Five Great Places to See in Arizona, USA

Arizona is one of my favorite places in the whole United States. The landscapes here are some of the most breathtaking I have ever seen and there are so many places in Arizona that will honestly make you feel like you’re traveling on Mars which is why I love it so much. Here are five great places to see in Arizona on your next trip out to the Midwest.

Five Great Places to See in Arizona

The Grand Canyon

Anyone can tell you how incredible the Grand Canyon is but you’ll never truly be able to fully appreciate it until you see it for yourself. The moment I stepped up over the hill and caught my first glimpse of the Canyon, my jaw literally dropped. The views here are amazing and it was so incredible to see just how huge the Grand Canyon really is.

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is one of those places that I still struggle to believe is even real, even though I’ve seen it with my own eyes! You must hire a tour guide in order to walk through the canyons and I would highly recommend Ken’s Tours. You can even do a private photography tour and get the whole Canyon to yourself!

Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is a super popular spot for sunsets in Page, Arizona. And understandably so! The views from here were breathtaking. However, it does get pretty crowded during sunset so keep that in mind when planning your trip. I would recommend doing this and Antelope Canyon in the same day as they’re right down the road from each other!

Meteor Crater

We ended up taking a last-second detour from our Route 66 road trip to see the Meteor Crater. We showed up just before closing time so we were lucky they let us in! I wasn’t fully prepared for how huge the crater would be. It was absolutely incredible being able to see it in person.

Monument Valley

Monument Valley is not only one of my favorite places to see in Arizona but one of my favorite places in the whole world. This place just embodies everything that I love about being in the desert. Not to mention one of my favorite movies ever, Forrest Gump, was filmed here! There have actually been quite a few movies filmed here including an old John Wayne western. You could easily spend an entire day exploring Monument Valley.

Where to Stay in Arizona

Near the Grand Canyon:

Under Canvas Grand Canyon

Under Canvas Grand Canyon is far from the cheapest option but it’s such a unique place to stay. You could be glamping in style in your own private “stargazer tent” just a short drive from the Grand Canyon. This one is perfect for couples!

For more info or to book a room, click here.

The Lodge on Route 66

You can’t come to Arizona and not check out at least a few things on Route 66, right? The Lodge on Route 66 is a cozy place to spend the night and it’s conveniently located near everything you could possibly need.

For more info or to book a room, click here.

Near Antelope Canyon / Horseshoe Bend:

Hyatt Place Page Lake Powell

Hyatt Place Page Lake Powell is the perfect place to spend the night. It’s located right in the center of Page, Arizona and it even has a great restaurant on site.

For more info or to book a room, click here.

Clarion Inn Page

Clarion Inn Page is in the perfect location as it’s only a 10-15 minute drive from all of the main attractions in Page, Arizona. Don’t forget to take advantage of the outdoor pool and the free hot breakfast every morning!

For more info or to book a room, click here.

Near Monument Valley:

Goulding’s Lodge

There aren’t too many options near Monument Valley. It is kind of in the middle of nowhere. However, we stayed here during our trip and we’ve talked about going back ever since! It was like we had our own little home while we were there. And waking up to watch the sunrise with these kind of views was priceless.

For more info or to book a room, click here.

The View Hotel

This is certainly the more expensive option but you can’t beat the views from here. Just imagine waking up with a perfect view of Monument Valley right outside your window. And, you have your own private cabin!

For more info or to book a room, click here.

Arizona Travel Tips

1. You have to have a tour guide to see Antelope Canyon. They don’t allow anyone into the Canyon without a guide. We used Ken’s Tours and our guide was amazing. She even took tons of photos for us!
2. Visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in the same day. Many people don’t realize that they’re actually just right down the road from one another!
3. Visit Monument Valley (at least the Forrest Gump Road) at sunrise. Very few people will be around and skies are gorgeous with the early morning light.
4. Spend more than one day exploring the Grand Canyon. There are so many different places where you can enter the park, viewpoints you can drive to, hikes to do, etc. You could easily spend a few days there.

There is SO much more to see and explore in Arizona than just these five spots, but these are definitely my favorites. Arizona is the perfect state for a road trip as there are tons of things to do but also lots of open road to drive!

Other Places to See in Arizona

1. Petrified Forest / Painted Desert
2. Standin’ on the Corner in Winslow, Arizona (Route 66 landmark)
3. Havasu Falls
4. Cathedral Rock
5. Hoover Dam (on the Arizona / Nevada border)
6. Lake Powell
7. Canyon de Chelly National Monument
8. Apache Trail
9. Goldfield Ghost Town and Mine Tours
10. The Wave
11. Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
12. Navajo Bridge

What are some of your favorite spots in Arizona? Share in a comment below!

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Don’t forget to check out these other posts:

• Road Trip Essentials and Tips
• The Ultimate Guide to Solo Hiking
• Washington DC Travel Guide
• Traveling As a Couple