Final 10 Day Arizona Highway Journey Itinerary

Professional highway tripper Dean Williamson shares his superior Arizona highway journey itinerary together with 10 superior experiences to have in 10 days.

The Final USA Highway Journey is an Arizona Highway Journey

For my part, a highway journey is one of the best ways to expertise a brand new place.

You possibly can journey at your individual tempo, discover hidden gems alongside the best way, and alter your plans simply as you journey.

However how have you learnt the place to go? It appears all over the place has at the least one wonderful factor to do or see, which makes the choice close to not possible.

However what if there was an final USA highway journey that had so many various issues to supply with out having to drive 1000’s of miles, would you have an interest?

Arizona Highway Journey Itinerary

This Arizona highway journey itinerary sees you cowl nearly 1000 miles in ten days and offers you the power to expertise ten completely different themes displaying why Arizona has one thing for everybody.

Map of This Arizona Itinerary

Map on your personal Arizona Highway Journey Planner

Obtain or View half one map of your Arizona Highway Journeys and Half 2 right here.

The place to Begin Your Arizona Highway Journey

This highway journey in Arizona begins in Tuscon. You possibly can fly into Tuscon straight from a number of locations within the US and there are 1 cease flights from Worldwide cities.

Discover a flight to Tuscon on Skyscanner for excellent offers.

You possibly can hire a automobile in Tuscon, AZ from Rental Automobiles.com test their web site for offers.

Day 1 – Tombstone Arizona and the Wild West

After arriving in Tucson Arizona the earlier evening it’s time to get the present on the highway.

From Tucson, head south to essentially the most notorious city within the Wild West, Tombstone.

What do you get once you cross Common Studios and an actual city with an notorious previous? The legendary Tombstone, Arizona.

Certain a few of it has been modified for tourism however there are usually not many locations you possibly can stroll within the footsteps of outlaws and well-known lawmen, see the place historical past was made, and perhaps have a whisky on the identical saloon frequented by Wyatt Earp and his cohorts.

Be sure that to spend a number of hours exploring right here earlier than making your means again to Tucson for a spectacular sundown in Saguaro Nationwide Park East.

Day 2 – Saguaro Nationwide Park to Phoenix

Right this moment you head to Phoenix however take the gradual and scenic route by Saguaro Nationwide Park West and do some mountain climbing amongst these unbelievable giants of the plant world.

 Arizona’s Distinctive Plantlife

Google Saguaro Cactus and you may’t assist to be impressed by the bizarre shapes they develop and the wonderful silhouettes they type within the foreground of sundown photographs.

However that’s nothing in comparison with standing in a forest of those giants, some rising to the peak of a 4 or five-story constructing.

To see a forest of those behemoths stretching out to the horizon is a spotlight that may solely be seen at Saguaro Nationwide Park.

Day three – Native Historical past to Sedona

Photograph by The Planet D

Phoenix is unquestionably a spot to come back again and go to once more however this time we’re simply passing by on our approach to the ruggedly stunning and cosmically non secular metropolis of Sedona.

Day Journeys from Phoenix

If in case you have a while to spend in Pheonix and have an extended time on your highway journey, try these prime sights (not together with what’s already on this Arizona journey) information from Phoenix

Flagstaff – Route 66, Sinagua Cliff Dwellings, Walnut Canyon and Sundown Crater Volcano Nationwide MonumentPrescott – Go to and discover the historical past of Arizona’s unique capital and it is Victorian-era buildings.Petrified Forest Nationwide Park – This park included the Painted Desert and Rainbow forest and it is a spot the place you possibly can see fossilized timber and animals from prehistoric occasions.Slide Rock State Park – Take a Dip within the pure clean rocks used as waterslides at this swimming gap.

Montezuma Fort Nationwide Monument

Don’t simply head up the Interstate on to Sedona, or you’ll miss one other nice spotlight alongside the best way in Montezuma Fort Nationwide Monument.

Shortly earlier than stepping into Sedona you can see a small city known as Camp Verde which is dwelling to a fort used in the course of the Indian Wars, however this isn’t the principle attraction.

Only a quick distance up the highway are two unbelievable reminders of the imaginative and prescient and engineering capabilities of Native Individuals courting again greater than 500 years.

These are Montezuma Fort, an exquisite instance of historic cliff dwellings, and Montezuma Nicely, a smaller cliff dwelling however constructed beneath the lip of a large sinkhole which is fed from underground springs.

Day four – Religious Arizona

A day to soak up the surroundings and loosen up within the vortexes of Sedona.

Head to the Info Heart for some nice driving maps and recommendation, and end the day watching the sundown at Airport Mesa.

