I lived in Southern Arizona for two years, but in the process of writing my Arizona travel guidebook, I saw more than most people who lived their whole lives in Arizona. When it comes to North America road trips, Arizona is one of the best! In addition to the postcard scenery of Phoenix or the Grand Canyon, I’ve found that the state is incredibly diverse and I was pleasantly surprised every time I set out to explore a new area. This two-week Arizona road trip itinerary can easily be broken into a week in Northern Arizona or Southern Arizona.

Obviously, this Arizona itinerary only gives you a brief taste of each spot; I recommend taking as much time as you can possibly afford to appreciate these Arizona destinations truly. The more time you have, the more time you can slow down and enjoy the scenery or learn about the Native American culture of these lands. If you are looking for the best destination for a road trip, Arizona is it!

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Two-Week Arizona Itinerary

• Day 1: Fly into Phoenix, drive to Sedona (116 miles)
• Day 2: Sedona
• Day 3: Drive from Sedona to the Grand Canyon (114 miles)
• Day 4: Grand Canyon National Park
• Day 5: Drive from Grand Canyon to Page, Arizona (133 miles)
• Day 6: Page
• Day 7: Page
• Day 8: Drive from Page to Monument Valley to Canyon de Chelly (213 miles)
• Day 9: Drive from Canyon de Chelly to Tucson (341 miles)
• Day 10, 11, 12: Tucson (117 miles)
• Day 13, 14: Phoenix

My Arizona itinerary is heavily focused on the outdoors and scenery. You can totally spend two weeks in just Phoenix and Tucson and still not cover all the highlights, but I think Arizona’s beauty lies outside of the cities. Of course, you can customize this itinerary, or let me customize it for you! This is just one of many ways to visit Arizona!

I also have a Southwest road trip itinerary that starts in Vegas and includes Southern Utah

Phoenix to Sedona

You will probably begin your vacation at PHX – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Rent a car and head two hours north to Sedona. Montezuma Castle National Monument is a great halfway point to stop and stretch your legs. A very short paved walk brings you to an impressive cliff dwelling high above the valley floor!

Sedona has long been a haven for hippies, artists, and New Age spiritualists, and now welcomes over four million visitors a year. Many of them come to experience the energy vortexes scattered around the town, some come for artisan shopping, and others are drawn to luxurious spa resorts. For me, scenery and hiking are the main reasons to visit Sedona. I have stayed in Sedona several times now, at various times of the year, and I’m always itching to go back. If you know me, you won’t be surprised that I didn’t feel any energy from the vortexes, but I also didn’t seek them out, so they’re still a possibility for my next trip!

Things to Do in Sedona

• Take a Jeep Tour through the Red Rock Canyons! Jeep tours are one of the most popular things to do in Sedona – for good reason!
• Take a Vortex Tour – see what the hype is all about!
• Sedona Hiking – there are tons of great hiking trails in Sedona. Many of them require a Red Rocks Forest Access Pass, but if you have a National Parks Pass, that will work, too. Some of my favorite Sedona hikes include:
  • Airport Loop – excellent, sometimes crowded viewpoint at the start of the hike, hardly any people on the rest of the trail which circles the mesa where the airport sits.
  • Cathedral Rock – we only hiked a bit of this as the scrambling was a bit much for a big dog, but there were lots of people going up to catch the sunset.
  • Huckaby Trail – we hiked this from both ends as it was much less crowded than other trailheads, and the trail crosses Oak Creek, which meant B got to splash around in the water!
  • Devil’s Bridge – this is probably the most popular trail around Sedona and I haven’t hiked it, for that reason. On a Tuesday morning, the lot was full and overflowing, so we went elsewhere, but the photos I’ve seen are gorgeous if you’re willing to put up with crowds.
• Sedona Train Ride – take a ride on the Verde Valley Railroad, just 30 minutes from Sedona.

Have more time to go beyond Arizona? Take this LA to Denver road trip!

Where to Stay in Sedona

There are tons of hotels in and around Sedona to fit every taste and budget. If you drive along Oak Creek north of town, there are also cute lodges and cabins that I’d love to come back and try! Here are a few options:

• Luxury: L’Auberge regularly tops the list of best luxury hotels in Sedona. Enchantment is also a well-known luxury resort in Sedona.
• Mid-Range: I love the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock. There are also two Hilton Vacation Club locations if you are in the timeshare market.
• Lower Mid-Range: The Holiday Inn Express in Oak Creek is dog-friendly and a good value, about 10 minutes from Sedona, but an easy drive.

I don’t recommend the Element Sedona as it feels like a renovated Super8. The Element Moab is one of my favorite Moab hotels, so this one surprised me!

