I AM FLYING INTO PHOENIX TO VISIT A FRIEND AND WANT TO SEE AS MUCH OF S.W. AS POSSIBLE. MY FRIEND GOES TO SCHOOL DURING THE WEEK, CAN WE LEAVE FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND DRIVE TO SEDONA...THEN DRIVE TO GRAND CANYON SAT MORNING FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AND THEN HEAD TO VEGAS SAT NIGHT THEN DRIVE BACK TO PHOENIX LATE SUN NIGHT? I REALIZE IT WIL BE ALOT OF DRIVE AND RUSHED, BUT IS IT POSSIBLE?
WE ONLY HAVE A WEEKEND AND I WANT TO SEE RED ROCKS, GRAND CANYON AND VEGAS.

I say, go for it. You can make it to Sedona in about 4 hours I think, then another 4 or so to the Canyon, which will take about 6 hours to see the entire South Rim. Then 6 more hours to Vegas.

Total drive time is right about 15 hours.
Total time from mid-Friday to Sunday PM = about 33 hours.
Subtracting 7 hours per night for sleep (Fri and Sat), eating time totalling 5 hours (fast), showering and other basics 3 hours, leaves you about MINUS 4 hours.
That would leave zero time to see the sights which you intended to see, the reason for your driving investment.
Sedona and GC would be reasonable, though.

I have done similar, so yes it is possible. Have your driving route planned in detail, don't dawdle along the way, keep abreast of the weather if in winter, supercharge your stamina - then go for it and have fun.

The previous poster really needs to check his or her math. Friday afternoon to Sunday night is more like 56 hours, so, yes, this trip is doable. Sounds like you'll be sleeping and eating while you drive, but isn't that the American Way!

You could...but we just recently did the Arizona thing with plans to go on to Las Vegas, ended up spending extra DAYS in Sedona. If you ask me, GC and Sedona are both WELL WORTH spending a few minutes there.

Yes, it IS doable, BUT, you will have to eat McDonalds, etc. while you are driving(no stopping to eat) and you will proably have to do a Griswold tour of the Grand Canyon(like Chevy Chase in the movie Vacation). Sounds like you'll have a blast. Good Luck !!

Las Vegas has Red Rock Canyon, a beautiful 25 or so mile drive State Park about 35 minutes from the strip. This can help save you considerable time and is quite scenic. Also it is only a 30-40 min flight between LV and Phoenix and very inexpensive ($60-90). I don't know what your budget is but there are also daily helicopter tours from LV to the Grand Canyon.

This trip is definitely doable - I did one similar just a few weeks ago. I had a business trip in San Jose & had to be there Monday morning.

I flew into Vegas Wednesday night & did the entire strip Thursday. It really does take at least one full day if you go into every themed hotel (thank you Fodorites for this).

Rented a car & was on the road from Las Vegas by 9am on Friday morning, headed for Flagstaff via historic Route 66. Stopped at the Hoover Dam but did NOT take the tour, only pictures. Stopped several times alongside Route 66 for pictures & cheesy tourist attractions. Checked into my B&B in Flagstaff & drove to Sedona, did some sightseeing, ate dinner & drove back. The drive itself was just gorgeous.

Saturday morning, left Flagstaff at 8am for the Canyon. Did the entire South Rim, then drove around the Canyon on the North side which is undoubtedly the most beautiful (long) drive I have ever taken. (Tip here: GET GAS before attempting this. I had plenty of gas in the tank & was glad I did. There were literally NO places to stop & I think it took about 3 hours to get to the Navajo Bridge, where there was a gas station.) Got on the interstate in St. George, UT & then drove back through Vegas at about 9pm on my way to Sequoia & Yosemite National Parks. Arrived at the motel in Three Rivers, CA at 4am.

Sunday morning, left the motel at 9am & saw all I could see at the time (lots of roads were closed due to snow) & made it to the Pacific shore in Santa Cruz by sundown. Ate dinner & got to my hotel in Sunnyvale by 9pm.

It was exhausting, but well worth it. Above all, bring a cooler full of food & drinks, a gas can, & fill 'er up everywhere you see a gas station once you get near the Canyon.

Phoenix to Sedona 2hrs...then 2hrs to Grand Canyon...what is best route from there to Las Vegas?

Those driving times are off but in any case the fastest way to Vegas is back down & to the west through Kingman AZ. Take scenic Route 66 for kicks.

Just a thought, but how about fri. in vegas ,leave at 3 in vegas by 9. Saturday evening and Sunday morning in Canyon,sunrises and sunsets are best, you will see both and the rest of Sunday in Sedona.

The heck with vegas, save yourself some time and visit Laughlin, Nevada. A beautifull liitle strip of casinos right on the Colorado river, just past Kingman

We just did this very trip in four days with two kids. TOTALLY DOABLE. You'll have a blast.
Phx to Sedona is about an hour and a half. Take the 89a up from Sedona to Flagstaff so you can drive through beautiful Oak Creek Canyon. You may want to time your arrival at the GC for a time when there isn't expected to be a long line for entry to the park. (Maybe call the ranger station for advice.) You'll pass Hoover Dam on the way up to LV- which is worth a look. Spend at least 6-8 hours taking in Vegas. ENJOY!