Grand Canyon, Sedona, Monument Valley UT (Mesa, Flagstaff: hotel, restaurants, price)

[KiwiKate]

I will be driving a friend from overseas to see two of his "must see" places in the US -- Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. We'll be leaving from Las Vegas in early December. I also wondered if I should include Sedona and/or Flagstaff in our sightseeing. I've driven to Williams/Grand Canyon a couple of times but the rest of the journey will be new for me. We'll only have 3-4 days to fit everything in.

Any advice about route to follow, order of sights, places to stay, places to include, winter driving in the area?

Your input would be greatly appreciated.

[Finger Laker]

I probably would lean in that direction if you have 4 days

2 days for GC (depending on what you want to do there - will be colder in December) ....... Sedona is well worth it and so is Monument Valley .... they aren't in the same direction though

I would probably go to the GC, stay the night and then make my way over to Monument Valley .... stay a night there (I really enjoyed the View Hotel right there) ........ when ready make your way down to Flagstaff and stay a night there .... next day hit Sedona & Jerome

Would break out something like

1 1/2 day - 1 night at GC

1 day - 1 night at MV

1/2 - 1 night Flagstaff

1 day - Sedona/Jerome

4 days - 3 nights total

[KiwiKate]

Thanks! What's in Jerome?

[wit-nit]

You'l need to spend at a very minimim of 1 full day at each place not including travel and eating time.
Grand Canyon to Monument Valley is a 3 1/2 hr drive. Monument Valley to Sedona is a 4 1/2 hr drive. That's 8 hours of driving time right there, plus you need to drive from Vegas to GC which is a little over 4 hrs.
From Monument Valley back through Flagstaff to Vegas is about 7 1/2 hours.
To do yourself any justice I'd go with Grand Canyon and Monument Valley and do Sedona another time.
Jerome is an old mining ghost town. You can google it for information. It would tie in well with a Sedona to Cottonwood & the Verde Train Ride and then to Jerome where all 3 are in the same vicinity and would make a nice 2 day trip.

Jerome, Arizona
Verde Canyon

[Finger Laker]

It's an old mining ghost town built onto a hill/mountain .... they have a mining museum, a lot of shops - some wine presence included, artsy type places, etc

It's a fun and funky little diversion that is a bit unique

[azdr0710]

though many tourists give the Grand Canyon only an hour or two as they whiz by on the way to the next attraction, it is SO spectacular that you do need to spend a night and a full day there....try to get a room operated by the concessionaire, Xanterra, right in the South Rim village.....rooms vary greatly....staying right there near the rim is a great way to experience it...nearby Tusayan is soulless and overpriced....

https://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/

Monument Valley is also great, but be ready for the long drive up there - and back.....can stay at Goulding's, The View, or in Kayenta, 30 miles away....this all is on the Navajo rez, so be ready for a more laid-back, easy-going attitude...slow down and take it easy!!!!...you'll need to pay to enter and for guided tours along the back dirt roads....

with your limited time, Flag may not have enough must-see stuff....Sedona may appeal, but the drive to it may not be worth it.....it might be worth it to your friend to slow down and enjoy his two must-see spots and not just be driving most of the time...walk around, sit, enjoy the views and quiet

[KiwiKate]

Thanks everyone -- just the kind of input I was hoping for!

[Canyon Cat]

Unless your friend plans to hike below the rim of Grand Canyon it's just different views from multiple vantage points. I love Sedona (in particular) because you can get right up into the red rocks on a hike, bike ride, or jeep tour and really get an honest "feel" for the southwest environment. Your friend needs to get out and see, touch, and smell the pinons, junipers, and other flora of the southwest. A gaze over the rim of Grand Canyon just isn't enough, IMHO.

Get out of the car! Touch the dirt.

[jamies]

See my post on the other GC thread. But from Vegas, drive up the 15 through St. George, get a room and go to Zion Ntl Park for the afternoon. On day 2 continue on past the park and the Vermilion Cliffs (few people get to see this, some of the most spectacular scenery in the US) to Page and on to Kayenta. Hit Monument Valley for sunset or sunrise or both. There's a Best Western or La Quinta that's nice with the best restaurant in town. It's owned by the family that owned the original trading post or something like that.

On day 3 drive from Monument Valley through the GC, the rim drive has numerous overlooks. Plan on lunch at El Tovar (11-2 only). Then spend the night in Flagstaff and enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants.

On day 4 drive down Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona and if you have time through Jerome about an hour away, then long drive back to Vegas arriving in the evening.

There ya go, whirlwind tour. You really need 10 days, you will see why - within spitting distance there's Canyon de Chelly, and Mesa Verde (ruins) several other National Parks, Bryce and Canyonlads, and Moab, UT and Telluride and Silverton, CO. and the petrified forest, etc.

Have fun however you go.

[KiwiKate]

Originally Posted by jamies

See my post on the other GC thread. But from Vegas, drive up the 15 through St. George, get a room and go to Zion Ntl Park for the afternoon. On day 2 continue on past the park and the Vermilion Cliffs (few people get to see this, some of the most spectacular scenery in the US) to Page and on to Kayenta. Hit Monument Valley for sunset or sunrise or both. There's a Best Western or La Quinta that's nice with the best restaurant in town. It's owned by the family that owned the original trading post or something like that.

On day 3 drive from Monument Valley through the GC, the rim drive has numerous overlooks. Plan on lunch at El Tovar (11-2 only). Then spend the night in Flagstaff and enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants.

On day 4 drive down Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona and if you have time through Jerome about an hour away, then long drive back to Vegas arriving in the evening.

There ya go, whirlwind tour. You really need 10 days, you will see why - within spitting distance there's Canyon de Chelly, and Mesa Verde (ruins) several other National Parks, Bryce and Canyonlads, and Moab, UT and Telluride and Silverton, CO. and the petrified forest, etc.

Have fun however you go.

Wow! Thanks.