60+ Best Day Trips from Phoenix

Q: What is the best day trip from Phoenix?

Sedona is the most popular and, for most first timers, the best. It is about two hours north and delivers world famous red rocks, hiking for every level, vortex sites, wineries, and great restaurants. If you want one trip that shows off Arizona at its most beautiful, choose Sedona.

Q: What is the prettiest town near Phoenix?

Sedona wins for sheer scenery thanks to its red rock setting. For old world charm, historic Jerome clinging to the hillside and Prescott with its courthouse square are both gorgeous. If you want pine forest and cooler air, Pine and Strawberry are lovely small mountain towns.

ByAndi Fisher July 21, 2026July 21, 2026

Did you know that the best day trips from Phoenix are all within one to four hours of the sprawling Valley of the Sun? After living in Phoenix for a few years, I became an expert on day trips in Arizona, and I’ve got more than 60 (NOW 70+! I've added more!) fun road trips for you to choose from!

Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the country and the largest city in Arizona (with Tucson close behind). It’s pretty much urban sprawl, with a bunch of cities bordering Phoenix proper. That means there are tons of things to do in Phoenix, but there are also an amazing number of day trips to get you out beyond the city.

Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). Opinions are always my own and I’ll never promote something I don’t use or believe in. Also as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

And guess what? There’s a lot more than the majestic Grand Canyon – although that’s on the list too! So let's dive in and see all the places to visit near Phoenix! I have organized them by distance from the city to help you plan how much time you will need for each day trip from Phoenix, and you can bundle them if you have extra time!

From quick day trips from Phoenix to some that take all day, I've got you covered!

Best day trips from Phoenix between 1 and 2 hours

Jump to:

Day trips from Phoenix between 2 and 3 hours
Day trips from Phoenix between 3 and 4 hours

Drive Along the Apache Trail (Tortilla Flat)

Distance: 1 hour • Best for: scenic drive, ghost towns, boating • Best season: fall to spring

When we had our RV, we spent a month at an RV Park in Gold Canyon, which is about 45 minutes from Phoenix (weeks 7, 8, and 9). During that time, we explored the Apache Trail and the surrounding area. It's a really unique day trip as it covers a lot of different activities.

There is fantastic hiking in Lost Dutchman State Park. A good time can be had in Goldfield, a former gold-mining town (and the largest ghost town in Arizona) turned tourist attraction with western shows, historic buildings, and shootouts. Boating on Canyon Lake is one of the best day trips from Phoenix, including a 4-hour ride on the Dolly Steamer.

And don't forget to stop at the smallest town in Arizona, Tortilla Flat, with a population of 5! It's a good place to stop for a bite to eat and a bit of music.

The best part of Apache Trail is the actual trail – a death-defying primitive dirt road that hugs the canyon walls! If you make it to the end, you’ll see Roosevelt Dam and cross the Roosevelt Bridge. It’s an easy all-day outing.

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour.

Check out my whole post on visiting the Apache Trail area.

Get Your Swim on at Saguaro Lake

Distance: 1 hour • Best for: water sports, family day • Best season: summer

This man-made lake on the Salt River has tons of water-based activities for the whole family. A great place to cool off! And a quick day trip in the summer to cool off!

Saguaro Lake is surrounded by beautiful rocks typical of the region and by Saguaro forests. The lake is pretty deep too, with an average depth of 90 feet. There are over 20 miles of shoreline, enough to share when it comes to fishing, boating, kayaking, and swimming.

If you want someone else to do the work for you, there is a narrated tour on Desert Belle Paddleboats. Just like the Dolly Boat tour on Canyon Lake, you have the opportunity to spot eagles and bighorn sheep.

You can camp around the lake, but the sites are only accessible by boat (you can rent one if you are visiting). There are shaded picnic areas for enjoying a meal by the lake, but there is also a restaurant in the marina.

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour.

Lake Pleasant Regional Park

Distance: 1 hour • Best for: boating, wildlife, stargazing • Best season: fall to spring

Another day trip in Arizona where you can hike, bike, boat, camp, fish, swim, plus lots more outdoor activities, is in and around the water at Lake Pleasant Regional Park. We actually lived fairly close to this large outdoor recreation area and have enjoyed seeing wildlife like birds and burros, as well as exploring some awesome 4×4 trails.

The lake was created by damming part of the Aqua Fria River, and it is a great spot for bass fishing! There is a marina with a restaurant, and you can rent boats or take a boat tour with Lake Pleasant Cruises, which offers catered food from the marina restaurant.

It is amazing to have such a vibrant area full of water and life in the desert. It is a nice spot to spend the day with friends or family. Also, since it is a little farther from the city, it is a good spot for stargazing, as the public, non-camping part of the park closes at 10 pm!

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour.

Learn a little Cowboy History in Wickenburg

Distance: 1 hour • Best for: western history, museums, dude ranches • Best season: fall to spring

We are in the middle of cowboy country. We've got cowboy towns, rodeos, ranches, artists, and museums, and while you can find some of these closer to Phoenix, it is a little more fun to actually get out of dodge for the day and experience them outside of the big city.

My favorite cowboy-related day trip from Phoenix is Wickenburg. I love the way this town honors its past with cowboy poetry readings, cowboy art, ranching, and more. They have a really good museum, the Sigler Western Museum, dedicated to the West.

It is small but exceptionally well done. They have preserved much of the historic downtown, including their “jail tree,” where criminals arrested by the sheriff were chained up until the transport came to take them to Phoenix.

The town sits along the Hassayampa River, and there is a preserve with 280 bird species and many raptors. Or you could choose to check out some of the Sonoran Desert by hiking the Vulture Peak Trail. There are several dude ranches where you can really immerse yourself in the West.

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour.

If you decide you want to stay in Wickenberg, I recommend Kay El Bar Guest Ranch or Rancho de los Caballeros.

Hassayampa River Preserve

Distance: 1 hour • Best for: birding, easy trails • Best season: fall to spring

Just before you enter Wickenburg, you will pass the Hassayampa River Preserve, which stretches for a cottonwood-lined 5 miles along the Hassayampa River. The river is an important wildlife corridor. The 730-acre preserve is a birder's paradise.

There are 280 different species of birds living and migrating through this area, including hummingbirds, red-shouldered hawks, yellow-billed cuckoos, vermilion flycatchers, and 30 dragonfly species.

This geological area is called a riparian area (land that exists along rivers and lakes). In the case of this preserve, which is located in the high Sonoran Desert, it is quite phenomenal to see this spot where the subterranean river is forced to the surface of the desert, truly an oasis!

There are short hikes along the river and through the preserve that offer beautiful scenery and a peaceful outing. Parking can be hard to find, so go early!

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour.

Experience the Sonoran Desert

Distance: 1 hour • Best for: guided tours, hiking, photography • Best season: fall to spring

The Sonoran Desert surrounding Phoenix is a fascinating ecosystem, with unique geology, flora and fauna, and cultural history. It's full of natural beauty.

Sure, you can see it from your car window if you drive along Highway 85 (and that is a good way to see it without the surrounding towns obstructing your view), but you really can't get out into it. The best way to do that is via a day trip tour from Phoenix, either motorized, on foot (hiking), by bike, or on horseback.

If this is your first time in the desert, a tour is a great way to visit. You will be blown away by how much life there is and how fascinating the saguaro cactus is. Above and beyond the wide variety of cacti (watch out for those cholla!), there is a complex variety of plants that provide for a diversity of wildlife species.

To survive life in the desert, plants and animals have adapted by waiting for rain, holding on to it when it does fall, or using the time between rainfall events. Above and beyond the plants and animals, the desert scenery is just gorgeous!

There are other places where you can get into the Sonoran Desert with your own vehicle – Saguaro National Park and Pipe Organ National Monument (both further away, but on this list).

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Distance: 1 hour • Best for: ancient history • Best season: fall to spring

The town of Casa Grande sits almost midway between Phoenix and Tucson and has a really interesting history. It was a planned community built to support the Southern Pacific Railroad.

But the town itself was named for the ancient Pueblo ruins, the nation's first archeological preserve, and is one of the largest prehistoric structures ever discovered in North America!

The ruins sit among an area with a complex system of canals, and historians do not know whether the “big house” was a gathering place or a marker. About 2000 ancient desert dwellers and prehistoric farmers lived at this site, and, like many similar sites in Arizona, researchers have no idea why or how they disappeared.

The ruins are large and well-preserved, given that preservation activities began as early as 1883!

In the 1860s, Casa Grande became a tourist hotspot because the railroad line had been completed (the town was originally called “Terminus!”) not too far from town, with an adjacent stagecoach line to Casa Grande.

With the increase in tourism, vandalism at the site became rampant (even graffiti!), and a custodian was hired to look after the site, followed by President Harrison's creation of a prehistoric cultural reserve. Finally, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national monument.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit.

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour.

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Distance: 1 hour 30 min • Best for: ancient cliff dwellings, easy trail • Best season: fall to spring

There are several well-preserved Sinagua settlements that are fascinating to visit… they do not build like they used to.

Scientists still don’t know why the Sinagua disappeared, but these ancient people were inventive and advanced! There is a nice little trail that follows the cliffs and plenty of benches for sitting and contemplating how intelligent and industrious these ancient pre-Columbian people were.

Montezuma Castle National Monument, located near Camp Verde, is a quick stop on your way to Prescott, Sedona, or a day trip to Cottonwood/Jerome.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit the site.

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Dig Into Mining History in Globe

Distance: 1 hour 30 min • Best for: history lovers • Best season: spring to fall

Sitting right where the Apache Trail winds up, Globe is an old copper mining town with a wonderfully authentic historic downtown full of antique shops and local restaurants. The real treasure is Besh Ba Gowah, a beautifully preserved Salado pueblo where you can climb into reconstructed rooms and wander an ethnobotanical garden. Pair it with nearby Roosevelt Lake or the Tonto Cliff Dwellings for a full day of history and desert scenery.

Escape to the Pines in Payson

Distance: 1 hour 30 min • Best for: nature lovers • Best season: spring to fall

When the valley heat gets to be too much, Payson is one of the quickest escapes into the pines. Perched along the edge of the Mogollon Rim, it trades saguaro for ponderosa pines and noticeably cooler temperatures, with easy hikes, small lakes, and seasonal waterfalls nearby. It also makes a natural base for exploring the Rim, Tonto Natural Bridge, and the little towns of Pine and Strawberry just up the road.