Browse Sedona Hotels at Booking.com

Flagstaff

Flagstaff is a funky little college town with a super fun vibe, but it’s also a mountain town. So, the best time to visit most of Arizona is not the best time to visit Flagstaff, unless you don’t mind snow! But I do recommend a half-day stop in Flagstaff as you make your way from Sedona to the Grand Canyon. The downtown area is fairly small, so you can see a lot and have some great food before moving on.

Things to Do in Flagstaff

• Explore Downtown Historic Flagstaff – tons of fun shops, restaurants, and bars will keep you busy for a full day! Eat at Diablo Burger or Toasted Owl Cafe!
• See Native American ruins at Wupatki National Monument or Walnut Canyon National Monument
• Take the ski lift up to the top of the Arizona Snowbowl for amazing views all the way to the Grand Canyon. Yes, there is skiing in Arizona!
• Find out where and how Pluto was discovered at Lowell Observatory, and learn about the HUGE role northern Arizona played in several moon missions.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park should be on everyone’s bucket list as it really is…grand! There are so many different ways to experience the canyon, though. If you only visit Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim and never get off the beaten path, you may find the crowds overwhelming or the facilities disappointing. The key is to get below the Grand Canyon South Rim. (Make sure you are prepared, though, as the heat can be deadly!)

Things to do in the Grand Canyon

• Grand Canyon Dayhikes – You can stay on the South Rim and just adventure out on day hikes into the canyon or along the rim. The South Kaibab trail is well-traveled and regularly patrolled by rangers. Always carry twice as much water as you think you’ll need! Two very useful books I’ve used are the National Geographic Destination Map and Hikernut’s Grand Canyon Companion.
• Backpacking. A great way to experience a different side of the canyon. You can camp at the bottom at Bright Angel Campground, or at Indian Gardens Campground, about halfway down the Bright Angel trail. There are many backcountry trails and campsites in the cabin, all of which require advance planning and permits.
• River Rafting. Hands down my favorite way to experience the canyon. If you can swing it, take the longest trip you can possibly afford. I spent 11 days on the Colorado River in 2015 and it was the trip of a lifetime. Shorter trips are available if you’re crunched for time, but you’ll leave wanting more.
• Helicopter Tours. I have mixed feelings about this as helicopters can really kill a moment in nature for those of us on the ground, but the canyon is huge, and I believe the flights stay out of the main hiking area. That said, leaving the canyon in a helicopter after the rafting trip was pretty killer!

Where to Stay at the Grand Canyon

If you can, stay right at the South Rim. It’s worth it if you stay on the rim because you can enjoy the evening after most tourists leave, or early morning before they arrive! You’ll need to plan way in advance, though, as reservations open up 13 months out. Otherwise, the nearest towns are Tusayan, Cameron, or Williams.

• Luxury: El Tovar Hotel (not really luxury as it’s a National Park lodge, but this is the nicest property on the South Rim)
• Bright Angel Lodge has cabins and lodge rooms near the Bright Angel trail.
• Mid-Range: Maswick Lodge – a motel-style lodge in walking distance of the South Rim
• Budget/Camping – for reservable campsites, Mather Campground is the place to be.

Page, Arizona

I have mixed feelings about Page. The scenery is beautiful, but I feel like it’s the place that Instagram is ruining. Yes, I realize the irony of a travel blogger complaining about this. There is so much scenery packed into this region that it’s hard to wrap your head around it. A lot of the land here is Navajo land, and many of the areas require a Navajo guide to accompany you. Please respect the land as a guest of the Navajo people. They got a pretty shitty deal in the grand scheme of things, so the least we can do is not complain about paying fees to access these areas.

Things to do in Page

You can read my full guide of the best things to do in Page, Arizona; below are just a few of the highlights:

• Horseshoe Bend – one of the most photographed sites in Page, and the most crowded. It’s very accessible from a parking lot just outside of Page. Parking and permit renovations are underway, you can read more about Horseshoe Bend parking.
• Antelope Canyon – another photography hot spot. Lower Antelope Canyon and Upper Antelope Canyon are the most popular, but also the most crowded. Fortunately, there are a few other options for these canyons (all of which require a Navajo guide) and I was happy to stumble upon Antelope Canyon X, a lesser-known, equally stunning slot canyon that only opened to the public in 2017.
• Lake Powell Boat Tour. Lake Powell is a popular destination for houseboat vacations, as there are many coves to explore around the lake. If you only want a day trip, there are plenty of boat tours you can take. I highly recommend the Rainbow Bridge boat tour. It’s a long day, but it’s totally worth it!
• The Wave. Gorgeous, but nearly impossible to get into. Something like 5% of lottery applications are accepted. I need to keep trying. You can also hike Coyote Buttes instead of the Wave, according to Meghan the Traveling Teacher!

