 Home / U.S. State Travel Guides / U.S. Vacations / U.S. National Parks / U.S. State Highpoints / U.S. Road Trip Planning  ARIZONA TRAVEL GUIDE
Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Arizona! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Arizona. Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I do not make any profit from this website, and you will see no ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.  OVERVIEWTOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN ARIZONABigroads.com ✮ Visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, ideally staying in a lodge or campground on or near the rim for a few nights ✮ Spend at least 3-4 days exploring the beautiful red-rock country of Sedona ✮ Take a guided tour of one or several slot canyons in Page (e.g. Lower or Upper Antelope Canyon) ✮ Explore these two amazing museums in Tucson: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the Pima Air & Space Museum ✮ Drive through the wild west scenery of Monument Valley (highway US-163) ✮ Backpack down to the marvelous waterfalls of Havasupai ✮ Hike to Horseshoe Bend near Page ✮ Take a cave tour in Kartchner Caverns State Park ✮ Go golfing at one of the 50+ golf courses in the Scottsdale area ✮ See some of the largest cactus in the country within the western section of Saguaro National Park If I could select only one place to visit in Arizona, I would choose the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Havasupai and Sedona would probably be next. For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here. 5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN ARIZONABigroads.com Northwestern Arizona (including Kingman) ✮ Hoover Dam - the most famous dam in the U.S.; several different viewpoints exist ✮ Lake Mead - famous boating spot ✮ Willow Beach Marina - famous boating spot  Northcentral and northeastern Arizona (including Page, Monument Valley, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon) ✮ Canyon de Chelly National Monument - beautiful canyons & outstanding archaeological sites; guided tours available but not required ✮ Coal Mine Canyon - gorgeous desert scenery; a Navajo or Hopi Native American guide is likely to be required ✮ Four Corners Monument - the only spot in the U.S. where four states border each other; Note: not everyone appreciates the novelty of this ✮ Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - amazing boating and hiking opportunities; includes the Lake Powell reservoir ✮ Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim - the North Rim is the quieter, less-developed side of the most famous canyon in the world ✮ Guided slot canyon tours - Navajo-guided tours of beautiful slot canyons (e.g. Lower Antelope, Upper Antelope, Canyon X, Secret Canyon) ✮ Horseshoe Bend, near Page - beautiful natural bend of the Colorado River; short hike required; one of the 10 best scenic views in the U.S. ✮ Lake Powell - famous boating spot; houseboat rentals are a popular activity ✮ Moenave Dinosaur Tracks, Tuba City - see real dinosaur tracks in the ground; Navajo guides are on site and can help point out the spots ✮ Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park - famous wild west scenery; the iconic rock formations of the American West (featured in many movies) ✮ Mystery Valley, near Monument Valley - hire a Native American guide to see beautiful desert scenery, including hidden natural arches ✮ Navajo Bridge, Marble Canyon - one of the most scenic road bridges in the U.S.; connects two dramatic canyon walls ✮ Navajo National Monument - visit an ancient Pueblo cliff village ✮ US 163 / Forrest Gump Highway - famous views of Monument Valley; if you've seen the Forrest Gump movie, you'll remember this scene ✮ Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, near Page - wild & colorful rock formations, including Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) & White Pocket ✮ Whitewater rafting the Colorado River / Grand Canyon - one of the best places on Earth for an extended whitewater rafting adventure ✮ Window Rock Tribal Park & Veteran's Memorial, Window Rock - memorial to the Navajo Code Talkers and also a large natural arch Flagstaff, Williams, and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon ✮ Bearizona Wildlife Park, Williams - one of the best drive-thru zoos in the U.S. ✮ Grand Canyon Greenway - paved path along a portion of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon; the trail also heads south to Tusayan ✮ Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim - the most famous canyon in the world; many historic lodges, hiking trailheads, and tourist services ✮ Grand Canyon Railway, Williams - take a historic railroad journey to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon ✮ Grand Falls, near Flagstaff - giant seasonal waterfalls that roar with a chocolate color after heavy rains ✮ Havasupai / Havasu Falls - features two of the top 10 waterfalls in the U.S.; permits are required (and they are very hard to obtain) ✮ Humphreys Peak - the Arizona highpoint; a challenging