3 Parks in 3 Days: A Quick Southwest National Parks Road Trip

One of the best parts of road-tripping through the U.S. is finding those rare stretches where you can hit multiple national parks without spending all day driving—and this Southwest route is one of our favorites for that. In just three days, we explored White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and Guadalupe Mountains—each one totally different, and all surprisingly close to each other. In this 3 National Parks in 3 Days itinerary, we’re sharing what to see, where to stay, and much more!

↔️ This road trip works in either direction, so feel free to flip the order based on your starting point or travel plans.

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Table of Contents

🗺️ 3 National Parks in 3 Days – Itinerary Overview

Here’s a quick overview of the itinerary. We’ve based it around flying into El Paso for travelers coming from farther away—but if you’re driving in, just skip the flight details!

Day 1: ✈️ Fly into El Paso in the morning, drive 1.5 hours to White Sands, and spend the afternoon exploring the dunes.
Day 2: 🕳️ Drive 3.5 hours to Carlsbad Caverns and spend the day underground checking out the caverns.
Day 3: 🥾 Drive 40 minutes to Guadalupe Mountains to hike Guadalupe Peak (or opt for a shorter trail), then head 1.5 hours back to El Paso to fly out.

📝 You can swap the order of this itinerary if you prefer, starting out with Guadalupe Mountains National Park and ending with White Sands National Park.

Day 1: White Sands National Park

Kick off your Southwest road trip in White Sands National Park. While it only earned national park status in 2019, it’s been protected as a national monument since 1933. Covering 275 square miles, this park is home to the largest gypsum dune field on Earth—and once you’re deep in the dunes, it’s nothing but cool, white sand in every direction. It felt like being on another planet and made for some of our favorite photos of the whole trip.

Top things to do here include renting a sled and cruising down the dunes, exploring one of the five marked trails, grilling at a picnic area, or joining a ranger-led Sunset Walk. If you want a full breakdown of how to spend your time, we’ve put together a detailed 1-Day in White Sands Itinerary—check it out for more ideas and travel tips!

Once you’re done for the day, we recommend fitting in the drive to our next destination, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, this evening instead of in the morning. It’s about a 3.5-hour drive (not including stops), and we prefer to wake up in a place when we can.

🚗 The park is located right off Highway 70 between Las Cruces and Alamogordo. If you’re coming from the west, the drive through the San Andres mountain pass is especially scenic—definitely worth the route!

📍 Top Things to Do in White Sands

Rent a Sled and Go Sand Sledding — Sleds can be rented for $15-20 in the visitor center.
Dune Life Nature Trail — A short, 1-mile loop trail with the most wildlife activity in the park.
Alkfali Flat Trail — A 3-hour desert hike through the dunes that is best attempted at sunrise.
Picnic Lunch — Set up for lunch at one of the park’s 62 picnic tables, all with a private charcoal grill.
Go on a Sunset Stroll — Friday through Sunday, rangers lead a 1-hour sunset walk in the park. You can also enjoy the sunset on your own. Either way, don’t miss the sunset here—it’s one of the most breathtaking we’ve seen in the US!

⛺ Nearby Accommodations

Free BLM Land — Holloman Lake (Public Access) is just a 5-minute drive from the park. We stayed here one night and loved how close it was to the park. The free BLM camping area by a man-made lake had around 20 other RVs, vans, and campers. The lake contains non-potable water with possible PFAs, so be careful if you have a dog like us and take them on walks.
Campground — Alamogordo / White Sands KOA Journey is a 20-minute drive from the park and a great option if you’re looking for a more comfortable camping stay. This particular spot offers RV hookups, tent campsites, and even individual lodging.
Hotel — The Classic Desert Aire Hotel is a 20-minute drive away in Alamogordo, NM, if you’re looking for more comfort and amenities than a campground or free BLM land.

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White Sands ➡️Carlsbad Caverns
3 h. 22 min.

Day 2: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Day 2, we’re taking on Carlsbad Caverns National Park—completely different from what you just experienced in White Sands! Beneath the desert surface of this park lies one of the most jaw-dropping cave systems in the world. The massive underground chambers, towering stalagmites, and winding limestone formations seem to go on forever.

The top thing to do here is to hike 1.5 miles down into the caverns via the Natural Entrance Trail. There is also an elevator from the Visitor Center that can be taken both up and down. Either way, you’ll need to book a timed entry for $1/person either at that link or in person at the Visitor Center. This ensures that there aren’t too many people in the caverns at once.

Once you hike or take the elevator down into the caverns, you’ll immediately transition to the Big Room Loop, 1.25 more miles of paved trail that takes you through stalactites, stalagmites, and rock curtains. For a full breakdown of how to spend a day in Carlsbad Caverns, check out our article—1 Day in Carlsbad Caverns: Itinerary and Ultimate Guide.

