7 Days in Arizona

Sometimes I’m so focused on traveling to the farthest corners of the world that I forget that there are some truly remarkable places to visit right here in the US! Arizona is one such destination. If you enjoy exploring the great outdoors, hiking through water-carved canyons, and staring in wonder at panoramic views that stretch on for miles, you might consider putting Arizona on the top of your travel list.

The only problem is that there is so much to do in Arizona that it can be difficult to plan a trip. Fortunately, I’m here to help. Below, I’ve detailed the ideal Arizona itinerary which outlines the best things to see and do, some of which are mega-famous and others that are lesser known.

WHEN TO GO

Not to state the obvious, but in the summer, Arizona is hot. It is the desert after all. The summer months also tend to bring the worst crowds. Knowing that, try to plan your trip for the spring or fall. I went with my husband, Alex, and a few friends in November and had a great time. Just remember to bring a warm jacket and hat so that you’re prepared for the wild temperature swings. Layering will be your new best friend.

ITINERARY

If you’re going to be in Arizona for a week or less, I would recommend sticking with the three locations I’ve listed below. You’ll hit the major state landmarks while having the opportunity to see something completely unique on a daily basis.

Lake Powell & Page - 2 Nights
Grand Canyon - 2 Nights
Sedona - 2 Nights

If you fly into Phoenix, which is typically the most cost effective option, consider staying the night in Scottsdale before beginning your journey. Otherwise you’re in for a lengthy drive straight from the airport—the trip from Phoenix to Page is roughly 4.5 hours.

LAKE POWELL & PAGE

While the city of Page is nothing to look at (trust me on that), it’s the perfect base to see a number of amazing sites in the immediate area including Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and Buckskin Gulch.

HORSESHOE BEND

Perhaps the most well-known attraction less than ten minutes outside of Page is Horseshoe Bend. Visiting the famous Colorado River lookout is a great introduction to the area as well as the easiest hike I’ll mention in this entire itinerary—coincidentally making it the perfect choice to visit after a long day of driving.

The “hike” down to Horseshoe Bend is entirely paved and less than a mile long. Even though I’m someone who typically likes to work for her views, Horseshoe Bend is worth the hype. Don’t miss out!

ANTELOPE CANYON

The second “can’t miss” destination in the Page area is Antelope Canyon. In recent years, the slot canyon has become an insta-famous spot, but you can avoid the masses if you choose your route wisely. The first thing to know is that there are two different sections of the canyon—the Upper Canyon and the Lower Canyon.

The Upper Canyon is slightly more popular because people want to see the “beam of light” phenomenon. With that said, I would actually recommend the Lower Canyon because it’s more accessible (see details below) and typically has more vibrant colors due to the way the sun enters the canyon. In order to see the light beams of the Upper Canyon, you have to go at the exact right time (usually noon), otherwise the sun won’t be at the right angle.

The other essential piece of information to keep in mind is that if you choose to enter either section of the canyon via the foot entrance, you have to do so through a tour because the actual canyon is on the Navajo Reservation. If you go this route, make sure to make reservations well in advance. Spots sell out quickly!

Your second option is to enter the Lower Canyon via Lake Powell. If you’re up for a little cardio, I highly recommend this route. You’ll get to see the canyon from both the water and the land, you won’t have to deal with a packed tour, and you’ll get to spend as much time exploring as you want.

If you go with my recommendation, try to rent kayaks from Antelope Point Marina (you can reserve them online). Then once you show up, marina employees will show you the way to the canyon entrance on a map. The distance from Antelope Point to the dry portion of the canyon where you can park your kayak is roughly 2.5 miles. From there, you can walk on foot for as long as your heart desires!

LAKE POWELL

Lake Powell is not like any body of water I’ve ever seen. It’s an enormous, man-made reservoir on the Colorado River that straddles both Utah and Arizona. The coastline is made up of jagged red and sand colored cliffs that drop dramatically into the water.

Since we visited Arizona in November, we limited our exploration of Lake Powell to kayaking to and through Antelope Canyon. However, if you’re visiting the area in the summer months, consider renting a boat from one of the many marinas to spend more time on the water.

BUCKSKIN GULCH

If the thought of exploring another slot canyon excites you and you’re interested in adventuring to an area a bit off the beaten path, consider visiting Buckskin Gulch. Admittedly, Buckskin Gulch is technically in Utah, but the drive from Page is only an hour.

We chose to explore the area by hiking the Wire Pass Trail to Buckskin Gulch (5 miles, 616 ft elevation). It was one of my favorite hikes of the trip and took us through narrow passageways, wide canyons, shadowy enclosures, and vibrant red rock formations.

