Article Overview: National Park Road Trips
I don’t know about you, but when I think “Arizona road trip” I imagine driving a sun-drenched highway surrounded by incredible scenery while listening to Gordon Lightfoot’s classic song Carefree Highway.
The song’s title definitely captures the feeling one gets while cruising along on an Arizona road trip with nothing but the warm desert wind at your face and a bucket list of beautiful places to see ahead of you.
As a matter of fact, Lightfoot wrote that song about Arizona’s State Route 74 just north of Phoenix. Okay, it’s really about lost love, but the Arizona road that helped inspire it has since been renamed the Carefree Highway in honor of Lightfoot’s iconic easy-listening hit.
Now that I’ve thoroughly sidetracked this article about Arizona’s most scenic drives, lets get back to talking about why you absolutely have to take an Arizona road trip if you live in the U.S. (and even if you don’t).
Yes the state is home to one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon, a place so unfathomably beautiful and staggeringly grand that it can’t possibly be adequately described by our woefully inadequate human languages. Arizona is also home to numerous spectacular Native American ruins, magnificent red rock formations, three national parks, and several national forests.
With so much natural beauty, the Grand Canyon state simply has to be at or near the top of your road trip bucket list. So let’s start making plans for your next visit to the grand canyon state!
Table of Contents: Arizona Road Trip
Arizona Road Trip
- Arizona Road Trip
- Arizona Road Trip Overview
- Arizona Road Trip Map
- 1. Phoenix to Sedona
- 2. Historic Route 66 Scenic Byway
- 3. Kaibab Plateau–North Rim Parkway
- 4. Sky Island Scenic Byway
- 5. Coronado Trail Scenic Byway
- 6. Sedona to Grand Canyon Drive
- 7. Flagstaff to Sedona Drive
- Planning Your Arizona Road Trip
- List of Arizona Road Trip Scenic Byways
- Pin Arizona Road Trip
Arizona Road Trip
Arizona Road Trip Overview
National Forests: 7 (yes 7!)
National Parks: 3
National Scenic Byways: 5 (including 4 All-American Roads)
Arizona has 7 national forests and 3 iconic national parks spread throughout the state making for fantastic road trip destinations. Alongside its forests and parks Arizona is also home to a multitude of other National Park Service sites and various other federal lands that are well worth visiting.
- Red Rock Scenic Byway
- Historic Route 66 Scenic Byway
- Kaibab Plateau–North Rim Parkway
- Sky Island Scenic Byway
- Coronado Trail Scenic Byway
- Sedona to Grand Canyon
- Flagstaff to Sedona
Arizona Road Trip Map
Above is a map of Arizona with its scenic roads highlighted. Each of these highlighted routes represents a possible adventure taking you through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country.
1. Phoenix to Sedona
This is a very popular Arizona road trip route for good reason. Not only is Sedona one of the most naturally beautiful parts of the state, but the drive getting there is incredibly scenic as well.
Driving from Phoenix to Sedona is relatively easy and incredibly beautiful. The drive from Phoenix to Sedona is only 2 hours. You’ll take I-17 northbound much of the way before exiting onto the Red Rock National Scenic Byway, a federally designated All-American Road (the highest designation a road can receive in the U.S.).
Distance from Phoenix to Sedona
The distance from Phoenix to Sedona is about 115 miles driving and takes approximately 2 hours. Of course you’ll want to build in extra time for taking in the spectacular sights along the way, more on that below.
The Red Rock Scenic Byway
After taking exit 298 off of I-17 North you’ll begin the world famous Red Rock Scenic Byway and the views do not disappoint. The byway winds it’s way through Sedona’s iconic red rock formations with their dazzling striped beauty on full display.
The Red Rock Scenic Byway is only 7.5 miles long, making it one of the shortest national scenic byways in the country, but that doesn’t mean you’ll breeze right through it. With lots of steep winding curves and so much to see you’ll be taking plenty of time to soak in the red rock beauty all around you.
Sedona Pink Jeep Tours
Once in Sedona, a popular tourist activity is the Sedona Pink Jeep Tours, which take visitors on an off-road ride into the beautiful red rock desert surroundings of Sedona. Whether it’s the Sedona pink jeep tours, or one of the many other vendors offering Sedona jeep tours, this can be a fun planned family activity once there.
