All,
You have all been incredibly helpful in the last few months in assisting us in our plans for our trip out west. We could not have done it w/o you!:
What do you think of this:
Day 1- Arrive Canyon de Chelly- spend one night and one full day
Day 2 - arrive Monument Valley-spend one night and one full day
Day 3- arrive Grand Canyon - spend one night and one full day
Day 4 - arrive Sedona - spend one nt. and one full day
Day 5 - arrive Tucson-spend two and a half days (have family there...)

Sights to see en route:
Walnut Canyon NM; Meteor Crater; Winslow; Painted desert; Petrified Forest; Hubble Trading Post; Navajo NM; Cameron; Wupatki NM; Sunset Crater; Oak Creek Canyon, Slide Rock SP, Red Rock SP, Chapel of Holy Cross, Bell Rock; Montezuma Castle NM; Saguaro NP; Sabino Canyon; Mt. Lemmon; Sonoran Desert museum; old Tucson and San Xavier Mission; Chiracahua NM; Casa Grande Ruins.

This is wish list. Anything worth skipping or must sees? THANK YOU!

Your list looks spectacular and do-able. While you are in Tucson, you might consider calling the University to see if their Ansel Adams exhibit is open (or check online). They were beneficiary of his artifacts. We enjoyed it tremendously even though we were there in the summer when the display and the time available were curtailed.

Random thoughts about your 'sights enroute:'

You will see the painted desert on the horizon as you drive. This will not add time to your adjenda. Also, Oak Creek Canyon is a 'drive by' experience.

In my humble opinion, the Petrified Forest is over-rated. If you see it enroute to Canyon de Chelley it probably will not add an inordinate amount of time to your trip and if you don't do it, you will always wonder what you missed.

Hubble Trading Post and the Cameron Trading Post are somewhat similar. Cameron's offerings are much more contemporary (tourist trap type items). I would choose Hubble and skip Cameron. Just my humble opinion, again.

Wupatki NM and Sunset Crater are on the same loop and I dont remember anything spectacular about the crater. You will learn similar things about the early natives of this territory when you visit Montezuma Castle NM...if you are pressed for time and have to leave out something, this loop is what I suggest deleting as this will take you 'out of your way' from GC to Sedona.

All the things you mentioned in Sedona are 'must see's' especially the Chapel. You will see Bell Rock as you drive around.

You might consider adding a brief stop at Montezuma's Well. It is enroute between Sedona and Montezuma's Castle. Seeing it will give you a bit more insight into the hardships the Anasasi (sp) faced getting water to their site at The Castle.

Depend on your family to advise you about old Tucson. It was not particularly my cup of tea.

Do go to the San Xavier Mission.

You will have a wonderful time. You are going into a spectacular area of the country!

Alex, check with someone local--like your hotels. We were there two weeks ago and all National Forests were closed as well as 89A through Oak Creek Canyon and Boynton Canyon in Sedona because of extreme fire danger. The Grand Canyon was open but everyone very nervous. Good luck and be flexible!

I assume you are beginning this trip in Phx or Tucson and you plan to visit Winslow, Petrified Forest/Painted Desert and Hubble on the way to de Chelly. If that is the case then the rest of the itinerary works if you exit the Canyon the way you entered and take the long way to Sedona visiting Wupatki, Sunset, Walnut And Oak Creek on the way to Sedona. Since lodging is limited at de CHelly and Monument Valley it is best to have a confirmed motel resevation.

Oak Creek Canyon is open again for the time being. Because of the fire danger you need to be prepared for it to close rather abruptly.

Otherwise, I would have to second all of Polly's comments.

I always like the Petrified Forest and would think it would be worth driving through. Make sure you get out and take at least one short hike amoung the petrified wood.

Also, I hope you plan on purchasing the National Park Pass for $50. It will probably be well worth it for all the parks you plan to visit. It's also good for one full year from date of purchase so you might have use for it during the year.

http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parkspass.htm

Utahtea