Final Itinerary - any tips or suggestions welcome

Question

After planning for months, we are heading to Arizona in two weeks and so excited!

We are packing layers, prepared for weather to range from quite cold to warmer spring temps?

This is our general itinerary. Welcome to any other additions if there's something great we're missing. We will be with our kids ages 15, 12, and 8

Saturday

Pick up rental car in Phoenix early morning

Drive to Sedona, approx 2 -3 hours?

Stop at Chapel of the Holy Cross -and maybe Bell Rock on our drive?

Check into hotel, head to Uptown for dinner? Any suggestions?

Early bed as we will be on east coast time

Sunday

Wake up early, 6am arrival Devils Bridge - We need to get the Red Rocks pass for this, can we buy once we get there or in advance? Planning to park at Mescal Trailhead

Tlaquepaque - lunch and walk around?

Airport Mesa road - a good place to go look at the stars after dinner?

Monday

Sleep in

11:00 Pink Jeep Tour ARRIVE AT LEAST 30 MIN EARLY, NO PARKING LOT, HAVE TO FND PUBLIC PARKING

Ideas for afternoon/early evening?

Pack up to get on road in morning

Tuesday

Get on road early, drive to Page, 3 hours?

Horseshoe Bend?

1:40 Antelope Canyon Tour, arrive no later than 12:55. Tour is 90 minutes

Glen Canyon Dam overlook before dark

Dinner? Stromboli's?

Wednesday-

Early checkout, get on road to Grand Canyon

Staying inside park, explore GC and stay through sunset

Thursday - Wake up early for sunrise at GC

Explore after sun comes up

On road late morning to Vegas, stop at Hoover Dam on way

Return rental car once we get to Vegas

Pool/relax and then head to strip to sightsee and grab dinner

Friday

Enjoy pool with kids

Dinner on strip - not looking for anything too fancy as we will be with our kids 15,12,8

Saturday-

Head to airport for lunchtime flight

Answer

Congrats — this looks like a wonderful family trip and your plan already covers the must-see highlights. Below I’ll tidy up a few logistics, offer practical tips (parking, passes, timing), suggest small tweaks to reduce stress with kids, and add a few optional stops/food ideas so you can choose what fits your energy levels.

Quick overview / high-level tips

Pack layers (you already are) — Sedona is warmer than the high-elevation Grand Canyon; mornings/evenings can be chilly at the Canyon. Bring sun protection, refillable water bottles, and comfortable shoes for short hikes.
Make any guided-tour reservations you’ve already made (Pink Jeep, Antelope Canyon) and note their arrival-time instructions — some operators enforce strict check-in windows.
Expect parking at popular Sedona spots to fill early; arriving early (or late afternoon) avoids the biggest crowds. If you want a stress-free Pink Jeep morning, plan extra time to find Uptown parking. Pink Jeep does not provide a private customer lot — use public or paid uptown parking.

Saturday — Phoenix → Sedona

Your timing is realistic: Phoenix → Sedona drive is ~2–2.5 hours depending on traffic. Stop at Chapel of the Holy Cross and Bell Rock en route if you like short photo stops.

Chapel of the Holy Cross: Lovely quick visit, but parking is limited (about ~45 spaces) and can be crowded during the day. Arrive early or later in the afternoon to avoid parking stress.
Bell Rock: Short walks and viewpoints make this a great quick stop. There’s easy roadside parking near the trailheads or at the Village of Oak Creek viewpoint.
Uptown Sedona dinner: Uptown has many casual family-friendly restaurants (pizza, burgers, Mexican). If you want local favorites, consider pizza or a casual brewpub so the teens have easy choices.

Sunday — Devil’s Bridge early hike, Tlaquepaque

Devil’s Bridge is popular — you’ve picked the right strategy by planning an early start. A few specifics:

Red Rock Pass: Required at many Sedona trailheads (including those that access Devil’s Bridge). You can often buy the pass at trailhead kiosks (credit-card kiosks), visitor centers, some gas stations — or online through official vendors; buying the pass in advance saves time and uncertainty.
Where to park for Devil’s Bridge: There are multiple approaches. Mescal Trailhead is a common, lower-clearance parking option — but parking fills early. Dry Creek Road allows closer parking if you have a high-clearance vehicle (or the shuttle to Dry Creek), but requires a different approach. If Mescal is full, you’ll need to circle to other lots or use the shuttle. Arriving very early (pre-7am in peak season) is recommended.
Timing: Plan 2–3 hours for the hike roundtrip from Mescal (allow extra for photos on the bridge and moving at teen pace).
Tlaquepaque after: Excellent for a relaxed lunch, galleries, and a stroll — very family-friendly.
Stargazing at Airport Mesa: Airport Mesa is a convenient vantage point for sunset and (later) star viewing. It can be windy and cool after dark, so bring layers and a flashlight or headlamp for the walk back to parking.

Monday — Pink Jeep tour + afternoon ideas

Good call to arrive early for Pink Jeep — they recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early and there’s no private Pink Jeep lot, so you’ll use public or paid parking in Uptown. Allow extra time to find a spot.

