Ultimate 8-Day Arizona Road Trip Itinerary

When my husband and I got married, we opted to go the untraditional route for our honeymoon. While there is certainly a place for flop-and-drop travel, it’s just not usually our style. We had a few criteria for our trip that helped us narrow down the destination:

• Pleasant enough to be outdoors in the winter (we honeymooned in December)

• Plenty of hiking and adventures

• Opportunities to treat ourselves - for example, great restaurants, spas and other ‘luxe’ experiences

After a ton of research, we landed on an Arizona road trip. Steal this itinerary for your next trip to the Grand Canyon state.

Day 1: Travel to / Arrive in Phoenix, AZ

We landed late in the evening so opted to Uber to a hotel near the airport to crash for the night so we could hit the ground running for our first full day. One of the benefits of this, is that we could Uber to a satellite rental car location the following morning and skip the airport surcharges!

Day 2: Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon

Morning: Travel to Grand Canyon National Park

Approx. 4-hour drive

Directions

For current fees and entry information for Grand Canyon National Park, click here.

You could easily spend a whole week or more exploring just the Grand Canyon, so don’t @ me for only having a half-day of the itinerary dedicated to this location. Our goal for this road trip itinerary to hit as many AZ as possible, while mixing in opportunities to relax along the way.

Utilize the South Rim Visitor Center as your GPS destination - this location offers plenty of parking, hiking and trip planning information, gift shop and films. If you only see one thing while you’re here - visit Mather Point for a breathtaking view of the Canyon.

Hikes:

The National Park Service has a list of South Rim Day Hikes here. We opted to go with the Rim Trail for our trip.

If you’re visiting in winter, keep in mind that the trails along the south rim, going down into the canyon are likely to be icy - you’ll want to consider crampons or spikes to avoid slipping.

• Rim Trail

  • 12.7 mi point to point trail

  • Rated Moderate on AllTrails

  • The great thing about the Rim Trail is that you can totally customize it based on how long and how far you’d like to hike. The trail is easily accessible via the park’s shuttle route so you walk as far as you like and take the shuttle for your return trip to the Visitor Center and your car.

Antelope Canyon

Evening: Travel to Page, AZ

Approx 2.5-hour drive

Directions

Day 3: Page, AZ

Page, AZ, located near the Arizona / Utah border was born out of as a housing camp for workers during construction of Glen Canyon Dam in the 1950s. It serves as the perfect basecamp for exploring slot canyons, the Colorado River and Lake Powell.

Morning: Antelope Canyon

Start your morning with a slot canyon tour. Due to their location on Navajo land, slot canyons can only be access by participating in a guided tour. There are several operators to choose from that visit different section of the canyon.

We loved our experience with Taadidiin Tours to visit Antelope Canyon X. Everyone we encountered had cool stories and history of the area to share and our guide was an incredible photographer that even taught us a few tricks to get the best shots of the canyon.

Afternoon: Horseshoe Bend

After lunch, head to Horseshoe Bend - located just off of HWY 89 as you make your way back out of Page. Horseshoe Bend, is an incredible sight formed by the Colorado River carved a roughly 1,000 ft (305 m) deep, 270º horseshoe-shaped bend in Glen Canyon.

The hike to the overlook is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) round-trip over a hardened path. There are railings at the edge of the overlook's viewing platform, but not along the trail. Much of the rim remains exposed to the 1000-foot drop, so watch your footing and keep track of your children and pets.

Evening: Drive to Sedona

Approx. 3-hour drive
Directions

Sedona, AZ

Day 4 - Day 6: Sedona, AZ

Sedona is the perfect marriage of ‘treat yourself’ and outdoor adventure. Whether you’re craving a day on the trails hiking and mountain biking, or prefer to relax with a spa treatment and a 5-star meal, Sedona delivers it all.

Hikes

• Fay Canyon

  • 2.1 mi out & back trail

  • Rated Moderate on AllTrails

  • Fay Canyon offers breathtaking views of Sedona’s unique rock formations. While rated as moderate, the trail is generally flat, with some rock scrambling. This hike is a popular choice for families and those looking to get away from the crowds at some of the more “instagrammable” trails in the area.