📍 Things to Do in Carlsbad Caverns

Ranger-Led Tour — Although now a rarity in this park, we were able to score a ranger-led tour of King’s Palace (a cavern now closed to the general public) by getting in line 45 minutes before the Visitor Center opened at 9 a.m.
Natural Entrance Trail — This steep, 1.25-mile hike takes you 750 feet down into the cave system. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime feeling as you descend and the light of the outside world slowly fades behind you.
Big Room — This 1.25-mile loop is the main event underground, guiding you through the largest single cave chamber in North America. It’s an easy, mostly flat walk packed with massive formations and towering columns.
Bat Flight — If you’re visiting from May to October, you may be able to witness the evening flight of thousands of Brazilian free-tailed bats out of the caves—just head to the amphitheatre a half hour before sunset for a front-row seat!
Old Guano Trail — Although Carlsbad Caverns National Park is known for its underground world, there are still above-ground hikes that lead you through the desert like this one and others on AllTrails.

⛺ Nearby Accommodations

Free BLM Land — Chosa Campground is a free, first-come, first-serve lot-style campground just 19 minutes from the park. This lot was pretty large and you could stay in a tent, but the winds are known to pick up here, so we recommend staying in a car, RV, or van if possible.
Campground — Carlsbad KOA Holiday is your closest paid campground, about 40 minutes north, with more amenities than free BLM land gets you, from a pool to grilling areas.
RV Park — White’s City RV Park is going to be your closest full-service RV park, just five minutes from the caverns.
Hotel — Sleep Inn & Suites Carlsbad Caverns Area is a moderately priced hotel located in Carlsbad, NM, about a 40-minute drive from the park if you’re looking for a comfortable stay.

Try Harvests Hosts and receive a free month on us!

Members get unlimited overnight stays at thousands of small businesses, including farms, wineries, breweries & distilleries, and attractions, that invite RVers to park for safe and convenient stays.

🚗 At the end of Day 2, you have two options—to stay the night near Carlsbad Caverns or drive 45 minutes to wake up even closer to Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Carlsbad Caverns ➡️ Guadalupe Mountains
42 min.

Day 3: Guadalupe Mountains National Park

For Day 3, you’ll cross into Texas to explore Guadalupe Mountains National Park, just a 45-minute drive from Carlsbad Caverns. This rugged park is home to Guadalupe Peak—the tallest point in Texas! You’ll also find fossil-studded canyons, sweeping desert views, and even remnants of the historic Butterfield Overland Mail Route.

The most iconic hike here is the Guadalupe Peak Trail, a challenging 6–8 hour trek that rewards you with panoramic views from the “Top of Texas.” If you’re dedicating a full day to the park, this is a bucket list-worthy trail! Be sure to hit the trail early (before sunrise, like we did) and come prepared with layers, plenty of water, and protein-packed snacks.

If you’re up for more adventure on your way back down, you can transition onto the Devil’s Hall Trail. This trail offers a completely different landscape, winding through a rocky wash and ending at a natural stone staircase into the narrow Devil’s Hall. We combined Devil’s Hall with Guadalupe Peak Trail, adding about 2 hours to our overall hiking time.

💡 Check out the “Things to Do” section below for alternate (shorter) hikes or ways to extend your visit a day or two—Guadalupe Mountains is a larger, wilder park than the last two, with a lot to offer!

📍 Things to Do in Guadalupe Mountains

Go Hiking — This national park is a hiker’s paradise, with trails of varying lengths, difficulties, and terrains. Check out the top 7 hikes in the park here.
Frijole Ranch History Museum — Stop into this museum for a peek into the human history of what is now Guadalupe Mountains National Park, from early cattle ranchers to stagecoach routes that passed through here.
The Pinery — The Pinery is what’s left of a stagecoach stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route from the 19th century. Also, it’s the only dog-friendly trail in the park!
Pine Springs Visitor Center — The main visitor center in the park and our favorite. Head to this center to check out the exhibits, read about the local flora and fauna, and chat with rangers. You can also get your national park passport stamped here!

⛺ Nearby Accommodations (Unless Flying Back)

In-Park Campgrounds — Guadalupe Mountains National Park Campgrounds include 2 regular campgrounds for RVs and tent campers, 1 horse corral, and various backcountry camping spots—all within the park!
Free RV Parking — Pine Spring Safety Rest Stop is just 10 minutes from the park and has 18 car parking spots and 10 18-wheeler or RV spots. The bathrooms were clean, and there were views of the Guadalupe Mountains!
BLM Land in New Mexico — If you head back over the border into New Mexico, you can find plenty of free BLM Land like this Crystal Snake Pull Off BLM, where you can stay the night for free!
Hotel — Karbani Inn is an affordable motel located a 40-minute drive away from the park, back in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Try Harvests Hosts and receive a free month on us!

