Route 2: National Parks & Night Skies
Sleep under the stars, hike with strangers-turned-friends, and cozy up in hostels near breathtaking wild spaces.
🏜️ Stop 1: Moab, Utah — Lazy Lizard Hostel
Vibe: Desert heat, starlit nights, and road-dusted stories.
Once an actual firehouse, now a traveler’s refuge, Lazy Lizard Hostel is the perfect launchpad for red rock wanderers. Moab’s got that otherworldly energy—arches carved by time, cliffs glowing gold at sunset, and trails that make you forget what day it is. Evenings here mean cold beer, shared sunsets, and swapping trail maps under string lights.
Don’t Miss:
Sunrise hike at Arches National Park (get there early—the light is magic).
Mountain biking the Slickrock Trail if you’re feeling bold.
A sunset drive through Canyonlands National Park for that “am I still on Earth?” moment.
Budget Hack: Buy a reusable National Parks Pass—it pays for itself in two stops and covers your crew.
🏞️ Stop 2: Bozeman, Montana — Treasure City Hostel
Vibe: Cozy, cool, and unapologetically local.
Set against the backdrop of the Rockies, Treasure City Hostel is the kind of hostel that feels like a mountain town café that forgot to close. You’ll find climbers, road trippers, and digital nomads gathered around the fireplace trading stories about Yellowstone, Big Sky, or that one time they accidentally ran into a moose.
Don’t Miss:
Day trip to Yellowstone National Park—enter through the Gardiner gate for fewer crowds.
Hit Hyalite Canyon for waterfalls and wildflowers.
Thrift treasures and good eats downtown—Main Street Overeasy for breakfast, Montana Ale Works for nightcaps.
Budget Hack: Pack your lunch before heading into Yellowstone—food inside the park is pricey, and the picnic views are better anyway.
🌌 Stop 3: Phoenix, Arizona — Phoenix Hostel
Vibe: Cosmic calm and adventure in every direction.
A backpacker favorite, Phoenix Hostel is the kind of place where someone’s always planning a sunrise trip to the nearest open space or a night hike under the Milky Way. It’s got artsy vibes, warm beds, and a traveler community that feels like family after one shared pizza.
Don’t Miss:
Wander the Roosevelt Row Arts District for murals, music, and night markets.
Catch sunset from South Mountain Park—one of the best skyline views in Arizona.
Grab cheap tacos and local beer downtown at Crescent Ballroom (bonus: live bands almost every night).
Explore Desert Botanical Garden for a sunrise stroll among saguaros and wildflowers.
Budget Hack: Skip expensive tours—rent a car or team up with hostelmates for a DIY canyon day. Splitting gas beats paying for group tours any day.
🗺️ The Route
Moab → Bozeman → Flagstaff
Total Drive: ~1,150 miles
Ideal Pace: 6–9 days
Playlist Starter Pack: Lord Huron, The Lumineers, Mt. Joy, Fleet Foxes, Gregory Alan Isakov.
✨ Why This Route Rocks
Because some of the best nights are the ones you spend outdoors—with a blanket of stars above, dirt on your boots, and laughter from the next campfire over. This route is for dreamers who chase horizon lines, travelers who trade comfort for connection, and anyone who believes the road is best shared.
