From Florida to California and Back: 6,169 Miles of Adventure in Our Jeep Gladiator There is something special about packing up the Jeep, pointing it west, and watching America unfold mile by mile through the windshield. What started as a road trip from Florida to…
Starting Our New Orleans Morning with Beignets at Café Beignet on Royal Street One of the things we knew we had to do while visiting New Orleans was enjoy a plate of fresh beignets. The next morning, we walked over to Café Beignet on Royal Street in the heart of the…
Returning to New Orleans: A Relaxing Evening in the French Quarter After a comfortable night’s stay at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Columbus TX, we began another day on the road heading toward one of our favorite destinations—New Orleans. Before…
From El Paso to Columbus: A Long Texas Drive with Small-Town Hospitality Leaving El Paso behind, we began another long day on Interstate 10 heading east across the vast landscapes of West Texas. The scenery slowly transitioned from desert mountains and rocky terrain…
From Arizona’s Texas Canyon to an Overnight Stop in El Paso Leaving California and continuing east on Interstate 10, one of our favorite scenic stops of the day was the Texas Canyon Rest Area near Dragoon. The rest area is surrounded by enormous granite boulders…
Leaving Gallup and heading west on Interstate 40 toward Arizona is one of the most scenic stretches of a cross-country road trip. As the miles roll by, the landscape slowly changes from the rugged red rock terrain of New Mexico to the pine-covered mountains surrounding Flagstaff. One of the most beautiful sights along the drive is seeing the towering San Francisco Peaks rise in the distance, with Humphreys Peak standing above the rest as the tallest mountain in Arizona. The snow-capped peaks during cooler months create a stunning backdrop while traveling through northern Arizona on I-40.
After passing through Flagstaff, the journey turns north onto Highway 89 before connecting to Highway 64 toward the East Entrance of Grand Canyon National Park. This route offers a gradual and unforgettable introduction to the canyon unlike the more crowded South Entrance approach. As you drive farther north, the terrain begins to open up and the early formations of the Grand Canyon slowly appear along the eastern side of the park. The views become more dramatic with every mile, giving travelers several opportunities to stop at scenic overlooks before even reaching the main visitor areas.
One of the first major highlights along this route is Desert View Watchtower. Perched along the rim, the historic stone tower offers incredible panoramic views of the canyon and the Colorado River far below. There are numerous pull-off areas and viewpoints nearby where visitors can take photos, stretch their legs, and fully appreciate the massive scale of the canyon. Many travelers spend 15 to 30 minutes exploring the area before continuing west along Desert View Drive deeper into the park.
Continuing farther into the park eventually leads to Mather Point near Grand Canyon Village, one of the most famous viewpoints in the entire national park. The expansive views from Mather Point are breathtaking, especially for first-time visitors seeing the canyon open up before them. The national park itself is open 24 hours a day, allowing visitors to experience sunrise, sunset, or even nighttime stargazing along the rim. There is an entrance fee to enter the park, while the visitor center near Mather Point typically closes around 4 p.m., so arriving earlier in the day allows more time to explore exhibits and gather information before beginning your adventure.
Driving from Gallup to the Grand Canyon through Flagstaff combines mountain scenery, desert landscapes, and one of the greatest natural wonders in the world into a single unforgettable day on the road. From the towering San Francisco Peaks to the dramatic overlooks along Desert View Drive, this route offers constant reminders of the beauty and scale of the American Southwest.