but rewarding day hike ✮ Lava River Cave, Flagstaff - tour an underground lava tube (bring a headlamp and sense of adventure) ✮ Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff - one of the oldest and most famous astronomical observatories in the U.S. ✮ Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - volcanic scenery ✮ Walnut Canyon National Monument, near Flagstaff - short hike to interesting cliff-dwellings and ruins (some of which you can enter) ✮ Whitewater rafting the Colorado River / Grand Canyon - one of the best places on Earth for an extended whitewater rafting adventure ✮ Wupatki National Monument, near Flagstaff - take short walks to visit several clusters of ground-level ancient ruins Eastcentral Arizona (including Holbrook & Winslow) ✮ Meteor Crater, Winslow - the largest meteor impact site in the U.S. ✮ Petrified Forest National Park - colorful badlands plus petrified wood stumps Sedona (see below for the rest of central Arizona) ✮ 4x4 driving in Sedona - drive your own vehicle or you can take one of the guided tours offered in the downtown area (e.g. Pink Jeep Tours) ✮ Airport Mesa - one of the most scenic views in one of the most scenic towns in the U.S. ✮ Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park - spiritual oasis/park with scenic views ✮ Bell Rock - one of several iconic rock formations in Sedona that you can scramble up to earn fantastic views ✮ Cathedral Rock - one of several iconic rock formations in Sedona that you can scramble up to earn fantastic views ✮ Chapel of the Holy Cross - tall church set among gorgeous red-rock scenery ✮ Crescent Moon Picnic Site - nature park with scenic views of the Sedona red-rock scenery; gorgeous at sunset ✮ Devil's Bridge - hike to a famous natural bridge; some moderate rock scrambling is required to reach the best viewpoint ✮ Downtown Sedona - famous tourist area with tons of restaurants, shops, and art galleries; make sure to take a Pink Jeep tour ✮ Mountain biking in Sedona - there are many awesome mountain biking trails in town, and the scenery is top-notch ✮ Red Rock Scenic Byway - 8-mile long scenic drive with many excellent views ✮ Slide Rock State Park - one of the best swimming holes in the U.S. ✮ Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village - popular and attractive tourist area in Sedona with many shops and art gallerties ✮ Vortex Sites - there are several "vortexes" in Sedona that are believed to facilitate meditation, mind and body healing, and creative thinking Central Arizona (including Phoenix, Prescott, and Scottsdale; see above for Sedona) ✮ Butterfly Wonderland, Scottsdale - one of the best butterfly exhibits in the U.S. ✮ Camelback Mountain, Scottsdale - famous mountain in Scottsdale; hundreds of people hike it every day ✮ Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix - excellent desert gardens ✮ Golfing in Scottsdale - many world-class golf courses to choose from ✮ Heard Museum, Phoenix - excellent American Indian art & history museum ✮ Indian Bend Wash & Camelback Greenbelt, Scottsdale - series of excellent paved cycling and walking paths ✮ Kayaking the Salt River (guided tours available) - best kayaking in central Arizona ✮ Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction - some of the best scenery in central Arizona; 30 minutes west of Phoenix ✮ McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale - beautiful desert habitat; great hiking ✮ Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde - short walk to impressive overhead cliff-dwellings ✮ Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix - widely considered the best music museum in the U.S. ✮ New River Trail - 16.5 mile paved rail trail from Glendale to Peoria ✮ Oatman - historic town with wild donkeys that roam the street (you can feed them) ✮ Out of Africa Wildlife Park, Camp Verde - one of the best wildlife parks in the U.S. ✮ Prescott Peavine National Recreation Trail - beautiful 6.0 mile unpaved rail trail in Prescott; passes by attractive Watson lake ✮ Red Rock Scenic Byway (AZ 179) - gorgeous Sedona-area scenery ✮ Taliesin West, Scottsdale - famous Frank Lloyd Wright architectural design ✮ Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, Pine - impressive natural bridge ✮ Watson Lake, Prescott - giant boulders surround this exceptionally pretty lake ✮ Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West, Scottsdale - excellent art, culture, and western history museum Southern Arizona (including Bisbee, Tombstone, and Tucson) ✮ Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson - world-renowned desert gardens plus an impressive zoo & museum ✮ Bird Cage Theatre, Tombstone - historic wild west museum; guided ghost tours ✮ Chiricahua National Monument - interesting & unusual vertical rock formations ✮ Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee - tour a copper mine ✮ Downtown Bisbee - artsy, hip town with shops and restaurants; consider tackling the Bisbee 1000 step challenge ✮ International Wildlife Museum, Tucson - see more than 400 taxidermied animals on display ✮ Kartchner Caverns State Park, Benson - excellent cave tours in one of the US's best caves; make reservations well in advance (they sell out) ✮ Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson - historic Spanish Catholic mission ✮ Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway, Tucson - rewarding scenic drive near Tucson (although the top is anti-climatic) ✮ O.K. Corral, Tombstone - historic gunfight site ✮ Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - US/Mexico border scenery plus impressive cactus ✮ Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson - one of the finest aviation museums in the U.S. ✮ Rattlesnake Bridge, Tucson - highway bridge in the shape of a giant rattlesnake; one of Arizona's best "roadside attractions" ✮ Saguaro National Park - see the highest concentration of saguaro cactus in the U.S.: the park has two separate districts (East and West) ✮ Titan Missile Museum, Green Valley - guided tours of a Cold War-era ICBM missile silo ✮ Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson - beautiful gardens ✮ Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, Yuma - historic prison tours Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Arizona? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com. For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links: CA | CO | NM | NV | UT BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN ARIZONANorthern Arizona ✮ Flagstaff - a medium-sized, high-elevation city with access to nearby mountains that offer great hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities ✮ Page - a small city with access to exceptional desert scenery and boating/kayaking on Lake Powell; guided slot canyon tours are offered ✮ Williams - a small town with Route 66 history and several family-friendly attractions; gateway to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon ✮ Winslow - a small town famous for its "standing on a corner" statue (a great photo opp of the famous lyrics by The Eagles) Central Arizona ✮ Jerome - a small town famous for its historic buildings and mining history; there are a few boutique shops here as well ✮ Lake Havasu City - a small city known for the London Bridge; the "Jet Ski capital of the world"; a popular boating and spring break spot ✮ Oatman - a tiny town famous for its historic tourist district and wild burros (donkeys) that roam in the streets ✮ Prescott - a small city with a historic downtown that has several bars dubbed "Whiskey Row"; great scenery at Watson Lake ✮ Sedona - a gorgeous desert town that is world-famous for its red rock desert scenery; this destination town has outstanding outdoor activities (e.g. 4x4 driving, hiking, mountain biking, hot air ballooning, etc.); it's also famous for its New Age centers, vortexes, spas, tourist shops and art galleries ✮ Scottsdale - a large and beautiful desert city with upscale resorts and shopping areas, many golf courses, plus awesome nature preserves and hiking trails Southern Arizona ✮ Bisbee - a small town that is famous for its historic buildings, attractive tourist district, and its copper mining history ✮ Tombstone - a small town known for its Wild West history; the town survives on tourism and has many shops, attractions, and museums ✮ Tucson - a major city famous for its excellent museums, botanical gardens, and access to nearby scenic drives and nature preserves/parks My favorite city in Arizona is Scottsdale - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there My favorite small town/city in northern Arizona is Page - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there My favorite small town/city in central Arizona is Sedona - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 4-5 nights there My favorite small town/city in southern Arizona is Bisbee - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 1 night there If you like hiking, visit the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Sedona, and/or Scottsdale. If you like craft breweries, visit Flagstaff and/or Phoenix. If you like golfing, visit Scottsdale. If you like wild west history, visit Tombstone. If you like mining history, visit Bisbee or Jerome. If you like museums, visit Phoenix and/or Tucson. If you like shopping and fine dining, visit Scottsdale. If you like route 66 attractions, visit Holbrook, Winslow, Williams, Seligman, Kingman, and/or Oatman. If you want to visit the Grand Canyon, try to stay in the actual park or in a nearby town (e.g. Tusayan, Grand Canyon Junction, Flagstaff, or Williams). If you want to see some of the world's most amazing slot canyons, visit Page. If you want to see world-class red rock desert scenery, visit Sedona. If you want to rent a houseboat, visit Lake Havasu City or Page. Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S. WHAT IS ARIZONA FAMOUS FOR?