Don’t get FOMO while on your Northern Arizona road trip!
After a fantastic week in Page and Kanab, we headed south along the Colorado River towards our next destination, the beloved apple of Arizona’s eye, Sedona.If you include a must-see stop for The Grand Canyon, a direct ride will take 4.5 hours and 252 miles, but what fun is taking the fastest way there?
Northern Arizona has some of the most incredible desert landscapes in the United States and in the world. Driving south from Page, although points of interest get further in distance, there are still many attractions to add to your northern Arizona road trip itinerary. Much of the drive from Page to Sedona crosses through Navajo Nation and other Native American lands, so it is also a great opportunity to learn more about the Native culture and history too.
So, without further ado, here are my 15 detour-worthy things to do for your Northern Arizona road trip itinerary.
Note:Many of Northern Arizona’s attractions require so much of a detour from one set route. I will use Page as the starting point and Sedona as the ending waypoint, but many destinations listed are a significant detour from this route.
Best Things to do on a Northern Arizona Road Trip
1. Coal Mine Canyon
100 miles from Page AZ | 127 miles to Sedona AZ
In the vastness of the northern Arizona desert, bordering the Hopi and Navajo Reservations, lies the remote Coal Mine Canyon. Coal Mine Canyon showcases beautifully colored desert formations along a deep ravine in the vast wilderness, a beautiful way to break up your drive. (For more specific sights and instructions:here)
Note:Navajo Permit Needed at $12 (2022), but easily obtained at the Navajo Parks & Recreation office in Cameron or online atnavajonationparks.org.
Blue Point GPS Location:(36.0159722,-110.9875278)— Multiple Viewpoints, so for a sight map:here
2. Grand Canyon National Park
136 miles from Page AZ | 114 miles to Sedona AZ
I most likely don’t have to tell you about The Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is the poster child of US National Parks, so you should probably have this on your driving route if it’s not already!
Parts of The Grand Canyon can be more than one mile deep, but what people don’t know is that it is also massive in length. Grand Canyon National Park is divided into the North Rim and South Rim, with the south rim of the Grand Canyon being much more popular.
Stay to see at least one sunrise and sunset as the colors reflecting off the canyons change throughout the day. Since it is also an international dark sky national park, you can clearly see the milky way at night! (Now I just need a star tracker to capture it with my camera.)
Next time:I plan on doing the 21-24 mile South to North Rim hike. There are a few different paths for completing this, and most people tend to stay overnight.
Tips:If you are coming in the winter, don’t be surprised if the hiking trails are slick with ice as sunlight doesn’t reach many areas of the path. Being as steep as it was, I wish I had brought crampons.
South Rim Visitor Center Address:S Entrance Rd, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023
3. Havasu Falls
301 miles from Page AZ | 193 miles to Sedona AZ
If you have ever seen those Instagram pictures of the bluest waterfall and pools with the red sandstone canyon background, Havasu Falls is where that is. Havasu Falls is not easy to obtain a permit for or hike to. It is a strenuous 10 mile hike one way to get to the falls itself. Since most people can’t make it in a day, you’ll have to stay in Supai Village or a campground overnight. More culture to you! (For a very detailed guide to this stunning area:here)
Note:I have been trying for three years to get the permit. TheHavasupai Indian Reservation areais extremely competitive for permits. Permits are only released once a year in February for the whole year and cost a pretty penny.
4. Wupatki National Monument
Various tribes of the ancient Native American people lived and thrived in the Wupatki National Monument, a conservation effort to preserve dozens of ancestral Puebloan villages. Visit the ruins of 5 prehistoric pueblos of what used to be a hub for trade and life.
Tip: Save money on your road trip! The national park pass includes entry to national monuments. Otherwise, it will cost $25 per vehicle. Fees cover entry to both Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monuments.
Address: 25137 North Wupatki Lane, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
5. Downtown Flagstaff
135 miles from Page AZ | 33 miles to Sedona AZ
If you just drive through Flagstaff on the interstate, you would think that it was just another town along the way. On my second visit, I decided to look up things to do in downtown Flagstaff. Meandering through the quaint downtown really upped my opinion of this chill town.
A really charming historic center gives off super hipster vibes, and there are so many good coffee shops and art galleries here. (Please let me know if you find the name of the coffee shop serving Affogato with amazingly silky smooth olive ice cream. I want to eat it again!)
6. Walnut Canyon National Monument
136 miles from Page AZ | 43 miles to Sedona AZ
Walk amongst the ancient dwellings of the Native American people carved into the canyons ofWalnut Canyon National Monumenton the edge of Coconino National Forest. As you hike through the remarkable geological formations of the canyon, learn about the culture of a civilization past.
Walnut Canyon Visitors Center GPS Location:(35.171551, -111.509161)
7. Grand Falls
158 miles from Page AZ | 72 miles to Sedona AZ
You would be surprised to hear that there is an 181-foot magnificent waterfall in the middle of Arizona, one of the driest places in the country. Don’t conjure up images of a crystalline blue waterfall; instead, imagine more of the chocolate waterfall in the movie Willy Wonda and the Chocolate Factory, muddy and brown. It’s impressive that there is any water at all, but the falls’ many tiers and wideness are the main draws to making a detour here. Located only 30 miles east of Flagstaff, Grand Falls can be found on Navajo Nation land in the Painted Desert.
Note:The falls are season-dependent. The flow of Grand Falls increases with nearby snowmelt and rain, so thebest time to go is in March and April. Make sure to check if there is any water at all before you go.
