grand canyon suggestions

[swimmer]

So I am thinking about making a solo trip from tucson to the grand canyon the last weekend in july.  I have never been there before.  I ran out of gumption trying to find a correct way to post an actual picture of the route I plan to take to get there.  So here is a link.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=tucson,+az&daddr=33.330528,-110.687256+to:grand+canyon,+az&mrcr=0,1&mrsp=1&sz=7&mra=dpe&dirflg=h&sll=34.134542,-111.577148&sspn=4.32801,7.470703&ie=UTF8&ll=34.252676,-111.30249&spn=4.321957,7.470703&z=7&om=1

I just want to avoid the highways.  I've been that route up to payson before but not any more north than strawberry.  Is there a better route I should take that is of similar distance?

The big question I have is how much time is enough time to see most of the good sites around the grand canyon?  I don't plan on doing any hiking.  If I plan for a full day to spend up there is there enough roads to  travel and sights to see or will I have seen pretty much everything in a few hours?  Also any suggestions on cheap places to camp or other places to spend the night?  I can spare about 3 days for this trip.  I am hoping that once I am north of payson the temps will be tolerable.  I think I can expect some rain and some point and that wouldn't bother me a bit.
Thanks for any input.

[sprintrock]

Have you heard about the Skywalk out there?

http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/

It's expensive and you can't take pictures, but if you got the cash...

[GilaMonster]

From my perspective, your route to Flagstaff is the best.  However, as a suggestion, don't go to the south rim by way of Williams (south entrance) as the traffic can be terrible.  Stay on 89 north out of Flagstaff to Cameron and go in the east entrance.  If you want to make the trip really great, go to the north rim by staying on 89 past Cameron, then 89A to Jacob Lake and into the north rim.  The road from Jacob Lake to the north rim is about 30 miles of the greatest riding in northern Arizona.

You can do both the south and north rim in a 3 day weekend.  Consider spending the night in Jacob Lake or Cameron, and Flagstaff on the way back.  It's right at 1,000 miles round trip from Tucson.  Here's a route map.

[DangerMoney]

 Is there a better route I should take that is of similar distance?

 I am hoping that once I am north of payson the temps will be tolerable.  I think I can expect some rain and some point and that wouldn't bother me a bit.

I've ridden the section between Winkelman and Flagstaff more times that I can count. Your route is the best. Yes, temps north of Payson will be tolerable. Actually once you get on top of the Mogollon Rim (about 7,000' elevation) the temps will be about as 'cool' as they're going to get. From there it's pretty much Pine Forest until you get north of Flagstaff. Monsoon storms are spotty so rain is a hit or miss proposition but you'll get lightning before any rain so keep that in mind.

[JadeRider]

+1 for the North Rim.  Much nicer, far fewer people.
You may want to take a slight detour through Page and Lake Powell.  Still 1000 mile round trip, as Gila suggested

Look at the route here http://tinyurl.com/yvf9w2

[swimmer]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I think my trip to the GC is going to get delayed but I am still going to try to get out for a day when I was planning to take this trip and head up the 191 over to show low and back to tucson by way of globe.  In order to get this done in a day I'll have to take I-10 to wilcox which sucks as I like avoiding the highway but hopefully it will be tolerable early in the day.