✮ 4x4 driving ✮ ATV/ORV driving ✮ artistic designs of highway bridges/overpasses ✮ astronomy / stargazing ✮ boating ✮ canyons / slot canyons ✮ copper mines / copper mining ✮ dams (e.g. Hoover Dam, Glen Canyon Dam, etc.) ✮ date nuts ✮ desert landscapes ✮ geology / rock formations ✮ ghost towns ✮ golfing / golf courses ✮ helicopter tours ✮ hot air balloons / hot air ballooning ✮ hot temperatures (e.g. average temperature in Phoenix in July is 106 degrees) ✮ national monuments ✮ Native American culture and history ✮ organ pipe cactus ✮ petrified wood ✮ red rocks ✮ sandstone buttes ✮ saguaro cactus ✮ slot canyons ✮ Spanish missions ✮ turquoise gemstones ✮ water reservoirs (e.g. Lake Mead, Lake Powell) ✮ waterfalls (e.g. Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, Grand Falls) ✮ wild west history Click here if you'd like to learn what other U.S. states are famous for. NATIONAL PARKS IN ARIZONANational Parks ✮ Grand Canyon National Park - see the world's most famous canyon from either of its rims; awesome hiking and backpacking; historic lodges ✮ Petrified Forest National Park - known for its colorful petrified wood and desert badlands-type scenery ✮ Saguaro National Park - has the highest concentration of saguaro cactus in the U.S.: the park has two separate districts (East and West) National Monuments ✮ Aqua Fria National Monument - desert scenery; archaeological sites; off-trail hiking; primitive camping ✮ Canyon de Chelly National Monument - desert scenery; rock formations; archaeological sites; Native American cultural sites ✮ Casa Grande Ruins National Monument - archaeological site ✮ Chiricahua National Monument - desert scenery; fascinating geology/rock formations; 17-miles of day-use hiking trails; developed camping ✮ Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument - desert scenery; 4x4 driving; primitive camping ✮ Hohokam Pima National Monument - archaeological site; NOT open to the public ✮ Ironwood Forest National Monument - desert scenery; cactus; 4x4 driving; primitive camping; off-trail hiking; historic mines ✮ Montezuma Castle National Monument - impressive archaeological ruins/cliff dwellings ✮ Navajo National Monument - impressive archaeological ruins; camping ✮ Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - desert scenery; beautiful organ pipe cactus; 4x4 driving; hiking; developed & primitive camping ✮ Pipe Spring National Monument - historical sites; home tours; Native American history and culture ✮ Sonoran Desert National Monument - desert scenery; cactus; 4x4 driving; hiking trails; horseback riding; developed & primitive camping ✮ Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - ancient lava flows; volcanic scenery; hiking trails ✮ Tonto National Monument - impressive archaeological ruins/cliff dwellings ✮ Tuzigoot National Monument - archaeological sites/ruins; short hiking trails ✮ Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - outstanding desert scenery; geologic attractions; 4x4 driving; hiking (on and off trail); backpacking ✮ Walnut Canyon National Monument - archaeological sites/ruins; short hiking trails ✮ Wupatki National Monument - archaeological sites/ruins; short hiking trails National Recreation Areas ✮ Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - boating; kayaking; camping; fishing; 4x4 driving; hiking trails; mountain biking ✮ Lake Mead National Recreation Area - boating; kayaking; camping; fishing; 4x4 driving; hiking trails; horseback riding; hunting; scenic drives National Forests ✮ Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest ✮ Coconino National Forest ✮ Coronado National Forest ✮ Kaibab National Forest ✮ Prescott National Forest ✮ Tonto National Forest National Historical Parks / Other National Parks ✮ Coronado National Memorial ✮ Fort Bowie National Historic Site ✮ Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site ✮ Tumacacori National Historical Park ✮ Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area My favorite national park in Arizona is, of course, Grand Canyon National Park. I prefer the South Rim over the North Rim since it has more services and better day hikes. I personally wouldn't bother visiting both the South Rim and North Rim of the Grand Canyon on the same trip. Instead, I would visit them on separate trips. This is primarily because it is a 4-hour drive between the two rims. Additionally, there are other nearby attractions you can visit when visiting each rim (e.g. you can combine Zion National Park with the North Rim). The South Rim has many more visitor services and is open year-round. The North Rim is quieter, but has limited services and is only open seasonally (generally May to October). The South Rim offers far better day hikes, but the crowds can be very heavy. My favorite national monument in Arizona is Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. Other personal favorites include Canyon de Chelly, Chiricahua, Montezuma Castle, and Organ Pipe Cactus. Here are my recommendations for the minimum amount of time a first-time visitor should spend at each of Arizona's national parks:
