Arizona road trip (with a bit of NM) - any comments please?

Question

Hi guys, we are a couple in our 60s from the UK planning a road trip from PHX for 3rd to 27th March next year. This will be our 7th road trip in the US, and we have visited parks around Flagstaff, Meteor Crater, Monument Valley and points north previously. We love the US National Parks and have an interest in moderate hiking, history and geology. We tend to steer clear of crowds and cities if at all possible.

I have the back end of our trip sorted I think, with 2N in Grants NM (El Morro, El Malpais), 2N in Chinle (Canyon de Chelly, Petrified Forest) and 7N in Sedona. This leaves 3rd to 15th March to get from Phoenix to Grants. I am worried that I might be short changing Southern Arizona with the following and any comments would be appreciated. Should I remove the Santa Fe / Albuquerque NM portion to cut down on the driving? We have got as far south as Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek CO previously and I doubt there will be another opportunity to visit NM.

4,5 Mar Phoenix (Tonto NM, Globe?)

6,7 Mar Tucson (Organ Pipe Cactus, Saguaro NMs)

8,9 Mar Bisbee (Coronado NM, Bisbee, Kartchner Caves)

10,11 Mar Willcox (Fort Bowie, Chiricahua NMs)

12,13 Mar Santa Fe (Bandalier NM etc)

14,15 Mar Albuquerque (Petroglyph etc)

16,17 Mar Grants

18,19 Mar Chinle

20-27 Mar Sedona

Should I spend more time in the far south instead of NM, or are there any other obvious omissions? Any comments on the above would be hugely appreciated.

Many thanks, Andy

Answer

Hi Andy,

Your itinerary looks very well thought out and covers some fantastic areas of Southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Northern Arizona. Given your interests in moderate hiking, history, geology, and avoiding crowds, here are some detailed thoughts and suggestions.

For the Southern Arizona portion (3–11 March), your choices are excellent. Tonto National Forest and Globe are nice for scenic drives and short hikes. Tucson, Organ Pipe Cactus NM, and Saguaro NP offer a mix of desert landscapes, cacti, and cultural history. Bisbee, Coronado NM, and Kartchner Caverns provide both historical and geological interest. Willcox, Fort Bowie, and Chiricahua NM are also excellent for hiking, history, and striking landscapes.

Regarding the New Mexico portion (12–15 March), Santa Fe and Albuquerque are rich in history, art, and geology. However, this does add significant driving time, and if your priority is outdoor exploration and less crowded areas, you might consider trimming this portion.

One option is to skip or shorten the NM portion and spend more time in Southern Arizona, particularly around Tucson, Bisbee, and Chiricahua NM, which are very scenic and less crowded than NM cities.
Alternatively, you could drive directly from Willcox/Chiricahua NM region to Grants, possibly stopping briefly in Albuquerque for a day rather than two nights, which would reduce driving stress.
If you keep Santa Fe/Albuquerque, consider focusing only on Bandelier NM, Taos, or Petroglyph NM instead of both cities in depth, to allow more time for hiking and outdoor exploration.

Another consideration is weather. March in Northern New Mexico can still be chilly and potentially snowy in higher elevations, while Southern Arizona will be more pleasant for hiking. Prioritizing Southern Arizona over NM could give you better hiking conditions and warmer temperatures.

Some minor omissions or optional additions you might consider in Southern Arizona include:

Tucson’s Sabino Canyon for moderate hikes with spectacular desert scenery.
Patagonia and the Sonoita wine region if you enjoy quiet scenic drives and small towns.
Sky Island regions around Mount Lemmon for a change in flora and elevation without crowds.

Overall, your itinerary is strong and balanced. If your main goal is scenic landscapes, moderate hiking, and geology, focusing on Southern Arizona and trimming New Mexico slightly might enhance your experience. NM is certainly worth visiting, but a full 4-night stay might not be essential unless you have a particular interest in NM’s cultural and historical sites.

Safe travels and enjoy your road trip!