A 3-Day Desert Southwest Roadtrip with Lightship

A trip through the Desert Southwest isn’t about how fast you get there. It’s about letting the land set the tempo—early mornings, long views, quiet roads that invite you to keep going just a little farther.

Powered by Lightship, Wildsam hit the road for a three-day electric journey through Utah, Arizona, and Colorado, tracing a route through public lands, cultural landmarks, roadside classics, and some of the most cinematic drives in the country. It’s a modern road trip—electric, self-sufficient, and deeply rooted in place—and one you can easily make your own.

Day 1: Moab, Utah

The journey begins in Moab, where the desert rewards early risers. At Arches National Park, sunrise brings a soft glow to stone arches shaped over millions of years—proof that the best moments in the Southwest often come before breakfast.

From there, the route winds through Wall Street, one of Moab’s most scenic canyon drives, before detouring to explore ancient petroglyphs etched into rock faces along the Colorado River corridor. These markings offer a reminder that this landscape has been traveled—and revered—long before modern road trips.

Moab’s food scene rounds out the day, with casual spots perfect for refueling before heading deeper into canyon country.

Day 2: Bluff, Mexican Hat & Monument Valley

Heading south, the road opens up into one of the most recognizable stretches of pavement in the American West: Route 163, cutting straight through Navajo Nation. It’s a drive that feels cinematic for a reason—towering buttes, endless horizons, and a sense of scale that’s hard to put into words.

Stops along the way include Bluff and Mexican Hat, small towns rich with history and access to the San Juan River, home to some of the largest petroglyph panels in the region. Roadside pullouts become destinations of their own, encouraging travelers to slow down and look closely.

This stretch of the trip is about movement and stillness at once—long drives punctuated by moments that stop you cold.

Day 3: Telluride, Colorado

The desert gradually gives way to alpine terrain as the route climbs toward Telluride. The town’s historic main street invites wandering—classic shops, old mining-era buildings, and a laid-back mountain energy.

Just beyond town, Bridal Veil Falls delivers a dramatic finale, cascading down a sheer cliff at the end of a rugged road. Nearby, some of the best dispersed camping in the region sits just 15 minutes away, offering quiet nights and big mountain skies—the kind of place where a trip like this naturally winds down.

The Electric Road Trip, Reimagined

The wide-open Southwest is tailor-made for electric exploration, and the Lightship AE.1 is built to meet it head-on. With solar power, large onboard batteries, and TrekDrive technology that doubles EV range while towing, travelers can spend a full week off-grid without sacrificing comfort.

Designed and manufactured in Broomfield, Colorado, the AE.1 brings modern capability to some of America’s most timeless landscapes—inviting travelers to roam farther, linger longer, and rethink what a road trip can be.

Watch the video below to see how Lightship can help you go further.