November 21–29, 2026, for a group of 10

Thanksgiving Roadtrip 2026

Phoenix to Sedona, Petrified Forest, White Sands and Saguaro, and back. Everyone arrives in Phoenix on Saturday, the group drives the loop Sunday through Saturday, and everyone flies home the following Sunday. Everyone is up at 7:00 with 90 minutes to get ready, on the road at 8:30 on busy days and later on the two easier ones, back at the lodging by about 6:00 for a 7:00 group dinner, and has at least 10 hours of personal time, including sleep, before the next morning.

Latest plan: up at 7:00 with 90 minutes to get ready, back by about 6:00 for a 7:00 group dinner, and at least 10 hours of personal time every night, including sleep. The Delta tab compares it with the original plan and shows where an earlier start still pays off. The original plan is under v1.

Trip map

Trip map Loop from Phoenix north to Sedona, east on I-40 past Meteor Crater and Winslow to Holbrook and Petrified Forest National Park, on to Albuquerque, south past Valley of Fires to White Sands National Park near Alamogordo, west on I-10 to Saguaro National Park and Tucson, then back to Phoenix by way of San Xavier, Picacho Peak and Casa Grande Ruins, ending at Papago Park. Numbered stops are listed below the map. Arizona New Mexico Texas I-17 I-40 I-40 I-25 I-10 I-10 US-380 US-54 Flagstaff: gas and restrooms Flagstaff Gallup: gas and restrooms Gallup Socorro: gas and restrooms Socorro Las Cruces: gas and restrooms Las Cruces Lordsburg: gas and restrooms Lordsburg Phoenix: sleep Nov 21 and 28 Phoenix Nov 21 and 28 Sedona: sleep Nov 22 Sedona Nov 22 Holbrook: sleep Nov 23 Holbrook Nov 23 Albuquerque: sleep Nov 24 Albuquerque Nov 24 Alamogordo: sleep Nov 25 Alamogordo Nov 25 Tucson: sleep Nov 26–27 Tucson Nov 26–27 1. Montezuma Castle1 2. Sedona sights2 3. Oak Creek Vista3 4. Meteor Crater4 5. Winslow5 6. Petrified Forest NP6 Petrified Forest National Park 7. Valley of Fires7 8. White Sands NP8 White Sands National Park 9. Texas Canyon9 10. Saguaro East10 East 11. Desert Museum and Saguaro West11 West 12. Mission San Xavier del Bac12 13. Picacho Peak13 14. Casa Grande Ruins14 15. Hole-in-the-Rock, Papago Park15 Saguaro National Park

Swipe sideways to see the whole map.

  • Where you sleep
  • National park
  • Other stop
  • Optional stop
  • Driving route
  • Gas and restroom stop
  1. Montezuma Castle National MonumentDay 2, Sun Nov 22
  2. Sedona: Bell Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Tlaquepaque and Airport Mesa sunset; next morning a jeep tour, Fay Canyon or Devil's BridgeDays 2–3, Sun–Mon Nov 22–23
  3. Oak Creek Vista overlookDay 3, Mon Nov 23
  4. Meteor CraterDay 3, Mon Nov 23
  5. Winslow: Standin' on the Corner Park and La PosadaDay 3, Mon Nov 23
  6. Petrified Forest National ParkDay 4, Tue Nov 24
  7. Valley of Fires Recreation AreaDay 5, Wed Nov 25
  8. White Sands National ParkDay 5, Wed Nov 25
  9. Texas Canyon rest areaDay 6, Thu Nov 26
  10. Saguaro National Park EastDay 6, Thu Nov 26 (Thanksgiving)
  11. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Saguaro National Park West and the Gates Pass sunsetDay 7, Fri Nov 27
  12. Mission San Xavier del BacDay 8, Sat Nov 28
  13. Picacho Peak State ParkDay 8, Sat Nov 28
  14. Casa Grande Ruins National MonumentDay 8, Sat Nov 28
  15. Hole-in-the-Rock, Papago Park, for the last sunsetDay 8, Sat Nov 28

Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. Petrified Forest and White Sands are both closed that day, and Saguaro's visitor centers close too. So the plan puts Petrified Forest on Tuesday, White Sands on Wednesday, and uses Thanksgiving for the long drive to Tucson.

