My husband, myself and our two daughters in their twenties have a week together. we all want to go to the grand canyon. only time together. trying to come up with a one week trip. flying in from boston. have no idea where to start or end or actually the middle!
thank you!

I would start and end in the same place, to avoid costly rental car dropoff fees. So, either Phoenix or Las Vegas would be obvious. You can choose which one depending on flight and rental car costs. Phoenix is closer to the Grand Canyon south rim by about an hour. Also, coming from Phoenix an obvious stop for a few days would be Sedona, which is only about 2 hours from PHX.

If costs are not too far apart, I would choose Phoenix as the starting and ending point.

When are you traveling? You will want to make your Grand Canyon lodging reservations first, then build the rest of your week around that. Usually one or two nights at the GCNP is enough unless you are avid hikers.

Be aware that the north rim is closed in winter due to the roads not being accessible . You will need to head for the south rim and be prepared for snow (light or heavy) and look now for lodgings since they are often sold out.

january 3rd. we are thinking of leaving off las vegas. fly into phoenix. drive to sedona for two nights, go to flagstaff for two nights and your in the middle for the GC, then come back to phoenix and stay in scottsdale for some warmth before heading out.

Why Flagstaff? It is only 30 miles from Sedona and that really doesn't make sense. Stay at the Grand Canyon instead of Flagstaff those 2 nights..

Stay at the Grand Canyon and skip Flagstaff.

What's with the Flagstaff hate?

No hate -- but it is only about 30 miles from Sedona -- makes no sense staying there instead of driving another 75 miles to the South Rim.

Have you stayed in Flagstaff jj? Do you have first hand experience to discount it? I don't. I've stayed in Carefree, Sedona and GC, but have no first hand knowledge to discount Flagstaff as a destination or home base.

>>Have you stayed in Flagstaff jj? Do you have first hand experience . . .

Because you are stating without explanation of why staying in Flagstaff is a bad idea. Give reasons. That's all.

Staying in Flagstaff is a bad idea if the objective is to visit the Grand Canyon. It will be over an hour each way to the GC from Flag. Is that a good enough explanation?

Stay at the GCNP, at one of the lodges inside the park.

5 lodges inside the park -- http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/

Yavapai Lodge -- http://www.visitgrandcanyon.com/yavapai-lodge

I do enjoy spending a night in Flag. If you have an extra night (and Sedona really deserves more than 2 nights), stay at Little America, have dinner at Black Bart's, and visit Walnut Canyon, Wupatki National Monument, and Sunset crater.

The reason to stay in GC is so that you don't have to drive to/from the park to see sunset and sunrise. There have been elk and deer on the road more than once when we've gone there in the daylight. I would not want to have to do the trip after dark when the visibility is down and I am tired.