Is it possible?

Is it possible to drive out the East rim of the Grand Canyon early morning making stops at the scenic spots continuing onto Tuba City area to see the dinosaur tracks then through the Hopi Village to the Canyon de Chelly all in one day? Is there to much to stop and see along the way? Is there a need to stay in the Hopi village one night? What do you suggest? Thanks for any info. Rhonda

Is it possible?

I haven%26#39;t taken that exact drive, but I%26#39;ve driven all over that region several times (though not on the Hopi Reservation per se.)

I%26#39;m not sure what kind of accommodations may exist in the Hopi area, but if you%26#39;re coming from the East Rim, you might want to consider just stopping there for a while after seeing the dinosaur tracks. It%26#39;s probably not worth an overnight stay.

You will have no trouble making it to Canyon de Chelly in a few hours. But if you are going to make several stops on the way, you should plan on a night near Canyon de Chelly and spend the better part of the next day there. The only way to see it is with a Navajo tour guide (the canyon is controlled by the Navajo Nation) and you cannot do the canyon justice in just one or two hours.

There are some decent motels near the canyon and one or two lodges within the park boundaries. I would Google ';Canyon de Chelly hotels'; and see what comes up.

Is it possible?

Hopi from Flagstaff is close to 3 hours give or take. Some times 2 1/2 depends on who%26#39;s driving.. I would work at the clinic out there once a week, hated that drive. Its better to split things up. I don%26#39;t think you can stay in Hopi village you%26#39;d have to stay elsewhere. Canyon De Chelly is appreciated more if you do a 1/2 day or full day tour with a navajo guid into the canyon. If you can%26#39;t do that they you can drive your car to a couple ruins but its best experienced from the bottom of it. The south west region is vast and spread out. Most people underestimate the driving times and road contidions/construction ect... If only one day just focus on the GC you won%26#39;t be sorry.

I personally would skip Hopi and just do the GC and Canyon De Chelly. You don%26#39;t list how much time you have if one day you are definately putting in too much.

www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/map.html

Sorry, I beg to differ about Hopi Mesas. We had an incredible visit there many years ago. Took a tour of Walpi, learned a lot and had an incredible tour. I will never forget that trip and I did not take a photo! (not allowed).

From GC, you can see Tuba City, visit the Hopi Mesas and end up in Chinle for Canyon de Chelly, all in one long road trip day. Great sights, interesting places and much different that where you are from!!

Hi Rhonda

There is a motel in the Hopi Reservation. Just one: Hopi Cultural Center motel in Second Mesa next to the museum. It%26#39;s adobe style and basic. Check: www.hopiculturalcenter.com

Yes, you could drive from GCNP to CdC in one day but if you have the chance, stay in Second Mesa. Unfortunately the motel was full, and as we were told, it%26#39;s booked often, so make a reservation. We had a special feeling in the Hopi Reservation and hope to come back some time. We are still sorry that we could not spend the night. We stayed in Tuba City instead.

Tet

Thank you so much for all the information. We are actually spending about 8 days total in March in Arizona. We are flying in on Thursday and spending the night in Sedona. Then arriving early to the Grand Canyon Friday and spending the whole day. We are spending the night in the Thunderbird Lodge and are leaving out the East Rim Saturday morning. From there we weren%26#39;t sure if we should spend the night in the Hopi Reservation one night on our way to Canyon de Chelly. We then planned on staying at Canyon de Chelly for a night then heading south then west toward the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest and back to Sedona for a few nights. Rhonda

What%26#39;s in Tuba City? We are driving from Sedona to Page in September and wondered if it%26#39;s worth stopping.

There is little worth seeing in Tuba City. Get gas, spend the night if you have to, but it%26#39;s not a tourist attraction.

Couple of other options out by Canyon De Chelly.

If it rodeo time, make sure to check on the Chinle and Farmington web sites. An Indian rodeo is something to see.!

there is also a road on the far side of Canyon De Chelly that goes thru Lukachukai and comes out at Window rock area. Spectacular, and then you can come down through Gallup, and over through Painted Desert.

Spend the night in Winslow at the La Posada, and an easy day back to Sedona. Would stop at the Museum of Northern Az. in Flagstaff on the way back in.

I agree with Doug. Not much in Tuba City.

Morganism, are you sure you want to drive through Lukachuka? Afa I know you can drive south via Tsaile to Window Rock. Driving to Lukachuka will lead you to NM and Shiprock. That road was (is?) partly unpaved and I think it will be a detour. Am I wrong? Thx.

Tet

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