Arizona National Parks Road Trip: The Perfect 8-Day Itinerary

Planning an Arizona national parks road trip? This 8-day itinerary covers the best of what Arizona has to offer. You’ll visit Saguaro National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park, plus Sabino Canyon and two full days in Sedona, all in one efficient loop starting and ending in Phoenix.

We did this trip at the end of March and experienced all four seasons in eight days. Warm desert sun in Tucson, ice on the rim of the Grand Canyon, cold and windy trails at Petrified Forest, and perfect red-rock sunsets in Sedona.

Arizona genuinely surprised us with how dramatically different each destination felt. Here’s exactly how to plan your own Arizona national parks road trip, park by park and day by day.

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Best Time for an Arizona National Parks Road Trip

The best time to visit the national parks of Arizona is during the spring. March, April, and May are your best bet, but like us, you might see some snow in early spring. Summer in Arizona brings intense heat and harsh weather.

We traveled here at the end of March, and it was a great time to explore. The weather was ideal for hiking – 60s and 70s. However, mornings were cold and in the 30s, and we had to deal with icy trails in the Grand Canyon. We had to alter some of our plans, but we still had an amazing time.

For the best hiking and exploring options, we recommend visiting in April or May.

Expert tip: This itinerary visits multiple parks during one trip, so an interagency pass is the best bang for your buck. The pass expires after one year, but it usually pays for itself if you visit enough parks in one year. Visit our Gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass at the entrance of some parks.

Arizona National Parks Road Trip Itinerary At A Glance

The map above shows a numbered itinerary outlining the order of stops, along with our recommended hikes and activities for each location. Each destination is color-coded by national park or region, providing a helpful visual overview of your route!

How Much Does A National Park Road Trip Like This Cost?

Wondering what the cost of a trip like this can run? Let’s talk about it. This cost breakdown is based on our trip here in 2024, so costs have probably increased a bit. Let’s be real, what hasn’t increased? This section includes most of the major costs except for food and gas.

Keep in mind that lodging at the Grand Canyon is very expensive if you stay in the park. That being said, it’s worth it for the proximity. All prices are estimates based on our actual costs, but will vary by season and availability.

Planning Your Arizona National Parks Road Trip

Getting There

The main gateway for this road trip is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It’s one of the busiest airports in the Southwest, well-served by most major carriers, and where you’ll fly home from on Day 8.

That said, this itinerary actually starts in Tucson, which means Tucson International Airport is worth checking too. If you can find a comparable fare into Tucson, it saves you the 2-hour drive south from Phoenix on Day 1 and puts you practically at the doorstep of Sabino Canyon and Saguaro National Park right off the plane.

Check both airports before booking because the savings in drive time alone can be worth a small difference in fare.

Do not underestimate the driving distances on this trip. Arizona is a big state. The drive from Saguaro National Park to Show Low is about 4 hours, Show Low to Grand Canyon Village is another 3 hours, and Grand Canyon to Sedona is about 2 hours.

None of these are brutal, but they add up, especially on days when you’ve already been hiking. Build in fuel stops, don’t skip breakfast, and give yourself buffer time on driving days. We always gas up before leaving each city because rural Arizona has long stretches of nothing in between.

Things to Know

• Get to ALL trailheads as early as you can. This tip is especially important for Grand Canyon National Park and Sedona.
  • Grand Canyon – we arrived at the parking lots at 7 am, and there were no cars. Arriving back to the parking lot at 11-12 pm – absolutely full and chaos everywhere. Folks parking in no-parking zones, along the street, making up parking spots in lots, and blocking others.
    • South entrance gate times can be up to 2 hours during peak times from 10 am-4 pm. We arrived around 4 pm and still had to wait 45 minutes to 1 hour.
    • Expert tip: The right of the two lanes to get into Grand Canyon National Park seemed to move faster. For whatever reason, the left lane filtered out to 2 lanes, and the right lane branched off into 3, which made things move a bit faster for that lane. Unfortunately, park staff did not have the pre-pay lane open to use for folks with a pass in hand.
  • Sedona – Go as early as possible! Some folks like to watch the sunrise from popular locations. Some lots are full by 7-8 am, but in most cases, there is parking available along streets.
• When out enjoying the trails and open spaces, be sure to practice Leave No Trace.