STATE PARKS IN ARIZONAFlagship / Premier State Parks: ✮ Kartchner Caverns State Park - cave tours (including "wild" cave tours) ✮ Lost Dutchman State Park - desert scenery; day hiking; RV and tent camping ✮ Slide Rock State Park - desert scenery; swimming holes and natural waterslides ✮ Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park - tour a historic prison Other Notable State Parks: ✮ Catalina State Park - desert scenery; day hiking; horseback riding; RV and tent camping ✮ Picacho Peak State Park - desert scenery; day hiking (tip: bring gloves for the steel cables if you want to hike to the summit) ✮ Red Rock State Park - desert scenery; hiking trails ✮ Tonto Natural Bridge State Park - natural bridge; very short hiking trails My favorite state park in Arizona is Slide Rock State Park in Sedona. The swimming holes and natural waterslides are an absolute blast. The state park can get insanely crowded though, and water quality can be iffy at times. If you want to visit Kartschner Caverns State Park in southern Arizona, you should attempt to make reservations well in advance. Their cave tours always seem to sell out well in advance. To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here. BEST WATERFALLS IN ARIZONAHavasupai Indian Reservation / Supai ✮ Beaver Falls ✮ Havasu Falls ✮ Mooney Falls ✮ Navajo Falls Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding area ✮ Deer Creek Falls in Grand Canyon National Park ✮ Grand Falls/Chocolate Falls near Flagstaff ✮ Ribbon Falls in Grand Canyon National Park Central Arizona ✮ Cibecue Falls on White Mountain Apache Tribe land ✮ Fossil Creek in Coconino National Forest ✮ Fossil Springs in Coconino National Forest ✮ Water Wheel Falls in Tonto National Forest Southern Arizona (including Bisbee, Tombstone, and Tucson) ✮ Seven Falls in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area near Tucson ✮ Tanque Verde Falls in Coronado National Forest Permits to Havasupai are required to visit their waterfalls, and they are very difficult to obtain. Demand is insanely high and the annual allotment typically sells out in minutes. For a listing of all known waterfalls in Arizona, visit the World Waterfall Database website. BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN ARIZONA✮ Ajo Mountain Drive, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - a 21-mile dirt/gravel loop with one-directional travel ✮ Apache Trail Scenic Drive - a 39-mile mostly dirt/gravel route from Apache Junction to Theodore Roosevelt Lake ✮ Bajada Loop Drive, Saguaro National Park (West Unit) - a 6-mile dirt/gravel route that passes many saguaro cactus ✮ Cactus Forest Drive, Saguaro National Park (East Unit) - an 8-mile paved route that passes many saguaro cactus ✮ Canyon de Chelly National Monument park roads ✮ Chiricahua National Monument park roads ✮ Grand Canyon South Rim/Desert View Drive/AZ-64 - a 23-mile paved route within Grand Canyon National Park ✮ Grand Canyon South Rim/Hermit Road - a 7-mile paved route within Grand Canyon National Park; only open to private vehicles in winter ✮ Monument Valley/US-163 - a 44-mile paved route from Kayenta, AZ to Mexican Hat, UT; this is also known as "Forrest Gump Highway" ✮ Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park - a 17-mile rough dirt/gravel road within the actual tribal park; you can pay for a guided tour ✮ Oak Creek Canyon/AZ-89A - a 25-mile paved route from downtown Sedona that heads north to I-17 near Flagstaff ✮ Red Rock Loop Road - an 8.5-mile paved loop off AZ-89A just west of downtown Sedona; gateway to Red Rock State Park & Crescent Moon ✮ Red Rock Scenic Byway/AZ-179 - a 14-mile paved route from I-17 north through the Village of Oak Creek to downtown Sedona ✮ San Francisco Peaks Scenic Road/US-180 - a 50-mile paved route from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Junction/AZ-64 ✮ Sky Island Scenic Byway/Catalina Highway/Mount Lemmon - a 28-mile paved route that climbs 6,000+ feet from Tucson to Mount Lemmon ✮ Sunset Crater/Wupatki National Monuments loop - a 35-mile paved route through two national monuments; connects with US-89 ✮ Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Highway/US-89A - an 85-mile paved route from Bitter Springs to Fredonia that crosses the famous Navajo Bridge The Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive may also be of interest to travelers, but I haven't driven it myself yet. For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here. BEST RAIL TRAILS IN ARIZONA✮ Indian Bend Wash Path ✮ Grand Canyon Greenway - paved path along a portion of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon; the trail also heads south to Tuscayan ✮ New River Trail - 16.5 mile paved rail trail from Glendale to Peoria ✮ Prescott Peavine National Recreation Trail - beautiful 6.0 mile unpaved rail trail in Prescott; passes by attractive Watson lake ✮ Rillito River Park Trail For detailed information on all known rail trails in Arizona, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website. BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS / THEME PARKS IN ARIZONA✮ Castles-N-Coasters, Phoenix ✮ Enchanted Island Amusement Park, Phoenix ✮ Golfland Sunsplash, Mesa - 20 minutes east of Phoenix ✮ Funtasticks Family Fun Park, Tucson ✮ Mattel Adventure