GPS Location:(35.427679, -111.199757)
8. Meteor Crater
165 miles from Page AZ | 75 miles to Sedona AZ
Meteor Cratercan be summed up as a giant hole in the ground caused by a huge meteorite…which landed in the middle of nowhere Arizona 50,000 years ago. Included in the price of admission are viewing platforms and trails to walk along the rim of the Meteor Crater, a guided tour, and an interactive museum.
Address:Meteor Crater Rd, Winslow, AZ 86047
9. Petrified Forest National Park
237 miles from Page AZ | 147 miles to Sedona AZ
I didn’t have the highest hope forPetrified Forest National Park. I made this detour really for the National Park stamp but was pleasantly surprised…in a good way. Despite its name, it is not just looking at a forest of stone log fragments surrounded by nothing.
Located in an area called Painted Desert, regions of colorful and mars-like badlands, buttes, and mesas can be found along the National Park’s scenic drive, along with many petrified logs. (For One Girl to One World’s detailed guide:here)
Visitor Center Address:1 Park Rd, Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028
End Destination: Best Things to Do in Sedona
Just the mere mention of Sedona brings to mind sweeping views of an impressive red rock mountain range surrounding this charming tourist town in the heart of Arizona. There’s no shortage of hikes or stunning vistas to explore, making it a top destination for travelers in the Southwest.
Sedona is also known for being a center of spiritual energy, with various areas of the town and surrounding desert considered spiritual vortexes. Visitors come from all over the world to see and feel these swirling centers, as they’re said to promote peace, healing, and spiritual growth.
Sedona deserves its own post, so I’ll just point out themust-see things to do in Sedona for a first-time visitor.
10. Airport Mesa
Come here for the sunset! Do it, do it! Every day just before sunset, dozens to hundreds of people come up to the airport’s high vantage point to see the sun reflect off the 180 degrees of mountain scenery before you.
Tip!Parking is readily available for once, so there’s no need to get there early compared to other popular Sedona hiking trails. There is a couple-dollar parking fee, though.
Address:483 Airport Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
11. Devil’s Bridge
The Devil’s Bridge is one of the most popular hikes in all of Sedona. Aside from the general gorgeous red rocks scenery as you climb straight up the mountains, you are awarded a chance to take an epic shot on a picturesque natural archway. (For specifics of the different ways to get to the trailhead, check outthis postby EarthTrekkers.)
Tip:Early bird gets the worm for this hike, as it is one of the most popular ones in Sedona. First, it istough to get parking after 7am, especially if you are coming on a weekend or a holiday. Second, the line to take pictures on the bridge can get really long. We started at 7:30am on a weekend day and still had to wait 45 minutes for our turn…and the line only got longer after us.
Devil’s Bridge GPS Location:(34.897521, -111.807688)
12. Chapel of the Holy Cross
Chapel of the Holy Cross is one of the most iconic landmarks in Sedona, Arizona. Towering 200 feet up on top rock formations, the chapel is really just a beautiful place to snap some pics. The chapel against the mountain backdrop is beautiful, the drive up is beautiful, and finally, the view from the chapel is beautiful. The inside is meh, “rustic,” you could call it, but you might as well check it out if you’re there.
Address:780 Chapel Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
13. Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
Sedona is built as a tourist town: souvenirs, ice cream, spas, hotels galore. It’s always fun to walk and window-shop around. But there’s one marketplace that I would recommend making a stop at — the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. Aside from the large-scale woodwork and the native-themed art galleries, the architecture is something else. Multiple archways, centerpieces, and stairwells all beg to be photographed.
If you’re looking for a popular tour company: Pink Jeep Tours has a booth in Tlaquepaque.
Address:336 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ 86336
14. Hike a Butte (Pronounced “Byoot”)
Cathedral Rock is the most popular butte in Sedona, but nearby is also Coffeepot Rock, Bell Rock, Chimney Rock, Courthouse Rock, and the list goes on. Thelist of hikes in Sedonais literally endless. I hiked Red Rock Crossing from theCrescent Moon Picnic Sitefor reflection views of Cathedral Rock and have plans for more ascent hikes for next time!
15. Bonus: Montezuma Castle (South of Sedona)
I’m including this as it is just south of Sedona. If you’re continuing your trip south to Phoenix, stop atMontezuma Castle National Monumentjust off Highway Route 17.
Pause for a short detour to see and learn about this historic Native American 20 room “high-rise apartment” snuggled in a towering limestone cliff.
Unfortunately, you can no longer climb to the primary dwellings. However, follow the path, and there are smaller ruins you can enter into.
Visitor Center Address:2800 Montezuma Castle Rd, Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Bucket List Worthy? Northern Arizona Road Trip
Coming off the high of Page, Arizona, a Northern Arizona road trip still offers unique attractions and beautiful places. If you are short on time, these are the things to do on a northern Arizona road trip itinerary that you should not miss:
- The Grand Canyon
- Havasu Falls (if you can get the permit)
- Sedona (Just all of it)
Related Articles
If you’re looking for how to get to some of these other famous places in the American Southwest, check out some of my other posts on Southwest USA:
- Page AZ: Upper Antelope Canyon, Lower Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Kayaking Lake Powell
- Southern Arizona: Phoenix Area, Tucson Area, Saguaro National Park
- Las Vegas to Page: Zion National Park, Buckskin Gulch, Bryce Canyon National Park
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