The great thing about the Sedona pink jeep tours is that they get you deep into the heart of the beautiful red rock country without the need for a multi-day backpacking trip. Once out there you can take in the serenity of the place far beyond the reach of city life.
If you plan on spending some time here with family or friends I recommend going in on a Sedona pink jeep tour, you’ll be telling those stories for a long time afterwards.
Sedona Vortex
Many people come to Sedona to practice meditative healing and engage in spiritual exercises amidst the surrounding red rock beauty. Some believe that the area around Sedona, with its red rock towers and incredible scenery are home to vortices (plural of vortex), which are said to be swirling centers of energy which contain restorative powers.
Now if that sounds like a bit much for you, fear not, people who come to experience these restorative powers are lovely and fascinating people (I’ve met many on trips there) and typically practice various forms of yoga and meditation while immersed in the beauty of Sedona.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Sedona vortex theory, I’d encourage you to visit Sedona’s tourism website here, where they explain the Sedona Vortex and what it means to some people.
2. Historic Route 66 Scenic Byway
- Location: Northern Arizona
- Drive Time: 8-10 hours
- Distance: 300+ miles
- Best Time to Visit: May – September
While the world famous Route 66 begins in Chicago, IL, and ends in Santa Monica, CA, perhaps the most famous stretch of The Mother Road is the portion that winds through the heart of Arizona.
There’s something about cruising along Route 66 in Arizona that makes you feel like you’re really living. I don’t know whether it’s the storied road’s history, the incredible scenery, the nostalgic diners and neon signs, or perhaps all of it, but it’s just something you have to do.
Of course no Route 66 trip is complete until you’ve stood on the corner in Winslow, Arizona where you’ll find a statue of Eagles lead singer Glenn Frey standing next to a vintage flat bed Ford truck.
Historic Route 66 actually crossed through Petrified Forest National Park at one time. Today that part of the road is gone, but visiting the park you can still see the old road bed and weathered telephone poles from America’s Main Street.
Petrified Forest National Park is well worth the stop and is so much more than petrified wood. In fact, the best part of the park are the views of Arizona’s beautiful Painted Desert. If you’re lucky you might get to see a summer storm building in the distance – a truly beautiful sight.
3. Kaibab Plateau–North Rim Parkway
- Location: Northern Arizona
- Drive Time: 2 hours
- Distance: 42 miles
- Best Time to Visit: Fall
If it’s breathtaking sites you want then this is the drive for you. The drive takes visitors through a mixed forest of pine and aspen with opportunities to see wildlife around every bend. Eventually you’ll reach the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
There is no doubt that the north rim of the Grand Canyon provides visitors with some of the most spectacular views found anywhere on earth. from here you can marvel at this magnificent natural wonder in relative seclusion.
Ponder its depths and drink in the views enveloping you – there’s simply no place like it on earth.
The best time to take this drive is in the fall when the aspens display their brilliant fall colors and long after the tourist season has died down. The second best time to visit is in the late Spring when temperatures have warmed, but before summer tourist crush has begun.
4. Sky Island Scenic Byway
- Location: Southern Arizona
- Drive Time: 1 hour
- Distance: 27 miles
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or Fall
Beginning in the Sonoran desert near Tucson, you’ll wind your way past Saguaro Cacti before climbing nearly 9,000 feet into vast pine forests where snow is common in winter.
As the Federal Highway Administration puts it, you’ll pass through “biological diversity equivalent to a drive from Mexico to Canada in just 27 miles.” Sold yet?
The map above makes it seem kind of small, but trust me this is such an incredible drive. I recommend heading up just before sunset and then taking in the sun’s swan song from Windy Point where you’ll have panoramic veiws of the mountains and desert below.
This is a great trip to pair with a visit to Saguaro National Park. The Tucson area is filled with all kinds of great outdoor recreation opportunities and can make a great jumping off point for your desert adventures.
Further Reading: 11 Incredible Things To Do Saguaro National Park
5. Coronado Trail Scenic Byway
- Location: Southeastern Arizona
- Drive Time: 4-5 hours
- Distance: 123 miles
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or Fall
This scenic drives gives visitors an opportunity to walk (or drive) in the footsteps of Arizona’s native peoples as well as the Spanish conquistadors who were among the first Europeans to visit the United States.
