Arizona Family Road Trip Itinerary: 7 & 10 Days

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Plan an Arizona family road trip through Grand Canyon, Page, and Sedona with realistic 7- and 10-day itineraries, easy hikes, scenic stops, and fun family activities.

Estimated reading time: 35 minutes

If you are planning your first big Arizona road trip and trying to figure out how to fit the Grand Canyon, Page, and Sedona into one vacation, this is the itinerary I would use.

And honestly, I think these three destinations work really well together.

You get the enormous scale of the Grand Canyon, the slot canyons and desert scenery around Page, and then the completely different red rock landscape of Sedona. Plus, you can add a few wonderfully random Arizona stops like Meteor Crater or the Verde Canyon Railroad if you have more time.

You also do not need to be a hardcore hiker to have an amazing trip.

That is important because so many Arizona itineraries seem to assume you want to spend every day hiking six miles through the desert.

We do not.

I like hiking. I just also like scenic overlooks, boat rides, train rides, Jeep tours, good restaurants, cool museums, and being able to walk normally the next morning.

This itinerary is built around that kind of trip.

We actually did most of this route during a spring break trip to Arizona, although our plans changed quite a bit along the way. A snowstorm at the Grand Canyon rearranged part of our itinerary, and then a kidney stone decided to make its presence known once we reached Page and Sedona.

Because apparently the weather was not enough drama.

Even with all of that, this was one of those trips where I came home already knowing I wanted to return.

So, based on what we did, what I would absolutely do again, and what we had planned before everything went sideways, here is how I would organize a 7-day or 10-day Arizona road trip.

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How Many Days Do You Need for an Arizona Road Trip?

For a first trip focused on the Grand Canyon, Page, and Sedona, I would plan on at least seven full days.

Technically, the itinerary below uses eight calendar days because the first and last days are travel days.

That gives you:

Two nights at the Grand Canyon
Three nights in Page
Two nights in Sedona

If your flight home is late enough on the final day, you can still spend most of that day in Sedona before driving toward the airport.

The 10-day version gives you more breathing room and lets you add some of the fun Arizona attractions that are difficult to squeeze into a shorter trip.

That is where I would work in Meteor Crater and the Verde Canyon Railroad, plus a little more time in Sedona.

I would not necessarily add extra days just for the sake of adding extra days at the Grand Canyon or Page. There is plenty to do in both places, but I think this route is more interesting when you keep moving and see several different parts of northern Arizona.

7-Day Arizona Road Trip at a Glance

Here is the basic route I recommend:

Day 1: Arrive at the Grand Canyon
Day 2: Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 3: Grand Canyon morning, then drive to Page
Day 4: Page
Day 5: Page
Day 6: Drive to Sedona
Day 7: Sedona
Day 8: Sedona morning or early afternoon, then head home

This is not a frantic itinerary.

You are not packing up every morning, driving four hours, checking into another hotel, and wondering why everyone is cranky.

You actually stay long enough in each destination to enjoy it.

And if you have ten days, the itinerary gets even better.

But let’s start with the seven-day version.

how many days do you need at the Grand Canyon

Day 1: Arrive at the Grand Canyon South Rim

If at all possible, I would spend your first night inside Grand Canyon National Park or right outside the South Rim entrance.

This is one of those places where location really matters.

You do not want to start your first full Grand Canyon day with a long drive just to reach the park.

We stayed at Maswik Lodge in Grand Canyon Village, and I would absolutely stay there again.

The rooms had been renovated, ours was comfortable, and we could walk to the rim in about five minutes.

That proximity was fantastic.

Once you arrive and get settled, do not try to cram too much into your first evening.

Go see the canyon.

Seriously.

Drop your bags, walk to the rim, and just stand there for a minute.

I had seen the Grand Canyon before, and it still felt almost impossible to process how enormous it was.

Depending on what time you arrive, you could walk part of the Rim Trail or watch sunset somewhere near Grand Canyon Village.

We watched sunset near El Tovar one evening, and it was beautiful without requiring any complicated logistics.

Then grab dinner and get some sleep.

Tomorrow is your big Grand Canyon day.

Day 2: Spend a Full Day at the Grand Canyon

This is the day I would devote entirely to the South Rim.

And there are several ways to organize it depending on how active your family wants to be.

If you want a little hiking, I would consider hiking partway down the South Kaibab Trail toward Ooh Aah Point.

