I shared this to my Western US Travel FB page. Theres so much to see in that state! Approximately an hour and a half north of Phoenix, Montezuma Castle National Monument makes for a superb cultural day trip. Half a mile of Oak Creek within the Parks boundaries is open for swimming and sliding. 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. The road trips we listed below are only a couple of hours away and are great getaways. 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. About 2000 ancient desert dwellers and prehistoric farmers lived on this site, and like a lot of similar sites in Arizona, researchers have no idea why or how they disappeared. (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.). The town of Casa Grande sits almost in the middle of Phoenix and Tucson and has a really interesting history. A great way to start your day is by tackling one of the many hiking trails that exist in Sedona. This city is less than a two-hour drive from Phoenix. There are lots of hiking trails and campgrounds (book early!) 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. My favorite hotels in Tucson are the Downtown Clifton Hotel and the Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort. At other times of the year, there are alsofun things to do in Prescott AZ. The ruins are large and well-preserved given that preservation activities began as early as 1883! 2023 Misadventures with Andi Hello Chicky, Traveler Tuesday - Abbie of Speck on the Globe. It's also the gateway to Saguaro National Park, so you can do both in one day. Don't miss popular trails like Hidden Valley, Ryan Mountain, and Barker Dam. You can drive through the park, there are even offroad trails (you need a 44) 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 particularly love it in the fall, not only for the autumn leaf-changing (late October) but also for the Monarch butterfly migration they are thousands of them in September! I will keep adding to this collection as I find new spots and hopefully you will help me add to this list as well! Why you should visit: If you're in Arizona, it is almost compulsory to go to Sedona and see the amazing red rocks that dominate the landscape. Distance from Phoenix: 3 hours and 15 minutes. How to get there: But the route up from Phoenix offers so many amazing places to stop on the way up and down, that this might just be the perfect option - Prescott & Jerome (#4 above), Sedona (#3), Flagstaff (#5), Grand Canyon (#9) and Monument Valley (#14) are all along the fastest route and a slightly different route down can lead through Tonto National Forest (#2 in our list). Why you should visit: If you thought Phoenix was hot in the summer, a road trip to the Death Valley National Park in California may change your perspective on what really hot means. Or Tucson in February or Scottsdale in March. This picturesque city is known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant arts scene, and outdoor activities. At one time there were 110 rooms an entire village! Published: February 11, 2022 - Last updated: July 11, 2023 22 Comments Planning a day trip to Phoenix? This ancestral Puebloan site covers 5 sites spread out amongst the prairies. Lemmon, Titan Missile Museum, and Biosphere 2. Day trips from Phoenix between 2 and 3 hours, Day trips from Phoenix between 3 and 4 hours, Tuzigoot National Monument and Dead Horse State Park, Tonto Cliff Dwellings National Monument website, Red Rock West 2-Hour Jeep Tour from Sedona, Canyons & Cowboys: 2-Hour Jeep Tour from Sedona, free printable checklist of things to do in Tucson, Southern Arizona attractions discount pass, Historic Oatman Mining Town and Route 66 Experience, Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation website, free printable checklist with these day trips from Phoenix. The state did its job too. Currently, permits are required from October 1 to April 15. This is a beautiful place for boat tours, camping, hiking, fishing, jet skiing and so much more and one of the best lakes in Arizona. Finally, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national monument. Take the Beeline Highway up to Payson in the Tonto National Forest (#2 above) and then drive through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest towards the Petrified Forest National Park. 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. I write about Travel, Food, and France, including having a French lifestyle. A great way to enjoy this area is to watch either the sunrise or the sunset. So many places that I want to visit. These excursions are iconic bucket list material and can be reached within a few hours or less. Located in the southeastern part of the state, wine tasting here ranges from $8-$15. The ruins sit amongst an area that had a complex system of canals, and historians do not know whether the big house was a gathering place or a marker. Do share! The site is actually bigger, a total of 127 acres, with the additional pieces accessible by bus only. Outside, if the wind isnt blowing like a hurricane you can do a guided rim tour which is pretty cool. Other than the small Saguaro National Park just outside Tucson (see #1 above), these are the closest two to Phoenix. This former copper mining town in the Black Hills has a lot going on with numerous streets of preserved buildings transformed into antique shops, restaurants, wineries, and museums. Lake Powell is one of the best weekend trips from Phoenix. Although Santa Fe is only an hour away from Albuquerque, you'll notice it feels very different. 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 lava flows and cinder rocks are frozen in time with layers of greens and flowers covering many parts and pieces. 3 hours 10 minutes from Phoenix (190 miles). A good time can be had at Goldfield, a former gold mining town (and largest ghost town in Arizona) turned tourist attraction with western shows, historic buildings, and shootouts. Why you should visit: If you have more time or want to explore the neighborhoods, beaches and amazing sights of a big city, Los Angeles is only marginally further away than San Diego. How to get there: The directions for the road trip from Phoenix to Palm Springs are simple - get on the I-10 headed west in downtown Phoenix and come off 260 miles later as you're passing right through Palm Springs. There are several dude ranches where you can really emerge yourself into the West. Boating is really the only way to enjoy this body of water. Check out my post on my visit to Petrified Forest National Park. The park is known for its namesake: the Joshua trees. Why you should visit: A road trip from Phoenix to Mogollon Rim, which is a 2,000-foot tall ridge that runs for some 200 miles through Arizona, is one of the most scenic drives that is close to the city. Did you know there are wineries in Arizona? How to get there: Getting to Joshua Tree National Park from Phoenix is mighty easy - follow the I-10 for 220 miles right out of Phoenix heading west and then turn off towards the Cottonwood Visitor Center a few miles off the interstate. 