PHOENIX — NFL graphic designers want you to think of State Farm Stadium as being a stone’s throw from the Grand Canyon. Perhaps even the rim of the canyon itself. It is beauty and grace, an amazing all-encompassing realization of soccer, American and Western landscapes. And it’s right next door.

It is not. In fact, door-to-door from the stadium to the park entrance is 225 miles. It’s the same distance starting from downtown Phoenix. If you’re a Chiefs fan, it’s like driving from Kansas City to St. Louis. If you’re an Eagles fan, it’s almost like driving from the Rocky Statue to Richmond, Virginia.

Many people visit Phoenix and want to visit the Grand Canyon. He is one of the natural wonders of the world and a place that never disappoints. Until people realize how stupid it is to go up there. A day trip is a long day trip. It is better to do it overnight. But if he plans to visit the Grand Canyon in one day, here’s how to do it.

beginning, Check the weather. Phoenix weather is not our northern weather and it can be lovely in Maricopa County and the roads to the park can be covered in snow.Please dress appropriately. Search for “Grand Canyon, Arizona” or “Tusayan” in your weather app.

Assuming good weather, all roads lead to Interstate 17 (there are two ways to get there, but it takes an extra hour to travel). 17 is a constant traffic jam. Depart around 5am A good rule of thumb is to leave earlier the further south you reach 17.00. If you’re in North Phoenix or coming from the West Valley on Loop 101, you can leave a little later.than if coming from downtown phoenix

Check the traffic here.

Yes, Sedona is beautiful. No, don’t let her stop there. Look out for prizes. you are heading north Also, the exit to Sedona is not Sedona. It’s 15 miles to get to town. You should be satisfied with the wonderful scenery. After passing the Sunset Point Rest Area (located at the top of a very large hill up Highway 17), look to your right and you’ll see the enormous Agua Julia National Monument. A changing desert landscape. Look to the left and you’ll see the Bradshaw Mountains that look like something out of a Western movie.

After exiting Verde Valley, head a bit north and you’ll see a decent red rock view on your left.

Inevitably you’ll have to drive through Flagstaff, so stop here for a gas and snack. This will be the cheapest gas for the rest of the trip. don’t stay too long. There is an additional 90 minutes of driving. Yeah no one will tell you that Go ahead!

Winding through the town of Flag (no one can tell you about travel), the US 180 takes you through some gorgeous ponderosa pine forests and gains even more elevation. can be seen. Do you like endless vistas? This part of the trip is for you.

You have been driving for about 3 hours by now. You took the 180 to US 64 and turned right (the convenience store on the right side of T road has an impressive collection of souvenirs). And now you’re about to collide with reality: the entrance gate to Grand Canyon National Park.

The sooner you get there, the better off you will be. Arrive at the gate around 12:00 PM on Friday and you’ll be there for over an hour. If you go in the morning, you shouldn’t have to wait more than 20 minutes.and they chargingSince you’re probably driving a rental car, it will be $35 regardless of the number of people.

It’s another 10-minute drive to the huge parking lot near the South Rim Visitor Center. Lot 1 is closest to the visitor center. Lot 4 is closest to the toilet. in case.

This is a good time to point out that the food in and around Grand Canyon National Park isn’t great. You get less than you pay for. Just accept it and move on.

Everyone visits Mather Point, so don’t do this step. It’s the closest lookout to the parking lot and sticks out like a finger from the canyon. It is amazing. And it’s packed. Unless you arrive early in the morning, Mother Point is like fighting selfie culture. Go ahead and visit it. But we told you

Here are some pro tips: As you approach Mather Point, you’ll see a paved sidewalk. Turn right about 100 yards. The farther away from the point, the smaller the crowd and the sooner it will disperse. They also tend to move to the left of Mother Point, towards the (excellent) Geology Museum.

Walk along that limpath for a while. Return to the visitor center and spend some time there. It may be time to challenge behind the scenes.

Time to get tough: It’s not a day to reach the Colorado River and return to the South Rim. People die trying this.Ann whole book It’s written about how people die in the Grand Canyon, and many die from this. 18 miles round trip. The second half of that round trip is all uphill.

That is, it should go slightly below the rim. Take the Bright Angel Trail due to its ease of access and popularity. About 100 steps down the trailhead takes you just below the rim. It’s another world. If you want a decent day hike, head to the 1-1/2 Mile Rest House. 1.5 miles down the trail, there are restrooms and a place to refill water bottles.

Guidelines for hiking 1-1/2 Mile Rest House and back:

• Bring at least 1 liter of water for this short hike.
• Bring some kind of salty snack to get enough electrolytes
• Don’t do it on an empty stomach.
• Getting off is not difficult. to go back. Suppose it takes twice as long to go up and down. If you have asthma, please bring your inhaler.

Not a big fan of that kind of hike? understood. The trail has a small arch/tunnel about 1/4 mile down and is where many people turn. The back-and-forth hike offers a quick, less strenuous look at the world below the rim.

If you entered US 64 via Flagstaff, you actually drove the most scenic part of the park. The road entering the park from the east is parallel to the rim and has much better views with drawers. So your options are: Driving east is cleaner but takes an extra hour.

Heading east (follow signs for Cameron), there are many scenic lookouts worth a stop. Part of the charm of the Grand Canyon is that it changes depending on the lighting and location. If you like a good meander, this is your route. Eventually you’ll reach Desert View Point, which is scenic and has the last reliable bathroom for a while.

If you’re hungry on the way home, the Cameron Trading Post in Cameron is there all the way, with excellent Navajo tacos and an excellent collection of handwoven Navajo rugs. However, it is a destination for tour buses, so wait times can be long.

About 40 miles from Flagstaff, Gray Mountain is home to an abandoned motel that was painted by five Native American artists a few years ago. Painted Desert Projecta native land art project.

It passes through Navajo Nation on its way back to Flagstaff and eventually reaches 17 again.

Estimated travel times are:

• 4 hours by car
• 4 hours in the park
• 5 hours to drive back

A 13-hour day. But a pretty nice one that exposed you to much of Arizona.

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