This post might contain affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, if you buy through my site. I appreciate your support of my site.

The Grand Canyon is the second most visited national park in the USA! As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, you need to take a visit to this impressive canyon in Arizona at least once in your life. 

In addition to the Grand Canyon, Arizona has some other awesome cities, forests, national park service sites, restaurants, and attractions. Phoenix, Arizona is the perfect gateway to explore all that central Arizona has to offer. Follow my one week Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip to discover where to go, what to do, where to eat, and where to stay on your way to and from the Grand Canyon. 

A lot of hiking is included in this one week Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip, but you definitely don’t need to be a hiker to follow the itinerary. It is based on my own trip, but includes additional recommendations that I researched, but didn’t have time to include. With the additional ideas you can easily swap out places in each destination or extend this trip if you have more time. 

One Week Phoenix to Grand Canyon Road Trip 

Day 1: Phoenix to Prescott

After arriving at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), rent a car from an airport rental car company or from Turo. Avoid renting from Krystyn on Turo. I love Turo, but had a very bad experience with this owner who runs a business with her husband. When using Turo choose a driver with only one car to ensure you are renting from a local host!

From the airport, drive about one hour and 40 minutes to Prescott. Prescott (pronounced press-kitt) is the former territorial capitol of Arizona. The old frontier town is full of history and there are many places to hike and kayak around the town. 

What to Do in Prescott

Sharlot Hall Museum

It was hard to choose which Prescott museum to visit, but I chose this historic open-air museum to learn more about the history of Prescott. Start your visit in the permanent galleries where you will explore the early history of the Prescott area and about Sharlot Hall, the founder of the museum. 

Then head outside to the historic buildings. The Sharlot Hall Building includes more exhibits on the history and early days of Prescott. Other buildings were built on site, moved from other locations, or are replicas of originals located in Arizona Territory. 

Museum of Indigenous People

Formerly the Smoki Museum, this museum focuses on the culture, history, and art of Native Americans from the area. 

Phippen Museum

Phippen Museum is home to a large collection of western art. 

Prescott Heritage Trail

Pick up a free map from the visitor center and follow the Prescott Heritage Trail. The self-guided walk takes about an hour and will bring you to different historical spots around the city with information plaques.

Courthouse Plaza & Whiskey Row

Whether you follow the Heritage Trail or not, you will want to take a walk around Courthouse Plaza and along Whiskey Row. It’s the heart of the town and home to many historic saloons from the wild west days. Early evening after the museums close and before dinner is the best time to walk around downtown. 

In between the saloons you’ll also find tourist gift shops, boutique shops, and art galleries. Stop into the Treat Center on Whiskey Row for some free popcorn samples! 

Behind Whiskey Row on Whiskey Row Alley you’ll find a couple of Prescott murals for good photo ops! 

Hiking and Kayaking

Prescott National Forest surrounds the town and provides ample opportunities for hiking. Thumb Butte and the Constellation Loop are popular choices. 

Watson Lake, Goldwater Lake, and Lynx Lake offer hiking as well as beautiful spots for water activities including kayaking. 

Prescott Frontier Days

If you time your visit right you’ll be lucky enough to attend the World’s Oldest Rodeo. I didn’t visit over the 4th of July weekend so I didn’t have the first hand experience, but I did learn about it at a temporary exhibit at Sharlot Hall. I can’t think of a better western experience to have! 

Where to Eat in Prescott

That Apple Pan 

This charming red and white apple themed restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch. You need to order something apple when at an apple centric restaurant. The apple-filled crepes are quite sweet, but the apple pancakes are perfect. The portion is quite large too. 

The County Seat

The County Seat is another favorite local spot for breakfast and lunch. 

Bistro St Michael 

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, Bistro St. Michael serves American fare. 

Palace Restaurant 

I take Yelp reviews pretty seriously so I was a little skeptical about the 3.5 star rating. As the Palace Restaurant and Saloon is from the 1870s it is the most historic saloon still running in Arizona. My curiosity won out and I was quite happy it did. 

We had excellent service and I loved the historic atmosphere and servers in classic saloon outfits. The fiesta fish tacos were tasty as well.  