You do not have to turn this into an all-day hike.

Even walking a portion of the trail gives you a completely different perspective than looking down into the canyon from the rim.

Just remember that hiking into the Grand Canyon is backwards from normal hiking.

The easy part comes first.

You walk downhill into the canyon and then have to climb back out.

So turn around before everyone is exhausted.

For families who do not want to hike into the canyon, I would spend more time exploring the overlooks and riding the shuttle along Hermit Road.

This is one of my favorite ways to experience the South Rim because you can see several incredible viewpoints without doing a strenuous hike.

Hopi Point is especially popular for sunset.

We took the shuttle out there around twilight, and the changing light across the canyon was gorgeous.

You can also spend part of the day around the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and Mather Point.

And honestly, do not underestimate simply walking sections of the Rim Trail.

You can see spectacular scenery without turning your vacation into an endurance event.

What About a Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour?

If this is a big once-in-a-lifetime trip and your budget allows it, a helicopter tour is another incredible option.

My husband and I did one years ago, and it remains one of the biggest travel splurges we have ever made.

It was also unforgettable.

You absolutely do not need to take a helicopter tour to appreciate the Grand Canyon.

But if you are looking for one major splurge on this Arizona road trip, this would be a pretty spectacular place to use it.

For dinner, I would try to eat at El Tovar Dining Room at least once during your stay.

We had an early dinner there with a window table overlooking the canyon area, and it was one of our favorite meals of the trip.

Then enjoy one more evening at the rim.

Day 3: Grand Canyon Morning, Then Drive to Page

Do not rush out of the Grand Canyon first thing in the morning.

You have already come all this way.

Give yourself a few more hours.

If you did not catch sunrise yet, this would be the morning to do it.

We watched sunrise from the Grand Canyon Village area near Maswik Lodge, which made things ridiculously easy.

No complicated driving.

No trying to find parking in the dark.

We basically walked out of our room and headed toward the rim.

After sunrise, have breakfast, take one last walk along the canyon, and then start making your way toward Page.

Under normal circumstances, I would take Desert View Drive east out of the park.

That route gives you more Grand Canyon viewpoints and lets you stop at Desert View before continuing toward Page.

Unfortunately, that is not what happened to us.

A snowstorm closed Desert View Drive during our trip, which completely changed our plans.

We had to backtrack and take the much longer route around.

And because of that, we missed our scheduled Antelope Canyon tour.

It was not exactly how I had pictured the day going.

But it did accidentally lead us to another Arizona attraction that ended up being surprisingly fun.

Meteor Crater.

For the shorter seven-day itinerary, I would not automatically add Meteor Crater here because it can make an already long travel day even longer.

But for the 10-day itinerary?

Absolutely.

We are coming back to that.

For now, the goal is simply to reach Page, check into your hotel, and settle in for the next three nights.

And after the vastness of the Grand Canyon, Page is going to feel completely different.

Which is exactly what makes this road trip so much fun.

Day 3 Evening: Arrive in Page and See Horseshoe Bend

Once you reach Page and get checked into your hotel, I would keep the rest of the day fairly simple.

This is a good evening for Horseshoe Bend.

It is close to town, easy to fit into a travel day, and it gives you one of those instantly recognizable Arizona views without requiring a huge time commitment.

The walk from the parking area is not especially long, but it is exposed.

There is very little shade.

And depending on the time of year, that can matter a lot.

We visited in March, so heat was not our problem.

I was dealing with a kidney stone instead.

Which, in hindsight, was maybe not the ideal medical condition for walking around the Arizona desert.

But I made it.

And I am very glad I did.

Horseshoe Bend really is one of those places that looks just like the photos.

The Colorado River makes this enormous curve around the sandstone below you, and the scale is hard to appreciate until you are standing there looking down.

If you arrive later in the afternoon, this also works well as an early-evening stop.

Then head back into Page for dinner and get some rest.

You have two full days here, and I would use them very intentionally.

Day 4: Glen Canyon + Upper Antelope Canyon

I would start your first full day in Page with some of the easier Glen Canyon stops.

This gives you a relaxed morning before your biggest activity of the day.

Glen Canyon Dam and Visitor Center

Start at Glen Canyon Dam and the Carl Hayden Visitor Center.

Even if you are not someone who gets excited about dams, this one is worth seeing.

It is enormous.

