Explore the best of Arizona in 8 days!
We landed at Phoenix Airport on a hot Saturday June, under 40 degrees Celsius. Yes, it was extremely hot. To be precise, it was hot in the city (Phoenix) but the more we drove up the cooler the weather became. Here is what my road trip looked like:
6 hour road trip throughout Arizona
Phoenix (2 nights)
Sedona (2 nights)
Flagstaff (Passing by)
Grand Canyon (1 night)
Lake Powell (2 nights)
First stop: PHOENIX
I would say two nights in Phoenix are more than enough, especially if you’re planning on going during summertime. There are numerous things to enjoy during a two-night stay.
Sidewalk Saturday Artisan Market - best to go in the morning to avoid crowds and get some time to do other things in the afternoon
Desert Botanical Garden - explore garden trails designed by renowned artists. Best to go during sunset time to catch the nice skies matching with the nice gardens
Ghostfield Ghost Town - reconstructed 1890s town including gold-mine tours, Old West gunfights, a history museum & more - worth the 30-minute ride from Downtown Phoenix
Restaurants - cocina madrigal (authentic Mexican), the pasta factory (authentic Italian)
Second stop: SEDONA
Oh Sedona, what a magical place, by far my favorite. In Sedona, you will find yourself constantly surrounded by red rocks and amazing scenery. Here are things you can cover in two days.
Hikes - cathedral trail hike, Allen’s Bend trail
Picnic/chilling natural grounds - grasshopper point, slide state park
Tlaquepaque Village - outdoor market featuring art galleries, craft shops, cobblestone paths & decorative arches
Uptown Sedona - Uptown Sedona has nice villages and restaurants
Restaurants - Shorebird, Canyon Breeze, Golden Goose, Coy boy club
Third stop: FLAGSTAFF
When driving from Sedona to Flagstaff, you will see a sign that says “Scenic View”. I strongly advise you to stop there and enjoy the view. You’ll also see people selling handcrafted Navajo Jewelry and accessories.
We stopped in Flagstaff for lunch on our way from Sedona to the Grand Canyon. I would recommend making a stop in this little cute city to take a break from driving. We walked into the town and stopped at SoSoba noodles for lunch (amazing noodles honestly).
Fourth stop: GRAND CANYON
The Grand Canyon National Park is humongous, and there are several things to do around if you’re planning on spending the night.
Hikes - bright angel trail (make sure to go in the morning)
Village - Williams - make sure to walk historic Route 66
Restaurants - cruiser’s Route 66 cafe
Fifth stop: LAKE POWELL, WAHWEAP
The drive from the Grand Canyon to Lake Powell is breathtaking. You would pass through different sceneries: greenery, desert, rocks, and more. We stayed two nights in the Lake Powell resort as it's the center of Wahweap. Things that should be covered in two days:
Horseshoe Bend - must-see natural beauty
Antelope Canyons - check out the beauty of nature and its curves
Navajo Canyon Boat Tour - Relax and prepare to cruise through the famous Navajo Canyon. This tour offers some of the most breathtaking views of the lake
