8 Days Through Nevada and Arizona in a Travellers Autobarn Campervan as a Family of 5

The honest version of a family campervan road trip through two of the most epic states in the country. From Vegas to Sedona, with every wrong turn, hospital parking lot, and 21-mile bike ride in between.

If you have ever scrolled past a campervan reel at midnight and thought, could we actually do that with kids, this post is for you. We did it. As a family of five. Through Nevada and Arizona. In a Travellers Autobarn Hi5. And I am here to tell you everything the brochures will not.

When I tell people we spent a week in a campervan with our three kids through Nevada and Arizona, they picture the sunset reel. Red rocks at golden hour, coffee on a picnic table in the desert, quiet kids reading in the back seat.

That happened. But so did the night we slept in a hospital parking lot because every campground in Sedona was full. And the 21-mile Grand Canyon bike ride that ended in the dark with no lights and being absolutely dead. And a Vegas buffet that cost us more than our first campground and the kids barely touched.

We picked up the van in Las Vegas, which is the smart call for this kind of loop. You fly into a major airport, grab the van, and point it straight into two of the most spectacular states in the country. The Hi5 is Travellers Autobarn's newer model and it was the right size for our family of five. Two adults, three kids, everyone's gear, a week of food. It fit.

Going in the fall was one of the best decisions we made. The desert in September and October is a completely different experience than summer. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, pink evenings, no heat stroke. If you are even thinking about this trip with kids, do not do it in summer. Fall or late spring. Always.

Day 1: Vegas Pickup, Meow Wolf, and the Buffet Mistake

We picked up the van and then went to park our car at a local masjid that was kind enough to let us leave it there for the week. From there, we made our way to Meow Wolf for an immersive art experience the kids had been begging to see. It was incredible, but a few hours barely scratched the surface. If you go, plan for a full day. We also grabbed snacks, breakfast items, and lunch supplies for the next two days, because realistically that is all the van fridge and storage can accommodate at one time. You restock as you go.

We also did the big Vegas buffet that night. It was beautiful. Expensive. Fun for the kids for about fifteen minutes before the novelty wore off. Then they barely touched their plates and we paid a premium per person for food we watched them ignore. Save that money for a real dinner with a view later in the trip.

And then there was the bunk.

Day 2: Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive and Valley of Fire

Day 2 is the day van life starts making sense. Everyone has survived a night in the van, you know where the spoons live, and you are starting to build little systems. With kids, each day genuinely gets a little easier than the last.

We did the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop Drive, and I genuinely cannot recommend this enough. Take the entire day. Stop at almost every pullout. The red rock rising out of the desert floor feels almost surreal after Vegas, and every stop is a chance for the kids to climb on rocks, scramble around, and burn off the kind of energy that builds up after a night in the van.

Honestly, the scenic drive was a highlight of the trip. The boulders and rock formations at every stop became their own little adventure. We let the kids climb, explore, and find their own paths. If you have kids who love to scramble, this drive will deliver hours of entertainment without you having to do a single structured hike.

From there we drove to Valley of Fire State Park. Looking back, I wish we had booked two nights here. The campgrounds are incredible, the trails are endless, and the rock formations look like something out of another planet. One night was not enough.

A practical tip that genuinely changed our whole trip: we had LuminAid solar lanterns with us and they were a game changer. Inflatable, solar-charged, soft light that lasts all night. Every campsite looked like a cozy little outdoor living room instead of a dark patch in the desert. If you are doing any kind of camping trip, put these in your cart right now.

Day 3: Fire Wave, Petroglyphs, and a Full Day at Valley of Fire

Day 3 was our full Valley of Fire day and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip.

The trails here are unreal. Here is what we did and what I would tell anyone going for the first time:

Fire Wave is THE trail. As close as you can get to The Wave in Arizona without winning the permit lottery. It is genuinely epic. The catch is that there is zero shade on the trail, which means you can pretty much only do it in fall, winter, or early spring without melting. We went in fall and the conditions were perfect. If you only do one trail at Valley of Fire, this is it.

White Domes was another favorite. A loop trail that takes you through a slot canyon and past these beautiful white and red striped rock formations. Doable with kids, varied terrain, and feels like you are on another planet.

