The Ultimate Arizona Road Trip

It is so easy to take for granted the beauty in your own backyard, so we have made it our mission to see as much of our home state of Arizona as possible.

I have put together the ultimate Arizona road trip guide including all the main tourist spots, as well as those off the beaten path finds.

This road trip is from the north heading south. I would plan for a few weeks to hit every destination, or just use this as a jumping-off point to determine what locations you want to see within your time frame. Happy road-tripping!

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Must-see Locations on an Arizona Road Trip

Table of Contents

• 1. Page
  • Best things to see in Page:
  • Best things to do in Page:
  • Best places to stay in Page:
  • Best places to eat in Page:
• 2. Grand Canyon
  • Best things to see at the Grand Canyon:
  • Best things to do at the Grand Canyon:
  • Best places to stay at the Grand Canyon:
  • Best places to eat at the Grand Canyon:
• Pit Stop: Williams
• 3. Flagstaff
  • Best things to see in Flagstaff:
  • Best things to do in Flagstaff:
  • Best places to stay in Flagstaff:
  • Best places to eat in Flagstaff:
• 4. Sedona
  • Best things to see in Sedona:
  • Best things to do in Sedona:
  • Best places to stay in Sedona:
  • Best places to eat in Sedona:
• 5. Jerome Ghost Town
  • Best things to see in Jerome:
  • Best things to do in Jerome:
  • Best places to stay in Jerome:
  • Best places to eat in Jerome:
• Pit Stop: Watson Lake
• 6. Phoenix Valley
  • Best things to see in the Phoenix Valley:
  • Best things to do in the Phoenix Valley:
  • Best places to stay in the Phoenix Valley:
  • Best places to eat in the Phoenix Valley:
• 7. Tucson
  • Best things to see in Tucson:
  • Best things to do in Tucson:
  • Best places to stay in Tucson:
  • Best places to eat in Tucson:
• 8. Tombstone
  • Best things to see in Tombstone:
  • Best things to do in Tombstone:
  • Best places to stay in Tombstone:
  • Best places to eat in Tombstone:
• Pit Stop: Bisbee

Click here for our Arizona Road Trip Map

1. Page

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Best things to see in Page:

• Horseshoe Bend
• Dam Overlook Trail
• Wahweap Overlook
• Lake Powell

Best things to do in Page:

• Take a tour of Antelope Canyon.
• Take a tour of Waterhole Canyon.
• Book a Glen Canyon Float Trip.
• Tour the Glen Canyon Dam and visitor center.
• Rent a kayak and explore the Labyrinth Slot Canyon at Lake Powell.
• Take a boat tour to Rainbow Bridge at Lake Powell.
• Visit the Powell Museum.

Best places to stay in Page:

• Airbnb
• Hampton Inn and Suites
• Lake Powell Resort

Best places to eat in Page:

• El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant
• BirdHouse
• Ranch House Grille

*For more information see our guide for 12 Things to Do in Page Arizona

2. Grand Canyon

Best things to see at the Grand Canyon:

• Mather Lookout is a short walk from the visitor center with an impressive viewpoint.
• Take the staircase to the top of the Watch Tower located at the East entrance on Desert View Drive.
• Moran Point offers stunning views and is one of the rare lookouts with a view of the Colorado River. Take Desert View Drive a few miles east of Grand Canyon Village.
• Grand View Point, Yaki Point, and Navajo Point are also popular lookouts along Desert View Drive.

Best things to do at the Grand Canyon:

• Hike the Bright Angel Trail to the second tunnel (1.5 miles roundtrip).
• Take the 1.3-mile interpretive Trail of Time path along the south rim.
• Check the visitor center for Ranger-led presentations.
• Rent bikes from Bike Grand Canyon and ride along the rim.
• At selected spots along the South Rim Trail, the National Park Service offers cell phone “tours.” The 2-minute narrations detail information about the geology of Yaki Point, the history of the Bright Angel Lodge and stories about the Native American history and the night sky.
• Watch a movie about the Grand Canyon at the Imax Theater.
• Ride the Grand Canyon Railway.

