If you are headed to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix, you can make the full drive in less than 4 hours. However, some of the most beautiful parts of Arizona lie between the two destinations, so why not make a vacation out of it. Spend 7 days exploring red rock formations, national monuments, swimming holes, and a massive canyon on your Phoenix to Grand Canyon drive.
Phoenix to Grand Canyon Drive Map & Itinerary
| Day 1 | Phoenix/Scottsdale |
| Day 2 | Scottsdale to Sedona |
| Day 3 | Sedona |
| Day 4 | Sedona |
| Day 5 | Flagstaff |
| Day 6 | Grand Canyon |
| Day 7 | Back to Phoenix |
When to Visit
Spring and Fall months have the most ideal warm weather and blue skies. However, these perfect-weather months are also the times when Arizona is the busiest, and the prices are the highest. I visited Memorial Day weekend and experienced full parking lots at popular hikes by 6:00am. The summer heat is almost unbearable, so I would not recommend visiting during this time unless you go super early in the morning. Winter months have colder temperatures, especially at night, but they also see the lowest number of crowds.
Do You Need Entry Passes?
Yes. The Grand Canyon, national monuments, and Sedona hikes require passes. A pass to Grand Canyon National Park is $35 per vehicle for 7 consecutive days, a pass to Montezuma Castle is $10 per adult, and Walnut Canyon is $25 per vehicle. In addition, most hikes in Sedona require a Red Rock Pass which can be purchased online or in-person at many gas stations and grocery stores. The Red Rock Pass is $15 per vehicle for a 7-day pass. Sedona is part of the Coconino National Forest, so it qualifies as part of the National Park Services lands. Therefore, it may be prudent to purchase an America the Beautiful U.S. Park Pass ($80) which will allow access to all three areas mentioned. Just make sure to display the pass on your dash or hang from your rearview mirror while hiking in Sedona.
What to Pack
Listed below are things I highly recommend you pack for this Phoenix to Grand Canyon drive.
- Water!! Whether you use a hydration backpack or carry bottled water, make sure to pack plenty of water when outdoors!
- Sunscreen – Protect your skin from the sun, and do not forget to reapply.
- Hat – More sun protection to block the sun from your face
- Hiking shoes/boots – Some of the hikes are on steep, slick rock, and people wearing regular tennis shoes struggled to keep their footing. Here are the men‘s version of the hiking shoes I love.
- Hiking socks – The best way to prevent blisters is by keeping your feet dry. Moisture-wicking socks are the best way to do that.
- RTIC Soft-Sided Cooler – Keep your drinks and sandwich stuff cool in this cooler.
- Backpack – A backpack is a necessity when hiking to carry your water, snacks, sunscreen, etc. that you may need on your longer hikes.
- Microfiber Beach Towel – I packed my microfiber beach towel to take to the swimming holes. I didn’t want to bring the hotel towels, and the microfiber towels fold up to practically nothing.
- Water Shoes – The creek bottoms were very slick which made my water shoes a must-have.
- Swimsuits – For pool or swimming hole time, you will need a swimsuit. Men’s Women’s
- Cute sundress – A cute sundress is just the thing you need for wine tasting, shopping, and getting those perfect Instagram photos. Check out this one here and another one here.
- Printed Maps/Directions – Cell service can be spotty, so I recommend you print maps/directions to all hiking trails and sights.
Day 1 – Phoenix/Scottsdale
Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden was by far my favorite thing to do in the Phoenix/Sedona area. I spent about 3 hours exploring the park and only stopped then because the summer sun was getting too hot. Giant agaves, saguaros, and other desert plants cover this 140-acre garden. From May to September, it opens at 7am, and from October to April, it opens at 8am. If you are coming when it is hot, I recommend getting here as soon as it opens so you can enjoy the gardens before it gets too hot to be outside.
Old Town Scottsdale
After you have got your fill at the Desert Botanical Garden, head to Old Town Scottsdale for lunch and afternoon shopping. Spend the rest of the afternoon perusing unique boutique shops and exploring art galleries. Check out the Old Adobe Mission, built in 1933. This area also has several wine tasting rooms for you to try.
Watch a sunset
After dinner, find a place to watch the sunset. Nothing beats watching the sunset over a desert landscape, so doing so in Scottsdale is a must do. Scottsdale has many great options for sunset watching. I specifically watched it at Hole in the Rock Trail and at Desert Botanical Garden. Both were spectacular options. Some other locations you may want to consider include McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Piestewa Peak, Camelback Mountain, and Pinnacle Peak.
Day 2 – Scottsdale
Morning Hike
Wake up early and do a morning hike. Sedona has many to choose from. If you are looking for a short hike to get the heart pumping, Hole in the Rock trail at Papago Park is a good option at only 0.3 miles. Papago Park has other longer trails too if Hole in the Rock is not long enough for you, such as Double Butte Loop Trail (2.2 miles) and Elliot Ramada Loop (2.8 miles). Other hiking options include the Gateway Loop Trail at McDowell Sonoran Preserve (4.5 miles), Pinnacle Peak Summit Trail (3.5 miles), Lost Dog Wash (5 miles), and many others.
