Northern Arizona Travel Guide (Part 4)

The Northern Arizona Travel Guide is a resource for those planning a road trip in the region. It is especially useful for trips originating in Las Vegas or Phoenix, or for those traveling on I-40. All the popular attractions are included, such as Oak Creek Canyon, historic Route 66, the Painted Desert, Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Hoover Dam, Lake Powell, Prescott and Sedona, Arizona. Many less famous destinations are also included. Details include descriptions and links to many references.

Navigating the Guide

Open the Locater Map by clicking on image at right. Place your mouse pointer on any map icon. A brief description will appear. Click on the link in the icon info window for details. You may also use the Pull-Down Menu or the Northern Arizona Travel Guide Index at the bottom of the page.

Northern Arizona Pull-Down Menu Hoover Dam / Northwestern Arizona Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon Flagstaff Area / I-40 East Grand Canyon - South Rim Northeast Arizona Grand Canyon - North Rim Utah National Park Loop Travel Itineraries

Suggested Itineraries for Northern Arizona Road Trips

(I) Las Vegas - Utah National Parks - 3 to 5 days

Head north on I-15 to St. George, Utah (120 miles). Just past town, take Utah-9 east to Zion National Park (camping, lodging in park or in Springdale). Continue on Utah-9 to US-89, then go north about 45 miles. Turn east on Utah-12. Red Canyon Recreation Area has nice scenic trails and a great campground. Bryce Canyon National Park is 14 miles east (camping, lodging in park or just outside park at Ruby's Inn).

Return west on Utah-12 and south on US-89. Continue south to Kanab, Utah. Proceed on US-89a to Jacob Lake, then Arizona-67 to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park (camping, lodging in park or outside park in Kaibab National Forest or Jacob Lake). Most direct return is Az-67, US-89a to Fredonia, Az-389 to Hurricane, Utah and return to I-15. Pipe Springs National Monument (an old settlement) is a good stop along the way.

To add an extra day or more, proceed east on US-89a from Jacob Lake. Take the short turnoff to Lee's Ferry which is extremely scenic. There is a nice campground, trails, a historical site, and fishing. Continue east to US-89, then north to Page and Lake Powell. If you are short on time a tour of upper Antelope Canyon takes only a couple hours. The tour of the Glen Canyon Dam is also brief. Return via US-89 and Kanab.

(II) Las Vegas - Northern Arizona Loop - 4 to 7 days

Proceed south on US-93. Take the tour at Hoover Dam (an hour or more). At Kingman, head east on I-40. If you have more time, go east on US-66 instead and return to I-40 at Seligman. If you have more time, take the Prescott - Sedona loop (Az-89, 89a). For a quick drive-through, good stops would be the town of Jerome and Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon. Detour will add at least most of one day.

From Oak Creek, you will end up in Flagstaff. Proceed on US-180 to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon (camping, lodging in park or in Tusayan). If you skipped the Prescott - Sedona loop, reach the South Rim from Williams via Az-64.

If you want to see the Painted Desert, proceed east on I-40 from Flagstaff. Possible brief stops are Walnut Canyon National Monument (nice trail, lunch spot) and Meteor Crater. Tour the Painted Desert and other wonders in Petrified Forest National Park, east of Holbrook, Arizona. All services, camping and lodging at Holbrook. Very nice campground at Homolovi Ruins State Park. This side trip will take at least 24 hours.

From the South Rim, continue east on Az-64 to US-89, then north to Page and Lake Powell. You can spend one to several days here. Activities include Antelope Canyon tour, one-day Glen Canyon smooth-water raft trip, and half or full day boat trip to Rainbow Bridge.

Continue north on US-89 to Kanab, Utah, and eventually I-15. Tour Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks as described in Tour (I).

(III) Las Vegas - Northern Arizona - Utah Trip - over 7 days

Using Tour (2), add from destinations 10-13 into your itinerary. A guided tour at Canyon de Chelly would probably add a full day. Expect to spend a day or two visiting Monument Valley and nearby areas. To add Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park, continue on US-191 north into southeastern Utah. This will add several days to your trip. An alternative route from there would be to proceed north to I-70, west to Green River, then Utah-24 west through Capitol Reef National Park, and finally Utah-12 west to Bryce Canyon National Park (with extremely spectacular scenery along the way, including the one-lane bridge over the Escalante River). You could then finish with Zion National Park and a return to I-15.

An excellent side trip would be to Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado, site of the world's most spectacular cliff dwellings. Proceed east on US-160 through Four Corners Monument and Cortez, Colorado. This will add about three days to your trip; it takes at least two days to tour Mesa Verde.

If coming from Lake Powell, continue north on US-89 to Kanab, Utah, and eventually I-15. Tour Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks as described in Tour (I).

(IV) Phoenix - Northern Arizona Trip - 3 to 4 days

Head north on I-17 to Flagstaff. Stop at Montezuma Castle National Monument (exit 289). The five-story "castle", built by the Sinaguan people on top of a 46 foot vertical cliff, is one of the best preserved of all cliff dwellings. Make a brief stop at Montezuma Well (exit 293), a lush verdant oasis in the desert.

