Phoenix - Grand Canyon - Monument Valley trip
Jul 14th, 2007, 01:29 AM
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Phoenix - Grand Canyon - Monument Valley trip
Hi, I'm considering a solo trip to Arizona sometime in the next 12 months and am looking for tips/suggestions. Flying to Phoenix, then driving to Grand Canyon (South Rim, probably lodging in Tusayan) and Monument Valley, then back to Phoenix, probably spanning about 7 days. In no special order, I'm wondering about:
1) Traffic conditions in and out of Phoenix.
2) In between these destinations, what spots are worth exploring for a couple of hours, or even longer if the trip is extended or time otherwise permits?
3) How sparse is the drive between GC and MV?
4) For MV, lodge in Kayenta or go to Goulding's? How is Goulding's Full Moon Tour?
5) Any particular comments about road conditions? Weather?
Thank you. I look forward to the suggestions!
1) Traffic conditions in and out of Phoenix.
2) In between these destinations, what spots are worth exploring for a couple of hours, or even longer if the trip is extended or time otherwise permits?
3) How sparse is the drive between GC and MV?
4) For MV, lodge in Kayenta or go to Goulding's? How is Goulding's Full Moon Tour?
5) Any particular comments about road conditions? Weather?
Thank you. I look forward to the suggestions!
Jul 14th, 2007, 04:56 AM
#2
I just returned East from a trip that started in Las Vegas and ended in Phoenix. It included Bryce Canyon, Zion, Page and Sedona.
If you are into hiking (I wasn't but really enjoyed the week), there are several very scenic hikes in Sedona. The setting is beautiful.
Also, while I think it may be too far out of your way, I might consider a return detour to Page for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
If you are into hiking (I wasn't but really enjoyed the week), there are several very scenic hikes in Sedona. The setting is beautiful.
Also, while I think it may be too far out of your way, I might consider a return detour to Page for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
Jul 14th, 2007, 05:45 AM
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This wasn't one of your questions but I will offer some advice anyway: if you can get a reservation at one of the GC lodges instead of Tusayan I would strongly recommend that. Last year we stayed 3 nights at the Yavapai lodge then one night in Tusayan when we could not adjust our reservation to add a fourth night at the Yavapai. Our Lonely Planet guide says Tusayan is "not particularly memorable" and I would say that is overly kind.
For the trip from the south rim to Monument Valley, I have only done the part that takes you along the south rim of the canyon to the eastern entrance, and to Cameron at the intersection of I 89. That south rim portion of the Canyon is certainly spectacular and worth stopping several times along the way-- or at least at the Watchtower.
We stayed several days in Flagstaff and really enjoyed the town. It has a very pleasant historic downtown, the Lowell Observatory, the Museum of Northern Arizona. it is also relatively cool in the summer. We were not able to see Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater (closed when we were there due to fire danger)
For the trip from the south rim to Monument Valley, I have only done the part that takes you along the south rim of the canyon to the eastern entrance, and to Cameron at the intersection of I 89. That south rim portion of the Canyon is certainly spectacular and worth stopping several times along the way-- or at least at the Watchtower.
We stayed several days in Flagstaff and really enjoyed the town. It has a very pleasant historic downtown, the Lowell Observatory, the Museum of Northern Arizona. it is also relatively cool in the summer. We were not able to see Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater (closed when we were there due to fire danger)
Jul 14th, 2007, 07:13 AM
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1) Traffic conditions in and out of Phoenix.
Heavy traffic at rush hour, say 6-9 AM and 4-7 PM. Try to time it so you avoid this on weekdays, or schedule your trip to start on a weekend.
Should take just under 4 hours to drive from the PHX airport to Tusayan without undue traffic delays.
2) In between these destinations, what spots are worth exploring for a couple of hours, or even longer
Too many to mention, but a short list would include Sedona, Flagstaff, Page and Canyon de Chelly
3) How sparse is the drive between GC and MV?
We often stay over at GC for the sunrise, then have breakfast and check out and head for MV and arrive early afternoon. Sometimes a lot of summer traffic on 89 between Cameron and the Tuba City cut-off as people haul boats to Page (Lake Powell) but once you turn off traffic isn't very heavy, just the occasional camper slowing it down a bit.
4) For MV, lodge in Kayenta or go to Goulding's?
Gouldings is best if you can get the reservation. Best location and good restaurant. In Kayenta we prefer the Hampton Inn, which is newer and has better amenities than the other choices (Wetherill Best Western, Holiday Inn).
5) Any particular comments about road conditions? Weather?
Roads are paved the entire way until you get inside Monument Valley, where there's a rough 17 mile road you can take without a guide. Guided tour is a good bet. Spring and fall are our favorite times (say October and April), winter is OK but there's a chance you'll hit a snowstorm, especially at the GC. Summer is very busy.
Bill
Heavy traffic at rush hour, say 6-9 AM and 4-7 PM. Try to time it so you avoid this on weekdays, or schedule your trip to start on a weekend.
Should take just under 4 hours to drive from the PHX airport to Tusayan without undue traffic delays.
2) In between these destinations, what spots are worth exploring for a couple of hours, or even longer
Too many to mention, but a short list would include Sedona, Flagstaff, Page and Canyon de Chelly
3) How sparse is the drive between GC and MV?
We often stay over at GC for the sunrise, then have breakfast and check out and head for MV and arrive early afternoon. Sometimes a lot of summer traffic on 89 between Cameron and the Tuba City cut-off as people haul boats to Page (Lake Powell) but once you turn off traffic isn't very heavy, just the occasional camper slowing it down a bit.
4) For MV, lodge in Kayenta or go to Goulding's?
Gouldings is best if you can get the reservation. Best location and good restaurant. In Kayenta we prefer the Hampton Inn, which is newer and has better amenities than the other choices (Wetherill Best Western, Holiday Inn).
5) Any particular comments about road conditions? Weather?
Roads are paved the entire way until you get inside Monument Valley, where there's a rough 17 mile road you can take without a guide. Guided tour is a good bet. Spring and fall are our favorite times (say October and April), winter is OK but there's a chance you'll hit a snowstorm, especially at the GC. Summer is very busy.
Bill
Jul 15th, 2007, 05:48 PM
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chrys- I have to agree wholeheartedly with Vttraveler's suggestion for staying in the park.
We just got back last week and stayed on the rim in a small cabin at the Bright Angel. Our cabin was old and rustic, but the bathroom was new and modern; it was perfect. Everything is right there, the shuttles run into the evening and the night sky was spectacular!
We just got back last week and stayed on the rim in a small cabin at the Bright Angel. Our cabin was old and rustic, but the bathroom was new and modern; it was perfect. Everything is right there, the shuttles run into the evening and the night sky was spectacular!
Jul 21st, 2007, 12:32 AM
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You might consider flying into Las Vegas rather then Phx. Phx is great for staying at resorts and great golf but other than that, there's not much to see here.
Starting from Vegas: the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Boulder City. Drive down along the Colorado river to visit a ghost town, Oatman. Donkeys roam the streets. Feed them a carrot and they're happy. Continue down to Lake Havasu to see the London Bridge.
Drive NE up to Williams and take the old style train up to the Grand Canyon village. Hiking is a must! Or drive up. From the Grand Canyon, drive north to Glen Canyon Dam. Take a nice and easy raft trip down the Colorado River.
Stop in Page, AZ. Scenes from "Planet of the Apes" were filmed there.
Head south to Flagstaff. A beautiful city to see. They have an old town. Stay in one of the hotels on the old Rt.66. You have to visit Sunset Crater. Another must see is the Lowell observatory up on the hill. Great tour and very educational!
Head east through Winslow, Holbrook and stop at the Petrified Forest.
From here, the long, long road back to Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas airport is so easy to get into-out of. Phx isn't that bad but it's a 5+ hour trip to the Grand Canyon.
If you do fly into Phx, on your way north, must sees are: Wickenburg-to see the hanging tree. Prescott-Sedona-Jerome. Sedona is a must! The red-rock is so beautiful. Jerome is an old mining town up in the hills. And then Oak Creek Canyon-Slide Rock park.
7-days might not be enough if you fly into Las Vegas. 2-days are a must for staying at one of the casinos and trying your luck at gambling. If you don't gamble, that's better because there is alot to see in Vegas.
Hope this helped. Have fun, there's so much to see in Arizona.....
Starting from Vegas: the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Boulder City. Drive down along the Colorado river to visit a ghost town, Oatman. Donkeys roam the streets. Feed them a carrot and they're happy. Continue down to Lake Havasu to see the London Bridge.
Drive NE up to Williams and take the old style train up to the Grand Canyon village. Hiking is a must! Or drive up. From the Grand Canyon, drive north to Glen Canyon Dam. Take a nice and easy raft trip down the Colorado River.
Stop in Page, AZ. Scenes from "Planet of the Apes" were filmed there.
Head south to Flagstaff. A beautiful city to see. They have an old town. Stay in one of the hotels on the old Rt.66. You have to visit Sunset Crater. Another must see is the Lowell observatory up on the hill. Great tour and very educational!
Head east through Winslow, Holbrook and stop at the Petrified Forest.
From here, the long, long road back to Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas airport is so easy to get into-out of. Phx isn't that bad but it's a 5+ hour trip to the Grand Canyon.
If you do fly into Phx, on your way north, must sees are: Wickenburg-to see the hanging tree. Prescott-Sedona-Jerome. Sedona is a must! The red-rock is so beautiful. Jerome is an old mining town up in the hills. And then Oak Creek Canyon-Slide Rock park.
7-days might not be enough if you fly into Las Vegas. 2-days are a must for staying at one of the casinos and trying your luck at gambling. If you don't gamble, that's better because there is alot to see in Vegas.
Hope this helped. Have fun, there's so much to see in Arizona.....
Jul 21st, 2007, 07:44 AM
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I think your plan on flying into Phoenix is right on. The drive to the Grand Canyon is under 4 hours, not 5 + hours. And you get into great scenery much faster than coming from Las Vegas, which is a 5 hour drive. Drive times according to www.aaa.com internet triptik (which I find to be preety accurate).
On the way either to or from MV, also stop at Walnut Canyon, just east of Flagstaff, near I-40.
On the way either to or from MV, also stop at Walnut Canyon, just east of Flagstaff, near I-40.
Jul 21st, 2007, 03:30 PM
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I'll second Bill_H's recommendation for Canyon de Chelly National Monument. On the way back to Phoenix you can also drive though the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. You will also pass by Walnut Canyon National Monument which had also been suggested. If time is limited, I'd skip Walnut for Montezuma's Castle National Monument either which is on I-17 just north of Camp Verde.
Utahtea
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Jul 21st, 2007, 04:53 PM
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"Phx isn't that bad but it's a 5+ hour trip to the Grand Canyon."
It's actually about 3:45 from the PHX airport if you take the freeway to Flagstaff, then to Williams, then up to the canyon. Maybe another 15 minutes if you take the shorter route thu Flagstaff (takes longer because of the traffic in Flag).
It's actually about 3:45 from the PHX airport if you take the freeway to Flagstaff, then to Williams, then up to the canyon. Maybe another 15 minutes if you take the shorter route thu Flagstaff (takes longer because of the traffic in Flag).
Jul 21st, 2007, 11:20 PM
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chrys,
Whatever you choose, have fun.
I am giving you info on what I believe to be true.
Map it out, Phx vs. Vegas.
Bill, it ain't 3.45 hours drive from Phx to the Grand Canyon, who are you trying to fool? 5+ hours, get real.....
Whatever you choose, have fun.
I am giving you info on what I believe to be true.
Map it out, Phx vs. Vegas.
Bill, it ain't 3.45 hours drive from Phx to the Grand Canyon, who are you trying to fool? 5+ hours, get real.....