Days
9, Sat Nov 21 to Sun Nov 29
Nights
8, in 6 towns
Driving
About 24 hr, plus scenic drives inside the parks

All times are Mountain Standard Time. Arizona and New Mexico share the same clock for this whole trip because New Mexico's daylight saving time ends November 1. Drive times are estimates without traffic, and each day's schedule already includes stops.

1Saturday, November 21

Everyone arrives in Phoenix

Driving
Airport to hotel only
Sleep
Phoenix, near the airport
Daylight
7:05 AM to 5:22 PM, dark by 5:49
  1. Land at Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)

    Aim to land by mid-afternoon so everyone makes dinner.

  2. Pick up the rental vehicles at the airport's Rental Car Center

    Add every driver to the rental agreement at pickup, and fit car seats and boosters before leaving the lot.

  3. Check in at the hotel
  4. Supply run 1 hr

    A cooler for each car, water, snacks, sunscreen, headlamps or flashlights for the after-dark sunset walks, and a pair of walkie-talkies. Download offline maps on every driver's phone tonight.

  5. Sunset
  6. Quick drivers' huddle 10 min

    Everyone up at 7:00 and on the road at 8:30. Confirm who leads, how the cars keep in touch, and the first stop: Montezuma Castle, I-17 exit 289.

  7. Group dinner in Phoenix until 8:30

    Reserve a table for 10.

  8. Personal time, including sleep, until the 7:00 wake-up. 10 hr 30 min

2Sunday, November 22

Phoenix to Sedona

Leave
8:30 AM
Driving
About 2 hr 50 min, incl. short hops around Sedona
Sleep
Sedona, back by 5:45 PM
Daylight
7:06 AM to 5:17 PM, dark by 5:45
  1. Wake up, breakfast, load the cars 1 hr 30 min
  2. Leave Phoenix on I-17 north 1 hr 30 min
  3. Montezuma Castle National Monument, exit 289 45 min

    A cliff dwelling viewed from a flat, paved one-third-mile loop, with restrooms. Small per-adult fee, covered by an annual park pass.

  4. To the Bell Rock Vista trailhead via exit 298 and SR-179 30 min
  5. Bell Rock Pathway 1 hr 15 min

    Wide and mostly flat, with views of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte; go as far as the group likes and turn around. Trailhead parking needs a Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass on the dash.

  6. Lunch in the Village of Oak Creek 1 hr

    A couple of minutes from the trailhead. Call ahead for a table of 10.

  7. To the Chapel of the Holy Cross 10 min
  8. Chapel of the Holy Cross 30 min

    The lot is small. Drop passengers and let drivers circle if it's full.

  9. To Tlaquepaque 10 min
  10. Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village 50 min

    Courtyards, fountains, galleries and a snack stop.

  11. To the hotel 10 min
  12. Check in and drop bags 40 min

    Fill both gas tanks this afternoon so tomorrow starts clean.

  13. To the Airport Mesa scenic lookout 10 min
  14. Airport Mesa, with a short walk before sunset 1 hr 25 min

    The paid lot fills before sunset, so arriving over an hour early matters with two cars. Walk a short stretch of the Airport Loop Trail, then settle in for the 5:17 sunset. It's dark by 5:45 and cold fast (typical lows in the mid-30s °F).

  15. Back to the hotel 10 min
  16. Back at the hotel

    Plenty of time to unload and freshen up before dinner. Free time until tomorrow's 8:30 start: 14 hr 45 min.

  17. Dinner until 8:30
  18. Personal time, including sleep, until the 7:00 wake-up. 10 hr 30 min

Sunday option: Sedona's free trailhead shuttle runs Thursday through Sunday, so it's running today if older kids want the steep Cathedral Rock scramble instead of Bell Rock. The Cathedral Rock trailhead lot is closed to cars while the shuttle operates.

3Monday, November 23

Sedona to Holbrook, via Meteor Crater and Winslow

Leave
8:30 AM
Driving
About 2 hr 40 min
Sleep
Holbrook, arrive 6:00 PM
Daylight
7:09 AM to 5:10 PM (Holbrook), dark by 5:38
  1. Wake up, breakfast, check out, load the cars 1 hr 30 min
  2. Red-rock morning, pick one 3 hr, including getting there
    • Off-road jeep tour: the easiest win for mixed ages. Book a departure around 8:30; a group of 10 will likely need two vehicles.
    • Fay Canyon Trail: about 2.4 mi round trip and gentle, good for younger kids, with time left for a stroll in Uptown Sedona.
    • Devil's Bridge: about 4 mi round trip with a steep finish, for older kids and adults. The shuttle doesn't run on Mondays, so trailhead lots fill early.
  3. Lunch in Sedona 45 min
  4. SR-89A north through Oak Creek Canyon 35 min

    Tight switchbacks near the top; hand out motion-sickness remedies before you start. If there's snow or ice, take I-17 north instead.

