Grand Canyon South Rim — 10 Days
Palo Duro canyon → Taos mesa → South Rim → Sedona → lava field
Route Map
● Austin (start/end) · numbered stops in order · dashed line shows approximate route
Estimated Trip Cost
Gas estimate assumes 2WD pickup + travel trailer at 10 mpg, 65 mph max, $3.25/gal regular unleaded (approx. national avg). Includes 1395 mi of stops + 430 mi return to Austin.
Trip Highlights
- ▶ Mather Point sunrise 10 minutes from your campsite — the iconic South Rim view without fighting parking
- ▶ Free shuttle to every South Rim viewpoint including Hermit's Rest, Yaki Point, and Desert View Watchtower
- ▶ Oak Creek Canyon (Sedona) as the return anchor — cool canyon microclimate at 5,300 ft, 15°F below Sedona floor
- ▶ Three distinct landscapes in one loop: Texas canyon → New Mexico mesa → Grand Canyon → Arizona red rock → lava field
Stop-by-Stop
Day 1: depart Austin 7 AM — 365 miles via US-87 N / I-27 N; arrive Palo Duro ~12:30 PM. One transit night — explore the canyon floor trail in the afternoon. The canyon walls at sunset are worth the early start.
Day 2: depart 8 AM — 285 miles via US-60 W → US-285 N → NM-68 to Taos; arrive ~12:30 PM. One transit night above the Rio Grande gorge. Taos Plaza is 15 minutes east — good lunch and supply stop.
Grand Canyon Village, AZ • NPS • $30/nt (dump + water fill at Camper Services)
Day 3: depart 7 AM — 360 miles via US-84 W → Chama → US-64 W → Farmington → US-89 S → Cameron → AZ-64 N; arrive South Rim ~12:30 PM. Days 4–6: full days on the rim. Sunrise at Mather Point (10-min walk), free shuttle to every viewpoint, Desert View Drive day 5. Book Recreation.gov exactly 6 months out at 7 AM MT.
Day 7: depart 10 AM — 80 miles south via AZ-64 → US-180 → I-40 E → US-89A S into Oak Creek Canyon; arrive ~11:30 AM. Two nights in the red rock canyon. West Fork Trail (slot canyon, creek crossings) Day 7 afternoon. Full Sedona day Day 8 — Cathedral Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross. Use AZ-89A from Flagstaff (not I-17 + Bell Rock) for the canyon approach.
Day 9: depart 8 AM — 305 miles via I-40 E → Gallup → I-25 S → Socorro → US-380 W to Carrizozo; arrive ~1 PM. One night on the lava field at 5,300 ft — measurably cooler than the desert floor. Walk the lava nature trail at sunset.