You get a great view down toward the Colorado River, and the visitor center gives you some useful context for Lake Powell, Glen Canyon, and the entire area.

This is also an easy stop.

You are not committing half the day.

You can spend a little time looking around, enjoy the views, and keep moving.

Glen Canyon Overlook

From there, I would stop at Glen Canyon Overlook.

This is another one of those places that gives you a huge scenic payoff without requiring a serious hike.

There is a short walk from the parking area to the overlook, and then you get this beautiful view into the canyon.

It feels much quieter than Horseshoe Bend.

And because Page has so many famous attractions, I think this one is easy to overlook.

Pun not intended.

Probably.

After that, grab lunch and get ready for your Antelope Canyon tour.

Upper Antelope Canyon in the Afternoon

For this itinerary, I would schedule Upper Antelope Canyon during the middle part of the day.

This is one of the biggest reasons people come to Page.

And yes, it is touristy.

But sometimes things are popular because they really are extraordinary.

The slot canyon walls twist and curve around you, and the way the light changes inside the canyon is beautiful.

Upper Antelope Canyon is also the easier option physically.

You are walking through the canyon rather than climbing up and down the steeper ladders associated with Lower Antelope Canyon.

That can make it a better choice for families with younger kids, grandparents, or anyone who is not especially excited about climbing.

Tours are required because Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo land.

So this is absolutely something I would reserve before your trip.

Do not arrive in Page and assume you will just grab a tour whenever you feel like it.

That is exactly how vacations become stressful.

Book the important things first.

Then build the rest of the day around them.

What to Do After Antelope Canyon

After your tour, I would not schedule another major attraction.

This is a good time to choose something easy.

You could wander around town, go back to your hotel for a break, or add one more short scenic stop.

If your family still has energy, this would also be a nice evening for a Native American dinner show.

That gives you something completely different from the scenery-heavy parts of the trip.

And honestly, by this point, sitting down and letting somebody else entertain you sounds pretty great.

Day 5: Lower Antelope Canyon + Lake Powell

Your second full day in Page is where I would schedule Lower Antelope Canyon.

I would book a late-morning tour.

That gives you time for breakfast without rushing, but you are still getting into the canyon before the day gets too far along.

We did Lower Antelope Canyon, and I loved it.

And I want to push back a little against the idea that it is only for very adventurous people.

It is not a hardcore hike.

There are ladders.

There are some narrow sections.

And yes, you need to be reasonably comfortable going up and down stairs.

But I did the entire tour while dealing with kidney stone symptoms.

Would I recommend that particular life choice?

No.

But it does tell you something about the difficulty level.

If you can handle stairs and ladders, Lower Antelope Canyon is very manageable.

And visually, it is spectacular.

The guides also know exactly where to stop for photos.

Our guide helped us with camera angles and showed us where to stand, which made a huge difference.

This is one of those places where you are very happy somebody knows what they are doing.

Spend the Afternoon on Lake Powell

After Lower Antelope Canyon, I would make the afternoon completely different and get out on Lake Powell.

A boat tour is a really nice change of pace.

You have spent the last couple of days looking at cliffs, canyons, and desert landscapes from the ground.

Now you get to see the area from the water.

Depending on the tour schedule and lake conditions, there are different cruise options available.

I would choose one that fits comfortably into the afternoon rather than trying to chase the longest possible tour.

This itinerary is already packed with major scenery.

You do not need to turn every activity into a six-hour production.

A few hours on the lake is enough to experience it.

Then head back to Page for dinner and enjoy your final night.

Where to Stay in Page

We stayed at Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell, and I would absolutely recommend it.

The rooms were comfortable, the property felt modern, and I loved the desert views from the hotel.

If you come from somewhere green, the landscape around Page almost feels strange at first.

There are no forests surrounding the town.

No lush hills.

Just enormous stretches of desert and rock.

And somehow that makes the views even more dramatic.

Page is also compact enough that you do not need to obsess over the exact hotel location.

Most of the major attractions are easy to reach from town.

But after long sightseeing days, having a comfortable hotel matters.

A lot.

Day 6: Drive from Page to Sedona

Today you are leaving Page and heading toward Sedona.

And visually, this is where the trip changes again.

Grand Canyon felt enormous.

Page felt stark and otherworldly.

Sedona feels warmer.

Redder.

Almost softer somehow.

The red rock formations rise right out of the landscape, and as you get closer to town, the scenery becomes ridiculously beautiful.

