Fall in Arizona is awesome! Fewer tourists, sunny days, cool nights and lots too see. A self-guided tour of Arizona is the way too go as you will have optimal freedom and flexibility to see and do as you please.
My mom, sister and I had a limited amount of time, so wanted to cram as much of Arizona as we could into only 3 days. We built this trip around the wedding of a relative in Las Vegas, so we flew into Vegas and drove a rental car straight to Sedona. If you choose to do the same, I would definitely recommend making a stop at the Hoover Dam on the way through Nevada. Alternatively, you could fly into Phoenix and save yourself the extra driving.
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Here’s how we spent our 3 days on a self-guided tour of Arizona:
Day 1 – The Culture
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Wake up in beautiful Sedona, and eat breakfast while watching the sun rise over breathtaking red rocks. Hop in the car and drive approximately 40 minutes south to Montezuma Castle National Monument. Here, you can learn about the local flora and fauna on the easy 5 minute walk up to Montezuma Castle. The castle itself is breathtaking and will leave you picturing what life was like for the ancient people who lived there. Entrance fee is only $10, and also gives you access to the next stop.
Tuzigoot National Monument
Back in the car, head northwest approximately 40 minutes to reach Tuzigoot National Monument. Show your receipt from Montezuma to the staff inside, and then explore the pottery and other artifacts in the museum. Head outside for the short uphill hike that takes you right into the monument, and explore the architecture at this settlement.
Jerome, AZ
Drive to Historical Jerome, less than 14 minutes from Tuzigoot, and peak into the adorable shops and restaurants. This is a great place to grab some lunch, or a drink, if you like. To keep things easy we opted for packed lunches on this trip. Can’t go wrong with a peanut butter sandwich after a long morning of touring!
Sedona, AZ
Then head back to explore Sedona a bit before grabbing dinner at one of the local restaurants. There are so many interesting shops to look through, or check out the scenery with one of several hikes.
Day 2 – The Geology
Today may have the most driving, but there is so much too see. You can really pick and choose how much time you spend exploring each attraction, and tailor the itinerary to focus on your favourite things.
Meteorite Crater
We decided to leave Sedona very early in order to make it back for an afternoon hike. Whenever you decide, head north to Flagstaff up the winding scenic mountain road (89A). Pull over at Oak Creek Vista to look out at the beautiful view and marvel at the road you just drove up. Continue north to Flagstaff, then head east on I-40 for about 37 miles. Take a right onto Meteor Crater Road. There are lots of signs on the way so you’re unlikely to miss it! Enter the Visitor Center and pay the entrance fee ($18, trust me it’s worth it!). Explore the exhibits and films in the visitor center or head straight to the lookout to view the crater itself. It is truly an impressive site. You really need to look through the pre-setup telescopes to get a full idea of just how big it really is. Also, it can get windy up there, so consider bringing a sweater.
Petrified Forest
Head back to I-40, and continue east. If you’re a fan of the Eagles, stop in Winslow, AZ for a picture (a necessity for my sister and mother). Exit in Holbrook to head to Petrified Forest National Park. The Visitor’s Center is sure to have some interesting exhibits while you’re there. Through the center and out the other side you can do an easy hike around and experience the amazing petrified trees covering the ground. If you have some time, hop back in the car and continue through the park to explore the Painted Desert, the Rainbow Forest, and other scenic natural attractions.
Hiking in Sedona
After this we headed directly back to Sedona and hiked the Tea Cup and Sugar Loaf trails, which are just behind our AirBnb. The sunset views were absolutely spectacular, and we got so many wonderful pictures. We then cleaned up, and had a lovely dinner in town.
Day 3 – The Canyons
Grand Canyon
Leave Sedona for good, and head north to the Grand Canyon. We thought that the best way to enjoy the Canyon in a short amount of time was by helicopter! If you agree, be sure to book your trip in advance. We went with Maverick Helicopters and they were wonderful, but there are several other companies operating out of Grand Canyon National Park Airport. There are many different packages you can choose, and we decided on a 45 minute tour around the park. Though pricey, this was absolutely worth it for us. We were all completely awestruck, and so happy that we got to experience it together.
After the tour we paid the park entrance fee and drove through the park to get to Page, AZ. In the park there are several lookouts, for those who want to take some more photos. You may be lucky enough to see some wildlife as well. We saw a fox, several deer, and even an elk!
Antelope Canyon
From Page, we went directly to the Lower Antelope Canyon tour. We thought we were going to be late, and were so stressed out! When we finally got there, my sister dashed out of the car to the check-in desk. I parked the car and jogged up behind her, to hear her say “Really? Okay, thanks.”. She looked exhausted, and bewildered, and I thought we’d lost our chance to see the canyon. I asked her what had happened, expecting the worst. She informed me that it was daylight savings in Utah and that the tours honour Utah time. So instead of being late, we were an hour early!
We chose the Dixie Ellis tour and couldn’t have been happier! After the staff informed my sister that we were indeed very early we were immediately booked into the next available tour so we wouldn’t have to wait too long. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable, and we had a tonne of fun. He knew all the best places for photos, and helped us optimize our cameras for low light while telling us fun facts about Antelope Canyon.The canyon itself is truly otherworldly. And seeing it around sunset just added to the whole experience. This was unexpectedly one of the best things we saw throughout our trip.
Page, AZ
You could spend another full day in Page checking out Upper Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the Wave at Coyote Buttes. Unfortunately, we just didn’t have the time. Keep in mind that all of these activities do require booking in advance, and that passes to the Wave should be purchased several months before as space is limited, though you could get lucky with the daily lottery.
After being awed by Antelope Canyon, we headed to our AirBnb in Page and made nachos (adventure fuel) for dinner. The next day we hopped in the car and drove back to Vegas, stopping to check out Lake Powel and investigate the Grand Staircase at one of several visitors centers along the way.
Self-Guided Tour of Arizona – Final Thoughts
This is just a quick glimpse of the treasures Arizona has to offer! There is truly something for everyone; culture, history, geology, outdoor adventure, and more.
If I was to go again, I would add a few extra days to break up some of the driving and have more time to hike in this remarkable landscape. 3 days is a tight timeline and I am impressed with how much we were able to fit in and truly enjoy.
I hope this helps you to plan your own magical self-guided tour of Arizona.