  5. Oak Creek Vista overlook 15 min

    Restrooms, a canyon view and Native American craft vendors.

  6. Through Flagstaff, then I-40 east to exit 233 1 hr 5 min

    Flagstaff sits near 7,000 ft; check az511.gov for winter conditions before leaving Sedona.

  7. Meteor Crater and Barringer Space Museum 1 hr 45 min

    Time for the guided rim walk, which is included with admission and runs hourly, plus the hands-on museum. Winter hours are 8 AM–5 PM. It's privately owned, so park passes don't apply.

  8. I-40 east to Winslow 25 min
  9. Winslow: Standin' on the Corner Park and La Posada 50 min

    La Posada is a restored 1930 railroad hotel designed by Mary Colter, with gardens, art and a lobby that welcomes visitors. The corner park is a quick photo on Route 66. Sunset is at 5:10.

  10. I-40 east to Holbrook 35 min, at dusk
  11. Route 66 signs on Hopi Drive 15 min

    Vintage signs, including the Wigwam Motel's, as the lights come on.

  12. Check in, Holbrook

    Pick up tomorrow's picnic lunch before or right after check-in, since food inside the park is limited. Plenty of time to unload and freshen up before dinner. Free time until tomorrow's 8:30 start: 14 hr 30 min.

  13. Dinner until 8:30

    Holbrook has small Route 66 diners and Mexican spots; call ahead for 10.

  14. Personal time, including sleep, until the 7:00 wake-up. 10 hr 30 min

4Tuesday, November 24

Petrified Forest, then on to Albuquerque

Leave
8:30 AM
Driving
About 3 hr 15 min, plus the park road
Sleep
Albuquerque, arrive 6:10 PM
Daylight
7:03 AM (Holbrook) to 4:56 PM (Albuquerque), dark by 5:24

Your only window. The park road runs 8 AM–5 PM, the park is closed on Thanksgiving, and winter openings can be delayed for icy roads. If the opening is late, drop Agate House first, then the Painted Desert Rim Trail, and still leave by about 3:15. The last 40 minutes or so into Albuquerque are after dark.

  1. Wake up, breakfast, check out, fill both tanks in Holbrook 1 hr 30 min
  2. US-180 southeast to the park's south entrance 25 min

    Driving the park south to north drops you onto I-40 heading east at the end, with no backtracking.

  3. Rainbow Forest Museum and Giant Logs Trail 45 min

    Pick up free Junior Ranger booklets. Giant Logs is a 0.4-mi loop behind the museum with the park's biggest logs.

  4. Long Logs and Agate House trails 1 hr 20 min

    About 2.6 mi round trip combined and mostly flat, from a trailhead across the bridge from the museum. Long Logs passes an ancient log jam; Agate House is a small pueblo rebuilt from petrified wood. Anyone who wants less can stop at the 1.6-mi Long Logs loop.

  5. Early picnic lunch at the south end 40 min

    Near the Rainbow Forest Museum and its restrooms, so the rest of the park road can run straight through.

  6. Crystal Forest 35 min, incl. the drive

    A 0.75-mi paved loop through glittering log fragments.

  7. Jasper Forest overlook and Agate Bridge 15 min
  8. Blue Mesa Scenic Road and Blue Mesa Trail 50 min

    The 1-mi loop drops steeply into blue and purple badlands, so it's not stroller-friendly at the start.

  9. Newspaper Rock 10 min

    Hundreds of petroglyphs; use the spotting scopes.

  10. Puerco Pueblo 20 min

    A short loop around an ancestral Puebloan village, with more petroglyphs.

  11. Route 66 marker, Kachina Point and the Painted Desert Inn 35 min

    The inn is open 9 AM–4 PM.

  12. Painted Desert Rim Trail 25 min

    An easy unpaved path along the rim between Kachina and Tawa Points, about half a mile each way. Walk it one way and have a driver move the cars to Tawa Point.

