9 days in United States Itinerary
9 days in United States Itinerary
Created using Inspirock United States attractions planner
Start: Hays
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Hays
— Few hours
Drive
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Big Bend National Park
— 1 day
Drive
3
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
— 1 night
Drive
4
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
— 2 nights
Drive
5
Alamogordo
— 1 night
Drive
6
Mesa Verde National Park
— 1 night
Drive
7
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
— 1 night
Drive
8
Hays
— 1 night
End: Hays
Sat, Dec 12 - Sun, Dec 20
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Hays is a city in and the county seat of Ellis County, Kansas, United States. Kick off your visit on the 12th (Sat): examine the collection at Merci Boxcar and then get a new perspective on nature at Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
To see reviews, where to stay, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Hays trip planner.
Use the Route module to find travel options from your starting location to Hays. Expect a daytime high around 44°F in December, and nighttime lows around 20°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 12th (Sat) to allow time for travel to Big Bend National Park.
To see reviews, where to stay, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Hays trip planner.
Use the Route module to find travel options from your starting location to Hays. Expect a daytime high around 44°F in December, and nighttime lows around 20°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 12th (Sat) to allow time for travel to Big Bend National Park.
Things to do in Hays
Highlights from your trip
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Situated where the Rio Grande River takes a big southerly dip in West Texas, Big Bend National Park covers a massive expanse of desert, woodlands, and grasslands full of rivers, limestone canyons, and high mountains. Nearly 2,000 species of plant and animal life call this place home.On the 13th (Sun), hike along Lost Mine Trail and then take in the awesome beauty at Chisos Mountains.
For traveler tips, other places to visit, where to stay, and more tourist information, refer to the Big Bend National Park trip planner.
Traveling by car from Hays to Big Bend National Park takes 13.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and car. Expect much hotter temperatures when traveling from Hays in December; daily highs in Big Bend National Park reach 65°F and lows reach 41°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Sun) so you can travel to Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Things to do in Big Bend National Park
Highlights from your trip
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The eponymous range that fills Guadalupe Mountains National Park creates a magnificent break in the barrenness of the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert.On the 14th (Mon), explore the stunning scenery at McKittrick Canyon and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Devil's Hall Trail.
For reviews, photos, and tourist information, use the Guadalupe Mountains National Park vacation tool.
Getting from Big Bend National Park to Guadalupe Mountains National Park by car takes about 5 hours. Other options: do a combination of car and flight. The time zone difference when traveling from Big Bend National Park to Guadalupe Mountains National Park is minus 1 hour. Traveling from Big Bend National Park in December, things will get slightly colder in Guadalupe Mountains National Park: highs are around 54°F and lows about 35°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 14th (Mon) so you can go by car to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Things to do in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
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The canyons, cacti, and thorny bushes of the southern New Mexico desert hide one of the U.S.'s great subterranean geological wonders, Carlsbad Caverns National Park.Find out how to plan Carlsbad Caverns National Park trip without stress by asking Inspirock to help create an itinerary.
Getting from Guadalupe Mountains National Park to Carlsbad Caverns National Park by car takes about 2 hours. December in Carlsbad Caverns National Park sees daily highs of 58°F and lows of 31°F at night. On the 16th (Wed), you're off to Alamogordo.
Things to do in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
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Alamogordo is the seat of Otero County, New Mexico, United States. Kick off your visit on the 16th (Wed): do a tasting at Heart of the Desert.
For traveler tips, more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, read our Alamogordo visit planning website.
Traveling by car from Carlsbad Caverns National Park to Alamogordo takes 4.5 hours. In December, plan for daily highs up to 56°F, and evening lows to 30°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 17th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Mesa Verde National Park.
For traveler tips, more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, read our Alamogordo visit planning website.
Traveling by car from Carlsbad Caverns National Park to Alamogordo takes 4.5 hours. In December, plan for daily highs up to 56°F, and evening lows to 30°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 17th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Mesa Verde National Park.
Things to do in Alamogordo
Highlights from your trip
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Whereas most national parks are primarily devoted to showcasing unique and special landscapes, Mesa Verde National Park focuses on ancient human habitation.Kick off your visit on the 18th (Fri): explore the ancient world of Far View Sites, then contemplate the long history of Cliff Palace, then trek along Spruce Canyon Trail, and finally delve into the distant past at Spruce Tree House.
To see other places to visit, photos, and more tourist information, use the Mesa Verde National Park trip itinerary maker tool.
Traveling by car from Alamogordo to Mesa Verde National Park takes 9 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and flight; or do a combination of car and flight. Plan for slightly colder temperatures traveling from Alamogordo in December, with highs in Mesa Verde National Park at 44°F and lows at 15°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Fri) to allow time to travel to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.
Things to do in Mesa Verde National Park
Highlights from your trip
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Start off your visit on the 19th (Sat): trek along Mosca Pass Trail.
For ratings, photos, reviews, and more tourist information, read Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve journey planner.
Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Mesa Verde National Park to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from Mesa Verde National Park in December, with highs in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve at 37°F and lows at 2°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Sat) so you can travel to Hays.
For ratings, photos, reviews, and more tourist information, read Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve journey planner.
Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Mesa Verde National Park to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. Plan for little chillier temperatures traveling from Mesa Verde National Park in December, with highs in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve at 37°F and lows at 2°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Sat) so you can travel to Hays.
Things to do in Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
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On the 20th (Sun), relax and rejuvenate at spa Rock Haven, relax in the rural setting at Heartland Farm, and then see the interesting displays at Barbed Wire Museum.
For maps, traveler tips, photos, and tourist information, read Hays trip maker app.
Explore your travel options from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve to Hays with the Route module. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve to Hays. Plan for a bit warmer temperatures traveling from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve in December, with highs in Hays at 44°F and lows at 20°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sun) so you can travel back home.
For maps, traveler tips, photos, and tourist information, read Hays trip maker app.
Explore your travel options from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve to Hays with the Route module. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve to Hays. Plan for a bit warmer temperatures traveling from Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve in December, with highs in Hays at 44°F and lows at 20°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sun) so you can travel back home.
Things to do in Hays
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United States travel guide
More than the country of car-packed streets seen in TV shows and movies, the United States of America is a complex and diverse home to over 300 million people living in a wide range of landscapes and climates. From its big-city skyscrapers to its sprawling natural parks, the country's ''melting pot'' combines many ethnic groups that share a strong sense of national identity despite their cultural differences. A country of road trips and big blue skies, the United States harbors orderly cities filled with restaurants, parks, museums, and innumerable sightseeing opportunities, as well as pristine natural areas perfect for a holiday in the great outdoors. To see as much as you can of this diverse land quickly, drive over some of the more than 6 million km (4 million mi) of highways leading through deserts, mountain peaks, fertile fields, and giant urban centers.
