How to do an Arizona Canyons Road-Trip

One of America's premier states for road trips, and for good reason, It's spectacular in so many ways, with 22 National Parks and Monuments as well as over 30 State Parks.  Arizona is a naturalist wonderland with unique scenery, native American archeological sites, paleontological sites, premium astrological viewing, and some great cities thrown in for good value. 

Start your adventure in Page on the shores of Lake Powell, part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. 

Stay -  Wahweap RV Campground - It's a bit out of town but it's the best campground in the area

Head south from Page to Antelope Canyon.  Book a guided tour in Page, due to the fragility of this area it's the only way you are allowed to see the canyon. We recommend Navajo Tours, for this ancient slot canyon it's terrific to have a native guide. 

Keep going to Grand Canyon NP.  Stay - Mather Campground, Grand Canyon Village.  At the Grand Canyon, make sure you do a scenic flight, it's really the only way to appreciate the whole scale and grandeur of the world's most famous canyon.  

The next stop is Flagstaff where you can base yourself to do Walnut Canyon National Monument.  Home of the ancient pueblos peoples' fascinating 800-year-old cliff dwellings, amazing geological formations, and trail walks with abundant wildlife.  

Stay - Flagstaff KAO campground    While in Flagstaff take in one of the astrological observatories in town - see our Dark Skies Arizona Blog for more details.  

Visit Oak Creek Canyon on your way into Sedona. Take the 23km Scenic Drive along Route 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona. The spectacular winding drive descends 1.5km from the Mogollon Rim into Sedona. 

In Sedona stay at Rancho Sedona RV Park and base yourself here to see all the amazing sights in the immediate vicinity. In particular, Red Rock State Park, which is beyond spectacular.  If you have ever thought of doing a scenic Balloon flight, this is the place.  Pre-book so you're not disappointed.  

The final leg of your road trip is the scenic drive down to Pheonix, the 'Valley of the Sun'.

Stay at EagleView RV Resort part of the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort. It's about 48kms from downtown Pheonix but much closer to Scottsdale.

Consider a Sonoran Desert Segway Tour. It's a really fun way to immerse yourself in the flora, and fauna of the Sonoran Desert.  In town, you should definitely visit the Pueblo Grande Museum & Archeological Park and the Desert Botanical Gardens. If you have kids visit the Pioneer Living History Museum, for a day of immersion in the past.

Phoenix city has a vibrant food and craft beer scene as well as being a sports lovers city.  Check if the Arizona Diamondbacks (baseball), Phoenix Suns (Basketball), Arizona Cardinals (Football), and the Arizona Coyotes (Ice Hockey) teams have a home game while you're in town.  Of course, if you are a golfer you will be in paradise!

As always we encourage you to respect the natural environments that you visit and pay your respects to the traditional custodians of the lands, their elders, past, present, and emerging.  And of course, have a good time!

Image credits - Arizona Office of Tourism 

Shelley Richardson

Shelley has been working in the travel industry for over 30 years, in aviation, for tour operators and since 2016 for DriveNow. Having travelled extensively worldwide, alone, as a couple and with her family, Shelley has experience to share about how to make the most of your holiday, especially road-trips to amazing destinations.

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