Really thinking about heading to Grand Canyon after DLR...

[Laurabearz]

And I know there are a bunch of AZ people here who do the drive semi regulally so I thought this would be a good place to pick brains..

First.. what's the drive like from DLR to Flagstaff.. are the mountians a big deal? Is most of the drive through the desert?


Also how is the drive from Flagstaff to PHX..

Thanks bunches

 

[mbtiser]

If your planning on making the trip in the winter time, Williams to Flagstaff can get a little hairy. But having said that so far this winter it hasn't been too bad. The state is pretty good about keeping I-40 clear. The drive normally takes me about 8-9 hours depending on the stops I make. The worst part (driving) will be the drive from Flag to the GC since it's only a 2 lane road. GC any time of the year is a beautiful place to go. As far as the drive from Flag to Phoenix, once you get past Sedona on I-17 it shouldn't be too bad. This drive will take you about 2 1/2 - 4 hours depending on the traffic you run into getting into Phx. Hope you have a wonderful trip.

mbtiser

 

[Laurabearz]

We are traveling in June... and the plan is to use Flagstaff as our base. Then drive over to Williams and take the train up to the Canyon for the day. Then the next day head over to Sedona and the Sliding Rock place lol

Thanks for the driving tips. Is it mostly a desert trip from DLR to Flagstaff??

 

[HydroGuy]

We are traveling in June... and the plan is to use Flagstaff as our base. Then drive over to Williams and take the train up to the Canyon for the day. Then the next day head over to Sedona and the Sliding Rock place lol

Thanks for the driving tips. Is it mostly a desert trip from DLR to Flagstaff??

After we hit DLR in November for a day trip we returned home to CO thru the GC along I-40. As you leave the DLR area along I-15 it will be desert, but as you get into AZ you will start to climb in elevation and it will turn into pine trees.

We did the Williams train thing about four years ago. Lots of fun. We stayed at the hotel in Williams and the only downside is that you only get about 3 hours at the GC. So we then had to drive back up the next day so we could see more of the canyon.

I also highly recommend the GC movie at the IMAX in Tusayan just outside the GC park gates. It is about 30 minutes long and very informative.

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

We drive to/from Flag regularly - I went to college there as well! The drive isn't bad at all. If you go through Oak Creek Canyon on 89A (beautiful in Spring & Fall) & go north towards Flag - it turns into a hairpin that has about 6 levels (if my college yrs remember correctly). Can be daunting at night but that's it. If you stay on I-40...no worries. It's straight & simple & black ice is as scary as it gets IF there is any....so far pretty mellow.

Desert mostly, or flatlands along I-40 w/ smattering of hills. Then Flag & surrounding area, pines. GC is a looooong trip.

Flag to Phx is 2 hrs. rush hour can get icky as you get into Phx as I-17 simply isn't good enough, but they're working on that & that slows people down too.