Cool off in the Coconino National Forest

Distance: 1 hour 30 min • Best for: hiking, camping, cooler air • Best season: spring to fall

One of the things I love most about living in the Phoenix area is that I can go from desert to mountains and forest in around 2 hours (depending on where I go). The Coconino National Forest is just 90 minutes away, and with its 1.8 million acres of land, there is plenty to do in the great outdoors.

This forest is diverse! Elevations go from 2,600 feet to 12,633 feet, so you will find all types of ecosystems and environments. From red rocks to pine-covered plateaus to deserts, canyons, and forests, you can literally see anything and everything in a day trip from Phoenix!

You can camp, hike, drive on forest roads, and see a wide variety of high desert vegetation. There is fishing in lakes, swimming in creeks and streams, and wildlife spotting throughout the 10 different wilderness areas that make up this forest. Winter is tough with snow conditions, but the rest of the year, this is a great escape.

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Go Wine Tasting in Cottonwood

Distance: 1 hour 45 min • Best for: wine, small town charm, dining • Best season: spring and fall

Did you know there are wineries in Arizona? Yep! And a lot of them are near the small town of Cottonwood, or at least their tasting rooms are. It's a unique experience to go wine tasting for the day in the desert! Visit this adorable town with an equally adorable downtown, great restaurants, shopping, and even a hotel.

Great for a meal and tasting, and can be combined with a trip to Jerome, Tuzigoot, or a nice spot for dinner after the Verde Valley train.

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

Distance: 1 hour 45 min • Best for: waterfall, hiking, swimming • Best season: spring and fall

Tonto Natural Bridge is the world’s largest natural travertine (a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs) bridge. It is 183 feet high, 150 feet wide, and 400 feet long, with a cave beneath it and a small waterfall. This is a small park inside the Tonto National Forest, but wow, is it beautiful!

The bridge sits in a little valley surrounded by pine trees. It was formed by erosion and discovered by a Scotsman in 1877 while he was hiding from Apache Indians (a lucky find!). There are three hiking trails in the area (Gowan Trail, Pine Creek Trail, and Waterfall Trail) that lead all the way down to the tunnel. The Pine Creek Trail takes you directly under the bridge. Bring good hiking shoes – the trails are wet and steep!

You can also swim in the water both upstream and downstream, but not directly under the bridge. There are four viewing points from the parking lot if you don't feel like hiking, a historic lodge built in 1920 where you can hang out or have a picnic, and a visitor center as well.

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Saguaro National Park

Distance: 1 hour 45 min • Best for: saguaro cacti, scenic loops • Best season: fall to spring

One of the things I love most about this area of Arizona is the saguaro cacti. They are strange and beautiful, mysterious and inconsistent, and only found in this part of the world. We see them all over while driving around here and there, but they are actually a protected species. Thankfully, there is an entire national park dedicated to them, and it is one of my favorite day trips!

There are two parts to the Saguaro National Park, each on either side of Tucson, and both are worthy of a visit. There is the west side of the park, with a dirt-road loop trail, short hikes with sites such as petroglyphs, and a denser concentration of saguaro cacti.

The east side of the park has a larger paved driving loop, trails, and taller, more widely spaced saguaros, since it is at a higher elevation and receives more rain. You can do both sides of the park on a single-day trip from Phoenix.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit.

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Mission San Xavier del Bac

Distance: 1 hour 50 min • Best for: historic architecture, culture • Best season: fall to spring

Known as the “white dove of the desert,” the Mission San Xavier del Bac is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona. It sits on Tohono O’odham Indian land, and the Tohono O’odham people were the laborers who built the mission in 1783.

Franciscan missionary Father Juan Bautista Velderrain began construction of the church using money borrowed from a Sonoran rancher. It was completed in 1797 and has been called the “Sistine Chapel of the New World.” The brick walls are coated with a limestone-based plaster with a formula that includes the juice from prickly pear cactus pads – the Sonoran Desert peoples were so inventive!

Throughout many wars, with Spain and Apache Indians, the Tohono O’odham people protected the mission. They even buried artifacts to protect them from being stolen. When the United States finally acquired the territory, the Franciscan Friars returned to the church, and they still serve the community today.

The mission is a National Historic Landmark but also a functioning church. If you are religious, you can attend Mass or simply appreciate the beautiful building and surrounding grottoes. After your visit, you can try Native American food, as there are usually food stands set up by the community.

Distance from Phoenix: 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Back to the Top

Best day trips from Phoenix between 2 and 3 hours

Visit the Pine Creek Canyon Lavender Farm

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: lavender fields, family outing • Best season: summer

You probably didn't realize this, but Arizona's dry, hot climate makes it the perfect place to grow lavender. Lavender farms in Arizona are growing at an exponential rate as more people discover the benefits of this healing herb.

The aroma of lavender can be calming and relaxing, and it has also been shown to help relieve stress and headaches. Oh, and the farms are beautiful too!

One of my favorite road trips from Phoenix is to Pine Creek Lavender Farm in Pine, Arizona. They've been around since the 1900s, when they first homesteaded in Pine looking for fertile soil where they might plant crops. The farm has been renovated and is a great family outing. They also have a cooking school and store.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours

Slow Down in Pine and Strawberry

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: small town shops, gentle hikes • Best season: year-round

Just beyond Payson, the tiny neighboring towns of Pine and Strawberry offer a slower pace, cabin-in-the-woods charm, and easy access to forest trails and viewpoints. Browse the little shops and bakeries, take a gentle hike, and soak up the cool pine air that feels a world away from the desert. They are especially lovely in summer, when the valley is baking, and in fall, when the weather turns crisp.

Tonto Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: cliff dwellings, lake views • Best season: upper tour November to April

The Tonto Cliff Dwellings are located deep in the Superstition Mountains along the Salt River. Ancient Native Americans, the Salado, made their homes high in the cliffs above the life-giving waterway. Today, the Theodore Roosevelt Dam has created Roosevelt Lake in the valley below the Dwellings.

Tonto Cliff Dwellings National Monument is part of the National Park Service and requires a $10 entrance fee or the NPS Annual Pass. There are two sets of cliff dwellings: Upper and Lower. The Upper Cliffs require a guided tour that takes 3-4 hours and is available only from November to April.

I have met many people who take this to mean that it is not worth visiting at other times of the year. In fact, the Lower Cliff Dwellings and the Visitor Center are open year-round. The beautiful paved hike (0.5 miles) to the Lower Cliff Dwellings is still well worth the day trip.

Roosevelt Lake, at 33 square miles, is the largest reservoir entirely within Arizona. After driving through the arid Superstitions, Roosevelt Lake hits your vision like a sparkling mirage. Roosevelt Lake has very limited access and virtually no beaches. It has rocky cliffs for the shoreline, and access is limited to a marina. Boating is really the only way to enjoy this body of water.

Note: Access, hours, and trail status can change seasonally, so check the Tonto National Monument website for the latest before you visit.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Contributed by Janet Frost of Go Learn Things.

Take a Ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: scenic train, wildlife, family fun • Best season: fall for wine and color

This is an easy day trip from Phoenix or Flagstaff and can be combined with a trip to Cottonwood, Jerome, or Tuzigoot National Monument. In fact, I recommend hitting Tuzigoot at about 9 or 10 in the morning, spending 1-2 hours there, and then heading to the train.

The train departs at 1 pm and takes you on a 4-hour journey through mostly untouched Verde Valley. The canyons aren’t accessible by car, so it’s a great way to see wildlife like eagles and to catch the other flora and fauna along the river.

In the fall, check out the Verde Valley Wine Trail and Ales on Rails beer festival on the Verde Canyon Railroad!

If you don't feel like driving, you can take a day trip tour from Phoenix/Scottsdale that will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the train.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Check out my post on my ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad

Tuzigoot National Monument and Dead Horse State Park

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: pueblo ruins, hiking • Best season: fall to spring

This is a beautifully preserved pueblo built by the ancient Sinagua people. At one time, there were 110 rooms – an entire village! It was built in the 12th century and sits on a ridge looking over the Verde River Valley.

To get a great view of the monument from a distance, visit Deadhorse State Park and follow Flycatcher Road until the end, and hike on the Marsch horse trail. The hike is beautiful, and you will have amazing views. After your hike, have lunch in Cottonwood or Jerome!

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit the park.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Shop, Eat, and get Spooked in Jerome

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: ghost town, wine, art, haunted history • Best season: fall to spring

This former copper-mining town in the Black Hills has a lot going on, with numerous streets lined with preserved buildings that have been transformed into antique shops, restaurants, wineries, and museums. There are hotels, including one converted from an old mental hospital, that are supposedly haunted!

There is also a haunted mine you can visit if you dare. Don't forget the Jerome State Historic Park, which includes Douglas Mansion.

This trip can be combined with a trip to Cottonwood, the Verde Valley train, or Tuzigoot.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

I recommend The Clinksale Hotel if you want to extend your stay.

Visit Watson Lake and Whiskey Row in Prescott

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: historic town, lakes, hiking • Best season: spring to fall, festive in December

Prescott became one of my favorite towns in Northern Arizona before I was even officially a resident. Unlike Southern Arizona, where I lived, Prescott has distinct seasons and cooler weather, making it the perfect day trip from Phoenix. Only 100 miles and you can be in a totally different climate!

Prescott is known as Arizona’s Christmas City because they make a big deal out of the holiday season. The courthouse lighting is a huge event kicking off weeks of caroling and Christmas decorations around the town square.

At other times of the year, there are also fun things to do in Prescott AZ. There are some great lakes scattered around town, which offer excellent hiking trails. Watson Lake is the most popular, with the Granite Dells offering a unique landscape with hiking and paddling opportunities. Lynx Lake and Goldwater Lake are two other nice lakes near Prescott.

Prescott also has some interesting museums. The Smoki Museum is super intriguing and has many Native artifacts and art on display. It’s an eye-opening look at the history of Native Americans in Yavapai County. If you prefer art, the Phippen Museum has Western and Native American art on display and for sale.

Prescott also has a great restaurant scene with lots of options. For an old-timey saloon experience on Whiskey Row, the Palace has pretty good food. Raven Cafe and the Barley Hound also have good food in a more modern atmosphere, and Prescott Station is a good choice for more upscale dining.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours!

Contributed by Leigh Wilson of Campfires & Concierges, photo from Mr. Misadventures.

Prescott makes an excellent weekend getaway! If you love vintage or retro decor, then you must check out The Motor Lodge!

