Brian and I flew to Phoenix for a five-day vacation to celebrate his birthday. Our intention was to spend some time vegging in Sedona, hiking through some of the country’s crazy diverse landscapes in the country and visiting the great natural wonder of the Grand Canyon.
Though this is only a 5-day Arizona itinerary, there are ample opportunities to spend more time in each place and to add a few more depending on your timeframe. Let me know if you have any questions.
Day 1: Phoenix to Sedona
On the first day of our 5-day Arizona road trip, we flew into Phoenix, easily got our rental car and headed off to Sedona. It was a late-night, yet beautiful, drive through dramatic and diverse scenery. The drive takes about 2-2.5 hours along the I-17.
If you have time during your drive between Phoenix and Sedona, there are also numerous hiking trails of varying difficulties along the way. Depending on the weather, you could easily spend a number of hours at the Tonto Natural Bridge while on your Phoenix to Sedona drive.
As it was nighttime, we didn’t have time for hiking so Brian drove, I fiddled with the radio and we marveled at the huge night sky! (Seriously, it had been a while since we enjoyed a sky full of stars and planets from our home city of Chicago!) Upon arrival in Sedona, we checked into our cute AirBnB and found a local place for homemade tacos. 89Agave Cantina did not disappoint, and I happily indulged in some vegetarian tacos with one/two beers.
Then it was time for bed as I was pumped for a full day of hiking the next day (Brian, not so much!)
Where to Stay in Sedona
Sedona is a popular destination for Arizona natives and visitors alike, so there are myriad accommodation options to choose from, including our adorable AirBnB. Here are a few other options that I came across:
Sedona Village Lodge
– This hotel, located in a quiet corner of Sedona close to the city centre and many hiking trails, is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a basic room while visiting the city. They have great reviews, clean and air-conditioned rooms, and helpful staff.
Sky Ranch Lodge
– If you are traveling on a slightly higher budget, then this romantic hotel is a fantastic option in Sedona. Centrally located, they have a range of comfortable rooms available and a bar and restaurant on site.
Day 2: Sedona (Hiking!)
Time to spend a full day of this Arizona road trip itinerary exploring the city of red rocks! Sedona might well be the most beautiful city in Arizona. Set amongst the backdrop of stunning red rock formations and high-desert landscape, this city has inspired New Age thought and creativity for decades. While we didn’t have time to explore any of the energy vortexes, I will certainly plan a return trip for some full-on yoga and healing.
There are a number of fantastic things to do in Sedona, from world-class shopping to some of the best hiking in the state. Sedona is a also popular weekend destination for Arizona locals, meaning that there are a number of fantastic restaurants and cultural events in the city as well.
If you like to hike, you can begin at the iconic Devil’s Bridge hike. It’s a popular hike and is short enough to do in a couple of hours. It’s also easy enough for most skill levels while still being challenging enough for more experienced hikers.
Since we are more experienced hikers, we chose to do the Red Rock Secret Canyon trail, an outstanding 4.2 mile long (each way) trail that eventually climbs the “Secret Mountain.” The path is initially level….. and then it begins to ascend up, up and more up! There was a lot of climbing using our hands and a few moments of “what the heck” but 2-3 rather sweaty hours later, we were rewarded with some pretty magnificent views!
After this heart-pumping hike, we spent a few hours relaxing and exploring the somewhat random and eclectic shops in the Tlaquepaque centre. We had lunch at Casa Sedona, where I again was pretty happy to lucky to find an assortment of vegan yummies!
With full bellies, we capped off the day with another fabulous, yet much less exhausting hike around Fay Canyon. This hike lets you get right into the heart of the red rocks, walking below the cliff walls and hanging gardens. Unlike many other hiking trails around Sedona, this one runs through a “treey” area and offers some shade along the way.
Day 3: Sedona to Grand Canyon
On Day 3, it was time to leave Sedona early (like 7 a.m.) and drive to the most iconic of Arizona attractions: the Grand Canyon. The drive north on State Route 89 is absolutely beautiful and takes about 2 hours.
If you’re interested in making any stops on the drive from Sedona to the Grand Canyon South Rim, try Flagstaff, the largest city in Northern Arizona and a lively university town. We stopped for lunch in Flagstaff and then headed on north. From Flagstaff, it takes about another hour to reach the South Rim. Note: if you are traveling in the winter months, only the South Rim of the Grand Canyon will be open to visitors, as the North Rim gets far too icy and snowy for it to handle many visitors per day.
Once you reach the Grand Canyon, you must pay the entrance fees to the park, of course. Then make your way to the Visitor Center, park and head off for some adventure and breathtaking sightseeing! Now’s the time to slow down, take some big breaths and simply enjoy this amazing natural sight! We checked out the main viewpoints, (like Mather Point Lookout) and then walked past the busy viewpoints to some quieter areas.
We found an incredible viewing platform to watch the sunset! Hermit’s Rest Viewpoint had lighter crowds and was a rather peaceful spot to spend a few hours of viewing. Make sure to bring some woolies or a jumper as the sun sets. It does get chilly.
Where to Stay at the Grand Canyon
Though the Grand Canyon is easily Arizona’s main tourist attraction, accommodation right next to the canyon at Grand Canyon Village is limited and quite expensive. We did stay at the park lodge since we were only staying one night and we paid only about $80. I was surprised it wasn’t more expensive since it was a weekend. If you’re traveling during a busy time of year, a far better option is to base yourself in nearby Flagstaff or Williams and drive up to the canyon from there.
