3 day/3 night trip to Phoenix/Sedona/Grand Canyon - need ideas, please!
 

I will be travelling to Scottsdale for work at the beginning of February. My husband and I would like to add a quick 3-day trip to the beginning of my work trip. We really want to see the Grand Canyon and Sedona. We will fly in late afternoon and rent a car. We'd love any recommendations as to how to fit everything in, what to see, and how long to spend at each place and where to stay (med price). We both love the outdoors, art, shopping, etc.

Thank you!

3 days isn't enough. Can you add a day or two?

Sedona could be seen on your way to the GC, but you really need a minimum of a day and night there. It's around 2 hours from Phx to Sedona. And another 3 to the GC from Sedona.

If you're getting in in the afternoon, I'd rent the car and drive straight to Sedona. Spend the night there. See Sedona next day, maybe take a jeep tour. Then leave early afternoon (3 or 4) and drive to GC. Spend two nights there and drive straight back to Phx morning after second night.

Good luck! You'll love Sedona and the GC.

As far as where to stay at the Grand Canyon, stay inside the park if yo upossibly can. There are four lodges that are very close to the rim---truly just steps away. El Tovar is one of the historic national park inns, as is the more rustic Bright Angel Lodge (with cabins). the other two, Thunderbird and Kachina Lodge, are 50-ish institutional looking buildings, but the rooms are fine.

Book any of these at

www.grandcanyonlodges.com

If you choose El Tovar, I suggest you avoid the least expensive "terrace" rooms, which are below grade level, and very small.

I too would say add another day on if you can – both places have a lot to offer.

First order of business is to let you know that Grand Canyon South Rim is 7,000’ above sea level, so it will be cold in February. Snow is a very real possibility too, but I would NOT let that discourage you in any way from visiting. Road closures are rare, and the Grand Canyon looks amazing in the snow, but it is helpful to have some flexibility to your schedule in case you’re detoured or delayed by bad weather. Sedona is lower down, around 4,300’, so winters do get cool there, too, but any precipitation that falls is most likely going to be rain (or snow that won’t stick).

Because you’ve expressed interest in “outdoors, art and shopping,” I would say plan on spending 2 nights in Sedona and 1 at Grand Canyon. Sedona has lots of “outdoors,” and a huge variety of “art and shopping.” Grand Canyon has all three elements too, though the focus of their art and shopping opportunities tend to be more on Native American art forms.

Sedona is 2-2.5 hours drive North of Scottsdale; Grand Canyon South Rim is 2-2.5 hours North of Sedona; Scottsdale is 4.5 hours’ drive South of the Grand Canyon. In order to get the most out of your time in the area, though, I’d recommend taking “the long way” around to the Grand Canyon on your arrival day. Drive from Sedona to Flagstaff (~30-45 minutes), then get on Highway 89 North. If you can, visit Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments. The highlights of these are a well-preserved complex of Ancestral Puebloan ruins and a dormant volcano respectively.

Continuing North on Highway 89 to Cameron, stop in at the Cameron Trading Post. This a genuine old west commerce center dating back to the early 1900’s. Today, it houses a very extensive collection of Native American crafts, many are mass produced, but many are also one-of-a-kind, such as Navajo rugs, Hopi kachinas, etc. If you’re hungry, head to the on-site restaurant and enjoy their specialty dish called the Navajo taco: big hunk of fry bread piled high with beef, beans, lettuce, cheese, tomato, sour cream, etc. They’re awesome, but unless you’re majorly hungry, order the mini – the regular is HUGE.

After leaving Cameron, take Highway 64 toward Grand Canyon Village, which will take you along the East Rim/Desert View Drive. There are over half a dozen viewpoints on this scenic drive, each with their own features and perspective on the Grand Canyon. If you secure lodging inside the park, then just continue on to Grand Canyon Village. If outside the park, you’ll come to a “T’ intersection where you can exit the park via the South entrance and go to Tusayan, Williams, Flagstaff, etc. Taking this “long way around” will add another hour onto your normal drive time from Sedona, but the scenery is well worth it.

Next priority is going to be securing some lodging. Even though it’s off-season, you don’t want to just show up and count on getting a room, especially if you’re visiting over Valentine’s Day, President’s Day or the like. Start by booking your room at the Grand Canyon. Staying inside the park is always best. There are 6 hotels inside the park, all of whom are managed by the in-park concessionaire, Xanterra South Rim. For more information on their lodging, visit www.grandcanyonlodges.com or call 888-297-2757. If unable to find anything suitable there, Tusayan, a small community just outside the park boundaries, is your next best option. There are 5 hotels in that area including a Best Western property, a Holiday Inn Express, the Canyon Plaza (formerly a Quality Inn) and a couple of others.

Good luck and let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Three days and 2 nights is kind of pushing it. If you can add a third night it would be less hectic ...

First night drive to Sedona, which is about 2 hours from the PHX airport if the traffic isn't too heavy. Next day maybe do a jeep tour for the "outdoors" part (these are wildly popular and go back into some pretty country). Sedona is set up well for "art, shopping". If you have 3 nights I'd suggest a 2nd night in Sedona, given that you listed "art" and "shopping" as priorities. If only one night then it's hard to fit in everything plus a jeep tour.

Then one night at the GC, arriving early enough to catch the sunset views at Mather or Hopi Points. Dinner at El Tovar if you can arrange it. Try to rise early enough to catch sunset the next day, then head back for Phoenix mid-day.