Check out the beautiful Red Rock Formations in Sedona

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: red rocks, hiking, vortexes, arts • Best season: fall to spring

One of the most popular day trips from Phoenix is undoubtedly a visit to Sedona. Sedona is on just about every visitor's bucket list because it is absolutely gorgeous, no matter what time of the year you visit.

Located about a 2-hour drive from Phoenix along the I-17 highway, there is plenty to keep you occupied if you are spending one day in Sedona. You can also take a more scenic route on State Route 87, which lets you stop at Tonto Natural Bridge.

A great way to start your day is to tackle one of Sedona's many hiking trails. There are trails to suit all levels of experience, such as the popular Devil’s Bridge Trail, Slide Rock Park, and the more challenging West Fork Trail, which requires several river crossings. Alternatively, you can also join my favorite hike to one of the many famous vortexes, such as Cathedral Rock.

After hiking, take the time to explore central Sedona, where there are plenty of interesting new-age shops selling items like healing crystals, as well as a number of artisan shops with great products, and a gift shop with souvenirs. In the evening, make sure to take the time to enjoy the stunning Sedona sunsets from a place like the Airport Mesa Viewpoint.

All in all, Sedona is one of the best day trips in Arizona, with something for everyone to enjoy! If you are heading from Sedona to Flagstaff, don't miss Oak Creek Canyon, which many people refer to as a mini Grand Canyon.

If you don't feel like driving, you can take a day trip tour from Phoenix/Scottsdale that will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Sedona and back.

Recommended tours: Sedona: Scenic Rim Pink Jeep Tour and Red Rock West 2-Hour Jeep Tour from Sedona. I also like the Canyons & Cowboys: 2-Hour Jeep Tour from Sedona.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Contributed by Michael Rozenblit of The World Was Here First, photo from Mr. Misadventures.

There are so many amazing hotels to stay in that it is really hard to recommend one! I have stayed at the L'Auberge de Sedona several times, and it is dreamy!

Drive Through Oak Creek Canyon

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: scenic drive, photography • Best season: fall to spring

Often called a miniature Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon is the gorgeous 12-mile stretch between Sedona and Flagstaff, and the drive alone is one of the most beautiful in the country. Stop at the Slide Rock swimming holes, hike the lush West Fork Trail with its many creek crossings, and pull over at the Oak Creek Vista overlook near the top. It is spectacular in the fall when the leaves turn, and a cool, shady retreat in the heat of summer. Combine it with a visit to Sedona for a perfect day.

Drive Along the Red Rock Scenic Byway

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: scenic drive, hiking, photography • Best season: fall to spring

The Red Rock Scenic Byway in Arizona makes a perfect road trip from Phoenix. This impressive byway begins as you head north on Arizona Highway 179 towards the town of Oak Creek and finishes just south of the new-age town of Sedona. It's a short drive, but this incredibly scenic road follows 7.5 miles on the southwest edge of the Colorado Plateau, winding through Coconino National Forest.

It’s a byway you’ll want to stop and explore on foot as well as drive, and there are many hiking and biking trails and famous Vortexes to discover within the iconic rust-red scenery. Cactus, yucca, and wildflowers grow throughout the landscape of towering red rocks and buttes, and the creek at Oak Creek is a good place for a picnic and a cool down.

Highlights include Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Chapel of the Holy Cross, as well as hoodoos, canyons, and natural bridges in the rock. Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock are known for their vortices, and many people visit to meditate and soak up the energies. Regardless of your views on Vortexes, Red Rock Scenic Byway has some fabulous trails to discover.

At some of the parking sites, you'll need to pay $5 per car for a Red Rock Pass, but there are free weekends throughout the year. Don’t forget to take plenty of water, sunscreen and, of course, your camera.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Contributed by Suzanne Jones of The Travelbunny

Slide Rock State Park

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: natural water slide, swimming • Best season: fall to spring

Slide Rock State Park is centered on Oak Creek, which flows through the park. As the name suggests, it is a giant natural waterslide that becomes an extremely popular destination during the hot months. Half a mile of Oak Creek within the Park’s boundaries is open for swimming and sliding.

This place is continuously being voted one of the top 10 swimming holes in the country. You just need to exercise caution as the surface of the boulders in the creek is very slippery. However, Slide Rock State Park is not just for water fun.

The area around the park is very beautiful with majestic red cliffs. There are a couple of short hiking trails in the area, and it is a good spot for wildlife encounters, but I would say you have a better chance of seeing wildlife in the cold months, when there are fewer people in the park. Trout fishing is also allowed upstream from the sliding area.

In addition, a visit to Slide Rock is a trip down history lane. This area was once a homestead with an apple orchard, so you can see the historic homestead house, cabins, and antique agricultural equipment in the park. Apples are still grown in the park by Oak Creek Apple Company, and you can get yourself some apples while in the park. Harvest Time festival is a great opportunity to visit the area.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Contributed by Tatiana Sorokina of Family Road Trip Guru

Mogollon Rim

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: panoramic views, hiking, elk • Best season: spring to fall

The Grand Canyon is amazing and a natural wonder of the world for a reason, but if you want to see stunning views across hundreds of miles of Arizona without the crowds, then you want to see Mogollon Rim.

The Rim, rising 2,000 feet from the desert floor to a pine forest, is striking. It is often referred to as an escarpment, which is just a fancy word for a cliff at the edge of a plateau, and while this spot is the southern limit of the Colorado Plateau, it is so much more than that! There are expansive views for miles, rising from between 4,000 and 5,000 feet in elevation at the base to as high as 8,000 feet at the edge.

You can drive along the Rim Road and Forest Road 300 and look out into the blue sky for hundreds of miles to the south while taking in the intoxicating scent of forest pine. There is a paved Rim Vista Trail that winds for about 2 miles along the rim and is accessible from the parking lot. There is also the Railroad Tunnel Trail, a moderate trail that takes you along the East Verde stream.

There are lots of hiking, camping, and fishing in several small lakes on the Rim. The area is home to large herds of elk and deer that you can see on your drive.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Take on Tucson

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: food scene, culture, desert museum • Best season: fall to spring

One of my favorite spots in the state! And a frequent day trip from Phoenix, as it is a short two-hour drive. I also highly recommend a weekend here!

You can spend the day visiting the city, plus Tucson Mountain Park, Sonoran Desert Museum, and Xavier Mission. A little further away (maybe better to do if you are staying the weekend) are Sabino Canyon, Mt. Lemmon, Titan Missile Museum, and Biosphere 2.

I love the combination of cultures in Tucson – Sonoran, Mexican, Western, and a lot more – and I find that the people of Tucson are extremely open and friendly. It's a college town full of students and academics, but also military, missile, and space.

The city is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy – the first one in the US – so as you can imagine, the food scene is amazing! In my opinion, it has the best restaurants in Arizona! Don't miss checking out Picacho Peak State Park on the way to Tucson from Phoenix, a great spot to see wildflowers in the spring.

Here is a free printable checklist of things to do in Tucson.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

My favorite hotel in Tucson is the Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort.

Prepare for Takeoff at the Pima Air & Space Museum

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: aircraft, military history • Best season: fall to spring

The best place to get your space and airplane geek on! Not only does the Pima Air & Space Museum have great interactive exhibits and films, but you can climb on, over, and around planes! Real, actual retired planes and spacecraft!

There are over 300 aircraft spread out over 80 acres. The site is actually larger, totaling 127 acres, with the additional pieces accessible only by bus. But you get to see an airplane boneyard and more military planes.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

More on my visit to the Pima Air & Space Museum.

Tucson Mountain Park

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: sunsets, hiking, biking • Best season: fall to spring

Tucson Mountain Park is many things. It is a scenic byway where you can see the Sonoran Desert. It is a park with hiking (the 6-mile Brown Mountain loop trail is a favorite hike of mine), biking (lots of mountain biking trails here), camping, fishing, horseback riding, and even an archery range. But most people know it as Gates Pass, one of the best spots for seeing the sunset in the Tucson area.

People gather nightly to catch that orange glow, and Mr. Misadventures and I have done it several times. Whether viewed from the parking lot or from atop the hill, it is magnificent. We have also picnicked many times in this park; there are several nice shaded picnic areas. The park covers 20,000 acres – lots of it with saguaro, given its proximity to Saguaro National Park.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: outdoor museum, wildlife, gardens • Best season: fall for monarchs

This is another favorite of Mr. Misadventures and me, so much so that we became members on our first visit (of course, single-day tickets are always available!) and we go back often. We love visiting this outdoor museum, but we have also taken part in classes and excursions, such as a saguaro harvest with a Tohono Oʼodham family and a prickly pear harvest around the museum.

I never tire of this park. We always have a great time here. There is something to see every season; we particularly love visiting the hummingbirds, taking in the raptor flight, and the javelinas in the botanical gardens. My favorite time is in the fall when there are literally thousands of monarch butterflies migrating through the area.

They have an on-site restaurant that serves dishes made with locally sourced and regional ingredients. If you take classes as we did, the lunch is usually catered by them, and I have had the opportunity to taste really unique dishes with foraged ingredients.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: desert oasis, hiking, owls • Best season: spring for wildflowers, fall for water

Want an opportunity to see an owl in the wild? A day trip from Phoenix to Sabino Canyon Recreation Area is one of the best spots to do that! Whether it is a burrowing owl (as in the photo below) or a great horned owl, this park has quite a community of these birds. There are many feathered friends that make this area of ravines nestled into the Catalina Mountains home.

It is a great spot for hiking, and there are no vehicles allowed (except the tram, which, after being shut down for a while, is back up and running), so you have to hike the 3+ miles in. You will feel like you are in a desert oasis, given all the water and well, green, but you are most definitely still in the desert!

If you visit in the spring, you will see a wonderful collection of wildflowers, and in the fall, the waterfalls and swimming pools are flowing and brimming from the monsoon season. There are trails of all shapes and sizes.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Titan Missile Museum

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: Cold War history, missile silo • Best season: fall to spring

The space geek in you will enjoy a visit to the Titan Missile Museum, a former ICBM missile site outside of Tucson. You can tour the facility (note: make reservations online ahead of time (even if you have a Southern Arizona attractions discount pass!); this is a very popular spot; we learned this the hard way!) and the missile silo, along with getting a bit of history of what it was like to grow up or live in the U.S. during the Cold War.

My favorite part is imagining Star Trek's Jean-Luc Picard filming here for Star Trek: First Contact, as the facility was used to film the first warp prototype, the Phoenix!

