This Arizona Road Trip Takes You From The Buttes Of Monument Valley To The Mountains Of The Desert Lowlands
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Katie Lawrence
Author
If you’ve ever wanted to explore Arizona from top to bottom, this is the road trip for you. An 11-hour journey, this bucket list adventure leads from the buttes of Monument Valley to the rugged mountains around Saguaro National Park. It’s one of the best road trips in Arizona, no doubt.
Visit Google Maps for the customizable trip itinerary.
Oljato-Monument Valley, AZ 84536, USA
Straddling the Arizona-Utah border, Monument Valley is one of the most photographed places on earth — and for good reason. Its landscape can only be described as otherworldly, with red sandstone buttes that tower at heights of up to 1,000 feet. Either enjoy the sights from the comfort of your own vehicle or embark on a guided tour down into the valley. Learn more about Monument Valley in our previous article.
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Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028, USA
Our journey takes us southward to Petrified Forest National Park, located near the quirky town of Holbrook. Part of the iconic Painted Desert, this magical place is characterized by its colorful badlands that extend for miles in all directions. There are several different ways to explore the park, from hiking trails that span all levels of difficulty to breathtaking scenic drives. Learn more about Petrified Forest National Park in our previous article.
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Flagstaff, AZ, USA
Now, it's time to take a little detour west to visit one of Arizona's most charming small towns. Flagstaff is a nature lover's paradise, boasting the highest mountain in the state, dense ponderosa pine and aspen forests, and even underground lava caves. The colder months are especially enchanting here — the fall foliage is spectacular and people come from all over the world for the world-class ski slopes in the winter. Learn more about Flagstaff in our previous article.
Mount Lemmon, Mt Lemmon, Arizona 85619, USA
After exploring Flagstaff 'til our heart's content, our adventure leads us to Mt. Lemmon in Tucson. The tallest mountain in the Santa Catalina range, this sky island oasis is a whole 30 degrees cooler than Tucson, making it the perfect year-round escape! The 26-mile drive to the top is the ecological equivalent of traveling from Mexico to Canada and activities include hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and more. Learn more about Mt. Lemmon in our previous article.
Saguaro National Park, Arizona, USA
When most people picture Arizona, this is the scene that comes to mind: a sprawling desert landscape filled with majestic Saguaro cacti. That's exactly what you'll find at Saguaro National Park, a 91,000-acre desert lowland paradise. Over two million Saguaros grow here and visitors can walk amongst them on miles of trails. Learn more about Saguaro National Park in our previous article.
Would you take this epic Arizona road trip? We definitely think it’s one of the best road trips in Arizona. Tell us your thoughts in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our previous article to learn more about the underground lava caves in Flagstaff.
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