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A driving tour of the Southwest from Phoenix to Bryce Canyon and the other southern Utah national parks takes you through some of the most breathtaking desert and red-rock country in the world. With at least 25 national parks, monuments, and recreation areas within a 500-mile radius of the city, you can plan an itinerary from one to 10 days with stops at some of the country's most iconic landscapes, including the Grand Canyon, Montezuma Castle, and Monument Valley.
Some of them you can reach on a day trip from Phoenix, while others require at least one overnight, either en route or at the destination. Arizona may bring to mind heat, but as you gain altitude on the way to Sedona, Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon, you can experience cool to cold temperatures, especially at night and in the winter. Use these distances and approximate driving times, which take into account the fastest and most straightforward routes with normal traffic, to start planning your tour.
Driving Distance From Phoenix to National Parks, Monuments, and Recreation Areas
Destination |
Driving Distance (in miles) |
Approximate Drive Time |
Notes |
Arches National Park, Utah | 472 miles | 7.5 hours | Located in eastern Utah, next to Canyonlands National Park. |
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah | 425 miles | 7 hours | Located in southwestern Utah, not far from Zion National Park. |
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona | 294 miles | 5 hours | Located in northeastern Arizona, north of Petrified Forest National Park. |
Canyonlands National Park, Utah | 459 miles | 7.5 hours | Located in eastern Utah, next to Arches National Park. |
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Arizona | 55 miles | 1 hour | Just southeast of Phoenix, an easy half-day trip. |
Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona | 232 miles | 3.5 hours | Located in southeast Arizona, near Fort Bowie National Historic Site. |
Coronado National Memorial, Arizona | 281 miles | 4.5 hours | Located near the southeastern border of Arizona and Mexico. |
Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Arizona | 232 miles | 3.5 hours | Located in southeast Arizona, near Chiricahua National Monument |
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah | 289 miles | 4.5 hours | Located in southern Utah |
Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim), Arizona | 231 miles | 3.5 to 4 hours | Located in northern Arizona. |
Hohokam Pina National Monument, Arizona | 38 miles | .5 to 1 hour | In Chandler, Arizona, close to Phoenix. An easy day trip. |
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, Arizona | 272 miles | 4.5 hours | In northeastern Arizona, not far from Canyon de Chelly National Monument. |
Joshua Tree National Park, California | 246 miles | 3.5–4 hours | Due east of Phoenix in southern California. |
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Boulder City, NV visitor center), Utah/Arizona | 262 miles | 4.5 hours | Located in southern Utah/northwestern Arizona, not far from Las Vegas. |
Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona | 102 miles | 1.5 hours | In central Arizona, north of Phoenix, on the way to the Grand Canyon. |
Navajo National Monument, Arizona | 282 miles | 4.5 hours | Located in northeastern Arizona. Could be explored on the way to or from Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. |
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona | 127 miles | 2 hours | Located in southern Arizona. |
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona | 212 miles | 3.5 hours | Located on I-40 in northeastern Arizona. |
Pipe Spring National Monument, Arizona | 352 miles | 5.5 hours | Located in northern Arizona. |
Saguaro National Park, Arizona | 110 miles | 2 hours | Located in southern Arizona, next to Tucson. |
Tonto National Monument, Arizona | 107 miles | 2 hours | Located east of Phoenix. |
Tumacacori National Historical Park, Arizona | 161 miles | 2–2.5 hours | On I-19, south of Tucson in southern Arizona and near the border with Nogales, Mexico. |
Tuzigoot National Monument, Arizona | 108 miles | 2 hours | Located in central Arizona, west of Sedona. |
Walnut Canyon National Monument, Arizona | 160 miles | 2.5 hours | Located in central Arizona, north of Phoenix near Flagstaff. |
Wupatki National Monument, Arizona | 188 miles | 3 hours | Located in northern Arizona, near Flagstaff. |
Zion National Park, Utah | 414 miles | 7.5 hours | An awesome park in southern Utah, often enjoyed on the same trip along with Bryce Canyon National Park. |