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Biosphere 2

Distance: 2 hours • Best for: science research facility, tours • Best season: fall to spring

If you are part of Generation X or earlier, you might remember the 1991 news item about 8 people living in a biosphere for two years. I certainly do! People now make fun of it, and it supposedly was the predecessor to Big Brother, but I think it is fascinating. And you can actually visit Biosphere 2, a science research facility run by the University of Arizona.

The 3-acre glass building and domes house seven model ecosystems that are part of active research projects. In addition to being a research facility, it is open for tours to educate people about Earth sciences. The tour is a little over an hour (both indoor and outdoor) with about 150 steps, so probably not something you want to do in the heat of the summer, but a nice visit during the other seasons.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours.

Take an Iconic Photo at Devil's Bridge Trail

Distance: 2 hours 15 min • Best for: hiking, photography • Best season: fall to spring

The Devil’s Bridge has become one of the most iconic photo spots in Arizona. There are a couple of different trails to reach the bridge, but the most commonly used is the 3.6-mile return option, which has an elevation gain of just over 100m. The trail itself is not the prettiest you’ll find in the Sedona area, but it still has those red rock views and pretty forested sections that make this area special.

The hike itself is easy and mostly on a wide, flat dirt road (you can actually drive most of the trail if you have a 4×4 and can nab a space in the tiny car park) before you reach the final leg, where you will start ascending. You will climb on a mixture of uphill slopes and rugged stairs, but you are rewarded along the way with the start of some sensational views.

Once you hit the top, you’ll be greeted with the scene you’ve probably seen in hundreds of photos, and it’s every bit as amazing as you might imagine. Luckily, the bridge is nowhere near as narrow as it looks in pictures, so – unless you get vertigo – walking across it won’t be anywhere near as terrifying as it looks! You’re unlikely to have this spot to yourself, but everyone was great about letting people get their individual shots. Very early in the morning is the quietest time to visit.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Contributed by Cat of Walk My World.

Pipe Organ National Monument

Distance: 2 hours 15 min • Best for: scenic drive, rare cacti • Best season: fall to spring

Pipe Organ National Monument is a great scenic drive from Phoenix. If you want to see classic Sonoran desert landscapes, take Highway 85. At this national monument, you’ll see the unique cacti that gave the park its name by the hundreds! Take a break in Ajo on your way in or out of the park.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit the park.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Visit Flagstaff for the Day

Distance: 2 hours 20 min • Best for: mountain town, Route 66, cooler air • Best season: year-round

There is so much to do in Flagstaff that I recommend at least a weekend, but you can see some cool stuff in a day as well. It’s generally much cooler in Flagstaff, and we escape here often in the summer!

Besides its proximity to the Grand Canyon (South Rim), you’ve got Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, Lowell Observatory, Riordan Mansion, and much, much more, including Route 66! There are tons of festivals – food, art, music – going on throughout the year to check out for the day.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Cool Off at Fossil Creek

Distance: 2 hours 30 min • Best for: waterfalls, swimming, off-roading • Best season: spring to fall

Fossil Creek is one of Arizona's most magical swimming spots, a spring-fed creek so full of minerals that it runs a brilliant turquoise, complete with a waterfall you can jump from. It is stunning, but it is also carefully managed, so from roughly May through September, you need a permit reserved well in advance, and the access road is rough and best suited to a high-clearance vehicle. Go early, pack everything in and out, and treat this fragile oasis gently. Outside permit season, it is quieter and still beautiful, just cold for swimming.

Go Fishing, Swimming, or Boating at Alamo Lake

Distance: 2 hours 30 min • Best for: fishing, boating, quiet desert • Best season: fall to spring

Alamo Lake State Park is nestled between the Alamo and Black Mesa Mountains, and Alamo Lake lies at its center. Alamo Lake itself was created in 1902 when the Bureau of Reclamation began building a dam to provide water for irrigation and hydroelectric power.

It is now a popular destination for fishing, boating, and water skiing. It has two campgrounds that allow access to the lake. Alamo Lake State Park Recreation Area, which encompasses both Alamo Lake and Alamo River as well as a large expanse of desert wilderness surrounding the lake.

Recreational activities at Alamo Lake State Park include hunting, picnicking, hiking, fishing, and boating. There are two ways to get there from Phoenix: I-10 and Highway 60. Highway 60 is a little more scenic, and you have the opportunity to stop in Wickenburg!

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Distance: 2 hours 30 min • Best for: cliff dwellings, hiking • Best season: spring to fall

Walnut Canyon National Monument is located near Flagstaff and is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Phoenix, making it a perfect day trip from Phoenix.

Walnut Canyon is probably one of the most underrated sites in Arizona. Not only is the canyon beautiful, but the area's history and culture are also very interesting to see. Walnut Canyon National Monument preserves some of the earliest history of Native American culture.

The incredible Native American ruins are surprisingly intact and preserved. Along the trails in the canyon, you can see the cliff dwellings of the Sinagua people dating back to around 1200 AD.

The most popular hike here is the one-mile Island Trail, but be warned: it is steep in some places and starts with 250 stairs. There is also an easy .7 mile hike called the Rim Trail.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit the park.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Contributed by Nicole LaBarge of Travelgal Nicole, photo provided by me.

Montezuma Well National Monument

Distance: 2 hours 30 min • Best for: natural sinkhole, easy loop • Best season: fall to spring

Montezuma Well National Monument is distinct from the Montezuma Castle National Monument (people often confuse them) and is a natural limestone sinkhole near the town of Rimrock. The area is so green because more than 1 million gallons of water flow from the well; its source remains a mystery to scientists!

It is an ecosystem in its own right. There are plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world, and, thankfully, it is protected as a national monument. Given its verdant nature, there are tons of wildlife, including migrating birds, along with the local residents.

To access the water, there is a 1/2 mile loop trail from the parking lot. You will also see several stone cliff dwellings built by Sinagua.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit the park.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Spelunk at Kartchner Caverns State Park

Distance: 2 hours 30 min • Best for: cave tours • Best season: Big Room October to April

Kartchner Caverns is a fun day trip from Phoenix with the most amazing discovery story ever. In 1974, Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts discovered Kartchner Caverns and kept it secret for nearly two decades. Finally, they arranged to sell it to the state so its beauty could be protected for generations to come.

The state did its job, too. There's an elaborate entry tunnel and an air-circulation system, so the cave remains unchanged once it becomes public.

The cave offers two tours, the Throne Room Tour and the Big Room Tour. The Throne Room Tour features Kubla Khan, the largest column formation in Arizona. Some purists don't like the synchronized sound-and-light show in the throne room, but I thought it was pretty cool. This tour is available year-round.

The Big Room Tour is only available from mid-October through mid-April because the passage is closed for migratory bats. This tour has colorful formations and a little more narration.

The Whetstone Mountains are home to another tourist cave — sort of. The Sonora Desert Museum cave is modeled after another secret cave somewhere in the mountains. Who knows if this one will ever become public?

There is a small campground at Kartchner, along with some short hikes, but the real attraction is the cave. The park is just a little south of Benson, off I-10. Cave tours are $23.00 per person.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Contributed by Ed Coleman of Coleman Concierge

Hiking the Catalina Mountains

Distance: 2 hours 30 min • Best for: alpine hiking, water in the desert • Best season: spring to fall

You might not know this about Tucson, but there's a ski resort high in the mountains above town. If you have a high-clearance vehicle, you can climb up the backside through the village of Oracle. The more traditional route is up the paved road heading up from Tucson.

Once you reach the top, there is a fantastic little loop hike out Aspen Trail and Marshal Gulch. It's a 4.4-mile loop through the cool pine trees that leaves you plenty of time to get cookies or pie in Summerhaven.

The mountain tops also create one of nature's wonders, water flowing through the desert. There are two main hikes with water in Tucson: Sabino Canyon and Romero Pools. Technically, both Sabino Canyon and Bear Canyon contain water and are part of Sabino Canyon Park.

Hiking Bear Canyon to Seven Falls is actually a much nicer trail because Sabino Canyon has a tramway that runs along the stream's entire length. It's an 8-mile hike with 500′ of elevation gain, but you can take the tram and cut half the distance off.

Romero Pools is a 6-mile out-and-back with a little more elevation gain (900′) and less water, but you'll also have a lot fewer people. What's more, the trail runs through the natural desert the entire way rather than hiking alongside the tram road.

Also, the trailhead is about 1/2 hour closer to Phoenix since it leaves from Catalina State Park. Hiking in Tucson can be every bit as lush and green as heading north, with a lot better restaurants to eat in when you get back to your car.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Contributed by Ed Coleman of Coleman Concierge

Sonoita

Distance: 2 hours 30 min • Best for: wine at the source, birding • Best season: fall to spring

Sonoita is known for 2 things: amazing birding and delicious wine. You can go winetasting in Cottonwood, but if you like to taste your wine at the source, Sonoita is where you want to be! They also produce hops for beer!

This wine region has been active for a little over 40 years, with ranches and farms going back generations to the 1830s; a lot of them have been converted to lodging or wineries these days. The soil composition is similar to that of Burgundy, France.

This little area has more than 10 wineries producing really good wine. We have had the opportunity to try several at local Phoenix festivals and restaurants.

Besides wine, there are other interesting things to do, including visiting the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, where you can see Empire Ranch historical buildings and landscape (something I was completely unfamiliar with), and the Sonoita Creek-Patagonia area, which is a birding mecca.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Catch the Heber Horses

Distance: 2 hours 30 min • Best for: wild horses, pine forest • Best season: spring to fall

Before I moved to the Phoenix area, I was completely unaware that there are still wild horses in the U.S. When I first moved here, Mr. Misadventures and I happened upon the documentary, Unbranded, about 4 friends who take wild mustangs on a 3,000-mile journey from Mexico to Canada.

When we moved to Phoenix, we learned about the wild Salt River horses in the area and have sought them out there a few times (along with many adventures to see the wild burros), but I only recently became aware of another family of wild horses called Heber Horses, which live in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests amongst the ponderosa pines near the White Mountains.

They are currently protected by several federal and state laws, but there is debate about their environmental impact on land management, including competition for food with cattle and other animals.

For now, they are still protected and absolutely stunning, worth a trip to seek them out.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Kitt Peak National Observatory

Distance: 2 hours 40 min • Best for: stargazing, telescope tours • Best season: fall to spring

Because of its Southern location, Arizona has more astronomical observatories than any other state. (It's one of the best things about Arizona!) And lucky for you, there are several open to the public, including Kitt Peak. In fact, Kitt Peak has the largest accumulation of telescopes in the world, 24 in all!

