Adventurous One Week Arizona to Utah Road Trip

There may not be a better place in the world for an adventure-filled road trip than Arizona and Utah in the southwestern corner of the United States. Home to vast red rock desert, the indescribable Grand Canyon, endless hiking trails, and otherworldly rock formations, a road trip from Arizona to Utah is sure to leave you awestruck. We’ve lived in both Arizona and Utah and explored almost every corner of these two magnificent states. In this article, we’ve outlined the perfect one week road trip itinerary from Arizona to Utah.

Arizona to Utah Road Trip Map

For this road trip through Arizona, fly into Phoenix and out of Las Vegas. You may also choose to reverse the order. The map shows each destination and activity included on this road trip:

Arizona to Utah Road Trip Details

In the section below, we’ll give you all the details about each day on this epic Arizona to Utah road trip!

Day One | Sedona

On day one, fly into Phoenix and drive 2 hours to Sedona, a charming desert town surrounded by magnificent red rock formations. Depending on how much time you have, you could try to squeeze in a short hike, or just grab a quick diner and watch the sunset.

On a clear night, Sedona is also a great place for stargazing. Sometimes you can even see the Milky Way!

Here are a few good places to see the stars:

• Two Trees Observing Area
• Crescent Moon Parking Lot
• Baldwin Trailhead
• Jordan Trailhead

Day Two | Sedona

Spend your second day in Arizona hiking among Sedona’s red rocks, ending with an afternoon of wine tasting on the Verde Valley wine trail.

Watch the Sunrise from Airport Mesa

Wake up early on day two to catch a Sedona sunrise – we promise it’s worth it! We recommend heading to Airport Mesa for a quick walk up to a 360-degree viewpoint that makes for an incredible spot to have a cup of coffee while waiting for the sun to rise.

Hike to Cathedral Rock

Now that you’re up, get an early start on one of Sedona’s most popular hikes: Cathedral Rock. This 1.3 mile roundtrip hike is short but steep, and although it would be beautiful at any time of the day, its best done in the morning when the sun casts stunning shadows of the rock formations onto the valley below.

Hike to Soldier’s Pass Cave

Next, drive about 15 minutes to the trailhead of Soldier’s Pass Cave, a 3.1-mile hike to a small cave carved into a red rock cliff.

P.S. We’ve put together a complete guide to hiking to Soldier’s Pass Cave, with all the details you need to know to plan your hike.

Verde Valley Wine Trail

After a busy morning of hiking, spend the rest of the afternoon and evening relaxing with a few glasses of wine on the Verde Valley Wine Trail. We recommend the following:

• Javelina Leap Winery: closes at 6:00PM (also has good food options)
• Page Spring Cellars: closes 9:00 PM
• Oak Creek Vineyard: closes 8:00 PM

Day Three | Sedona to Grand Canyon

Hike to Devil’s Bridge

Start day three with one last hike in Sedona. Devil’s Bridge Trail is a 4 mile roundtrip hike to a natural bridge carved out of the red rock that you can walk out on. A must do in Sedona!

Tip: Devil’s Bridge is very popular (for good reason) and becomes crowded later in the day. You may even have to wait in line to go out onto the bridge. Start early to beat the crowds!

The Grand Canyon

Once you finish hiking Devil’s Bridge, drive straight to the Grand Canyon. Expect long waits at the Grand Canyon National Park entrance which could add up to an hour to your drive.

Grand Canyon South Rim Trail

Once you arrive, head to the south rim to catch your first view of the Grand Canyon. Spend some time walking the South Rim Trail, a flat, paved path around the edge of the canyon.

Day Four | Grand Canyon

Spend all day on day four exploring the Grand Canyon. If you’re up for a challenge, we highly recommend hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back via the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail. If you’re looking for something less strenuous, just hike a few miles down the South Kaibab Trail and back to the rim!

For more detailed information on hiking the South Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail, we’ve put together a complete trail guide:

Day Five | Page

Start the morning with a 3 hour drive from the Grand Canyon to Page, Arizona, and then spend the rest of the day in Page exploring Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

Antelope Canyon

Schedule an Antelope Canyon tour for noon, and plan to drive straight to the tour agency. There are two Antelope Canyons: Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. While they are both worth seeing, if you are pressed for time or on a budget (tickets are pricey – $89 per person), seeing just one of the canyons will suffice.

• Book your Antelope Canyon tour here.

Horseshoe Bend

After your Antelope Canyon tour, take a short 3/4 mile walk to Horseshoe Bend, an epic horseshoe-shaped canyon carved by the Colorado River. The entrance fee is $10 per car. Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic with a view!

Lake Powell

In the afternoon, spend some time at Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made lakes in North America, accessible through the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The red and purple mountains reflecting onto the crystal-clear lake is beautiful and definitely worth a visit.