  13. Tiponi Point and the Painted Desert Visitor Center 15 min

    Junior Ranger badges and restrooms.

  14. Exit to I-40 (exit 311) and head east 1 hr 10 min to Gallup
  15. Gas and restrooms in Gallup 15 min

    You cross into New Mexico with no clock change this time of year.

  16. I-40 east to Albuquerque 1 hr 40 min

    Sunset is around 5:00, so the last stretch is in the dark. Keep the cars together.

  17. Check in, Albuquerque

    Plenty of time to unload and freshen up before dinner. Free time until tomorrow's 8:30 start: 14 hr 20 min.

  18. New Mexican dinner in or near Old Town until 8:30

    Order "Christmas" to get both red and green chile.

  19. Personal time, including sleep, until the 7:00 wake-up. 10 hr 30 min

5Wednesday, November 25

Albuquerque to White Sands, via Valley of Fires

Leave
8:30 AM
Driving
About 4 hr 10 min, plus Dunes Drive
Sleep
Alamogordo, arrive 5:40 PM
Daylight
6:51 AM (Albuquerque) to 4:59 PM (White Sands), dark by 5:26

The night before: check the White Sands park-closure page. Military tests on the neighboring missile range can close Dunes Drive, and US-70, for up to 3 hours. Tomorrow the park is closed for Thanksgiving, so there's no backup day. If a closure is posted, leave Albuquerque at 7:30 and skip Valley of Fires.

  1. Wake up, breakfast, check out 1 hr 30 min
  2. I-25 south 1 hr 10 min
  3. Gas and restrooms in Socorro 15 min

    Top off both cars. Services are sparse for the next two hours.

  4. Exit 139 at San Antonio, then US-380 east 1 hr 10 min

    Two-lane highway across open range with patchy cell coverage. Keep the cars in sight of each other.

  5. Valley of Fires Recreation Area, just west of Carrizozo 20 min

    Restrooms and the first stretch of a paved nature trail over a young lava flow. Small day-use fee.

  6. US-54 south to Alamogordo 1 hr
  7. Lunch in Alamogordo 40 min

    If you'd rather bring your own sleds, snow saucers and wax are often sold at the local Walmart.

  8. US-70 west to the park 20 min
  9. White Sands Visitor Center 20 min

    Restrooms, Junior Ranger books, and sleds and wax in the gift shop. Buy rather than rent: rentals have an afternoon return deadline, and you'll want the sleds until sunset.

  10. Dunes Drive and the Interdune Boardwalk 25 min

    The 0.4-mi boardwalk is stroller-friendly.

  11. Sledding at the picnic areas near the end of Dunes Drive 2 hr

    Pick a dune with a flat, sandy run-out, and re-wax the sleds often. There's no water in the dunefield, so carry plenty.

  12. Sunset walk 1 hr

    Join a ranger sunset stroll if one is scheduled, or pick your own dune. Sunset is 4:59, and the sand turns cold fast.

  13. Drive out to Alamogordo 30 min, after sunset

    The park closes around sunset. Confirm the exact November closing time on the NPS hours page and head back to the cars accordingly.

  14. Check in, Alamogordo

    Plenty of time to unload and freshen up before dinner. Free time until tomorrow's 9:00 start: 15 hr 20 min.

  15. Grocery run 40 min

    Tomorrow's picnic lunch and snacks. Thanksgiving-day food along I-10 will be thin.

  16. Dinner until 8:30
  17. Personal time, including sleep, until the 7:00 wake-up. 10 hr 30 min

6Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving)

Alamogordo to Tucson, with Saguaro East

Leave
9:00 AM, an easier morning
Driving
About 5 hr 40 min
Sleep
Tucson, 2 nights; arrive 5:40 PM
Daylight
6:43 AM (Alamogordo) to 5:19 PM (Tucson), dark by 5:46
  1. Wake up, breakfast, check out 2 hr
  2. US-70 west over San Augustin Pass to Las Cruces 1 hr 10 min

    You may pass a Border Patrol checkpoint in southern New Mexico, so adults should keep ID handy.

  3. Gas in Las Cruces, then I-10 west 15 min
  4. I-10 to Lordsburg 1 hr 40 min
  5. Lunch, gas and restrooms in Lordsburg 40 min

    Picnic from yesterday's groceries; many restaurants are closed today.

