Phoenix Day Trip – Verde Canyon Railroad

All aboard! You know I couldn't resist. Both Mr. Misadventures and I stumbled onto the Verde Canyon Railroad from different directions. He found it while scouting locations for photography, and I read about it in a regional magazine that called it one of the best train rides in the country. When two paths cross like that, you take it as a sign, so we planned a day trip up from Phoenix to see what all the fuss was about.

It turned out to be one of my favorite easy escapes from the desert, and I've wanted to go back in every season ever since. Here is everything you need to plan your own ride, from tickets and drive times to the best seat on the train, plus how to turn it into a full day around Clarkdale, Cottonwood, and Jerome.

The Verde Canyon Railroad in a nutshell

The Verde Canyon Railroad is a four-hour, 40-mile round-trip scenic train that runs between Clarkdale and Perkinsville through a stretch of red rock canyon you cannot reach any other way except by rail or on foot. It sits about 30 minutes from Sedona and under two hours from Phoenix; every ticket comes with both an indoor seat and open-air viewing car access, and trains sell out most days, so book ahead. If you want the short answer to “is it worth it,” yes, it absolutely is.

How to get to the Verde Canyon Railroad

You board the train in Clarkdale, a few minutes past the Jerome turnoff on 89A. From the Phoenix area, it is roughly an hour and 45 minutes to two hours by car, and from Sedona it is a quick trip of about 30 minutes, since Clarkdale sits only around 23 miles west. That makes it an easy day trip whether you are staying in Phoenix, Scottsdale, or the Sedona area.

Address: 300 N Broadway

Trains usually depart in the early afternoon, and the long-standing standard departure is 1:00 p.m., but times shift by season and for special events, so check the current schedule before you go. They sell out nearly every day, so it's best to plan ahead and book your tickets in advance. If you are pairing the train with other stops, there are plenty of ideas in the day trip section further down.

Tickets and what's included

Here's what's changed since I first rode: ticketing has been simplified. A standard ticket is now a single all-ages fare, currently $139, and it already includes both a reserved seat in a climate-controlled car with big panoramic windows and unlimited access to the open-air viewing car connected to it. The railroad calls this “two seats for one price,” and it is genuinely the best part of the setup. When you pick up your tickets, you are assigned to a named railway car (ours was the Tucson, which delighted us because we love Tucson).

There are still premium and private options to look for when you book, like the private caboose charter and the various special-event trains throughout the year, and pricing on those varies. Because the fare structure has been updated, always double-check the current rates and options on the official site before you buy. The train does sell snacks and drinks on board, and even ice cream on the return trip, but given our low-carb lifestyle, we packed our own lunch and picnicked at the depot beforehand. The depot has outdoor tables, a store, a small museum, a restaurant, and a snack bar.

What to do before the train: Tuzigoot National Monument

Because we are morning people and the train does not leave until the afternoon, we explored the area first. With our national park pass in hand, we headed to Tuzigoot National Monument, which is only about 5 minutes from the depot. Tuzigoot is the preserved remains of 12th-century high desert Sinagua Indian dwellings sitting right next to the Verde River, and it is well worth an hour of your morning.

Between 1100 and 1425 AD, the Sinagua occupied the Verde Valley. They built pueblos up and down the river, traded with each other, and banded together in defense for 300 years. Then they disappeared. And nobody knows why. You walk a short trail from the visitor center up to a three-story dwelling with sweeping valley views, and a volunteer ranger filled us in on the history and pointed out other Verde Valley ruins. He told us the very best time to visit is in the fall when the foliage is turning. It is very brief, but according to the ranger, exceptionally beautiful.

Mr. Misadventures, ever the photographer, wanted a better angle on the ruins. We struck out looking for an elevated vantage point, and even the rangers didn't know how to access the hills surrounding the park, so we headed back to the depot for lunch. Do not worry, we cracked that photo puzzle later, and I share exactly where to go in the day trip section below.

Verde Canyon Railroad does sell snacks and drinks on the train, and even ice cream on the return trip. But given our low-carb lifestyle, we packed our own lunch and picnicked at the depot. The depot has nice outdoor tables, a store, a museum, a full restaurant, and a snack bar.