El Gato Azul

With outdoor seating and live music some nights, this cute tapas place is a top choice in Prescott. 

Limoncello Pizzeria

I considered this casual pizza and pasta spot, but knew that I would be having Italian later in my Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip. 

Where to Stay in Prescott

We stayed at the Hampton Inn. About a 10 minute drive to downtown Prescott it was handy, but cheaper than staying downtown. The hotel has been renovated and offers clean and quiet accommodations with a free breakfast and an indoor pool. It was my favorite hotel breakfast of the trip! My only complaint was that the clanky AC was rather loud. 

Other top rated places to stay in Prescott include: 

• Hassayampa Inn: A historic Inn right downtown. 

• Prescott Resort & Conference Center: Offers mountain view rooms. 

• Sheldon Street Lodge: Budget friendly accommodations only a couple blocks from Courthouse Plaza. 

Day 2: Prescott to Grand Canyon South Rim 

Prescott to Williams

The drive from Prescott to the south entrance of the Grand Canyon takes about 2 hours and 20 mins. Williams is conveniently located halfway in between. Williams is an original route 66 town and a perfect place for a pit stop. Drive right through the town on Route 66 and you’ll run into the murals and gift shops. 

If you want to cut back on driving, take the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams to the park. Not only will you be able to enjoy the scenery without focusing on the road, but you also don’t have to worry about parking at the Grand Canyon. At peak times there can be long lines to enter the park and a wait for a parking spot. Plus the retro train ride will keep you entertained with western cowboys and performers.

Visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim

Entrance Fee

Purchase an America the Beautiful annual pass for $80. This pass gives you unlimited access to all the national parks as well as all the other national lands including national monuments, national forests, and national historic sites. 

If you are following this Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip and planning to visit the national monuments mentioned later in the itinerary, it will definitely be worth it to buy the pass.

If not, 7 day passes for private vehicles are $35. They are valid for everyone in the vehicle. 

Shuttle Buses

The Grand Canyon has multiple free shuttles. Use the shuttles as transportation within the park and to visit all the scenic viewpoints with less walking. Check the current shuttle times on each route as they vary. Some very comical and informative drivers made taking the shuttles quite enjoyable! 

Blue Route: Year-round route that connects the visitor center at the entrance with Grand Canyon Village. 

Orange Route: Year-round route for access to Yaki Point, South Kaibab Trailhead, and Yavapai Point Geology Museum from the visitor center. 

Red Route: Seasonal route from March 1st to November 30th that runs from Grand Canyon Village to Hermit’s Rest. This road is only accessible by shuttle bus when the shuttle is in service. 

Purple Route: Seasonal route from Memorial Day to Labor Day with stops in the town of Tusayan to the visitor center at the entrance. 

Hikers Express Shuttle: Year-round shuttle that goes from Grand Canyon Village to the South Kaibab Trailhead. It only has early morning departures between 4am – 9am depending on the time of the year. 

Rim Trail (from East to West) 

Your first day at the Grand Canyon is the perfect time to get the lay of the land. The best way to do that is by walking the rim trail which runs from the South Kaibab Trail to Hermit’s Rest. The majority of the 13 mile trail is paved. 

Mather Point to the Yavapai Geology Museum is very crowded with a lot of people taking photos. Between Yavapai Geology Museum and Grand Canyon Village is the Trail of Time which has informational panels on the geological history of the Grand Canyon. There are quite a few people here, but not quite as many as before the museum. The crowds pick up again in Grand Canyon Village.

The last ~6 miles past Grand Canyon Village are on the red shuttle bus route. You can take the shuttle bus and get off at as many viewpoints as you would like. If you’re able to walk, I encourage you to walk as much as possible, because it seems like a hassle getting on and off the bus and then waiting for the next bus at every viewpoint. It’s also the least busiest part of the rim trail with dirt trails the last few miles. If I had to choose, I would pick Pima Point as my favorite viewpoint. 

We parked at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and walked from Mather Point to Monument Creek Vista. As our legs were tiring and sunset was approaching we took the shuttle bus for the final two stops and all the way back to Grand Canyon Village. 

