Arizona is dwelling to a few nationwide parks and a number of the most breathtaking rock formations in North America. The forty eighth state can be steeped within the historical past of the Outdated West. What higher technique to discover than by taking a highway journey in Arizona?
When you’ve been fascinated with visiting the Grand Canyon State, begin by making a highway journey guidelines and selecting a freeway, together with fundamentals like car upkeep and automotive prolonged guarantee for added peace of thoughts on lengthy drives.
While you’re prepared to go out, this information will assist you select between 5 of one of the best highway journeys in Arizona (or, you probably have time, add all of them to your record!).
Irrespective of which route you select to take, it’s necessary to recollect to be a accountable traveller — pack out what you usher in, don’t disturb any wildlife, or deface any of the traditional websites.
Buckle up, and let’s go. Listed below are 5 stops and Arizona highway journey sights you don’t need to miss!
1. The Grand Canyon
Because the inspiration for the state’s nickname, the Grand Canyon got here in on the prime of this record. The canyon is 277 miles lengthy, as much as 18 miles huge, over a mile deep at its lowest level, and is definitely one of many coolest locations within the US.
Due to its sheer measurement, guests typically have to decide on between the North Rim and the South Rim of the canyon.
The South Rim affords the quintessential Grand Canyon expertise, together with guided burro rides, paved paths, luxurious lodges, savory eating places, and a terrifying glass skywalk.
It’s additionally simple to entry from main cities, making it an amazing highway journey from Phoenix and Los Angeles.
The North Rim of the canyon is much quieter than the tourist-filled South Rim, and it has fewer man-made sights.
Alternatively, the upper elevation affords a decidedly totally different view of the Grand Canyon. As an alternative of dramatic sunlit vistas, the North Rim affords quiet forests and secluded hikes.
The North Rim’s ambiance is much less involved with tourism and extra centered on the pure fantastic thing about the canyon. Some standard North Rim locations embody North Kaibab Path and Ribbon Falls.
☞ SEE ALSO: 15 Greatest Issues To Do in The Grand Canyon
2. Sedona – A Desert Village
Regardless that there are many issues to do in Phoenix (which is the place I stay), each time somebody visits me, they ask the identical factor: “When can we go to Sedona?”
Situated north of Phoenix, this desert city is surrounded by red-rock cliffs, steep canyons, and dense pine forests — making it a spotlight of any Arizona highway journey.
While you’re able to set out, head north on Interstate 17.
Alongside the way in which, you’ll go Montezuma Citadel Nationwide Monument, a gaggle of preserved cliff dwellings that housed the Sinagua folks greater than 1,000 years in the past.
You’ll additionally go the V-Bar-V Heritage Website, the most important “rock artwork web site” in Crimson Rocks Nation.
The mountaineering in Sedona is famous, so be sure you pack your boots and don’t miss these prime desert hikes: Cathedral Rock, Devils Bridge, The Birthing Cave, and Troopers Cross — to call just a few.
Sedona itself is understood for its thriving arts group and quaint, small-town vibe. Begin your time without work on the Espresso Pot Restaurant, a bustling café with an all-day-breakfast and 101 various kinds of omelet.
While you’ve had your fill, spend the day purchasing for artisan items on the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. This lovely, outside purchasing district options cobblestone streets, hand-blown glass, and beautiful artisan jewellery.
For dinner, make a reservation at Heartline Café. My two favourite dishes are the bacon-hugged petit filet mignon and the pistachio-crusted rooster breast.
3. Tombstone – The City Too Powerful to Die
Wyatt Earp was a infamous gambler and sheriff who took half within the well-known O.Ok. Corral shootout. Each Memorial Day, Tombstone honors his legacy with the Wyatt Earp Days celebration.
This two-day competition options staged gunfights, mock hangings, and a large chili cookoff. Tombstone’s affinity for the Outdated West is clear in all the pieces from structure to vacationer sights. It’s additionally the explanation Tombstone was nicknamed “The City Too Powerful to Die.”
USA Immediately put it completely once they known as Tombstone “the proper mix of historic and cheesy.” The O.Ok. Corral is only one of Tombstone’s historic landmarks, although.
Historical past buffs also needs to go to the Chook Cage Theatre Museum, a former brothel that was preserved to indicate the sincere nature of the premises.
Final, however not least, pay a go to to Boot Hill Graveyard, Tombstone’s first cemetery. This historic web site was stated to be the graveyard for individuals who “died with their boots on.”
You possibly can attain Tombstone from Phoenix in about 3 hours, or from Tuscon in just a bit over an hour.
Monument Valley is situated alongside the border between Arizona and Utah — so shut that it’s featured on Utah’s official journey web site. Good trick, Utah, however you’re not fooling anybody!
Monument Valley is among the Copper State’s most useful treasures.
This towering, sandstone rock formation has set the stage for thus many westerns that one journey author stated, “Its 5 sq. miles have outlined what many years of moviegoers consider once they think about the American West.”
There are many day journeys from Sedona or Flagstaff, and guided excursions, however I desire to drive alongside the 17-mile highway at my very own tempo. Admission to the park is $20 per car, however there isn’t any time restrict.
If it’s in your finances, you also needs to contemplate staying the night time on the View, the one resort in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. These luxurious lodging supply unparalleled views of your complete valley, particularly at sundown and dawn.
An alternative choice is to remain in a singular “cave lodge” only a 10-minute drive to the park. These lodging are gorgeous. Click on right here to have a look.
Earlier than you allow, pay a go to to the Navajo-run buying and selling put up. Inside, you will discover a number of John Wayne souvenirs and a wide array of Navajo arts and crafts.
5. Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell
This record will end the identical method it started — with a surprising rock formation created by hundreds of thousands of years of water erosion. Antelope Canyon is a powerful slot canyon situated to the east of Web page in northern Arizona and is unquestionably probably the most unbelievable locations to go to within the USA.
The canyon’s wavy corridors have been featured in a number of nature documentaries, together with Louie Schwartzberg’s Shifting Artwork collection.
All through the day, sunshine illuminates the canyon’s 120-foot partitions and throws shadows round each nook.
When you’re fascinated with visiting, you must know that guided excursions are the one technique to discover the canyon.
A brief drive away, Lake Powell affords mountaineering, climbing, and rappelling in beautiful sandstone canyons. Whereas Lake Powell is definitely situated in Utah, the closest lodging is situated in Web page, Arizona.
Come to consider it, Lake Powell isn’t even a lake, it’s a reservoir. Oh effectively! You received’t be fascinated with semantics while you’re boating, swimming, and waterskiing within the Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation space.
When you’re planning a go to to each Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell, be certain that to put aside at the least two days. At some point isn’t sufficient time to expertise all the pieces these pure wonders have to supply.
Prepared for Your Arizona Highway Journey?!
As you may see, it’s all concerning the pure magnificence right here in Arizona. With so many issues to see and do, you would spend months right here and never expertise all of it.
Exploring the state with your individual car offers you the independence and freedom to see as many websites and pure sights as you need. Take pleasure in all of those epic highway journeys in Arizona.
☞ SEE ALSO: High Issues To Do in Outdated City Scottsdale
Have you ever been on a highway journey in Arizona? What did we miss?! Share your favorite road-tripping spots in Arizona within the feedback beneath.
