Planning a trip to Arizona in May. Seeking Advice & recomendatios.

[GJS]

Hi All,

I believe this is my first post to the 'General Board'. I have recieved lots of good support from the 'Tech' side. (I have even helped some others with my technical experiance.)

My wife, Jackie, and I are planning on leaving our home with a friend for a road trip to the Grand Canyon. We leave April 30th and return for May 18th.

So our plan (very high level) includes leaving Victoria, arriving in Arizona and returning, with a stop in Las Vagas to see some old buddies.

We both like to camp and will be equiped to camp for the whole trip but will likely motel/hotel it part of the time.

I'm looking for recomended stops along the way(s). We don't have a planned route yet, and we can make the Vagas stop in either direction.

We are very interested funky cool places to see and stay. We are easy going and love to explore. I'm 50 Jackie is 65 and we are in our 28th year together. We are both in good physical condition and like to get in a bit of exercise each day when we travel. This will be only be our second big trip together.

The Interstate is ready and waiting.  I want to lay out our path in the coming weeks with any help/advise/warning that you can offer. Any tips on delightful places to stay or explore will be greatly appreciated.

Very best regards,

Glenn

[sandy]

From Vegas, make your way to the North Rim of the canyon. It's less traveled and crowds are way down. I saw wild turkeys on the roads in the park and lots of other wildlife. When you turn South off 89 onto 67, there's a couple of campgrounds (private) and 20+ miles down the road is a National park camground. Cheaper but no showers. Good toilets though. Fuel up at 89/67. Going East from the North Rim takes you through Lee's Ferry and into the Navajo Reservation (Kayenta) and Monument Valley. Much of this is high desert. If you want pine forests, come South through Flagstaff and take the Lake Mary Rd to Clint's Well and South to Payson. Turn east on 260 and go to Heber. Take 288 to 388 and continue North to Canyon De Chelly (Da Shay pron:). From there go North to SW Colorado and pass through Durango on your way home. Have fun!!

[Cruzen]

Great recommendations Sandy however with it being that Early in May the North Rim access might still be closed. 

[GJS]

Thanks Sandy, and good point Cruzen.

Am I going to need heated clothing for this trip?
I just assumed Arizona would be warm, but I guess it can get quite high?
Hmmmm. food for thought.

[Kidd]

Ya never know what the weather will be , be I can mostly  guarantee  it will be windy up on the reservation  .
Check out S Rim , I worked there from 1976 to 1980 , the best years of my life ,  if you like sex drugs and R&R .
South of Flagstaff ,drive through Oak Creek Canyon   to Sedona and up to Jerome  , maybe camp out at Dead Horse State park  , if you are in to  camping.
I am not , anymore .    As far as I am concerned , all the funky cool places are long gone .  Flag  was full of them  .  Stay in a nice B&B or motel in Sedona  .

[Cruzen]

Here are the average temps for Flagstaff:
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USAZ0068??locid=USAZ0068?

You can expect highs around 60 with nights around 27-32 depending on where you are.

Now if you want warm you come down to the "Valley" that's Phoenix, Scottsdale area, where it will be around 85 during the day and around 55-60 at night.

[..]

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/skywalk.htm

http://autocollections.com/

http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/cebr/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm

Park Annual pass $50
http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/lcic/grasslands/lolo_visitor.html

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/

http://outside.away.com/scenicdrives.html

So much to see so little time.

[GJS]

Thanks everyone!

This has been a big help.
The links, route and weather information is very useful.

It should prove to be great trip. Albiet too short.

Again, thanks very much.

May the force be with you.