If you have an extra week, Page is a great jumping off point for this Southern Utah road trip!

Where to stay in Page

• Luxury: Amangiri is the ultimate luxury getaway. With rooms starting around $4,000 a night, I haven’t stayed here, but I did get a site tour, and it is an incredible property. Also, seen on Eugene Levy’s Reluctant Traveler TV series.
• Mid-Range: The La Quinta here is surprisingly nice and dog-friendly! It’s brand new and a great value for such a popular area. I have also stayed at the Hyatt Place Page Lake Powell, which is also quite new and has great views of Glen Canyon Dam. The only drawback to that hotel is that they don’t have a hot tub, which is a requirement for me on desert trips!
• Budget/Camping: The Wahweap campground at Lake Powell was a definite highlight of my big road trip last year. Even though it’s a mega-RV resort, I loved the tent area with great views of Lake Powell.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

It’s about two hours to drive from Page to Monument Valley. While sunrise and sunset are spectacular, in this itinerary you’re going to swing through Monument Valley en route to Canyon de Chelly. Or don’t, it’s up to you! Both parks are part of the Navajo Nation, so whatever pass you buy is good for both parks. A lot of things in Northern Arizona are in the middle of nowhere, and Monument Valley is no exception. It’s amazing that movie directors in the 1930s stumbled on this area. I can’t say I’ve seen a John Wayne movie, but I have seen Forrest Gump! Many road trip ideas have started with this scene below:

Things to do in Monument Valley

You can drive through Monument Valley on the main park road, and the entrance is $8 per person. I didn’t have time for the full loop, which takes about two hours, plus added time for summer construction, but I drove enough to see some pretty good viewpoints before turning around. Tours here are also very popular and take you to places you can’t drive to on your own. I would definitely do this if I return, as I love the “behind the scenes” tours from locals.

Where to Stay in Monument Valley

There are just a few options for lodging in Monument Valley. There is Goulding’s complex, which has a lodge, a campground (with rustic cabins), and several homes to rent in the area. There’s also a dining room and gift shop. Goulding’s is about 10 minutes from the entrance of Monument Valley Tribal Park. Inside the park, there is the View Hotel, which also has cabins and a nearby campground. The views from both areas are incredible, but the View Hotel is up close and personal! Bailey and I camped at Goulding’s this time, and I can’t find anything to complain about – except that it was freezing in early May!

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

When people ask me what my favorite place to go in Arizona is, Canyon de Chelly is always the first to come to mind. I didn’t do much research before visiting, so I was really stunned when I arrived. This is sacred Navajo land, and Native people still live and farm in the canyon. The National Park Service manages it as a National Monument, in conjunction with the Navajo Nation. The cliff dwellings date back to the Anasazi people, while the Navajo have lived here for hundreds of years.

Things to do in Canyon de Chelly

There are scenic drives along the north and south rims, but to enter the canyon, you must be accompanied by a Navajo Guide. I joined a sunset tour through the canyon, and horseback riding tours are also available. Our tour guide was a Navajo man named Fernando who grew up on the rim of the canyon and spent his childhood wandering around the ancient cliff dwellings. Getting his first-hand stories made this such an incredible experience.

Book a Canyon de Chelly guide tour

Where to stay at Canyon de Chelly

There are no luxury options along this route! I stayed at Thunderbird Lodge, which is the only hotel in the Canyon de Chelly National Monument, plus it’s dog-friendly! This meant I could leave Bailey in the room while I took a tour. The nearby town of Chinle has a few chain options, but I would highly suggest Thunderbird Lodge for its proximity to the Canyon.

Canyon de Chelly to Tucson

This will be the longest driving day of the entire Arizona road trip, and you can easily double the time it takes because there are a lot of cool places to stop along the way. A few suggested stops on this route:

• Petrified Forest National Park, aka the Painted Desert
• Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation
• Salt River Canyon Overlook (great spot for a quick Arizona rafting trip!)

Tucson, Arizona

I called Tucson home for 2 1/2 years, and while I don’t miss the crazy hot summers and giant bugs, I miss just about everything else. Especially the cost of living! I have a huge post on the best things to do in Tucson, including where to stay in Tucson and the best food in Tucson. Tucson has some beautiful resorts, so by now, you’re probably ready for some relaxation.

