I am visiting AZ from Ireland in October for the full month staying in Tuscon, would like to visit Montezuma's Castle, Sedona, Grand canyon, Monument Valley, Page, Canyon de chelley, can you suggest an itinerary incl. details of accommodation, weather, places that must be seen, should I do the trip in one go or break it up into more manageable proportions, also details of mileage and journey times would be helpful.

Hi,

You'll get some response here -- but likely more so over if you re-post on the USA Forum. It is a much more active board than this one and there are lots of southwest experts over there. Be sure to tag you thread "Arizona"

You will certainly have time to do the parks you are interested in but do be aware that the distances are quite large from Tuscon. If you plan your trip and avoid heavy traffic times in Tuscon and Phoenix, you should be able to head out on i 10 and pick up i17 and stop in at Montezuma's castle then go to Sedona for the next night or more depending on how much time you want to spend there. Then head up to Grand Canyon about a 2 and a half hour drive. Go to www.nps.gov for information on the national parks and to make reservations to stay in the park. Spend a night or more at Grand canyon, depending on how much hiking you want to do. If you don't hike much, one night should be enough. Head east and do stop at the pull offs on route 64 along the canyon then take rt.89 to 160 up to Kayenta then 163 to Monument Valley. Then, go back down to163 to 160 east to 191 south to Canyon de Chelley. There is lodging in Kayenta and also nearer Monument Valley and also in Chinle as well as at the entrance to Canyon de Chelley. Continue your trip south on 191 to i 40 west and stop in at Petrified Forest/Painted Desert then continue west on i 40 and if you have time, just east of Flagstaff is Walnut Canyon NM which has ancient cliff dwellings that you can hike through. From there head back to Tuscon. Don't miss Saguaro NP which has an east and a west part on either side of Tuscon and visit the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum as well as Kitt Peak Nat. Observatory if you can while you are there.

If you can do it all as one loop you will save a lot of driving, I can't imagine that you will be able to break it up into "manageable proportions" from Tuscon. If you can get google maps you can put in your destinations and it will give you driving distances and times for each leg. If you are near an interstate there will be some -not fancy- places to stay every few miles if you need to stop.

Looks like katie moved your thread over here. You are in good hands now . . . .

Do you have to stay in Tuscon? It's really at the southern most part of Arizon and everything you want to visit is in the northern part.

I'd do one big circle. Tucson to Grand Canyon is 340 miles and approx. 6 hours drive. I'd stop at Montezuma's Castle National Monument and drive though Sedona. If you like Sedona, you might make a trip back up here another time. I personally think the Grand Canyon is worth 2 nights and at least one full day to ride the free shuttles out to Hermits Point and walk along the rim of the canyon is spots.

Grand Canyon to Page, AZ (Lake Powell) is 140 miles and approx 3 hour drive, but please make sure you stop at several of the overlooks before exiting the park on Hwy 64 to see the different views of the Grand Canyon. Take Hwy 89 to Page. The all day boat tour on Lake Powell to see Rainbow Bridge National Monument and the 1/2 day Float trip on the Colorado are two great things to do. Also the Upper Antelope Slots Canyon and the short hike to Horseshoe Bend are other to do's in this area. To do all of these, you will want to spend three nights and have at least 2 full days.

Page to Monument Valley taking Hwy 98, 160 and 163 is 125 miles and approx. 3 hours driving time. You will really only need to spend one night at either Kayenta or Gouldings to see Monument Valley. You can drive into the tribal park your self but you can't go on some of the roads unless you are on a guided tour.

Monument Valley to Canyon de Chelly via Hwy 163, 160 and 191 is 132 miles and approx 2 1/2 hours. You can only drive on the rim and take the hike to White House Ruins without a guide. If you want to go into the canyon you have to take a guided tour or hire a guide to go with you. I highly recommend going into the canyon with a tour. We only did the half day tour but I wish we had done the all day tour.

Canyon de Chelly to Holbrook, AZ via Petrified Forest National Park. 143 miles and approx. 3 hours driving via Hwy 191, Petrified Forest Highway and Hwy 180. One stop to make while on this route is the Hubble Trading Post National Historic Site about 35 miles from Canyon de Chelly on Hwy 191.

From Holbrook you can take the back roads to Tucson which is 238 miles and 5 hours driving time or you can go to Flagstaff and retrace your trip down I-17 and I-10. This route would be 350 miles and approx 5 1/2 hours. It's a lot faster drive because it's all Interstates.

I would recommend going as early in October as you can for the best weather. Mid to late October can start getting very cold from what I've been told.

Utahtea