Timing can mean a great deal when planning a visit to the Coronado Trail. Summers are hot and the weather can be unpredictable with storms moving in with little warning. Spring is generally mild, but temperatures at the higher elevations can get cold. Fall is a great time as the higher elevations will display brilliant autumn colors and the tourist season has died down.
The above map highlights the Coronado Trail Scenic Byway. There are a number of Forest Service campgrounds and recreational sights to help you get the most out of this scenic area.
6. Sedona to Grand Canyon Drive
- Location: Northern Arizona
- Drive Time: 2 hours
- Distance: 114 miles
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or Fall
Heading north from Sedona takes you through the beautiful Coconino National Forest. Vast stands of ponderosa pines dominate the landscape as you follow Oak Creek through a canyon and make your way up onto a plateau.
Eventually you’ll reach the outskirts of Flagstaff where it’s usually a good idea to fuel up and get any provisions you want for your Grand Canyon adventure. Grand Canyon Village has plenty of options, but typically prices are a bit higher and Flagstaff will have more options.
Once at the Grand Canyon, well it’s the Grand Canyon. There’s plenty of parking and I recommend staying for sunset to truly get the most out of your Grand Canyon visit.
Though the South Rim of the Grand Canyon tends to be quite crowded, if you bother to walk away from the major overlooks (here’s looking at you Mather Point) you can actually find yourself a spot that’s all your own. It is a massive canyon after all!
From there you can soak in the breathtaking views and watch the golden light sweep through canyon as the sun sets. Make sure to stay for magic hour!
Magic hour is my favorite time to be at the rim of the Grand Canyon. When the light on the horizon glows a deep reddish orange and lights up the canyon with a spectacular warm glow one last time for the day.
7. Flagstaff to Sedona Drive
- Location: Northern Arizona
- Drive Time: 50 minutes
- Distance: 30 miles
- Best Time to Visit: April – November
The Flagstaff to Sedona drive is a short and easy drive that offers incredible scenery. Whether you live in Arizona or are planning a trip there, you definitely need to make this drive.
Heading south from Flagstaff you’ll drive through vast stands of ponderosa pine forest before you begin to descend into Oak Creek Canyon as you approach Sedona. Red rock towers and vibrantly colored mesas will greet you as you arrive in Sedona.
Once in Sedona I’d recommend taking the Red Rock Scenic Byway (covered earlier) when you get a chance to truly soak in the incredible views of the area.
When is the Best Time of Year to Plan Your Arizona Road Trip?
The best time to embark on your Arizona road trip is in the fall or late spring. Going in the off-season offers fewer crowds and much more pleasant weather. This can be a huge benefit when comparing it with other national park destinations that inversely have their best weather in the summer.
Planning Your Arizona Road Trip
Things to Know Before Your Arizona Road Trip
Weather
Summers are exceedingly hot in this desert state with temperatures routinely reaching triple digits in much of the state. Late summer (July & August) brings monsoon season and unpredictable storms that are also a delight to see from a distance. Winter varies, but is very mild and pleasant from Phoenix southwards.
Gas
The desert heat can tend to make your gas disappear a little quicker so be mindful of that fuel gauge and make sure to fill up when you have opportunities as there some long stretches of road without the chance to do so.
Sunscreen
You’ll definitely want to bring sunscreen to Arizona. We happen to like this one because it works AND it’s not full of a bunch of chemicals.
Leave No Trace
That’s right, as you visit Arizona’s parks and green spaces remember to leave these places beautiful. We’re big fans of Leave No Trace here at MTJP. Want to learn more? Read about the seven principals of Leave No Trace here.
Clothing
Depending on the time of year and where you’re going you may want a range of options. Suffice to say if it’s the summer bring lightweight and breathable clothing and things that will protect you from the sun.
Insect Repellent
You hope not to need it, but you want to have it. We typically bring an Eco-Friendly Insect Repellent with us just in case.
Mapping Out Your Arizona Road Trip
An Arizona road trip can go any number of ways depending on where you’re starting. As you browse this article and find byways and points of interest that you want to check out we recommend using Google Maps “My Maps” tool to add POI’s, formulate a route, and share it with your copilots – more on this below.
Best Arizona Road Trip Map Tool
We always use google maps for this as the interface is hard to beat. However, they do currently have a 10 destination limit on the regular one.
