Desert Southwest itinerary — November 2026
For the Desert Southwest trip (Las Vegas, Scottsdale & Santa Fe), November 2026 is one of the most comfortable months by weather. Daytime highs run from about 11°C / 52°F to 25°C / 77°F across the stops. Plan around 8–10 days for the full Las Vegas, Scottsdale & Santa Fe loop.
In this order — about 8–10 days:
- Las Vegas3 nights
- Scottsdale3 nights
- Santa Fe2 nights
- Route noteReserve the longest intercity leg first and keep transfer days free of timed sights.
By TripSapien Research · Updated May 20, 2026
Las Vegas
Las Vegas in November
TempTemperature
67°F / 47°F
19.2°C / 8.4°C
RainPrecipitation
3d
0.4in · 10.3mm
LightDaylight
10.7h
November is cool and dry, strong for Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire, and long walks between central Strip resorts.
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.
Events & festivals
- Nov 1
- Nov 1
- Nov 1 – Nov 30
- Nov 1
- Nov 1
- Nov 1
Show all 40 events for November
- Nov 1
- Nov 1 – Nov 28
- Nov 1
- Nov 1
- Nov 1 – Nov 30
- Nov 1
- Nov 1
- Nov 1
- Nov 1
- Nov 4 – Nov 15
- Nov 4 – Nov 7
- Nov 4 – Nov 15
SiriusXM Presents An Intimate Evening with SANTANA Greatest Hits Live
Music · Rock.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Nov 5 – Nov 7
- Nov 5
Downtown Las Vegas Art Walk
Monthly event where galleries and studios open their doors to the public for art exhibitions and live performances.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 5 – Nov 14
- Nov 6
SEMA Fest is a one-day festival celebrating car culture and all things automotive with a eclectic music lineup.
Source: TripSapien festival dataset
- Nov 7 – Nov 8
Las Vegas Book Festival
A two-day event celebrating authors, readers, and literary culture with book signings, panels, and workshops.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 7 – Nov 8
- Nov 7
- Nov 7
- Nov 7 – Nov 12
- Nov 8
- Nov 11
Las Vegas Veterans Day Parade
Annual parade honoring military veterans, featuring marching bands, floats, and community groups along the Las Vegas Strip.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 12 – Nov 15
Las Vegas Film Festival
Showcasing independent films from around the world, including screenings, Q&A sessions, and networking events.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 12
- Nov 13 – Nov 28
- Nov 13 – Nov 14
- Nov 14
- Nov 20 – Nov 22
Las Vegas Jazz & Blues Festival
A three-day music festival featuring live jazz and blues performances by local and international artists.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 20 – Nov 21
- Nov 24 – Nov 29
- Nov 26
Las Vegas Thanksgiving Day Parade
Annual parade celebrating Thanksgiving with floats, marching bands, and festive performances along the Strip.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 27 – Nov 28
Alice Cooper & Criss Angel: WELCOME TO OUR NIGHTMARE
Arts & Theatre · Magic & Illusion.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Nov 27
Holidays & observances
- Nov 11Veterans DayPublic holiday
- Nov 26Thanksgiving DayPublic holiday
Top sights
Ranked for November 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 November
TempTemperature
73°F / 47°F
22.7°C / 8.5°C
RainPrecipitation
4d
1in · 25mm
LightDaylight
10.8h
Comfortable weather for trailheads, Old Town, and resort weekends.
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.
Events & festivals
- Nov 1
- Nov 1
- Nov 1 – Nov 28
- Nov 3
- Nov 4
- Nov 5
Show all 40 events for November
- Nov 5 – Nov 26
Scottsdale ArtWalk
Weekly Thursday evening event showcasing Scottsdale's art galleries and studios in the downtown Arts District.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 6 – Nov 8
Scottsdale Culinary Festival
A three-day event celebrating Scottsdale's vibrant food scene with tastings, cooking demonstrations, and live entertainment.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 6
- Nov 6
- Nov 6
- Nov 7
- Nov 7
CAIN Live and In Worship Tour with special guest bodie - Phoenix, AZ
Music · Religious.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Nov 9
- Nov 10
- Nov 10
- Nov 11
- Nov 12 – Nov 15
Scottsdale International Film Festival
A festival featuring independent films from around the world, including screenings, panels, and filmmaker Q&A sessions.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 13
- Nov 13
- Nov 13
- Nov 14
- Nov 14 – Nov 15
Scottsdale Jazz Festival
A two-day outdoor jazz music festival featuring local and national jazz artists performing in downtown Scottsdale.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 14
- Nov 17
- Nov 18
- Nov 18
- Nov 19
- Nov 19
- Nov 20
- Nov 20
- Nov 20 – Nov 29
Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
One of the largest Arabian horse shows in the world, featuring competitions, exhibitions, and family-friendly activities.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Nov 21
- Nov 21
- Nov 21
- Nov 22
- Nov 25
- Nov 27
- Nov 27
- Nov 28 – Nov 29
Holidays & observances
- Nov 11Veterans DayPublic holiday
- Nov 26Thanksgiving DayPublic holiday
Top sights
Ranked for November 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 November
TempTemperature
52°F / 30°F
11.1°C / -1.3°C
RainPrecipitation
6d
0.8in · 19.8mm
LightDaylight
10.7h
Quiet pre-holiday month with cold mornings and good museum pacing.
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.
Events & festivals
- Nov 6
- Nov 7
- Nov 9
- Nov 10
- Nov 11
- Nov 11
Holidays & observances
- Nov 11Veterans DayPublic holiday
- Nov 26Thanksgiving DayPublic holiday
Top sights
Ranked for November 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.
Planning the Desert Southwest route?
Add your dates and we'll pace all 3 cities — every place checked for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in November.
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.
Weather by month for the Desert Southwest trip
In November, the Desert Southwest trip runs daytime highs from 11°C / 52°F to 25°C / 77°F, with nights down to about -3°C / 27°F at the coolest stop. Climate averages show about 4 rainy days at the rainiest stop. Weighed across all 3 stops, November is one of the most comfortable months by weather.
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. November 2026 is among the highest-comfort months.
Common 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. November is one of the most comfortable months by weather — see the per-stop weather below for the climate averages in November 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 November weather, any available event listings, and a top-sights list.
Ready to plan the Desert Southwest trip?
Turn this route into a day-by-day plan for November 2026, every stop checked for closures and booking needs on your exact dates.