Some of the links below are affiliate links and I will earn a small percentage if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps me cover the costs of running my site - so thank you in advance!
Arizona is home to dozens of natural attractions and interesting small towns, which makes it the perfect location for day trips.
And with its central location, year-round sunshine, and easy access to mountains, deserts, and nearby states, Phoenix is the perfect base.
I’ve lived in Phoenix for over 5 years, and have spent a good amount of time exploring this beautiful state. To help you plan an epic day trip, I’ve compiled a list of all of the best places to visit near Phoenix.
From Sedona’s red rocks to ghost towns, and natural wonders, there’s something on this list for everyone. Here are 14 of the best day trips from Phoenix.
Article overview
Best day trips from Phoenix
Hi, I’m Layla, a native Californian and travel blogger (Layla’s Lens) who likes to highlight unique places on the West Coast.
During my time traveling in Arizona, I was mesmerized by the amount of natural attractions, and charming small towns it has to offer. As well as the surrounding states. I can’t wait to share my favorites with you.
Sedona
Distance: 2 hours/188 km/117 miles
Sedona is the best day trip from Phoenix if you love hiking, relaxing in nature, and trying new restaurants. It’s known for its beautiful red rock mountains, and it has incredible hiking trails for all experience levels.
Beyond hiking, Sedona has wineries, unique shopping centers, and top-notch spa resorts to stay at. Here are some of the best things to do in Sedona.
- Hike Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, or Devil’s Bridge
- Go on a Jeep tour
- Shop in Uptown and Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
- Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Dine with a sunset view at Mesa Grill or Mariposa Latin Grill
Scottsdale
Distance: 20 min/19 km/12 miles
Scottsdale is a short day trip from Phoenix that offers tons of fun activities. In Scottsdale, you can stroll around Old Town, a charming old-west downtown with shops, museums and restaurants.
Stop by Papago Park and hike to the whole on the way from Phoenix. I also recommend the Desert Botanical Gardens, and the Phoenix Zoo, which is actually closer to Scottsdale.
- Do a pedal bar crawl or segway tour in Old Town
- Stroll around the Desert Botanical Gardens
- Hike Pinnacle Peak or Camelback Mountain
- Visit the Phoenix Zoo and Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Mesa
Distance: 25 min/30,5 km/19 miles
Mesa is another short, but exciting day trip if you love nature. In Mesa, you can hike the Superstition Mountains, spot wild horses in the Lower Salt River, or spend the day doing water activities at Saguaro Lake.
Here are some of the best things to do in and around Mesa.
- Visit Ghostfield’s Ghost Town
- Hike at Lost Dutchman State Park
- Ride the Dolly Steamboat or Desert Belle Cruise
- Spot wild horses in the Lower Salt River
- Go kayaking on Saguaro Lake
Jerome
Distance: 2 hours/177 km/110 miles
Jerome is a historic mining town perched on Cleopatra Hill and one of the most interesting places to visit in Arizona. It operated as a mining town for nearly a decade, and was rebuilt several times due to catastrophic fires and mine explosions!
After the mines closed down in 1950, it became a popular tourist attraction and has a strip lined with quirky shops, museums and restaurants.
In town, you can learn about its history at Jerome’s State Historic Park, go on a ghost tour, or dine at the famous Haunted Hamburger. And if you’re up for an adventure, stay at one of the supposedly haunted hotels!
Camp Verde, Clarkdale, and Cottonwood
Distance: 2 hours/177 km/110 miles
The Verde Valley is a region that encompasses Sedona and Jerome, as well as a few other small cities nearby that are worth checking out. Camp Verde is home to the famous Montezuma Castle, where you can see one of the best preserved ancient pueblo sites in Arizona.
If you purchase entrance tickets to Montezuma’s Castle, you’re covered to visit the Tuzigoot National Monument in Clarkdale as well. This is another well-preserved ancient pueblo site, with a beautiful view of the Verde Valley. Here are some of the best things to do in Camp Verde, Clarkdale, and Cottonwood.
- Ride the Verde Canyon Railroad
- Visit Montezuma’s Castle and the Tuzigoot National Monument
- Go river rafting on the Verde River
- Visit the Copper Art Museum
- Shop and dine in Old Town Cottonwood
- Go on a wine-tasting tour
Prescott
Distance: 2.5 hours/201 km/125 miles
Prescott is a charming small town with a historic downtown square, lakes, and an over 1 million acre national forest to explore!
In Prescott, you can stroll downtown to see the historic buildings, attend the world’s oldest rodeo, or spend the day relaxing at Watson Lake.
- Stroll down Whiskey Row and the historic plaza
- Attend the World’s Oldest Rodeo
- Hike in the Prescott National Forest
- Go kayaking at Watson’s Lake
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Distance: 2 hours/161 km/100 miles
The Tonto Natural Bridge is a beautiful state park with the world’s largest natural travertine bridge, waterfalls, and natural swimming holes.
It’s a 1.4-mile round-trip hike to get to the bridge, and it has multiple observation decks so you can explore its unique geology. There are also designated swim areas along the trail, so it’s the perfect hike for the summer.
Grand Canyon
Distance: 3.5 hours/370 km/230 miles
The Grand Canyon is Arizona’s most spectacular natural wonder and the perfect day trip from Phoenix. The South Rim is around a 3.5-hour drive from Phoenix, which is the park’s main entrance.
In a day, you have plenty of time to see the popular viewpoints, hike the South Rim Trail, and dine by the rim at Grand Canyon Village. If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, it’s definitely worth visiting to cross off your bucket list!