  6. Into Arizona, same clock, past Willcox to the Texas Canyon rest area 1 hr 20 min
  7. Texas Canyon rest area 15 min

    Giant granite boulders right at the rest area. A good leg-stretch.

  8. I-10 west to Saguaro East (Rincon Mountain District) 1 hr 5 min
  9. Saguaro East: Cactus Forest Loop Drive, Desert Ecology Trail and Freeman Homestead Trail 1 hr 50 min

    The visitor center is closed today, but the park, the one-way paved loop and its trails are open, with pit toilets at the picnic areas. The Desert Ecology Trail is a paved 0.25-mi loop; Freeman Homestead is about a 1-mi loop past homestead ruins and big saguaros. Pick up Junior Ranger badges at Saguaro West tomorrow. Sunset is 5:19.

  10. To the rental 25 min
  11. Check in and settle

    Plenty of time to unload and freshen up before dinner. Free time until tomorrow's 8:30 start: 14 hr 50 min.

  12. Thanksgiving dinner until 8:30

    Either a restaurant reservation for 10 or a pre-ordered meal to heat at the rental. Book either one now, and confirm pickup hours if you pre-order.

  13. Personal time, including sleep, until the 7:00 wake-up. 10 hr 30 min

Why a driving day today: Petrified Forest and White Sands are closed on Thanksgiving and Saguaro's visitor centers close too, but Saguaro's roads and trails stay open, which makes it the one park you can still enjoy today.

7Friday, November 27

Desert Museum, Saguaro West and a Gates Pass sunset

Leave
8:30 AM
Driving
About 1 hr 30 min
Sleep
Tucson, back by 6:00 PM
Daylight
7:03 AM to 5:18 PM, dark by 5:46
  1. Wake up, breakfast 1 hr 30 min
  2. West over Gates Pass Road 35 min
  3. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 3 hr 25 min

    Zoo, botanical garden and caves in one, on about 2 miles of walking paths. It opens at 8:30 and fills up the day after Thanksgiving, so buy tickets online. $29.95 adults, $24.95 ages 3–12. Check the day's animal talks at the entrance.

  4. Lunch at the museum 45 min
  5. To Saguaro West's Red Hills Visitor Center 10 min
  6. Visitor center, film and Cactus Garden Trail 35 min

    Junior Ranger badges for both districts. A $25 vehicle pass (or your annual pass) covers both districts for 7 days. Visitor centers are open 9 AM–5 PM.

  7. Desert Discovery Nature Trail 20 min

    A short paved loop with signs about desert plants and animals.

  8. Valley View Overlook Trail 45 min

    0.8 mi round trip, easy, with a wide view over the saguaro forest.

  9. Bajada Loop Drive and Signal Hill petroglyphs 1 hr 10 min

    A graded dirt road that's fine for regular cars, plus a short climb up to the petroglyphs. The loop is open to vehicles in daylight only.

  10. To the Gates Pass overlook 20 min
  11. Sunset at Gates Pass 1 hr

    The lot is small, which is why you arrive early. Sunset is 5:18.

  12. Back to the rental 25 min, after dark

    The east side of Gates Pass Road is narrow and winding; take it slowly.

  13. Back at the rental

    Pack tonight for tomorrow's checkout, and pick up picnic food for tomorrow's lunch at Picacho Peak. Plenty of time to unload and freshen up before dinner. Free time until tomorrow's 9:30 start: 15 hr 30 min.

  14. Dinner until 8:30
  15. Personal time, including sleep, until the 7:00 wake-up. 10 hr 30 min

8Saturday, November 28

Tucson to Phoenix the scenic way

Leave
9:30 AM, an easier morning
Driving
About 3 hr 45 min
Sleep
Phoenix, near the airport; back by 5:55 PM
Daylight
7:04 AM (Tucson) to 5:20 PM (Phoenix), dark by 5:48
  1. Wake up, breakfast, pack, check out of the rental 2 hr 30 min
  2. To Mission San Xavier del Bac 25 min
  3. Mission San Xavier del Bac 1 hr

    Arizona's oldest intact European-built structure, completed in 1797 and still an active church on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Free; visiting hours are 9 AM–4 PM, and the church may be closed to visitors during services. Saturdays are its busiest day. Food stalls on the plaza next door.

