Bob

First timers to AZ and we'll be driving from Phoenix to Grand Canyon. Any suggestions on what to do/see along the way from Phoenix? We have the whole day (7:30am until 7:30pm) so we thought we'd take our time a see more than just what passes us by on the highway.

Thanks!

phx

If you are going for a day trip from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon and back, you won't have much time to do anything along the way. If you don't spend much time at the Grand Canyon you can slip through the Sedona area on your way up to see the beautiful red rock formations that Sedona is know for.

Have a safe trip.

Phx

Karen

Leaving Phoenix, right off 1-17, you can visit Montezuma Castle, a cliff dwellingand in the same area, Montezuma Well. Then much further down the road, Fort Verde is just off 1-17 and has a very good little museum and you can walk around and see the officer's homes...these three stops will take around one hour. Then you could go off I-17 to Jerome, formerly a hopping mining town and now an artsy area with totally redone museum in the old Douglas mansion, with gorgeous views of the Verde Valley and into Sedona. You could lunch in Sedona and drive through Oak Creek Canyon, through Flagstaff and on up to the canyon. You would have to get up early to get moving, getting to Montezuma Castle at 9a.m., but you'd have plenty of time to do most of this before beelining it from Sedona to the canyon. Outside the canyon area, be sure to see the IMAX presentation of the canyon.

just curious

See previous posts.

Joe

You should go to the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff and see where Pluto was discovered. There is a lovely tour and the gift shop and displays are quite good.

rqf

If you are locked into a 12 hour time frame you won't have time to stop to see anything along the way. It is about 230 miles from Phx to the SR. You are looking at a minimum of 8 hours drive time (rt), probably closer to 9 hours. If you stop to visit another place along the way you might not have more than an hour or so at the SR. At any rate, suggest you make the SR the first stop then play it by ear on the drive back to PHx.

zz

I read somewhere the average visit to the Gr. Canyon lasts from 3 to 4 hours. With the time stated you would have that much time to spend at the SR

steve

I also like the little visited Montezuma's Well in addition to the more visited Castle.

Tsuther

For the adventurous, and if you are renting a 4xdrive, try to Schneibly Hill Road from Sedona on your way to the Canyon. It was awesome.