We (2 adults and kids, ages 17 & 19)are planning 9 days at the end of July with the following:
Arrive Phoenix
Sedona (Sky Ranch Lodge) 2 nights
Grand Canyon (Thunderbird)1 night
Page (Lake Powell Resort) 2 nights
Bryce (Ruby's Inn unless the Lodge becomes available) 1 night
Zion (Desert Inn) 1 night
Las Vegas (not booked yet) 2 nights

On the way to Sedona we'll stop at Montezuma's Castle & Well. On the way to Grand Canyon via Oak Creek Canyon, we'll stop at Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano and maybe Walnut Canyon.

In addition to a general review and comment on my itinerary, my question is about Monument Valley. I thought we'd visit Grand Canyon then visit Monument Valley. From there drive to Lake Powell. Is this correct geographically? Where do the tours of Monument Valley originate? Is it better to do Monument Valley on the way from Lake Powell to Bryce? Or should we skip it entirely (We've never taken a nature/sightseeing vacation so I just don't know how much the kids will enjoy).

I wouldn't really enjoy the fast past whirlwind trip you have planned either and I love this area. If they are 17 and 19 and never had a nature trip, you might be surprized....they may really like it!

Why Sedona? Spa? Shopping? If you are going to be making a nature tour, then why two nights in a city instead of the national parks? Yes, Sedona is a beautiful area, but IMHO it just doesn't compare to the parks.

You have a lot on your plate for the day you leave Sedona for the Grand Canyon. It won't leave any time to really see the different overlooks at the Grand Canyon.

If you add Monument Valley, were you planning on driving all the way from Grand Canyon to MV, then to Page, AZ? That's a little over 300 miles and about 7 hours of just driving time. You will be spending all day in the vehicle with not much time at Monument Valley.

I wouldn't spend two nights in Page, AZ unless you have planned on a boat tour or the float trip on the Colorado River. Both are great experiences and worth the the two nights!

Personally, I would skip Sedona and spend two nights at the Grand Canyon, two nights at Page and do the boat tour or float trip (or both), one night at Bryce and two nights at Zion.

Utahtea

Thanks for your imput, utahtea. It looks like Monument Valley is definitely out. I wanted to go to Sedona for a little variation (arts & crafts/a little shopping). It's suppose to be so beautiful. We'll sightsee the Red Rock area and also go to Slide Rock Park. I figured 2 nights in Lake Powell because we did plan to do the float trip (on your recommendation). Do you think we could make Lake Powell 1 night and add a second night to Grand Canyon? Also, how long does it take to drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon via the scenic Oak Creek Canyon?

I can understand wanting a little varity and spending a two nights in Sedona. It's been a while since we drove Oak Creek Canyon. It is slow and windy.

You might be better off just spending one night at the Grand Canyon and then most of the next day stopping at the overlooks as you exit the park towards Cameron on your way to spend the night in Page, AZ. You can also squeeze in a tour of the Upper Antelope Slots canyon on the day you arrive in Page. If you spend two nights at Grand Canyon then you will need to be in a bigger rush to get to Page for the tour. If you do the tour the day you leave Page, then you are really cutting into Bryce.

Anyway you cut it, I'm sure you will all have a great time.

Utahtea

while in sedona, i would send the teens on a long jeep tour and spend my time shopping and eating. you will see the same beautiful red rocks. it's nice to split up when spending hours in a car.

there is the best fabric/quilt shop i've ever seen if it is still there.

oak creek canyon is very scenic.