For more details on how to spend your day in Page, we’ve put together a complete one-day itinerary featuring all the best sights:

Day Six | Zion National Park

Hike Angel’s Landing

With just one day in Zion National Park, we’d recommend tackling the famous hike to Angel’s Landing! Gaining 1600 feet of elevation in just over 4 miles, hiking to Angel’s Landing is no walk in the park. The final climb up Angel’s Landing is steep, very narrow, and can be tough if you are afraid of heights.

Starting in 2022, you will need a permit to hike Angel’s Landing in order to limit crowd sizes. For more information on how to get a permit, check out the Zion NPS website well in advance of your trip to make sure that you don’t miss the window for the lotteries.

Continue on the West Rim Trail

Nearly everybody who visits Zion hikes to Angel’s Landing, but significantly fewer continue on to experience one of our absolute favorite sections of the park: the West Rim! After reaching Angel’s Landing, you can continue along the West Rim Trail and the crowds will almost immediately disappear.

Day Seven | Bryce Canyon

Figure 8 Loop Hike

Bryce Canyon is relatively small, so you will be able to see a decent portion of it with just a few miles of hiking. To make the most of your time in Bryce Canyon, we recommend the Figure 8 Loop, a 6.3 mile hike which combines three smaller trails: Queen’s Garden Loop, Peekaboo Loop, and the Navajo Loop Trail.

If you are looking for a shorter hike, you can do any of these three hikes on their own. If you have to pick just one, we’d recommend hiking the Navajo Loop Trail, featuring Bryce Canyon’s famous Wall Street.

To read more about the hike, we’ve put together a complete guide to hiking the Figure 8 Loop:

Evening in Las Vegas

Once you finish hiking, hop in the car and drive to Las Vegas. Alternatively, if you have no interest in a night in Vegas, stay in Bryce Canyon for the night and spend the afternoon exploring more of Bryce Canyon.

By the time you arrive in Las Vegas, you should have just enough time to reward yourself with a delicious meal.

Day Eight

On day eight, your epic Arizona and Utah road trip comes to an end. Catch a flight back home from Las Vegas or continue to your next destination.

Arizona to Utah Road Trip | FAQs

When is the best time to road trip from Arizona to Utah?

The best time to visit Arizona and southern Utah is between March and October. During the winter, some of the roads between the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Page close down due to snow.

If you want to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, you should definitely plan your trip for spring or fall. This hike is not safe to attempt as a day trip during the summer, as extreme temperatures can cause heat exhaustion and dehydration. If you must travel during the summer, plan to do the hike as a two-day backpacking trip.

We went in March and it was the perfect weather for hiking in the Grand Canyon and Sedona. In Bryce Canyon, there was still snow on the ground, making the trails a bit more difficult to navigate, so I wouldn’t recommend going much earlier than March.

Be aware that weather near the Grand Canyon can be unpredictable in March-April and September-October, and snow is possible! However if you want cool weather for hiking and fewer crowds, it may be worth taking a risk on the shoulder season.

What kind of car do I need?

We navigated the roads on this itinerary with a small SUV, but you certainly don’t need 4WD for this itinerary – a sedan will do just fine.

Where should I stay?

We stayed in Airbnbs everywhere except for the Grand Canyon because we found that they were typically cheaper than hotels (especially in Las Vegas). For the Grand Canyon, you will want to stay inside the national park, as Airbnbs are not available.

If you plan to camp along the road trip, be prepared to book your campsites well in advance, especially at Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon, as these spots are in high demand.

P.S. Check out our complete list of camping essentials for road trips to help you pack:

Tips for a great road trip

• Book tickets for Antelope Canyon early. The Antelope Canyons are very popular and time slots fill up early, especially in the summer.
• If you want to camp in the Grand Canyon, you will need to make reservations and get a permit well in advance.
• Don’t forget your hiking boots. This trip involves a lot of hiking, and some of these hikes are not suitable to do in tennis shoes, especially in Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon.
• Check the weather. If visiting in spring or fall, be prepared for snow and colder than expected temperatures. You should be prepared with crampons and cold weather gear.
• Stop at the grocery store when you arrive in Phoenix to stock up on snacks and lunches for hiking. It’ll save you time and money!

Other useful resources

Below we’ve compiled a list of resources to help you plan an epic Utah to Arizona road trip!

• How to Plan the Best Utah National Parks Road Trip
• Complete List of Road Trip Camping Essentials + Excel Checklist
• The Ultimate 3 Day Zion and Bryce Canyon Itinerary
• Four Incredible Easy Hikes in Sedona
• Best Things to Do with One Day in Page, Arizona
• How to Hike to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon
• 10 Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park

Questions about planning your Utah to Arizona road trip itinerary? Comment below and we’re happy to help however we can!