Arizona Road Trip Planning Suggestions

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Introduction:

What? : Arizona considered to be a desert state and the first thing come in mind is the Grand Canyon but actually it has many more thing to offer.


The main cities in Arizona are Flagstaff, Page & Sedona at the north, Phoenix in the middle and Tucson at the southern part. You can plan your trip by using each one as a basecamp for few days, discover the city and the nearby location as day trip.

 

When? : Preferred visiting time is not at the hot summer months where temperatures are usually above 100f.

 

Due note 1: When planning a trip to Arizona this is usually combined with other locations like Las Vegas and probably even California from the west, Utah from the north, and maybe New-Mexico and Colorado from the east.

 

Due note 2: Visiting Arizona during winter month is good option but do remember that the northern part (Flagstaff) can have cold weather and snowstorms so take this into considerations.

 

Due note 2: I did not cover many local attractions the state of Arizona and the city of Phoenix has to offer (like Golf, museums and other nature attractions that can be more appropriate to people living in Arizona).

 


More blogs on Arizona:

 


Visit Planning ideas:

 

Recommended days at each place (depending what you want to do/see/visit):

Phoenix & Scottsdale (1-2 days)

Tucson(2-3 days)

Sedona(2-4 days)

Grand Canyon (1 day)

Page (1-2 days),

Monument Valley (1/2 a day, on the way north)

Vegas (2-3 days)

 

 

Few road trip suggestions:

5-10 days: Vegas, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Page, Bryce, Zion, Valley of Fire, Vegas




7-8 days: L.A., Palm spring/Joshua Tree, Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Vegas




8-10 days: Vegas, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Phoenix, Tucson, San Diego


 

 

Point of interest (link for relevant blogs with more information):

 

On the way north from Phoenix to Grand Canyon (Flagstaff):

Montezuma Castle National Monument: Archaeological site with ancient cliff dwellings, this is more recommended, short hike, overall 1hr visit, short hike to the house on the cliff, we visit this place but remembering this as a must-see site.


Montezuma Well National Monument: Archaeological site with ancient cliff dwellings


V Bar V Heritage Site: Conserved rock art with a ~2hr guided tours to the painted rock, nice privet owned place to learn about local old Native American civilization.



 

Sedona:

The town is surrounded by the amazing landscape of the red rock cliff and considered to be art and center for “new age” activity. Can easily spend here few days but even if you pass by as one day car travel you will impress by the nature around the town (on your way to/from Grand Canyon/Flagstaff). Can be visited as a day trip from Phoenix.

 

Grand Canyon:

1 days with 1 night can be enough to cover most of things to do (mainly viewpoints along the rim and visitor center).


 

One day trip Flagstaff to Las Vegas:

Old Route 66, Grand Canyon West & Skywalk, Hoover Dam.



 

Page and north AZ:

Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Waterhole Canyon Experience LLC, Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell, Monument Valley

From Page AZ you can continue to Zion and Bryce in Utah or Moab.


 

North Arizona:

Page (Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell)



Monument Valley

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and White Pocket

Grand Canyon South and North Rim

Flagstaff



Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Wupatki National Monument

Meteor Crater



Petrified Forest National Park



Canyon de Chelly National Monument



Walnut Canyon National Monument


White Mountains


Sedona

 

Phoenix

 

Scottsdale old town:

Galleries, boutiques, art stores and other tourist attractions as also many restaurants.

 

Heard Museum:

Highly recommended museum to learn about Native American civilizations, including a big collection of Southwestern art.

 

Desert Botanical Garden


Papago Park municipal park (Hole-in-the-Rock, Tovrea Castle)

 

Hike to the top of Camelback Mountain

 

South Mountain Park:

This mountain range south of Phoenix downtown is the largest city park in the USA, with typical Senora desert landscape, many options for long hiking, heaven on earth for mountain biking and high viewpoints overlooking the non-ending city below.

 

Superstition Mountains:

The largest mountain range east of Phoenix rises above the flat desert plateau with raged look and high cliffs. On your way east you can also visit Goldfield Ghost Town, a tourist attraction with old town and few activities.

 

 

South Arizona:

Picacho Peak State Park


Biosphere2


Tucson


Saguaro National Park


Tombstone


Chiricahua National Monument


Kitt Peak Observatory

 

More Pictures:































Location: Arizona, USA

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