We just did a similar trip last October but going the opposite direction. We started in Vegas- Zion-Bryce-Page-Monument Valley-Canyon de Chelly-GC-Flagstgaff-Sedona. We took 23 very comfortable days for the entire trip. No rushing. No hectic. 9 days is very short for this area. We are a couple in our 50's with no children. We felt that seeing so many beautiful red rock areas on one trip took away some of the stunning impact each one would have had on its own. It was very tempting to see it all on one go, but by the time we got to the GC and Sedona, it much of a muchness. I wouldn't say 'don't do it because of this' but just keep it in mind. We stayed 2 nights at Zion and one at Bryce. With your children, you can do walks in both; for us, if I could do it again I'd go to Zion for the day and one night, and then do Bryce en route to Page the next day? Unless you all want to do the very steep walk into Bryce, it really looks great from the rim. We did the walk, which is why I wouldn't do it again! Very, very steep, and it will be extremely HOT. Kanab is a cute, clean town with some nice motels and old western movie stuff that makes it unique. It was a nice stop on the way. Then we went to Page, for 2 nights, doing the Antelope Canyon which is stunning and worth the stay in Page. Also Horeshoe Bend is worthwhile. Page is interesting because its a sprawling, growing town in a nice setting and is in the Navajo Nation, so you get a really good experience of being among the Indians there which we loved and feels different to the rest. There are good restaurants and trading posts there too. We loved it. From Page we went to Monument Valley which was our absolute favorite place on our whole trip! We stayed at Gouldings, which we loved, and took a one day 8 hr tour with an Indian guide from Gouldings. It cost $90 each. This may seem expensive, but it's what made our experience so amazing and so personal. We stayed 2 nights, and we plan to go there again for another 2 nights when we go back to the states. It is GORGEOUS! and lots of interesting things to see and learn about. (We then went to Canyon de Chelly (not on your agenda) which is very different and also amazing. But I won't go into that here.) We then went to the GC for 3 nights at Bright Angel Lodge. None of the accommodation at the GC is really worth what they charge, but staying in the park and especially near the rim, is. With a family and kids, your priorities are different than ours. If you enter the park through the Eastern entrance be sure to stop at all the lookouts on your way in because it will cost you lots of time driving the 25 or so miles back and forth and they are worth seeing. Most of the views from the main S Rim tourist area are more or less the same, but driving into the park and stopping all along the way is different. We found the restaurants inferior and the shuttle was awfully slow and boring (not like the shuttle in Zion which is great); so take your car and not the shuttle as it is a big waste of precious time if you want to get around. Even to the shopping center you will save time by driving. We then spent a night in Flagstaff, and 2 nights in Sedona, which we found disappointing. We stayed on the main strip because anything off the beaten path was too expensive. We found most of Sedona to be very, very touristy and trashy, but we did enjoy the scenic drive around the back. Tlaquepaque shopping center is worth seeing as it is a beautiful setting, certainly better than anything on the main strip. The canyon drive you mention is pretty but may be very crowded at that time of the year. When we went it was relatively empty, cool, and colourful. Your kids will love slide rock (been there before). None of the driving times are terribly long. I think our longest was from Canyon de Chelly to GC and even that was only around 2.5-3 hours. It seems long when you look at the map, but these distances are not too far. However, 9 days is a very, very, VERY short time. If you can't take more time, then I would consider the following: Sedona 1 day en route to GC, Grand Canyon 2 nights, Page 1 night, Monument Valley 2 nights, Kanab 1 night then stopping at Bryce en route to Zion for 1 night. that leaves you one night in Vegas. As I said, very short trip, especially considering the combination of all the driving plus the sightseeing. I'm not even sure I would drive Phoenix - Vegas around the Canyon in only 9 days. We had the time, and I planned it so we never had to rush morning or evening to get anywhere and it was worth it as the trip was a smashing success. But I guess I'm still stuck on Monument Valley. It was our absolute favorite. Have a great trip!

Don't worry about the touristy aspects of Sedona - you are staying in a perfect location. Sky Ranch Lodge is on the mesa above town; it's very relaxed and the views are magnificent. You can descend into town or not, your choice! I think the whole family will enjoy it.

Yes, to the float trip! This was a big hit with our 16-year-old. I'd only spend 1 night in Page and then drive on to Kanab to stay in a motel after the float trip. (We actually booked this float trip through Grand Canyon. The bus took us to Glen Canyon Dam for the 5 hour float trip and picked us up afterward and took us back to GC, but spending 1 night in Page might be better if you book it on your own).

Bryce is great - and hiking into the canyon is very easy - it's not as long or steep as it looks. Totally worth it. If you spend the night beforehand in Kanab, you will have more time to enjoy Bryce. You can leave late in the day from Bryce and then go to Zion.

I'd definitely spend 2 nights in Zion. There is so much to do there. Actually, I'd spend 3 nights there! And only 1 night in Las Vegas would be more than enough for us, but it depends on what you like to do.

Have fun on this memorable trip.

About three years ago we were at Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Sedona and several other spots that we stopped at as we drove. You cannot go wrong with any of these locations.

In May we plan on doing at least Canyonlands, Arches and Natural Bridges. There are several other parks in this same area that we may also visit.

For anyone going to Sedona, we suggest Boots & Saddles B&B. Sam and his wife are perfect hosts.

Did y'all look at the date of the OP?

Don't feel too bad about the old post Tinydancer, I found your trip review helpful for my UT/AZ trip this summer. Thanks!

Hi KenInPa...thanks!