Final 8-Day Arizona Highway Journey Itinerary For Outside Journey – Bearfoot Principle

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Arizona is without doubt one of the best states for road-tripping. Why? For one, it has no scarcity of wonderful sights and journey alternatives.

Inside a brief drive, you’ll be able to go to the towering purple rock bluffs of Sedona, the enormous Saguaro cacti of Tuscon, the rim of the Grand Canyon, and the quiet Ponderosa pine forests of Prescott. And that’s only the start.

With three Nationwide Parks, 13 Nationwide Monuments, and 31 state parks, it may be overwhelming to piece collectively an Arizona highway journey itinerary.

However you’re in luck! The Bearfoot Principle workforce has collectively spent many days road-tripping by means of this lovely state, and we’ve put collectively what we take into account to be the very best Arizona highway journey for these trying to get exterior and discover.

Our Arizona Highway Journey at a Look

Since we’re outside lovers, our Arizona highway journey itinerary is targeted on climbing, tenting, and having fun with the gorgeous pure landscapes of Arizona.

I’ve additionally included an inventory of extra highway journey stops on the finish of this submit if you wish to lengthen your journey or customise it to your pursuits.

Day 1: Phoenix & Organ Pipe Nationwide Monument

Phoenix

I like to recommend beginning your Arizona highway journey in Phoenix, particularly when you’ll be flying in. It’s dwelling to a serious worldwide airport and there are many choices for rental vehicles or camper van leases.

If you wish to spend just a few days exploring town, Phoenix truly has a whole lot of nice outside actions regardless of its dimension.

Organ Pipe Nationwide Monument

Whenever you’re prepared to go away Phoenix, hop in your automobile and head south to Organ Pipe Nationwide Monument.

This beautiful (and under-the-radar) Nationwide Monument is called after the organ pipe cactus, a uncommon species native to the Sonoran Desert.

There’s loads to see and do in Organ Pipe, however listed below are our high suggestions for having fun with this lovely place.

Day 2: Tucson & Saguaro Nationwide Park

Drive to Tuscson

From Organ Pipe Nationwide Monument, head east towards Tucson. This stretch of highway is fairly distant, so refill on gasoline (and snacks) within the city of Why earlier than heading out.

Saguaro Nationwide Park

After grabbing an early lunch in Tucson, head to Saguaro Nationwide Park. It’s vital to notice that there are two separate sections of Saguaro – an East facet and a West facet and they aren’t related.

The Purple Hills Customer Middle is on the West facet together with extra climbing alternatives, so when you solely have a day I like to recommend you head to West Saguaro Nationwide Park.

Catalina State Park

After visiting Saguaro, head north by means of Phoenix to Catalina State Park. There are a selection of campgrounds round Phoenix, however that is one in every of my favorites. It’s lovely and there are many climbing (and mountain biking) trails all through the park.

If in case you have time, I extremely advocate driving up Mt. Lemmon Freeway to the summit of Mt. Lemmon to view the sundown. It’s an iconic drive (give your self about an hour and a half from Catalina State Park) and the views from the highest are beautiful!

Day 3: Sedona Through Beeline Freeway

Beeline Freeway

Stretch your legs with a morning hike at Catalina State Park earlier than getting within the automobile and driving north towards Sedona as you proceed your Arizona highway journey itinerary.

You’ll be able to take essentially the most direct route by going by means of Phoenix and leaping on Freeway 17. However, if in case you have time, it’s price taking the oblique route by way of Beeline Freeway.

This quieter freeway passes by means of some lovely and distant areas in addition to a number of historic cities like Strawberry and Pine, both of that are price a cease to discover.

Tip: Make a cease a Tonto Pure Bridge State Park and stretch your legs on the brief path to the pure bridge and waterfall.

Beeline Freeway will dump you out on Freeway 17 after which you’ll flip off onto Route 179 to Sedona.

Relying on the place you’re staying (we advocate Lo-Lo Mai Campground, however there are many different campgrounds and accommodations in Sedona), attempt to get out to stretch your legs earlier than darkish!

Day 4: Sedona

Exploring Sedona

At the moment, you’ve got a full day to discover Sedona! There’s a lot to see and do on this lovely space, so head over to our Sedona Journey Information and checklist of the very best issues to do in Sedona for ideas and concepts on learn how to spend your day.

Day 5: The Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon South Rim

In the event you’ve by no means visited the Grand Canyon, get able to have your thoughts blown! The primary time I noticed the Grand Canyon, it was far more spectacular than I anticipated. The size, depth, and mix of reds, whites, and pinks of the panorama was breathtaking.

Begin your drive early from Sedona and make sure to take the route up Oak Creek Canyon. There’s a little bit cafe on the best way referred to as Indian Gardens, which I extremely advocate stopping at for breakfast and low.

The drive from Sedona to the Grand Canyon is a little bit over two hours and there’s not a lot to see till you enter the park. However when you’re there, you’ve got loads of choices to discover. I problem you to develop into a part of the 1% group who goes under the canyon rim 🙂

Day 6: Web page, Arizona

About Web page, Arizona

Begin your day early by catching the dawn at Navajo Level. Then, begin your drive north towards Web page, Arizona on the border of Utah.

