Thanksgiving weekend is one of the best excuses to take an Arizona road trip.
The weather is generally much friendlier than summer.
The scenery is spectacular.
And you can build the trip around food.
Here are five routes I’d consider.
1. Phoenix → Sedona → Flagstaff → Grand Canyon
Best for: First-time Arizona visitors.
Start in Phoenix and head north.
Spend time in Sedona.
Continue to Flagstaff.
Then make your way toward the Grand Canyon.
This route gives you desert, red rocks, forests and one of the world’s great natural wonders.
2. Phoenix → Prescott → Jerome → Sedona
Best for: Small towns, food, history and scenery.
Prescott gives you mountain-town character.
Jerome adds mining history and art.
Sedona finishes the trip with red-rock scenery.
3. Phoenix → Tucson → Bisbee → Sonoita
Best for: Food and southern Arizona.
This is the route I’d choose if culinary exploration is the priority.
Tucson gives you Sonoran food.
Bisbee provides history and character.
Sonoita brings wine country into the mix.
4. Phoenix → Payson → Mogollon Rim → Flagstaff
Best for: Mountains and scenic drives.
The elevation changes dramatically along this route.
You leave the desert and enter pine country.
Bring layers.
5. Tucson → Patagonia → Bisbee → Tombstone
Best for: Southern Arizona history and scenery.
This is a road trip for people who like smaller communities and a slower pace.
How long should an Arizona Thanksgiving road trip be?
Three to five days is ideal.
You can cover more ground in less time, but you’ll spend your holiday staring through a windshield.
Don’t.
Stop.
Eat.
Explore.
What should you pack?
Layers.
Water.
Comfortable shoes.
A cooler.
Phone charger.
Road snacks.
And a camera.
Should I drive to the Grand Canyon on Thanksgiving?
You can, but check weather, road conditions and attraction access before traveling.
Northern Arizona can experience winter weather by late November.
Where should I eat on an Arizona road trip?
Don’t rely entirely on chain restaurants.
Look for independent restaurants, local markets, farm stands and regional specialties.
The meal is part of the road trip.
Chef Joe’s road-trip rule
I always prefer a route with one great meal over a route with three mediocre stops.
That’s how you travel.
Chef Joe Muscarello
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