Mouse's Tank is a short, easy walk through a sandy canyon with petroglyphs along the way. Perfect for breaking up the day with younger kids.

Atlatl Rock has the staircase you climb up to see ancient petroglyphs carved into the rock face. The kids loved the climb almost as much as the carvings.

And here is the part nobody tells you about: Valley of Fire has over 3,000 petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years, carved by the Anasazi and Paiute tribes. I cannot believe it took us this long to visit this park. Standing in front of rock art that old, with your kids asking what the symbols mean, is exactly the kind of moment you plan a trip like this for.

And here is my favorite tip for any family doing this with kids: the rocks right behind our campsite became the kids' personal playground. Bouldering, climbing, hiding in little nooks, jumping from one rock to another. We barely had to plan an activity for them. The campsites are right in the middle of incredible rock formations and your kids will figure out the rest.

But Day 3 also had a twist.

The wind that night was absolutely wild. Dust everywhere, the van rocking back and forth, gear on top of the van banging around all night. I was sure the whole thing was going to tip over. I also swear I heard mountain goats on the top of this van at night. Meanwhile I looked outside and the campers in tents around us were completely fine and unbothered. I kept laughing about how the safe van was getting thrown around while the tent people slept through the whole thing. Sometimes the harder camping option ends up being more comfortable. The desert humbles you.

My daughter's hair the next morning was a whole situation. You will just have to watch the vlog.

Day 4: The Grand Canyon Bike Ride That Almost Broke Us

Do not trust the bike rental guys at the Grand Canyon. I say that with love, but I say it with emphasis.

They told us the ride was an easy 21 miles and totally doable with kids. What they did not tell us was that there is a real incline on the way out. My husband, pulling a trailer with our youngest, had to get off the bike and walk it up the hill more than once. My older girls could manage on their own, but nobody warned us how much work this would be with a kid in tow.

They also did not tell us the ride takes all day. Which meant we were biking back in the dark. They did not offer bike lights, did not mention bringing your own, and did not warn us to pack headlamps. We could barely see the trail.

And here is the worst part. My husband, pulling the trailer, could not hop on the shuttle for the last two miles the way the girls and I could. The trailer would not fit. So he and our youngest rode the full distance back in the dark while the rest of us caught the shuttle.

That said, here is why I would still tell you to bike the South Rim instead of driving it: the bike ride is what made the Grand Canyon for us. You stop at every viewpoint without thinking about it. You feel the canyon instead of just looking at it. You are present in a way you cannot be from inside a car. We were biking past the most jaw-dropping views I have ever seen, and we kept stopping to just stand there. It is genuinely the way to do the South Rim.

If you do this ride, and you should because the views are unreal, pack your own bike lights and headlamps for every rider. Start at dawn. If your spouse is pulling a trailer, know they are locked in for the whole return trip. There is no shuttle option for trailers. And bring more water and snacks than you think you need, because this is a full day.

Despite all of it, the girls will remember this forever. Which is, of course, the whole point.

Day 5: Sedona, the Hospital Parking Lot, and a Lesson Learned

We rolled into Sedona mid-week expecting to find a campground. I had never had trouble finding a campsite in California, so I figured we would wing it. That is not how Sedona works. Every single campground was physically full. Not booked online. Actually, physically occupied.

By sunset we were driving in circles. The kids were tired. The van had that day-four smell. I was Googling frantically.

We ended up using a Safeway bathroom to freshen up, and then we crashed in the back of a hospital parking lot. A hospital. I figured it was safer than a Walmart, better lit, less sketchy, and no one was going to bother us.

I will be honest. I did not love it. But the kids slept, we were safe, and the next morning we drove into Sedona's red rocks like nothing had happened.

Day 6: Sedona Redemption at Slide Rock and Devils Bridge

Sedona made up for the parking lot night.

We started at Slide Rock State Park, which is a gem. A natural water slide carved into red sandstone, surrounded by hiking trails and picnic spots. The water was cold this time of year, so we mostly dipped our toes and let the kids splash, but I would 100% come back in summer to actually swim. We ate lunch on the rocks and I sat there thinking about how this exact moment was what I wanted more of in my life.

Then we hiked Devils Bridge. Yes, it is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona. Yes, it is crowded and very touristy. It is still completely worth it. The view from the top is insane. My oldest walked out onto the bridge for the photo. My youngest held my leg. We were all a little in awe.