And a little word to the wise—when driving from Page to the Wire Pass trailhead, stay on the main road. We accidentally went down a dirt road in our rental car and were white knuckling it down a narrow lane with a 45 degree incline and enormous potholes. Not something I’d recommend.

ACCOMMODATIONS + DINING

As I mentioned, the city of Page is nothing to look at and the hotel options are somewhat limited. I recommend finding an AirBnB in the area that has a kitchen because there are surprisingly not many restaurants. One place worth stopping at for lunch is BirdHouse—a hole in the wall restaurant specializing in fried chicken. If you’re looking for coffee or something small for breakfast, LP Espresso is also a good option.

GRAND CANYON

When visiting the Grand Canyon, you don’t simply type the destination into Google Maps and head out. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and 18 miles wide and has two main points of entry: the more popular South Rim and the remote North Rim. It’s roughly a 4.5 hour drive between the opposing entrances.

When grappling with which option to choose, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, the South Rim gets roughly 10 times more visitors a year than the North Rim which is important if you’re trying to avoid congested trails. This is mostly due to the fact that the South Rim is more accessible. However, if you’re following the itinerary I’ve outlined in this article, the difference in driving times in negligible by the time you get to Sedona.

In terms of beauty, you can’t go wrong with either option. The main difference is that while the views from the South Rim tend to reveal the depth of the Grand Canyon, the views from the North Rim are more about the width.

Perhaps the most important difference is that while the South Rim is open year round, the North Rim’s higher elevation means it’s only open from mid-May through mid-October due to heavy snowfall during the winter months. Since we traveled to the Grand Canyon in November, our decision was made for us. However, if you’re planning to visit in the summer months, the North Rim will offer much cooler weather and far fewer crowds.

From the South Rim, you’ll have access to great hiking trails and over two dozen viewpoints. Day hike options include the Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab Trail, Rim Trail, Hermit Trail, and Grandview Trail. From each trailhead, you’ll have dozens of options to choose from as your turnaround point.

The Bright Angel Trail tends to be the busiest, so we chose to hike the South Kaibab Trail to Skeleton Point (5.6 miles, 1998ft elevation gain). It was the perfect choice. We had excellent views the entire way and were even able to catch a glimpse of the Colorado River. If you’re looking for something a little shorter, consider turning around at Ooh Aah Point (1.7 miles, 682 ft elevation).

The perfect way to end a day of hiking and exploration is by catching the sunset from one of the many Grand Canyon viewpoints. Just be sure to grab your seat early to ensure your views of the canyon are unobstructed by fellow travelers.

ACCOMMODATIONS + DINING

When visiting the Grand Canyon, you have three choices when it comes to accommodations. You can either stay inside the park at one of the lodges or campgrounds, go glamping outside the park, or make the drive to Flagstaff or Williams. The lodges inside the park book up quickly, are overpriced, and honestly, have mostly terrible reviews. I personally think the other two choices are better worth exploring.

If you look up AirBnBs near the South Rim, you’ll find tons of adorable glamping options that range from canvas tents to tiny houses. If you’re feeling adventurous, this is a great choice. On our trip, three of us packed into The Nugget and had a wonderful time. It was only a twenty minute drive to the park entrance and we loved our view of the stars at night.

If you go the glamping route and you’re traveling in the spring or fall, nights can get seriously cold so you’ll want to make sure there is some sort of heat source. The other negative is that the food options within the park and even right outside of it in the town of Tusayan are abysmal. Seriously, the only choices are fast food chains and an Italian place ironically named, “We Cook Pizza And Pasta”. We made do with deli sandwiches and store bought wine and had a grand time, but if you’re looking for fine cuisine, this ain’t it.

Your third option is to stay a little further away in Flagstaff or Williams. The drive to the park entrance is roughly an hour and fifteen minutes from either, but you’ll have the benefit of real civilization with better hotel options and restaurants that will undoubtedly speak to your foodie soul.

SEDONA

Sedona is the perfect place to end your Arizona adventure because it will give you the chance to relax, wear something other than your hiking boots, and enjoy some civilization. The small city has a little bit of everything to offer—beautiful trails, wineries, cute shops, and amazing restaurants.

HIKING

Unfortunately, the word is out on Sedona which means that the popular hiking trails are more congested than what you’ll find in the other areas of Arizona. Knowing that, try to get an early start when possible.

My personal favorite hike in Sedona was, without a doubt, Cathedral Rock (1.2 miles, 740 ft elevation). The views are absolutely incredible and get better as you climb. Once you get to the top, you’ll be rewarded with a stunningly beautiful dropoff on the backside of the mountain that overlooks a ravine below. The trail is often recommended at sunset (which is what we did) but if you go at sunrise, you will avoid the high heat, find fewer crowds, and will have better luck with parking.

