Roadschooling in the Southwest | Must See Places

With almost an endless amount of options, you don’t want your children to miss out on some of the best sights to ever see. Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and more states have spectacular famous parks, natural landmarks, and historic sites that you won’t want to miss.

If you continue reading, you can discover old and new sights across the Southwest United States that will excite your children and help them gain new knowledge while traveling.

Grand Canyon

Located in Northern Arizona, the Grand Canyon is one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World. It reaches as far as 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and goes deeper than a mile. It was created by the Colorado River which has been carving its way through the rock for an unknown amount of centuries. Whether your children are learning about Geology, Indian tribes, cave systems, plants, animals, or just want some excellent physical education, there is plenty to learn here!

Havasu Falls

While you are in the Arizona/Grand Canyon area, you might as well visit this beautiful waterfall as well. Located near Supai, the Havasu falls are a gorgeous sight. The orange clay versus the white and blue waters is a rare image. The falls are located within the Havasupai Indian reservation and can only be visited by making a reservation several months in advance. While it does take some planning and quite a bit of hiking, it is truly breathtaking. This is an excellent place to teach children about Indian reservations.

Arches National Park

The natural rock formations at the Arches National Park in Utah are worth a visit. Viewing the strange colors and rocks will encourage your children to think hard. How did these rocks get formed? Why are they those colors? How old are these rocks?

Your child may be interested in earning their Junior Ranger Badge while you visit. It includes 5 or more exercises and 3 adventures.

Zion National Park

Located in Utah, Zion National Park has several hikes and beautiful sights and wildlife to see. During the hot weather, you can hike the Narrows and enjoy the shade of the cliffs on your left and right. There will also be times to wade through the water. Kids can learn about geology, rivers, waterfalls, hanging gardens, and more. They also offer a Junior Ranger service where children can fill out a book and attend programs led by rangers on site. They also have a nature center where children can learn about animal habitats, listen to bird songs, and watch videos of previous flash floods. There is a nature program that discusses dinosaurs and plays Junior Ranger games.

Carlsbad Caverns

Located in New Mexico, the Carlsbad Caverns have more than rocks, trees, and mountains for you to see and learn about. Due to sulfuric acid dissolving limestone, more than 100 caverns were formed beneath the ground.

You and your children can learn about cavern formations, rocks and minerals, temperatures, bats, and more.

Nevada Northern Railway Museum

In Carson City, Nevada, there is a railway museum where you and your children can learn about the invention of trains and how they changed American living for good.

The exhibit shows the different train designs and how all the planning and creating took place. This is a great opportunity to learn about engineering, architecture, construction, and more.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Near Old Town Albuquerque, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center offers a lot. You can learn about Native American History: what they believed, what they cooked, how they lived, how they spoke, and more.

The cultural center teaches about dances and jewelry. Your students can learn a new dance and see the turquoise stones that remain special to the Indian culture.

There are opportunities to research at the Library and Archives as well. Tours and fry-bread-making classes are provided for groups. Reservations must be made. (source)

White Sands National Park

These gorgeous New Mexico sands are loved by the thousands of visitors that attend each year. With sunscreen, sleds, and a cooler full of food and drinks, families can be prepared to enjoy some fun on the sandy slopes.

The Alamo

This historic building in San Antonio, Texas is a cultural hub for the city, an iconic landmark for Texas, and a piece of history beloved by many Texans. As people walk through what has been preserved of the old building, they can see many of the personal touches left behind by those who were harbored in its walls; handwritten dates can be seen on the walls, old hospital rooms are replicated, and there are souvenirs plenty to remember the Alamo.

Moab, Utah

Moab, Utah is a must-see for any outdoor adventurer. From a variety of hiking around different state parks to white water rafting through Cataract Canyon, Moab has something for everyone!

Cave Creek Regional Park

Located in central Arizona, this camp spot is perfect for those who love biking, horseback riding, hiking, and desert picnics. Out in the middle of the desert, this location is sure to be a great spot to connect with nature (and maybe run into a coyote)!

Desert Botanical Garden

Yet another Arizona destination, this spot in Phoenix not only features several walking trails to explore but also hosts events for visitors. Concerts, after-dark activities, and much more keep people on their toes exploring this desert paradise!

Butterfly Wonderland

There’s no falling through a rabbit hole to get into this wonderland, and with butterflies flying everywhere, it’s magical! A cool spot to visit on a hot day, both adults and kids will love the gentle encounters with these unique insects. Head to Scottsdale, Arizona for this trip!

Tonopah Mining Park

Step into history with a visit to this historic mining location. The guided tour here provides a great way to see the old mine shafts while learning more about what occurred in the area.

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park

Once an old mining town, many a lucky person found silver ore here back in the day. Now, the iconic beehive-shaped ovens that were used for smelting are a standing history lesson for visitors. Located in Nevada, this location provides camping, trails, and a unique walk-in experience at the ovens!

U-Dig Fossils

Yes, you actually get to dig fossils here! Many reviewers mention the trilobite fossils they were able to dig up. Just make sure you take the right turn to this neat excavating experience!

Garnet Hill Recreation Area

If you love carefully digging through the dirt to find cool rocks, this is a great place to visit! With hiking and picnic tables around, this Nevada location is a great stop, and you can leave with a personally found souvenir.

Black Rock Lava Flow

Located in Tonopah, Nevada, this can be a quick stop to see a flow that comes from the Lunar Crater volcanic fields. And well, it’s the safest way to get a close-up look at the lava.

Lunar Crater Volcanic Field

This rocky location is a great visit for everyone, and especially for those who love rocks! There are several craters in the area, making it a neat nature stop.

Skyline Drive (Great Western Trail)

This destination is perfect for those who love putting on their favorite playlist and taking a scenic drive! There are also picnic areas and hikes available for a little exploration.

Topaz Mountain Adventures

If you want to check out this location, plan a day to spend digging for topaz! These gorgeous rocks may take some patience to find but are worth the stunning reward.

Wheeler Peak Glacier

Found in Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, this hike or drive leads to stunning views, making up for the high altitude. If you stop here, make sure to explore the caves, too!

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley isn’t jut a literal hotspot; there’s quite a bit of colorful, unique scenery that makes it such a popular place to visit. Just make sure to bring plenty of water, and maybe avoid a summer trip.

Hearst Castle

Experience this early 1900s piece of architecture out in San Simeon, California. Touring the stunning work that was put into 165 rooms is worth the visit!

Tinkertown Museum

A great spot for kids, this museum has lots of fun little miniature displays to observe (some of them even move)!

Meteor Crater

This tourist location provides lots of neat, interactive activities to help people learn more about this crater. Viewing decks, a movie, a much more help visitors to learn about and see this place close up!

Bentonite Hills

Be sure to check out Capital Reef National Park if your kids are interested in geology. It is out of this world. It feels like you’ve left Earth and landed on Mars. If you’re wanting to check out this location, make sure that your car can handle it first. If it can, get ready to see gorgeous colors on the rocks!

Historic Old Town Albuquerque

Last but definitely not least, this historic location is a great stop for food, shops, and experiencing a unique and vibrant atmosphere!

Conclusion

If you will be visiting the Southwest United States, I hope you’ll enjoy some of these must-see attractions. If so, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. What are some of your favorite places to learn and explore in the Southwest? Let’s keep this list growing!

Happy travel homeschooling!