9 DAYS ARIZONA ROAD TRIP

BLUE MESA-PETRIFIED FOREST

Table of Contents

9 DAYS ARIZONA ROAD TRIP MAP & ITINERARY

Using This Map: To access the layers (driving routes and places to go), click the tab located in the upper left corner of the map. To reveal or conceal layers, click the checkboxes. You may learn more about each point of interest on the map by clicking on the icons.  This map will be added to your Google Maps account if you click the star next to the map’s title. Open Google Maps on your computer or phone, select “Your Places” from the menu, then click Maps. This map will appear on your list.

DAY 1: Arrival in Phoenix and Saguaro National Park (Tucson Mountain District)

Driving Milage and Approximate Time: 110 miles @ 2 hours

  • Arrive in Phoenix, Arizona.
  • If you arrive early in the morning you could spend sometime exploring Phoenix such as go venture Hole-in-the-Rock or check out Mystery Castle, and then drive to Saguaro National Park (Tucson Mountain District).  If you arrive Phoenix in the midday, get your rental car and drive straight towards Saguaro National Park (Tucson Mountain District).  If you arrive later, then just drive to your hotel in Tucson and maybe venture Tucson at night.
  • Overnight in Tucson.
Mystery castle
MYSTERY CASTLE-PHOENIX

DAY 2: Saguaro National Park & Drive towards Petrified Forest National Park

 

Driving Mileage and Approximate Time: 240 miles @ 4.5 hours

  • In the morning, if you already ventured Tucson Mountains side of the National Park the day before, go explore Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park.  If not, go explore the Tucson Mountains side first followed by the Rincon side.  Remember that doing this will add up to your driving mileage today and you will arrive later to your next destination.  Alternatively, you could skip Rincon side and drive straight towards your next destination.
  • In the afternoon, drive towards Petrified Forest National Park; Holbrook, AZ.
  • Overnight in Holbrook, AZ
saguaro
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK

DAY 3: Petrified Forest National Park & Monument Valley

Approximate driving time in Petrified Forest: 1.5 hr. @ 80 miles

Approximate driving time to Monument Valley: 3.5 hrs @ 200 miles

Approximate Total Driving Time: 5 hrs.

  • In the morning, explore Petrified Forest National Park. It’s a small park so all you need is half to a day to explore the park; North (colorful hills of the Painted Desert) and South (filled with petrified woods).
  • In the afternoon, make your way to Monument Valley.  
  • Stay near Monument Valley
Petrified Forest
PETRIFIED FOREST-BLUE MESA

DAY 4: Monument Valley

  • Explore Monument Valley
  • Stay near Monument Valley
monument valley
MONUMENT VALLEY

DAY 5: Antelope Canyon & Horsehoe Bend

  • Drive to Antelope Canyon
  • Take a tour to see Antelope Canyon ( Book the tour in advance. If possible, time yourself to see both Upper & Lower parts of the Canyon)
  • Visit Horseshoe Bend in the evening
  • Overnight near Antelope Canyon; Page Arizona.
ANTELOPE CANYON
ANTELOPE CANYON

DAY 6: Grand Canyon National Park

 

  • Drive to Grand Canyon National Park
  • Explore Grand Canyon National Park
  • Stay in or near Grand Canyon National Park
grand canyon
GRAND CANYON-BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL

DAY 7: Grand Canyon & Drive towards Sedona

 

  • Explore more Grand Canyon in the morning until late afternoon
  • Late afternoon, drive to Sedona
  • Stay in Sedona
GRAND Canyon
GRAND CANYON

DAY 8: Sedona

 

  • Venture Sedona in the morning and afternoon.
  • Stay in Sedona or make your way back to Phoenix  (and stay in Phoenix), if you want to venture Phoenix or if you have an early flight from Phoenix the next day.
DEVIL'S BRIDGE
DEVIL'S BRIDGE-SEDONA

DAY 9: Go Home

 

  • Drive to Phoenix if you stayed in Sedona the night before. Explore Phoenix if your flight is later in the day.

PLACES TO STAY SUGGESTIONS

PLACES TO EAT SUGGESTIONS