Rental Car

• Expert tip: We usually book our rental car super early as a pay later or refundable option. If you do this, you can continuously check the prices before your trip. If the price is lower than when you booked, cancel for free and rebook for the lower price! Most major rental car companies have free cancellation on pay later bookings, but always check the fine print.
• Make sure to take a video of the outside AND inside of the car before you leave the rental car lot. This will save you from any damage claims made by the rental car company after your return. We know from a very bad experience on this! Further, please don’t off-road at any point during your visit to the national parks of Arizona unless you have the proper vehicle.

🚗 Check out prices and compare cars at Booking.com or on Expedia! Book early to get the best price.

Day 1 – Travel Day & Sabino Canyon, Tucson

First, Day 1 is a travel day to get you closer to the national parks of Arizona if you aren’t already. If your schedule allows, try to get to Arizona as early as you can in the day to make the most of this quick week-long trip.

To speed up your process, most of the car rental locations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport have the option to bypass the counter and head straight to the car. This is a great way to save time! Alternatively, if cheaper for you, fly into Tucson International Airport to save even more time.

Once you arrive, head to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Visitor Center. This is about 2 hours from Phoenix or 40 minutes from Tucson International Airport. You can even use your national park pass for entry to this location!

To stretch your legs after your morning travel, head to Bear Canyon and hike the Seven Falls Hike. This hike travels through a desert landscape and ends at an amazing waterfall!

Conversely, you also have the option to use the Sabino Canyon Shuttle to hike and ride. If you have run out of time to hike, visit Viator for other options in the area. End your first day with an overnight stay in Tucson.

📌 Check out our post on How to Explore Sabino Canyon and Seven Falls for more details.

Day 2 – Saguaro National Park & Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

After breakfast, it’s time to go hiking. Here is your quick Saguaro National Park itinerary for the day. Start by heading to the Tucson Mountain District (West) area of Saguaro National Park. Park across from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum at the King Canyon Trailhead.

It’s best to get there early, as parking spots may fill up quickly during the spring peak season. If you plan on hiking this trail in the summer, it will be HOT! Check the weather before proceeding. Use the King Canyon Trail, Hugh Norris Trail, and the Sendero Esperanza Trail to create an 8.5-mile loop to visit Wasson Peak.

After lunch, head across the street to visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Think of it as a zoo, aquarium, museum, and botanical garden all in one! It’s a great place to spend the afternoon after your morning exploring Saguaro National Park. You can spend lots of time here, so plan on being there for at least 2 hours if you want to see everything.

There are activities for kids, too, featuring a sting ray touch exhibit and more. End your day driving 4 hours to Show Low, AZ. This is an excellent scenic drive with the option to stop at the Salt River Overlook. Be prepared for the possibility of snow if you are traveling in the winter or spring.

🌵For more details on this Saguaro National Park itinerary, visit Saguaro National Park: How to Hike to Wasson Peak.

Day 3 – Petrified Forest National Park

Next up is a day exploring Petrified Forest National Park. This was one of the least busy parks that we visited during our trip to Arizona. Start by driving 1 hour north to the Rainbow Forest Museum, which also serves as a visitor center for this national park.

Note that this park’s hours are 8 am to 5 pm, and the gates do close! All of the hikes here today are short and sweet. Below is the best order in which to complete them when coming from the South.

Hikes to Complete at Petrified Forest:

1. Stop at the Rainbow Forest Museum and Visitor Center. Complete the Giant Logs Trail behind the building. This trail is 0.4 miles.
2. Long Logs and Agate House – keep your car parked and hike down the sidewalk across from the visitor center to reach this 1.5-mile loop trail.
3. Crystal Forest Trail – drive along the road north to reach this 1-mile loop trail.
4. Drive north again and turn right on Blue Mesa Scenic Road to reach the Blue Mesa Trail. This one is not to be missed! It’s a 0.8-mile loop.
5. Just north on the main road are the Teepees – a quick scenic stop.
6. Stop at the Painted Desert Rim Trail. This is a quick 1-mile out-and-back trail that can be started at the parking lot or at the Painted Desert Inn

As you drive north along Petrified Forest Road, there are also plenty of scenic stops and other attractions along the way. Keep in mind there are restrooms at the Rainbow Forest Museum, Painted Desert Inn, and the Painted Desert Visitor Center.