The Central Arizona city of Sedona has two claims to fame.

The Purple Rocks not solely present a powerful backdrop to the city however have been featured in motion pictures for so long as the movie business has ventured outside,It’s a place of nice spirituality.

Reputed to be one of many World’s hotspots for pure energies with its many vortexes, look forward to finding loads of modern-day hippies round city.

In a single day Sedona

Day 5 – Route 66 to Meteor Crater

Three of our highlighted expertise are coated in the present day as we lastly hit the Mom Highway for the primary time.

Our first cease alongside Route 66 is to see the mind-blowing results of the earth being struck by one thing from area at Meteor Crater.

It is well worth the drive to Arizona to see the crater

Further-terrestrial Arizona

Whereas New Mexico is known for reported alien crash websites and autopsies, Arizona’s connection to outer area is way extra apparent.

If you wish to know what occurs when a giant chunk of area rock really makes contact with the earth then Meteor Crater is for you.

It should make you hope none of those large rocks flying round area ever come for a go to.

In a single day – Discover a funky Route 66 Motel within the space

We then finish the day consuming in a conventional Route 66 diner and sleeping in an unique Route 66 Motel.

The World’s most well-known Highway Journey Highway

Ask anybody who loves  Highway Journey the place is the final word drive, and the most typical reply will undoubtedly be Route 66, that’s why it’s known as the Mom Highway.

Whereas a lot of the highway and the related companies have fallen because of trendy societies want for pace, there are nonetheless locations to relive the glory days.

In Holbrook, you can’t solely eat at one of many unique diners however spend an evening on the well-known Wigwam Motel, or one of many many different Route 66 Motels for somewhat extra consolation.

Day 6 – Winslow to Monument Valley

Day 6 on our Arizona Highway journey is likely one of the larger driving days however wait till you see the place it ends.

Arizona lives in Pop Tradition Folklore

I suppose it’s what popular culture is all about, making one thing atypical change into well-known, a bit just like the Kardashians!

And Arizona is dwelling to a chief instance of how one thing extremely atypical has change into one thing of a vacationer Mecca, somewhat city known as Winslow.

The spot made well-known by the Eagles and we go “standing on the nook in Winslow, Arizona.”

Little did they know that when the Eagles sang about standing on a selected nook on this sleeping little place that it could put it on the world map.

Monument Valley

Followers of outdated Hollywood Westerns, or Forrest Gump for that matter, will little doubt be excited to see Monument Valley up shut.

And for these of you not swayed by the Hollywood hyperlinks, you’ll nonetheless be greater than impressed when you get there.

Hollywood involves Arizona

Keep in mind John Wayne? In case you are sufficiently old to be road-tripping you have to be sufficiently old to recollect him and a few of the Traditional Western motion pictures he starred in.

Probably the most iconic place featured in these John Wayne western motion pictures is Monument Valley. It is likely one of the prime Arizona highway journey sights.

It will probably seem to be you’re driving across the World’s largest film set right here, and in a means, I suppose you’re, however what a exceptional place to go to.

Day 7 – Web page & Lake Powell

Picture by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay

From Hollywood well-known surroundings to Instagram well-known surroundings in the present day as we head to Web page on Lake Powell.

Take a look across the city and take within the gorgeous shade contrasts between the water of the lake and the crimson and white rocks round it.

Day 8 – Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon

Right this moment on our Arizona itinerary, it’s all in regards to the ‘Gram as we’ve got time taking selfies, and wonderful panorama photographs for the much less self-absorbed, at each Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon.

In case you’ve by no means heard of them do a Google or Instagram hashtag search and you will note why they’re so standard.

Arizona is Insta-famous!

The town of Web page sits on the Southern finish of Lake Powell, which is surrounded by gorgeous pure magnificence.

However if you wish to get some photographs to fill your Instagram feed then there are two locations exterior city that you just need to see, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

Whereas the soothing stream of the patterns within the rocks at Antelope Canyon might be considerably hypnotic, it is advisable keep sharp at Horseshoe Bend and please don’t be one of many idiots risking their life getting too near the sting for that “final” selfie.

Day 9 – The Grand Canyon

Time to make our approach to the ultimate spotlight of this epic Arizona highway journey, the enduring Grand Canyon.

It’s possible you’ll assume that is only a large crack within the floor, as I did, however as soon as you’re standing on the sting you possibly can’t assist however be blown away by the sweetness and the sheer magnitude.

Discover a quiet spot and keep for the sundown.

