Itinerary for Arizona and New Mexico Road Trip

The West is known for its beautiful stretches of highway and amazing scenery. So, taking an Arizona and New Mexico road trip had always been high on our bucket list.

One of the things we like to do when choosing a destination is take a look at the schedule of one of our favorite bands, The Eagles, and plan a 2-week trip around one of their concerts.

“Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see…”

This time we found out The Eagles were playing in Glendale, Arizona. We had never been to Arizona! Then our friends in New Mexico asked us to come visit them on the same trip. This is what finally got us to take that desired road trip through Arizona & New Mexico.

Arizona & New Mexico Road Trip

Where to Start Your Arizona & New Mexico Road Trip

Fly into Albuquerque

Since we were seeing friends in Santa Fe, New Mexico first, we booked our one-way flight to Albuquerque International Airport (ABQ), returning home out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Of course, you can always work this the other way around… start in Phoenix and work your way over to Albuquerque. See how to get the best deals on flights.

Rent a Car

We picked up our rental car in Albuquerque to begin our 2-week Autumn road trip, and then dropped it off in Phoenix. See tips and tricks for renting a car.

Our Itinerary

Days 1 through 3: Albuquerque and Santa Fe

We arrived in Albuquerque, and drove over to stay with friends at their home in beautiful Santa Fe.

Santa Fe is the capital of New Mexico and is full of Spanish Colonial charm. And in October the colors were ALIVE… this is the only way I can think to describe it. It is unspoiled with beautiful Rocky Mountain vistas and golden quaking aspens.

The downtown area is full of interesting native culture and arts. Walking through the streets is a feast for the senses… the art, the colorful peppers hanging in kiosks along the street, the smells of the delicious food, and the crisp fall air.

Not only did we spend time in Santa Fe, but we just happened to be there for the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Now that’s an experience! See my separate post on New Mexico.

Day 4: Painted Desert, Petrified Forest & Winslow

Our plan on Day 4 was to drive through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, make a stop in Winslow, Arizona, a stop to check out the Meteor Crater and the famous Route 66, and then head up to our hotel in Sedona all in one day! Phew… long day!!

So, at 5:30 a.m. we left our friends’ home and began our drive. It was about a 3.5 hour drive from Santa Fe to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. We drove through the park with a few photo stops along the way. We spent about 2 hours enjoying this stunning, yet eerie place. But we could have spent a lot more time there. See my separate post on the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert.

It was about another hour to Winslow from the Petrified Forest. We spent about an hour exploring Winslow and taking our photos on the famous Eagles “corner” of Route 66, and then another hour or two exploring the Meteor Crater in Winslow.

The day was quickly disappearing, so we got back in our car to make it the rest of the way to Sedona… about a 2 hour drive.

Day 5 through 9: Sedona, Arizona

WOW! Sedona, Arizona is one of the most incredibly breathtaking places I’ve ever seen. It’s a place where I felt something ?! Not sure how to explain it, but I really felt a connection to the earth there. The red rocks and canyons literally made me cry! Weird, right?

Seriously, when we were driving into the area from Flagstaff and saw Oak Creek Canyon as we turned a corner, I cried! The beauty of this place just cannot be described in words or with photographs. You have to see it for yourself.

See my separate post on mystical Sedona here, including where we stayed and what we did with our 5 days in Sedona.

Day 10: Grand Canyon

From Sedona we hopped aboard the Grand Canyon Railroad for a day trip to the Grand Canyon. It’s a full day, about 12 hours from start to finish and is about $225.00 for the day. This price includes lunch, entrance to the park, bottled water and hotel pickup and drop off.

The tour takes you to the South Rim of the park where you can view this incredible Natural Wonder. The train ride itself and the views along the way are pretty amazing, too! See my separate post on the Grand Canyon.

Day 11 through 14: Phoenix, Arizona

On day 11 we reluctantly left Sedona for our 2 hour drive to Phoenix. During our time in Phoenix, we visited the Phoenix Zoo, ate lots of Huevos Rancheros, we played golf on our hotel’s course, visited Montezuma Castle National Monument, and saw our Eagles concert!

See my separate post on Phoenix here.

Best Time to Do This Road Trip

The best time to do a road trip through Arizona and New Mexico is in the fall… the months of September, October and November. Autumn colors are popping and the temperatures are perfect. However, you’ll want to be in Albuquerque in October for the annual Balloon Fiesta.

Share Your Travel Tips & Comments

As always, if you have any of your own travel tips to add to this post, any remarks on the article, or if my information needs an edit or addition, please leave your comments below. I value all of your input.

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