Route advice

Question

I am beginning to plan our trip next April. Flying into PHX.

Scenarios

Mon-Arrive drive to Flagstaff.

Tues-Spend day adjusting time etc sight seeing.

Weds-get up early drive to GCNP East entrance make our way to El Tovar spend the night.

MoN- Drive to Williams, spend night

Tuesday- sight see , relax

Weds- enter south enterance, spend night in El Tovar, drive out east entrance?

Will be spending time in Sedona after not sure if we should head there when leaving GCNP or stay in vicinity then head to Sedona the following day.

TIA

Answer

For an April trip flying into Phoenix and planning to visit the Grand Canyon and Sedona, your route choices will depend on whether you prefer a more relaxed pace versus getting a little extra sightseeing done along the way. Here’s a breakdown of your scenarios and some recommendations.

Scenario 1: Arrive PHX → Drive to Flagstaff → GCNP East Entrance → El Tovar

Pros: Direct route to Flagstaff allows you to adjust to the time change and get a good night’s rest before heading to the Grand Canyon. You can spend Tuesday exploring Flagstaff or nearby attractions (Lowell Observatory, Walnut Canyon National Monument, or scenic drives).
Wednesday: Driving to the Grand Canyon’s East Entrance is scenic (Desert View Drive). Spending the night at El Tovar gives you easy access to the South Rim viewpoints and sunset/sunrise opportunities.
Cons: Less flexibility if you want to explore Williams or the Route 66 area; it’s a longer stretch from Phoenix to Flagstaff (~2 hours) plus GCNP East entrance (~1.5 hours from Flagstaff).

Scenario 2: Arrive PHX → Drive to Williams → Sightseeing → Enter South Entrance → El Tovar → East Exit

Pros: Williams is charming and a good base for a Route 66 experience or the Grand Canyon Railway. This adds a relaxed day to break up driving from Phoenix to the canyon. You can take a slower pace Tuesday, enjoy a small town feel, and still reach El Tovar Wednesday.
Cons: Slightly more driving overall (PHX → Williams → GCNP → Sedona), but it’s manageable. East exit from GCNP is longer if you’re heading to Sedona afterward (~2.5–3 hours).
Optionally, you could overnight near GCNP East Entrance after El Tovar to avoid backtracking before heading to Sedona.

Considerations for Sedona:

Driving from GCNP South or East Entrance to Sedona is roughly 2–2.5 hours from the South Rim and slightly longer from the East Rim. If you want a more relaxed drive, staying near GCNP after El Tovar before heading to Sedona is nice, as you can enjoy sunrise at the canyon.
If you want to maximize your time in Sedona, you could leave El Tovar mid-morning and arrive in Sedona by early afternoon, giving you a few hours for a short hike or scenic drive.

Recommendation:

If your goal is a slower, scenic pace with minimal stress, Scenario 2 (overnight in Williams, then South Entrance to El Tovar, possibly exiting via East Rim) gives you a good balance of sightseeing, small-town experience, and easy access to Grand Canyon viewpoints. For Sedona, either drive directly after El Tovar or stay one night near the East Entrance to enjoy sunrise, then head to Sedona the next morning.

Tips:

Book El Tovar as early as possible—it fills up quickly in April.
Check sunrise and sunset times at the South Rim and plan either morning or late afternoon visits to major viewpoints.
If you want extra flexibility, leaving El Tovar mid-morning and taking the East Rim drive to Sedona allows for both Desert View Drive stops and manageable driving to Sedona.