We did this trip. Flew to Phoenix to make a road trip out of it. One of my favorite trips. Book Grand Canyon hotels months in advance. Watch YouTube videos about the canyon to learn what to do.

We did canyon first because the sedona to Phoenix drive was shorter. I figured a shorter drive to catch a flight home was smarter.

Flying to Flagstaff makes sense but we chose the easier route of Phoenix.

We went in April and you’ll see snow in flagstaff and maybe a little at the canyon.

2 days in the canyon works fine. 3 days in Sedona is ideal to fit a lot in, but you can make it 2 days if needed. You’ll need 3 days to travel. 7 or 8 days total.

Day 1 - fly to Phoenix. Rent car and drive to Grand Canyon (via Williams). Stop at Cave Creek Park to see cactus.

Day 2 - explore canyon until lunch. Bearizona (We loved it) in Williams then explore Williams and dinner.

Day 3 - canyon sights

Day 4 - drive to Sedona. Stop at Sunset Crater for 1 hour.

Day 5 - sedona Jeep rental from Make Your Expedition (get it for a full day or longer). Spend the whole day driving the trails. MUST DO. You’ll skip all the walking while hiking and drive the trails instead. Let the kids drive.

Day 6 - Sedona short hiking, horseback ride, shopping. There’s a cowboy Chuck wagon dinner show just west of sedona. We rode horses there but they didn’t do the show because of covid.

Day 7 - Montezuma Castle in the morning and Jerome for lunch. Relaxing evening in Sedona. You can skip this but if you have time, it adds so much value to the trip.

Day 8 - drive to Phoenix and fly home. Eat at In N Out burger in Phoenix for fun.

This post was edited on 11/21/23 at 8:49 pm