Sedona is beautiful to look at, and hiking is great so long as you're in/looking at the Red Rocks (which is the only reason to go to Sedona IMHO). There are some very nice art galleries. Shopping? Not so much, unless you're interested in t-shirts and souvenirs. We were there 3/4 of one day (drove up from Scottsdale, poked around galleries and such, and spent some time at Slide Rock), overnight, and 1/2 of the next day (breakfast at the Coffee Pot - a local institution - and a hike in one of the canyons before we left for Jerome and Prescott), and that was a good amount for us. As a "town" to poke around, we actually liked Jerome better than Sedona. But the red rocks are spectacular.

I would just work on Sedona/Flagstaff/Jerome & save the GC for another trip.

You can do it in 3 days if your goal is just to see these sights. You can drive to Sedona in 2 hrs after you arive in Phoenix. Spend the night and get up early so you can have a leisurely drive up Oak Creek Canyon toward Flagstaff, then head to the Grand Canyon. You'll then have 1/2 day in Grand Canyon, spend the night, and enjoy all the next day in Grand Canyon. Leave after dark and head back down to Flagstaff or on to Sedona. Enjoy that full day in Sedona before heading to Phoenix airport in the evening. (This scenario assumes 3 nights. If you have 4 nights, it'll be much better).

I think 3 days is doable as well. I understand how it isn't always possible to add extra days so take what you can!

We stayed in Sedona and made a day-trip to the Grand Canyon. I sure wished we could have spent the night so if you can get a room this late I would recommend that as well.

Driving back to Sedona at night on Oak Creek Canyon road proved to be a little difficult as it's very dark and a very winding road. I don't have my notes and maybe others will chime in on this aspect, it may be easier to drive the down the main highway and then back up a short way into Sedona.

Also, for a short trip we really enjoyed Enchantment Resort. It was a gorgeous destination spot and was a great place to relax surrounded by the red rocks. Spa on the premises and a wonderful restaurant, Yavapai, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with Boynton Canyon as your view.

It would help us out if you could tell us more details of your arrival and departure.

Although the suggested route by K-Bot is packed with interesting sites; if it was me I would take into account that it is winter and you may possibly be faced with slow driving because of inclement weather; the days will be short; and since you have only a short time I would maximize it at the grand canyon. Personally, i would not consider going to jerome instead of the grand canyon.
I would agree that it is worth going directly to Sedona from the PHX. If you want to shop, check out Telaquepaque (sp) for boutiques.
Drive up to Flagstaff through Oak Creek Canyon. Beaver St. restaurant in Flagstaff is good; Macy's coffee shop across the street is good for coffee and dessert.
Take Rte 180 to GC as it is the closest.
Enjoy your trip.

I would drive to Flagstaff - plenty of inexpensive lodging there. Next day drive as K_bot says thru Cameron to the main South Rim area. Stay at the canyon if you can. Frankly, I think most people see the canyon, say 'Golly, what a gully' and are ready to be on their way.

Next day drive down Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. I have never been able to spend more than a hour there before being bored.

As far as shopping is concerned, I think you would enjoy Scottsdale Fashion Square more.

Thank you all so much for your help! Here are some more details if this helps at all...we are planning on flying in on a Fri and arriving around 5pm in Phoenix. We'll get our car and then I like the idea of driving straight to Sedona and spending the night there. Then on Saturday, like you all suggested, we could wake up early and head to the GC. Spend Sat night there....it looks like there is still quite a bit of availability. I am leaning toward the Bright Angel Lodge due to the pricing. Spend Sat and early Sun at the GC. Then head south on Sunday afternoon. Should we spend the night in Sedona Sun?

On Monday, my hubby will fly home and I'll spend the next few in Scottsdale for work.

Thanks so much for all of these wonderful suggestions! We are really looking forward to this short trip (wish it could be longer!)

slynch825- you have it exactly right, seems. Leave GC around noonish Sunday. Spend late afternoon/evening in Sedona. Head back to Phoenix Monday morning.

Have fun! You will LOVE it!!!

Glad to hear that your plans are coming together. And *score* on finding availability at Bright Angel - the cabins there are really cozy. Hope you grabbed that up right away.

And as giro pointed out, traveling during wintertime can bring some driving hazards during inclement weather, so if you encounter a storm (like we're in the midst of right now!), stay put and wait it out if you can, preferably somewhere near a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate :).

I would stay overnight in Sedona so you could enjoy the scenery before heading to Phoenix Mon am.

Sounds like it's coming together, especially finding a room at Bright Angel Lodge.

Any suggestions on hotels to stay in Sedona???

i'm not sure if you've booked the bright angel (or any GC lodging) yet ... but you might want to look into this ASAP. DH and i stayed at the bright angel for three (or maybe four) nights three years ago in the fall ... and we booked 10 months in advance! and according to the reservation agent, we got one of the last rooms.

It will be cold, possibly snowy, in February, so pick a place where you can have a nice view in Sedona. Sky Ranch Lodge or Best Western Inn at Sedona are 2 we enjoyed for the views.

We very much enjoyed the views and lodging at Enchantment Resort. It was a perfect place to enjoy the scenery as well as have trails for hiking and a top-class spa and restaurant on premises, too.

How much do you want to spend on a hotel in Sedona? Enchantment can run $350 and up. There are very nice less expensive options, and since you'll have a car you can drive into the canyon where Enchantment is to hike and have lunch at the resort, which is what I do.