Park, Glendale - expected to open in 2023!; 20 minutes northwest of Phoenix ✮ Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Glendale - 20 minutes northwest of Phoenix ✮ Waylon's Water World, Yuma BEST MUSEUMS IN ARIZONANorthern Arizona (including Flagstaff, Page, and both the South Rim and North Rim of the Grand Canyon) ✮ Historic Route 66 Museum, Kingman ✮ Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff ✮ Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff Central Arizona (including Phoenix, Prescott, Scottsdale, and Sedona) ✮ Arizona Museum of Natural History, Mesa ✮ Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Phoenix ✮ Commemorative Air Force Museum, Mesa ✮ Heard Museum, Phoenix ✮ Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix ✮ Penske Racing Museum, Scottsdale ✮ Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix ✮ Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West, Scottsdale Southern Arizona (including Bisbee, Tombstone, and Tucson) ✮ Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson ✮ Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, Bisbee ✮ O.K. Corral, Tombstone ✮ Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson ✮ Titan Missile Museum, Green Valley ✮ Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, Yuma In my opinion, the very best museums in Arizona are the Musical Instrument Museum (Phoenix), Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Tuscon), Heard Museum (Phoenix), and the Pima Air & Space Museum (Tucson). BEST DAY HIKES IN ARIZONANortheastern Arizona (including Kingman) ✮ Arizona Hot Springs, Lake Mead National Recreation Area - 6.0 miles round-trip; typically closed 5/15 through 9/30 due to extreme heat ✮ Liberty Bell Arch, Lake Mead National Recreation Area - typically closed 5/15 through 9/30 due to extreme heat; trail may be hard to follow Northcentral and northeastern Arizona (including Page, Monument Valley, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon) ✮ Blue Mesa Trail, Petrified Forest National Park - 0.9 mile loop ✮ Cape Final, Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim) - 4.0 miles round-trip ✮ Coyote Buttes North/The Wave, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - 6.0 miles round-trip; permits are required! ✮ Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - 1.5 miles round-trip ✮ North Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim) - 3.6 miles round-trip (longer hikes are also possible) ✮ White House Ruin Trail, Canyon de Chelly National Monument - 2.5 miles round-trip; always check website as trail could be closed ✮ White Pocket, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - wander around for up to 2 miles round-trip; high-clearance 4x4 vehicle required! ✮ Wildcat Trail, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park - 3.2 miles round-trip Flagstaff, Williams, and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon ✮ Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) - minimum of 3.0 miles round-trip (longer hikes are possible) ✮ Grandview Trail, Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) - minimum of 2.2 miles round-trip (longer hikes are possible) ✮ Humphrey's Peak, Coconino National Forest - 9.0 miles round-trip (longer hikes are possible) ✮ Rim Trail, Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) - a 13-mile long paved path (I recommend hiking at least 3-4 miles round-trip) ✮ South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) - 3.0 miles round-trip to Cedar Ridge (longer hikes are possible); shuttle required! Central Arizona (including Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Sedona) ✮ Bear Mountain Trail, Coconino National Forest near Sedona - 4.8 miles round-trip ✮ Camelback Mountain, Echo Canyon Recreation Area in Scottsdale - 2.4 miles round-trip (longer hikes are also possible) ✮ Cathedral Rock, Coconino National Forest near Sedona - steep scrambling is required! ✮ Devil's Bridge, Coconino National Forest near Sedona - 4.0 miles round-trip (this can be shorter with a high clearance 4x4 vehicle) ✮ Flatiron/Siphon Draw Trail, Lost Dutchman State Park - 6.0 miles round-trip ✮ Piestewa Peak/Summit Trail, Phoenix Mountains Preserve - 2.4 miles round-trip (longer hikes are possible) ✮ Weaver's Needle/Peralta Trail, Tonto National Forest - 4.8 miles round-trip (longer hikes are possible) ✮ West Fork Trail/Oak Creek Canyon, Coconino National Forest near Sedona - 8.0 miles round-trip, which includes 1.5 miles of in-river hiking ✮ Wilson Mountain, Coconino National Forest near Sedona - 6.4 miles round-trip Southern Arizona (including Bisbee, Tombstone, and Tucson) ✮ Heart of Rocks Big Loop/Echo Canyon, Chiricahua National Monument - 9.5 miles round-trip (although shorter hikes are also possible) ✮ Hugh Norris Trail/Wasson Peak, Saguaro National Park (West Unit) - 9.8 miles round-trip (longer hikes are possible) ✮ Hunter Trail/Picacho Peak, Picacho Peak State Park - 4.0 miles round-trip (longer hikes are also possible) My favorite day hikes in Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) - Rim