Welcome to the wiiiiiiiild wild west. If you’ve ever dreamed of a road trip that takes you through some of the most stunning landscapes in the US, then this Arizona adventure is for you. This road trip is a whirlwind of jaw-dropping landscapes, quirky roadside stops, and enough red rocks to make you wonder if you’re actually on Mars. From the glam suburbia that is Scottsdale to the majestic Grand Canyon, this itinerary is a stacked seven-day journey through the very best of Arizona.
There’s so much to see and do in Arizona and this itinerary is here to help guide my fellow city girls through the desert. Follow this itinerary for an adventure packed with beauty, nature, adventure, and red rock magic.
Itinerary
Day 1: Full Day in Scottsdale
Day 2: Scottsdale to Sedona
Day 3: Sedona to Grand Canyon
Day 4: Grand Canyon to Page
Day 5: Page to Sedona (round two)
Day 6: Full Day in Sedona
Day 7: Sedona— Bye, Arizona!
Day 1: Full Day in Scottsdale
Scottsdale is a perfectly manicured desert utopia. For outdoor fun, Scottsdale has you covered—think hikes in the McDowell Mountains, scenic bike rides, and some of the best golf courses in the country. And when it’s time to kick back, there’s no shortage of resorts and spas to unwind at.
Start your day with breakfast at JoJo Coffeehouse Breakfast & Brunch (a big yes to their coffee flight and even bigger yes to the breakfast burrito).
Get those glutes burning by walking the McDowell Sonoran Preserve: Gateway Loop Trail. This hike is about 4.5 miles long and takes you through winding desert land— cute and sexy cactuses galore. This hike is the perfect kick-off to your trip, putting you in the right desert frame of mind.
After your hike, head to Old Town Scottsdale and explore the neighborhood’s local boutiques, museums, galleries, and overall vintage Western feels. And sure, some may opt for a juice or smoothie after your hike, but I must stay true to myself and mention that the Canopy Hotel has a great rooftop happy hour (wink, wink). Listen, you’re on vacation, okay?
If you’ve only got one dinner out in Scottsdale, then you must (and I emphasize MUST emphatically) go to Diego Pops. Not only did I lose count of how many tacos and margaritas I consumed, but I’d take the street corn queso in an IV if I could.
Day 2: Scottsdale to Jerome to Sedona (2 hours and 45 minutes)
After breakfast, hit the road for your official road trip through Arizona.
This itinerary recommends stopping in Sedona twice (once before the Grand Canyon and again afterward). Sedona sits in the middle of our road trip route, giving you a chance to break up the drive in half when driving from Scottsdale to the Grand Canyon and vice versa.
For a unique afternoon pit stop on your way to Sedona from Scottsdale, you’ve got to visit Jerome. Jerome is an eclectic “ghost town” perched on the side of Cleopatra Hill. It has a vintage, quirky vibe topped with western saloons, abandoned horror-themed theaters, and enough skeletons littering the town to give Halloweentown a run for its money. Make sure to stop at Haunted Hamburger for lunch.
Continuing the drive, leaving Jerome and traveling to Sedona, take the Oak Creek Canyon routes, one of Arizona’s most breathtaking drives. You’ll instantly know when you’ve reached beautiful Sedona once the imposing red rock formations come into view.
You will most likely be arriving at Sedona in the late afternoon, which means it’s the perfect time to prepare for the sunset. Sunsets in Sedona are taken very, very seriously. People will begin to queue at sunset spots as early as 4 PM, which makes parking stressful, so I recommend getting to your designated sunset spot early. For your first evening, I recommend going to Airport Mesa to see the sunset!
Day 3: Sedona to Grand Canyon (2 hours)
Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross first thing in the morning, so you can grab a parking spot. This chapel, built directly into the cliffs, is nestled into the red rocks of Arizona and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding desert.
After sinking your teeth into the nature, architecture, and spiritual experience of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, donuts sound like a good time, no? I recommend going to Sedonuts Donut & Coffee Shop for breakfast.
Now, it’s time to leave Sedona (stopping for breakfast at Sedonuts, of course) and venture to the real star of the show: The Grand Canyon. The drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon Village is an event in and of itself. Driving down Route 89A is simply incredible. The scenery of this drive feels like you’re driving through multiple states with varied terrains, but nope, you’re still in Arizona.
