We just booked an early August trip out west. Flying to Denver, then down to Cimarron NM to visit the Philmont Scout ranch, then to Durango to visit Mesa Verde, then to Lake Powell, then to Sedona before flying home from Phoenix.
The most expensive part of the trip is a rental car, it's nearly $2,200 to rent a standard SUV for the 9 days.
If anyone has any recommendations for stops along the way / places to see, please let me know.