Trail, Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab Trail My favorite day hikes in Petrified Forest National Park - Blue Forest Trail, Blue Mesa Loop Trail, Crystal Forest Loop My favorite day hikes in/near Page - Lower Antelope Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon, Secret Canyon, Canyon X, Waterhole Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Skylight Arch, Toadstool Hoodoos, Wahweap Hoodoos My favorite day hikes in/near Sedona - West Fork Trail, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Devil's Bridge, Bear Mountain, Wilson Mountain My favorite day hikes in/near Scottsdale - Camelback Mountain, Pinnacle Peak, Piestewa Peak, Tom's Thumb Trail, Flatiron (in Lost Dutchman State Park) The highpoint of Arizona is Humphrey's Peak (12,637') near Flagstaff in northern Arizona. It's a fun but challenging day hike to reach the top. The general hiking season is June through October. Watch out for afternoon thunderstorms! To find more hikes in Arizona or to learn more about the hikes I've listed above, I recommend purchasing hiking guidebooks on Amazon (or from your local retailer). Another option is using alltrails.com, but you have to be very careful when using that website as its information is often wrong or incomplete. Published hiking guidebooks will likely always be significantly better than the information you find online. BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN ARIZONANorthern Arizona ✮ Buckskin Gulch/Paria Canyon ✮ Rainbow Bridge in Rainbow Bridge National Monument Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding area ✮ Escalante Route (South Rim) ✮ Grandview/Tonto/Bright Angel Loop (South Rim) ✮ Havasu Falls/Mooney Falls in Havasupai ✮ Hermit/Tonto/Bright Angel Loop (South Rim) ✮ Rim to Rim - a private shuttle or two vehicles is required; significant planning is important here since the driving distance is so large ✮ South Kaibab/Bright Angel Loop (South Rim) - a park shuttle required to get to South Kaibab trailhead Central Arizona ✮ Rincon Mountains of Saguaro National Park ✮ Superstition Wilderness - e.g. White Rock Springs Backpacking in the Grand Canyon is a world-class backpacking experience. Permits can be difficult to obtain and you should expect extremely difficult (and often very hot) hiking conditions. For a comprehensive guide to hiking Havasupai, click here. CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN ARIZONA✮ 4x4 driving in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park - a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is often but not always required (conditions are variable) ✮ 4x4 driving in Grand Canyon National Park (e.g. drive to Toroweap) ✮ 4x4 driving in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument ✮ 4x4 driving in Sedona ✮ 4x4 driving in Vermillion Cliffs National Monument (e.g. White Pocket, South Coyote Buttes) - a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is always required ✮ ATV/ORV-ing in Cave Creek ✮ ATV/ORV-ing in Page ✮ ATV/ORV-ing in Sedona ✮ Backpacking Buckskin Gulch/Paria Canyon - permits required! ✮ Backpacking Grand Canyon National Park - permits required! ✮ Backpacking Havasupai - permits required! ✮ Backpacking Superstition Mountains / Superstition Wilderness ✮ Caving in Kartchner Caverns State Park - guided tours required! make reservations well in advance ✮ Caving the Lava River Cave in Coconino National Forest in Flagstaff - bring good/strong headlamps ✮ Cycling the Grand Canyon Greenway - paved path along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon; the trail then heads south to Tuscayan ✮ Cycling the New River Trail - 16.5 mile paved rail trail from Glendale to Peoria ✮ Cycling the Prescott Peavine National Recreation Trail - beautiful 6.0 mile unpaved rail trail in Prescott; passes by attractive Watson lake ✮ Day hiking Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale ✮ Day hiking Coyote Buttes North/The Wave in Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - permit required! ✮ Day hiking Grand Canyon National Park ✮ Day hiking Humphrey's Peak near Flagstaff ✮ Day hiking to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park - extremely difficult! ✮ Day hiking Rim-to-Rim in Grand Canyon National Park - extremely difficult! ✮ Helicopter tours in Sedona ✮ Helicopter tours over the Grand Canyon ✮ Hot air ballooning in Phoenix and Scottsdale ✮ Hot air ballooning in Sedona ✮ Kayak Emerald Cove ✮ Kayak Horseshoe Bend ✮ Kayak Watson Lake ✮ Mountain biking the Black Canyon Trail in Phoenix - has an IMBA "Epics" designation ✮ Mountain biking the Golder Ranch Trail System / 50-Year Trail ✮ Mountain biking the Hawes Trail System in Mesa ✮ Mountain biking the McDowell Sonoran Preserve / Brown's Ranch ✮ Mountain biking in Sedona ✮ Mountain biking in South Mountain Park in Phoenix ✮ Scramble up Bell Rock in Sedona ✮ Scramble up Cathedral Rock in Sedona ✮ Scramble up Picacho Peak between Tucson and Phoenix ✮ Slot canyons in/near Page ✮ Whitewater rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon ✮ Whitewater rafting