Las Vegas
Scottsdale
Santa Fe
Grand Canyon
United States · Multi-city itinerary
Desert Southwest itinerary — December 2026
By Tripsapien Research · Updated May 20, 2026
December 2026 is a shoulder-season time for the Desert Southwest trip (Las Vegas, Scottsdale & Santa Fe). Daytime highs run from about 6°C / 43°F to 20°C / 68°F across the stops. Plan around 8–10 days for the full Las Vegas, Scottsdale & Santa Fe loop. Tripsapien checks every place on your list against your exact dates — hours, closures and booking pressure at each stop.
The route
About 8–10 days · 3 cities
The American Southwest's mix of neon and adobe: the resorts and the Grand Canyon day trips around Las Vegas, the spa-and-golf desert of Scottsdale, and the art galleries and Pueblo architecture of Santa Fe.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas in December
Temperature
57°F / 40°F
13.9°C / 4.4°C
Precipitation
6d
0.8in · 19.5mm
Daylight
9.9h
December is cool, with National Finals Rodeo and New Year's Eve crowds shaping rooms and traffic.
December is cool, with National Finals Rodeo and New Year's Eve crowds shaping rooms and traffic.
City overview
Las Vegas sits in the Mojave Desert, with the Strip, Downtown, Fremont East, Chinatown on Spring Mountain Road, Summerlin, and Arts District turning casino resorts, shows, desert parks, and convention traffic into one travel market. The Strip remains the practical spine for first-time hotel, dining, nightlife, and spectacle planning, while Downtown and Spring Mountain add older neon and late-night dining beyond the resort corridor.
Food & drink
Las Vegas food runs from casino tasting menus and celebrity-chef restaurants to Chinatown noodle shops, Korean barbecue, oyster bars, steakhouses, buffets, and late-night tacos. Use the Strip for destination dining, Spring Mountain Road for Asian food, Fremont East for downtown bars, and the Arts District for breweries and smaller restaurants.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Bellagio Fountains and Conservatory
- 2Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
- 3High Roller Observation Wheel
- 4The Venetian and Grand Canal Shoppes
- 5Caesars Palace and the Forum Shops
- 6Mob Museum
- 7Sphere
- 8ARIA, Cosmopolitan, and CityCenter
- 9The Neon Museum
- 10Fremont Street Experience
1Bellagio Fountains and Conservatory
4.8★ · 40,840outdoorOpen dailyBellagio opened in 1998 on the Strip, with the choreographed lake fountains facing Las Vegas Boulevard and a seasonal conservatory inside the resort. The pedestrian bridge network links it to Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas, and Cosmopolitan.
2Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
4.8★ · 25,789outdoorOpen dailyThe conservation area west of the city has a 21km scenic loop, red sandstone cliffs, Calico Hills, hiking trails, climbing routes, and desert viewpoints. It is about 30km from the Strip and works best with a car.
WikipediaTimed-entry reservations apply for the scenic drive during peak season windows.
3High Roller Observation Wheel
4.6★ · 31,321outdoorOpen dailyThe 167.6m wheel opened in 2014 at the LINQ Promenade and gives 30-minute Strip views from enclosed cabins. It is near Harrah's, Flamingo, and the Las Vegas Monorail.
Show 7 more sights
- 4The Venetian and Grand Canal Shoppes
- 5Caesars Palace and the Forum Shops
- 6Mob Museum
- 7Sphere
- 8ARIA, Cosmopolitan, and CityCenter
- 9The Neon Museum
- 10Fremont Street Experience
Neighborhoods
1The Strip
The Strip is resort-scale and theatrical, with Bellagio, Caesars, Venetian, Wynn, ARIA, Cosmopolitan, MGM Grand, shows, casinos, restaurants, and pedestrian bridges.
2Downtown and Fremont East
Downtown is older and louder, with Fremont Street Experience, Golden Nugget, Mob Museum, bars, murals, smaller casinos, and the Fremont East entertainment district.
3Chinatown and Spring Mountain Road
Chinatown is food-first, with Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and dessert spots lining Spring Mountain Road west of the Strip.
4Arts District and 18b
The Arts District has galleries, breweries, vintage stores, murals, First Friday crowds, and Main Street restaurants between the Strip and downtown.
