Southwest National Parks Road Trip

Option 2 round trip PHX — Day 1 (Sep 23)

• Fly Columbus → Phoenix (PHX)

• Pick up rental car + groceries/water stop

• Easy arrival afternoon with pool/rest time

• Early dinner and full reset before the long westbound drive portion begins

• Overnight: Phoenix/Scottsdale

Route overview for Option 2 round trip PHX (reversed for a Phoenix return)

1) Fly Columbus → Phoenix (PHX)

2) Phoenix → Zion / Springdale base

3) Zion Canyon Scenic Drive sightseeing day

4) Springdale → Bryce Canyon National Park Sunset Point

5) Bryce → Page + Horseshoe Bend

6) Page smooth-water float with Wilderness River Adventures

7) Page → Williams / Grand Canyon corridor

8) Ride Williams Station, Grand Canyon Railway for a Grand Canyon day

9) Wupatki National Monument + reposition east

10) Petrified Forest National Park → Phoenix (PHX) → Columbus

Tradeoff vs Option 1

• Keeps flights round trip out of Phoenix

• Reverses the order so the trip finishes in Arizona rather than Utah

• Final day is still full, but much easier than driving all the way from Zion back to Phoenix

Option 2 round trip PHX — Day 2 (Sep 24)

• 7:30 AM–8:30 AM Easy breakfast + final supply stop

• 8:30 AM–2:30 PM Drive Phoenix → Springdale / Zion area (allow lunch and stretch breaks)

• 2:30 PM–4:30 PM Hotel check-in + full rest block

• 4:30 PM–6:30 PM Early dinner in Springdale

• Keep this first road day intentionally gentle after the flight day

• Overnight: Springdale / Zion area

Option 2 round trip PHX — Day 3 (Sep 25)

• 8:00 AM–10:30 AM Zion shuttle sightseeing window with Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

• 10:30 AM–11:30 AM Scenic stop / lodge break

• 11:30 AM–1:00 PM Lunch + rest

• 1:00 PM–3:30 PM Pick 1–2 easiest additional canyon stops only

• 3:30 PM–5:30 PM Downtime at hotel

• 5:30 PM–7:30 PM Early dinner

• Keep walking minimal for the seniors; this is primarily a scenery day

• Overnight: Springdale / Zion area

Option 2 round trip PHX — Day 4 (Sep 26)

• 8:00 AM–9:00 AM Breakfast + check-out

• 9:00 AM–11:00 AM Drive Springdale → Bryce Canyon

• 11:00 AM–12:00 PM Lunch + check-in if available

• 12:00 PM–4:30 PM Bryce viewpoints loop (Sunset/Sunrise/Inspiration; short walks) centered on Bryce Canyon National Park Sunset Point

• 4:30 PM–6:00 PM Rest at lodge/hotel

• 6:00 PM–8:00 PM Dinner

• Overnight: Bryce Canyon area

Option 2 round trip PHX — Day 5 (Sep 27)

• 8:00 AM–11:00 AM Drive Bryce Canyon → Page (2.5–3h)

• 11:00 AM–12:00 PM Lunch in Page + hotel check-in if available

• 12:00 PM–3:30 PM Full rest block / easy scenic pullouts

• 3:30 PM–5:30 PM Sunset-oriented stop at Horseshoe Bend if energy allows

• 5:30 PM–7:30 PM Dinner

• Keep walking light today to save energy for the float tomorrow

• Overnight: Page, AZ

Option 2 round trip PHX — Day 6 (Sep 28)

• 7:30 AM–8:15 AM Check-in + staging in Page (senior-friendly pace)

• 8:15 AM–9:15 AM Bus transfer to river launch / Lees Ferry area (approx)

• 9:15 AM–12:30 PM Smooth-water float/raft through Horseshoe Bend with Wilderness River Adventures (mostly seated; minimal walking)

• 12:30 PM–1:15 PM Short stop + restrooms / stretch break (as offered on trip)

• 1:15 PM–2:15 PM Return bus to Page (approx)

• 2:15 PM–3:15 PM Late lunch + rest

• 3:15 PM–4:30 PM Glen Canyon Dam overlook/visitor areas (minimal walking)

• 4:30 PM–6:30 PM Downtime

• 6:30 PM–8:30 PM Dinner

• Overnight: Page, AZ

Option 2 round trip PHX — Day 7 (Sep 29)

• 8:00 AM–12:30 PM Drive Page → Williams (allow scenic/photo stops and a lunch break)

• 12:30 PM–2:00 PM Late lunch + hotel check-in

• 2:00 PM–4:30 PM Full rest block in Williams

• 4:30 PM–6:00 PM Short walk in town or simply relax before the rail day

• 6:00 PM–8:00 PM Early dinner

• This is a positioning day to make the railway experience much easier for the group

• Overnight: Williams

Option 2 round trip PHX — Day 8 (Sep 30)

• 7:30 AM–8:15 AM Drive to Williams rail depot + park/check-in

• 8:15 AM–9:00 AM Check-in + boarding buffer (senior-friendly pace)

• 9:00 AM–11:15 AM Grand Canyon Railway: Williams → South Rim (approx)

• 11:15 AM–12:30 PM Lunch / orientation at the rim

• 12:30 PM–3:30 PM South Rim viewpoints at a relaxed pace in Grand Canyon National Park

• 3:30 PM–5:45 PM Return rail to Williams (approx)

• 5:45 PM–7:30 PM Dinner + rest

• Overnight: Williams or Flagstaff

Option 2 round trip PHX — Day 9 (Oct 1)

