Recently, we went on an epic one-week road trip through Arizona. I always do hours and hours of research before each of our trips so that we won’t miss out on any of the beautiful scenery or delicious food in the area, and it definitely paid off in this case. After we got back home, we agreed that it was our favorite vacation we have ever taken together as a couple!
If you’re planning to visit Arizona in 2023, this guide is a great starting place for building your dream vacation through the desert and the mountains. Here is the perfect Arizona itinerary for 2023.
The Perfect Arizona Itinerary 2023
Day 1 – Phoenix, Arizona
Try to book a morning flight into the Phoenix Airport so that you can use your first day to explore the city. I recommend staying two nights here before you move on to the next leg of your trip. Here are some of the coolest places to explore on your first day in town!
The Phoenix Art Museum (1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ)
The Japanese Friendship Garden (1125 N 3rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ)
Dinner at Ghost Ranch (1006 E Warner Rd, Tempe, AZ)
Dessert at Dirty Dough (1537 W Broadway Rd, Tempe, AZ)
Day 2 – Scottsdale, Arizona
Some of the best food and sightseeing in the Phoenix metropolitan area is located in Scottsdale. Here are the places I recommend!
Brunch at Hash Kitchen (8777 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ)
The Desert Botanical Garden (1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ)
Ice Cream at Sugar Bowl (4005 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ)
Sunset at Papago Park (625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ)
Day 3 – Sedona, Arizona
In the morning, check out of your Phoenix Air BnB and hit the road for Sedona as early as possible. This will maximize your time for hiking and enjoying the incredible red mountains!
We drove on from Sedona to Flagstaff on the same day, but I actually recommend staying one night here instead. That will allow you to see more of the area and enjoy the drive into the mountains during the daylight. As beginner-level hikers with only one day to spend in Sedona, here are the places we visited.
Lunch at Cowboy Club Grill (241 N State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ)
Hike at Red Rock Crossing (300 Red Rock Crossing Rd, Sedona, AZ)
Hike at Fay Canyon Trail (Fay Canyon Trailhead, Boynton Pass Road, Sedona, AZ)
Hike at Airport Loop Trail (538 Airport Rd, Sedona, AZ)
Visit the Energy Vortex
Sunset at Sedona Airport Overlook
Day 4 – Flagstaff, Arizona
After staying one night in Sedona, you’ll check out of your Air BnB and drive up to Flagstaff the next day. You can split your time between both cities, which will allow you to do a little bit more hiking in Sedona if you want to! We didn’t have this luxury on our road trip. Here are some of the hikes I recommend if you can spend another half day in Sedona.
Devil’s Bridge Trail (Devil’s Bridge Trailhead, Sedona, AZ)
Cathedral Rock Trail (Cathedral Rock Trailhead, 500 Back O Beyond Rd, Sedona, AZ)
Seven Sacred Pools (Soldier Pass Trail, Sedona, AZ)
After you drive the incredibly scenic route from Sedona into Flagstaff, make your way around town and visit the most famous highway in the United States.
U.S. Route 66 (1 E Rte 66, Flagstaff, AZ – There is a train station with a Route 66 mural here, and some gift shops across the street.)
If you decide to spend less of your day in Sedona, you’ll have time to visit my favorite spot near Flagstaff: Sycamore Falls! It’s the best-kept secret in Arizona.
Sycamore Falls (Sycamore Canyon Trailhead, Williams, AZ)
Day 5 – The Grand Canyon
Now that you are staying in Flagstaff, it will become your home base as you visit each of the surrounding national parks. First you’ll drive out to The Grand Canyon, which is about 2 hours north of Flagstaff. If you didn’t have time to visit Sycamore Falls the day before, I recommend stopping there on your way for some stunning pictures. You’ll still have plenty of time to hike and explore the southern rim of The Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon National Park
Day 6 – The Painted Desert
You’ll use your second full day staying in Flagstaff to drive 2 hours east to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. Optionally, you can stop on the way there at the site of a meteor crater. When you get back, you will spend you last night in Flagstaff.
Meteor Crater (Interstate 40, Exit, 233, Winslow, AZ)
Petrified Forest National Park
Day 7 – The Superstition Mountains
The next morning, you’ll leave Flagstaff and drive back down to the Phoenix area. You’ll spend your last full day in Arizona visiting the Superstition Mountains. Eat some prickly pear BBQ and prickly pear gelato for lunch at the Superstition Saloon in Tortilla Flat. Then ride the Dolly Steamboat around Canyon Lake.
Superstition Saloon (1 Main Street, Tortilla Flat, AZ)
Dolly Steamboat (16802 AZ-88, Apache Junction, AZ)
Day 8 – Fly Home from Phoenix
Spend your last few hours in town grabbing a bite to eat or mural hunting around the city. Fly back home from Phoenix, and enjoy looking at all of the amazing pictures you took!
Tips for Planning an Arizona Itinerary
We had such an amazing trip enjoying the wild variety of landscapes across the state of Arizona. If you’re inspired to plan your own Arizona itinerary, check out the blogs below for more details on where we went.
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