  4. I-19 and I-10 north to Picacho Peak State Park, exit 219 1 hr
  5. Picnic lunch at Picacho Peak State Park 45 min

    Covered picnic tables and restrooms. Per-vehicle day-use fee; state parks don't take the national park pass.

  6. Picacho Peak visitor center and a short walk 30 min

    Exhibits, a playground, and markers for the 1862 Battle of Picacho Pass, the westernmost battle of the Civil War. The summit trail is a long, steep climb, so save it for another trip.

  7. To Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Coolidge 40 min
  8. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument 1 hr

    A multi-story "Great House" built by the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People, sheltered under a protective roof, with a short, easy loop around it and a park film. Free entry; open 9 AM–4 PM.

  9. North to the Phoenix hotel 1 hr 10 min

    Traffic can be heavy the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

  10. Check in and drop bags 40 min

    Fill both gas tanks now if the rental agreement requires a full tank on return.

  11. To Papago Park 15 min
  12. Hole-in-the-Rock, Papago Park 45 min

    A short, steep walk up to a sandstone opening that frames the city, for the trip's last sunset at 5:20. Free, with restrooms. It's crowded at sunset in holiday weeks; if the closest lot is full, others are a short walk away. Bring a flashlight for the way down.

  13. Back to the hotel 15 min
  14. Back at the hotel

    Start sorting luggage by flight.

  15. Last dinner together until 8:30
  16. Personal time, including sleep. No group plans tomorrow.

9Sunday, November 29

Check out, return the cars, fly home

Driving
Hotel to the airport only
Sleep
Home
Daylight
7:12 AM to 5:20 PM, dark by 5:47

No group plans today. Everyone leaves on their own schedule, so times below are relative to each person's flight.

  1. Breakfast and packing
  2. Check out of the hotel

    Checkout is usually around 11 AM. Ask the hotel to hold bags if your flight is late in the day.

  3. Return the rental at the Rental Car Center

    Then take the airport's transfer to your terminal. If flights are spread across the day, match each car's return to the earliest flight among its passengers; later flyers can use the hotel shuttle or a rideshare.

  4. Be at your terminal

    The Sunday after Thanksgiving is typically one of the busiest flying days of the year, so give security extra time.

Summary breakdown

The seven road days, Sunday through Saturday. Total day runs from departure until you're back at that night's lodging. Free time runs from then until the next morning's departure: 50–80 minutes to unload and freshen up, group dinner from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, at least 10 hours of personal time including sleep, and 90 minutes or more to get ready after the 7:00 wake-up.

DayLeaveDrivingMeal and rest stopsParks and sightsTotal dayArrive at lodgingFree time before next start
Day 2Sun Nov 228:30 AM2 hr 50 min1 hr 40 min*4 hr 45 min9 hr 15 minSedona5:45 PM14 hr 45 minuntil 8:30 AM
Day 3Mon Nov 238:30 AM2 hr 40 min45 min6 hr 5 min9 hr 30 minHolbrook6:00 PM14 hr 30 minuntil 8:30 AM
Day 4Tue Nov 248:30 AM3 hr 15 min55 min5 hr 30 min9 hr 40 minAlbuquerque6:10 PM14 hr 20 minuntil 8:30 AM
Day 5Wed Nov 258:30 AM4 hr 10 min55 min4 hr 5 min9 hr 10 minAlamogordo5:40 PM15 hr 20 minuntil 9:00 AM
Day 6Thu Nov 269:00 AM5 hr 40 min1 hr 10 min1 hr 50 min8 hr 40 minTucson5:40 PM14 hr 50 minuntil 8:30 AM
Day 7Fri Nov 278:30 AM1 hr 30 min45 min7 hr 15 min9 hr 30 minTucson6:00 PM15 hr 30 minuntil 9:30 AM
Day 8Sat Nov 289:30 AM3 hr 45 min1 hr 25 min*3 hr 15 min8 hr 25 minPhoenix5:55 PMNo group plans Sunday

*Includes a 40-minute hotel check-in before heading out again for sunset: Sedona at 3:20 PM on Day 2 and Phoenix at 4:00 PM on Day 8. The arrival time shown is when you're back for the night. Scenic drives inside the parks (Petrified Forest's park road, Dunes Drive and the Saguaro loops) count under Parks and sights, not Driving.

Where you'll sleep

With 10 people, plan on 3–4 hotel rooms with two beds each, or family suites, for the one-night stops, and a 4–5 bedroom rental for Tucson. Thanksgiving week fills up, so book these first.

