Hi'
I'm planning a trip to Arizona & New Mexico with following stops in the end of March / beginning og April 2010:
Phoenix - Sedona - Kayenta (Monument Valley) - White Sands, NM - Tucson - Phoenix.
But is this possible in 14 days ? And what shall I expect of weather - snow ?
Thank you for answers.
// Tomales
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Your trip is doable in 14 days. Weather might be chilly or even wintry in the high country in AZ between MV and Sedona, but should be fine at your destinations.
At Monument Valley, book reservations ASAP at the View Hotel. This place is right in the heart of MV where as Kayenta is about 30-45 minutes away. You will be glad to be staying closer. Trust me.
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Have you already been to Grand Canyon NP, Page (Antelope Canyon etc) and places like Mesa Verde NP and Canyon de Chelly NM? Although White Sands NM (not sand but gypsum) makes a great visit, it will be quite a detour and generally spoken, most people only spend a couple of hours at White Sands.
Tet
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Where does your trip begin and end? New Mexico has several places of interest, and you will have the time to see some of them as well as some sites in Arizona.
How much driving do you want to do daily? Are you going to set up a "base" in either state? Where do you fly out of to return home?
You will probably hit some winter weather in March in the higher elevations in both states. Snow is not unheard of.
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My travel plan are as follows:
Day 01: arrival in Phoenix
Day 02: Phoenix - Sedona
Day 03: Sedona
Day 04: Sedona - Monument valley MV (View hotel :-)
Day 05: MV
Day 06: MV - Chinle (Canyon de Chelly)
Day 07: Chinle - Santa Fe
Day 08: Santa Fe
Day 09: Santa Fe - White Sands (Alamogordo)
Day 10: White Sands - Las Cruces (LC)
Day 11: LC - Tucson
Day 12: Tucson
Day 13: Tucson - Phoenix
Day 14: Flight home
So if I want avoid the snow I have to travel in April ?
// Tomales
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That itinerary is doable.
Day 4: Take your time between Sedona and Monument Valley. Many places to stop and see like Oak Creek Canyon, Walnut Canyon NM, Sunset Crater Volcano NM, Painted Desert overlook, Wupatki NM, Cameron Trading Post and Navajo NM.
Day 5: Don't know your plans for MV but maybe spend half a day and drive to Chinle in the afternoon (3 hours drive)
Day 6: All day for Canyon de Chelly. Take a half day tour and drive south rim to Spider Rock overlook and back. Many stops on your way.
Day 7: On your way to Santa Fe maybe stop at Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado and also have a cuppa at Old Town Albuquerque.
Day 9: One of the nicest things to do at White Sands NM is the ranger lead sunset stroll www.nps.gov/whsa
Day 10: Depending on the time you want to spend at White Sands, you could drive further than Las Cruces. Las Cruces only is a good 45 minutes from White Sands. A nice town to spend the night is Silver City. Bit of a detour but you could visit City of Rocks SP on your way. That really is a nice SP. If you don't want to do that I'd spend the night in Willcox or Benson, Az.
Nothing wrong with Las Cruces (and La Messila) though.
Day 11: Before heading to Tucson, maybe visit Tombstone, the town "Too tough to die" .
Tet
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Well, one cannot predict the weather, but travelling in April would decrease the chances of snow.
Besides, the weather in northern Arizona can be bitterly cold in March. Canyon de Chelly is certainly worth seeing, but you may find it so cold that you don't want to get out of the car! Likewise, on day 4 of Tet's suggested itinerary (a good one, by the way) you could encounter cold and snow in March.
Go online to one of those weather sites that has the history of the weather in an area. I can't help you, but maybe someone will post that site for you.
BTW, check the weather for Santa Fe in March also.
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Some options:
http://www.az511.com/hcrsweb/hcrsweb.jsp
www.sunrisesunset.com/usa/ (just in case....)
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Your MV-Chinle day needs to start very early in the morning. CdeC is best experienced from the inner canyon and that requires a native guide and an organized tour. and it takes a half day at the very least. Pre-book your tour and allow a good 3-4 hours from the time you leave MV to get there in time.
Personally, I'd double the time in AZ and delete NM from your plan. I love Santa Fe and Nm has lots to see and do, but you are rushing through it and sacrificing time at the destinations. JMO
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Hello all
Your suggestions/ideas have been noted and after checking weather sites for various cities the trip definitely has to be caried out in April.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Denmark to you all.
// Tomales
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Same to yoiu Tomales. We are having our first White Christmas here in The Netherlands since some 25 years.
Cheers
Tet
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