• Oak Creek Canyon, West Fork Trail

  • 6.5 mi out & back trail

  • Rated Moderate on AllTrails

  • The West Fork trail traces the creek upstream along a sandy trail with 13 stream crossings and incredible canyon walls towering above. The trail ends where the canyon walls begin to close in on you. If 6.5 mi seems daunting, this trail is still worth checking out as there is plenty to see just a short distance from the trailhead.

• Bell Rock

  • 0.8 mi out & back trail

  • Rated Moderate on AllTrails

  • Bell Rock is one of the ‘vortex’ locations Sedona is known for. Once you make you way up onto the rock, find a place away from the crowds to take a seat and see if you can sense the energy these rocks are known for.

Restaurants

• Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill - Make reservations in advance for this romantic steakhouse offering incredible sunset views.

• Javelina Cantina - A great casual Mexican restaurant. There’s nothing better then a bowl of queso after a long day of hiking.

• Secret Garden Cafe - A great option for breakfast & lunch especially if you’re looking for something a little on the lighter or healthier side.

• Pump House Station - Holy breakfast burrito. We would have gotten breakfast here everyday if we’d known about it sooner.

Spas

Sedona offers unique spa experiences that blend luxury with holistic and spiritual healing. Services will often incorporate Native American traditions and the area’s world-renowned energy vortexes. Some unique experiences to consider include:

• Mii Amo Spa at Enchantment Resort - voted the Voted #1 Domestic Spa for 2025 by Travel + Leisure, offers unique experiences like chakra balancing, intuitive massage and ‘inner quest’ alongside more traditional spa treatments.

• Velvet Spa at Ambiente - a top rated spa by Elle Magazine, offers sound journeys and unique experiential spaces that can only be found here.
  
  

Optional Day Trip: Jerome, AZ

Jerome, AZ, located just over 30-minutes southwest of Sedona, is a historic mining town in the Mingus Mountains. It is known for its unique character as a "ghost town"and has been featured on popular ghost hunting shows. Make your way up the mountain to Jerome before sunset and plant to stay after dark for ghost tour.

Day 7: Drive to Scottsdale, AZ

Approx. 2-hour drive

Directions

Day 8: Scottsdale, AZ

Hike

• Camelback Mountain

  • 2.4 mi out & back trail

  • Rated Hard on AllTrails

  • Camelback Mountain is one of Phoenix’s best hiking and rock climbing destinations and offers great views of the metropolitan area. Located in the Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area, this area preserves a lot of native species that are unique to the Phoenix area and surrounding desert environment.

Restaurants

• Elements - Perched along Camelback Mountain, Elements offers a seasonal menu with a side of incredible sunset views. The menu is inspired by the natural elements of earth, fire, water and air — incorporating local and organic produce and sustainable meat and seafood.

• Rusty Spur Saloon - If you’re looking for a quintessential western saloon, the Rusty Spur is perfect. This small bar feels like you’ve stepped into a Spaghetti Western and often has live music available.

• Mesquite Fresh Street Tex Mex - This street taco stand has several locations throughout the Phoenix area. I loved the grilled chicken tacos.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• When is the best time to visit Arizona?

  Spring and Fall (March-May and Sept.-November): These are great seasons for visiting Arizona for the most moderate weather. Expect popular tourist destinations to be more crowded during these times.
  
  Winter (December - February): Some parts of Arizona do get snow in the winter - if you don’t mind the cooler temps, this can still be a great time to visit and enjoy outdoor activities with fewer crowds.

  Summer (June-August): While it can be less expensive to travel in summer, be prepared for high temperatures and potential monsoon rains.

• What Should I Pack?

  • Clothing: Plan ahead for the weather during the time of year you plan to visit. In summer, plan for light layers with built in sun protection, in winter you’ll want a coat with moderate insulation (think Patagonia nano-puff) along with layers for warmer days with cool evenings.

  • Sun Protection - this is true year round!

  • Hydration: Plan to bring a reusable water bottle or bladder, especially if you plan to do any outdoor activities.

  • Camera

  Since you will be moving from point to point, packing organization is key! Check out this guide for tips on how to stay organized while traveling.

Want more tips, personalized recommendations and access to perks such as complimentary upgrades and spa credits?

I would love to help you book your Arizona vacation!