All aboard: boarding and a little train history

We purchased a coach class ticket (there are first class, caboose, and locomotive ride-along tickets as well). When you pick up your Verde Canyon Railroad tickets, you are assigned to a climate-controlled railway car (ours was the Tucson, which is cool because we love Tucson).

The docents welcomed us aboard, walked us through the cars, and gave a quick safety talk. The interiors are well maintained with comfortable seating. The trains first began running in 1912 to link the copper smelter at Clarkdale with the copper mines up in Jerome, the historic mining town in the hills that is now so popular to visit.

The Santa Fe Railway owned the tracks until 1988, when a private citizen named David L. Durbano bought the line and reopened the run between Clarkdale at milepost 38 and Perkinsville at milepost 18. That is how you get the 40-mile round trip. The train takes about two hours to reach Perkinsville, where the FP7 locomotive is turned around, and then it retraces the whole route back through the Verde Valley.

One thing I can say for sure is that the docents are fabulous. We had Michael, and he was so knowledgeable about the area's history. We pummeled him with questions about what to visit, his recommendations, and his Native American drumming.

Jerome is another fun place to visit in the hills above Clarkdale. It is a historic mine that has been well preserved for tourism and is quite popular to visit. You can see it in the hills here:

The Santa Fe Railway owned the tracks and trains until 1988, when a private citizen, David L. Durbano, bought it and reopened the line between Clarkdale at milepost 38 and Perkinsville at milepost 18. So the route is 40 miles round trip.

The ride and which side of the train to sit on

The area the train travels through is practically untouched and absolutely gorgeous. Between the unusual rock formations and the historic trestles, the open-air viewing cars are just a wonderful way to see it all. The only way into this stretch of canyon is by train or on foot, and from the train you get to see everything. Every car has its own outdoor car connected to it, so there is plenty of room, and you never have to fight for space. On our ride, we spotted eagles and hawks, and even javelinas down along the river.

A question I get asked a lot is which side of the train to sit on. Because every ticket includes the open-air car, you can move over and take in both sides, which honestly makes the whole debate a bit moot. But if you want to claim an inside window seat, many riders say the right side heading out from Clarkdale gives you the best views of the river and canyon walls, and then the left side shines on the way back. My real advice is to spend as much of the trip as you can standing in the open-air car with your camera ready.don't have to fight for space.

Mr. Misadventures had enough room to use his big lens while everyone else used their own cameras and cell phones.

The best time of year to ride

The short answer: late winter and early spring are my favorites. The vegetation is just starting to bloom, and you can see the wide expanse of trees along the river without anything obstructing your view. In late spring, summer, and into fall, the foliage fills in and covers more of the river. That is not to say fall foliage isn't gorgeous; I have seen the photos to prove it, but it is simply a different look, and the route covers so much more than the river that your views of the rock formations and the rest of the canyon are always spectacular. If you are local, it truly behooves you to go more than once.

As for summer, I am not sure I would love the open-air car in the height of the heat, but the indoor cars are air-conditioned with panoramic windows, so if you are not chasing photographs, summer is still a fine time to ride.

During our trip, we saw eagles and hawks as well as javelinas. Late winter/early spring is the perfect time to go because the vegetation is just starting to bloom and you can see the wide expanse of trees along the river without obstructing your view.

I'm not sure I would love to be in the outdoor car in the height of summer, but the indoor cars are air-conditioned with panoramic windows, so if you aren't interested in photography, the summer is still a good time to ride.

Special events on the Verde Canyon Railroad

Beyond the regular daily ride, the railroad runs themed trains throughout the year, and they are worth building a trip around. My favorite is Ales on Rails. On Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in late September and October, the railroad offers an ale tasting with an optional lunch at the depot, so you can sample local Arizona ales and craft beers right before you hop aboard. So fun.

The current seasonal lineup also includes the Chocolate Lovers' Festival in February, the Uncorked wine festival in spring, the Grape Train Escape wine tastings across summer into fall, Saturday Starlight rides, and the Magical Christmas Journey in late November and December. Dates and themes shift a little each year, so check the schedule when you plan.

