Arizona is a beautiful state located in the Southwestern United States and holds many of natures most amazing sights. Such sights include the one-of-a-kind Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Devil’s Bridge, and much more! Follow my plan for the ultimate Arizona road trip itinerary.
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Free Northern Arizona Itinerary
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Where to Stay
Based on the locations of the sights we wanted to see, we opted to lodge in centrally-located Flagstaff to reduce driving times to all the various locations. Another benefit to staying in one location instead of moving from town to town is that you do not have to pack up your luggage every day. Here is a list of tried-and-true hotels in Flagstaff.
Medium-Priced Hotels
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Flagstaff
Embassy Suites by Hilton Flagstaff
Budget-Friendly Hotels
When To Go
I would recommend visiting Arizona in the spring or fall for cooler weather and lighter crowds. Summers in Arizona can be scorching hot. If you choose to visit in winter or spring, you can also stay extra days and add snow skiing to your itinerary.
How to Get Here
If you do not live close enough to Arizona to drive here, you can fly into a nearby airport and rent a car. There is an airport in Flagstaff, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, that you can fly into. The next closest airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and is an approximate 2.5-hour drive to Flagstaff up Highway 17. Las Vegas’s McCarron International Airport is the next closest major airport and will take you nearly 4 hours to make this drive.
What to Pack
On this Arizona road trip itinerary, there were a number of things we packed to make the trip easier.
- RTIC Soft-Sided Cooler – To save money on lunches, we bought sandwich stuff and drinks and carried them around in the RTIC Soft-Sided Cooler.
- Rain Jacket – We visited in the spring when rain is likely. Get your men’s and women’s rain jackets before you go!
- Baseball Cap – Whether you are protected your face from the sun or the rain, a cap is a must-have on outdoor vacations. (Men’s Baseball Cap)
- Phone Charger – Make sure to pack extra chargers to keep your phones charged while driving in the car.
- Sunglasses – The Arizona sun can be brutal, and you should protect your eyes.
- Sunscreen – Protect your skin from getting burned with sunscreen.
- Chapstick with SPF – The air is dry, and you will need to moisturize your lips with SPF chapstick.
- Backpack – Carry water, snacks, and other things you may need while on your Arizona road trip with a backpack.
Day 1 – Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon Train & Wild West Show
We went back and forth on whether we should take the Grand Canyon Train from Williams to the Grand Canyon or drive there. Ultimately, we decided to take the train because the kids would find it more entertaining. Prior to boarding the train, we enjoyed a Wild West Show complete with cowboys, sheriffs, and horses.
On the train, each car has a conductor who entertains the passengers with stories and jokes for the 2+ hour ride. A folk singer makes his way through the cars giving a short concert with songs like “Home on the Range.”
On the way back to Williams, lookout your window where you can see robbers on horses run alongside the train. The thieves board the train and “rob” the passengers.
Grand Canyon
When you get to the Grand Canyon stop, de-board the train and walk up the stairs. After a short walk across the street, you arrive to the edge of the allegedly majestic Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, fog plagued the canyon, and we could not see the amazing views.
Luckily, the fog broke for about 10 minutes, long enough to see the canyon. Otherwise, I would have been utterly devastated. We walked the Rim Trail for a couple miles hoping the fog would break again, but it never did.
Day 2 – Page
Glen Canyon Dam Overlook
Next on our Arizona road trip itinerary was an early morning, 2-hour scenic drive to Page, Arizona. Before our tour time of the Upper Antelope Canyon, we visited Glen Canyon Dam Overlook to kill some time. This turned out to be a hidden gem.
Walk onto the sculpted rust-colored sandstone to the canyon’s edge. See the Colorado River below you and Glen Canyon Dam just up river. Glen Canyon Dam created Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the U.S. In the summertime, Lake Powell offers various recreational activities.
Other Side of the Dam
Drive across the road just up river of Glen Canyon Dam to see the other side and the end of Lake Powell. We had a great time wandering around and exploring the slick rock near the banks of Lake Powell.
Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon are slot canyons that have become increasingly popular. These canyons exist on the Navajo Reservation, and you must book a tour to gain access. Reservations sell out, so make sure you book ahead of time. Due to time constraints, we only visited the Upper Antelope Canyon which you enter at ground level. If you choose to visit Lower Antelope Canyon, you enter the canyon from the top and walk down stairs to get to the bottom.
Even though Antelope Canyon is very crowded, you will still be able to enjoy the waves of sculpted sandstone that appear in red, orange, and purple hues depending on the light coming in. Follow your tour guide through the canyon as he points out different photo opportunities. After walking through the canyon, you turn around and come back at a much quicker pace. On the return trip, turn your video on and point it up for some spectacular views in motion.