Arizona and the grandest icon of the USA

Photograph from The Planet D’s first Grand Canyon Highway journey

For many individuals, the Grand Canyon sits excessive on their journey bucket checklist, whereas others like me consider it as little greater than an enormous crack within the floor.

However I can guarantee you that if you end up standing on the sting of the Canyon it unfold so far as the attention can see, your low expectations may have been massively exceeded.

The Grand Canyon deserves its spot among the many nice pure wonders of the World.

As if that’s not sufficient to make any highway journey fan begin Googling these locations and flight choices!

However in all honesty, it is a good begin as to why you have to be heading out on an Arizona highway journey, however there’s lots extra to simply double the size of this journey and by no means be bored or have to cross any borders.

As talked about initially, each a part of the USA has nice highway journey choices however for a wide range of experiences, Arizona is the winner.

Day 10 – The Finish Solely Open Highway Forward

Photograph by Dave

All good issues come to an finish however not earlier than getting one last have a look at the surprise of the Grand Canyon.

Make an effort to be there for dawn and the hour or so after that for some wonderful photograph alternatives.

In case you are driving again to Tuscon, you might have 5-hours forward.

You will go by Flagstaff, Pheonix and you may even make a detour to the outdated city of Scottsdale.

Right this moment, you could wish to spend the day exploring extra of the south rim of the Grand Canyon earlier than transferring on.

The great thing about a highway journey, is you can select the place to go subsequent!

Then all that’s left is to make your means dwelling and begin planning your subsequent USA Highway Journey

Ideas for the Final Arizona Highway Journey

Highway Journey Professional Tip

Replenish at half a tank – When doing a highway journey, we attempt to by no means let the tank go under half a tank. In case you see a gasoline station, replenish. It is higher to have a full tank and undergo the annoyance of stopping than working out of gasoline.

Be sure that to place collectively your final highway journey playlist!

Greatest Time of Yr for an Arizona Highway Journey

There may be actually no unhealthy time to take a highway journey in Arizona. We love driving rain, shine or snow.

Summer time (June/July/August) is the excessive season and with the excessive season comes extra vacationers and better costs.

Like many locations, shoulder season (spring and fall) is an efficient time because the climate remains to be nice however crowds are much less and costs are decrease.

Winter is nice for Arizona because the climate is nice year-round. Many northerners winter in Arizona.  It will probably get fairly chilly at evening although, so pack for winter situations.

What to Pack for an Arizona Highway Journey

Do not forget your mountain climbing boots! You will have the chance to discover a few of America’s most stunning landscapes!Pack layers – Arizona is a desert local weather. It might be scorching in the course of the day, but it surely cools down at evening.Breathable light-weight clothes – as an alternative of sunscreen, we wish to put on long-sleeve microlight shirts. It preserve us cool whereas blocking the solar.Reusable Water bottle – Bottled water is plentiful within the US, however why waste the plastic. Faucet water is drinkable and you may simply replenish at any time when it is advisable. Convey a number of, and preserve them full.oft cooler – We like having snacks and drinks chilly, so a collapasble cooler is straightforward to move and retains your snacks recent.Steripen – You possibly can drink the water in Arizona, however We like to hold a Steripen to purify water from streams and rivers if we’re mountain climbing. That means you possibly can fill your water bottle with out the fear of parasites.Hat – A solar hat is a should when mountain climbing within the scorching climate.Headlamp – It is all the time good to have a flashlight with you. We desire headlamps as a result of they’re handsfree. A very good one has a wonderful beam too.Blanket – In case one thing occurs at evening, it is good to have a heat blanket within the automobile. Plus, a blanket is nice for pulling over and having a picnic!USB Automotive Charger – Most automobiles have USB retailers, however we wish to have an additional to maintain our electronics and telephones charged. The twin outlet lets us cost each telephones and a digicam.Bathroom paper – Yep, on a highway journey, we are sometimes ducking behind a tree. (however ensure to both bury it with a trowel or carry it out (in a rubbish bag in fact.Digicam Gear – Do not forget your digicam! You do not wish to miss a second of this journey!

Did you get pleasure from these Arizona Highway Journey Concepts? Save to Pinterest to assist plan your individual journey to Arizona.

Creator Bio

Dean Williamson is the principle artistic power behind La Vida World and a highway journey veteran with over 30,000 miles of driving in additional than a dozen nations. The one factor he enjoys greater than sharing his adventures at La Vida World and provoking you to have your individual is getting behind the wheel and exploring someplace new.

Read more:

• Didn’t Snag a PCT Allow? Choose One among These Superior Through-Hikes As a substitute

• Unexplored Desert Canyons

• How One Utah Group Fought Fracking—And Gained