Flagstaff AZ
 

We are going to Flagstaff AZ after the Grand Canyon to visit the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. My children are 14 and 10 years old. Any suggestions on the itinerary from GC to Flagstaff -- do we see the Petrified Forest or Painted Desert on the drive from GC to Flagstaff, etc. We think we need only one night in Flagstaff as one day is Painted Desert, stayover and next day go to Petrified Forest. We are driving to Las Vegas from here. This will be in August. Also, any ideas on where to stay in Flagstaff and where to eat? Thanks.

You might also want to look at Winslow or Holbrook for your overnight stay. In August it may be brutally hot in this area.
Coming back from Petrified Forest on I40 you can detour south to see the big meteor crater. There are some dinosaur tracks near Tuba City if you want to take the highway through the Hopi Indian Reservation.
On the way back to LV, you will go over the big new bridge over Hoover Dam on US 93. Take the time to stop and at least walk over the dam if not a tour down inside.

You are allotting way too much time for Painted Desert/Petrified Forest. An hour for each is adequate. Agree with considering the heat factor in that area in August. Yuck.

Although I agree that the Painted Desert is more of a drive-through (with perhaps a stop for a few minutes to take a few pictures), you can easily spend a full day in the Petrified Forest, more if you want to do some light hiking. It's worth far more time than an hour, so I just completely disagree with Placename about that, despite the August heat.

However, I'm perplexed by your itinerary, and I think you may be a little directionally challenged. The Petrified Forest is over 100 miles east of the Flagstaff and not on the way to Las Vegas at all. So not only will you not pass through the Petrified Forest on the way to Flagstaff from the GC, but you're going to have to drive almost 2 hours to get to the Petrified Forest from there (and 2 hours back); I'd guess it's about 90 minutes from the Grand Canyon into Flagstaff, and much of that distance will also have to be retraced on your way to LV. That's a long slog.

If you could do it, I'd recommend seeing the Petrfied Forest first, then spending the night in Flagstaff and heading out to the Grand Canyon from there the next morning. Then drive directly from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas.

Otherwise, you may want to take the longer (and arguably more interesting) drive around the north rim through Page on your way to Las Vegas. I think this is a pretty scenic drive and it takes you near Monument Valley and through Utah. But I think it adds quite a few miles onto the trip.

Where are you starting out from? I guess if it's west of the Grand Canyon, then this is a reasonable itinerary, but if you are coming from points east, then you need to rethink your itinerary a bit.

OK ... so I see from your other thread that you are starting out in LV. Then I guess the order is fine. But I'd still ask you to consider going BACK to LV via the northern route, and you could also make a stop off at Bryce Canyon or Zion if you have an extra day.

Stayed at the Best Western Little America and Hilton Garden Inn, liked both.
Food wise we've enjoyed Cuvee 928 and Brix Restaurant

Flagstaff is a much better option for an overnight than either Holbrook or Winslow. In addition the altitude at Flagstaff will make for cooler temperatures.

I agree with Doug_Stallings that the Petrified Forest is well worth spending the day exploring and the Painted Desert can be seen with a couple of stops at the overlooks.

When you leave the Grand Canyon head east on Hwy 64 towards Cameron, AZ. Stop at some of the overlooks at the Grand Canyon as you exit. Then you will be treated to some beautiful views of the Painted Desert area as you descend down to Cameron. From Cameron head south on Hwy 89 to Flagstaff. If you have the time, take Indian Road 395, which provides a scenic loop from U.S. 89 east into Wupatki National Monument http://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm then southwest to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument http://www.nps.gov/sucr/index.htm. Indian Road 395 rejoins U.S. 89.

Just off of I-40 out of Flagstaff is Walnut Canyon National Monument http://www.nps.gov/waca/index.htm and a little farther east is Meteor Crater http://www.meteorcrater.com/Visitors-Center-Overview

Utahtea

Here are a few more ideas:

1. Cameron: stop in and have a Navajo Taco lunch/dinner at the Cameron Trading Post (it's Navajo frybread topped with beans, meat, green chiles, cheddar cheese, tomato and hot sauce). We usually split one when we take guests there, or get a mini size. Wander around and admire the Navajo rugs on display and available for sale. Lots of other souvenirs as well (although not always as authentic).

2. Flagstaff accommodations: We have a new Marriott Courtyard that is fantastic, and a new Springhill Suites that's good, too (book at marriott.com). I've stayed at both and had family stay there when they visit. Both are at the I-17 & I-40 interchange.

3. Flagstaff dining: Head to the historic downtown! For breakfast, I'd suggest La Bellavia or Macy's European Coffee House (both on Beaver St, south of the RR tracks). Lunch or dinner: Beaver Street Brewery (across from Macy's (not the dept store)) on Beaver Street; Tinderbox (comfort food); Pa-to Thai (near Heritage Square); Josephine's (historic old stone house just north of the downtown area). Lunch only: Cafe Daily Fare (just north of the Babbitt car dealership off Route 66 east of downtown) - innovative menu and very casual. Diablo Burger off Heritage Square is also a local favorite and you can eat out on the plaza.

4. Activities: Lowell Observatory, Sunset Crater, Walnut Canyon (222 steps down into Indian ruins - ask for the junior park ranger kit for the kids), Wupatki National Monument (incredible Indian ruins just north of town)

With the new Hoover dam flyover, your drive from Flagstaff to LV will take about 3.5 hours, with little to see (other than the dam) in between.

Hope this helps, and have a great trip!