5Summerlin and Red Rock edge
Summerlin is suburban and desert-facing, with Red Rock Canyon access, Downtown Summerlin shops, golf, trailheads, and calmer hotels west of the Strip.
6Henderson and Green Valley
Henderson and Green Valley are residential and resort-adjacent, with local restaurants, casinos, parks, M Resort, and practical routes toward Hoover Dam.
Getting around
The Las Vegas Monorail runs behind the east side of the Strip, while free resort trams connect Bellagio-Aria-Park MGM, Mandalay Bay-Luxor-Excalibur, and Mirage/Treasure Island-side areas when operating. Walking distances are longer than they look, so use rideshare pickup zones, the Deuce bus for Strip-Downtown, and a car for Red Rock, Hoover Dam, or Valley of Fire.
Scottsdale
Scottsdale in December
Temperature
63°F / 40°F
17.2°C / 4.3°C
Precipitation
7d
1.6in · 39.7mm
Daylight
10.1h
Mild holiday resort season with cool nights and strong outdoor days.
Mild holiday resort season with cool nights and strong outdoor days.
City overview
Scottsdale is the desert-resort edge of metro Phoenix, with Old Town galleries, Sonoran trailheads, spa hotels, spring-training baseball, and golf spread between walkable historic blocks and car-dependent resort districts. The best months are sharply seasonal: winter and spring are premium outdoor windows, while summer is an extreme-heat trip built around pools, early starts, and indoor backups.
Food & drink
Scottsdale dining splits between resort restaurants, Sonoran and Mexican food, steakhouses, cocktail bars, health-conscious brunch spots, and polished Old Town dining rooms. Old Town works without a car for dinner, while North Scottsdale resorts and trailhead restaurants require rideshare or driving.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1McDowell Sonoran Preserve
- 2Pinnacle Peak Park
- 3Taliesin West
- 4Butterfly Wonderland
- 5Spring Training Baseball
- 6Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West
- 7Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
- 8Old Town Scottsdale
1McDowell Sonoran Preserve
4.8★ · 2,480outdoorOpen dailyLarge desert preserve with saguaro-lined hiking and biking trails, best early in the day outside winter.
Wikipedia
2Pinnacle Peak Park
4.8★ · 1,699outdoorPopular north Scottsdale trail with granite boulders, city views, and a manageable out-and-back route.
3Taliesin West
4.6★ · 2,679outdoorClosed Tue/WedFrank Lloyd Wright winter home and architecture campus at the foot of the McDowell Mountains.
Wikipedia
Show 5 more sights
- 4Butterfly Wonderland
- 5Spring Training Baseball
- 6Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West
- 7Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
- 8Old Town Scottsdale
Neighborhoods
1Old Town
First-time base for galleries, restaurants, nightlife, museums, and walkable resort shuttles.
2Arts District
Main Street and Marshall Way galleries, Thursday art walks, public art, and dinner reservations.
3South Scottsdale
Lower-key local restaurants, breweries, and easier access to Tempe and Papago Park.
4McCormick Ranch
Golf, greenbelts, lakes, resort hotels, and a quieter mid-Scottsdale base.
5North Scottsdale
Luxury resorts, trailheads, golf, desert views, and car-first access to Pinnacle Peak and Taliesin West.
6Kierland / Scottsdale Quarter
Shopping, dining, hotels, and nightlife near the Phoenix border.
Getting around
Old Town is walkable, but Scottsdale as a whole is spread out. Use a car or rideshare for resorts, trailheads, golf courses, Kierland, and day trips; in summer, avoid exposed trail time after mid-morning.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe in December
Temperature
42°F / 21°F
5.4°C / -6°C
Precipitation
7d
0.9in · 23.3mm
Daylight
9.9h
Holiday farolito walks, cold nights, and ski-season possibilities shape the trip.
Holiday farolito walks, cold nights, and ski-season possibilities shape the trip.
City overview
Santa Fe is a high-desert arts capital at roughly 2,100 meters, where adobe streets, Pueblo Revival architecture, Native art markets, opera summers, chile cooking, and Sangre de Cristo mountain access change dramatically by season. Its pages need month specificity because snow, monsoon storms, art markets, ski trips, and altitude-sensitive summer hiking all alter the trip.