Best places to stay at the Grand Canyon:

• Sheridan House Inn B&B
• Red Garter Inn
• Quarter Horse Inn & Lodge
• The Grand Hotel
• The Grand Canyon Hotel in Williams
• El Tovar Hotel
• Yavapai Lodge

Best places to eat at the Grand Canyon:

• Bright Angel Bicycles & Mather Point Cafe
• Arizona Steakhouse
• Yavapai Tavern

*For more ideas, see our guide to spending One Day at the Grand Canyon!

Pit Stop: Williams

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• Visit Bearizona, a drive-through wild animal park and zoo.
• Take a short walk to the impressive Sycamore Falls.
• Stroll along Route 66 and grab a bite to eat at Goldies Route 66 Diner.
• Book a train ride to the Grand Canyon on the Grand Canyon Railway.

*See our guide for the Best Things to Do in Williams for more recommendations.

3. Flagstaff

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Best things to see in Flagstaff:

• Meteor Crater
• Grand Falls
• Indian Ruins at Walnut Canyon or Wupatki
• Riordan Mansion Historic Park
• Route 66 landmarks

Best things to do in Flagstaff:

• Snowbowl Ski Resort for skiing in the winter and activities in the summer.
• View the night sky at Lowell Observatory.
• Explore the Lava River Caves.
• Hike the Red Mountain Trail or Lockett Meadow Trail.
• Try your skill at the Flagstaff Extreme Ropes Course.
• Visit historic downtown and take a self-guided walking ghost tour or historic Route 66 tour (maps are available at the visitor center).

Best places to stay in Flagstaff:

• Little America
• Marriott SpringHill Suites
• Weatherford Hotel
• The Inn at 410 Bed & Breakfast

Best places to eat in Flagstaff:

• Fat Olive’s Pizza
• Mama Burger
• Asia Station
• Macy’s European Coffee House

4. Sedona

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Best things to see in Sedona:

• Chapel of the Holy Cross
• Airport Overlook scenic viewpoint
• Drive through the scenic Oak Creek Canyon

Best things to do in Sedona:

• Slide down a natural rock waterslide at Slide Rock State Park.
• Cool off at Grasshopper Point Swimming Hole.
• Hike Soldier Pass to the Seven Sacred Pools and a hidden cave.
• Hike to Devil’s Bridge and walk on top of the sandstone arch.
• Hike the Cathedral Rock Trail for the best views.
• Take a Pink Jeep Tour.
• Take a Sedona Trolley city or scenic tour.

Best places to stay in Sedona:

• Amara Resort and Spa
• Briar Patch Inn Bed & Breakfast
• Tiny Camp Glamping Retreat
• Red Agave Resort Chalets
• Orchard Canyon on Oak Creek
• Enchantment Resort
• Matterhorn Inn

Best places to eat in Sedona:

• Elote
• Picazzo’s Pizza
• The Cowboy Club
• The Coffee Pot
• Oaxaca

*For more information see our guide, 24 Hours in Sedona.

5. Jerome Ghost Town

Best things to see in Jerome:

• The remains of the Bartlett Hotel
• The unique crumbling building front of La Victoria Glass Blowing Studio
• Sliding Jail
• The largest kaleidoscope store in the world at Nellie Bly
• The haunted Jerome Grand Hotel

Best things to do in Jerome:

• Grab a drink at the Connor Hotel Spirit Room Bar.
• Watch a short historic film at the Liberty Theater.
• Sample homemade fudge at OJ’s Copper Country Fudge.
• Visit Jerome State Historic Park.
• Visit the nearby cute historic town of Cottonwood.

Best places to stay in Jerome:

• Jerome Grand Hotel
• The Surgeon’s House Bed & Breakfast
• The Connor Hotel

Best places to eat in Jerome:

• Haunted Hamburger
• The Flatiron
• Asylum Restaurant
• The Bordello of Jerome

*For more information see our First Time Guide to Jerome and Arizona Hidden Gems RV Road Trip

Pit Stop: Watson Lake

• Explore the granite dells surrounding the lake
• Hike the Peavine Trail
• Rent a kayak
• Have a picnic and let the kids play at the park
• Visit the nearby historic downtown Prescott

*See our guide for The Best Things to Do in Prescott for more recommendations.

