The Grand Canyon State - Arizona Self Drive

This USA holiday can be tailored to suit your exact requirements, so just let us know your ideal trip.

Everything can be adjusted to suit your needs and create your perfect USA holiday.

Day 1: UK - Phoenix

Fly from the UK to Phoenix where you will pick up your rental car on arrival.

Begin your Arizona adventure with a night in Scottsdale.

Overnight Scottsdale.

Day 2: Lake Havasu

Self Drive to Lake Havasu.

If you’ve ever wondered where the original London Bridge ended up, you’ll get your answer in this lakeside city.

Overnight Lake Havasu.

Day 3: Grand Canyon Village

Self Drive to the Grand Canyon.

The awe-inspiring and humbling Grand Canyon, a natural icon of Arizona, is the next stop.

Overnight Grand Canyon Village.

Day 4: Page/Lake Powell

Self Drive to Page/Lake Powell.

Discover how humans have changed the landscapes of northern Arizona during your stay on the shore of Lake Powell. Head to Horsehoe Bend or Antelope Canyon for incredible natural experiences.

Overnight Page/Lake Powell.

Day 5: Monument Valley

Self Drive to Monument Valley.

Continue on to the highlight of any trip to Arizona, the beautiful Monument Valley.

Overnight Monument Valley.

Day 6: Flagstaff

Self Drive to Flagstaff.

Travel to Flagstaff, a unique Arizona city surrounded by dense pine forests and mountains rather than cacti-scattered desert. Stop in the Route 66 town of Williams on your way.

Overnight Flagstaff.

Scottsdale

Far removed from the ancient Hohokam people who occupied these lands in pre-European history, Scottsdale is a modern city in Arizona with a dazzling array of luxury spa resorts and exclusive golf clubs.

With year-round sun and an array of upmarket shopping venues and restaurants, the town is a Mecca for leisurely indulgences.

Once the sun sets, a buzzing nightlife bursts into action and an array of watering holes will keep visitors entertained long into the moonlit night.

For some exercise and to get a sense of the Old West, take a 30-minute drive out of the city to ‘Tom's Thumb Trailhead’, a moderate hike with scenic vistas.

Lake Havasu

Set in the Arizona desert on the banks of spectacularly scenic Lake Havasu, this attractive planned city is best known as the unlikely home of the original London Bridge, which was bought by the city’s developer in a successful attempt to increase tourism in the area.

Surrounding the bridge is the London Bridge Resort Village, a British-themed tourist area where visitors can experience a taste of European culture in the heart of the American Southwest.

Aside from this rather bizarre attraction, the city’s main draw is the lake itself, which provides an ideal environment for a variety of watersports including water skiing, power boating, fishing, canoeing, jet skiing and sailing.

Other must-see attractions include the Cattail Cove State Park, the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, the Lake Havasu Museum of History and the Lake Havasu State Park.

Grand Canyon

Situated in the northwest corner of Arizona, the Grand Canyon National Park welcomes around 5 million visitors a year.

Nature and animal lovers, scientists, geologists and archaeologists continue to be mesmerised by the imposing beauty and splendour of its massive layered-rock canyons, river tributaries, fauna and flora, and historical significance.

Your touring options are endless: a drive along the incredibly scenic South Rim; a two-day mule trip down to the bottom of the canyon; hiking trails; helicopter or hot-air balloon tours; or white-water rafting down the Colorado River.

The park is home to around 500 species of animals and birds, including the endangered Californian condor, and six types of rattlesnakes.

Page/Lake Powell

Page is the gateway to Lake Powell and the mammoth Glen Canyon Dam that forms it.

With boat trips, water sports, horseback riding, and enough hiking trails to keep visitors busy for days, an outdoor paradise awaits.

Take a relaxing boat trip on the lake to see the Rainbow Bridge National Monument, the largest natural bridge in the world.

A 10-minute drive from town is the iconic Horseshoe Bend Observation Area, with its mesmerising views the canyon river making a dramatic turn around a mass of red sandstone.

For something adventurous, explore the surreal, sculpted landscapes of the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons.

And to get away from the crowds, secure a permit from the Navajo office and head off the beaten trail to the impressive ‘Waterholes Canyon’, or hike with a Navajo guide to the ‘Cathedral Canyon’.

Driving in the USA - Not very difficult

Driving in the USA is on the right-hand side.

Outside of the cities, driving is easier than you may think. Driving is generally sedate compared the UK and outside the cities, the roads are almost empty.

Almost all cars are automatic so there's no need to worry about gear changing in a left hand drive car.

Highways are long and straight - you won't find many winding roads, dead ends or hidden streets.

Everywhere is well-signed and there are relatively few roundabouts.

You can turn right on a red light (unless advised otherwise) and there are first-come-first-served four-way junctions which are surprisingly easy once you get the hang of them - basically whoever arrives first has the right of way.

There are a few local rules you might need to get familiar with e.g. parking in the direction of traffic in California, or driving with your lights on in in the rain in Florida.

One rule worth remembering is that if a school bus has stopped at a school sign you have to stop, whichever direction you're heading in if it's on a normal single lane road.

Occaisionally some freeways have a left hand exit, which mean you'll exit from the fast lane. They aren't that common and there will be plenty of advance notice.

Car Rental

You can choose from a range of cars in the US, including economy and compact vehicles to full-size vans and SUVs.

All of the cars are easy to drive, have all the mod cons and most are automatic.

It is important that you consider the size of your group and how much luggage you will travel with when choosing your rental vehicle. We also recommend travelling with soft bags as they are easier to load into vehicles.

Licence Requirements

Drivers must present a full licence held for a minimum of 12 months. The licence must be in English, or a foreign licence with an International Driving Permit (IDP). The minimum age is 21, or 25 for some car types.

Inclusions

Car hire inclusions can vary but typically include unlimited mileage, Goods & Services Tax (GST) and Standard Insurance with full excess.

One-way Drop Offs

One-way rentals must be arranged in advance and are subject to local drop off fees. They are not possible on economy grade cars.

Cross-border travel

Cars rented in the USA can be driven in any US state. The car must be returned to the location from which it was rented unless authorised otherwise.

Cars that are rented in Alaska must be returned to Alaska. Cars rented in the USA can be driven into Canada but they must be returned to the USA unless pre-arranged which may be subject to trans-border fees.

Motorhomes

The convenience of only having to unpack once, quality vehicles and a range of rental locations and one-way hires – a motorhome holiday is a fun and adventurous way to see USA.

Head out on the open highways, cruising away from the big centres and through iconic National Parks.

All motorhomes are simple to operate and easy to drive with automatic transmission and power breaking and steering.

We are pleased to offer a selection of motorhomes. The main difference between vehicle categories is the varying length and the passenger capacity.

Newly introduced are T17 vehicles, perfect for couples or those who do not wish to drive the bigger RVs on offer.

These new trucks are available to pick up from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Pheonix and San Francisco.

View Itinerary in Detail

To view a sample holiday, click on one of the links below. This will open the itinerary up in a new window.

All of our USA Holidays are completely tailor made and we can put together any kind of itinerary to suit your interests and budget.

We have many other options so if you have a particular hotel in mind just let us know and we'll put together a price and itinerary for you.