Planning your Arizona road trip itinerary
Northern Arizona is made for driving. Red rock country around Sedona, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the slot canyons of Page and the buttes of Monument Valley all sit within a loop of roughly 1,000 to 1,300 miles. A good Arizona road trip itinerary does not try to see everything. It puts two nights where the light matters most and keeps single driving days under five hours.
Most trips start in Phoenix or Las Vegas, where flights and rental cars are cheapest. From Phoenix you reach Sedona first and close the loop through Monument Valley. From Las Vegas you can drive the old Route 66 to Williams, then the Grand Canyon, and finish with Page and Zion on the way back.
Drive times between the main stops
Approximate distances and pure driving times without stops, checked against route planners and park information in October 2026. Add 20 to 30 percent for photo stops, road works and fuel.
| Route | Distance | Driving time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix → Sedona | 120 mi / 190 km | about 2 h | I-17 north, then SR 179 |
| Sedona → Grand Canyon South Rim | 115 mi / 185 km | 2–2.5 h | Via Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff |
| Williams → South Rim | 60 mi / 95 km | about 1 h | Shortest approach to the South Entrance |
| South Rim → Page | 140 mi / 225 km | 2.5–3 h | Leave via Desert View, US-89 north |
| Page → Monument Valley | 125 mi / 200 km | 2–2.5 h | US-98, US-160 and US-163 |
| Monument Valley → Phoenix | 325 mi / 520 km | 5.5–6 h | Long day, split it in Flagstaff if you can |
| Las Vegas → South Rim | 275 mi / 440 km | 4.5–5 h | Via Hoover Dam bypass, Kingman and Williams |
| Las Vegas → Page | 275 mi / 445 km | 4.5–5 h | Via I-15 and US-89 |
| Phoenix → Tucson | 110 mi / 175 km | about 2 h | I-10, for the southern extension |
7 days: the classic loop from Phoenix
The shortest trip that still feels relaxed. One night each at the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, two in Sedona and Page.
Days 1–2: Sedona
Drive up from Phoenix in about two hours. Spend the next day on a red rock hike or a jeep tour and catch sunset at Cathedral Rock.
Things to do in Sedona →Day 3: Grand Canyon South Rim
Leave early through Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff. Walk the Rim Trail in the afternoon and stay for sunset.
Grand Canyon guide →Days 4–5: Page
Drive the Desert View road east, then north to Page. Book Antelope Canyon for day 5 and see Horseshoe Bend at sunset or early morning.
Things to do in Page →Days 6–7: Monument Valley and back
Two to two and a half hours to Monument Valley for the Valley Drive and sunset. Day 7 is the long drive back to Phoenix.
Monument Valley →10 days: Route 66 loop from Las Vegas
This version adds the best surviving stretch of Route 66 and a taste of Zion, and starts and ends in Las Vegas, so there is no one-way rental fee.
Day 1: Route 66 to Williams
Cross into Arizona at Hoover Dam, leave I-40 at Kingman and follow the old highway through Hackberry, Peach Springs and Seligman. About 4.5 to 5 hours of driving.
Days 2–3: Sedona
A short drive south of about 1.5 hours. Two nights give you time for a hike, a jeep tour or a balloon ride at sunrise.
Days 4–5: Grand Canyon
Two nights near the South Rim let you see sunset and sunrise and walk a section of a trail below the rim.
Days 6–7: Page and Lake Powell
Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and a boat trip on Lake Powell.
Lake Powell boat tours →Day 8: Monument Valley
Valley Drive in the afternoon, a guided backcountry tour if you want to go further, and a night near the park.
Days 9–10: Zion and Las Vegas
About 5 hours via Page and Kanab to Springdale. Hike in Zion the next morning, then 2.5 to 3 hours back to Las Vegas.
Route 66 in Arizona: Seligman and Williams
Between Kingman and Seligman, one of the longest unbroken stretches of the old Route 66 runs through open ranch land, far from the interstate. Seligman, where the effort to preserve the route began in the late 1980s, is all neon signs and old diners. Williams was the last Route 66 town bypassed by I-40, in October 1984, and is now the base for the South Rim: about an hour by car, or roughly two and a quarter hours each way on the Grand Canyon Railway. Starting in Phoenix? Sedona to Seligman and back east to Williams adds about three hours of driving.