Food & drink
Santa Fe dining revolves around New Mexican red and green chile, blue corn, posole, sopaipillas, breakfast burritos, farmers-market produce, and polished Southwestern restaurants. Ask "red, green, or Christmas" when ordering chile, and book Plaza/Canyon Road restaurants during summer and market weekends.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Santa Fe Opera
- 2Santa Fe Plaza
- 3Ski Santa Fe
- 4Meow Wolf
- 5Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
- 6Museum Hill
- 7Canyon Road
- 8Palace of the Governors / New Mexico History Museum
1Santa Fe Opera
4.8★ · 1,381outdoorClosed Sat/SunOpen-air summer opera house north of town with mountain views and a major seasonal calendar.
Wikipedia
2Santa Fe Plaza
4.7★ · 11,740outdoorOpen dailyHistoric central square framed by museums, shops, portals, galleries, and city events.
Wikipedia
3Ski Santa Fe
4.6★ · 2,393outdoorOpen dailyMountain ski area above town, also useful for summer alpine drives and trail access.
Wikipedia
Show 5 more sights
- 4Meow Wolf
- 5Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
- 6Museum Hill
- 7Canyon Road
- 8Palace of the Governors / New Mexico History Museum
Neighborhoods
1Plaza & Downtown
Museums, hotels, historic adobe streets, shops, and the easiest base for first-time visitors.
2Canyon Road
Gallery row, sculpture gardens, adobe lanes, and dinner spots east of the Plaza.
3Railyard District
Farmers market, contemporary galleries, breweries, cinema, and rail-linked public space.
4Museum Hill
Museum cluster and foothill views, best reached by car, rideshare, or shuttle.
5Guadalupe District
Older neighborhood between downtown and the Railyard, with restaurants, shops, and easier parking.
6Tesuque
Village and foothill area north of town, useful for sculpture gardens, markets, and opera access.
Getting around
The Plaza, Railyard, and Canyon Road can be linked on foot if you handle altitude and sun well, but Museum Hill, Meow Wolf, the opera, ski basin, and day trips need a car, shuttle, or rideshare. Drink water, use sun protection, and leave extra time after arrival at altitude.
Don't-miss stops along the way
Grand Canyon
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is a long day trip or scenic flight from Las Vegas — the natural-wonder centrepiece between the Southwest's desert cities.
Best time to do the Desert Southwest trip
In December, the Desert Southwest trip runs daytime highs from 6°C / 43°F to 20°C / 68°F, with nights down to about -7°C / 19°F at the coolest stop. Expect only a few wet days — up to 4 at the rainiest stop. Weighed across all 3 stops, December is a shoulder-season time to travel.
The most comfortable months across Las Vegas, Scottsdale & Santa Fe are April, October and November, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall at every stop. December 2026 is a quieter shoulder season to go.
Check this route against your dates
Tripsapien starts with the sights on this page or places you paste, then checks hours, closures, booking pressure and neighborhoods for your exact December dates — across every city on the Desert Southwest trip.
Plan this Desert Southwest tripCommon questions about the Desert Southwest trip
- When is the best time to do the Desert Southwest trip?
- The most comfortable months across Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Santa Fe are April, October and November, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall at each stop. December is a shoulder-season time — see the per-stop weather below for the exact picture in December 2026.
- How many days do you need for the Desert Southwest trip?
- A comfortable Desert Southwest trip runs about 8–10 days, allowing roughly Las Vegas 3, Scottsdale 3, Santa Fe 2 nights plus travel between stops. Add a day if you want a slower pace or extra day trips.
- What's the route for the Desert Southwest trip?
- The classic order is Las Vegas, Scottsdale & Santa Fe. Grand Canyon is the standout side-trip along the way. Each city below has its own December weather, events and top-sights list.
- Will the sights be open during my December Desert Southwest trip?
- Opening days and hours vary by weekday, season and public holiday, and they differ from city to city on a multi-stop trip. Paste your Desert Southwest list into Tripsapien and it checks every place in Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Santa Fe against your exact dates, flagging closures and what needs booking ahead before you go.