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is yet another amazing view that can be discovered in Arizona. The hike from the parking lot is an easy 1.5-mile, roundtrip stroll. At the end of your walk, see views of the dark green Colorado River 1,000 feet below you where it carved a 270-degree bend in the red canyon resembling a horseshoe. Check the Horseshoe Bend website for up-to-date entry fees, which are paid by vehicle type.
Sunset at Grand Canyon
After seeing there was no fog on the live cameras at the Grand Canyon, we made an impromptu detour to the Grand Canyon so we could actually see it in all its grandeur. It was worth the side trip! We drove along the South Rim making quick stops at the pullouts. We finally reached our last stop right at sunset for some unreal photos.
Day 3 – Sedona, Arizona
Airport Mesa Trail Vortex
Continuing our epic Arizona road trip itinerary, we drove an hour south of Flagstaff to Sedona and stop at the Airport Mesa Trail. If you dare, this is the start of a 3.5 mile trail that takes you alongside a steep cliff. We did not do this hike, but we came to the Airport Mesa Trail to feel the Vortex. A vortex is an area flooded with Earth’s energy that is said to induce medical and spiritual healing. Even if you do not believe in the power of the vortex, come here to see the amazing views of Sedona and the surrounding rock formations.
Devil’s Bridge Trail
The next stop on our Arizona road trip itinerary is Devil’s Bridge. There are two ways to begin this trail if you do not have a 4×4 vehicle. The first is to park at the Dry Creek Vista parking lot and walk down the 4×4 dirt road to the Devil’s Bridge trailhead. This walk is 4.4 miles, out and back.
The other way is to park at the very small lot at the Mescal Trailhead. This walk is also 4.4 miles, out and back, and is a lot more scenic than the first option. We tried to hike the trail via the Mescal Trailhead, but excessive raining a few days before caused the creek to be too high to hike this route. Click for directions on how to hike Devil’s Bridge to best scenic way.
If you do have a 4×4, you can drive the dirt road to the start of the Devil’s Bridge trail. This cuts your hiking distance to 2 miles roundtrip.
The first mile of the hike is a little boring on the 4×4 trail. Once you see the Devil’s Bridge sign, turn right on the trail. Parts of this trail have a steep incline. Look out for stacked rock gardens and make your own stacks to leave your mark on the trail. At the end of the hike, you come to Devil’s Bridge. A line of twenty people or so had formed to take turns walking onto the natural arch for pictures. Other hikers were very willing to take group photos for others.
Soldier Pass Trail
Soldier Pass Trail is a 4.5-mile trek to a cave. However for this trip, we only hiked past Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole to the Seven Sacred Pools and back. This shortened route will only take you 1.1 miles.
Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole
The Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole is the most active sinkhole in Arizona created from collapsing caves. The opening increased by 1/3 as recent as 1989! To get to this sinkhole, you will need to access the Seven Sacred Pools via Soldier Pass trail. This trailhead is located in a neighborhood and has a very small parking lot. The neighborhood prohibits parking on their streets, so you may need to visit the parking lot a few times before you luck into an open spot.
Seven Sacred Pools
Continue along the trail after passing Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole until you come to the Seven Sacred Pools. A stream flows down the side of a ridge and carved out seven whirling pools as it flowed downhill. The hike to the pools is an easy 1.1-mile roundtrip walk.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Chapel of the Holy Cross was built into the natural sandstone cliffs in Sedona in 1957. Inside the chapel is a 90-foot tall iron cross at the altar. Parking here is very limited, and you may have to park in the neighborhood and walk up a steep hill.
Day 4 – Flagstaff
Bearizona
The last attraction on our Arizona road trip itinerary is Bearizona Wildlife Park in Williams, Arizona. Bearizona is a drive-thru wildlife safari that features many varieties of animals such as deer, howling wolves, bison, and bear. This zoo also has a walk-through portion with animals such as bobcats, ferrets, reptiles, and even a jaguar!
With your admission, you can drive through the zoo as many times as you like. We drove through twice. The rangers warn vehicles not to stop while driving through the bear portions. We soon understood why. A black bear walked to the front of my rental van and started tearing off parts of the license plate and decals. What an adventure!
Played in the Snow
After we spent half the day at Bearizona, a snowstorm developed. We decided to go back to our lodge and play in the snow for the rest of the day. Since we are from Texas, we do not see snow very often.
After this trip, Arizona has become one of my favorite destinations. I cannot wait to go back to experience this epic adventure again.
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