They offer two or three different tours a day (depending on the day), and they are well worth the trip up the Quinlan Mountains. It is on Tohono O'odham Nation land and is an active site where professional astronomers work.

Besides the tours, they offer a nighttime program you can experience, along with astrophotography weekends. If you don't take any of the tours, you can still take a self-guided walk on campus. There are picnic areas as well.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Meteor Crater Natural Landmark

Distance: 2 hours 45 min • Best for: impact crater, museum • Best season: spring to fall

You can add this to a trip to Flagstaff or the Petrified Forest National Park. The crater was formed when an asteroid hit the Earth 50,000 years ago. It's also where some of the Apollo astronauts trained for moon landings.

Inside the building are a museum and a theater. Outside, if the wind isn’t blowing like a hurricane, you can do a guided rim tour, which is pretty cool.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Seligman

Distance: 2 hours 45 min • Best for: Route 66 nostalgia, quirky stops • Best season: spring to fall

Seligman is a fantastic little town along Route 66 with a history made for the movies. Literally. The 2006 animated Pixar film Cars drew inspiration for Radiator Springs from Seligman and the struggles the town endured when the Highway bypassed it. It’s back on the map now, though, with plenty of souvenirs for everyone!

From the moment you first enter the town, you’ll get a sense of its quirkiness. It’s like a blast from the past with nostalgic memorabilia everywhere you look. One of the best places to stop for a bite to eat is Delgadillo’s Snow Cap restaurant. You’ll find the usual menu of cheeseburgers, fries, and ice cream here, but it’s anything but normal.

It’s full of wackiness, from the crazy decor in front of the building to the real-life versions of the characters from the Cars movie out back. (Don’t be surprised if the employees pull a practical joke on you, either.)

When they say “Get your kicks on Route 66,” they definitely had Seligman, Arizona in mind!

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Contributed by Karee, Our Woven Journey

Ride the Rails and Meet the Bears in Williams

Distance: 2 hours 45 min • Best for: Route 66 nostalgia, families, animal lovers • Best season: spring to fall

Williams is a lively Route 66 town and the self-proclaimed Gateway to the Grand Canyon, and it makes a great day out for families. The big draw is Bearizona, a drive-through wildlife park where you roll slowly past bears, wolves, and bison in their natural forest habitat, plus a walk-through area for smaller animals. You can also ride the vintage Grand Canyon Railway up to the South Rim and back, wander the nostalgic downtown, and grab a milkshake on Route 66. It pairs beautifully with Flagstaff or a Grand Canyon trip.

Fill up on Wild West History in Tombstone

Distance: 2 hours 45 min • Best for: Old West history, saloons • Best season: fall to spring

All the Western greats can be found in Tombstone! Wyatt Earp and “Doc” Holliday became household names in this town. The rough and tumble O.K. Corral, Bird Cage Theatre, and lots of western paraphernalia are so fun to see and experience!

Check out a western shootout and the court museum and have lunch (and a whiskey!) at Big Nose Kate’s Saloon on the main street. Plus, you can't miss spotting cowboys and criminals with some pretty strange names at Boothill Cemetery.

If you don't feel like driving, you can take a day trip tour from Phoenix/Scottsdale that will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Tombstone and back with a stop in Bisbee. Or combine Tombstone with San Xavier del Bac.

Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Sunset Crater National Monument

Distance: 3 hours • Best for: lava fields, easy trails • Best season: spring to fall

Sunset Crater National Monument is a 3,000-acre park of lava fields, cinder deposits, and archaeological ruins, oh, and the youngest of the Colorado Plateau volcanoes!

Sunset and a few other craters are just one part of the San Francisco volcanic field in the San Francisco Peaks Mountains. The lava flows and cinder rocks are frozen in time, with layers of greens and flowers covering many of the pieces. It is a bit surreal to think that things this beautiful can grow on lava!

There are several trails you can walk to see some of the lava flows, including some leading to caverns. You can drive through the park; there are even off-road trails (you need a 4×4) and lots of picnic areas under the trees – Mr. Misadventures and I often stop here for a quick lunch on road trips further north.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit the park.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours.

Wupatki National Monument

Distance: 3 hours • Best for: ancestral pueblo ruins • Best season: spring and fall, sunset

As you exit the ponderosa highlands of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and start driving into the Painted Desert, you will find Wupatki National Monument and its beautifully preserved Anasazi and Sinagua ruins.

This ancestral Puebloan site covers 5 sites spread out amongst the prairies. These mysterious but brilliant people are the ancestors of the Hopi and Zuni people and lived amid red rocks, trading and farming. The monument is quite beautiful to see at sunset.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit the site.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours.

Mount Lemmon

Distance: 3 hours • Best for: cool mountain escape, skiing, fall color • Best season: fall and summer

This is a favorite escape for many Tucson residents, cool in the summer and for skiing in the winter, but it is still within reach as a day trip from Phoenix. I particularly love it in the fall, not only for the autumn leaf-changing (late October) but also for the Monarch butterfly migration – there are thousands of them in September!

There are lots of hiking trails and campgrounds (book early!) and a little ski town with a hotel and restaurant, but the real beauty is the drive into the Santa Catalina Mountains and into the Coronado National Forest. Its elevation is 8,000, and it is considered a dark sky site (there is also an observatory at the top that you can visit during very obscure times).

On the weekends, it is a popular spot for biking – I personally think you have to be a little crazy to bike up a mountain and then coast down at crazy speeds, but if you are into that, you will not be alone!

No matter what you choose to do on Mount Lemmon (named after the first woman to climb it), it will be an enjoyable day! (Pro tip: do not speed on this road; there is a super vigilant police officer who actually lives on the mountain and is very dedicated to making sure you obey the speed laws.)

Recommended tour: 4-Hour Guided Tour of Mount Lemmon.

There is also programming throughout the year at the Mt. Lemmon Sky Center Observatory.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours.

Experience some California Gold Rush Arizona-style in Yuma

Distance: 3 hours • Best for: Wild West history, river tubing • Best season: fall to spring, summer for floating

Yuma is located in the southwestern corner of Arizona, just a few miles from the California-Arizona state line. Anyone who lives in San Diego or Phoenix knows Yuma as a halfway point between the two cities.

Yuma is a city with an interesting past and was a true Wild West town of cowboys, brothels, gambling, and gunfights during the California Gold Rush. Start in the historic downtown, where you'll find Lutes Casino, now a restaurant, where gambling took place from 1912 to 1920. Today, they are famous for their funky decor and potato tacos.

Visit Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park during your time in Yuma. It was actually built by its first prisoners and opened in 1876. It is now a museum and free to tour.

The Confluence of the Colorado and Gila Rivers happens in Yuma, which makes for great tubing! If you visit from late spring to early fall, a float down the Colorado River is a must. These are just a few of the things you can do in Yuma. Trust me, it's a great day trip in Arizona!

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours

Contributed by Alexa Meisler of 52 Perfect Days

Visit the Quirky Mining Town of Bisbee

Distance: 3 hours • Best for: mining town, arts, retro charm • Best season: fall to spring

Bisbee is a mining town located in the Mule Mountains. (You didn't realize there are so many mountains in Arizona, right?) You can check out the town's museum and exhibits to learn about its copper-and-silver-mining past.

While visiting retro downtown, you'll notice a lot of “Lowell” signs along Erie Street. Lowell was a mining town incorporated into Bisbee in the early 1900s. There are a lot of vintage cars and a cute gas station, fun for photos; it's very Americana!

The town considers itself a “free-spirited place”; people come for the thriving arts/music scene and the up-and-coming hospitality with dining, lodging, and even cute Airbnbs.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours.

Wilcox Wine Country

Distance: 3 hours • Best for: wine tasting, hiking • Best season: fall to spring

The Willcox wine region makes for such a fun day trip from Phoenix. This up-and-coming wine region is responsible for producing 75% of Arizona’s wine grapes. Located in the southeastern part of the state, wine tasting here ranges from $8 to $15. You can even bring your own glass for a discount.

To visit this area, you will need a car to get around. Also, do not visit in the summer as it will be very hot. The tasting rooms are mainly open on weekends, and some are reservation-only, so make sure to double-check before you head out.

One of the best wineries is Bodega Pierce Vineyard. Here you get 6 tastings for $12. In total, they make 12 different types of wine, with the Pandora being one of their most popular. Another good option is Strive Vineyards. They make some unique and lesser-known varietals. The Picpoul Blanc was worth trying, as was their Aglianico.

Even if you are not big on wine tasting, you can head to a few of the National Park sites in the area for some hiking. Nearby are Fort Bowie National Historic Site and Chiricahua National Monument.

At Fort Bowie, you have to hike a 1.5-mile trail to get into the park, and you will see an old outpost of the US Army. The 12,000-acre Chiricahua National Monument offers a collection of hoodoos and balancing rocks. No matter what, a visit to Willcox makes for a fun day!

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours.

Contributed by Francesca, Homeroom Travel.

Back to the Top

Day trips from Phoenix between 3 and 4 hours

Castle Dome Mines Museum and Ghost Town

Distance: 3 hours 15 min • Best for: ghost town, mining history • Best season: fall to spring

Next to Yuma Proving Ground and within Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is a piece of Arizona history. The Castle Dome Mines Museum and Ghost Town is a unique destination that gives visitors a taste of life in the 1800s.

Named for a prominent rock formation, Castle Dome City had been the site of the longest-running mines in Arizona. In its heyday, it was larger than Yuma, with a population of more than 3,000. With about 300 mines, for a short time, there was plenty of work for everyone.

There are two parts to the museum: Castle Dome City and the Mining District. All told, there are about fifty buildings, and there is so much memorabilia that the only things missing are the miners, shopkeepers, and families. There are both original buildings and recreations, and the artifacts are authentic, although they may not have been found on-site.

There is a hotel, a saloon, a blacksmith, machine shops, a schoolhouse, an assay shop, and more. Since some of the mines were open until 1979, there’s even a 50s-era diner and a 1960s trailer. In the mining district, you can see some of the old Spanish mines, dug centuries before the settlers arrived.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Contributed by Theresa L. Goodrich of The Local Tourist.

Joshua Tree National Park (California)

Distance: 3 hours 15 min • Best for: hiking, rock climbing, cacti • Best season: fall and spring

Joshua Tree National Park sits in the middle of two southern California deserts. Just under 4 hours from Phoenix to the southern park entrance, it's the perfect national park day trip.