NightWhereWhy thereBooking notes
Sat Nov 21Phoenix, near Sky Harbor AirportEasy for staggered arrivals and rental pickup, with a quick run to I-17 in the morningBook the same hotel for Nov 28 to keep the last night simple.
Sun Nov 22Sedona (West Sedona or Uptown)Sunset spot and the next morning's outing are minutes awayMany rentals require 2+ nights over Thanksgiving week, so hotel rooms are easier. Cottonwood, 25–30 min away, is the budget fallback.
Mon Nov 23Holbrook25 min to the park's south entranceChain hotels by I-40, or the Wigwam Motel for Route 66 novelty (small rooms; book early).
Tue Nov 24Albuquerque, near Old Town or I-25Splits the long Petrified Forest to White Sands drive in twoSuite hotels with breakfast and quick access to I-25 south.
Wed Nov 25Alamogordo15–20 min from White Sands, so you can stay for sunset without a long drive in the darkHotels along White Sands Blvd.
Thu–Fri Nov 26–27Tucson, central or Catalina Foothills30–40 min to both Saguaro districts, with a kitchen for Thanksgiving4–5 bedroom rental. Confirm the Thanksgiving-day check-in time.
Sat Nov 28Phoenix, near Sky Harbor AirportA short hop to the rental return and terminals on Sunday, and 15 minutes from Papago Park for the last sunsetAsk about late checkout or bag storage for anyone on a late flight.

Daylight at a glance

Days are about 10 hours long. Every road day ends 20–75 minutes after sunset, so the last drive of the day is usually in twilight or dark. The longest after-dark stretches are I-40 into Holbrook and Albuquerque on Days 3 and 4.

DateWhere you'll beSunriseSunsetFully dark
Sat Nov 21Phoenix7:05 AM5:22 PM5:49 PM
Sun Nov 22Phoenix, then Sedona7:06 AM5:17 PM5:45 PM
Mon Nov 23Sedona, then Holbrook7:09 AM5:10 PM5:38 PM
Tue Nov 24Petrified Forest, then Albuquerque7:03 AM4:56 PM5:24 PM
Wed Nov 25White Sands6:44 AM4:59 PM5:26 PM
Thu Nov 26Tucson7:03 AM5:19 PM5:46 PM
Fri Nov 27Tucson7:03 AM5:18 PM5:46 PM
Sat Nov 28Tucson, then Phoenix7:04 AM5:20 PM5:48 PM
Sun Nov 29Phoenix7:12 AM5:20 PM5:47 PM

Park hours, fees and closures

PlaceYour visitHoursEntryWatch for
Petrified Forest NPTue Nov 24Park road 8 AM–5 PM$25 per vehicle, 7 daysClosed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Winter openings can be delayed for icy roads.
White Sands NPWed Nov 25Dunes Drive opens 7 AM and closes around sunset; visitor center 9 AM–5 PM$25 per vehicle, 7 daysClosed Thanksgiving. Missile tests can close Dunes Drive and US-70 for up to 3 hours; the visitor center stays open.
Saguaro NPThu 26 (East), Fri 27 (West)Visitor centers 9 AM–5 PM; East loop gate closes around 8 PM; West loop open to vehicles in daylight$25 per vehicle, both districts, 7 daysVisitor centers closed Thanksgiving; roads and trails stay open, with pit toilets at picnic areas.
Montezuma Castle NMSun Nov 22DaytimeSmall per-adult feeCovered by an annual pass.
Meteor Crater (private)Mon Nov 238 AM–5 PM in winterPaid admission, rim tour includedPark passes don't apply.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (private)Fri Nov 27, from about 9:058:30 AM–5 PM$29.95 adult, $24.95 ages 3–12Buy online for the holiday weekend.
Mission San Xavier del BacSat Nov 28Visiting hours 9 AM–4 PM; closed to visitors during servicesFreeActive church; Saturdays are busiest.
Picacho Peak State ParkSat Nov 28Trails open sunrise to sunsetPer-vehicle day-use feeA state park, so federal passes don't apply.
Casa Grande Ruins NMSat Nov 289 AM–4 PMFreeClosed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Papago Park, Hole-in-the-RockSat Nov 28Parking 5 AM–7 PMFreeCrowded at sunset; bring a flashlight.