After your visit, head west toward Grand Canyon Village, AZ where you’ll spend the next 2 nights at the Maswik Lodge. We found it a bit expensive to stay in the park, but well worth it with the massive crowds.

🪵Check out our detailed post on Petrified Forest National Park: How to Spend 1 Day for more details.

Day 4 – Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim)

Hopefully, you did not have to wait too long to enter the park. This is our favorite park of the national parks of Arizona! We arrived around 4:15 pm the previous day and still had to wait about 1 hour. However, this is better than peak times, which can have up to a 2-hour wait just to enter.

First up on the agenda is to find a parking spot at the South Rim Visitor Center. This will get you close to the hike planned for today – the South Kaibab Trail. The plan was to take this to Ooh Ahh Point and back, but Mother Nature had other plans for us.

Also, plan on hiking the Shoshone Point Trail and visiting the Desert View Watchtower. If you have enough time, visit the Bright Angel Trail area of the park, including the historic El Tovar Hotel. During our visit, the Bright Angel Trail was closed for a waterline project; however, we still hiked down into the canyon about 0.5 miles and back.

There are a few dinner options in this national park. Some of these locations get bad reviews, but we didn’t think the food was that bad! Note that if you plan to dine at the El Tovar Dining Room, you will need reservations for lunch and dinner. Further, you are expected to dress your best.

➡️For all the details, visit How to Make the Most of 2 Days at Grand Canyon National Park.

Day 5 – Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim)

During your second day at Grand Canyon National Park, check out the western side of the South Rim. Take the South Rim trail all the way from Hermit Road to Hermit’s Rest. This is a mostly flat hike that travels about 7-8 miles to Hermit’s Rest.

There are some spectacular viewpoints along this trail that serve as shuttle stops. Furthermore, as you hike along the South Rim, you’ll have great views of the Grand Canyon at all times – some spots are even a bit vertigo-inducing, so be very careful.

If you want to take it easy, use the Red Shuttle along this road to hop on and hop off. During peak season, this road is closed to public traffic.

Afterward, it’s time to head to Sedona. Stop at the Oak Creek Vista Overlook and hike on the West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead before you get to Sedona. This trail hikes through towering cliffs and has multiple stream crossings, so you might get wet!

Sedona isn’t a national park, but after visiting many of the national parks, we’d put Sedona’s red rock scenery in the same conversation. It definitely earns its place on any Arizona national parks road trip.

📌Read more! Visit How to Make the Most of 2 Days at Grand Canyon National Park.

Day 6 – Sedona: Red Rocks & Devil’s Bridge

Welcome to Sedona – home of the red rocks!

First, spend your day with a hike to the infamous Devil’s Bridge. Use the Chuckwagon Trail for the best hike – and go extra early, because this place honestly gets overrun with people. After, continue on the Chuckwagon Trail, which will bring you around to the Long Canyon Trail.

After that, continue on Deadman’s Pass and the Mescal Trail for some of the best views that Sedona has to offer. We discuss this route in detail on our post linked below, so be sure to check it out.

End your busy day with dinner at the nearby Tlaquepaque Village. Here you will find plenty of restaurants and shopping options. Additionally, a trip to the national parks of Arizona is not complete without watching at least one sunset!

A popular spot to watch is along Airport Road at the Airport Mesa trail location. A better option for this is taking the Brewer Trail off of Brewer Road if you can. This trail was spectacular during sunset! Watching Airport Road become a parking lot definitely solidified our decision to walk and hike to this spot. That being said, prepare for a fairly steep trek!

🌵 For more details, see How to Visit Devil’s Bridge and Hike Spectacular Trails in Sedona: Day 1.