The park is known for its namesake: the Joshua trees. These long-living, prickly trees are cousins of the agave plant. In Joshua Tree National Park, many of the trees are over 150 years old! But you'll find more here than just Joshua Trees. The national park is also home to unique desert cacti, enormous boulders, and bucket-list rock climbing and hiking.

The best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park is in late fall or early spring. These shoulder months bring cooler temperatures, perfect for outdoor adventures and camping. Upon arrival, you'll need to pay a $30 park entry fee at the entrance station or use your national park pass.

One of the best ways to explore Joshua Tree National Park is on a hike. Don't miss popular trails like Hidden Valley, Ryan Mountain, and Barker Dam.

Other must-do activities include sunrise at Cholla Cactus Garden and wandering amongst the Joshua Trees on Park Boulevard. The best way to end your day trip to Joshua Tree is with the sunset at Keys View. From here, you can overlook the expansive valley and see Palm Springs in the distance.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit the park.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Contributed by Julia of Well Planned Journey.

Lake Havasu

Distance: 3 hours 20 min • Best for: water sports, London Bridge • Best season: fall to spring, summer for water

Lake Havasu City is a hidden gem in western Arizona, famous among retirees for its London Bridge, and its setting matches English culture in many ways. Lake Havasu is a perfect destination for a day trip from Phoenix or even a weekend staycation.

Lake Havasu also has lighthouses that give it an island vibe. The lake is on the border between California and Arizona, with a counterpart lake in California, Havasu Lake, on the other side.

Lake Havasu hosts a stunning California beach vibe where you can swim, take boat tours, and enjoy a wide variety of watersports in almost any weather. Lake Havasu not only has lake and water attractions, but also multiple hiking trails in the Sonoran Desert.

Outdoor adventure sports like mountain biking are very popular here. There are two main state parks here as well: Lake Havasu State Park and Cattail Cove State Park.

Lake Havasu provides a mix of experiences from multiple places in one city – the English vibe, the island vibe, the Californian beach vibe, and last but not least, the Arizonian desert vibe. Lake Havasu is a great destination to include in an Arizona to California road trip, as it is nearly equally distant from destinations like the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Las Vegas, and San Diego.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Contributed by Jumana, Planet Hopper Girl.

The Shady Dell

Distance: 3 hours 20 min • Best for: vintage trailer stay, retro fun • Best season: fall to spring

Step back in time—over 70 years, in fact—at The Shady Dell, a vintage RV park in Bisbee, Arizona. Located about a three-hour drive southeast of Phoenix airport, The Shady Dell rents 13 vintage trailers from the 1940s and 1950s. Appropriate for an overnight stay for a couple (or solo traveler), the park would be a blast for a group of friends or as a wedding or event destination.

Each vintage camper is authentically decorated in original or appropriate reproductions—including record players (with appropriate vinyl discs), decor (dishes, curtains, bedding), and original fixtures (heaters, bathrooms, ovens, etc.).

It is actually fun to experiment with a 70-year-old heating unit while playing a 78 record on the turntable. The campsite might be adorned with pink plastic flamingos, artificial grass, old-school lawn chairs, and other appropriate touches.

The 1947 Tiki Bus is one of the most popular units and just exudes fun. Other vintage RVs include a 1947 yacht, a 1955 Airstream, and ten other unique and interesting campers. Some have enclosed bathrooms, but even the on-site community bathroom/shower area feels like a time warp. Look for the nuclear fallout shelter instructions sheet in the laundry area.

Each vintage trailer has a refrigerator, but no cooking is permitted in any of them. A couple of grills are on the property. Dot's Diner serves up onion rings, burgers, omelets, milkshakes, ice cream floats, and other classic diner grub. The owners are also currently working on a historic boutique property called Gulch Hotel in the downtown Bisbee entertainment district.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Contributed by Charles, McCool Travel.

Check out the Red Rock Lavender Ranch

Distance: 3 hours 30 min • Best for: lavender, vineyard • Best season: June festival

Arizona is often thought of as a desert state with cacti and prickly pear plants. However, there are many beautiful sights to see in this region that don't involve sand. One example is the Red Rock Lavender Farm located near Concho. Besides the farm, there is a vineyard too!

The ranch has a big festival in the summer, so definitely add it to your itinerary if you are visiting during June. Red Rock Ranch was the first commercial lavender grower in the state. They began with their first field in 1998, and they now have over 35,000 plants!

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Petrified Forest National Park

Distance: 3 hours 30 min • Best for: petrified wood, Route 66 • Best season: spring and fall

This national park could be part of a weekend trip to Flagstaff or a solo trip. You’ll find amazing petrified wood and rocks in awesome shapes, sizes, and colors; some of them are truly unbelievable. Look and touch, but don’t take!

There are nice easy walks and hikes at all levels, and a historic piece of Route 66 runs through. Also, stop in at Winslow for some Eagles memories and a peek inside La Posada Hotel; they’ve got great coffee!

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit the park.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Check out my post on my visit to Petrified Forest National Park.

Chiricahua National Monument

Distance: 3 hours 30 min • Best for: hoodoos, hiking, wildlife • Best season: fall to spring

Mr. Misadventures loves his rock formations, and Chiricahua National Monument is known as the “Wonderland of Rocks” and “Land of Standing Up Rocks” because there are rocks on top of rocks on top of rocks, a photographer's dream!

There are pristine monolithic rocks, including Totem Pole, the Mushroom, and Big Balanced Rock. It also has 17 miles of day-use hiking trails beside the 8-mile scenic drive. It is a bit out of the way, but that only means you have unspoiled views and tons of wildlife like javelinas, wild turkeys, deer, and maybe, if you are lucky, the elusive coatimundi.

There is a unique ecosystem here as the park sits at the intersection of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, the southern Rocky Mountains, and the northern Sierra Madres in Mexico. If you are interested in learning more about pioneer life, there is a homestead, the Faraway Ranch, that offers daily tours of the house. There are campgrounds there and picnic tables as well.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Imperial Sand Dunes

Distance: 3 hours 30 min • Best for: off-road adventure, film scenery • Best season: fall to spring

If you love off-road vehicles like dune buggies, ATVs, or dirt bikes, then a trip to the Imperial Sand Dunes is well worth the drive. They are the perfect day trip from Phoenix or a great stop on your drive from San Diego to Phoenix. These are the largest sand dunes in California and stretch for about 40 miles through the desert.

The closest towns are Brawley, CA, and Yuma, AZ, where you can rent a dune buggy for the day. If you’ve never been off-roading, then you may want to take an ATV or dune buggy riding tour instead of heading out on your own. This will include all the equipment and permits you need; you’ll have a knowledgeable guide showing you around while you’re there.

If you choose to go the DIY route, then you’ll have to purchase your own permit. Currently, permits are required from October 1 to April 15. Purchase them ahead of time as they are much cheaper when you purchase in advance!

If the thought of off-roading makes you a little nervous, then you can also explore the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness. No vehicle traffic is allowed in this section, and you can walk among the tallest dunes in the area. There are no labeled trails, though, since these are shifting sand dunes. For a fun adventure outdoors, the Imperial Sand Dunes are a must!

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Contributed by Chelsey from Chelsey Explores

Soak that body in the Verde River Hot Springs

Distance: 2 hours 45 min • Best for: hot springs, soaking • Best season: fall to spring

Nothing better after a day of exploring than soaking those muscles in a mineral hot spring! The Verde River Hot Springs is an excellent place to soak up the sun and relax.

Around 20 miles east of Camp Verde, you will find a natural spring or hot mineral water source that has been preserved since ancient times. Also, you can see ruins left behind from a former resort built in 1884 by miners and American Indians, as well as an old bathhouse that is now a historical landmark.

Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Drive Route 66 and See the Burros in Oatman

Distance: 3 hours 30 min • Best for: Route 66, wild burros, ghost town • Best season: fall to spring

There are some great Route 66 stops accessible as day trips from Phoenix, but one of my favorites is Oatman. It's a historic mining town in the Black Mountains (some curvy roads to get there!).

The unique thing about this town is its sense of humor. They have an annual Oatman Sidewalk Egg Frying Contest where – you guessed it – it's so hot they fry eggs!

And the other quirky thing is its burros. These prized but ornery citizens are sons and daughters of the original inhabitants – working mules that hauled loads from the mines. They hang around town, and you can feed them and photograph them as you visit. The town is inhabited, and the locals are friendly.

Distance from Phoenix: 4 hours.

Grand Canyon National Park

Distance: 3 hours 30 min to 4 hours • Best for: bucket list views, hiking • Best season: spring and fall

The Grand Canyon is Arizona’s main attraction and likely something you want to see in more than just a day. But it absolutely can be done as a day trip from Phoenix. It may be a long day, but you can do it!

You can hike, bike, camp, picnic, or have a meal at the lodge. For longer visits, you can take the train from Williams, stay at the lodge, go river rafting, and go on longer hiking excursions. The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is worth checking off the list.

For a longer trip with fewer people, think about visiting the North Rim, it is pretty spectacular as well.

I recommend having a National Park Pass to visit.

If you don't feel like driving, you can take a day trip tour from Phoenix/Scottsdale that will pick you up at your hotel and take you back.

Distance from Phoenix: 4 hours.

Coal Mine Canyon

Distance: 4 hours • Best for: colorful badlands, photography • Best season: spring and fall

Coal Mine Canyon is located in the Painted Desert outside of Tuba City. Its remote, dirt-road location means you will have stunning rock formations – hoodoos and spires – all to yourself.

There are no real signs pointing the way; you need directions and to know where you are going. Since it lies within the Navajo Nation, you will need to obtain a permit before visiting the canyon (though I think the vast majority of people don't need to). You can get one from the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation website or at the Visitor Center in Cameron.

One of the best hikes is to hike down, as long as you book a tour with a Hopi Guide (the site sits on the Navajo/Hopi border). The colors are phenomenal oranges, reds, and black from the coal – a lot of people attribute the colors and formations to Bryce Canyon. This spot has not been seen or experienced by very many people and is well worth the adventure to seek it out.

Distance from Phoenix: 4 hours.

Page – Gateway to Recreation

Distance: 4.5 hours • Best for: Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell • Best season: spring and fall

One of the best road trips from Phoenix is to the city of Page. This town is filled with incredible landscapes, including Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell.

One of the most frequently asked questions when visiting this region is whether to experience Upper Antelope Canyon or Lower Antelope Canyon. I feel like everyone should experience both. The two canyons differ in shape and lighting. Upper Antelope Canyon is narrow at the top and wider at the bottom, while Lower Antelope Canyon is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. This provides two wonderfully different experiences.