Jul 22nd, 2007, 07:41 AM
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Pretzel, sorry, but Bill is absolutely correct. Per AAA.com, which is very accurate, it would be 3:57 (233.3 miles) from PHX to GC south rim and 4:54 (272.8 miles) from LAS. Heck, I can get all the way from Tucson to the GC in about 6 hours. And, yes, I have driven it, and I live on the far southeast side of Tucson.
Perhaps you were talking about going to Grand Canyon Village through the east entrance, which would be longer from PHX (also longer from LAS)?
I just really want to make sure that visitors get correct information. Incorrect information is much worse than no information.
Perhaps you were talking about going to Grand Canyon Village through the east entrance, which would be longer from PHX (also longer from LAS)?
I just really want to make sure that visitors get correct information. Incorrect information is much worse than no information.
Jul 22nd, 2007, 09:37 AM
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Bill, it ain't 3.45 hours drive from Phx to the Grand Canyon, who are you trying to fool? 5+ hours, get real.....
Pretzel, I live about 10-15 minutes south of the airport and have driven to the GC maybe 50 times over the years. I always drive no more than 5-8 miles over the posted speed limit on the freeway and on the road from Williams to the canyon. Used to take about 4 hours when the max freeway speed limit was 65.
Once they upped the limit to 75 for long stretches of the freeway the travel time dropped to 3:45 ... YMMV
Bill
Pretzel, I live about 10-15 minutes south of the airport and have driven to the GC maybe 50 times over the years. I always drive no more than 5-8 miles over the posted speed limit on the freeway and on the road from Williams to the canyon. Used to take about 4 hours when the max freeway speed limit was 65.
Once they upped the limit to 75 for long stretches of the freeway the travel time dropped to 3:45 ... YMMV
Bill
Jul 22nd, 2007, 10:06 AM
#14
Gouldings in Monument Valley. I guess with a rental car you might not want to drive yourself. However, if you can beat the tour busses into Monument Valley in the early morning it is a special experience. Be aware that there is a one hour time difference between Gouldings and the Tribal Lands.
Grand Canyon, I agree with the poster who recommended one of the Bright Angel Cabins. Steps away from the rim and just perfect for one person.
Grand Canyon, I agree with the poster who recommended one of the Bright Angel Cabins. Steps away from the rim and just perfect for one person.
Jul 22nd, 2007, 10:26 AM
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Bill, it ain't 3.45 hours drive from Phx to the Grand Canyon, who are you trying to fool? 5+ hours, get real.....
Pretzel, I just plugged it into Mapquest, from my house 10-15 minutes drive south of the PHX airport (opposite direction from GC) to El Tovar on the south rim Mapquest says 244.69 miles, taking 3 hours 59 minutes. I think Mapquest sticks to the speed limits (I usually beat their estimates so think they are conservative). I usually set the cruise control to 70-72 on the 65 mph stretches, 60-62 on the 55 mph stretch from Williams to the GC, so am a bit faster than them, even with a stop for gas.
If it takes you 5+ hours as you say then your average speed is 49 mph or slower, this on freeways that have max posted speeds 65 and 75 mph with a couple of 55 mph stretches.
Who are YOU trying to fool? Do you really drive that slowly on interstates?
Bill
Pretzel, I just plugged it into Mapquest, from my house 10-15 minutes drive south of the PHX airport (opposite direction from GC) to El Tovar on the south rim Mapquest says 244.69 miles, taking 3 hours 59 minutes. I think Mapquest sticks to the speed limits (I usually beat their estimates so think they are conservative). I usually set the cruise control to 70-72 on the 65 mph stretches, 60-62 on the 55 mph stretch from Williams to the GC, so am a bit faster than them, even with a stop for gas.
If it takes you 5+ hours as you say then your average speed is 49 mph or slower, this on freeways that have max posted speeds 65 and 75 mph with a couple of 55 mph stretches.
Who are YOU trying to fool? Do you really drive that slowly on interstates?
Bill
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