patrossi14

I plan on driving from Peoria Arizona to Sedona, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon & Zion Canyon. I am looking to see what is the best route. Should I drive to Sedona first then the Grand Canyon & go from there? I planned to spend a night at the Grand Canyon (Red Feather Lodge) 2 nights in Sedona 1 night in Bryce & 1 night in Zion. Please advise.

michelhuebeli

Peoria is like a suburb of Phoenix. You hop on the 17 freeway north and you almost go through Sedona. At exit 298 you'll get off the 17 and take 179 to Sedona. First comes Oak Creek, just keep going.

Get up in time to see the first rays of sunlight hit the red rocks. Awesome!

Now I strongly suggest to do the following - it has paid off for us several times. Instead of heading to the Grand Canyon Village where all the tour buses go, as you head over the pass and down into Flagstaff, on highway 17, look for highway 40 going East (well, right there it is more like northeast).

After a few miles you get off, take highway 89 north, it's wide open country, and just when you begin to think "what was this guy on Fodors all about" you turn left and head west on Desert View Drive, highway 64.

That takes you to the "other" park entrance - there's everything you need, rangers, café, toilets, and a tall observation tower that provides great views and photo ops.

Now you're in the park, and you head west, mostly closely following the abyss. At every bend there is a pull-out, and you should stop at many of them and take a quick look. You won't believe how the colors of the rocks and the shapes can change so quickly. Your camera will go nuts...

By the time you get to the "Village" where the hordes of tourists pile out of the train and the tour buses, you'll feel like you own the place.

To get to Bryce, you can do the reverse - head East along the abyss and you come out on highway 64 again, and back at highway 89 you turn left and head north.

If you do go to Bryce, you're overshooting the turnoff for Zion. Maybe you want to do Zion first - look at the maps and decide.

SusanMorgan

Thanks for sharing this information.

emalloy

Here is a map with a mile/time chart which another person posted several years ago.

I agree with michelhubeli that going in through the east entrance to Grand Canyon is nice. If you have an interest in Native American history, stop at Montezuma's Castle on the way to Sedona and at Wupatki on the way to Grand Canyon.

What are your plans for after the parks?

If you are heading for Vegas, I would suggest you do Zion last.

If you are looping back to Phoenix the way you came, I would suggest that you use the 89A cutoff between GC and Page and save Page for the end of the trip.

If you will be doing this at a busy time of year, get lodging in/near the parks now.

If you are a senior and a US citizen, get a senior pass for the National Parks, it is $10 and good for all the parks for a lifetime. If you are younger get the America Beautiful pass.

emalloy

I forgot to post the map.

http://ohiohickstraveltips.weebly.co...-utah-map.html

J62

If you can get a room at one of the hotels in the park/at the rim then definitely do so. Red Feather is outside the park. Not too far, but nothing beats being right on or within 5min walk of the rim.