Road trip from Grand Canyon to Tombstone

[Jeannie]

Any advice about driving from Grand Canyon to Tombstone - scenic route! From there we intend to go to Sedona for a week. It will be in Autumn next year, and want to research places en route. Thanks

[Robert Schaller]

This route takes in some of the most scenic parts of Arizona -- also some of the wildest and least visited areas (along the way).

Grand Canyon to Cameron, Tuba City, Old Oraibi (Hopi pueblo, the oldest continually-inhabited settlement in America), Hubbell Trading Post (at Ganado), Chinle and Canyon de Chelly, Tsaile, Navajo, Window Rock. This route takes you across the heart of the Navajo and Hopi reservations, then down the spine of the Navajo Reservation along the AZ/NM border along the top of the Chuska Mtns to Window Rock.

Then: Window Rock to St Johns and Springerville, and down US191 over the twistiest road in the USA, to Clifton. Clifton to Fort Bowie, Chiricahua National Monument, Cochise Stronghold, Kartchner Caverns and Tombstone. From Tombstone, drive through Sonoita and Patagonia to Nogales for an afternoon of over-the-border shopping.

Heading back north toward Tucson on I-19, stop at Tumacacori and San Xavier de Bac missions. There are also many things around Tucson - one "don't miss" is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. I also like the Arizona Historical Society Museum on the University campus in Tucson.

From Tucson, west (north actually) on I-10 to Phoenix and then I-17 north to SR69. Take SR69 to Prescott for a visit, then over Mingus Mountain to Jerome on SR89A. From there, Sedona is a short drive -- maybe 45 minutes.

This route would cover about 1500 miles. You should allow several days for the journey as these are not high speed roads, for the most part.

[RoadTripper Brad]

Wow, Bob. Even I want to drive that route... it hits so many good spots, and some great roads (every time I look at US 191 on the map with the twists and turns... I get the itch to go drive it!).
- Brad M.

[Robert Schaller]

Yes, me too -- it is one half of the Arizona perimeter drive I want to do "someday." Something to look forward to, eh?

[Jeannie]

Thank you for all that information about route to Tombstone, and I am definitely doing it next year. Great site you have got here. Thanks again Jeannie

[Mark Sedenquist]

Thank you for all that information about route to Tombstone, and I am definitely doing it next year.

Jeannie, there is plenty to see and do in the immediate vicinity as well, but here is a little more about Tombstone itself.

Mark