Another great area to explore is the world-famous Horseshoe Bend. People all over the world come to Page just to get a glimpse of this canyon. The trail is 1.3 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 200 feet. The path is extremely easy and is very crowded. Luckily, the area for viewing Horseshoe Bend is vast, so you won't feel like it is too crowded. A great way to enjoy this area is to watch either the sunrise or the sunset.

Distance from Phoenix: 4 hours.

Contributed by Michelle Stelly of The Wandering Queen, photo provided by me.

Cross the Historic Navajo Bridge over Marble Canyon

Distance: 4.5 hours • Best for: canyon views, condors • Best season: spring and fall

Take a stroll across the historic Navajo Bridge for spectacular views of Marble Canyon’s reddish limestone walls. The 9th-highest bridge in the United States, the Navajo Bridge consists of two steel arches spanning the Colorado River at a dizzying height of 470 feet.

Constructed in 1929, the first Navajo Bridge was eventually replaced with a more modern structure in 1995. Today, visitors can walk across the original bridge span while admiring the canyon views and the majestic California condors soaring overhead.

Located 4 hours north of Phoenix on Highway 89A, the bridge is just one of many scenic wonders on the Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Highway. Stretching from Bitter Springs, Arizona, to Kanab, Utah, this scenic road parallels a spectacular shelf of towering walls that form Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

After crossing the bridge, be sure to continue west along the scenic highway to get the best views of these impressive red cliffs.

For more information about the bridge and the area’s history, be sure to stop at the Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center on the western side of the canyon. Additional attractions in the area include Old Cliff Dwellers Lodge and Stone House, as well as some unusual rock formations.

Lee’s Ferry is also located nearby on the banks of the Colorado River. It’s the only place in Marble Canyon where visitors can drive to the river’s edge. Lee’s Ferry provides swimming and fishing access as well as a campground and miles of hiking trails.

Distance from Phoenix: 4 hours.

Contributed by Katy Shaw of A Rambling Unicorn.

Walk the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West

Distance: 4 hours 30 minutes • Best for: the glass Skywalk, Hualapai culture • Best season: spring and fall

Completely separate from the South Rim, Grand Canyon West sits on Hualapai land and is home to the famous Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that juts out 70 feet over the canyon with a 4,000-foot drop beneath your feet. Beyond the thrill, you can soak up the views from Guano Point and Eagle Point and learn about Hualapai traditions.

It is a long way out, roughly four and a half hours, so I would treat it as a very early start or pair it with an overnight rather than rushing there and back. Admission is tiered, with the Skywalk as an add-on.

Distance from Phoenix: 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Get Your Cowboy on at Arizona Rodeos

Distance: Varies • Best for: rodeo lovers, families • Best season: year-round

Rodeos are a year-round activity in Arizona. Depending on the time of year you are in Phoenix, you can catch several truly entertaining, tried-and-true cowboy (and girl!) rodeos nearby or as a day trip. Catch the oldest in Prescott in June or the other oldest in Payson in May. Or Tucson in February or Scottsdale in March. Wild West is fun for everyone!

Distance from Phoenix: varies.

Bonus tease: Just Under an Hour from Phoenix

This last one sits just inside the city’s back door rather than out on the open road, but it is such a beloved quick escape that it earns a spot. If you are looking for more ideas this close to home, I have a whole separate guide to 70+ things to do in Phoenix, covering everything within about an hour of the city.

Float the Lower Salt River

Distance: Just under an hour, about 40 minutes • Best for: tubing, kayaking, wild horses • Best season: summer

In the summer, this is my favorite way to cool off. The Lower Salt River northeast of Mesa is made for lazy tubing and easy kayaking, with outfitters renting tubes and running shuttles from roughly May through September. Even outside tubing season, it is worth the short drive to look for the famous wild horses that graze along the banks, along with bald eagles and great blue herons.

Distance from Phoenix: just under an hour.

Frequently Asked Questions About Day Trips from Phoenix

What is the closest day trip from Phoenix?

The Apache Trail is the closest true day trip at about an hour, with a scenic drive, a stop at Goldfield Ghost Town, and boating on Canyon Lake. If you want something even closer, the Lower Salt River is just under an hour away and perfect for summer tubing and spotting wild horses.

What is the best day trip from Phoenix?

Sedona is the most popular and, for most first-timers, the best. It is about two hours north and offers world-famous red rocks, hiking for all levels, vortex sites, wineries, and great restaurants. If you want one trip that shows off Arizona at its most beautiful, choose Sedona.

How far is Sedona from Phoenix?

Sedona is about two hours north of Phoenix, roughly 115 miles up Interstate 17. It is an easy drive and one of the most scenic in the state, so leave time for viewpoint stops along the way and try to arrive early to beat the crowds at popular trailheads.

How far is the Grand Canyon from Phoenix?

The Grand Canyon South Rim is about three and a half to four hours from Phoenix, roughly 230 miles. It is doable as a long day trip if you leave by 5 or 6 in the morning, but staying overnight in Tusayan or Flagstaff makes it far more relaxed.

What is the prettiest town near Phoenix?

Sedona wins for sheer scenery, thanks to its red-rock setting. For old-world charm, historic Jerome, clinging to the hillside, and Prescott, with its courthouse square, are both gorgeous. If you want pine forest and cooler air, Pine and Strawberry are lovely small mountain towns.

What is the best time of year for day trips from Phoenix?

Fall through spring is ideal for desert destinations, when temperatures are comfortable. In summer, head for elevation instead: Flagstaff, the Mogollon Rim, Prescott, and the Coconino National Forest all stay cooler. Plan water trips like the Salt River and Slide Rock for the hottest months.

Not bad for 2 years of day trips (of course, you'll notice I had a few friends share some of their recommendations for spots I haven't been to yet or don't have photos of), and can you believe there's more to discover? I will keep adding to this collection as I find new spots, and hopefully, you will help me add to this list as well!

Visiting the Valley of the Sun gives you plenty of opportunities for short day trips from Phoenix, and this list of more than 70 proves it!

If you want my FULL Phoenix and Tucson Travel Planner with day trips and things to do in Phoenix and Tucson, it is available for $4.99.

If you are planning any day trips or road trips from Phoenix, you may want to check out these posts as well. I am certain they will come in handy!

Things to do in Phoenix – all the activities I didn't mention in this post, as they are under 1 hour, including trips to Camelback Mountain, the botanical gardens, and more.
What to do in Phoenix in the Summertime
Phoenix’s Best Ice Cream
Best Tamales in Phoenix
Hotel recommendations: Mountain Shadows Resort, The Hermosa Inn, and Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

And of course, here are 7 things to bring on any trip to Phoenix!

How about you? Have you taken any of these Phoenix day trips and have something to share? Do you have a new day trip from Phoenix that is within 1-4 hours away? Do share!

Don't forget to pin this for later!

Share now!

62 Comments

Tammy says:

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WOW!! Lots of day trips in the Phoenix area. We love to take day trips here in Florida too. So much to see in the US.

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Alli Smith says:

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I’m amazed at the variety of day trips from Phoenix! I see several places I’d like to visit, including touring that mission. I need to add a trip to Arizona to my travel bucket list. The views are stunning!

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Tee says:

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I love day trips and the ones featured on this post makes me want to visit Phoenix asap! The Grand Canyon looks majestic! Thanks for the ideas 🙂

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Amber Myers says:

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I just love this list! I will have to get to Phoenix one day. It’s been ages since I’ve been to Arizona. It’s gorgeous there.

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Jeanette says:

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There’s so much to see in that state! I have been to a couple of them and I can definitely say the beauty is overwhelming. I can’t wait to see more things in that state.

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Jenn@Engineermommy says:

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Your photographs of all the natural beauty in the Phoenix region are mesmerizing. I would love to take a trip out there and experience some of these!

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Ali Rost says:

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I had no idea the number of different things there are to do in and around Phoenix! My husband worked on the railroad for 25 years, so you can bet taking a ride on Verde Canyon Railroad would be the very first thing on our list. xx

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Elizabeth R Rose says:

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A great list. I shared this to my Western US Travel FB page. I just returned from 24 hours in Tucson and am writing an article by the same name for WanderWithWonder.com I only did a couple of things on your list and am certainly interested in more!

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Ice Cream n Sticky Fingers says:

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My parents and sisters were able to experience a trip to the Grand Canyon. I was older and wasn’t able to go. I’ve seen photos and I’m sure photos do it no justice. I’ve traveled to a bunch of states over the years but haven’t go to the far west/west coast. It’s on my bucket list and hopefully I can go one day. There are a few spots I’d love to check out in person.

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Pam says:

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There are so many great things to see around Phoenix! I have always wanted to go to Arizona.

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Tasheena says:

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Phoenix is on my list of places to visit. Looking forward to seeing some of these places in person.

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Ruth I says:

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You must have your SPFs ready for a kind of trip like this. Phoenix is the best place to experience outdoor adventures. I’d love to pay a visit sometime.

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Beth says:

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Wow, I had no idea that there were so many beautiful and different types of scenery near Phoenix. This makes me want to spend a couple of months there.

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Rena says:

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What a great list of places to visit! I’ve been to the Grand Canyon & Sedona but I haven’t been to Pheonix yet, but I am definitely adding it to my list!

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Heather |The Spicy Apron says:

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As an Arizona native (one of the few!) I can say you did a fabulous job! All great places you picked!!

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Cat says:

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So many of these places are on my list! Just need to get back to Arizona now 🙂

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Terri Steffes says:

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We don’t visit Phoenix a lot, but I am in love wit these day trips. My son-in-law has a client there. I’ll send the list to him.

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Catherine @ To & Fro Fam says:

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Andi, your posts are always so thorough and helpful! I’m taking the whole fam to Phoenix in February so can’t wait to explore the area around your city. Thanks again for all the great ideas for day trips from Phoenix!

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Natasha L says:

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What an incredible post! When I think of Arizona I think of the Grand Canyon but there is clearly so much more to see! Devil’s Bridge Trail looks beautiful. I’m often debating about where my next domestic trip should be, and Arizona has just moved way up on the list. Thanks for the inspiration, totally hanging onto this guide for future reference.

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Cris F says:

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I’d love to visit Phoenix soon, the whole SW US really. It’s such a unique landscape from my native sub-tropical Florida! These are lots of great day trips to help in the planning of that trip.

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Josy A says:

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Wowza! This must have taken you aaages! What an amazing collection of places to visit! I have never even been to Phoenix, but now I have a zillion things to see nearby! As always, you have so many stunning photos.