Running a 10-person convoy

  • Vehicles. Two minivans or three-row SUVs put five people and their bags in each. A single 12-passenger van keeps everyone together, but luggage space is tight and parking at Sedona trailheads is harder.
  • Staying together. Share live locations between the cars, name a lead driver, and agree on the next stop at every stop. Cheap walkie-talkies help on US-380 and US-54, where cell service drops.
  • Fuel. Fill up in Sedona (Day 2 afternoon), Holbrook (Day 4 morning), Gallup, Socorro, Alamogordo, Las Cruces and Lordsburg. Don't let either car drop below half a tank on Days 4–6, and refill before returning the rentals.
  • Passes. An America the Beautiful annual pass is $80 for US residents; get one per vehicle. Each covers that car at Petrified Forest, White Sands and Saguaro ($25 each), Sedona trailhead parking, and the pass holder plus three adults at Montezuma Castle. Two passes roughly break even on this trip alone and keep paying off for a year. None of these parks charge the new nonresident surcharge.
  • Offline maps. Download offline map areas for Sedona and Flagstaff, the I-40 corridor to Albuquerque, central New Mexico from Socorro to Alamogordo, and I-10 across southern New Mexico and Arizona. The NPS app can also save each park's content for offline use.
  • Kids. Pick up free Junior Ranger booklets at each park; badges are earned on the spot. Bring car seats and boosters as each child's age and size require, and keep motion-sickness remedies handy for Oak Creek Canyon.
  • After dark. Most days end after sunset. Keep the cars close on the evening drives, watch for wildlife and livestock on rural roads, and carry a flashlight or headlamp per person for the sunset walks.
  • Food and water. Keep a cooler in each car. Petrified Forest and White Sands have little or no food, and the White Sands dunefield has no water.
  • Clothing. Pack layers. Early mornings in Holbrook and at White Sands can be in the 20s °F, while Tucson afternoons reach the 70s. Bring hats, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen; the white sand reflects a lot of sun.

Typical late-November temperatures

Averages, not a forecast.

PlaceDaytime highOvernight low
Phoenixabout 70°Fabout 49°F
Sedonaabout 60°Fmid-30s °F
Holbrook and Petrified Forestmid-50s °Fmid-20s °F
Albuquerquelow 50s °Fabout 30°F
White Sands and Alamogordoabout 60°Fabout 30°F
Tucsonabout 70°Fmid-40s °F

If plans change

  • Late arrivals on Day 1. Anyone landing after dinner can meet the group at the hotel; the drivers' huddle can happen at breakfast instead.
  • A slow morning. Parks close around sunset, so cut stops rather than push the day later. Drop first: Tlaquepaque (Day 2), the Holbrook signs (Day 3), Agate House (Day 4), the Desert Discovery trail (Day 7) or Papago Park (Day 8).
  • Snow in northern Arizona on Day 3. Skip Oak Creek Canyon and take I-17 to Flagstaff. If I-40 closes, wait it out in Flagstaff and check az511.gov.
  • Petrified Forest opens late on Day 4. Drop Agate House first, then the Painted Desert Rim Trail, and still leave by about 3:15.
  • Running very late on Day 4. Sleep in Gallup, an hour from the park, instead of Albuquerque. It adds about two hours to Day 5, so treat it as a last resort.
  • Missile test posted for Day 5. Leave Albuquerque at 7:30 and use Carrizozo for a quick restroom stop instead of Valley of Fires. If Dunes Drive is still closed when you arrive, spend the time at the visitor center or Alamogordo's New Mexico Museum of Space History; closures last up to 3 hours.
  • Uneasy about Gates Pass Road after dark on Day 7. Watch the sunset from Signal Hill on the Bajada Loop instead, and leave the loop before it closes to vehicles at dark.
  • Skipping Sedona. Phoenix to Holbrook is about 3 hours via Payson. Use the freed night for a third night in Tucson.

Book and check

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Sedona trails: after the June 2026 Pocket Fire, a handful of Sedona-area trails were still closed as of late summer (none of the ones in this plan). Check the Coconino National Forest alerts page the week before you go.

Pages to check

Updated September 16, 2026. Hours, fees and closures were checked against park and operator websites at that time; drive times and temperatures are estimates. Reconfirm the week before you leave.

The map is a simplified drawing, not for navigation. This page is a single file with nothing to load from the internet, so you can save it to your phone and open it where there's no cell service.