Members get unlimited overnight stays at thousands of small businesses, including farms, wineries, breweries & distilleries, and attractions, that invite RVers to park for safe and convenient stays.

Guadalupe Mountains ➡️ El Paso Airport
1 h. 36 min.

🌵 Add Big Bend National Park For a 4-Park, 7-Day Itinerary

If you’re still left wanting more, there’s one more park you could tag on to the end of this trip—Big Bend National Park. This park is significantly larger than the last three, so although it can be visited in a day, we recommend spending 2-3 days minimum if you drive the extra 5-6 hours down to Big Bend.

💡Check out our 3-Day Big Bend National Park Itinerary & Ultimate Guide if you’re interested in learning more about how to visit this park—from things to do, where to stay, and more!

🌤️ Best Time of Year for this Road Trip

We recommend doing this road trip between November and April. As all of these parks are located in the Southwest US, temperatures start to seriously rise in April and May. In addition, several of these parks experience limited facilities during the summer months, with certain visitor centers, campgrounds, and ranger-led programming closing as early as May.

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💰 3-Day Road Trip Budget

The biggest expenses for this road trip are gas and national park entrance fees. You’ll also want to factor in food, souvenirs, lodging, and any paid activities. If you stick to cooking your meals, go on free ranger-led programs, and favor free campsites and BLM land like us, this trip can be made quite budget-friendly.

⛽ Gas Cost Calculator: Want to estimate your gas costs? Plug your route into Google Maps to get the total mileage, then use a fuel cost calculator to factor in your car’s MPG and expected gas prices.

National Park Entrance Fees

National Park	Entrance Fee
White Sands National Park	$25/vehicle
Carlsbad Caverns National Park	$15/person + $1/person for cavern entry slot
Guadalupe Mountains National Park	$10/person
Flights to/from El Paso	$150–$400 per person (depending on where you’re flying from and when you book)
Campervan Rental with Outdoorsy	$125–$225 per night (plus insurance + mileage fees)

If you’re travelling as a group of 3+ people, or tagging on Big Bend to the end of this trip, we highly recommend investing in the America the Beautiful pass. For $80 per vehicle, you’ll save money in the long run and be able to visit as many parks as you like for 12 months.

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🎒 Southwest National Parks Packing List

Before you head out on your Southwest national parks adventure, it’s important to pack smart—these parks can be sunny, dry, and remote. In this list, we’re sharing the essential clothing, sun protection, and safety items that helped us stay comfortable and prepared.

Clothing

Lightweight long-sleeve shirt — Elliot’s favorite long-sleeve sun shirt and Jen’s favorite long-sleeve sun shirt. We both have these sunshirts and love them!
Hiking Pants — We recommend lightweight but long hiking pants to help protect your skin from the sun. These are Elliot’s favorite hiking pants and Jen’s favorite hiking pants.
Solid Pair of Hiking Shoes — Elliot’s favorite trail runners and Jen’s favorite hiking boots.

Sun Safety

Wide-brimmed hat — As part of sun safety, we love wearing these wide-brimmed hats.
Sunscreen — It’s easy to underestimate the sun, so don’t forget a sunscreen of 15 SPF or higher and to reapply every few hours.
Sunglasses — The glare from the white gypsum sand in White Sands National Park is intense, so we highly recommend bringing along your best pair of sunglasses.

Miscellaneous

Lightweight backpack — Elliot carries this backpack while Jen carries this backpack.
Refillable Water Bottles — We filled up our National Park refillable water bottles several times throughout the day at each park. There are no water stations once you’re out in the dunes, in the caverns, or on a mountain.
First Aid Kit — A first aid kit is one of those items we hope to never have to use, but always have on us just in case.
Food — Energizing snacks for hiking like nuts, protein bars, or dried fruit are musts for us. If you’re interested in grilling at one of the public-use grills in White Sands, make sure to bring in your grilling supplies like charcoal, lighter fluid, and cooking tools.
GPS — We carry the Garmin InReach Mini 2 with us on all national park trails for safety. That being said, a GPS is helpful but not always 100% reliable in White Sands National Park in particular. We made sure to also document our hikes on our phone so we could retrace our map back to the car.

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3 Parks in 3 Days: A Quick Southwest National Parks Road Trip

🗺️ 3 National Parks in 3 Days – Itinerary Overview