Fredericksburg. When you arrive and where you stop for dinner will depend on what time you leave the water park and when you get hungry.
If you make it all the way to Fredericksburg for a late dinner, there are many German restaurants downtown that are great!
(If you don’t want to drive in the evening, you could stay around San Antonio another night and then drive in the morning.)
Six Flags Siesta Texas – a classic theme park with a mix of thrill and kid rides
Sea World San Antonio – part aquarium, part theme park, lots of fun!
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch – a drive through wildlife park where you can get up close and personal to many exotic animals and feed them from your car.
San Antonio Zoo – a great zoo with lots of animals.
All the options above are great and kid approved! We recommend Schlitterbahn most because it is so unique among water parks, but you haven’t experienced a Six Flags or Sea World or wildlife park before – give one a try!
There are also many other San Antonio area attractions and museums, they just don’t make our top 5 of kid favorites.
Day 3
Fredericksburg and Enchanted Rock
Get up and get ready, eat breakfast, and head toward this state park early to beat the heat of the day.
What to wear for the day:
Wear clothes you can both hike in, and feel comfortable visiting a winery in. The wineries we recommend are kid-friendly and not fancy. Wear shoes you can hike in, or bring a change of shoes.
This state park north of Fredericksburg features a huge, dome-shaped rock. You can choose to hike around the perimeter of the rock, or hike the summit trail which will take you to the top of the rock.
The Summit Trail is unique and offers great views, but it is tough! You can choose to just do a part of it and not go all the way to the top. Make sure you are wearing sunscreen and have water with you! There is little to no shade on the trail. But kids enjoy climbing the rock!
Sometimes there is a snow cone truck at the start/end of the trail which is a fun treat after the hike!
State Park Cost: $8/adult, 12 and under free
The Fredericksburg area is Texas wine country! Even if you aren’t a wine drinker, we recommend checking out a few of these beautiful properties!
Not all the wineries are very kid-friendly. These are the ones we recommend visiting if you have kids with you:
Grapetown Vineyards – it’s not just a vineyard – it’s a zoo too! Sip wine and take a safari through the game farm to see some awesome animals. They also have a kids play area, fun events like grape stomping, and special experiences to purchase like getting to cuddle with a micro mini highland cow!
Rhinory – they have real rhinos on their ranch! Sip a glass of wine that supports rhino conservation and get to watch these awesome animals.
Becker Vineyards – if you want great wine and a big lawn for kids to run around in, this spot is great!
Fredericksburg is a quaint town of German heritage. Head to Main Street and check out some of the stores and restaurants and choose one to have dinner. We recommend eating somewhere with German food while in a German town! We enjoyed the food and atmosphere at Fredericksburg Brewing Company.
If you booked one of the hotels we recommended that has a pool, it could be a good night for a swim before a day of driving!
Day 4
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
What to wear:
Prepare for a day of driving, then doing a hike in the early evening. Wear shoes you can hike in!
Eat breakfast at your hotel or plan to get breakfast on your way out of town.
The drive to Guadalupe Mountains National Park will take about 6 hours (409 miles), but with stops it will take longer. Map >
The drive is actually quite lovely. I had never driven through Western Texas until doing this trip and was quite surprised by the beauty!
Drive into the park and park in the Pine Springs Trailhead and campground parking lot. Make sure you display your annual park pass on your rearview mirror.
Recommend Hike: Devil’s Hall
- Round-trip length: 4 miles total, out and back
- Duration: 3-5 hours (Check the time of sunset before you start and keep an eye on your pace)
- Elevation change: 603 ft.
- Trail surface: Dirt, gravel, rocks, boulders
- Age: This varies per kid, but any age that can climb up and down rocks on their own or with an adult helping them. The second part of the trail would be tough to do with a baby or toddler in a carrier.
- Description: The first mile takes you through a high desert landscape surrounded by mountains. You then head down into a washout area and have to do some rock scrambling (climbing over big rocks) as you weave back into the canyon. You then come to a natural rock staircase that leads to the Devil’s Hall, which is really a canyon with steep walls. See photos below.