The turnaround at Perkinsville

When we reached Perkinsville, it took a few minutes to reverse the locomotive. It looks like there used to be a station here, because abandoned buildings are evidence of that. Why not rebuild the station and give people a 30 to 45 minute break to wander, grab a coffee, a beer, or an ice cream, learn a little history, and buy a t-shirt before getting back on board? That is what I would do. But alas, no one asked me.

The return trip and golden hour

The ride back is lovely because as you approach Clarkdale, you hit the golden hour for photos. Mr. Misadventures and I just sat back and enjoyed the breezy ride and the vibrant scenery. This canyon is nicknamed the Little Grand Canyon because the red rock sandstone formations look so much like the bigger, more famous version. There are caves, tunnels, and bridges, and lots and lots of beautiful red rock to take in the whole way home.

The canyon is called the Little Grand Canyon because the red rock sandstone formations look very much like the bigger, more famous version. There are caves, tunnels, and bridges, and lots and lots of beautiful red rocks to see.

We enjoyed this train trip and plan to take it during every season so we can enjoy the differences. It is great for families and friends visiting Arizona. It's clean, well-run, with great docents. From the moment you step on the train to the end of your trip, you will have a good time!

Going first class

On one of our trips, we splurged on a first-class car with complimentary champagne and elevated food, and it was such a treat. There was even a marriage proposal followed by a champagne toast on that ride, which was incredibly romantic. If you want to celebrate something special, look into the premium and private car experiences when you book, since these options change over time.

What to bring

A few things to pack: sunscreen, a hat (though you may need to hold onto it in the open-air car), and PSI bands if you are prone to motion sickness. I forgot mine once and truly regretted it, so learn from my mistake. A light layer is smart too, because the open-air car can get breezy, especially in the cooler months.

Make it a full day trip

The train is only half the fun. To make a proper day of it, have breakfast in Cottonwood, that cute little wine town, visit Tuzigoot National Monument, take the afternoon train, and then head back to Cottonwood for wine tasting and an early dinner. Or drive up the hill to Jerome for a meal at the Jerome Grand Hotel, where you can dine on the outdoor terrace with stunning views.

And remember that Tuzigoot photo we couldn't get? The week after our train trip, Mr. Misadventures did more digging, and the following weekend we drove out to Cottonwood, took 89A to Dead Horse Ranch State Park, and at the end of Flycatcher Road found the absolutely perfect shot of the monument. Sure would be nice if the national and state parks talked to each other and knew the local area, but we got our picture in the end.

Zoomed in:

If you are building out a bigger Arizona trip, this pairs beautifully with a stop in Sedona, a wander through historic Jerome, or another one of my favorite day trips from Phoenix. If you are heading further north, the things to do in Flagstaff guide is a great next stop.

Is the Verde Canyon Railroad worth it?

Yes, the Verde Canyon Railroad is absolutely worth it. We loved this train trip and plan to take it in every season just to enjoy the differences. It is clean, well run, and staffed by wonderful docents, and it delivers scenery you simply cannot see any other way. It is great for families, for friends visiting Arizona, and for a romantic afternoon. From the moment you step on board to the end of the trip, you are going to have a good time.

Verde Canyon Railroad FAQ

All aboard

The Verde Canyon Railroad is the kind of day that reminds me why I love exploring my own backyard. Whether you go for the wildlife, the red rock canyon, the history, or just an excuse to sit back with a cold drink and watch Arizona roll by, I do not think you will regret it. If you have ridden the rails through the Little Grand Canyon, I would love to hear which season you went and which stops you paired with it, so leave me a comment below. And if you are planning your first trip, share this post with your travel buddy and start picking your date. All aboard!

You can do this train ride in Phoenix, Scottsdale, or the Sedona area too if you are visiting. The Verde Canyon Railroad Clarkdale AZ address is 300 N Broadway.

How about you? Have you ridden the Verde Canyon train? Do you think you'd want to? Have you enjoyed another heritage train ride somewhere else? Do tell!

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