Day 7 – Sedona: Boynton Canyon & Subway Cave

Finally, on your last day in Sedona, it’s time to explore Boynton Canyon and the Subway Cave. You will want to start this hike as early as possible. We arrived at the parking lot at 7 am, and it was already full! However, there are plenty of parking spots along the road.

Please follow the signs and do not park where you are not supposed to. Following this hike, visit the Fay Canyon Trail for one last adventure. This is a fairly short hike and offers great views of Sedona as well.

👉🏽 Read More! Visit Hike to Subway Cave and Fay Canyon: How to Enjoy Day 2 in Sedona for more information.

Lastly, when you are finished exploring, it’s time to head back to Phoenix in preparation for the end of your trip.

🚗 If you loved this Arizona road trip, our New Mexico and Texas national parks itinerary covers similar desert and canyon landscapes.

Day 8 – Scottsdale & Heading Home

Having a flight in the late afternoon will give you a chance to explore a little bit more of Phoenix before your departure. Head over and explore what Scottsdale has to offer. Visit Old Town Scottsdale or check out a local park.

If you are looking for a nice place to hang out before your flight, head to Chapparral Park. There are plenty of walking trails here, as well as an aquatic center and the Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden. Think of this garden as a smaller, but free botanical garden!

End your morning with a quick trip to In-N-Out Burger and then head to the airport.

Where to Stay on Your Arizona National Parks Road Trip

Finding the right place to rest each night is just as important as planning your hikes. Book everything as early as possible. Grand Canyon Village and Sedona fill up weeks or months in advance during the spring.

Nights 1–2 — Tucson, AZ (Sabino Canyon + Saguaro National Park). Tucson has plenty of hotel options at every price point. Staying near the Foothills area puts you close to both Sabino Canyon and the west district of Saguaro National Park. Search hotels in Tucson on Expedia or Booking.com.

Night 2 — Show Low, AZ (en route to Petrified Forest). Show Low is a practical overnight stop that breaks up the drive and sets you up for an early arrival at Petrified Forest the next morning. A small mountain town with reliable chain hotels and surprisingly good food. We recommend the Hampton Inn & Suites Show Low.

Nights 3–4 — Grand Canyon Village, AZ (Grand Canyon National Park) This is the most important booking on the entire trip, and the one most likely to sell out. We stayed at Maswik Lodge inside the park and highly recommend it. Yes, it’s pricier than staying in Williams or Flagstaff, but waking up inside the park and skipping the entrance gate crowds is worth every penny. Book the moment you decide on dates because spring availability disappears fast.

Nights 5–6 — Sedona, AZ (Two days of red rock hiking). Sedona is one of the most beautiful places to wake up in America, and the hotels reflect that. Stay as close to the trailheads as possible. Parking fills up fast, and being close to your first hike at 6 am is a genuine advantage. Search hotels in Sedona on Expedia or Booking.com.

Night 7 — Phoenix, AZ (Pre-flight overnight). Nothing fancy is needed here. Just a comfortable hotel near Phoenix Sky Harbor with free breakfast, so you can fuel up before your flight. Search Expedia for hotels near Phoenix Sky Harbor or check out Booking.com.

💡 Pro tip: The America the Beautiful Pass covers Saguaro, Petrified Forest, and Grand Canyon. It pays for itself on this itinerary alone. Grab one on our gear page before you leave home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an Arizona National Parks Road Trip Worth It?

Of course it is! We really enjoyed our Arizona National Parks itinerary. We also got to explore Sabino Canyon and Sedona. Each park we went to was very different from the others, showcasing the biodiversity of ecosystems in Arizona.

We saw all 4 seasons here when visiting. It was warm during our time in Tucson, but we experienced snow and ice at Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon. Cold mornings and perfect afternoons provided excellent hiking weather for us in Sedona, but soon after we left, it snowed there, too!

You really need to be prepared for any type of weather when visiting Arizona in the spring. This trip will look different for everyone, but we hope this itinerary will give you a solid foundation to plan a great road trip of your own.

🧭 You are on this site because you love planning, right? Well, why not plan some more and check out our other fun itineraries!