Phoenix to Grand Canyon drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Phoenix to Grand Canyon drive are Camp Verde, Sedona and Flagstaff. The distance from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon by car is 229 miles, with a 3h43m driving time.

Planning a Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip itinerary

The Phoenix to Grand Canyon drive takes you from the capital of Arizona to the state’s greatest natural wonder

A stay in Phoenix is at its best when you explore the surrounding Sonoran Desert. That might be in a hot air balloon flight, on an ATV tour or on a guided sunset hiking adventure. You can also do day tours along the Apache Trail.

For other Phoenix experiences, try a downtown food tour, a street art tour or a spooky nighttime ghost walk.

Attractions that you might wish to buy advance include cell phone-friendly tickets for include Phoenix Zoo, the Sea Life aquarium or a drunk Shakespeare performance.

For Phoenix accommodation options with a bit of character, try the art-splashed Foundre or the resort-like Raintree at Phoenix South Mountain Preserve.

The most visited section of the Grand Canyon is on the South Rim by Grand Canyon Village. This is where you’ll find the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, which shows a 20 minute orientation film every half hour.

Most of the walking trails are also here, with the 12 mile, mostly paved Rim Trail being the most popular option. Free shuttle buses run along the route, so you can just do parts of it. The 0.7 mile stretch between Mather Point and the Yavapai Observation Station is the obvious taster.

The National Parks Service website has details of the tougher walks into the canyon.

Grand Canyon experiences departing from Grand Canyon Village include jeep tours.

Phoenix to Grand Canyon distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon is 229 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 43 minutes. The quickest route changes depending on travel conditions, but most go via the I-17, I-40 and AZ-64.

The best road trip stops on the Phoenix to Grand Canyon drive are Camp Verde, Sedona and Flagstaff.

Best stops between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon: Camp Verde, Arizona

Camp Verde is an all-action kind of place. Great Camp Verde activities include tackling the Verde River in an inflatable kayak, horseback-riding through the mountains and off-road Jeep tours.

Top attractions include the Out of Africa Wildlife Park – where you can also take on a zipline course – and the Verde Valley Archaeology Center. The latter looks at the life of the Native Sinagua people.

Great Camp Verde accommodation options include the Cliff Castle Casino Hotel and the Fort Verde Suites.

Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip attractions: Sedona, Arizona

Desert town Sedona sits in an inspirational setting amid red rock buttes, canyons and forest. It’s no wonder so many artists choose to live there.

The surrounding desert trails and state parks are magnificent for hiking and biking. You can also explore on a scenic helicopter flight, outback Jeep tour, guided ATV adventure or e-biking at Cathedral Rock. 

Other Sedona experiences include Verde Valley wine tours, Jeep tours of the mystical Sedona vortexes, glassblowing workshops and nighttime stargazing sessions.

For great Sedona accommodation that makes the most of the views, try the Sky Ranch Lodge or Amara Resort.

Phoenix to Grand Canyon drive: Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff AZ is largely known as a gateway to the Grand Canyon. You can take a Grand Canyon day tour from here, but you can also do a day trip to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

Other Flagstaff experiences include haunted pub crawls, e-bike tours and an adventure course of wobbly bridges, ropes and ziplines. Stargazing enthusiasts can also take a tour of the Lowell Observatory and the Walnut Canyon National Monument is just to the east of the city. The latter is home to several ancient cliff dwellings.

Good Flagstaff accommodation options include the utterly charming Little America, and the great value Elev8.

The Grand Canyon from the South Rim.
The Grand Canyon from the South Rim. Photo by Michael Kirsch/ Unsplash.

More Phoenix road trips

Albuquerque to Phoenix | Phoenix to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Phoenix | Denver to Phoenix | El Paso to Phoenix | Phoenix to Flagstaff | Houston to Phoenix | Phoenix to Kingman | Las Cruces to Phoenix | Phoenix to Prescott | Omaha to Phoenix | Phoenix to San Antonio | Phoenix to Santa Fe | Phoenix to Sedona | Phoenix to Tombstone | Phoenix to Tucson | Phoenix to Williams AZ | Winslow to Phoenix | Phoenix to Yuma.

More Grand Canyon (South Rim) road trips

Albuquerque to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Flagstaff to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Mesa to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Scottsdale to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Sedona to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Tucson to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Williams AZ to Grand Canyon (South Rim).