Between your spa treatments, there are a few Tucson attractions that you should try to see:

• Saguaro National Park has two distinct units: Rincon Mountain District and Tucson Mountain District
• Sabino Canyon
• Catalina State Park
• Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

Tucson to Phoenix

It’s just under two hours from Tucson to Phoenix; a trip I made many times. If you’re in a hurry, hop on I-15 and fly. If you have time, you can spend a good amount on time on the more scenic route along Highway 79. There are a few fun stops along either route:

• Picacho Peak State Park is a great spot for wildflowers in Arizona
• Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
• A big detour to see Roosevelt Lake and Tonto National Monument is worth it!

Phoenix or Scottsdale

When I lived in Arizona, I spent very little time in Phoenix. It was good for flights and shopping, but otherwise, it kind of just feels like any other sprawling city to me. But hotter. That said, there are some good Phoenix museums where you can escape the heat. If you’re just looking for a nice resort to escape the winter cold back home, then Phoenix is perfect. Scottsdale is a great area to stay in Phoenix, and I’ve managed to sneak down there for several times for a weekend in Scottsdale. I’ve been lucky enough to sample several Scottsdale resorts.

• The Kierland Commons area in Scottsdale is my favorite for a solo trip where I’m just relaxing. The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is within walking distance of tons of restaurants and shops.
• I’ve stayed at several hotels in the Paradise Valley area. It’s centrally located, but you probably want a car unless you really are just chilling at the hotel.
  • I highly recommend Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows for a lively vibe and fantastic food. Plus, a few walkable restaurants and shops.
  • The Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort just had a major renovation in 2024. The pools are great, it’s got a relaxing vibe, and the food here is also fantastic. Plus, they have a hiker’s shuttle!
  • A more budget-friendly option is the DoubleTree by Hilton Paradise Valley. The rooms were nice, and the pools and pool bar were perfect for a girls trip!

If you’re a baseball fan, Arizona Spring Training is a super fun way to see your favorite teams. Visit in February or March; expect pricy flights and hotels at that time, though!

More Arizona Road Trip Destinations

While these are the highlights of what to see with two weeks in Arizona, I’m leaving out some of my favorite places. Some have less of a “wow” factor or some are just too remote to squeeze into this Arizona itinerary. Some of the best weekend getaways in Arizona include:

• Prescott Arizona and the surrounding Verde Valley, Jerome ghost town, Tuzigoot, etc.
• Lake Havasu City aka Arizona’s West Coast
• Pinetop / Show Low area is where Arizona residents go to escape the summer heat or to find a semblance of winter weather.
• Southeast Arizona has some fun destinations like Tombstone, Bisbee and the Cochise Mountains.

Best Time to Visit Arizona

As you can see, Arizona is not just one climate. There are places in northern Arizona that have snow and ski resorts. There’s even a ski resort in Tucson. When to visit Arizona also depends on your budget, as spring is probably the most expensive time to visit Arizona. In general, the following applies to Arizona seasons

• I hated spring until I moved to Arizona. A desert in bloom is pretty spectacular! The weather is just about perfect with warm days and cool nights. It’s also the most expensive time to visit Arizona, thanks to spring break travelers and MLB’s Spring Training games.
• Summer in Arizona is hot! You can get some amazing deals on Phoenix and Tucson hotels, but the parks and attractions in Northern Arizona will be busy just due to school schedules. Areas like Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon cool down quite a bit at night.
  • Late summer is typically monsoon season in Arizona. Thunderstorms are common, and driving can be dangerous. Do not ignore warning signs and do not drive through moving water!
• Fall in Arizona can be amazing, or it can be super hot. Again it depends on the elevation you are visiting. If you are looking for fall color in Arizona, you’ll find it in Flagstaff or along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
• Winter in Arizona is obviously very mild, which is why it’s such a popular retirement destination. It’s not hot, so you will want layers as the temps can easily shift by 40 degrees in a day. Northern cities like Prescott, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon can get snow, so make sure you are prepared!

Arizona Travel Tips

As you plan your Arizona Road trip, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• The climate is super dry; plan to drink a ton of water, and ask your hotel if they offer humidifiers. If not, I highly recommend a travel humidifier that works with an 8-oz bottle of water. Humidity is often below 10%, which can cause headaches and dry out your nose and skin.
• The desert is dusty! It doesn’t take long to get dirty. Leave your brand-new white tennis shoes at home.
• Arizona’s Monsoon Season is from mid-June to mid-August. It gets humid, and there are terrific thunderstorms. However, monsoon storms can be deadly, especially for drivers who try to cross a flooded wash. Pay attention to signs and don’t enter a flooded area. After spending two hours stranded between floods, I now keep snacks in my car!
• Your cell phone won’t work everywhere. Always have a map as a backup!