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April says:

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OK this is an awesome list, so many places to add to my goal travel! We traveled through AZ this summer but hardly made enough stops … Yay for more ideas!

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Laura says:

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This is such an extensive collection of places to visit!! Thanks for writing this guide!! Is very useful and all these places are fantastic!

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Co says:

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Wow, I honestly didn’t expect there would be so many awesome things to do in this area. Thanks for sharing!

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Ann says:

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If I could choose from you list if things to do, my favorite would most definatly be Wine Tasting in Cottonwood or vising Flagstaff, that seems right up my alley 😀

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Lindz says:

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I’ve never been to Phoenix or anywhere in Arizona but WOW so many of these adventures has been dying to go! I can’t believe the natural beauty that surrounds the area. It’s incredible!!

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Rowena says:

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Been bidding my time to win the antelope canyon lottery. So mesmerizingly beautiful. Got super lucky with Havauspai falls this year, maybe next year will be antelope canyon!

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Jyoti says:

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Hi Andi, I read your blog title and couldn’t believe there could be 50 day trips from Phoenix. I’ve been to Phoenix several times and visited many of these sites. It’s great to know that I can come many more times and still have lots more to see and do.

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Aga says:

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Taking day trips from my main destination is something I try to do most of the time I travel to a new place. Whether it’s abroad or in the US. There are just so many amazing places outside of the major cities, and now I know that Phoenix has a crazy amount of cool spots to visit. I only got a chance to visit Grand Canyon, so I have many more on the list now. So much variety too.

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Alex T says:

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Great list! I’ve done about 90% of the list and the rest I’ve saved as stuff to do in the near future so thanks for the ideas!

I’d also recommend taking a look at “London Bridge” at Lake Havasu. Supposedly it’s the original London Bridge brought over from London 100 years back or so. Really nice bridge and you get a day trip to Lake Havasu city too.

Parker Dam is also on the way there. Neat little Dam you can drive across.

I’d also recommend stopping by the “Center of the World” near Yuma, It’s an in progress history of mankind etched into Marble slabs as a sort of end of the world encyclopedia. It’s also written in multiple languages and there’s a small modern pyramid there as well. Eerie and really interesting to walk around and look at!

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kmf says:

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Wow…this is a fabulous list to use as a travel guide!

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Bree says:

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So much to see and do in day trips. I have managed only a couple when in the states all those years ago. The Grand Canyon was amazing and we did a flight over it. As you go past the edge the plane dropped and boy did I think that was going to be my last flight. I nearly kissed the ground when I landed lol. Your photos are gorgeous x

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Linda (LD Holland) says:

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We had a few days in Phoenix and then Tuscon and saw some of these spots. But this post reminds me that there is so much more for me to see on a return visit. I would love to spend more time in the water on our next visit and visit one or more of the lakes and parks. The old Mission towns were also something we are sorry we missed. And these space and air geeks have a few spots now on our to-do list!

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Sarah says:

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Wow! Phoenix looks so picturesque! I really want to go there and tick off everything from your list 🙂

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Donald L. Norris says:

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Wife and I are heading to AZ soon for a two week vacation(Oct 20). Of course we’ve explored all the travel books and set (relative word) an itinerary, but this side trips page is icing on the cake. From Tucson to Phoenix to Jerome to the Grand Canyon and points east then south we are looking for a great adventure

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Megan says:

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This is a great list! I love that there is so much to do in Arizona, and you can feel like you’ve gone to a whole new place in a matter of hours!

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Taylor says:

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All of these day trips are amazing! I still need to get to the Phoenix area when I return to Arizona. It’s such a beautiful state! I loved visited Sedona, Page and Grand Canyon this past summer. 🙂

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Krista says:

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Great list of day trips! I haven’t been to Phoenix yet but I’ll be sure to stay a bit longer when I plan my trip so I can visit some of these places.

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Elizabeth says:

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So I just had to stop and say thanks for making me smile today. I saw the burros in this post and it reminded me of one of the last times we spent with my dad before he passed away last November. He and my mom had gone to Arizona and had apparently gone to see these burros but had never told us about it. We were all sitting outside one afternoon and he started telling us about all these donkeys and we thought he was totally crazy! We were teasing him until he finally got up, marched inside, and came out with a bunch of pictures he had printed out after their trip… of tons of donkeys! He yelled at my sister and I for teasing him and we all had a crazy laugh. I hadn’t thought of that time until I saw your donkey pin on this post. So thanks for the smile. Maybe we’ll go visit the burros someday!

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1. Andi Fisher says:
  
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  @Elizabeth, I am so glad that this post elicited a good memory for you. The donkeys really are a trip to watch. Especially if you go “off-season” when there aren’t a lot of folks around it is more donkeys than people which was the case for one of the times I went there!
  
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Nidia says:

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Such an amazing post! I love your photos, never new knew about this but now it is going in my bucket list! Saved on pinterest for later 😀

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Planet Hopper Girl says:

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Wow! This a huge list. And your pictures are amazing. When I plan a trip to Arizona next time will surely switch to this blog rather than googling. Thanks for sharing!!

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Demi says:

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Wow! Such an interesting post. Love the whole adventure. Will share this with my friends. Thanks for sharing.

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Shelbs says:

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The ruins at Casa Grande look amazing! We’re planning another Southwest trip so I’m definitely adding that to our list for the road trip!

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Karen says:

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Quite an impressive list. I’ve been to Phoenix over a dozen times to explore and there are still lots of things on this list I’d love to do. So well curated and the photos make it all so inviting.

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Inas says:

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So much to do in Arizona and didn’t realize it! gotta make my way out!

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Lauree says:

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The Apache Trail is and has been closed indefinitely from the Phoenix (Tortilla Flats ) end. You cannot drive on the Apache trail from Tortillas Flats past the Apache Lake to Roosevelt Lake. There was a fire in 2018 and then in 2019 a landslide that took out part of the trail.

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1. Andi Fisher says:
  
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  @Lauree, yep that’s why I made a not underneath that item, thanks for the additional confirmation!
  
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Robbie Jay Dyer says:

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You should also look up Out of Africa wildlife park. It’s a very cool place to visit.

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Tara Pittman says:

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So many places that I want to visit. I will add most to my list next time I travel to Phoenix.

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melissa chapman says:

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I never knew there was so much to do in the Phoenix area and there are so many truly magnificent places and scenary. Who needs to go international when all this beauty is here in the US.

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Marysa says:

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There are so many great places to see in Arizona. I’ve been to some of these before. It is nice to have so many options.

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Louisa says:

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There is a lot of activities to explore on the road trip

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Richelle Escat says:

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Wow, this is a very detailed and long list! Watson lake is so gorgeous. I love it.

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Scarlett Brooklyn says:

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I didn’t know most of these places, glad you shared it.

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Catalina says:

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wow! Phoenix is the beauty around the corner! I hope to visit it one day!

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Ivan M. Jose says:

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Wow, there are so many things that you can do around Phoenix. I wouldn’t know where to start but I want to see the Apache Trail if ever I’d have to choose just one.

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MELANIE EDJOURIAN says:

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I’ve never thought about visiting Phoenix before or the surrounding areas. It sounds like there are plenty of things for the whole family to enjoy nearby.

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Jasmine Hewitt says:

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this is the most in-depth Phoenix guide I’ve seen! had no idea there was so much to do

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Everything Enchanting says:

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What a detailed post! I’ve bookmarked it for future reference 😉 Great shots, hun 😍

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Tasheena says:

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This post is really informative, I would love to visit Phoenix.

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Rach says:

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Wow, those are all wonderful selections of places to visit someday and all of them are beautiful areas as well. Thanks for sharing this informative post with us.

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Table of Contents

Best day trips from Phoenix between 1 and 2 hours

Drive Along the Apache Trail (Tortilla Flat)

Get Your Swim on at Saguaro Lake

Lake Pleasant Regional Park

Learn a little Cowboy History in Wickenburg

Hassayampa River Preserve

Experience the Sonoran Desert

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Dig Into Mining History in Globe

Escape to the Pines in Payson

Cool off in the Coconino National Forest

Go Wine Tasting in Cottonwood

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

Saguaro National Park

Mission San Xavier del Bac

Best day trips from Phoenix between 2 and 3 hours

Visit the Pine Creek Canyon Lavender Farm

Slow Down in Pine and Strawberry

Tonto Cliff Dwellings National Monument

Take a Ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad

Tuzigoot National Monument and Dead Horse State Park

Shop, Eat, and get Spooked in Jerome

Visit Watson Lake and Whiskey Row in Prescott

Check out the beautiful Red Rock Formations in Sedona

Drive Through Oak Creek Canyon

Drive Along the Red Rock Scenic Byway

Slide Rock State Park

Mogollon Rim

Take on Tucson

Prepare for Takeoff at the Pima Air & Space Museum

Tucson Mountain Park

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area

Titan Missile Museum

Biosphere 2

Take an Iconic Photo at Devil's Bridge Trail

Pipe Organ National Monument

Visit Flagstaff for the Day

Cool Off at Fossil Creek

Go Fishing, Swimming, or Boating at Alamo Lake

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Montezuma Well National Monument

Spelunk at Kartchner Caverns State Park

Hiking the Catalina Mountains

Sonoita

Catch the Heber Horses

Kitt Peak National Observatory

Meteor Crater Natural Landmark

Seligman

Ride the Rails and Meet the Bears in Williams

Fill up on Wild West History in Tombstone

Sunset Crater National Monument

Wupatki National Monument

Mount Lemmon

Experience some California Gold Rush Arizona-style in Yuma

Visit the Quirky Mining Town of Bisbee

Wilcox Wine Country

Day trips from Phoenix between 3 and 4 hours

Castle Dome Mines Museum and Ghost Town

Joshua Tree National Park (California)

Lake Havasu

The Shady Dell

Check out the Red Rock Lavender Ranch

Petrified Forest National Park

Chiricahua National Monument

Imperial Sand Dunes

Soak that body in the Verde River Hot Springs

Drive Route 66 and See the Burros in Oatman

Grand Canyon National Park

Coal Mine Canyon

Page – Gateway to Recreation

Cross the Historic Navajo Bridge over Marble Canyon

Walk the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West

Get Your Cowboy on at Arizona Rodeos

Bonus tease: Just Under an Hour from Phoenix

Float the Lower Salt River

Frequently Asked Questions About Day Trips from Phoenix

What is the closest day trip from Phoenix?