Museums, Visitor Centers & Gift Shops (from east to west) 

As you walk along the rim trail make stops at the various museums, visitor centers, and gift shops. 

The South Rim Visitor Center at the entrance is not open daily year-round. Indoors is mostly the ranger station for people to ask questions, the national parks passport book stamping station, and a theater for the 20 minute movie. 

Yavapai Geology Museum has geology exhibits and a small gift shop. It can be reached by walking on the rim trail or by taking the orange shuttle. 

Grand Canyon Village is home to many gift shops, museums, and park accommodations. Verkamp’s visitor center has a gift shop and exhibits on the Verkamp’s family and the early days of the park. These exhibits focused more on the people aspect of the park’s history which I really enjoyed! 

The Hopi House sells Native American products made by locals. The Lookout Studio is a gift shop with an outdoor lookout, surprise surprise, in the back! Kolb Studio also has a gift shop, but my favorite part was the small exhibit downstairs about the Kolb brothers’ adventurous photography business. 

Where to Eat Near the Grand Canyon

There are many places to eat or pick up food within the park. National Parks are known for their beauty and awesome hiking trails, but unfortunately not for their food. Typically national park food is quite pricey and underwhelming. 

We brought food for the day while hiking. My day pack hiking list includes my go to hiking foods. For dinner we ate in Tusayan. 

Foodie’s Club

After a late night in the park watching the sunset we decided to try Foodie’s Club as it was one of the only restaurants open. The counter service spot serves burgers, wraps, sandwiches, and salads. My fierce hunger could have affected this, but I thought my wrap was really good. 

We Cook Pizza & Pasta

Bet you can’t guess what this restaurant serves? It’s also a counter service spot with custom pizzas, build your own pizzas, pasta dishes, and sandwiches. 

Where to Stay in the Grand Canyon

Like food, accommodations are always more expensive in national parks. I found Maswik Lodge to be one of the cheaper park accommodations. It is handy to stay in the park and not worry about driving or parking. If you wish to stay in the park make sure to book at least several months in advance for the best availability. Park accommodations are marked on the map above and you can find a full list here. 

Staying in Tusayan is a good alternative. Accommodations are much cheaper and it is a very short drive to the entrance. During busy periods you may have to wait an hour or two to get into the park though. There’s a webcam where you can check the traffic at the entrance. At the end of May (before Memorial Day weekend) the wait was very short. 

Holiday Inn Express in Tusayan provides nice accommodations with free parking and free breakfast. There’s also a pool and a hot tub to soak your legs after a long day of hiking. 

Other top rated places to stay near the Grand Canyon include: 

• Best Western Premier: Another good chain hotel in Tusayan with an indoor pool and hot tub. Rates are available with or without breakfast included. 
• Grand Canyon Inn & Motel: This basic motel is located in Valle. It has some of the cheapest rates near the park. It’s closer than Williams, but is still a bit of a drive to and from the park. There is hardly anything in the town for meals. Make sure you consider this if leaving the park after dark or wanting to arrive before sunrise. 
• There are many chain hotels in Williams, but it is usually over an hour one way to the park. 

Day 3: Grand Canyon South Rim 

If you are up for a challenge, hike into the canyon today. There are 4 trails on the south rim that go into the canyon: Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab Trail, Hermit Trail, and Grandview Trail. The first two are the most popular. 

Bright Angel is the most well known and the “easiest” as the elevation change is more gradual. They are all really challenging hikes and are not recommended to hike all the way to the bottom of the canyon and back up in one day. You can turn around at any point, but remember the way up on any of the trails is much harder! Check water availability at the trailheads before heading out and bring enough for your hike. 

South Kaibab Trail

My full guide to the South Kaibab Trail will prepare you for this strenuous, but exhilarating day hike into the canyon. 

For more things to do, places to eat, and accommodation choices around the south rim of the Grand Canyon see day two above. 

Day 4: Grand Canyon to Flagstaff 

This Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip takes you to so many distinct parts of Arizona. Flagstaff is the perfect example of that. From the Grand Canyon it will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach Flagstaff. 