This is not a day I would overload with activities.

Check out of your hotel, make the drive south, and give yourself time to enjoy arriving in Sedona.

Depending on how early you leave Page, you could absolutely stop somewhere along the way.

For the seven-day itinerary, though, I would resist the urge to squeeze in Meteor Crater here.

We are saving that for the longer itinerary.

Once you reach Sedona, I would start with the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte area.

You do not need to do a major hike.

Just driving through this part of Sedona is gorgeous.

And if you want to stretch your legs after the drive, walk part of the Bell Rock Pathway.

You can go as far as you want and turn around whenever you are ready.

That is my favorite kind of hike.

The kind where nobody is pretending there is a medal waiting at the end.

The views are beautiful almost immediately.

We spent some time in this area, and it gave us exactly what I wanted from Sedona: those classic red rock formations glowing in the late-day light.

This is also where I would use some of those photos of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.

They really capture what this part of Sedona looks like.

Then check into your hotel, have dinner, and settle in.

Tomorrow is your full Sedona day.

Where to Stay in Sedona

We stayed at Hilton Vacation Club Ridge on Sedona, which was still known as The Ridge on Sedona Golf Resort when we visited.

And even though I do not have a full hotel review for this one, I would absolutely stay there again.

There is a reason for that.

I spent a significant chunk of our Sedona stay dealing with a kidney stone and eventually ended up in the emergency room.

So this was not exactly the kind of trip where I was wandering around the property taking notes on every amenity.

But I did get a very good look at our room.

And it was fantastic.

We had a condo-style suite with a separate bedroom, living room, fireplace, and a small kitchenette area with a sink and microwave.

It was spacious.

Really comfortable.

And honestly, when you are not feeling well on vacation, having an actual living room instead of sitting on the edge of a hotel bed suddenly feels like an incredible luxury.

The location was also excellent for this itinerary.

The resort is down near the Village of Oak Creek, close to Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.

So if those formations are already part of your Sedona plans, you are staying right near some of the scenery you came to see.

We also ate at Pago’s Pizzeria & Italian Cuisine nearby.

Nothing fancy.

Just good, easy comfort food after a travel day.

And that was exactly what we needed.

Would I write an entire review of this hotel based on our particular stay?

Probably not.

Would I recommend it as a place to stay in Sedona?

Absolutely.

Day 7: Jeep Tour + Tlaquepaque + Easy Sedona Sightseeing

If I were planning this trip again, this is the day I would be most excited about.

We had planned to do a Jeep tour in Sedona.

And then the kidney stone had other ideas.

So this falls firmly into the category of things I still want to go back and do.

Sedona is famous for its Jeep tours for a reason.

They let you get farther into the red rock landscape without committing to a difficult hike.

For a family trip, that is a very appealing combination.

You still get adventure.

You still get amazing scenery.

And nobody has to drag themselves up a mountain afterward.

I would book a morning tour, especially during warmer months.

That gets you out before the hottest part of the day and leaves the afternoon open.

Visit Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village

After the Jeep tour, I would head to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village.

This was also on our original Sedona plan before everything fell apart.

And it is exactly the kind of place I like adding to an itinerary because it breaks up all the outdoor sightseeing.

You can browse galleries and shops, walk through the courtyards, grab something to eat, and just slow down for a little while.

Not every hour of a road trip needs to involve reaching another overlook.

Sometimes you need lunch and air conditioning.

Tlaquepaque gives you that while still feeling like part of the destination.

Add a Short Hike or Scenic Stop

If you still have energy later in the day, choose one more easy Sedona experience.

You could go back toward Bell Rock, walk another short trail, or simply drive through some of the scenic areas around town.

I would not try to cram three major hikes into this trip.

That is not the point of this itinerary.

The point is to see the best of northern Arizona while still enjoying yourself.

And Sedona is one of those places where you can see an enormous amount without hiking very far at all.

End the day with dinner somewhere with a view if you can.

Then enjoy your final night in Sedona.

Day 8: One Last Morning in Sedona, Then Head Home

If your flight is later in the day, do not rush out of Sedona.

Have breakfast.

Drive through the red rocks one more time.

Stop somewhere you missed the day before.

Maybe do a little shopping.

Then start heading toward the airport or wherever your road trip takes you next.

This gives you seven full sightseeing days without feeling like you spent the entire vacation in the car.

