Arizona & Utah National Parks Itinerary | Weeklong Roadtrip
The western states of the continental US is home to some of the most famous and popularly touristed national parks in the country. This includes one of the Natural Wonder of the World: the Grand Canyon! Needless to say, it’s a roadtrip everyone should make time for at some point in their lives – especially given the majority of the parks are accessible & accommodating for all fitness levels!
If this is your first time visiting the national parks out west, and you’re trying to figure out the best places to visit during your trip – I’ve been in your exact situation! I put in the research, scoured the internet, and ended up having the best time on our trip! So I thought I would save that work for you and put the itinerary all in one place 🙂
This roadtrip itinerary focuses on national parks in Arizona and Utah, and spans about one week’s worth of time. Though I think it could easily be adjusted to extend or shorten your stays based on your travel style!
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Stop One: Phoenix, Arizona
The first national park in this itinerary is the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. However, the park entrance is about a 3.5 hour drive from the nearest major airport in Phoenix. I personally didn’t think I could muster a drive that far after a flight, so we recommend building in a night to yourself in Phoenix to rest up for the rest of your trip!
Quick Planning:
- Travel Time: N/A – Arrival at Airport
- Duration: One Night
- Popular Accommodation: The Cambria Downtown Phoenix
Stop Two: Sedona, Arizona
In the direction of the Grand Canyon from Phoenix is another of Arizona’s major cities: Sedona. Known for its high-energy vortexes, Sedona attracts many visitors for its yoga retreats, psychic readings, and ample hiking opportunities in its rocky red terrain.
Quick Planning:
- Travel Time: 2 hours by car from Phoenix
- Duration: One Night
- Popular Accommodation: The Sky Ranch Lodge
Stop Three: Williams, Arizona (Optional)
An hour further north on your drive is a small town along route 66: Williams, Arizona! While there is not that much to explore in Williams itself, it is a great option to use as your base to stay while visiting the Grand Canyon, as it can be more budget-friendly than staying at the Grand Canyon park options themselves. However, if you plan to stay directly at the Grand Canyon during your national parks tour, feel free to skip this stop! If not, we recommend staying here for 2 nights and visiting the Grand Canyon for a full day in between.
Quick Planning:
- Travel Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes from Sedona
- Duration: Two Nights
- Popular Accommodation: The Lodge on Route 66
Stop Four: The Grand Canyon South Rim
The first national park on this itinerary is a great one: the Grand Canyon! If you plan to move from Phoenix up to Utah during your trip, it makes most sense to stop at the South Rim access point to the Grand Canyon. There are hotels you may stay at directly at the park, or even camping within the canyon! It’s really up to your personal travel preferences 🙂
Quick Planning:
- Duration: Two Nights (If Staying in Williams – N/A)
- Travel Time: 1 hour drive from Williams, or 2 hour drive from Sedona
- Popular Accommodation: The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon
Stop Five: Page, Arizona
Moving up to some of the northern most parts of Arizona, Page is a great town to stop in! From Page, you can explore the Antelope Canyons, the Horseshoe Bend of the Grand Canyon, and Lake Powell! This is a little-talked about, high-value stop on the roadtrip that we think you can’t miss!
Quick Planning:
- Duration: One Night
- Travel Time: 2.5 hour drive from Williams, or 2.5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon South Rim
- Popular Accommodation: The Garner by IHG Hotel
Stop Six: Kanab, Utah (Optional)
Crossing the border into Utah, for your next stop you can either choose to stay in Kanab (our choice) or again directly in each park you are visiting. We actually used this as our base for the last two national parks in our trip, Zion and Bryce Canyon! It is also a popular location for stargazing tours, so does have some tourist attraction itself!
Quick Planning:
- Duration: Two Nights
- Travel Time: 1 hour drive from Page
- Popular Accommodation: La Quinta by Wyndham
Stop Seven: Zion National Park, Utah
During your first day in Kanab, we recommend driving out to Zion National Park. But if you prefer to stay right outside of the park that’s a great option too, and you can just skip Kanab! Typically speaking staying near Zion is more convenient, but staying out in Kanab and driving in is more budget friendly.
Quick Planning:
- Duration: 1 Night (If staying in Kanab – N/A)
- Travel Time: 30 min drive from Kanab, or 1 hour 45 min from Page, Arizona
- Popular Accommodation: The Driftwood Lodge
Stop Eight: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Lastly, the farthest north into Utah this itinerary goes is the breathtakingly beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park! This park is a must-see in Utah, and has a handful of lookout points you can drive to, beginner friendly hikes to get into the park, as well as more difficult day long hikes to explore if that’s your preference!
Quick Planning:
- Duration: 1 Night (If stayin gin Kanab – N/A)
- Travel Time: 1 hour 20 min from Kanab, or 1 hour 45 min from Zion
- Popular Accommodation: Ruby’s Inn
From Bryce Canyon, you can directly fly out through the BCE airport (Bryce Canyon Airport), or make your way our to St. George Regional Airport only about a 1.5 hour drive!
We hope you have a fantastic trip!
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
