Adventurous Arizona Road Trip Itinerary
Are you planning an adventurous road trip across Arizona? You’ve come to the right article.
Arizona is a beautiful southwestern state that’s known primarily for its excessive summer heat, the Grand Canyon, and desert scenery. But, it has much more to offer beyond the Grand Canyon that I’ve discovered while going on day trips from Phoenix!
To help you plan a memorable trip, this article will cover all of the best places to see across Arizona. From ghost towns to ancient pueblo sites, and natural wonders like Antelope Canyon, there’s so many places you won’t want to miss in this beautiful state.
Ready to plan an unforgettable Arizona road trip? Let’s dive in!
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Arriving in Phoenix
Phoenix is the bustling capital city of Arizona, nestled in the Sonoran desert. Whether you’re flying in or driving from another state, it’s the perfect place to kick off your adventure in Arizona.
Here you can stay at a nice resort with outdoor pools, and admire the surrounding desert scenery.
From Phoenix, it’s less than a 15 minute drive to Papago Park, a beautiful park with red rock formations, picnic areas, and ponds lined with palm trees.
This is a great place to take kids, and you can hike up the “hole in the rock” trail for a panoramic view of the city.
Less than a 5 minute drive from Papago Park, you’ll be at the Desert Botanical Gardens. This is a gorgeous outdoor botanical garden that spans 140 acres, with a variety of diverse desert plants.
You can easily spend 1-2 hours wandering around the park, and it’s well worth a visit if you have the time.
To escape the hustle and bustle of the city, I recommend staying near Papago Park, or in Scottsdale on your first night.
Phoenix to Sedona
After spending some time in Phoenix, it’s time to go on a relaxing getaway to Sedona. Sedona is a stunning city 2 hours north of Phoenix, and my absolute favorite place to visit in Arizona.
The city’s surrounded by beautiful red rock buttes and spires, and it has dozens of fun things to do.
On the way over to Sedona, you can stop at the iconic Montezuma’s Castle, a well-preserved ancient limestone cliff dwelling. It’s located right off of the highway, and only a 30 minute drive to Sedona.
Sedona is known for its beautiful red rock mountains, and it has excellent hiking trails, charming shops, and an overall laid back vibe. I recommend spending two to three full days in Sedona to explore all of the unique places in town.
Similar to Phoenix, it has a variety of top-notch spa resorts with pools, and mountain views. Here are some of the best places to stay in town.
- Sky Ranch Lodge: Hotel on Sedona’s airport hill with outdoor pools, an onsite restaurant, and the best sunset view in town
- Bell Rock Inn: Budget hotel in the Village of Oak Creek with outdoor pools, and an incredible view of Bell Rock
- Los Abrigados Resort: Spa resort in downtown with a gym, outdoor pools, and hot tubs, within walking distance to restaurants
In Sedona, I recommend hiking Bell Rock or Cathedral Rock, visiting Slide Rock State Park, and checking out all of the cool shops in downtown. For more ideas on how to spend your time in town, check out our 2 day Sedona itinerary!
Sedona to the Grand Canyon
No trip to Arizona would be complete without visiting the Grand Canyon. Sedona is only a 2 hour drive from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, where you’ll find the visitor center, and all of the popular overlooks.
Entrance to the Grand Canyon is $35/vehicle, and the pass is valid for 7 days. In a day, you can visit the main overlooks, and hike part of South Rim Trail for a spectacular view of the canyon.
I recommend staying overnight at the Grand Canyon, so you can enjoy sunset views, and get a good night’s sleep before heading to the next destination.
There are a few lodge style hotels in the park, and more hotel options right outside of the entrance in Tusayan.
- El Tovar Lodge: Rustic historic lodge overlooking the rim with a fine-dining restaurant
- Bright Angel Lodge: Cozy lodge with rim views, 2 restaurants, and a cafe in the park
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites: Budget hotel with free breakfast and indoor pools in Tusayan, less than 5 minutes from the entrance
Check out our Sedona to Grand Canyon day trip itinerary for more ideas on what to see in the park!