6. Phoenix Valley

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Best things to see in the Phoenix Valley:

• Historic downtown Gilbert
• Watch a Diamondbacks or Cardinals game
• Desert Botanical Gardens
• Goldfield Ghost town
• Heritage Square in downtown Phoenix
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesen West home
• Tovrea Castle

Best things to do in the Phoenix Valley:

• Best hiking trails: Camelback, Flat Iron, Hieroglyphics, Piestewa Peak, Wave Cave.
• Best museums: Arizona Science Center, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Musical Instrument Museum, Arizona Railway Museum, Odysea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland.
• Phoenix Zoo and Papago Park (take the short hike to Hole in the Rock).
• Visit Out of Africa Wildlife Park.
• Rent paddle boats on Tempe Town Lake.
• Go tubing down the Salt River.
• Rent bikes and ride at the Desert Trails Bike Park.
• Watch live bull riding at Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse.
• Catch a movie at the West Wind Drive-in Theater.
• In the spring hike Salome Jug Arizona’s mile-long natural water park.
• For more information see our guide 101 Things to do in the Phoenix East Valley.

Best places to stay in the Phoenix Valley:

• Great Wolf Lodge
• Arrive
• Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak
• Arizona Biltmore
• Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort
• Arizona Grand Resort and Spa
• Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
• Wigwam Resort
• Hotel Valley Ho
• For more recommendations, see our guide 13 of the Best Places to Stay in Phoenix.

Best places to eat in the Phoenix Valley:

• The Farm at South Mountain
• Queen Creek Olive Mill
• Joe’s Farm Grill in Gilbert
• San Tan Flat in Queen Creek
• Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix’s Heritage Square
• Diego Pops in Old Town Scottsdale
• The Henry in Phoenix
• For more recommendations, see our guide 13 of the Best Places to Eat in Phoenix.

7. Tucson

Best things to see in Tucson:

• San Xavier Del Bac Mission
• Saguaro National Park
• Barrio Viejo historical neighborhood

Best things to do in Tucson:

• Tour the Old Tucson Movie Studio.
• Take a tour of Kartchner Caverns.
• Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum.
• Take the Mount Lemmon Sky Ride.
• Hike to the Seven Falls in Sabino Canyon.
• Visit the Biosphere 2.
• Visit the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.
• Fore more information, see our guide 10 Fun Things to Do in Tucson.

Best places to stay in Tucson:

• White Stallion Dude Ranch
• JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort
• Downtown Clifton Hotel
• Hotel McCoy
• Rancho de la Osa Dude Ranch

Best places to eat in Tucson:

• Barrio Bread
• Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails
• Welcome Diner
• Tacos Apson
• El Guero Canelo
• Seis Kitchen

8. Tombstone

Best things to see in Tombstone:

• Gunfight at OK Corral re-enactment
• Tombstone Epitaph printing press
• CS Fly’s Photo Gallery
• Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
• See the world’s largest rose tree at the Rose Tree Museum

Best things to do in Tombstone:

• Learn about the history of Tombstone at the Historama Theater.
• Stroll along the historic Allen Street.
• Grab a drink at the Crystal Palace Saloon one of Tombstone’s very first Saloons.
• Take a ghost tour at the Bird Cage Theater.
• Tour the Goodenough Silver Mine.
• Take a ride on a stagecoach.
• Visit Boothill Graveyard.

Best places to stay in Tombstone:

• Tombstone Monument Ranch
• Katie’s Cozy Cabins
• Tombstone San Jose House

Best places to eat in Tombstone:

• Big Nose Kate’s Saloon
• Crystal Palace Saloon
• Ok Cafe
• The Longhorn Restaurant
• Cafe Margarita

*For more information see our guide 11 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Trip to Tombstone

Pit Stop: Bisbee

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• Tour the Copper Queen Mine.
• Stop at the Lavender Pit lookout.
• Visit the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum.
• Stop by the haunted Copper Queen Hotel.
• Stroll along the historic Main Street and Eerie Street.
• Take a golf cart tour of the town.
• Grab a bite to eat at The Bisbee Table or The Breakfast Club.
• For more recommendations, see our guide Bisbee Arizona: Best Historic Small Town in America.

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I hope this helps as you map out your Arizona road trip. If you have more time to explore around the state, check out all of our Arizona Guides for more recommendations!

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