Home to Arizona’s tallest mountain, Flagstaff sits at a higher elevation and is surrounded by forests. 

What to Do Around Flagstaff

Did you know that Arizona and California both have 18 national monuments, more than any other state? With only one day in Flagstaff we chose to visit the national monuments around the city. They are all included on the America the Beautiful Annual pass. 

Walnut Canyon National Monument

This fascinating national monument includes a visitor center with exhibits and a film describing the history of Walnut Canyon. After watching the film and learning about these ancient cliff homes that Native Americans lived in hundreds of years ago you can see them for yourself by walking on the Island Trail. The one mile trail takes you into the canyon and up close to these amazing natural homes. Informational panels explain more about the people who lived here and their way of life. 

The rim trail is an easier .7 mile trail that overlooks the cliff dwellings below. Do both of the trails to get different perspectives. It’s a beautiful site to walk around in and explore. 

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

At Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument stop at the visitor center first to read the exhibits, watch the film, and receive recommendations from the rangers. 

Several trailheads will take you to the base of the volcano and through the lava fields. One starts at the visitor center, but most are a short drive from separate trailheads. 

It’s a really cool spot that connects well with Walnut Canyon National Monument as many people fled the area and established themselves in Walnut Canyon before the eruption hundreds of years ago. 

Wupatki National Monument 

Drive on the loop road for about 20 minutes farther to reach Wupatki National Monument. The full circle back to 89 where you turned off for Sunset Crater takes about 45 minutes to drive (not including the time spent at both national monuments). 

Wupatki National Monument was home to another community hundreds of years ago. Various trails take you to the different prehistoric pueblos.

What to Do in Flagstaff

With an extra day in Flagstaff or instead of visiting the national monuments nearby you can do some of the following activities in Flagstaff. 

Historic Downtown Flagstaff

Take a walk through historic downtown Flagstaff. Stop at the visitor center, browse the shops, and admire street art on the public art walking tour. 

Riordan Mansion State Historic Park

This duplex home was built in 1904 for two brothers and their wives who were successful in the logging business in Flagstaff. Take a self-guided walk around the grounds or a guided tour inside of the mansion to learn more about the family and their role in Flagstaff’s history. 

Other Museums

Flagstaff is full of museums. Head to the Pioneer Museum – Arizona Historical Society, to learn more of Flagstaff’s history. The Fort Tuthill Military Museum focuses on the history of Arizona through different infantry regiments. The Museum of Northern Arizona is a natural history museum with a large focus on indigenous people from Arizona. 

Lowell Observatory

Tour one of the oldest observatories in the country. Learn about the astronomer who discovered Pluto and the research that has been done since on a separate Pluto tour.

Arizona Snowbowl

If visiting in the winter go skiing at the Arizona Snowbowl. In the summer take a scenic gondola ride. I can only imagine this would be beautiful.

Hiking

Arizona is the perfect state if you love to hike. Within the Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff has abundant hiking opportunities. Avid hikers enjoy the San Francisco Peaks and climbing Humprey’s Peak. 

Where to Eat in Flagstaff

Over Easy

Over Easy is an Arizona chain that is known for breakfast. The Phoenix location was featured on Diners, Dives, and Drive Ins. The fresh squeezed orange juice was delicious and the huge, hearty portion of chicken and waffles filled me up for a day of hiking. 

Tourist Home Flagstaff Cafe

This is another highly rated choice for breakfast. 

Swaddee Thai Cuisine 

I’m a big fan of Asian cuisine and was looking forward to having more Asian restaurants as an option in Flagstaff. The restaurant lived up to my expectations and I enjoyed both the veggie rolls and the Pad Won Seen. The restaurant was quite busy and food took awhile to come out. 

Asia Station

We were also considering eating at this Asian restaurant with great reviews. 

MartAnne’s Burrito Palace

This colorful restaurant is known for the best Mexican food in Flagstaff. 

Satchmo’s

Satchmo’s is the place to go for BBQ in town. 

Where to Stay in Flagstaff

We stayed at the Courtyard, about 10 minutes from downtown. The modern hotel had very nice rooms. There is a gym and an indoor pool. Breakfast vouchers are given if you have platinum status or above. If you don’t or don’t want to use them, Over Easy is a short drive away. 

