Arizona Beyond the Grand Canyon
Sedona’s red rocks, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Page and the saguaro forests of Tucson.
- Distance
- About 1,100 mi
- ≈ 1,770 km, rounded
- Time
- 8 days
- at a comfortable pace
- Best season
- Mar–Apr · Oct–Nov
- Start → finish
- Phoenix → Phoenix
Most visitors give Arizona one day: the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, then back to Las Vegas. They miss the state’s best surprises — the red buttes of Sedona, the rainbow logs of Petrified Forest, the cliff ruins of Canyon de Chelly in the heart of the Navajo Nation, Monument Valley’s Mittens, the slot canyons around Page, and the giant cacti of the Sonoran Desert around Tucson. This loop from Phoenix connects them all, and the Grand Canyon is an easy add-on.
Day by day
- 1
Day 1 · Phoenix to Sedona
North on I-17, with a stop at Montezuma Castle’s cliff dwelling. Sunset from Airport Mesa over the red rocks. See our Sedona guide.
about 120 mi · 2 hSleep: Sedona
- 2
Day 2 · Sedona
Cathedral Rock or Devil’s Bridge early, before the heat and the trailhead lots fill; the Chapel of the Holy Cross; an afternoon in Oak Creek Canyon or a detour to the hillside mining town of Jerome.
Sleep: Sedona
- 3
Day 3 · Petrified Forest
Up Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff, east on I-40 (old Route 66) to Petrified Forest: the 28-mile park road crosses the Painted Desert and passes the Blue Mesa and the Crystal Forest’s fossil logs. Continue north into the Navajo Nation.
about 230 mi · 4 hSleep: Chinle (Canyon de Chelly)
- 4
Day 4 · Canyon de Chelly to Monument Valley
The South Rim Drive to Spider Rock, and the White House Trail — the only hike into the canyon without a Navajo guide. Afternoon drive to Monument Valley for sunset on the Mittens. See Monument Valley.
about 110 mi · 2 hSleep: Monument Valley
- 5
Day 5 · Monument Valley to Page
Sunrise over the buttes, the Valley Drive (or a Navajo-guided tour into the restricted areas), then west to Page and Horseshoe Bend at sunset.
about 125 mi · 2 hSleep: Page
- 6
Day 6 · Antelope Canyon, then south
Your booked slot in Antelope Canyon in the morning, then the long drive south via Flagstaff to Phoenix. (Add the Grand Canyon here: Desert View is on the way — see the variants below.)
about 280 mi · 4 h 30Sleep: Phoenix or Scottsdale
- 7
Day 7 · Tucson and Saguaro
South to Tucson: the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (part zoo, part botanical garden) and the Bajada Loop Drive through Saguaro National Park West at sunset.
about 120 mi · 2 hSleep: Tucson
- 8
Day 8 · Mission San Xavier and back
The white mission of San Xavier del Bac, Saguaro East’s Cactus Forest Drive, then back to Phoenix for your flight.
about 120 mi · 2 hSleep: Phoenix or home
Short on days? Part of this route also works as a short trip, planned hour by hour:
Best month for an Arizona road trip
October is our pick, with March–April a close second. Phoenix and Tucson are pleasant, and the plateau around Monument Valley and Page (4,000–6,000 ft) is warm by day and cool at night. From June to September Phoenix routinely tops 105°F (40°C) and July–September is monsoon season, with sudden storms and flash floods that close slot canyons. In winter, snow is common around Flagstaff and on the Navajo plateau.
What to book ahead
- Antelope Canyon with a Navajo-authorized tour company — there is no independent entry. Midday slots sell out first.
- A room at Monument Valley (a handful of hotels inside or next to the tribal park) or in Kayenta.
- Sedona hotels for weekends; plan early starts, as popular trailheads fill by mid-morning.
- A Navajo guide for anything inside Canyon de Chelly beyond the White House Trail.
- The America the Beautiful pass covers Petrified Forest, Saguaro and the Grand Canyon; Navajo tribal parks charge their own fees.
Shorter or longer
Northern Arizona only
5 days
Phoenix – Sedona – Monument Valley – Page – back to Phoenix, dropping Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly and Tucson.
Add the Grand Canyon
+1 day
From Page, take the East Entrance along Desert View Drive and sleep at the South Rim before heading south. See our Grand Canyon guide.
Add Route 66 and Las Vegas
10–11 days
Fly into Las Vegas, drive Route 66 through Kingman and Seligman to Flagstaff, then pick up this loop. See our Route 66 road trip.
Where to sleep along the way
Book the nights that matter first — inside or next to the parks, and in towns hosting a festival — then fill in the rest. Free cancellation keeps the plan flexible.
- SedonaHotels ↗
- Chinle (Canyon de Chelly)Hotels ↗
- Monument ValleyHotels ↗
- PageHotels ↗
- TucsonHotels ↗
- Phoenix & ScottsdaleHotels ↗
Partner links · Trip.com
Road trip questions
What is there to see in Arizona besides the Grand Canyon?
Sedona’s red rocks, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend around Page, Canyon de Chelly, Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert, and the saguaro forests around Tucson.
How many days do you need for an Arizona road trip?
A week to ten days. Five days covers the north (Sedona, Monument Valley, Page); eight adds the Navajo canyons and Tucson.
Is Monument Valley in Arizona or Utah?
Both: the tribal park straddles the border, inside the Navajo Nation. The visitor center and the Valley Drive are on the Arizona side.
Can you visit Antelope Canyon without a tour?
No. Antelope Canyon is on Navajo land and can only be entered with an authorized guide. Book ahead.
Written by Kylian Dev. Distances and drive times are without stops or traffic; add 25% for a realistic day.