donk

We are planning a vacation for next May/June and have a large area we want to cover including 4 states but dont want to spend all day driving. Current plan is arrive Phoenix 2 nights then Flagstaff en route to New Mexico for 4 nights driving from Santa Fe to Kayenta and then via Page to Zion and Bryce for 2 nights then Vegas for 3 nights , Grand Canyon for 2 nights , Sedona and back to Phoenix in total we have 3 weeks. Whilse I have checked the mileage for most destinations I am not sure how far or how long it would take from Santa Fe to Kayenta and if I should allow an extra day in Kayenta to visit monument valley? Also is is better to travel to Page from Kayenta or push on through to the Bryce area bearing in mind I dont want to travel more than 200 -250 miles in any one day.
Does anyone think the plan is too optimistic or have a better route?

utahtea

Phoenix to Flagstaff 145 miles.
Flagstaff to Santa Fe 385 miles.

If you want the 200 - 250 mile driving days, then you would be better off driving to Holbrook, AZ

Phoenix to Holbrook 235
Holbrook to Santa Fe 294 miles (add about 20 more miles if you drive though the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Parks.

Santa Fee to Kayenta 337 miles. It would be a shame to be 20 miles from Momument Valley and not visit.

Kayenta to Page, AZ. 100 miles (taking Hwy 98) Page, AZ to Bryce (via Kanab & paved roads) 154 miles.

Bryce to Zion 86 miles

Zion to Las Vegas 164 miles

Las Vegas to S. Rim Grand Canyon 280 miles

Grand Canyon to Sedona 117 miles

Sedona to Phoneix 115 miles.

BTW, I hope you plan on 2 nights each at Zion and Bryce.

Utahtea

tovarich

Sounds great.Phoenix-Flagstaff with along the way visit Montezuma castle and I would include Sedona.
From Flagstaff I would take IS 40(visiting Petrified forest)and then go to Chinle and the Canyon de Chelly(2 days).The Holiday inn is great and at the entrance of the park.
Then via Gallup visit Acoma pueblo and on to Santa Fe.Side trip to Taos.
Then rte 96 and 44 try to visit Chaco canyon park.On to Kayenta.Visit Monument valley.
On to the G.Canyon.Then via Page to Bryce can. and Zion.Take two days per park.Then to L.Vegas.Then back via Flagstaff to Phoenix.
Use Mapquest to calculate your mileage and time required.Everything depends of course on the things you like to do.We only stayed one night in Phoenix and in L.Vegas but did some wonderful hikes in Bryce can.Greetings from Belgium.Paul

CowboyCraic

Another site well worth a visit coming out of Flagstaff heading east is Walnut Canyon, http://www.nps.gov/waca/. I think it is one of the best preserved dwelling sites in Arizona, IMHO.

May/June is when it starts getting hot here so make sure that you carry a lot of water for drinking and plan your hikes for the early parts of the day.

Take Care,

Bit Devine

Myer

Once passing thru Page it would be a shame not to see Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

Allow for about a total of 3 hours when the sun is high in the sky (between 11AM and 2PM).

There's no need to get on any scheduled tours of these sights.

Horseshoe Bend is directly off Route 89 (on the west side) less than 1 mile south of Route 98. Free.

For Antelope Canyon take Route 98 east and go about 1 1/2 miles past the Big Lake Trading Post. Turn right into the parking lot when you come to the sign for Upper Antelope Canyon. Cost is $26 per person.

donk

Thanks for the responses it will help to make the vacation even better especially as its still raining in the UK!!