Brunch at Hash Kitchen
After your morning hike, head to Hash Kitchen for brunch. The food here was delectable! But they are most famous for their Bloody Mary bar. After you order your Bloody Mary, you can go to the bar and add all the garnishes you want. You can practically make a meal of the olives, pickled vegetables, cheese, meats, and mini corn dog! Even if you do not drink, Hash Kitchen is still a great place for brunch because their food is delicious. There are currently 3 locations in the Phoenix/Scottsdale are you can choose from.
Drive to Sedona
After spending your last few hours in Scottsdale, it is time to drive to Sedona. If you like gazing at the desert landscape, make sure to do this drive before it gets dark. The drive takes around 2 hours. If you leave early enough, you can stop for a quick visit to Montezuma Castle National Monument to see ancient cliff dwellings. The hike to the cliff dwellings is an easy, 0.4 miles.
Day 3 – Sedona
Devil’s Bridge
When I think of Sedona landmarks, Devil’s Bridge is what comes to mind. This trail is 4.2 miles roundtrip with the first mile being fairly easy and the second mile more difficult with some vertical rock scrambling. There are two ways to hike this trail: one that is more crowded and one that is more scenic. For detailed directions on how to hike the more scenic way, read How to Hike to Devil’s Bridge. This trail is probably the most crowded hike in all of Sedona, so get here as early as humanly possible. I got there at 5am and still had to wait in a line to walk out onto the bridge.
Birthing Cave
The Birthing Cave is a 2-mile, really awesome hole in the side of the red rock cliff with stunning views. The hike is easy until just before you reach the cave where the incline increases significantly. This spot is a little difficult to find as you will have to go off the main trail to find it. Follow these detailed instructions, and you will find it easily.
Seven Sacred Pools via Soldiers Pass
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. 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! 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.
Uptown Sedona
The Sedona Uptown area offers hours of entertainment with its unique shops and stunning art galleries. Shops include typical souvenirs as well as one-of-a-kind, local products like handmade candles, exclusive jewelry, and healing crystals. Stop in Winery 1912 for a wine tasting while in Uptown. Be sure to look at the rock formations to the east of town for a good view of the Snoopy Rock.
Day 4 – Sedona
Swimming Hole or Jeep Trail
If you want to cool off with a swim or sunbathe, you could always take a dip in your hotel pool. But what fun is that when some of the best Sedona things to do is visit local swimming holes. Even if you are visiting in cooler months, these swimming areas are very scenic and worth exploring. Swimming hole options include Sliding Rock State Park, Grasshopper Point, and Red Rock Crossing at Crescent Moon Picnic Site.
If you own and have experience driving a 4×4, there are many off-roading excursions you can explore. Some of these trails include Soldier Pass Trail (permit required), Dry Creek Road, and Outlaw Trail. You can rent a Jeep by the day from Make Your Expedition. If you prefer to go on a Jeep tour excursion, there are several touring options. The most popular company is Pink Adventure Tours which are recognizable by their pink jeeps. The Pink Jeep Tours are also the only company allowed on the Broken Arrow Trail.
Airport Mesa Trail Vortex
At the beginning of the Airport Mesa Trail, you can find one of many vortices in Sedona. 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.
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.
Cathedral Rock
Even though this hike is a short 1.2-mile trek, it is a difficult one as the climb is steep. This hike offers stunning views of red rock country. I have not yet tackled this hike, but it is on my list for my next Sedona things to do list. This is a very popular trail to hike at sunset.
Day 5 – Flagstaff
Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive
This road is a 14-mile scenic drive on Highway 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff. The road climbs 4,500 feet with windy roads and hairpin turns. Be sure to stop at the pullouts to get amazing views of the unique landscape.
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Spend the rest of the morning exploring Walnut Canyon National Monument. This is a great park to check out cliff dwellings from ancient, indigenous people that lived here. Check out Walnut Canyon Island Trail (0.8 miles) and Walnut Canyon Rim and Ruins Loop (0.8 miles) for two easy, short trails that will show you the best the park has to offer.
Bearizona Wildlife Park
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!
Day 6 – Grand Canyon
If you are an avid hiker, you could spend days at the Grand Canyon hiking from rim to rim. However, you could easily spend a day exploring the South Rim with just a little bit of hiking along Desert View Drive. Start the day at the Grand Canyon Village. Check out the Visitor’s Center before walking out to Mather Point. Walk east along the South Rim Trail checking out viewpoints along the way such as Pipe Creek Vista, Ooh Aah Point, Yaki Point, and Shoshone Point. After this nice walk, enjoy lunch at Grand Canyon Village before driving east along Desert View Road. Make sure to stop at these viewpoints along the way:
- Duck on a Rock Viewpoint
- Grandview Point
- Grandview Lookout Tower
- Moran Point
- Desert View Watch Tower
- Grand Canyon National Park Sign
Day 7 – Back to Phoenix
This is the last day of your Phoenix to Grand Canyon drive, which will actually consist of driving from the Grand Canyon back to Phoenix. The drive alone will take less than 4 hours assuming there is no traffic, and you do not stop. However, if you want to make a full day of it, consider heading back into the Grand Canyon for sunrise and a short hike. You may also prefer to stop in Sedona or another stop along the way to break up the long drive.
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