Arizona Packing List for October: From the Grand Canyon to the Petrified Forest

We traveled to Arizona during October. We flew into Phoenix and and did a road trip with stops in Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, the Painted Desert, and the Petrified Forest.

This post covers items that you might not think about needing for your Arizona packing list for October. I assume you know what toiletries you need and that you can pick out most of your own clothing. I share the items I am glad that we had and a couple of things that I wish we had packed for this trip.

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For Driving

We drove 1,235 miles on our road trip. I always pack a map on a road trip. The United States Southwest Map covered every place we traveled on this trip, but also extends into southern Utah and southern Colorado. Our road trip extended into isolated areas, therefore, a paper map is essential for when cell service is dropped.

Our trip began with a flight from Chicago to Phoenix, but that didn’t stop me from packing a cooler. A collapsible cooler folds up flat in your suitcase and keeps things cold on a road trip at your destination. Further, you can use the cooler as luggage on your return flight if you need more space for souvenirs.

The last item I would be sure to bring on an Arizona road trip is a tire pressure guage. Tire pressure changes with elevation changes. Our rental car was equipped with a notification system for changes in tire pressure. We stopped at a couple of gas stations, but none had a tire pressure guage we could use to determine if there was cause for concern, which is why I recommend bringing a tire pressure guage on a road trip in Arizona.

For Stargazing

The view of the moon through a telescope at Lowell Observatory

Our first major destination was to the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. I brough a RedSight LED Flashlight because the red light does not impact night vision like other lights do. We ended up not needing it at the observatory because we were on a fully guided tour, so check whether you will explore on your own or not before packing a red light flashlight for your trip.

For Your Health and Comfort

I spent $7 USD for the tiniest bottle of eye drops in Grand Canyon Village. Don’t be like me and bring along dry-eye relief drops if you are not used to a dry climate. I live in Indiana, so if you live anywhere with humidity like me, you will want to pack dry-eye relief drops, lip balm, and moisturizer.

Given that we traveled to Arizona in October and our bodies were mostly covered, it is easy to forget about sunscreen. But any trip to a National Park will involve plenty of outdoor time, so be sure to pack facial Sunscreen.

A travel-sized first-aid kit is also a must-have for an Arizona road trip. Outside of Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff, and Winslow we traveled to fairly isolated areas. Therefore, a travel-sized first-aid kit is important to bring with you.

For Taking Beautiful Nature Photos

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona — Grand Canyon National Park

I love this camera tripo d, though you can’t use a tripod at Antelope Canyon. It is lightweight, can be used as a selfie-stick, and folds up small enough to fit in a daybag. I also love my ergonomic sling camera strap. This strap makes lugging around my DSLR manageable.

For Dressing for the Weather

We spent time in Northern Arizona but the temperature fluctuated widely from the northern most part to the southern most part of our journey. The Grand Canyon’s average October temperatures are 65 (high) and 36 (low) (Farenheit). In contrast, the Petrified Forest’s average October temperatures are a bit higher: 72 (high) and 40 (low).

There are a few items you will want to be sure to add to your wardrobe for a trip like this: fleece-lined leggings, merino wool socks, merino wool baselayer, fleece jacket, gloves, and a stocking cap. You will want to dress in layers and have clothes that you can re-wear (i.e., made with merino wool). For us, the coldest night was at Lowell Observatory. We were not at the Grand Canyon after dark, so regular leggings should be fine (but check the forecast!), but I would pack one pair of fleece-lined leggings for a trip to Arizona in October.

If you have hair, then plan to wear a hat that won’t blow off, or bring hair ties or headbands to keep your hair in place. There was a lot of wind at the Grand Canyon. My daughter has very long hair and we kept it braided at the Grand Canyon because the wind blew it around too much.

You do not necessarily need special hiking boots for a trip to Arizona. While, we did a lot of walking, we did not hike on lengthy or super-rugged trails. Sturdy tennis shoes will likely work fine for you on this trip. I love my AllBirds for travel because they pack up well, wash well, and keep my feet warm in cooler temperatures (not pictured because I did not own them at the time of this trip).

For Nature-Lovers

If you plan to hike at all, then you might want to pack hiking and trekking poles. They do not take up much space in your luggage but can help if you plan to do much hiking.

A good set of binoculars will come in handy to view ancient pueblos from across a canyon, see more detail in the Grand Canyon, or for checking out animals or birds you come across. And for the curious kid (or adult), the Arizona Nature Set Field Guide will help them identify plants and animals you encounter.

Arizona Packing List for October

This list is by no means exhaustive. I’ve only included those items that I do not pack on every trip or that I wish I had (dry-eye relief drops) on this trip.