If you want/need to add more points to your map than the 10 destination limit, google also has a “my maps” tool which is free and even savable right to your google account.
We’ve ranked the 15 BEST Road Trip Planning Tools if you’re looking for more!
If you’re interested in other National Parks Road Trips, you might want to look over our post ranking the National Park Road Trips. You also might be interested in our ALL 63 National Parks Ranked post that lists all of the national parks. We ranked them from best to worst based on our comprehensive 50 point rating system.
Arizona Road Trip – Camping
There are more camping options along the scenic byways of Arizona than we could possibly have time to mention. From private RV-friendly campgrounds to primitive tent-only campsites and everything in between, with it’s vast network of federal and state lands Oregon has something for everybody in terms of camping.
Tips to Avoid Camping Headaches
Now I should note that just because Arizona has bountiful camping opportunities doesn’t mean they don’t fill up fast! Believe me, I’ve been on road trips here where I couldn’t find an open campsite to save my life and had to sleep in the car.
- Avoid holiday weekends if possible. You wouldn’t believe how fast and how far in advance campgrounds fill up for holiday weekends. As sad as it sounds it’s best to avoid these weekends if you’re wanting a hassle-free road trip.
- Reserve your campsites ahead of time. Gone are the days of rolling up to Forest Service campgrounds on a summer evening and picking amongst plentiful available sites for a peaceful night under the stars. Use recreation.gov to book your campsites in advance and avoid massive headaches.
- Don’t forget about privately run campgrounds. A beautiful Forest Service or National Park Service campground sounds postcard perfect for your camping weekend, but the reality is it’s extremely competitive to get a campsite on our federal lands these days. If you’re looking for a place to lie your head down for the night do sleep on private campgrounds!
Choosing a Starting Point for the Road Trip
One of the toughest parts of planning a road trip can be choosing the right starting point. If you’re driving your own car and starting from your residence then feel free to skip on to the next part. For everyone else, especially if you plan on flying to your destination and renting a car, there’s a bit of a decision matrix to consider.
The question we always ask ourselves which makes it easier for us is: what is the cheapest price we can pay combined for rental car + airfare? Price is easily our biggest determining factor when choosing a starting point.
If you’re interested in a National Parks Road Trip, you might want to look over our post on Best US National Parks Road Trips that lists all of the best national road trips.
Getting the Best Price for Rental Car + Airfare
Consider the following example. You’re doing a Utah National Parks Road Trip to see the Mighty 5. The most convenient airport options are Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Say you find amazing flight deals to Salt Lake City – great, we fly into salt lake, right? Maybe.
Sometimes the rental car prices in one airport are so bad that it makes flying into another destination more worthwhile despite a great flight deal and vice versa. Always check both the flight price and rental car price at each destination before booking.
Choosing the Right Lodging Options
We’ve all been there before… arriving at the campsite late at night praying we there’s an open spot only to find nothing. Or pulling into town after a 4 hour cell-service blackout only to find that all the hotels are all booked up.
Or realizing upon arriving to your destination that you didn’t make reservations anywhere and the prices are astronomical (we’re looking at you, Yellowstone). Like way more than a national park should ever cost seeing that it’s a tax-payer funded, publicly owned resource managed for the benefit and enjoyment of the people (all people).
The point is, planning ahead of time on lodging and deciding on the right accommodations for your budget is important. I recommend starting early and scanning what hotel prices are like during the time of year you want to visit (covered below). This will give you an idea of what availability looks like and how expensive it is.
Road Trip Food Planning
Ah, nothing says US road trip quite like the smell of glistening hot dogs rotating over an open warming pan at Love’s gas station at 2 in the morning… With that being said, planning out your road trip food is absolutely essential.
We’ve all seen the beloved road trip companion turn Mr. Hyde after being forced to miss their self-appointed feeding hour. Avoiding this doomsday scenario can mean the difference between a warm ride home full of fond reminisces or an unscheduled stop at the Twin Falls airport conducted in total silence.
We recommend a budget friendly mix of dining at local eateries and “cooler food”. Feeling the fatigue of too much fast food can tank a day in a hurry so we highly recommend finding a cooler for the trip to pack something on the healthier side.
Pro-Tip #1: We often pack a soft cooler (this is our current go-to) full of clothes on the way over (if flying) that can be removed upon arrival and replaced with ice and lunch food/snacks (sandwich fixings, dips, greens, drinks, etc).