- Warning: This is our favorite, but our kids are pretty experienced hikers and find rock scrambling fun. There will be times you have to use all your limbs and your butt to get up and down rocks. If it has recently rained and the rocks are wet, then we do not recommend doing this hike. Proper shoes and trekking poles are helpful for this hike (although our youngest child did it in crocs once because she couldn’t find her other shoes and she survived with some help.) You MUST have water with you. We like these water backpacks so you can hike hands-free.
- Alternative: You can also just do the first mile of the hike and turn around when the trail goes down into the washout area.
If you got a reservation at White’s City Cavern Inn (the closest and only hotel near Carlsbad Caverns), the drive will be about 30 minutes.
If you did not get a reservation at White’s City Cavern Inn, you’ll most likely be spending the night in Carlsbad, NM, the closest city that has many hotel options. It will be about an hour’s drive to Carlsbad.
Day 5
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
If you are staying at White’s City Cavern Inn, enjoy their free breakfast! And if it’s warm enough, enjoy the outdoor pools and waterslides! Enjoy a leisurely morning and check out by 11am.
As you get ready for the day – make sure you are prepared for the cool weather inside the cavern. It’s always humid and 56 degrees. Wear closed-toed shoes with good traction because some surfaces may be wet and slippery.
* If Interested…you could wake up super early and watch the bats return to the caverns. You can view them at the bat amphitheater inside the park. The time will depend on the time of year and when the sun rises. You can learn more on the National Park site >
Start driving into the National Park, and if you’d like, there are two short trails you can stop and do if interested.
The Walnut Canyon Vista Trail will give you sweeping views of the canyon and desert.
The Walnut Nature Trail takes you to a rock outcropping where you can see handprints of native peoples (see photos below).
Drive up to the Visitor’s Center and explore the interactive exhibits.
Get some lunch before you head into the caverns because once inside there are only snacks. In the gift shop part of the Visitor’s Center is a small cafe with Soutwest options like quesadillas, tacos, and Frito Pie, plus a grab-and-go area with salads and sandwiches.
How to get in the cave:
- Natural Entrance: If you do not have mobility issues, we highly recommend doing the Natural Cave Entrance. You get to see the mouth of the cave and walk right down into it. You have to be ok walking on a decline and your kids have to be ok with going downhill for a while WITHOUT RUNNING. But you’ll get to see much more of the caverns using this entrance.
- If you prefer, you can use the elevator entrance from the Visitor’s Center. You will not see as much of the cave or the mouth of the cave, but it will save you 45-60 minutes of walking.
- We do not recommend exiting the cave through the Natural Entrance trail unless you want a serious uphill workout! It’s best to walk down into the cave, then take the elevator back up.
Natural Entrance Trail:
- You will walk outside of the Visitor’s Center and follow the signs to the entrance.
- When staffed, a ranger will stop you and give instructions for entering the cave to small groups of people at a time.
- There is also a bathroom at the top of the entrance that I recommend using because the next bathroom is about an hour of walking away.
- The trail will take you through the mouth of the cave through switchbacks. You will see how early explorers entered the cave and get to see Devil’s Spring, the Whale’s Mouth, and Iceberg Rock.
- The trail will take about 45-60 minutes to complete.
- When you get to the bottom you will see signs pointing to the left for restrooms and snacks. It’s pretty cool to use the bathroom and eat a snack inside a cave! And it’s a great time for a break before you do the Big Room trail.
Big Room Trail
- Follow the signs to start the Big Room Trail, the most popular trail that takes you through the largest cave chamber in North America.
- The trail is 1.25 miles, relatively flat, and makes a loop. It will take about 1.5 hours. If your kids start to get tired or bored, there is a shortcut to make it only about a 45 minute trail but you will miss some of the cooler features of the cave.
- There are several places to sit if needed throughout the trail and emergency call boxes if needed.
- When you’re done, follow the signs to the elevator and ride back up out of the caverns.