From Flagstaff, proceed east on I-40 with possible stops at Walnut Canyon National Monument (nice trail, lunch spot) and Meteor Crater. Arrange camping or lodging at Holbrook. Alternatively, there is a very nice campground at Homolovi Ruins State Park. Plan to spend the entire next day touring the Painted Desert and other wonders at Petrified Forest National Park.

Next day, head west on I-40. To add an extra day, take Az-87 north at Winslow to tour the Hopi Reservation. Obtain information at the Hopi Cultural Center at Second Mesa. Return to Flagstaff via Az-264 east, US-160, then US-89 south. Make stop at Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument which are adjacent. Stop at Flagstaff for the evening (try dinner at the Beaver Street Microbrewery).

Next day, take Az-89a into Oak Creek Canyon. Good stops include Slide Rock State Park and the West Fork of Oak Creek hiking trail (easy for all ages). Return to Phoenix via Az-179 and I-17.

(V) Phoenix - Northern Arizona Trip - 4 to 7 days

Head north on I-17, then take turnoff at exit 262 to Prescott. Pick up the Prescott - Sedona Loop and plan to spend a couple days in the area. Consider a tour on the Verde Canyon Railroad. Reach Flagstaff via Az-89a through Oak Creek Canyon.

Proceed to the South Rim of Grand Canyon via US-180 (camping, lodging in park or in Tusayan). Spend one or two days here. Leave via Az-64 east to US-89, then head north.

For water-related recreation proceed north to Page and Lake Powell. You can spend one to several days here. Activities include Antelope Canyon tour, one-day Glen Canyon smooth-water raft trip, and half or full day boat trip to Rainbow Bridge.

In the alternative, head east on US-160 to Tuba City. If you like to hike (and it is summer), you may wish to head east on US-160 to Navajo National Monument, and try the tours to Betatakin and/or Keet Seel. If not, go east on Az-264 and take the Painted Desert - Hopi Reservation tour in reverse (described in Trip IV).

(VI) Phoenix - Las Vegas Loop - 7 days

Head north on I-17 to Flagstaff. Proceed to the South Rim of Grand Canyon via US-180 (camping, lodging in park or in Tusayan). Spend one or two days here. Leave via Az-64 east to US-89, then head north.

Proceed north to Page and Lake Powell. You can spend one to several days here. Activities include Antelope Canyon tour, one-day Glen Canyon smooth-water raft trip, and half or full day boat trip to Rainbow Bridge. Houseboating, water sports, and fishing are also popular.

Continue north on US-89. Hikers may want to stop at the Paria Canyon Wilderness. Hiking options include the Paria River, the Coyotes Buttes, and the Wave. Advance inquiries about permits are advised. Proceed past Kanab on US-89. Continue to Utah-12, then east to Bryce Canyon National Park (as described in tour (I)). Return south on US-89, the west on Utah-9 to Zion National Park, finally reaching I-15.

Proceed on I-15 to Las Vegas where you can spend one or more days. Return on US-93, then US-60 to Phoenix. Possible stops include the tour at Hoover Dam and the old west town of Oatman outside of Kingman.

(VII) Phoenix - Northern Arizona - Utah Trip - over 7 days

Follow Trip (IV) to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. Proceed east on I-40 to US-191, then head north, adding Destinations 10 and 12 (Hubbell, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley area). This would add about three days of touring. You may then proceed to Lake Powell via US-160 west, adding Destinations 13-14 with two or more days of touring.

An excellent side trip would be to Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado, site of the world's most spectacular cliff dwellings. Proceed east on US-160 through Four Corners Monument and Cortez, Colorado. This will add about three days to your trip; it takes at least two days to tour Mesa Verde.

To add Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park, continue on US-191 north into southeastern Utah. This will add several days to your trip. Continue north to I-70, west to Green River, then Utah-24 west through Capitol Reef National Park, and finally Utah-12 west to Bryce Canyon National Park (with extremely spectacular scenery along the way, including the one-lane bridge over the Escalante River).

Proceed south on US-89 to Lake Powell. You can spend one to several days here. Activities include Antelope Canyon tour, one-day Glen Canyon smooth-water raft trip, and half or full day boat trip to Rainbow Bridge. Houseboating, water sports, and fishing are also popular.

The return to Phoenix is about 5-6 hours via US-89 south to Flagstaff, then I-17. Alternatively, make a stop at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon via Az-64.

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Northern Arizona Travel Guide Index

• Hoover Dam, Historic Route 66, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Verde Valley, Grand Canyon Skywalk
• Flagstaff, Grand Canyon - South Rim, Painted Desert / Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly
• Indian Country, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon - North Rim, Utah Parks
• Travel Itineraries

Guides to Nearby Destinations

• Las Vegas Guide
• Grand Canyon Area Travel Guide
• Southern Utah
• Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon
• Lake Powell