Web page is a small city that caters to outside adventurers. It’s a jumping-off level for a lot of backpacking journeys, kayaking or rafting adventures, and different cool desert experiences.

Day 7: Petrified Forest Nationwide Park

About Petrified Forest Nationwide Park

Get an early begin from Web page so you’ve got time to discover Petrified Forest after your 3.5+ hr drive.

Dwelling to historic artifacts together with 225 million-year-old petrified logs, visiting the Petrified Forest Nationwide Park is like stepping again in time. I wasn’t certain what to anticipate after I visited, however it exceeded my expectations!

A number of strolling trails wind by means of the park just like the 1.6-mile Lengthy Logs Loop which showcases the most important concentrations of petrified wooden within the park.

What to do in Petrified Forest Nationwide Park

Idiot Hole Lake

There aren’t many nice tenting choices round Petrified Forest Nationwide Park, so I like to recommend persevering with your drive (by way of Petrified Forest Highway) for one more two hours to Idiot Hole Campground on Idiot Hole Lake.

Day 8: Return to Phoenix

Driving again to Phoenix

It’s a 3-hour drive from Idiot Hole Campground, so take pleasure in your morning on the lake earlier than setting off.

You’ll be able to go for the northern Route 260, which is extra forested and distant, or the southern Route 60 which passes by means of Apache Reservation land.

As I discussed above, if in case you have time to discover Phoenix, there are a whole lot of nice outside adventures in and across the metropolis.

And that’s a wrap on our Arizona highway journey itinerary!

Extra Arizona Highway Journey Concepts

There actually is not any scarcity of wonderful outside adventures available in Arizona. The itinerary above highlights our high suggestions for the very best issues to do in Arizona, however if in case you have extra time, listed below are just a few different Arizona highway journey sights so as to add to your itinerary:

Canyon de Chelly Nationwide Monument

Canyon de Chelly has lengthy served as a house for Navajo individuals in northeastern Arizona. For almost 5,000 years, individuals have lived within the distant canyons that make up this space. At the moment, over 40 Navajo households stay, increase livestock, and farm the lands of this beautiful place recognized to them as Tsegi.

Along with its residing historical past, Canyon de Chelly can be recognized for unimaginable geologic options like Spider Rock, a tall sandstone spire that towers over 750ft from the canyon flooring.

Guests can expertise Canyon de Chelly by means of non-public excursions with a neighborhood information or head out on a self-guided hike on the one public climbing path on the White Home Overlook.

Havasu Falls

Visiting Havasu Falls takes fairly a little bit of effort and planning however it’s a mind-blowing expertise. The 100ft turquoise-colored cascade of water spills over purple rock cliffs right into a sequence of plunge swimming pools on the base. See these Havasu Falls images to see what it’s like.

Positioned inside Havasu Canyon on Havasupai (‘individuals of the blue-green waters’) land close to the village of Supai, the falls require a allow to entry, an all-day hike in, and a three-night tenting reservation. It’s completely price it!

Parashant Nationwide Monument

In the event you’re trying to skip the crowds on the Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, however you continue to wish to expertise the great thing about the world, take into account heading west to Parashant Nationwide Monument.

Established in 2000, this Nationwide Monument is without doubt one of the most distant and undeveloped nationwide park models in america. There are no paved roads and no customer facilities, making it an ideal off-the-beaten-path Arizona highway journey itinerary cease.

There are a handful of climbing trails with Parashant Nationwide Monument in addition to free dispersed tenting. And when you’re involved in stargazing, Parashant is a cease on the annual Southwest Astronomy Competition.

Chiricahua Nationwide Monument

Chiricahua Nationwide Monument is positioned within the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. It’s referred to as a ‘wonderland of rocks‘ due to the distinctive rock pinnacles and hoodoos that make up the world.

For climbing, you actually can’t go fallacious. There are dozens of miles of trails that cross by precariously balanced rocks and thru slim canyons and grottos.

The Coronary heart of Rocks space within the jap area of the park is the place many of the climbing trails are positioned, however a number of trails additionally from the guests heart to the west.

Prescott

Prescott, Arizona is a small metropolis of 43,000 individuals nestled inside one of many largest ponderosa pine forests within the US. At 5,367ft, Prescott boasts cooler temperatures and an out of doors mountain-town vibe.

One in all Prescott’s primary outside sights is Watson Lake Park, a stupendous park that gives entry to fishing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, climbing, and exploring the fascinating Granite Dells.

Prescott can be dwelling to dozens of miles of mountain biking singletrack, climbing, and climbing trails. For a terrific 11.9 out-and-back hike head out to the Peavine Path.

Greatest Time to Plan an Arizona Highway Journey

The very best time to go to Arizona is through the cooler months of late fall, winter, and early spring.

Summer time in Arizona may be extremely sizzling – even dangerously so when you plan on going climbing within the desert or doing outside actions.

Late October by means of April are inclined to have the bottom temperatures.

Remember, although, that northern Arizona does get snow and chilly climate. Visiting the Grand Canyon within the winter is an effective way to beat the crowds, however all the time verify the forecast to verify there isn’t a snow or ice storm shifting in.

No matter whenever you go to, be ready with solar safety and loads of water.

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Are you planning an Arizona highway journey itinerary? What stops or locations are in your radar? What locations did we miss? Go away a remark under!

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