Road Trip Guide to Northern Arizona

Before my husband joined the military, we lived in Tucson, Arizona for 2 years. We knew the Army was on the horizon, so our time in AZ would be temporary. My parents gave us the National Park Passport book shortly after we got married, and we decided that our extremely lofty dream was to visit every stop in the book, starting with Arizona. We made it our goal to hit every National Park site in the state before we left, and we got the last stamp one week before he went to Basic Training. Our weekends were filled with adventures around the state to see sights and stamp our book, so here’s a list of our tips, tricks and highlights to best help you plan an unforgettable road trip to Northern Arizona!

• Petrified Forest National Park is famous for its petrified wood and Triassic fossils. At this park, you essentially can visit two parks in one: one side houses most of the petrified wood, and the other side shows off a surreal painted desert. A 28-mile drive takes you on a journey through both sides of the park, with lots of opportunities to stop and get out for a closer look.

  

  

• Canyon de Chelly National Monument is located on a reservation, and has steep drop-offs so hang onto your kiddos! But the natural rock formations are quite the sight to behold. We chose to do the rim drive, and got out at multiple overlooks to enjoy the views.

  

  • If you, like us, are also obsessed with hitting all the NPS sites, Hubbel Trading Post in Ganado, AZ is literally a 15-minute detour between Petrified Forest and Canyon de Chelly!
• Navajo National Monument is a bit out of the way, but carved into a literal cliff wall overlooking a green valley, Navajo is quite the site to behold. We walked the 1.3 mile Sandal Trail, which is the only point in the park besides guided tours with a view of the cliff dwellings.

  

The next stop on your Northern Arizona road trip is Page, AZ, on the shores of Lake Powell. You’ll probably want to spend a few days here, as there is a lot to see from this picturesque town.

• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is where the Colorado River begins its descent to the Grand Canyon. This park encompasses 1.25 million acres of incredible scenery, and has something for everyone to fall in love with. Lees Ferry is a few miles south of Page, and has a great shoreline for you to drive right up to the Colorado river, get out of your car, and get in the water.

  

• Along the river, just south of Page, you’ll find Horseshoe Bend. This stunning natural landmark is beautiful whatever time of day you visit. We made it just in time to catch the sunset, and then came back a couple of mornings later to watch the sunrise fill the canyon with the morning light. No matter how many times you see it, Horseshoe Bend will always take your breath away.

  

  

• To the west of Page is Antelope Canyon, another incredible natural landmark, and one I’m sure you’ve seen stock photos of in multiple places. Only available by tours, you can visit Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, but I’d recommend researching which is best suited for your family. We booked a tour with Dixie’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours, and it was fantastic. The tour is a 1-1.5 hour walking tour, with ladders to climb up and down, so wear closed-toe shoes and definitely bring a camera. Upper Antelope Canyon is more accessible with wider paths, and flatter terrain, but definitely call ahead to make sure of accommodations before you book.
• Rainbow Bridge National Monument is across the border in Utah, and only accessible via boat on Lake Powell or by a 14+ mile trail from the Navajo Nation. This stop probably is a bit much for families with littles, but it’s definitely on our list for someday!
• While in Page, be sure to check out State 48 Tavern, and for a more upscale dining experience, try the Rainbow Room overlooking Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam!

Of course, no list of recommendations for an Arizona road trip would be complete without the star attraction: The Grand Canyon. A 2.5 hour drive south from Page will take you to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, and you’ll definitely want a whole day (if not more!) to explore the endless hiking trails and incredible views. We enjoyed walking part of the Rim Trail from the visitor center, and doing the Desert View Drive!

• One of the highlights of our time at the Grand Canyon both trips was watching the sunset. We watched it from Mather Point, but there’s plenty of other spots to catch the perfect sunset too!

  

From the Grand Canyon, travel south to Flagstaff for a couple more days of seeing the best Arizona has to offer!

• Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monuments are about 45 minutes North of Flagstaff, and connect via a scenic loop through the sites.
  • Sunset Crater National Monument is a cinder cone volcano that erupted about 900 years ago, and left an above ground lava flow down the side that you can explore today!

    

  • Wupatki National Monument preserves ruins left by the Sinagua People, and has a 104-room freestanding Pueblo, the largest in Northern Arizona!

    

• Also in the vicinity of Flagstaff, you’ll find the Lava River Cave, an underground 3-4 mile tube formed by the hot lava from a volcanic eruption. Make sure to wear closed-toe shoes and bring at least 2 sources of light, as the tunnels are not lit.
• If you have any science enthusiasts in your family, be sure to check out Meteor Crater, east of Flagstaff! You can literally see this giant crater from space, but a view from the rim is going to be a lot easier to manage.

  

• On your way to Meteor Crater, you’ll drive right by Walnut Canyon National Monument. We didn’t get to spend much time here, but the heavily wooded canyon and Ancient Pueblo ruins are just another example of the diversity found across Northern Arizona!

  

• While you’re in Flagstaff, be sure to check out Brandy’s Restaurant and Bakery. This award-winning restaurant has some of the best breakfast (and coffee) in town!

By the way, if you want to have a fun movie night along the way, Pixar’s classic Cars is a great choice! During your Northern Arizona road trip, you’ll probably drive for awhile on the iconic Route 66, and if you look closely, you may even spot some real-life locations that inspired details in the Cars movie and Radiator Springs!

There are so many more beautiful places to visit in Arizona, and the diversity throughout the state, from the towering Saguaro Cactus in the south, to the dizzying expanse of the Grand Canyon in the north, to the small mountain towns in the east, will leave you itching to explore every inch of this beautiful place.

For more fun things about Arizona, check out our post on 10 Reasons You Will Love Being Stationed in Arizona, and if you’re planning a road trip this summer, no matter where you’re headed, be sure to check out Staying ‘Appy on Summer Road Trips.