Arriving at the Grand Canyon is surreal. Visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona means you’ll be seeing the canyon’s south rim. The south rim is the canyon’s most popular area because it’s the widest part of the canyon and most accessible.
When we arrived at the visitor center, we bought the America the Beautiful Pass for entry to all the national parks for one year. This means we had access to the park for the two days we were there, which was perfect for visiting the park for both sunrise and sunset.
On your first night, I recommend seeing the sun set over the canyon at golden hour. The pink and purple skies coloring the Grand Canyon during sunset are a bucket list sight. For dinner, go to El Tovar Dining Room inside the El Tovar Hotel. This hotel property is located inside of Grand Canyon National Park, which is very cool to drive through at night.
Day 4: Grand Canyon to Page (2 hours and 30 minutes)
Set your alarms and grab a coffee to-go because it’s time to catch the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Yes, you’ll need to arrive early in order to park, walk over to a lookout point, and get a good spot. And no matter how early you seem to arrive, it’s likely that a crowd of people has already formed at the prime sunrise spot in the canyon. As I mentioned earlier, people take sunrises and sunsets seriously in Arizona. But, it’s worth the early wake-up call and is truly such a special experience.
After enjoying the sunrise and driving around the national park to soak in all the beautiful lookout points, prepare to head out to your next destination: Page!
Page is a hidden gem tucked away in the northern part of the state. The main draw towards Page are two must-see natural wonders: Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
On your first day in Page, it’s a great idea to visit Horseshoe Bend just before golden hour. Horseshoe Bend is a dramatic bend within the Colorado River that forms a gigantic horseshoe shape. After the short hike to the massive vista, you’re rewarded with one of the most iconic views in the American Southwest. A great way to end your long day is with some Texas barbeque from Big John’s Texas BBQ.
Day 5: Page to Flagstaff to Sedona (3 hours)
On day 5, you are going to start your day bright and early visiting Antelope Canyon. One of the biggest draws to Page is its proximity to Antelope Canyon, a slot canyon known for its narrow, winding passages that you’ve most definitely seen photos of on social media. In order to visit Antelope Canyon, you must purchase a tour led by local Navajo guides.
Antelope Canyon is split into two sections: Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. The lower canyon is more popular because of its iconic light beams. Because Antelope Canyon is so popular, it’s best to book your tour ahead of time.
Before wrapping up the Page portion of your trip, I recommend eating lunch at BirdHouse, a popular fried chicken spot with to-die-for mains, sides, and sauces. I mean, it’s very, very delicious.
The drive back to Sedona is about three hours long. On your drive down south towards Sedona, I recommend stopping at Flagstaff for a little midday respite. Downtown Flagstaff is pretty darling… picture a Western Stars Hollow (hello, Gilmore Girls). There are lots of candy stores, bookshops, and cafes to explore before continuing your drive to Sedona.
If an energy healer and yoga instructor had a baby, they might name their kid Sedona. That’s just a weird way of saying that Sedona is very health and wellness-focused. The minute you get there, you might want to book a workout or yoga class, maybe a spa service. Unwinding with a little self-care is the perfect way to enjoy the last leg of your Arizona trip.
Day 6: Full Day in Sedona
Buckle up for your one full day in Sedona. I recommend starting your day by hiking Devil’s Bridge. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a flatlander, but this hike got my heart racing and my glutes burning.
There’s no better way of circumventing all the calories burned than going to Sedona’s iconic “blue” McDonald’s for a crisp, spicy Diet Coke.
Top off the afternoon by strolling down Sedona’s Main Street, a pedestrian-friendly walkway filled with kitschy souvenirs, snack shops, boutiques, and bars.
At night, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dinner. Here are some of my favorite restaurants in Sedona for dinner or lunch:
Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano
Day 7: Sedona to Phoenix (2 hours)
Similar to the last day of any trip, I prefer to take it easy before heading off to the airport. On your last morning in Sedona, visit the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. The shops inside Tlaquepaque feature anything from records, books, homeware, and art galleries. While here, Secret Garden Cafe is a great option for breakfast.
Finally, it’s time to say goodbye to Sedona’s red rocks and head off to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for your departure. Muah! Xoxo
Leave a Reply