California – Arizona
September
American Airlines London Heathrow – LA (Fantastic Vegan food )
Day 1
We landed late, picked up the car and spent a few hours sleeping at Wallmart Car Park in Selma.
Tip: If you’re going to visit more than 2 National Parks buy America the Beautiful Annual Pass at the gate of the first visited park, you can’t buy it online from abroad. The pass gives you free entry to all National Parks for a year. It is one pass per vehicle or a group up to 4 people, kids up to 16 do not pay the entry fee.
info: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
We didn’t go to Sequoia National Park as one of the roads was closed and I was afraid that the diversion would take us too much time. My advice is – do include the park if you go the same route we did.
Day 2
Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Village https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
El Capitan, 2,308 m (1), Vernal Fall in September (5),North Dome, 2,299 m (6)
Day 3
Yosemites, Tenaya Lake
Death Valley https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm
Campsite: Furnance Creek
Day 4
Zabriskie Point
Dante’s View
Nevada – Arizona – Utah
Day 5
North Rim Grand Canyon https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/north-rim.htm
Marble Canyon / Paria
Campsite: Lees Ferry Campground
Day 6
Navajo Nation Teritory – all parks and monuments in Navajo territory (Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, and Antelope Canyon) are not included in the National Parks Pass. !!! Check the local time !!!
Navajo Nation https://www.discovernavajo.com/
Navajo Nation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo_Nation
Antelope Canyon X
of course it’s up to you which Antelope to visit – all are beautiful but do your research, Canyon X is easier to book (we booked a day before the visit) or get in without booking (but then be there early).
Monument Valley US-163N
Monument Valley info: https://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/monument_valley/index.html
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park official website: https://navajonationparks.org/tribal-parks/monument-valley/
Campsite: The View Campground RV sites for campervans/cars/vans and for tents, car parking, toilets and showers with hot water, wifi near the reception.
Day 7
Sunrise in Monument Vallley
Valley of the Gods
Info: https://www.blm.gov/visit/search-details/269135/1
entry free
Day 8
Monument Valley to Grand Canion South Rim
Alternative route from Monument Valley to Grand Canyon South Rim: The Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park, Flagstaff – 1 day. I really recommend to research all the places in Arizona – there is plenty of them ! https://www.visitarizona.com
Elephant’s Feet
Tonalea, AZ 86044, United States
Little Colorado River Gorge Overlook
Desert View Dr – free entry and parking, 5-10 mins walk to have a look at the gorge
Grand Canyon South Rim East
Desert View & Navajo Point
Day 9
Grand Canyon South Rim https://www.nps.gov/grca
you have no idea what a word GRAND means untill you see the canyon
Route 66
The part of old Route 66 … it’s just a route with a few funny shops, still nice to drive. We stopped in Peach Springs, visited Hualapai Tribe Enterprise and went shopping at Walapai Market.
Indian Tribe living there is Hualapai Tribe http://hualapai-nsn.gov/about-2/
Night at Lone Tree BLM Campground, Lake Havasu, AZ
Havasupai Indian Tribe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havasupai
Day 10
Lake Havasu City
Cattail Cove State Park
https://azstateparks.com/cattail-cove/
Joshua Tree Park
https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm
Joshua Tree NP surprised us and since we hadn’t found anything worth seeing on our way back to LA we spent two nights at the fantastic campsite Jumbo Rocks Campground
We rented a car from SIXT – when searching for a deal we always check the prices through expedia and booking.com, the websites usually offer better prices or terms than the rental company.
For more fantastic places to visit in Arizona go to: https://www.visitarizona.com