Grand Canyon to Page (Antelope Canyon)
After seeing the Grand Canyon, it’s time to visit Page Arizona. This is a small town that straddles the northern Arizona/Utah border, and is home to Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell.
It’s a 2.5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon, and has a small downtown with budget-friendly hotels, grocery stores, and restaurants.
The drive to Page is mostly over the open desert, and there’s not many facilities except for the Cameron Trading Post. This is a historic trading post and restaurant, where you can shop for souvenirs, or refuel at around midway into the drive.
The first must visit in Page is Antelope Canyon. This is a stunning red-orange slot canyon, and one of the most photographed Arizona landmarks. It’s located just outside of Page AZ, on the southern Utah/Arizona border, and a 2.5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon.
To visit the slot canyon, you must go on a guided tour, since it’s located on tribal lands. Guided hiking tours start at around $50/person, and they’ll take you on a 1-2 hour hike through the canyon.
The next must-see is Horseshoe Bend, a famous horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River. It’s only a 10 minute drive from Antelope Canyon, so you can easily see both within a day. Entrance is $10/vehicle, and it’s an easy 15 minute walk to the overlook.
Before leaving Page, make sure to check out the Glen Canyon Dam, a towering 710 foot dam that formed Lake Powell.
It’s almost as impressive as the Hoover Dam, and you can enjoy views of it from the overlook trail, or by walking along the bridge from the visitor center.
Here are some of the best places to stay in Page.
- Days Inn & Suites: Budget hotel with outdoor pools free breakfast and parking
- Country Inn & Suites: Mid-range hotel with gym, indoor pools, and free breakfast
- Hampton Inn & Suites: Upscale hotel with gym, indoor pools, and free breakfast
Optional last detour: Page to Monument Valley
If you’re looking to cross more places off of your bucket list, add Monument Valley to your itinerary.
This is a spectacular cluster of sandstone buttes in the middle of a valley that spans over 90,000 acres! It’s one the most otherworldly places to visit in AZ, and only a 2.5 hour drive from Page.
In Monument Valley, you can do the scenic 17 mile drive to see all of the different rock formations, and hike the popular trails. You only need half of a day at Monument Valley, and you’ll have many amazing photo opportunities.
Driving back to Phoenix
The drive back to Phoenix is around 4.5-5 hours from Page, or 5.5-6 hours from Monument Valley. It’s a long drive, but there’s several great road trip stops to take a break along the way.
Page to Phoenix
If you’re driving from Page, you’ll pass through Flagstaff. On this route, you can see route 66 attractions in the historic downtown area of Flagstaff, or visit ancient pueblo sites like Wupatki National Monument and Walnut Canyon.
Monument Valley to Phoenix
If you’re driving from Monument Valley, you’ll pass through badlands of the Painted Desert, and you can stop by the Petrified Forest National Park.
This is a unique national park with a collection of petrified wood, and a nice gift shop where you can purchase some.
The first half of the drive is mostly over the open desert, and then through the pine forests of Tonto National Forest as you get closer to Phoenix.
If you want to break up the long drive, stay in Strawberry or Pine. These are cute towns tucked in Tonto National Forest, with cabins, and a downtown lined with small shops. If you stay here, you can visit Tonto Natural Bridge the next morning, before heading back to Phoenix!
Arizona Road Trip Map
Last Day In Phoenix
If you have another day in Phoenix, there are a few interesting places to visit within a half hour drive of the city.
You can go on a day trip to Ghostfield Ghost Town, go hiking at Lost Dutchman State Park, or spend the day relaxing at Saguaro Lake. These are beautiful areas in the desert, near the Superstition Mountains.
Summary
Arizona is surrounded by natural beauty, and has so many interesting places to visit beyond the Grand Canyon.
If you only have a few days in Arizona, I recommend visiting Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and checking out the cool attractions near Phoenix.
And if you have more time, it’s worth making the 4.5 drive to Page, where you can see both Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
For more details on what to do in each city, check out our 2 day Sedona itinerary, and Page itinerary!