Other top rated places to stay near the Grand Canyon include: 

• Residence Inn: Located downtown, the hotel is very handy if you don’t have a car or if you want to walk around downtown. 
• Highland Country Inn: A budget motel with basic accommodations near downtown. 
• Comfort Inn: Located a 10 minute drive from downtown, this chain motel has breakfast included as well as an outdoor pool.

Day 5: Flagstaff to Sedona

Only about 45 minutes south of Flagstaff is Sedona, another city you need to include on your Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip. Despite the short distance, Sedona’s scenery is vastly different from Flagstaff’s. Red rock formations will slowly take the place of all the ponderosa pines. 

Sedona is known as a spiritual wellness destination with vortex sites believed to generate energy and spiritual connections. 

What to Do in Sedona

Cathedral Rock Hike 

Hiking is one of the top things to do in Sedona. Cathedral Rock is an excellent hike to see the red rock scenery of Sedona and also hike to one of the most powerful vortex sites. 

The 1.2 mile out and back hike is fairly short, but involves steep sections and some rock scrambling to reach the top. I thought it was a lot of fun and the views at the top were worth the effort! 

There are restrooms at the trailhead. Parking is closed when the Sedona Shuttle is in operation. The free shuttle (route #15) picks up at the SR 179 Park & Ride. The shuttle schedule varies throughout the year. 

Little Horse Hike

The same shuttle (#15) that goes to Cathedral Rock also goes to Little Horse. Our original plan was to hike Cathedral Rock and then take the shuttle to Little Horse. We thought it would save time to go to another hike on the same shuttle bus then return to the park and ride and find an alternative hike. 

Once we finished Cathedral Rock instead of going all the way back to the trailhead we walked on Templeton Trail. The trail connected with other trails that would lead us to the Little Horse trail eventually……or so we thought! It does look connected, but we must have missed the trail junction as we ended up taking Easy Breezy Trail back to the Cathedral Rock trailhead. 

The fairly flat Templeton and Easy Breezy trail sections we hiked had hardly any other hikers. There isn’t a lot of shade. During summer afternoons the hike is very hot! 

More Sedona Hikes 

There are way too many Sedona hikes to list. The following are some of the other hikes I researched and wanted to include if time allowed. 

Bell Rock Pathway & Courthouse Butte are popular hikes and vortex sites. Airport Mesa is also a vortex site. It isn’t known for a particular rock formation, but it provides an awesome vantage point to several other famous viewpoints. 

Shuttle #14 will take you to Soldier Pass. The hike will lead you to the Seven Sacred Pools and Soldier Pass cave. 

Devil’s Bridge can be reached by the Mescal trailhead. Shuttle #11 provides transportation to this trailhead. Devil’s Bridge itself is a cool photo spot if you don’t mind the steep drop-off! 

A yoga vortex hiking day is a really cool way to combine hiking and yoga, the best of what Sedona offers. It even includes a chocolate walking mediation!

Sedona Jeep Tour

Another way to experience the red rocks of Sedona is on an off-road jeep tour.

Arizona State Parks

Slide Rock State Park is on the way to Sedona from Flagstaff. Red Rock State Park is southwest of the city. Both parks have numerous trails and other outdoor activities. 

Sedona Heritage Museum

The museum covers the history of Sedona with three historic buildings. The museum offers a close look at the early settlers of Sedona and what their lives were like. 

Tlaquepaque Art & Crafts Village

The village with restaurants, art galleries, and shops is a good pace to get a taste of the best of Sedona. It’s a lovely area to wander around in. 

Where to Eat in Sedona

SaltRock Kitchen

You definitely want a meal with a view when in Sedona. SaltRock is perfect for views outside in the courtyard. The southwest restaurant isn’t quite fine dining, but it is upscale. 

Only valet parking is available directly in front of the restaurant, but you can easily park a few minutes away in the lot for free. The tiger shrimp tamale was recommended, but I enjoyed the flavors in the salmon. 

Mariposa

Everyone recommends Mariposa for fine dining. The Latin America restaurant often books well in advance. 