As a warning, the trail is steep in places so you may need to use your hands for balance. Be especially careful if you do the hike at sunset as you lose visibility quickly when the sun goes down.

Perhaps the most photographed site in Sedona is Devil’s Bridge (4.2 miles, 564 ft elevation gain), and with good reason. The sandstone arch is amazing in itself, but the bridge also offers a gorgeous view of the surrounding valley dotted with red rocks. As I previously suggested, get there as early as possible, otherwise you’ll be sitting in line for pictures which takes away from the experience entirely.

A third hike you might consider in Sedona is Soldier Pass Trail (4.7 miles, 830 ft elevation). The trail takes you through Sedona’s trademark mixture of green forestry and red rocks and has a few unique offerings including Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole, the 7 Sacred Pools, and most notably, the Secret Cave.

I usually use AllTrails to map out hikes while traveling, but you’ll need to do a bit of googling to discover the route to the Secret Cave. There is a lot of information out there already so I won’t bore you here. Just know that it’s worth the detour.

WINE TASTING

What better way to end a week of hiking and physical exertion than with a day of wine tasting? There are actually quite a few wineries in and around the Sedona area that can make for a really fun outing. Don’t go into it expecting the glamour of Napa Valley, but the wineries in the area have a quaint charm and offer a really good selection of red and white wines.

The group I was traveling with had a designated driver so we decided to explore the wineries on our own, but there are several tour options if you’d rather give someone else the reigns. The three we went to include DA Ranch, Oak Creek Vineyards, and Page Springs Cellars. We selected this particular trio because they are all close together.

Another option you have is to do wine tasting right within the city limits of Sedona in the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. The little outdoor shopping area has a couple of tasting rooms and is an adorable area to walk around and explore.

ACCOMMODATIONS + DINING

Since I was traveling with a group once in Sedona, we chose to go the AirBnB route, but there are several hotels in the area including the extremely well rated Mii amo. Sedona is a small city so you really can’t go wrong with the location you choose, especially since you’ll have to drive to most of the popular hiking trails no matter where you stay.

In terms of food, Sedona makes up for the lackluster restaurant options seen in the rest of Arizona twofold. For breakfast and coffee, you absolutely have to go to Layla’s Bakery for some of the best pastries you’ll ever try. For lunch, try Tamaliza for authentic, fresh tamales that will melt in your mouth. If you’re shopping in the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, stop at Pump House for great urban eats set in an eclectic setting.

For dinner, try Elote! The trendy restaurant takes traditional Mexican recipes and gives them a creative and tasty update. The extensive margarita menu can’t be beat. Another great option is The Hudson, especially for those looking for an unbeatable view.

MONTEZUMA CASTLE

On your way from Sedona back to the airport, consider making a quick pit stop at Montezuma Castle. The National Monument protects a set of well-preserved dwellings that are built into the side of a cliff. These dwellings housed the Sinagua people, a pre-Columbian culture closely related to the Hohokam and other indigenous peoples of the southwestern United States, between approximately 1100 and 1425 AD.

The castle is comprised of five stories and about 45 to 60 rooms and was built over the course of three centuries. If you’re interested in history at all, it’s worth seeing and should take less than an hour of your time.

Arizona exceeded my expectations in every way. That fact that we saw and experienced so much in 7 days is hard to believe! I can’t wait to go back and see what else the state has to offer.

FOLLOW ALONG WITH MY TRAVELS ON INSTAGRAM!

Thinking I should just rotate each of these to be my Zoom background until all my coworkers are sick of the fact that I went to Costa Rica. 🌴

#travelcostarica #uvitacostarica #puravida #costaricatravel #visitcostarica

We’re back in Colorado, but I still have way too many Costa Rica pics to share. I didn’t think I’d be saying this, but I actually miss getting woken up by howler monkeys at the crack of dawn every morning!🐒

#puravida #uvitabeach #

Welcome!

My name is Kolby Tallentire and I’m the creator of Tallentire Travels. This site formed out of my unending love of travel. My goal is to bring you the most unique and affordable travel recommendations for every destination. Learn More

7 Days in Arizona

WHEN TO GO

ITINERARY

Lake Powell & Page - 2 Nights

Grand Canyon - 2 Nights

Sedona - 2 Nights

LAKE POWELL & PAGE

HORSESHOE BEND

ANTELOPE CANYON

LAKE POWELL

BUCKSKIN GULCH

ACCOMMODATIONS + DINING

GRAND CANYON

ACCOMMODATIONS + DINING

SEDONA

HIKING

WINE TASTING

ACCOMMODATIONS + DINING

MONTEZUMA CASTLE

FOLLOW ALONG WITH MY TRAVELS ON INSTAGRAM!

Welcome!

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