• 8:00 AM–9:00 AM Easy breakfast + check-out

• 9:00 AM–10:00 AM Drive Williams/Flagstaff → Wupatki loop start

• 10:00 AM–1:00 PM Wupatki scenic loop + short walks / overlooks with Wupatki National Monument

• 1:00 PM–2:00 PM Lunch + sit-down break

• 2:00 PM–4:30 PM Drive east toward Holbrook / Petrified Forest area to shorten tomorrow

• 4:30 PM–6:30 PM Rest block + dinner

• Overnight: Holbrook or Petrified Forest gateway

Option 2 round trip PHX — Day 10 (Oct 2)

• 7:30 AM–8:00 AM Easy breakfast + final check-out

• 8:00 AM–11:30 AM Scenic drive and viewpoint stops in Petrified Forest National Park

• 11:30 AM–12:30 PM Lunch + rest stop

• 12:30 PM–4:00 PM Drive Petrified Forest area → Phoenix Sky Harbor (allow time for fuel and rental car return)

• Evening flight PHX → CMH works best on this version

• Biggest advantage of the reversed order: the trip finishes much closer to Phoenix than the prior version

• Overnight: Home (Columbus) if flight timing works; otherwise airport hotel near PHX

Route overview (modified Option 1)

1) Fly Columbus → Phoenix, then keep Day 1 gentle with a straightforward airport-to-Flagstaff drive, one comfortable stop en route, and a relaxed late-afternoon hotel check-in before dinner in Flagstaff.

• 6:00 AM–12:00 PM Flight (CMH→PHX) + baggage

• 12:00 PM–3:00 PM Drive Phoenix airport → Flagstaff (about 2.5–3 hours total with one comfortable stop)

• Late afternoon hotel check-in, then dinner in Flagstaff at an easy pace.

• 7:00 AM–7:30 AM Depart Flagstaff at an unhurried pace for Petrified Forest National Park

• Allow about 2–2.25 hours each way, depending on the entrance used and any short stops

• Spend the day on viewpoint-focused sightseeing with minimal walking, plus a real lunch/rest break

• Return to Flagstaff in the late afternoon or early evening.

Begin with an easy breakfast and an unhurried start from Flagstaff, then take the relaxed drive to Wupatki National Monument with short viewpoint stops and minimal walking. Pause for lunch and rest, with the option to head back to Flagstaff early for downtime, and keep the day gentle with an early dinner and an overnight in Flagstaff.

• 7:00 AM–7:45 AM Drive Flagstaff → Williams rail depot + park with a generous boarding buffer

• 8:00 AM–11:30 AM Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim, with the train ride as the main, easygoing experience

• 11:30 AM–2:00 PM Enjoy the South Rim village and a few nearby viewpoints with minimal walking

• 2:00 PM–4:30 PM Return by train to Williams, then drive back to Flagstaff for dinner and an overnight stay

• 8:00 AM–9:30 AM Drive Flagstaff → Grand Canyon Visitor Center / Mather Point area

• 9:30 AM–12:00 PM Start with the Visitor Center area and Mather Point, keeping the morning to short, flat walks and easy access

• 12:00 PM–1:00 PM Enjoy a real lunch and rest break

• 1:00 PM–4:00 PM Visit a few additional South Rim viewpoints by shuttle or short, gentle walks

• 4:00 PM–5:30 PM Return to Flagstaff for dinner and an early night

Drive from Flagstaff to Page in the morning, then keep the pace easy with lunch and check-in, time to rest, a golden-hour visit to Horseshoe Bend, dinner, and an overnight in Page.

• 7:30 AM–8:15 AM Check-in + staging in Page (senior-friendly pace)

• 8:15 AM–9:15 AM Bus transfer to river launch / Lees Ferry area (approx)

• 9:15 AM–12:30 PM Smooth-water float/raft through Horseshoe Bend with Wilderness River Adventures (mostly seated; minimal walking)

• 12:30 PM–1:15 PM Short stop + restrooms / stretch break (as offered on trip)

• 1:15 PM–2:15 PM Return bus to Page (approx)

• 2:15 PM–3:15 PM Late lunch + rest

• 3:15 PM–4:30 PM Glen Canyon Dam overlook/visitor areas (minimal walking)

• 4:30 PM–6:30 PM Downtime

• 6:30 PM–8:30 PM Dinner

• Overnight: Page, AZ

• 8:00 AM–11:00 AM Drive Page → Bryce Canyon (2.5–3h)

• 11:00 AM–12:00 PM Lunch + check-in (if available)

• 12:00 PM–4:30 PM Bryce viewpoints loop (Sunset/Sunrise/Inspiration; short walks)

• 4:30 PM–6:00 PM Optional easy Rim Trail segment for the hikers (others relax)

• 6:00 PM–8:00 PM Dinner + stargazing (as desired)

• Overnight: Bryce Canyon City/Tropic

• 8:00 AM–10:30 AM Drive Bryce Canyon → Zion / Springdale (about 2–2.5h)

• 10:30 AM–11:30 AM Early lunch in Springdale

• 11:30 AM–3:30 PM Zion shuttle sightseeing window (pick 2–3 easy stops; plenty of sit breaks)

• 3:30 PM–5:30 PM Hotel check-in + rest

• 5:30 PM–7:30 PM Dinner + early night

• Overnight: Springdale / Zion area

• 8:00 AM–10:30 AM Zion shuttle sightseeing window or one final scenic stop

• 10:30 AM–11:30 AM Early lunch in Springdale

• 11:30 AM–2:30 PM Drive Springdale → Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) area (about 2.5–3h)

• 2:30 PM–4:30 PM Return rental car + airport buffer

• Return flight: Las Vegas (LAS) → Columbus (CMH)

• Overnight: Home (Columbus) or airport hotel if flight timing requires