Drive 236 miles • 5 hours, 22 minutes

It might be nigh on impossible to hit all of northern Arizona’s major landmarks in one trip, but the itinerary below comes close. This journey starts at Williams—less than an hour from the iconic Grand Canyon—and ends in the fantastic metropolis of Phoenix. Along the way, expect to gaze at some of the most spectacular scenery in America’s Southwest.

1. Williams

Starting Point • History, Nature, Shopping

Williams thoroughly embraces its Route 66 heritage. Along the “Mother Road,” late 19th-century brick buildings, old-school diners and kitsch boutiques keep the golden age of road travel alive. The historic Grand Canyon Railway Hotel was built in 1908 and next door, at the Williams Depot, passengers board the historic Grand Canyon Railway Tour. This train takes passengers on a thrilling ride into the heart of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

RECOMMENDED STOPOVER

Grand Canyon Railway RV Park – Williams, AZ – (800) 843-8724

2. Flagstaff

35.1 miles, 39 minutes • Entertainment, Food, Outdoor Recreation

Flagstaff’s historic district brims with local arts and craft vendors, hip cafes and innovative restaurants. Home to Northern Arizona University, the city’s cultural flair blends with a passion for the great wide open. To the north, the San Francisco Peaks are home to Arizona’s prime ski area, Snowbowl. Snow sport enthusiasts from all over flock to hit the slopes of the famous range’s Humphrey’s Peak and surrounding mountains. In summer, snow boots are traded for hiking books on trails with views of the Grand Canyon, 70 miles to the north.

3. Sedona

32.7 miles, 1 hour, 4 minutes • Nature, Outdoor Recreation, Shopping

With its signature red-rock buttes and mesas framed by azure skies, Sedona stirs the soul like no other place. Every road in Sedona seems to lead to a trailhead. Some of the state’s most scenic and accessible trails bisect Boynton Canyon, a signature Arizona box canyon replete with crimson cliffs, soaring buttes and thick pine woodlands. New Age devotees convene at the “electric power vortex” rock formation along the 3.5-mile Airport Mesa Trail.

RECOMMENDED STOPOVER

Distant Drums RV Resort – Camp Verde, AZ – (928) 554-8000

4. Prescott

68.5 miles, 1 hour, 37 minutes • History, Nature, Outdoor Recreation, Shopping

Prescott has charm in spades. Along tree-lined streets, Victorian buildings, sidewalk cafes, art galleries and boutiques lead to a convivial central plaza. Whiskey Row is a 19th-century time warp with spit and sawdust saloons offering a rollicking good time. From Granite Dells in the north to the Bradshaw Mountains in the south, Prescott’s spirits don’t have to venture far for awe-inspiring landscapes. Walk the scenic 5-mile Peavine National Recreation Trail to see colossal mounds of weather-beaten rock at Granite Dells.

5. Phoenix

99.7 miles, 2 hours, 3 minutes • Nature, Outdoor Recreation, Shopping

Drawing winter sun-seekers the world over, the sprawling Phoenix metropolitan area is home to luxurious resorts, an unfathomable number of golf courses, restaurants for all tastes and budgets, stellar museums and a lively nightlife. Surreal desert plants provide compelling viewing at the Desert Botanical Garden, and hikes up Camelback Mountain or South Mountain Park allow visitors to experience the Sonoran Desert first-hand. Nationally recognized for its exhibits, the Heard Museum delivers a mystical excursion through centuries of Native American cultures. Learn about the crafts and customs of the area’s first occupants.