Morning: Pink Jeep tour at 11:00 — arrive 30–45 minutes early to allow parking and check-in.
Afternoon options (easy, family-friendly):
- Relaxed short hikes — Little Horse Trail / Bell Rock loop are easy and scenic for teens and an 8-year-old.
- Slide Rock State Park — fun but can be busy and chilly depending on water temps; better if everyone wants a playful stop and if the kids are prepared to get wet.
- Visit a local overlook for photos (Doe Mountain or nearby scenic pullouts).
Packing that night: Pack non-fragile items first if you have an early departure to Page; keep a small “road day” bag with snacks, water, sunscreen, hats, and a light jacket for each person.

Tuesday — Sedona → Page (Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe Bend)

Drive time Sedona → Page is about 2.5–3 hours depending on stops and traffic; leaving early is smart. Your Antelope Canyon timing (1:40pm tour; arrive by 12:55) is tight but reasonable.

Horseshoe Bend: Short walk from the parking area to the viewpoint (about 10–20 minutes). There is a paid parking lot and it can be crowded; morning or late afternoon are best for photos and fewer people. Plan 30–45 minutes here.
Antelope Canyon: Stick to your tour arrival time; most guided tour operators are strict about arrival times. Tours run ~60–90 minutes depending on slot. Keep camera lenses and phones protected from dust.
Glen Canyon Dam: Great quick stop for sunset light on the dam and views — fits well as an “before dark” stop on your way to dinner.
Dinner in Page: Casual family options are plentiful; you mentioned Stromboli’s — pizza or family-friendly diners are a good bet for picky teens.

Wednesday — Page → Grand Canyon (South Rim)

Drive time Page → Grand Canyon South Rim is typically ~2–2.5 hours (plan for 2.5 to be safe). Enter the park and head toward Grand Canyon Village where you’ll have easy access to overlooks and sunset spots.

Staying inside the park is ideal for sunrise; take an evening walk along the Rim Trail for accessible viewpoints and then choose a sunset overlook with the family (Yavapai Point and Mather Point are very popular and easy to reach).
Bring layers — canyon rim evenings are chilly even in spring/early summer.

Thursday — Sunrise at the Grand Canyon, then drive to Las Vegas

Sunrise: Wonderful to watch from any rim-view — leave your lodging early and give yourselves time for photos and short walks.
Drive to Vegas: Plan to leave late morning; the drive to Las Vegas with a Hoover Dam stop en route (on the way toward Kingman/US-93) is straightforward. Allow time for traffic and for the Hoover Dam visitor area if you plan to walk the bypass/overlook or do a short tour.
Return rental in Vegas: Confirm the car drop-off window and where the rental shuttle returns you to the terminal or strip hotel.

Friday & Saturday — Vegas with Kids

Pool time and low-key family activities are perfect after several busy days. Consider family-friendly shows (check age limits) or attractions like the High Roller, Bellagio fountains, or the volcano at The Mirage — many are free/low-cost or teen-appropriate spectacle-style experiences.
For dinner on the Strip with picky teens, look for established, casual spots: pizza chains, burger places, or food courts in the larger resorts.

Additional practical tips & reminders

Red Rock Pass / trail permits: Many Sedona trailheads require a Red Rock Pass for parking. Passes are available at trailhead kiosks and at some local vendors — buying in advance online or at a visitor center avoids last-minute kiosk issues.
Devil’s Bridge parking strategy: Mescal Trailhead is a common parking option but fills early; Dry Creek requires high-clearance access to park closer, or you can use the Sedona Shuttle to the Dry Creek lot if available. If you want to avoid potential parking scramble, arrive very early.
Pink Jeep parking: No dedicated Pink Jeep lot; plan to use Uptown public lots (free/paid zones) and allow time to park. Some uptown lots are free for all-day (check posted signs).
Child safety & crowds: In very popular areas (Devil’s Bridge, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope), keep a close eye on younger kids near edges/rail-less viewpoints. Consider a quick safety chat before each overlook/hike.
Fuel & snacks: Fill your tank before long stretches (some roads between towns have fewer services). Bring snacks and refillable water bottles to avoid repeated stops and keep energy up for the kids.

Optional extras you might like (if time/energy):

On Monday afternoon, try a short Jeep/sightseeing drive to a vista point you didn’t cover on foot — it’s an easy way to see more without extra hiking.
On the Grand Canyon day, consider a ranger-led short program (check the park schedule) — kid-oriented talks can be engaging for teens and younger kids alike.
If your family likes geology/nature, plan a 20–30 minute stop at Glen Canyon overlook for a quick interpretive view — it’s a neat contrast to the canyon scenery.

Final reassurance

Your itinerary is thoughtful and balanced: a good mix of active mornings (Devil’s Bridge, Antelope) and relaxed afternoons (Tlaquepaque, overlooks). With the small logistics above (Red Rock Pass, early parking for Devil’s Bridge, allow time for Pink Jeep parking), you should have a smooth trip. Have a fantastic time — the kids will remember this adventure for years!

Final Itinerary - any tips or suggestions welcome

More Arizona (AZ) Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions