Planning Your Tour: Phoenix to the Grand Canyon
The Southwestern United States has much to offer, especially if your travels take you to the arid deserts of Arizona. There’s so much to see and do, whether you’re fascinated by the history of the Indigenous peoples who once thrived here or appreciate the captivating russet canyons and rock formations throughout the state.
If you’re planning a trip to Arizona, pack your itinerary with the best of the best sights and activities. Here are a couple of things you might include in your travels.
Plan Your Itinerary: Sights and Activities
Making the most of your tour from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon requires careful planning. While you can add whatever your heart desires to your travel itinerary, here are a few must-see places and activities you might want to add to the mix:
Sedona
Whether you love hiking, mountain biking, or simply want to sit and savor the great outdoors, Sedona is a must-see place. It boasts some of the prettiest red rock formations in the state. The deep reds of the rocky outcroppings are a sharp contrast to the evergreen vegetation throughout, and paired with the bright blue sky, this place is a kaleidoscope of dramatic colors.
If you’re up for a hike, there are plenty of trails to suit your fancy. We loved hiking the Devil’s Bridge trail, which brings you to a natural bridge formed from reddish-orange rock. It’s a pretty easy hike in that you don’t gain much elevation, but it is a little over four miles out and back.
The Cathedral Rock trail is another excellent pick, especially if you don’t feel like embarking on a lengthy adventure. This one is only about one mile out and back, with a total elevation gain of 550 feet. Since it’s not a long trail, you do gain elevation fast, so you’ll have to navigate through solid rock and switchback trails to get to the top. It’s not too bad, though—probably an intermediate-level hike. You’ll be rewarded with beautiful views when you arrive at the top, especially if you go for sunrise or sunset!
Oak Creek Canyon
Oak Creek Canyon is another worthwhile stop. It’s on the way to or from Sedona if you’re coming or going to Flagstaff, so you won’t have to travel too far out of the way. Like Sedona, this region is home to beautiful red rocks and all sorts of vegetation. As the name implies, you’ll also find Oak Creek winding through the canyon, cutting a swath through the russet rocks.
It’s a great place to stop for pictures or even enjoy a quick picnic before continuing on your journey. If you want to stick around longer, stay for camping, fishing, hiking, or swimming (or all of the above).
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is, of course, the highlight of most trips to Arizona. It’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World for a good reason. When you approach the South Rim of the canyon, you’ll get to soak in one of the prettiest, most awe-inspiring sights in the world.
The canyon is massive, stretching for 277 miles with an average depth of 4,000 feet (6,000 feet in the deepest points). The Colorado River cuts across the bottom of the canyon, slicing through the many layers of red, orange, and pinkish rock. It’s truly a sight to behold.
If you have time, spend a few days here. You can hike one of the many trails into the canyon or even camp overnight there (you’ll need to get a permit for that).
If you’re short on time, soak up some of the best views from the Grand Canyon Sidewalk, located at Grand Canyon West. It’s a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge stretching out over the canyon’s rim, giving you jaw-dropping views of the 4,000-foot drop. If you’re a bit nervous about heights, you might want to stay on solid rock and enjoy the views from a bit further back. If you don’t mind heights, we highly recommend strolling out on the skywalk—the views are simply magnificent.
The Montezuma Castle
While you’re traveling through Arizona, be sure to stop at the Montezuma Castle. It’s an incredible stop that showcases the architectural capabilities of civilizations long since gone. The castle, not anything like the massive Scottish castles or towering residences of England, is built into the side of a cliff.
It’s a bit like a five-story apartment building featuring multiple levels and many rooms. It was built over three centuries, eventually providing shelter for the Sinagua Indians upon completion. While the name implies a connection to the ninth Aztec emperor, Montezuma II, this castle has nothing to do with him. In fact, the structure was abandoned before that emperor was even born (about 40 years before Montezuma’s birth).
Beside the stone-and-mortar building, you’ll see a large well. The Montezuma well is a subunit of the castle, historically providing water for the Sinagua people. A network of irrigation canals channeled water from the well to their fields, supplying their crops with plenty of water. Some of these same canals are still in use today.
The Petrified Forest
Another must-see attraction is the Petrified Forest National Park, home to one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood. The fossilized trees, which grew millions of years ago, have since been turned to stone.
Multiple processes occurred over those years to convert the wood to stone. Once they died and fell, they lay underneath layers upon layers of water, sand, and gravel, which cut off exposure to oxygen. The lack of oxygen preserved the tree, preventing rot and allowing the silica in the volcanic ash (in the water) to form silicic acid. That acid interacted with the wood, converting it to silica and creating a replica of the tree.
In the tens of thousands of years after that, the silica log underwent a process of “dewatering” and recrystallizing. This time, though, instead of emerging as silica, the log is solid quartz.
So, when you stroll through the Petrified Forest, the logs you see strewn across the landscape are, in fact, quartz, not wood. Instead of the grayish, aged wood you might expect, you’ll find quartz logs of beautiful colors spanning nearly the entire rainbow, including bright reds, oranges, yellows, blues, and purples.
The Painted Desert
Just a short drive north of the Petrified Forest National Park, you’ll find the Painted Desert. It’s a captivating expanse of badlands. It actually stretches from the Petrified Forest to the end of the Grand Canyon, so you can easily hit all three on your trip.
The Painted Desert is stark and arid, home to little vegetation. Despite the barren appearance and lack of abundant vegetation, the small park is awash in color. The rock features various colors, each layered atop the other to create buttes and outcroppings of varying shades of red.
If you want the best and prettiest views of all, plan to drive through the Painted Desert around sunrise or sunset. The golden sunshine of dawn or dusk bathes the colorful landscape in a vibrant glow, emphasizing the varying hues and making them pop in contrast to the sky.
6 Tips to Make the Most of Your Trip
Without proper planning, a trip from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon can be quite a hassle. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your excursion:
- Pack accordingly: While Phoenix is likely to be quite warm (especially if you visit in the summer), temperatures can get cooler as you climb in elevation. So, be sure to pack plenty of layers to ensure you can adjust to the ever-changing temperatures.
- Stay hydrated: Between the heat and activity, dehydration is an ever-present concern. So, don’t forget to pack a refillable water bottle and drink plenty of water as you make your way to the Grand Canyon.
- Plan for walking: Even if you’re not an avid hiker, you might want to get out and stroll around at the various stops along the way. Uncomfy shoes get old quickly, so wear something comfortable.
- Bring sunscreen: The sunshine in Arizona is unrelenting, and many of these stop suggestions offer little shade. So, slather on sunscreen before you brave the sun’s rays (wear a hat, too, for added bonus points).
- Pick the best time to visit: Summers in Arizona are hot (really, really hot). So, if you want to beat the heat (ish), plan to visit during the milder seasons, like fall or spring. It’s worth noting, though, that these are the busiest times of year for tourism, so you’ll probably have to deal with the crowds.
- Book in advance: Don’t wait until the last minute to book your rental car or lodgings. Things fill up fast, especially if you visit during peak seasons, so plan well in advance to ensure you’ll have plenty of options.
Don’t Love Planning? Try a Guided Tour
Planning a trip is a lot of work—there’s no doubt about that. If planning isn’t your strong suit, we recommend a fully guided Grand Canyon tour from Phoenix. With this option, you don’t have to sweat the details. Instead, you get to kick back, relax, and enjoy your vacation, all without stressing about planning.
We take care of all of the planning for you (except for flights). Once you arrive in Phoenix, you’ll travel to the starting hotel and join us for a welcome briefing in the evening. Then, your adventure will begin with a bang! The first official day of the tour from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon takes you to some of the prettiest spots in Arizona, including Sedona and the Grand Canyon!
Throughout the trip, you won’t have to worry about finding lodgings or transportation—we handle that for you. We’ve hand-picked some of the most comfortable resorts and hotels along the way, each with excellent amenities to ensure you can focus on enjoying your vacation.
Book a Guided Arizona Tour With Caravan
A Grand Canyon tour from Phoenix will take you through some of the most breathtaking landscapes and historical sites in the American Southwest. When you travel with Caravan, you can focus on soaking up the glory of each stop, reveling in the unparalleled beauty of the natural wonders. You can explore easily and comfortably, knowing that we’ve taken care of every detail on your Grand Canyon tour.
Ready to book an adventure? Call 1-800-CARAVAN or 1 (312) 321-9800 to get started today.