Day 4: Grand Canyon to Page (Antelope Canyon)
We woke up early for sunrise at Desert View Watchtower. It was pretty spectacular; however, it would have been more perfect with a fresh coffee! No complaints – what an amazing way to see the early wake up.
Next, it was time to conquer the Bright Angel Trail, a hike that has been on my bucket list for many, many years! The Bright Angel Trail is the most popular trail on the South Rim — and with good reason. Although steep and challenging, it’s well-maintained and makes a terrific introduction to Inner Canyon hiking. And, it provides dramatic views for pretty much the entire hike.
Here’s the stats:
- Difficulty: Strenuous (Out-and-Back)
- Distance: 9 miles, round-trip
- Hiking Time: about 4-6 hours with breaks
- Elevation Change: 4,285 feet
This hike is very straightforward. Begin at the Bright Angel Trailhead in Grand Canyon Village. The trail will take you on a series of switchbacks allllll the way to Indian Garden (and I mean ALL the way down). If we had time, I would have liked to stay at Phantom Ranch at the bottom, but alas, another day and another hike! There are a few stops for restrooms and fresh water along the way.
We brought plenty of snacks and granola bars, and we did pause in the shade every so often to catch our breath, especially on the way back up! We had experienced the Grand Canyon from within!
Tips for Hiking the Bright Angel Trail
- I absolutely recommend a great pair of hiking shoes. I wore my light-weight Salomon’s. I’ve had these babies for a few years and they are perfect for all terrains.
- I also recommend a decent pair of hiking poles (even just one), like these Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles. (We didn’t have poles, but they would have helped my knees!)
- Most of all, my friends, do pack smart. I mean pack plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat. The sun is intense, and the hike is challenging and steep. We saw many people (unprepared people) with a tiny bottle of water, some wearing flip flops. They turned around. Just saying. Also, as a rule of thumb, for every hour of hiking down, plan 2 hours to hike back out.
After our hike, it was back into the car for a drive to the little desert down of Page, Arizona. We took our time winding around the east end of the canyon. Like the crow flies, the drive is about 2.5 hours. We stopped at several viewpoints, including Horseshoe Bend. The landscape was spectacular, filled with treeless steppes and a glowing horizon. There were many tradeposts along the way, which we stopped to browse and chat.
Day 5: Page | Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is easily the most famous slot canyon in the USA! Most people know about the tours that will walk you through two parts of the canyon, one is the upper slot canyon and the other is the lower slot canyon. You must pay a fee, sign up for a tour time, and you are herded through the canyon with a large tour group of people.
BUT what most people don’t know is that you can also kayak to a portion of Antelope Canyon. Located at Antelope Point Marina, you can rent kayaks for the day to experience the full-on effect of the awesome canyon via the water.
Kayaking Antelope Canyon is FAR less crowded! You get to walk the slot canyon on your own, without crowds, without a tour guide, and without any time constraints. Free to take as much time as you want to enjoy the canyon!
We opted to rent individual kayaks from Lake Powell Paddleboards and Kayaks. Once in the water, we headed south from Antelope Point into the beautiful waters of Lake Powell, one of Arizona’s crown jewels, an enormous 185mi-long reservoir in the Colorado River providing beach access and endless aquatic fun to an otherwise landlocked region.
After about 20-30min of paddling down the lake, we reached the very obvious turn into Antelope Canyon. (In addition to the concentrated boat traffic around this point, there’s also a large “5mph No Wake” sign posted at the entrance to the canyon.)
Take your time to marvel at the truly incredible scenery as you float through the narrowing white walls with bright orange and purple ripples. It was such a wonderful experience! Unfortunately, since we were due in Phoenix that evening, we didn’t have time to kayak to the beach for the full experience of hiking Antelope Canyon, but the thought was there!
Tips for Kayaking Antelope Canyon
- Waterproof hiking sandals | You’ll definitely be getting wet in the kayak, so I’d recommend wearing hiking sandals like Tevas (or these cheaper sandals that work just as well) which are also great for the hiking portion of the day (since the trail is so flat and sandy).
- Comfortable hiking clothes | Choose something quick-drying and comfortable for both hiking and kayaking; I wore a sports bra and yoga shorts, while Brian wore his swim trunks and a synthetic t-shirt
- Sunnies + hat | It’s hot out here!
What to bring
- Dry bag | If you own a dry bag, I’d highly recommend using it to store all your belongings, as everything in the kayak is likely to get soaked during your paddle; at the very least, put your phone/camera in a Freezer Zip-Loc!
- Camera
- Sunscreen
- Water | This is going to be a long, hot day, so be sure to pack ~4L of water or Gatorade per person!
- Lunch + snacks
Then it was back in to the car for our drive back to Phoenix (about 4-5 hours) and to catch our late-night flight back to Chicago.
Have More Time?
If you have more time to devote to your Arizona road trip, there are a number of additions you could include while using this route as a template.
If you’re planning an Arizona 1 week itinerary, we would recommend spending an extra day each in the Phoenix area and in Sedona. This will allow you to see more of the attractions in both cities. Phoenix has a lot more to offer travellers visiting for more than just one day, as does Sedona.
If you have only time for a 3-day Arizona road trip itinerary, then that is perfectly doable as well. Spend your first night in Phoenix, enjoy the Phoenix to Sedona drive and explore the town of Sedona on the second day, and then head the Grand Canyon bright and early on the third day in order to spend as much time as possible in this beautiful site.