- As you leave Carlsbad Caverns, MAKE SURE YOU GET GAS in White’s City! You have a 3 hour drive through the desert ahead of you with little to NO gas stations until you get near El Paso.
- The drive to Las Cruces should take about 3 hours.
- There will be restaurants around the El Paso area if you need to stop for dinner. Or if you make it all the way to Las Cruces for dinner, head to Si Señor Restaurant for some good authentic New Mexican cuisine!
- Head to your hotel and get some rest!
Day 6
White Sands National Park and Saguaro National Park
Enjoy your hotel’s free breakfast!
Get ready for the day, which means dressing for the weather, applying sunscreen, and bringing sunglasses! It is often sunny and bright in the white sand.
Keep an eye on the weather – if it’s going to be windy you may want extra clothing to protect you from blowing sand. If it gets too windy the park will close.
Try to check out of your hotel and leave fairly early to get to the park before the heat of the day and to make sure you reach Saguaro before the sun sets.
- Drive to White Sands National Park, about a 45 minute drive to Las Cruces. Map >
- Stop by the Visitor’s Center to rent sleds. We rented the standard saucer kind and thought they worked well. Make sure to get the wax and rub the wax on the bottom of the sleds to make them slicker.
- Start driving Dunes Drive, a 13-mile scenic loop and enjoy the views! It’s truly other-worldly to see nothing but white rolling sand dunes.
- There are several places that are good for sledding like the Roadrunner picnic area or at the Alkaili flat trailhead. Look for a spot with a good incline.
Sledding tips:
- Have the heaviest person go down first to blaze a trail. They may have to just scoot themselves down. Then everyone else can follow the same smoothed-out path.
- Pushing a friend can help!
- Sit cross-legged in the center of the saucer to go the fastest.
- Re-apply wax after a few runs.
- Don’t walk up the same area you’re sledding down. Walk up the least steep part of the hill.
The drive from White Sands to Saguaro National Park in the Tucson area will take about 5 hours.
You may want to get lunch in Las Cruces before you go through some areas with few food options.
The section of 1-10 you will be driving is a beautiful desert landscape with some mountains in the background. Keep an eye on the weather though – the area can have dust storms that can cause dangerous driving conditions.
There are 2 sections of Saguaro National Park, so when you put it into your GPS, make sure you choose the desired section. See below to decide which section you want to visit.
There are two part of Saguaro National Park. They are both similar so you are welcome to just pick one, or you can visit both.
- Rincon Mountain District (east):
This is the first one you’ll get to on your way in from Las Cruces, so it may be the better choice to maximize daylight. There is a paved, 8-mile loop drive with several pull outs for you to enjoy views of the huge cacti. If you have time and desire for a hike, there is a 1 mile loop hike to the Freeman Homestead that has a lot of huge saguaros, a desert washout, and the foundations of an old homestead. There are information plaques along the route. - Tucson Mountain District (west):
The West side also has a loop drive that is slightly shorter and unpaved. If you want a hike on the West side, the Wild Dog Trail is a good option at 1.8 miles and lots of saguaros.
Day 7
Fly Home
- Enjoy your hotel’s breakfast if they offer it.
- Get ready for the day and dress for the weather.
- Make sure you have sunglasses!
- Fill up water bottles and have them with you in the car.
- If it’s going to be a hot day, try to leave early to get to White Sands before it gets too hot. Just check the hours first.
- If it’s going to be windy, you may want long pants and sleeves to protect you from blowing sand. If it gets too windy, the park will close.
If you have time to explore Tucson before you head home, consider these activities:
- Check out the other side of Saguaro National Park
- Arizona-Sonor Desert Museum – a zoo, botanical garden, and natural history museum all in one! This place is beautiful!
- Reid Park Zoo – see over 400 animals at this city zoo. People usually spend about 2 hours.
- Pima Air & Space Museum – have a kids that loves airplanes? They will love this museum!
Make sure you give yourself enough time to return the car, get to the terminal, check bags, and go through security.
Enjoy your trip home!
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