Arizona is house 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 Previous West. What higher strategy to discover than by taking a highway journey in Arizona?
Should you’ve been eager about visiting the Grand Canyon State, begin by making a highway journey guidelines and selecting a freeway, together with fundamentals like automobile 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 to select between 5 of one of the best highway journeys in Arizona (or, in case you have time, add all of them to your listing!).
Regardless of which route you select to take, it’s vital 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 wish to miss!
1. The Grand Canyon
Because the inspiration for the state’s nickname, the Grand Canyon got here in on the high of this listing. The canyon is 277 miles lengthy, as much as 18 miles broad, over a mile deep at its lowest level, and is well one in all the best locations within the US.
Due to its sheer dimension, guests typically have to decide on between the North Rim and the South Rim of the canyon.
The South Rim presents the quintessential Grand Canyon expertise, together with guided burro rides, paved paths, luxurious resorts, savory eating places, and a terrifying glass skywalk.
It’s additionally simple to entry from main cities, making it an awesome highway journey from Phoenix and Los Angeles.
The North Rim of the canyon is way quieter than the tourist-filled South Rim, and it has fewer man-made sights.
Alternatively, the upper elevation presents a decidedly totally different view of the Grand Canyon. As a substitute of dramatic sunlit vistas, the North Rim presents quiet forests and secluded hikes.
The North Rim’s ambiance is much less involved with tourism and extra targeted on the pure fantastic thing about the canyon. Some in style North Rim locations embrace North Kaibab Path and Ribbon Falls.
☞ SEE ALSO: 15 Finest Issues To Do in The Grand Canyon
2. Sedona – A Desert Village
Although there are many issues to do in Phoenix (which is the place I reside), each time somebody visits me, they ask the identical factor: “When can we go to Sedona?”
Positioned 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 best way, you’ll move Montezuma Citadel Nationwide Monument, a bunch of preserved cliff dwellings that housed the Sinagua individuals greater than 1,000 years in the past.
You’ll additionally move the V-Bar-V Heritage Website, the most important “rock artwork website” in Purple Rocks Nation.
The mountaineering in Sedona is known, so ensure you pack your boots and don’t miss these high desert hikes: Cathedral Rock, Devils Bridge, The Birthing Cave, and Troopers Go — to call a couple of.
Sedona itself is thought for its thriving arts group and quaint, small-town vibe. Begin your break day on the Espresso Pot Restaurant, a bustling café with an all-day-breakfast and 101 several types of omelet.
While you’ve had your fill, spend the day searching for artisan items on the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. This lovely, out of doors procuring district options cobblestone streets, hand-blown glass, and lovely 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 hen 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.Okay. 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 Previous West is clear in every part from structure to vacationer sights. It’s additionally the explanation Tombstone was nicknamed “The City Too Powerful to Die.”
USA Immediately put it completely after they referred to as Tombstone “the right mix of historic and cheesy.” The O.Okay. Corral is only one of Tombstone’s historic landmarks, although.
Historical past buffs also needs to go to the Hen Cage Theatre Museum, a former brothel that was preserved to indicate the trustworthy nature of the premises.
Final, however not least, pay a go to to Boot Hill Graveyard, Tombstone’s first cemetery. This historic website was mentioned 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 positioned 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 likely one of the Copper State’s most respected treasures.
This towering, sandstone rock formation has set the stage for thus many westerns that one journey author mentioned, “Its 5 sq. miles have outlined what a long time of moviegoers consider after they think about the American West.”
There are many day journeys from Sedona or Flagstaff, and guided excursions, however I choose to drive alongside the 17-mile highway at my very own tempo. Admission to the park is $20 per automobile, however there isn’t a time restrict.
If it’s in your funds, you also needs to contemplate staying the evening on the View, the one lodge in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. These luxurious lodging supply unparalleled views of all the 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’ll find a number of John Wayne souvenirs and a big selection of Navajo arts and crafts.
5. Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell
This listing will end the identical manner it started — with a surprising rock formation created by hundreds of thousands of years of water erosion. Antelope Canyon is an impressive slot canyon positioned to the east of Web page in northern Arizona and is unquestionably one of the crucial 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.
Should you’re eager about visiting, it is best to know that guided excursions are the one strategy to discover the canyon.
A brief drive away, Lake Powell presents mountaineering, climbing, and rappelling in beautiful sandstone canyons. Whereas Lake Powell is definitely positioned in Utah, the closest lodging is positioned in Web page, Arizona.
Come to think about it, Lake Powell isn’t even a lake, it’s a reservoir. Oh effectively! You received’t be eager about semantics once you’re boating, swimming, and waterskiing within the Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation space.
Should you’re planning a go to to each Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell, ensure that to put aside not less than two days. In the future isn’t sufficient time to expertise every part these pure wonders have to supply.
Prepared for Your Arizona Street Journey?!
As you possibly can see, it’s all in regards to the pure magnificence right here in Arizona. With so many issues to see and do, you can spend months right here and never expertise all of it.
Exploring the state with your individual automobile offers you the independence and freedom to see as many websites and pure sights as you need. Get pleasure from all of those epic highway journeys in Arizona.
☞ SEE ALSO: Prime Issues To Do in Previous 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.
