Roadtrip with RVshare San Diego to Albuquerque

A road trip from San Diego to Albuquerque offers some of the most photographed scenery in the country. There’s more to this trip than just viewing beautiful settings, though. Stops on the way provide opportunities for water fun (a nice break from desert climates) and rock climbing. History buffs will be interested in exploring old gold mines, visiting an archeological site, or seeing an antique English bridge. You can even ride a llama during this trip!

Nearby National Parks

Joshua Tree National Park

There are only a few places in the world where Joshua trees grow, and one of them is right on your route, so a stop is in order. Of course, Joshua Tree National Park is home to the Joshua tree, which looks like a cross between a cactus and a tree, and it’s come to represent survival and perseverance in the desert. Walk the 0.6-mile Indian Cove trail to get a better look at the spiny trees, and you can also see some weirdly formed boulders. More quirky rock formations can be seen along the Skull Rock, the Wonderland of Rocks, or the White Tank Campground trails. The White Tank trail takes you to one of the most amazing rock formations in the park, the 30-foot-tall Arch Rock. For even more adventure, scale one of the over 8,000 rock climbs in the park. You can also learn about the area's gold-mining history by taking the two-mile hike to explore the Lost Horse Mine.

Petrified Forest National Park

Millions of years ago, a volcanic eruption covered the lush forest in this area in lava. The forest was destroyed, but the remains were preserved and can be seen today as petrified wood, which is mostly made of quartz. At Petrified Forest National Park, you can view the large blocks of petrified wood from the many hiking trails. If you’d rather ride than walk, horses, burros, mules, and even llamas are available to take you to see the sights. Visit the Rainbow Forest Museum to learn about the petrified trees, geological formations, Triassic-era fossils, and ancient art of the area. If you are interested in archeology, a visit to Puerco Pueblo, which is on the site of a village from 600 years ago, should be on your list.

Grand Canyon National Park

If you've never been to the Grand Canyon, this is a great opportunity to see it as it's only 80 miles from your San Diego to Albuquerque road trip route. Even if you've been there multiple times before, this canyon is so jaw-droppingly huge that it's always worth another visit. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and 1 mile deep. This famed national park gets 5.9 million visitors a year. The tiny river you see at the bottom of the canyon is the mighty Colorado River, which formed the canyon through millions of years of erosion. One of the best ways to see the Grand Canyon is by venturing out on the horseshoe-shaped Skywalk, which projects 70 feet out from the rim. It has glass floors and sides so you get an amazing aerial view. The Skywalk, which is at Grand Canyon West, is managed by the Hualapai Tribe.

Nearby State Parks

Lake Havasu State Park

After driving miles through hot desert climates, Lake Havasu State Park will seem like an oasis in the desert. Lake Havasu has many options for water recreation; you can rent a boat or other water sports gear to get out on the water, or you can simply relax on a sandy beach. The most-visited site in the park is the London Bridge. The actual world-famous bridge in the children’s nursery rhyme can be found at Lake Havasu State Park. It was imported from London, and it is not falling down. When the bridge was reassembled in Arizona, engineers added a steel framework faced in granite to strengthen the bridge while making it lighter. The ornate lamp posts you’ll see on the bridge are actually made from cannons from Napoleon Bonaparte’s army.

Red Rock State Park

You’ve probably heard of Cathedral Rock. The name conjures images of a majestic, inspiring structure made of rock, and the actual Cathedral Rock does not disappoint. It is one of the most-photographed sights in Arizona. It’s surrounded by myriad red rock formations in Red Rock State Park, and the five miles of hiking trails throughout the park can give you great views of them all.

Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park

This area was designated as a state park to remember firefighters who lost their lives there. On June 28, 2013, lightning ignited a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona. The Granite Mountain Hotshots members, an elite band of firefighters, were enlisted among other firefighters to fight the fire. An extreme and sudden shift in the weather on June 30 brought the fire to a new intensity, cut off the hotshots’ escape route, and killed 19 of the 20 team members. Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park was dedicated in 2016 to honor the fallen men. You can hike a 3.5-mile trail to where the hotshots made their last stand. At the fatality site, 19 gabions, one for each hotshot killed, are joined by chains. The sobering park is about an hour and a half from Phoenix.

Slide Rock State Park

If you’re up for a thrill ride, you can slide along the slick bottom of Oak Creek at Slide Rock State Park. The slide is very popular with locals and tourists, so you might want to get there early. You can also hike for some great views of the surrounding red rock scenery. West Fork Trail is one of the more popular hikes. If you’re not up for hiking, you can drive a 13-mile loop to see much of the scenery at the 286-acre nature preserve.

Along the Way

Pioneertown, California

Pioneertown in California began as a Hollywood Wild West film set where hundreds of movies were made. Today, you can walk along Pioneertown Main Street to feel like you’re in a Wild West action movie.

Winslow's Standin’ on the Corner Park

“Well, I'm a standin' on the corner in Winslow, Arizona, and such a fine sight to see. It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin' down to take a look at me.” Remember that line? The town of Winslow created the Standin’ on the Corner Park to commemorate the famous lyrics from the 1970s Eagles song “Take It Easy.” On the park corner, you’ll find a recreation of the scene of a girl in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at the singer, who is represented by a statue of a long-haired man with a guitar. Winslow, Arizona, is located where the iconic Route 66 meets Interstate 40.

Petroglyph National Monument

Over 24,000 petroglyphs from about 1300 to 1600 A.D. can be found on broken lava blocks within a canyon right outside of Albuquerque. The primitive art was made by chipping the outer layer of the lava to show the lighter rock underneath.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

You'll see a variety of cities on your drive with many campgrounds to choose from. Before you go, you'll want to identify convenient dump stations along the route from California to New Mexico so that you can travel in comfort.

Palm Springs

Palm Springs, a luxurious resort city surrounded by four picturesque mountain ranges, is definitely worth a stop during your San Diego to Albuquerque RV road trip. While you’re there, you can enjoy the hot springs, eat at a fabulous restaurant, or admire the city's many great examples of mid-century modern architecture.

Flagstaff

Flagstaff is surrounded by desert, mountains, ponderosa pine forests, and even volcanoes. Humphrey’s Peak, the tallest mountain in Arizona and home to the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort, overlooks Flagstaff. Flagstaff has a higher elevation than surrounding cities, so its cooler climate is a welcome relief. Flagstaff has many campgrounds for your RV.

Phoenix

Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and the fifth-most populous city in the United States. If you have some time to stop in Phoenix, you have quite a few choices for relaxation and entertainment. A popular stop for visitors is the Desert Botanical Garden, where you can tour desert species from around the world. You can also visit the Heard Museum to see its large collection of American Indian art. The Phoenix Zoo is highly rated and houses only animals that are comfortable in the dry, hot climate of Phoenix. When you are ready to park your RV, you’ll find plenty of great campgrounds in the area.

Find Adventure from San Diego to Albuquerque

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from San Diego to Albuquerque, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in San Diego or Albuquerque.