On West Coast itineraries that include San Diego, you very likely travel the long distance between this charming city and the Grand Canyon. This trip is very strategic because it connects the area of the red rock parks (Arizona and Utah) to the California coast, but it should not be underestimated. Because of the length (it requires at least one stop along the way) and because there are different possible routes (at least 3), you must have a detailed plan and a basic grasp of the territory.
In this article, we will look at 3 possible itineraries to cover the distance between San Diego and the Grand Canyon and the recommended places to stop and spend the night along the way. Our goal is to make this part of your road trip easier and full of excitement. We hope to succeed 🙂
Contents
Distance: How many miles from San Diego to Grand Canyon?
The distance between San Diego and the Grand Canyon is over 500 miles, which will take you about 8.5 hours (if you are crazy enough to do it without stopping). The trip will first take you through the desert region of California, and then across the border to Arizona, where the landscape will slowly turn red, foreshadowing the prized destination, the Grand Canyon.
Drive from San Diego to Grand Canyon
The 3 possible routes between San Diego and the Grand Canyon require more or less the same travel time (you will drive 4 or 5 hours a day depending on the stops you choose), so you can freely base your decision on the attractions and landscapes that the 3 routes offer. The first route is, from a certain point of view, the most balanced, with destinations of considerable interest along the way. The second is a variant of the first and will be interesting for enthusiasts of Route 66. The third itinerary, although the first stretch is not that interesting, is very similar to the second one and offers an unforgettable series of places of interest and portentous natural landscapes of red rock.
Here are the three possible routes:
Itinerary 1: Road Trip From Deserts to Route 66
From San Diego, head north along I-15 until you get to Palm Springs. The first part of this route, in California, will take you into the desert area of the state, through national parks, western cities and luxurious oases. The second section, the one in Arizona, will be along the classic Route 66, with characteristic attractions and towns where the myth of this famous historic road is perpetuated. Here are some interesting stops along the way:
- Palm Springs: An oasis where many rich people like to go full of swimming pools, palm trees, adobe houses and golf courses. It’s a unique town.
- Pioneertown: A western town conceived as a film set for the movies of the 40s that is still inhabited by a few hundred people.
- Joshua Tree National Park: One of the most beautiful desert parks in California, characterized by the famous tentacular trees that inspired the famous U2 album.
- Route 66 in Arizona: The route to Williams is a classic stretch of the Mother Road, the legendary road that crosses almost all of America. For all the attractions where to stop along the way, I recommend our guide to Route 66 in Arizona, and our guide on how to plan a trip on Route 66.
Route Map 1
Route 2: Only Route 66!
This is a variant of the first itinerary, since the second part of this route is practically identical to the first route. In the first half of the second route, instead of passing through Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park, continue on I-15 and cross Route 66 in California. You will get on Route 66 at Victorville and continue to Barstow. The stretch of the Mother Road in California is in my opinion less fascinating than the one in Arizona, however, it still has interesting attractions to offer. Moreover, it will allow you to take some interesting detours, for example, to the western town of Calico Ghost Town or the Kelso Dunes, the singing dunes of the Mojave National Preserve.
Here are 2 useful links to organize your itinerary:
Route Map 2
Itinerary 3: Road Trip Through Red Rock Country
Instead of heading north of San Diego, you’ll have to cross Southern California, near the Mexican border, and then gradually climb back up once you enter Arizona. The first part of this itinerary includes long expanses of desert that are not particularly rich in places of interest, but later on, the driving experience will improve considerably, allowing you to penetrate the heart of the extraordinary Red Rock Country, one of the most typical landscapes of Arizona. Here are the stops that await you along the way (some require a detour):
- Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, the dune desert where the third episode of Star Wars was filmed (if you’re a fan of the saga, check out our article on Star Wars locations in California).
- Yuma Territorial Prison: The historic prison, which fans of western movies will be familiar with, is now a museum where you can visit the cells, view photographic material and exhibitions dedicated to the history of this legendary prison of the West.
- Hi Jolly Monument: Why should you make a detour specifically to visit a pyramid-shaped monument topped by a metal camel? To pay tribute to Hi Jolly, one of the first members of the “Army Camel Corps”, an experimental camel army established in the late 1800s. The detour will lengthen the route by about 30 minutes so. It is recommended only for those fascinated by unusual attractions…
- Phoenix: You will pass by this great city in the Southwest which is home to exciting museums, desert botanical gardens, sophisticated modern architecture and interesting attractions in the surrounding area, but if you want to enjoy it you should invest an extra day. To get a clearer idea, read our guide to Phoenix.
- Arcosanti: A city built by Paolo Soleri, a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, inspired by the principles of arcology. It’s not easy to explain what it is, but expect lots of arched structures and sci-fi structures.
- Sedona and its surroundings: This is the real pearl of this itinerary, a town immersed in a truly evocative natural environment, with monoliths, stone architecture and surreal red rock formations emerging from the depths of the earth. For more details, read our guide to Sedona.
Route Map 3
Where to Stay between the Grand Canyon and San Diego
The decision about where to seek accommodations obviously depends on the itinerary. If you choose to pass through the north of San Diego (routes 1 and 2), the best place to find accommodations is Needles, a town that is not pretentious but is lucky enough to be right at the halfway point of the route. There aren’t many choices for accommodations, so it’s better, as always, to book ahead of time, also because many people look here for a place to stay between the Grand Canyon and Los Angeles.
Accommodations available in Needles
If you don’t find a room in Needles, you have two more possibilities:
- Search in Laughlin, Nevada, extending your route by about 40 minutes -> Accommodations in Laughlin
- Search at Kingman. You will not lengthen the route by choosing this option, but you will have to drive an extra hour to get to the first stop -> Accommodations at Kingman
If you opt to cross Southern California and then climb up Red Rock Country (Route 3), you will be faced with two choices:
- If you don’t want to detour to see Hi Jolly’s grave, you can:
- Sleep in Gila Bend, a town that has few accommodations but has the advantage of being located halfway across and bordering the Sonora Desert (Are you familiar with the cacti in the Wile E. Coyote and Beep Beep cartoon?) -> Accommodations in Gila Bend
- Sleep in Phoenix. You’ll break the trip up later, but there’s no shortage of lodgings. -> Accommodations in Phoenix
- If you really don’t want to miss out on a salute to the famous Army Camel Corps camel, here are a number of towns along the way suitable for sleeping and breaking the trip in half:
- Aguila -> Accommodations
- Quartzsite -> Accommodations
- Salome -> Accommodations
Finally, if you want to make an extra stop to spend more time exploring the Rock Country, you can choose to sleep in Sedona (accommodations in Sedona) or in a town closer to the Grand Canyon (read our tips for where to stay outside the South Rim).