And you will have seen three completely different Arizona destinations.

The Grand Canyon.

Page.

Sedona.

Honestly, that is a pretty fantastic week.

How to Turn This Into a 10-Day Arizona Road Trip

If you have ten full days instead of seven, I would not simply add another night everywhere.

I would use those extra days to see a little more of northern Arizona.

Specifically, I would add Meteor Crater, the Verde Canyon Railroad, and another day in Sedona.

Those three additions make the longer itinerary feel genuinely different.

You still get plenty of time at the Grand Canyon and Page, but the second half of the trip becomes much more interesting.

Here is how I would do it.

10-Day Arizona Road Trip at a Glance

Day 1: Arrive at the Grand Canyon
Day 2: Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 3: Grand Canyon morning, drive to Page
Day 4: Page — Glen Canyon + Upper Antelope Canyon
Day 5: Page — Lower Antelope Canyon + Lake Powell
Day 6: Leave Page, visit Meteor Crater, continue to Sedona
Day 7: Sedona — Jeep tour + Tlaquepaque
Day 8: Verde Canyon Railroad
Day 9: Sedona — easy hiking + sightseeing
Day 10: Sedona and begin heading home
Day 11: Travel home, depending on your flight or driving schedule

That gives you ten full sightseeing days, with your arrival and departure days working around them.

And this is probably the version I would choose if you have the time.

Day 6: Page to Meteor Crater to Sedona

Meteor Crater is absolutely not on the most direct route between Page and Sedona.

Let’s just establish that right now.

But with ten days, I think it is worth the detour.

We actually ended up at Meteor Crater because our Grand Canyon plans went completely sideways.

Desert View Drive had closed because of snow, which forced us to take the long way toward Page.

We had already missed our Antelope Canyon reservation.

At that point, the day was clearly not following the itinerary anyway.

So we went to Meteor Crater.

And I am really glad we did.

My husband and I had visited once before, more than twenty years earlier, and I remembered it basically as a very large hole in the ground.

It is still a very large hole in the ground.

But the visitor experience is much better than I remembered.

There are exhibits explaining the meteor impact, viewing areas around the crater, and enough to do that it feels like an actual attraction rather than simply pulling over, looking into a hole, and getting back in the car.

It is also just wonderfully Arizona.

You have spent several days visiting some of the most famous landscapes in the Southwest.

Then suddenly you are standing next to a giant crater created by a meteorite.

Of course you are.

I would give yourself a couple of hours here and then continue toward Sedona.

By the time you arrive, you will probably be ready for dinner and your hotel.

This is another reason I like staying near Bell Rock and the Village of Oak Creek.

You can check in, grab something to eat, and still enjoy those incredible red rock views without adding another major activity to the day.

Day 7: Jeep Tour + Tlaquepaque

This is the Sedona day we had planned and never really got to experience.

So if I go back, this is exactly what I would do.

Start with a morning Jeep tour.

I think this is one of the best activities to add to a family itinerary because it gives you that adventure factor without requiring everyone to spend half the day hiking.

And after several days of driving yourselves around Arizona, it is also nice to let somebody else take over for a while.

Then spend the afternoon at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village.

Walk through the courtyards.

Browse the galleries and shops.

Have lunch.

Slow down.

This is exactly the kind of afternoon I want after bouncing around the desert in a Jeep.

And because you are staying several nights in Sedona, there is no pressure to squeeze Bell Rock, a hike, shopping, a Jeep tour, and every scenic overlook into one day.

You can actually enjoy it.

Day 8: Take the Verde Canyon Railroad

This is the big addition I would make to the 10-day itinerary.

Drive over to Clarkdale and ride the Verde Canyon Railroad.

We loved this.

It is a completely different way to experience Arizona.

Instead of hiking through the landscape or looking down from an overlook, you are riding through the Verde Canyon along the river.

The scenery changes throughout the trip, and you get views that you simply would not see from the road.

This is also a fantastic family activity because it requires almost no physical effort.

You sit.

Look at beautiful scenery.

Eat snacks.

This is my kind of wilderness adventure.

There are indoor cars as well as outdoor viewing areas, so you can move around and take photos during the ride.

I would treat the railroad as the main activity of the day.

Do not schedule a complicated hike afterward.

If you finish with enough time and energy, explore a little around the Verde Valley or head back to Sedona for dinner.

This is another reason the extra days matter.

