Road-Trippin’ Bliss: 2,000 Miles, 3 States, and a Lifetime of Memories

Road-Trippin’ Bliss: 2,000 Miles, 3 States, and a Lifetime of Memories

Road trips have a certain charm, don’t they? The open road, the endless possibilities, and the thrill of discovering new places with the people you love. This summer, my husband, brother, and I embarked on an unforgettable road trip that took us all over the place, sighting a handful of quirky roadside attractions, and some of the most breathtaking natural wonders America has to offer. Over 2,000 miles in nine days – it was the adventure of a lifetime. So buckle up, grab your favorite road trip snacks, and join us on this journey from Oklahoma City through Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. I promise you, it’s a trip worth remembering!

Oklahoma City to New Mexico

We started our epic road trip in Oklahoma City. Early in the morning, with iced coffee in hand and our favorite tunes playing on Spotify, we hit the road for the adventure of a lifetime. Our first stop was the quirky Cadillac Ranch, just outside Amarillo, Texas. Despite the strong wind, we managed to snap a few photos of the colorful, half-buried Cadillacs. Our initial plan was to make our mark with some spray paint, but the wind had other ideas.

After a long day on the road, we arrived in Farmington, New Mexico, for an overnight stay at the Fairfield Inn. The rooms were spacious and comfy, and, to my surprise, I discovered my husband’s newfound love for free breakfast at hotels. Who knew?

Flagstaff/Sedona, AZ

With a full belly and plenty of rest, we were ready to continue our journey to Flagstaff, Arizona. The drive through the Southwest’s stunning landscapes was an experience in itself. Upon our arrival, we checked into our adorable AirBNB – I’ve linked all AirBNB’s in my recommendations at the end of this post. This one was complete with a hot tub and fire pit. We were so impressed with this little gem!

On our first morning in Flagstaff, we set out on an unforgettable adventure: a hot air balloon ride over Sedona with Red Rock Balloon Adventures. Trust me when I say that floating over the red rock formation in the morning sun is a sight you’ll never forget. The crew was hilarious and knowledgeable, adding to the overall amazing experience. After our balloon ride, they even took us to a scenic lookout for celebratory mimosas.

Back in Flagstaff, we headed downtown for a hearty breakfast at an eclectic spot, The Toasted Owl Café, that hit the spot after our early morning adventure. The rest of the day was low-key, just enjoying our AirBNB, ordering some pizza, and relaxing.

The next day, we tackled the Devil’s Bridge hike in Sedona. What an incredible trail! I highly recommend it, as the views from the top are well worth the effort. Just make sure to wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for a bit of a wait at the top for that perfect photo op. Afterwards, we indulged in a delicious meal at Creekside, a picturesque restaurant with amazing views. That night, we attended The Chief Comedy Festival at the Orpheum Theater, where we laughed our heads off.

Zion, UT

Our next destination was Zion Wildflower Resort in Utah. The resort offered a unique glamping experience in canvas tents with all the amenities you could ask for, like a heated blanket and air conditioning. We were genuinely blown away by the comfort and luxury of our accommodations. My brother stayed in a private bungalow, which was equally impressive, complete with a bamboo swing and private patio.

The resort’s outdoor kitchen and grills were cleaned meticulously every day, making our nightly cookouts a breeze. We gathered around the communal bonfire one of the nights, roasting marshmallows for s’mores, meeting new people, and sharing our travel stories.

While in Zion, we took on the Scout’s Lookout hike, leading up to Angel’s Landing. It was a challenging yet rewarding hike that offered breathtaking views of Zion National Park. Note that if you want to hike Angel’s Landing, you need a permit. We had an amazing time at the resort, making the most of the glamping experience and enjoying the beauty of Zion National Park.