Hideaway House

With three outdoor patios Hideaway House also provides great views, but in a much more casual atmosphere. 

Wildflower 

Wildflower is a healthy, counter service Arizona chain. It reminds me of Panera Bread, but with a southwest flare. It has outdoor seating around a fountain and an outdoor patio with some views. 

The Sedona location is within a nice outdoor mall with shops. Plaques throughout the space tell little snippets of Sedona’s history. 

Where to Stay in Sedona

We actually stayed in Cottonwood, about a 30 minute drive away. The cheaper accommodations made the extra drive worth it. Plus we stayed at the Best Western where we were upgraded to a cute, little king suite casita! 

Check for more accommodations in Cottonwood. 

Top rated places to stay in Sedona:

• Sedona Pines Resort: Cottage accommodations with full kitchens on the western side of Sedona.  
• Element Sedona: Upscale accommodations with breakfast and an outdoor pool in the Village of Oak Creek (south Sedona). 
• Matterhorn Inn: With a prime location in Sedona’s uptown district, the inn is walking distance to many restaurants and shops. 

Day 6: Sedona to Phoenix

The drive back to Phoenix is about two hours. Once in Phoenix you can return your rental car. It will be easier to get around Phoenix with a car, but I had no problems using the public transportation to reach all of the places I included below. Make sure to plan your transit times ahead of time as service isn’t that frequent. 

On the Way Back to Phoenix: Montezuma Well & Montezuma Castle National Monument

Break up the drive and make a stop at another national monument on your way back to Phoenix. 

Coming from Sedona you’ll want to stop at Montezuma Well first. Part of Montezuma Castle National Monument, the separate site has trails where you can see and learn about the prehistoric people who lived here. 

Further south at Montezuma Castle National Monument, outdoor paths lead you to the preserved apartment in a limestone cliff. The visitor center with exhibits explains more about the history of the site. 

Things to Do in Phoenix

You can easily spend a week in Phoenix, which I did on a separate visit. My guides on things to do in Phoenix and things to do in Scottsdale will keep you busy regardless of how much time you have in Arizona’s capital city and metro area! 

Where to Eat in Phoenix, Scottsdale, & Tempe

There are so many places to eat in the Phoenix metro area. A quick summary of my favorites include:

Welcome Diner (Phoenix) 

There is a really nice outdoor seating where you can sit wherever you want and then come up to the window to order. They will bring you your food. This was the perfect set up for me as it was a good mix of service, but you could sit and really enjoy your food without a waiter checking up on you. 

I had the andouille scramble with cajun spiced country potatoes and a made from scratch fresh baked biscuit. It was very good and a hearty meal. 

Diego Pops (Scottsdale)

Diego Pops was good, but it seemed more about the environment than the food. The tacos are kind of pricey, but if you are looking for atmosphere it is a good choice.

Perfect Pear Bistro (Tempe)

This Tempe bistro serves sandwiches, tacos, salads, and pastas. I loved the outdoor courtyard! 

Cornish Pasty Co (multiple locations)

The restaurant is a southwest chain, with the majority of locations in Arizona. I walked by the restaurant after eating lunch another day. My first thoughts were my mom would like this and maybe I should add it to my list. As my mom wasn’t traveling with me and I’m usually not a huge fan of pasties, I forgot about it. A few nights later a Lyft driver recommended it to me. Then on my last full day in Phoenix when I was going to go to another place I found out from a tour guide that it usually has really long lines. I asked for another recommendation and she said the Cornish Pasty Co.

It took two solid recommendations from locals, but I was so happy I tried the restaurant. Maybe I haven’t had good pasties in the past, but my pork and apple was amazing!

Where to Stay in Phoenix

If you are spending more than a day in Phoenix, stay downtown. The SpringHill Suites is handy to all the activities downtown and provides easy access to public transportation to take you elsewhere in the city. Although they keep the airport shuttle a secret, there is a free shuttle going to and from the airport. Breakfast is also included. 

Aloft Phoenix Airport is another good choice, especially if you have a shorter time in Phoenix as it is only a couple minutes from the airport. The shuttle arrives on demand at the airport and leaves the hotel at set times. A rail station across the street will take you to downtown Phoenix or to Tempe. 