Go early in the morning for better parking and fewer people. Sedona in the fall has some of the best hiking weather in the country, and it is a shame to miss it because you got stuck in a parking line.

Day 7: Dead Horse Ranch, the Terrifying Hoover Dam Bridge, and Boulder Beach

After four nights without a proper shower, I was emotionally dependent on Day 7.

We stopped at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood, and the bathrooms were actually clean. The cleanest facilities we found the entire trip. We loved this campsite, did a little walking around the Lagoon Loop, and then it got really hot so we mostly relaxed at the site, freshened up, and reset. There is so much more to explore here that we did not get to. It is on my list for next time.

Then came the Hoover Dam. And specifically, the bridge.

Listen. The Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge at the Hoover Dam has a pedestrian walkway that lets you look down at the entire dam from about 900 feet up. Nine. Hundred. Feet. Up.

Some of us could not even walk on it. I am not exaggerating. We were genuinely terrified. Some of us froze and could not move. Some of us hugged the inside wall of the walkway with both hands and slid sideways. Some of us turned around halfway and refused to look back. The drop is real and it is wild and it is one of the most physically intense moments of the entire trip.

Worth it? 100%. The view is unbelievable. The dam itself is a feat of engineering you cannot really appreciate from a photo. But if anyone in your family has a fear of heights, just know what you are walking into. This is not just a casual photo stop. This bridge is going to test you.

Our original plan was to return to Red Rock Canyon for the last night, but I found Boulder Beach Campground right by the Hoover Dam, on Lake Mead. On a whim, we pivoted. Best call of the trip.

We watched the sky turn pink over Lake Mead. The stars came out the way they only do in the desert. The Hoover Dam glowed in the distance. Waking up and falling asleep with clouds and water as your view was the most peaceful end to this loud trip we could have asked for. Honestly, some of the best nights of this trip were the ones we did not plan.

And here is what I would add to your trip if you can swing the time: Boulder Beach is incredible for kayaking on Lake Mead. We did not get the chance, but watching the water at sunrise from our campsite, I was kicking myself a little. Next trip.

Day 8: Vegas, Qua Spa, and Coming Home

We returned the van, checked into a hotel for one last night, and I did something I always do when I am in Vegas, and it is an absolute must. I booked the Qua Spa at Caesars Palace. Every night I did not have a real shower on this trip, I had been thinking about this spa. It is a Roman bath dream. Hot pools, cold plunges, a salt cave. If you are finishing a campervan trip and want to come back to civilization slowly, this is how you do it.

Ten out of ten. Thank me later.

The Real Review: Is the Travellers Autobarn Hi5 Good for a Family of 5?

Honestly, yes, with a few caveats.

What worked for us was everything you would hope for. All five of us fit without anyone sleeping on the floor. Storage was adequate for a full week of provisions, but you do have to fill up slowly because a full week of food is not going to fit at once. We would stock up between stops. The kitchen was enough for simple breakfasts and easy dinners. Pickup and drop-off in Vegas kept the logistics simple. And the van itself handled every road we threw at it, from interstate to state park gravel.

What did not work is worth being upfront about. The upper bunk is not tall-adult friendly. If both parents are over 5'8" or so, the clearance above the bunk is tight enough to feel suffocating, and it is really better suited for kids or shorter sleepers. No camper has a real shower setup, so you are relying on campground showers or getting creative. Small spaces with three kids require a different kind of patience than tent camping. The van does not forgive a messy family. Organization matters more than you think. And desert wind and dust are no joke, so expect to clean more than you want to.

Would I do it again? Yes. In the fall. With better campground bookings and a bigger van. Or, you know, one less kid. Ha.

Before You Book This Trip

The Takeaway I'm Still Thinking About

The dark bike ride. The hospital parking lot. The wild windy night at Valley of Fire. The terrifying Hoover Dam bridge. None of those went to plan, and every one of them is a story my kids still bring up years later.

Traveling with kids rarely goes to plan. A campervan trip through Nevada and Arizona will teach you that fast, and if you lean into it, you will come home with stories your family still brings up years later.

If you have been thinking about a family campervan trip and something is holding you back, I hope this gives you the courage to book it. Or at least the real information to do it better than we did.