You can do something memorable without immediately racing to the next attraction.

Day 9: Have a Real Sedona Day

Now you finally have a day where nothing major is booked.

And I think that is exactly what Sedona needs.

Start around Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.

If you have not walked any of the Bell Rock Pathway yet, this is a perfect time.

You do not need to complete a huge trail.

Walk until you feel like you have gotten the experience you wanted.

Take pictures.

Enjoy the red rocks.

Turn around.

Done.

You could also choose another easy Sedona trail or simply spend part of the morning driving between scenic areas.

This is a destination where the drive itself is part of the experience.

And because you already did your Jeep tour and Tlaquepaque the day before, you do not have a checklist hanging over your head.

If everyone is tired, take a long lunch.

Go back to the hotel.

Sit by the pool.

Do absolutely nothing for an hour.

That is allowed.

Especially on Day 9 of a road trip.

Day 10: One Last Sedona Morning

On your final full day, I would leave the schedule loose.

Go back somewhere you loved.

Try another short trail.

Do some shopping.

Have breakfast with a view.

Drive through the Bell Rock area one more time.

Sedona is not a place where I feel like you need to conquer a giant list.

It is a place where you want enough time to actually look around.

And after a week of slot canyons, overlooks, dams, train rides, meteor craters, and national park scenery, having a slow final morning feels pretty perfect.

Then start heading toward the airport or wherever your trip continues.

Which Arizona Itinerary Is Better: 7 Days or 10 Days?

I would happily do either one.

The seven-day version gives you the big three:

Grand Canyon. Page. Sedona.

And if that is the amount of vacation time you have, you can have an incredible trip without feeling like you missed Arizona.

But if you can swing ten days?

I would choose ten.

Not because you desperately need more time at every destination.

You do not.

I like the longer itinerary because it lets you add Meteor Crater and the Verde Canyon Railroad while also giving Sedona enough time to breathe.

You are not just collecting destinations.

You are actually experiencing them.

And that is the difference between a road trip that looks impressive on paper and one that is actually fun while you are taking it.

A Few Arizona Road Trip Tips Before You Go

A few things I would keep in mind when planning this route.

First, book the major activities early.

That means Antelope Canyon tours, Jeep tours, the Verde Canyon Railroad, and any special Grand Canyon experiences.

Those are the pieces I would lock down first.

Then build the rest of the itinerary around them.

Second, do not underestimate Arizona weather.

We visited over spring break and got a full-blown snowstorm at the Grand Canyon.

Meanwhile, Page and Sedona felt completely different.

You can experience several climates on this trip.

Pack accordingly.

Third, build some flexibility into the schedule.

I say this as someone whose trip included a snowstorm, a closed road, a missed Antelope Canyon tour, and a kidney stone.

Sometimes the itinerary loses.

That does not mean the trip is ruined.

We discovered Meteor Crater because our plans fell apart.

We still made it through Lower Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

And even though I spent part of Sedona in the ER instead of bouncing around in a Jeep, I still came away knowing that I wanted to go back.

Which is probably the best endorsement I can give this entire Arizona road trip.

I would do it again.

Just preferably without the kidney stone.

Where to Stay on This Arizona Road Trip

One thing I would not overcomplicate is lodging.

For this itinerary, location matters more than finding the fanciest hotel.

At the Grand Canyon, I would stay inside the park if you can.

We stayed at Maswik Lodge, and the ability to walk to the rim in just a few minutes was incredibly convenient.

At Page, we stayed at Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell.

I loved the comfortable rooms, the desert views, and the fact that everything around Page was easy to reach.

And in Sedona, we stayed at Hilton Vacation Club Ridge on Sedona, which was known as The Ridge on Sedona Golf Resort when we visited.

That one worked especially well because we were down near Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.

The room was huge compared to a standard hotel room, with a separate bedroom, living room, fireplace, and kitchenette area.

Considering I spent part of our Sedona stay feeling miserable and eventually ended up in the ER, I was very grateful we had some space.

Would not recommend the kidney stone.

Would recommend the hotel.

What Should You Book Ahead?

There are a few things on this itinerary that I would absolutely reserve ahead of time.

The biggest one is Antelope Canyon.

Both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon require tours, and those tours can book up.

I would not leave those until the last minute.

The same goes for a Sedona Jeep tour and the Verde Canyon Railroad if you are doing the 10-day itinerary.