With platinum status or above you can receive free breakfast vouchers. The outdoor pool is perfect for a hot day! 

More top rated places to stay in Phoenix:

• Hampton Inn Phoenix Downtown: A conveniently located hotel with breakfast included.  
• Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport: An airport hotel with an outdoor pool. 
• Hyatt Place Scottsdale: A hotel located in Old Town Scottsdale with breakfast and an outdoor pool.

Day 7: Phoenix

See day 6 for more things to do and places to eat in the Phoenix metro area. 

Other Phoenix to Grand Canyon Road Trip Stops

If you are able to extend your Arizona road-trip longer you can spend more time in any of the destinations above or add on any of the following places. 

Cottonwood

I mentioned Cottonwood earlier in the Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip while suggesting places to stay in Sedona. As well as being a cheaper base for exploring Sedona, Cottonwood has a few things to do itself. 

The Blazin M’ Ranch is a frontier themed dinner and show venue with a full country meal and music show. There are also activities around the property including ax throwing and mechanical bull riding. 

Dead Horse Ranch State Park has an interesting name and even more interesting hikes. 

Jerome

I was really sad there wasn’t time for this former copper mining town in my Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip. The town can be visited after Prescott on the way to the Grand Canyon or after Sedona before heading back to Phoenix. 

The Jerome Historical Society will fill you in on the history of the town. Tour the Douglas Mansion at the Jerome State Historic Park to learn about an influential mining family. Explore the Pueblo Ruins at the Tuzigoot National Monument. Dine at the Clinkscale or the Haunted Hamburger. 

Petrified Forest National Park

Everyone comes to Arizona to go to the Grand Canyon, but the state actually has three national parks. Petrified Forest is about 1 hr & 45 minutes from Flagstaff. Historic Route 66 goes through some of the park. Winslow, another historic Route 66 town, is on the way. 

Tucson

Speaking of national parks, Arizona’s third park is Saguaro National Park in Tucson. The city isn’t on the suggested Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip route, it’s actually in the opposite direction. Considering it is only about 1 hr & 45 mins south of Phoenix it isn’t too much of a detour if you have extra time! 

Plus with an international airport of its own you can fly out of Tucson at the end of your trip. Make sure to rent a car through a rental car company that offers different pick-up and drop-off spots. 

The biggest problem with adding Tucson is the change of temperatures from the south of the state to the north. While Tucson is pleasant, the Grand Canyon will probably still have snow. While the Grand Canyon has ideal temperatures in late spring and early fall, Tucson will be pushing 100 degrees. 

One Week Phoenix to Grand Canyon Road Trip FAQ’s

What time of year is best?

I did this trip at the end of May, before Memorial Day. It was the perfect time of year as it was before the summer rush. The further north you go in Arizona and the higher the altitude (Flagstaff), the cooler it gets. Late spring and early fall have perfect temperatures. Phoenix will be hotter, but all the other spots will most likely be mild, warm weather. 

How long does it take to drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon?

Without stopping it takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon (one way). If you follow the Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip included above the drive time is about 9 hours round-trip.

Can I do a Grand Canyon road trip without a car?

Many people in the US would consider a car essential to any road trip. I often travel without a car and call it a road trip! I did this trip by car and it will be much easier by car, but a similar trip can be done without a car. You’ll want to use a mix of public transportation (including Greyhound & Amtrak), shared shuttle services, and guided tours.

Groome Transportation has shuttles that run from Phoenix to Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Prescott, Sedona, and Tucson. Guided tours to the Grand Canyon are available from Phoenix, Flagstaff, Williams, and Sedona.

What should I bring? 

If you plan on hiking, be prepared with my day pack hiking list and know what to pack by using my what to wear while hiking guide.

If this one week Phoenix to Grand Grand Canyon road trip helped you plan your time in Arizona please consider supporting me by Buying Me a Coffee!

More About Arizona

• Things to Do in Downtown Phoenix
• Things to Do in Old Town Scottsdale
• Grand Canyon’s South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point

---

Pin IT!!