Arizona Road Trip Itinerary: Tucson to Grand Canyon in One…

Few destinations connect as deeply within the American psyche as Arizona, and with good reason. The entire state is one giant road tripper’s dream.

There’s a lot of rich territory to see in Arizona, and to show you an otherworldly slice of it, we’ve concocted this experience cutting through the heart of the state’s must-see destinations starting from Tucson in the south (one of only two UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy in the U.S., and one of our Best Places to Go), through the sprawling capital of Phoenix, and up into the far-out spiritual mountain enclave of Sedona en route to the world-famous Grand Canyon. Along the way, we’ll also take a quick spin along a segment of the iconic “Mother Road” of Route 66.

Buckle your seat belts, folks; this one’s a doozy.

Days 1–3: Tucson

The spirit of the American West is alive and well in Tucson. Surrounded by mountaintop observatories and known as being one of America’s most conducive cities for stargazing, this iconic Sonoran Desert outpost is where the collegiate vibes of the University of Arizona share center stage with an authentic Mexican culinary scene which has helped Tucson take home the rare title of UNESCO City of Gastronomy, one of only 56 such cities worldwide.

Established in 1922 and now one of America’s oldest Mexican restaurants, El Charro Café is a storied locale for carne seca (sun-dried beef, stored here in a metal “meat cage” hanging above the dining room) and chimichangas, which are said to have been invented in this establishment. Breakfast burritos are a must at local favorites Paco’s and Amelia’s Kitchen. Later in the day, El Guero Canelo is the place to sample a bacon-wrapped, pinto bean-topped Sonoran hot dog, another local invention.

At lunch, people also mingle in Mercado San Augustin public market’s romantic outdoor courtyard alongside local shops, some of which are in modified shipping containers. By night, the famously haunted Hotel Congress, opened in 1918, is a cool venue for live music and drinks at its lively Tiger’s Tap Room, while the astronomy-themed Sky Bar comes complete with its own patio telescope and weekend “startenders” to help you pick out the constellations.

Outside town, within the boundary of Saguaro National Park (so named for the vertical, giant cacti native to this region), the upscale yet approachable JW Marriott Starr Pass makes an excellent base of operations for exploring unique sights like the zoo-esque Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the 1692-founded Spanish colonial “Sistine Chapel of North America” known as Mission San Xavier del Bac.

When you leave Tucson, drive north and pass through Phoenix, one of the largest cities in the Southwest. Stop and explore to break your journey—perhaps a brief stopover at the unique Agritopia urban farm and commercial center in Gilbert, home of several classic Arizona bars and restaurants like the tiki-themed UnderTow—but we’re headed deep into the mystical red-stone country of central Arizona, about 230 miles north by way of Interstates 10 and 17.

Days 4–5: Sedona

Spiritual pilgrims from around the world point their crystals towards the gorgeous red rock-lined streets of Sedona, where Earth’s energy is thought to interact strongly with the human body, bringing self-awareness and healing. This popular spiritual enclave attracts a tourist community that comes to experience its seven sites for enhanced energy (or “vortexes”). Those can be accessed via several desert hikes outside town that are gorgeous and mood-altering no matter your belief system.

While scientific proof of such claims may be elusive, Sedona’s charms are not. The way your heart fills after one trip atop the high open rock peak of the 3.3-mile Airport Mesa trail, the site of one of the vortices, just might make you a believer. The 7.5-mile Red Rock Scenic Byway is a great way to take in the spectacular natural sights from your own car, while the Sedona Pink Jeep Tours are popular with groups who prefer a more in-your-face, off-roading style.

In this town, psychic healers, crystal shops, and boho chic retailers trade amidst towering rose-colored sandstone and limestone cliffs. The Uptown district’s bar and restaurant scene is led by the locally iconic steakhouse Cowboy Club and laid-back Italian outpost Hideaway House. Just be sure to stop by the Center for the New Age on your way out of town for an aura reading to find out exactly how Sedona shifted the energy you’re putting out into the universe.

Short hikes along the park’s popular South Kaibab Trail and drives along the winding Hermit Road (keep an eye on the road—there are eye-popping views around most twists and turns) provide ample tastes of what the Grand Canyon is all about.

But the only way to get a true sense of the sheer magnitude of this space, which takes up much of the northern portion of the state, is by air. Papillon Helicopters runs highly recommended scenic flights (departing from the adorable Grand Canyon National Park Airport, mile from the park’s South Rim entrance) that unfurl panoramic vistas over the Grand Canyon for you via small plane or helicopter. The flights are carefully routed over more remote areas to help minimize noise disruptions above the national park.

To experience the canyon without flying machines, try river rafting via a local outfitter like Grand Canyon Whitewater, which departs from the South Rim’s Bright Angel Trail and requires a moderately strenuous hike down to the river, offering another popular way to marvel at the region’s seemingly endless natural gifts.

The historic El Tovar Hotel is the most sought-after place to stay inside the park, but reservations fill quickly. Even if not staying here, you can still enjoy a prickly pear margarita and lobster roll after a long day of hiking while watching the sunset envelop the canyon outside the hotel’s cocktail lounge windows.