Short on time in Las Vegas? See Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas or the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West, the closest viewpoint to the city.
14 days: the full Arizona road trip
Two weeks let you add the Sonoran Desert in the south and slow down in the north.
Days 1–4: Phoenix, Tucson, Tombstone
Arrive in Phoenix, drive about two hours to Tucson and spend a day in Saguaro National Park. On day 3, take the 1.5-hour trip to Tombstone. Day 4 is the 3.5 to 4 hour drive north to Sedona.
Saguaro National Park →Days 5–6: Sedona
Hikes, vortex viewpoints and a jeep trail. Book a sunrise balloon ride early in your trip in case of weather delays.
Sedona jeep tours →Days 7–8: Route 66 and the Grand Canyon
Loop west to Seligman for the classic Route 66 diners, then Williams. Ride the train to the South Rim or drive the hour yourself.
Days 9–11: Page
Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon on different days, Horseshoe Bend at sunrise, a half day on Lake Powell.
Antelope Canyon tours →Days 12–13: Monument Valley
Sunset on the first evening, a guided sunrise or backcountry tour the next morning, then about 3.5 hours to Flagstaff.
Day 14: Back to Phoenix
About two hours down I-17 from Flagstaff, early enough for an evening flight.
Tours to add to your Arizona road trip
Antelope Canyon slots, Grand Canyon flights, Sedona jeep trails and Monument Valley drives, with live prices and availability.
What to book before you go
Most of the route needs no reservation. These four things do.
Antelope Canyon
Entry only with a Navajo guide on a booked tour. Midday slots in Upper Antelope Canyon, when light beams appear from about late March to early October, sell out weeks ahead.
Upper Antelope Canyon →Grand Canyon lodging
Rooms at the South Rim book out months ahead. In autumn 2026 the park paused overnight stays inside the park because of water restrictions, so check NPS before you go and keep a backup in Tusayan or Williams.
Where to stay →Monument Valley
The handful of hotels at the valley fill early. Without a room nearby you miss sunset and sunrise, the best hours.
Park fees
Grand Canyon costs $35 per vehicle plus, since 2026, $100 per non-US visitor aged 16 and over. Zion charges the same surcharge. Visiting both? The $250 non-resident annual pass covers the vehicle and the surcharge and pays off quickly.
The time zone trap and car rental tips
Time zones: Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year. The Navajo Nation, which covers Monument Valley and the land around Page, observes daylight saving time. From March to early November that means the clock in Monument Valley is one hour ahead of Page, Flagstaff and Phoenix. Phones often switch wrongly, so check which time your tour uses and set your phone to Phoenix time when in doubt.
Car rental:
- Return where you start. Picking up in Phoenix and dropping off in Las Vegas usually adds a one-way fee. A loop is cheaper.
- Read the unpaved roads clause. Many rental contracts exclude dirt roads. The Valley Drive in Monument Valley is rough and sandy, so check your terms or see it on a guided tour.
- Fuel up often. On the Navajo Nation, towns and fuel stations are far apart. Refill whenever the tank is half empty.
- Avoid night driving. Livestock and wildlife roam unfenced roads in the north, and many roads have no lighting.
- Plan for the season. Carry plenty of water in summer, expect snow at the South Rim in winter. See best time to visit Arizona.
For more sights along the way, see Horseshoe Bend, Lower Antelope Canyon and Tombstone, or go back to the Arizona overview.
Arizona road trip: frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for an Arizona road trip?
Seven days cover Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Page and Monument Valley. Ten days make it relaxed, and 14 days add Tucson, Saguaro National Park and Tombstone.
Is it better to start in Phoenix or Las Vegas?
Both work. Phoenix is closer to Sedona and the southern desert, Las Vegas to Route 66, Zion and Page. Pick the cheaper flight and plan a loop.
Do I need to book Antelope Canyon in advance?
Yes. Antelope Canyon can only be visited on a guided Navajo tour, and popular midday slots sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn.
How much does the Grand Canyon cost for international visitors?
As of 2026, $35 per private vehicle for seven days plus $100 per person for non-US residents aged 16 and over. The $250 non-resident America the Beautiful pass covers both for one vehicle.
Can I drive the Monument Valley loop in a rental car?
The 17-mile Valley Drive is open to private cars but unpaved, rough and sandy. Check your rental contract, or join a guided tour, which also reaches areas closed to private vehicles.