Colorado Springs, CO

Our final stop was Colorado Springs, Colorado. We stayed in a charming AirBNB near the city’s bustling downtown area. During our visit, we explored the unique Ivywild School, a repurposed schoolhouse that now houses several restaurants and bars. The next day, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll around town, indulging in ice cream and root beer from Josh & John’s Don’t skip out on the root beer, promise it won’t disappoint.

As our road trip came to an end, we spent a quiet evening in our AirBNB, reminiscing about our incredible journey and all the memories we created along the way.

Recommended Travel Essentials for Your Next Road Trip

Portable Phone Charger – This was great since we were always on the go and I was draining my battery with pictures and video!

Comfortable Travel Pillow – Catch some shut-eye during long stretches on the road with a neck-supporting travel pillow.

Back Support  – This proved to be a huge help on our trip! My husband drove the entire time and he loved this support.

Road Trip Snacks – Stock up on a variety of snacks, both healthy and indulgent, to keep your energy up and satisfy those munchies. My favorite snack were the pull-apart Twizzlers.

Insulated Water Bottle – I love my IronFlask and my favorite thing to do is buy stickers of places I go and put them all over my water bottle!

Multi-Port Car Charger – Keep all your devices charged at once, so you’re never caught with a dead battery. See a trend? My phone always is dying.

Sunglasses – Protect your eyes from the sun’s glare and travel in style with a good pair of shades. The linked ones are my absolute favorite!

Hiking Shoes – Get the good grippy shoes for hiking – I promise they were so helpful. My husband has Newbalance Fresh Foam X Hierro and I have Nike Zoomx Zegama Trail

Roadtrippers – This is the app we used to organize all of our stops – it’s amazing. It suggests roadside attractions within the radius of your route and even estimates your gas total!

AllTrails – This is an app we used to navigate our way on the trails – highly recommend for any hiking!

A Good Playlist or Podcasts – Set the mood with your favorite tunes or keep entertained with engaging podcasts. We use Spotify for it all!

Places to Visit/Stay

I’ve listed some of the incredible places we visited and stayed at during our road trip. Check out the links to get more information and plan your own adventure!

Accommodations:

Flagstaff AirBNB: This location was an easy drive to downtown Flagstaff and had everything we could need. Super comfortable, would be great for families! Plus, the aesthetics of the home were super cozy.

Zion Wildflower Resort: Literally the best choice we made on this trip. Comfortable, clean, plenty to do and I still dream about their outdoor setup!

Colorado Springs AirBNB: This location was an easy drive to downtown Colorado Springs! It had everything we needed and had a big back yard.

Places to Eat:

Flagstaff/Sedona:

Pizzicletta: Don’t skip the Burrata Caprese with Focaccia and Prociotto!

The Toasted Owl Café: Busy little spot! We got the bigger mimosas so we could take home the fun owl glasses it came in!

Creekside: The food is awesome but the views are too! Don’t miss out on this spot.

Colorado Springs:

Ivywild School: This spot was super cool to explore and had a great variety of food options!

Josh & John’s: This was an unplanned stop that surprised us all with the fantastic root beer and ice cream!

Third Space Coffee: This coffee shop has flights of coffee – so of course I got that and some avocado toast! Great atmosphere, food, coffee and service!

Story Coffee Co.: This cute little spot has a walkup window in the middle of downtown Colorado Springs. It was so cute, the iced coffee was delicious and the service was very friendly!

Things to Do:

Cadillac Ranch: This quirky roadside attraction is worth the stop and makes for a great photo-op!

Flagstaff/Sedona:

Hikes Devil’s Bridge: This hike was rather easy overall, but there were a few spots that got me. I would do this hike over and over – the views were great and the photo-op was a once in a lifetime shot!

Find Entertainment at the Orpheum Theater: We lucked out and got to enjoy a great comedy show, but they have all sorts of entertainment come through!

Red Rock Balloon Adventures: Check this off your bucket list in Sedona! I promise you, it will not disappoint.

Zion:

Zion National Park: Don’t forget to get your permit for the trails that require it!

Happy travels!

Maddi