Best time to visit the South West

Visiting the South West in February

Arizona remains the best place to catch your winter sun. Expect a mix of warm cloudy days with regular burst of sunshine. This can be a good time for golfers or anyone looking to explore the desert. You can even ski in the state’s San Francisco Peaks. To the very west, you’ll find the city of Scottsdale, the perfect place to pick out a Stetson and embrace the cowboy culture. A great base for visiting all the attractions of these sunny states, Phoenix is a lively city with a million and one things to see and do. 

Visiting the South West in March

With the arrival of spring, March is a great time for a hiking adventure when the national parks of Utah are likely to be free of tourists. Enjoy warm sunny days with an intermittent cooling breeze, perfect for hitting the hiking trails of Bryce Canyon, home of the eerie hoodoos. Be sure to check out the colossal pink cliffs of Zion National Park, too. 

Cross the state border to Arizona for the annual Country Thunder festival, a huge country music event which lasts for four days. 

Visiting the South West in April

The South West is an impressive spring destination, with a wonderful warm climate. This is one of the best times of year to photograph the Grand Canyon and drink in the unforgettable views. Hike below the crater rim to spot the eagles and vultures which make their homes among the cliffs and crags. The weather is also ideal in Las Vegas at this time of year. Once you’ve had your fill of the Las Vegas Strip, head out with a naturalist guide to observe the flora and fauna of the nearby Mojave Desert. 

Visiting the South West in May

Another great month to experience the great outdoors in Utah and Arizona. At this time of year, you can see waterfalls snaking emerging from cliff faces and wildflowers popping up along the verges. This is a great month for a road trip between all the regions greatest national parks. Enjoy boat trips, camping adventures and wonderful wildlife encounters. Be sure to prepare your playlist in advance before you cruise the fabled Route 66. 

Vegas Uncork'd is a huge food and wine festival, and another reason to visit the South West in May.

Visiting the South West in June

Enter summer, when you can expect reliably scorching weather. Enjoy fresh mornings exploring the harsh deserts. Visit Native American communities and learn how they keep cool this time of year. Spend the hottest part of the day by the pool, or perhaps in an air-conditioned restaurant or museum, before the evening’s entertainment. The heat of the day remains long after the sun has set, making summer in the South West ideal for all night owls. 

This is also the month of the Astronomy Festival in Utah’s Bryce Canyon – prepare to be dazzled. 

Visiting the South West in July

With sun lotion and a brimmed hat – and perhaps a pair of shades – you’re all set for an adventure. See the cool cowboy town of Scottsdale, swing by the Grand Canyon and be sure to end up on the Las Vegas Strip. Step out of the summer heat and into some of the best shops, restaurants and casinos in the world. 

Visiting the South West in August

Las Vegas continues to be a great destination at this time of year. Spectacular sunshine and unlimited luxury are certainly a timeless pairing. Yet Nevada isn’t all about top show – just outside Sin City, you’ll find a world of serene mountains and enchanting forests where a refreshing breeze is ever present, just perfect for picnics and family hikes. 

One of the iconic American festivals, Burning Man is not to be missed. Head into the desert for a full week of music and carefree fun.

Visiting the South West in September

From September onwards, the temperatures cool down across the South West. It’s once again time to enjoy the outdoors at their best. Arizona is a great place for nature to head out on the creeks watching alligators and subtropical birds. Visit the awe-inspiring red cliffs of Sedona for an evening of cinematic stargazing. This is also a good month for visiting Monument Valley’s distinctive red-sand formation and intriguing Navajo shelters called hogans. Meet with a Navajo guide and learn all about the landscape and how these communities live within it.  

Visiting the South West in October

October is very often the perfect season for an outdoor adventure holiday. Take out a mountain bike or saddle up on horseback to explore the otherworldly landscape of Zion National Park full of cacti, cliffs and colour. The perfect combination, Bryce Canyon where any budding palaeontologists can enjoy great fun hunting fossils, and the eerie hoodoos make for memorable photos.

Visiting the South West in November

With warm days and cool nights, November is a mild month when you can see and do everything in the South West. Las Vegas never closes its doors to holiday makers, and the national parks are pleasant for long hikes or other exciting activities. Try canyoning or white water rafting, and include a little culture in your trip. Bryce and Zion national parks both contain many prehistoric settlements where you can view astonishing pictographs and petroglyphs. 

Visiting the South West in December

For a quirky Christmas, you can spend December experiencing all the glitz and glam of Las Vegas, a city which goes all out for the festive season. Prepare to be bombarded with all that’s Christmassy, as those annual anthems drift along the excited streets. As well as music and festive food galore, expect hundreds of Santas and Christmas trees, as well as lively stage shows and parades. 

December is also the month of a competitive rodeo event in Las Vegas which pulls a huge crowd of cowboys every year.