Road Trip Groceries
Typically our first stop after the airport is to a Trader Joe’s (who is not paying us to say so) to stock up on essentials. If there’s no Trader’s then head to a solid all-around grocery store and go from there. We often end up in places during dining hours that either have no food options or very limited unhealthy options and so it’s nice to have an alternative in the car.
Making food stops also slows down trip momentum and can mean the difference between “making it there before sundown”.
Pro-Tip #2: A few years back we (finally) started packing a small, inexpensive one burner stove (this one) and it has made all the difference. Having the option to make hot food (we camp/car camp a lot) can make all the difference after a long day in the parks.
Finally, in the dining category of this post, comes the topic of coffee (should’ve been #1, I know). We are hopeless caffeine junkies and need our morning fix. New Mexico piñon coffee is my favorite and I try to always pack some. We use this gadget to heat the water and this metal pour over tin to do the job (usually with good results I must say).
Planning Your Arizona Road Trip Budget
It’s a good idea to come up with an overall budget at the outset of planning your road trip. A budget makes it easy to remove unnecessary stops and keep everyone in check. A sample budget breakdown for one of our trips looks something like this:
Sample Arizona Road Trip Budget
- Food – $50/person/day
- Lodging – $150/day if hotels per two people
- Gas – $30/day (this is pretty variable depending on what kind of car you’re driving)
- Rental Car – $70/day (this is fluctuating wildly given the current vehicle shortages)
- Flights – $300 round trip/person (extremely variable)
- Fees/Attractions – $100 total (park pass, etc)
- Miscellaneous – $300 total (the unforeseen expenses)
- SAMPLE TOTAL for 7 Day Trip for 2 People = $3300 ($700/food + $900/lodging + $210/gas + $490/rental car + $600/flights + $100/fees + $300/miscellaneous)
*this is very fungible up or down depending on how many nights are spent in hotels (if any), if you can get cheap flight deals vs gauging prices, driving your own car vs renting, if you eat at nicer places vs average & groceries, how fuel efficient your vehicle is, etc
Flexibility Is The Key To A Happy Road Trip
The whole reason we take road trips is to see new sights, experience new things, and most importantly to have a good time. Being flexible is the most important factor we’ve found in overall trip happiness (and life).
A few tips based on many years of experience and running the whole gamut of trip emotions:
Tips for a Happy Trip
- Don’t plan out every second of your road trip. Leave free space to either leave places early, linger longer, or just relax.
- There’s no such thing as being late on a road trip. If you miss a sunset it’s not the end of the world. If you have to nix a destination there’s always next time.
- Hydrate well and have plenty of snacks on hand. Hungry ≠ happy and neither does thirsty.
- Take time to enjoy the moment rather than always being concerned about making it to what’s next.
And Finally, The Weather
The most unpredictable factor and potentially biggest damper (intended was the pun) on any trip is the weather.
If you have a plan beforehand for how to spend your time or alternative routes if specific places have bad weather you won’t be as disappointed when it inevitably rains on your parade.
We like to check monthly forecasts to see average temperatures and precipitation before making plans.
List of Arizona Road Trip Scenic Byways
- Red Rock Scenic Byway
- Historic Route 66 Scenic Byway
- Kaibab Plateau–North Rim Parkway
- Sky Island Scenic Byway
- Coronado Trail Scenic Byway
Summary – Leave us a Comment!
That’s all I’ve got for you to plan your next great Arizona road trip. I hope you’ll let us know what we missed and what else we should include. And please drop us a note if there’s a road trip that we haven’t written about that your interested in knowing more about!
Pin Arizona Road Trip
Further Reading
- 20 EPIC Things to Do at the Grand Canyon
- 15 JAW-DROPPING Things to Do in SAGUARO National Park
- These 29 EPIC Arizona National Parks & Monuments Will Blow Your Mind
- 10 INCREDIBLE Saguaro National Park Hikes
- UTAH National Parks ROAD TRIP: An Epic Guide + Overlooked Spots
- ALL 63 National Parks Ranked from Best to Worst 2021
- 10 Best National Parks Road Trips in America
- 35+ ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS (You’ll Love + Packing List)
- 15 BEST FREE ROAD TRIP PLANNING Tools (& Apps) 2022
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