the Salt River BEST SKI RESORTS IN ARIZONAPremier Ski/Snowboard Resorts: ✮ Arizona Snowbowl - 55 trails; 2,800ft vertical drop; 11,500ft summit ✮ Sunrise Park Resort - 65 trails; 1,800ft vertical drop; 11,100ft summit Other Notable Ski/Snowboard Resorts: ✮ Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley ARIZONA TRAVEL TIPSIf you want to visit Arizona for the first time, and you have two full weeks to spend, I would consider this plan/route (in this exact order): ✮ Start in Phoenix ✮ Tucson - 1-2 nights ✮ Bisbee/Tombstone - 1-2 nights ✮ Phoenix/Scottsdale - 2-3 nights ✮ Sedona - 3-4 nights ✮ South Rim of the Grand Canyon - 1-2 nights ✮ Page - 1-2 nights ✮ Finish in Phoenix There are a few great towns and attractions that are within 1-2 hours of the Arizona border that are also worth visiting. This includes: ✮ Durango, Colorado ✮ Goosenecks State Park, Utah ✮ Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah ✮ Kanab, Utah ✮ Las Vegas, Nevada ✮ Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado Many areas in Arizona can get insanely hot from May through October. Over 110 degrees is common in many low elevation desert areas (like Phoenix and Tuscon). However, elevations do vary widely in the state, and so you should research average monthly temperatures for the areas you hope to visit. High-elevation areas like Flagstaff are usually very enjoyable in summer. Southern Arizona is one of the best places for winter travel in the United States. This is a great time to visit places like Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, and Bisbee. At some point in your life, you simply must catch a sunrise or a sunset at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. If you can, try to stay at one of the national park lodges. Pay attention to where wildfires are currently burning in Arizona; they are an annual occurrence, with dozens of fires usually burning in the spring and summer. The whole world now knows about the fabulous waterfalls of Havasupai, and so obtaining permits is next to impossible. Make sure you try to score permits the second they go on sale. Take note that the tribe has closed Havasupai due to COVID, and it is unclear when (or if) they will reopen. UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN ARIZONA✮ carne seca ✮ cheese crisp ✮ chilis rellenos ✮ coctels del elote ✮ date nuts / date shakes ✮ fry bread ✮ horchata ✮ huevos rancheros ✮ Navajo tacos ✮ piki bread ✮ pork chimichanga ✮ posole ✮ prickly pear margarita ✮ Sonoran hot dog ✮ tamales ✮ topopo salad For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Arizona (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website. For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here. For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Arizona (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website. OTHER KEY ARIZONA INFORMATIONPhoenix Major Airports: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and Tucson International Airport (TUS); take note that many people will fly into Las Vegas, NV and then drive into Arizona instead Largest Cities: Phoenix (1,640,641), Tucson (547,131), Mesa (517,302), Chandler (283,959), Gilbert (279,810) Primary U.S. Interstates: I-8, I-10, I-15, I-17, I-19 (Note: I-19 may ultimately be renamed as I-11), I-40 State Highpoint: Humphreys Peak (12,637'); a challenge day hike is required to reach the top Professional Sports Teams: MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks NBA: Phoenix Suns NFL: Arizona Cardinals NHL: Arizona Coyotes WNBA: Phoenix Mercury Funny or Unique Town/City Names: Bumble Bee, Carefree, Chloride, Christmas, Dateland, Gripe, Mexican Water, Nothing, Snowflake, Surprise, Tortilla Flat, and Why Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here. The Wave, Arizona Buckskin Gulch, Arizona Horseshoe Bend near Page, Arizona  South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim), Arizona  Hole-in-the-Rock, Papago Park in Phoenix Arizona  Montezuma Castle, Arizona  views in Sedona, Arizona  Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona  hiking near Sedona, Arizona  Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, Arizona  Meteor Crater, Arizona  Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Arizona  Watson Lake near Prescott, Arizona  Williams, Arizona  real dinosaur footprints near Page, Arizona  Monument Valley, Arizona  Spider Rock, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona  Wupatki National Monument, Arizona  Upper Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona  road to Monument Valley (US 163), Arizona  Saguaro National Park, Arizona  Havasu Falls, Havasupai, Arizona  the Wave, Arizona  Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona  Saguaro cactus near Tucson, Arizona  Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona  Saguaro National Park, Arizona  Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona ROAD TRIP GUIDEBOOKSIn addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.  
 
 
 
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