Flagstaff
Distance: 2 hours/233 km/145 miles
Flagstaff is a beautiful city nestled in the Ponderosa pine forests, around 45 minutes north of Sedona. It has a historic district with shops, cafes, restaurants, and a train station that runs along Route 66.
It snows here during the winter and is only an hour’s drive from the Grand Canyon, so it’s a popular road trip stop. Besides stopping in town for food, here are some of the best things to do in Flagstaff.
- Visit the Wupatki and Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Stroll around Buffalo Park
- Hike At Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
- Hike an underground lava tube (Lava River Cave)
- Go stargazing at the Lowell Observatory
Page
Distance: 4.5 hours/434,5 km/270 miles
Page Arizona is a small town that straddles the Utah and northern Arizona border. It’s home to some of Arizona’s most iconic landmarks, including Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the Glen Canyon Dam.
Antelope Canyon is a gorgeous red-orange slot canyon located on tribal lands that you can visit by guided hiking tour.
Horseshoe Bend is a breathtaking horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River that you can visit by a short 10-minute hike.
The Glen Canyon Dam is a towering 710 ft dam that formed Lake Powell, with a visitor center and overlook.
In a day, you can easily visit all three landmarks, as they’re within a 15-minute drive of one another. I’ve made the drive from Phoenix to Page twice, and it’s one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever visited.
Joshua Tree
Distance: 5 hours/466,7 km/290 miles
Joshua Tree National Park is a spectacular national park that spans over 800,000 acres in California’s desert. If you love hiking, camping, or stargazing, this is the place to go.
Joshua Tree has a variety of amazing hiking trails, where you can see unique rock formations, cholla cacti, or get a sweeping view of the Coachella Valley from a mountain summit.
It’s perfect for a day trip, but I recommend staying overnight so you can return to stargaze in the park.
Tucson
Distance: 2 hours/180 km/112 miles
If you love museums and hiking, go on a day trip to Tucson. Tucson is a beautiful city in southern Arizona, with amazing hiking trails, restaurants, and a variety of interesting museums. Here are some of the best things to do in Tucson.
- Stroll around the old west Trail Dust Town
- Hike To Seven Falls in Sabino Canyon
- Spot wildlife at the Sonora Desert Museum Zoo
- Visit the San Xavier del Bac Mission
- Visit the Pima Air & Space Museum
Palm Springs
Distance: 4.5 hours/434,5 km/270 miles
If you’re looking for somewhere unique to go, head to Palm Springs. Palm Springs is a beautiful desert city with museums, botanical gardens, spa resorts, and a lively downtown shopping plaza.
In Palm Springs, you can ride the aerial tramway over the Coachella Valley, stroll downtown, try a classic date shake, or simply relax by your hotel’s pool. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Joshua Tree and has a variety of charming and colorful boutique hotels.
How to get around
Getting around Arizona is fairly easy, especially if you’re planning day trips from Phoenix. The best way to explore is by car, since many of Arizona’s top destinations—like Sedona, the Grand Canyon, or Montezuma Castle—are spread out and not always accessible by public transportation.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has plenty of rental car options, and major highways like I-17 and US-60 connect the city to scenic spots all over the state. Click here to check the price and availability of rental cars.
For those who don’t want to drive, guided tours and shuttles are available to popular locations, though they offer less flexibility. Here are two of the best guided tours you can take from Phoenix:
🌟 Sedona and Grand Canyon Full-Day Tour >> Visit two of Arizona’s most impressive natural wonders in one day from Phoenix. In Sedona, visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross and the uptown shopping area, then continue to the Grand Canyon South Rim. It includes hotel pick-up and drop-off.
🌟 Sedona with Jerome and Montezuma Castle >> This tour starts at Montezuma Castle National Monument, where you go for a short walk and admire the pre-Colombian Sinagua Native American cliff dwelling. Then you continue to Sedona and its famous sights including Red Rocks and Chapel of the Holy Cross, followed by a visit to the old mining town of Jerome.
Best time to visit
The best time to explore Arizona from Phoenix largely depends on where you’re going and what you want to do, but the ideal months are March through May and October through November.
- Spring (March–May): This is my favorite time to visit. The weather is warm but not scorching, desert wildflowers are in bloom, and it’s perfect for hiking, exploring national parks, and enjoying cities like Phoenix, Tucson, and Sedona.
- Fall (October–November): Temperatures cool down again after the summer heat, making it another excellent window for outdoor adventures and scenic drives—especially in Northern Arizona, where fall colors appear in places like Flagstaff and Oak Creek Canyon.
- Summer (June–September): While Northern Arizona (like the Grand Canyon or Flagstaff) stays relatively mild and is great for escaping the heat, Southern Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson) can be extremely hot—often over 100°F (38°C). If you’re visiting during summer, I recommend early morning or evening activities and always bring water.
- Winter (December–February): Winters are mild in the desert regions, which means it’s another pleasant time to visit Phoenix or Tucson. Higher elevations like Flagstaff can get snow, which is great for skiing or snow play.
Final thoughts
So as you can see, whether you love hiking, nature, or history, Arizona has something to offer for everyone. And Phoenix is my favorite town to use as a comfortable base.
If you’re new to Arizona, I recommend going on a day trip to Sedona. This is the perfect place for a weekend getaway, and it has more moderate weather if you’re looking to hike in the summer.
You’ll find activities available for all ages close by and it’s near a variety of interesting attractions, from Montezuma’s Castle to Jerome’s Ghost Town.
🔥 Read next >> Antelope Canyon tour review: This is what it’s really like
Leave a Reply