And if you want a specific restaurant like El Tovar Dining Room at the Grand Canyon, I would make that reservation too.

The rest of the trip is much easier to keep flexible.

Scenic overlooks?

Easy.

Short hikes?

Easy.

Meteor Crater?

Much easier to work around the rest of your schedule.

My general rule is to reserve the things that have a specific time attached to them and leave the rest of the itinerary loose enough that you can adjust.

Because Arizona has already demonstrated to me that it does not care about your spreadsheet.

What Is the Best Time of Year for This Arizona Road Trip?

Spring and fall are probably the easiest seasons for this route.

But there is one very important thing to understand.

The weather can change dramatically between the Grand Canyon, Page, and Sedona.

We visited in March.

The Grand Canyon got hammered with snow.

Page was dry.

Sedona felt completely different again.

And all of these places are part of the same road trip.

So do not pack for “Arizona.”

Pack for the actual destinations.

If you are traveling in spring or fall, bring layers.

And if you are traveling in summer, take the heat seriously.

That matters especially around Page, where places like Horseshoe Bend have very little shade.

I would also schedule outdoor activities earlier in the day whenever possible.

Do You Need to Be a Hiker to Enjoy This Trip?

No.

Definitely not.

That is one of the reasons I like this itinerary so much.

You can hike if you want to.

Or just walk partway down the South Kaibab Trail.

You can explore around Bell Rock.

And add other Sedona trails.

But you do not have to build the entire trip around hiking.

It’s totally easy to view the Grand Canyon from the Rim Trail and overlooks.

Tour Antelope Canyon.

Cruise Lake Powell.

Ride a train through Verde Canyon.

Take a Jeep tour in Sedona.

See the big hole in the ground at Meteor Crater.

There is a lot to do here without turning the vacation into a fitness challenge.

And honestly, that makes this a much better family road trip.

How Much Driving Is Involved?

There is definitely driving.

It is a road trip.

But I do not think the driving is unreasonable.

The route works because you are moving in a logical direction from the Grand Canyon to Page and then down toward Sedona.

And once you arrive in each destination, you stay put for a few nights.

That is important.

I would much rather do a couple of longer travel days and then spend two or three nights somewhere than change hotels every single night.

That gets old very quickly.

Especially with kids.

Or adults.

Really, everyone.

Is This a Good Arizona Road Trip for Families?

Yes.

Especially if your family likes a mix of scenery and actual activities.

The Grand Canyon gives you the giant wow moment.

Page gives you Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon, and Lake Powell.

Sedona gives you the Jeep tours, red rocks, shopping, and easy hiking.

Then the 10-day itinerary adds Meteor Crater and the Verde Canyon Railroad.

There is enough variety that the trip does not start feeling repetitive.

And that matters because after a while, even beautiful scenery can start becoming “another overlook.”

This itinerary does a good job of mixing things up.

My Biggest Arizona Road Trip Advice

Do not try to see everything.

Arizona is huge.

And once you start planning, it is very easy to keep adding places.

Monument Valley.

Petrified Forest.

Canyon de Chelly.

Phoenix.

Tucson.

More Sedona.

More hiking… more everything.

At some point, you have to stop.

For a first northern Arizona road trip, I think Grand Canyon + Page + Sedona is a fantastic combination.

Then add Meteor Crater and the Verde Canyon Railroad if you have more time.

That is enough.

You will still come home with a ridiculous number of photos.

You will still feel like you saw a huge piece of Arizona.

And you will probably leave with a list of things you want to do next time.

Which is exactly what happened to me.

More Arizona Road Trip Planning

If you are building a longer Arizona or Southwest road trip, these posts can help you plan the rest of your trip:

And if you are planning something even bigger, you might also like my Utah Mighty 5 Itinerary or one of my other Southwest road trip guides.

Final Thoughts

If I were planning a first Arizona family road trip today, this is the route I would choose.

Start with the Grand Canyon.

Spend a few days in Page.

Finish in Sedona.

And if you have ten days, add Meteor Crater and the Verde Canyon Railroad.

It gives you some of the most famous scenery in Arizona without making every day feel the same.

And you do not need to be an extreme hiker to enjoy it.

You can hike a little.

Sightsee a lot.

Take a train.

Ride in a Jeep.

Go out on the water.

Stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon.

Walk through a slot canyon.

And occasionally sit down and eat pizza.

That sounds like a pretty excellent Arizona road trip to me.