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. Jump to these day trips between 2 and 3 hours from Phoenix: Pine Creek Canyon Lavender Farm | Tonto Cliff Dwellings National Monument | Verde Canyon Railroad | Tuzigoot National Monument and Dead Horse State Park | Jerome | Prescott | Red Rock Formations in Sedona | Red Rock Scenic Byway | Slide Rock State Park | Mogollon Rim | Tucson | Pima Air & Space Museum | Tucson Mountain Park | Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum | Sabino Canyon Recreation Area | Titan Missile Museum | Biosphere 2 | Devils Bridge Trail | Pipe Organ National Monument | Flagstaff | Alamo Lake | Walnut Canyon National Monument | Montezuma Well National Monument | Kartchner Caverns State Park | Catalina Mountains | Sonoita | Heber Horses | Kitt Peak National Observatory | Meteor Crater Natural Landmark | Seligman | Tombstone | Sunset Crater National Monument | Wupatki National Monument | Mount Lemmon | Yuma | Bisbee | Wilcox Wine Country. If time is on your hands, you can take a slightly slower but much more scenic route up to Monument Valley and make more stops along the way. I love it. Distance from Phoenix: 117 miles Start your day trip to Sedona from Phoenix with a hike in the stunning red rocks before the crowds arrive. Phoenix is a hub for a number of memorable day trips that allow you to explore Arizona for the day and be back in town by night. Prescott also has a great restaurant scene with lots of options. Sedona sits north of Phoenix and can be reached by car in around two hours or in about three hours by shuttle from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. From here, you can overlook the expansive valley and see Palm Springs in the distance. 4. You can camp around the lake, but the sites are only accessible by boat (you can rent one if you are visiting). 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! 45 By Arizona Scenic Tours - Day Tours Bus Tours 6+ hours This tour helps save time by visiting two of Arizona's top outdoor sights in a dayBell Rock in Sedona, and the Grand Canyon Free cancellation Recommended by 100% of travelers The town sits along the Hassayampa River, and there is a preserve with 280 species of birds and a large number of raptors. I have always wanted to go to Arizona. When they say Get your kicks on Route 66, they definitely had Seligman, Arizona in mind! There are no labeled trails though since these are shifting sand dunes. There is the west side of the park with a dirt road loop trail, short hikes with sites like petroglyphs, and a denser concentration of the saguaro cacti. rodeos nearby or as a day trip. There is also the Railroad Tunnel Trail, a moderate trail that takes you along the East Verde stream. The Apache Trail is and has been closed indefinitely from the Phoenix (Tortilla Flats ) end. The 12,000 acres Chiricahua National Monument offers a collection of hoodoos and balancing rocks. Day trips from Phoenix (under 3 hours each way). After crossing the bridge, be sure to continue west along the scenic highway to get the best views of these impressive red cliffs. 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. Do you have a new day trip from Phoenix that is between 1 and 4 hours away? Phoenix to Saguaro Lake. and a custodian was hired to look after the site followed by President Harrison creating a prehistoric cultural reserve. Phoenix, Arizona sits in such a prime location for some incredible getaways! This provides two wonderfully different experiences. If you have been wanting to explore some of the bucket list-worthy landmarks and sunny cities near Phoenix, then make sure to take a few days off for an epic long weekend trip. Just a short detour from Route 66 is one of the best preserved ancient meteor . Jump to these day trips between 1 and 2 hours from Phoenix: Drive Along the Apache Trail | Saguaro Lake | Lake Pleasant Regional Park | Wickenburg | Hassayampa River Preserve | Sonoran Desert | Casa Grande Ruins National Monument | Montezuma Castle National Monument | Coconino National Forest | Wine Tasting in Cottonwood | Tonto Natural Bridge S. 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. Just need to get back to Arizona now . Verde Valley Wine Trail.
Day Tours (Phoenix) - What to Know BEFORE You Go If you love vintage or retro decor then you must check out The Motor Lodge! Next to Yuma Proving Ground and within Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is a piece of Arizona history. 2. Come with U.S. News on a tour of the XV Beacon Hotel in Boston. With about 300 mines, for a short time, there was plenty of work for everyone. My favorite part is imagining Star Trek's Jean-Luc Picard filming here for Star Trek: First Contact as the facility was used for scenes for the first warp prototype, the Phoenix! Since some of the mines were open until 1979, theres even a 50s-era diner and a 1960 trailer. Who knows if this one will ever become public? Saguaro National Park (filled with cacti) and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum are two highlights. Why you should visit: If you want to go to the Pacific Coast to spot some sea lions and spend some time enjoying the beach along with the mild weather that comes with it, San Diego is the closest and easiest option to get to. There are so many amazing hotels to stay in that it is really hard to recommend one! Walnut Canyon is probably one of the most underrated sites in Arizona. Here you'll find great shopping and dining, outdoor adventures, and gorgeous desert scenerywithout the long hours spent in the car. Roosevelt Lake has very limited access and virtually no beaches. Ive been to some of these before. With a day trip, we would suggest that you drive along the Rim Trail and take in the incredible views. For the more adventurous hikers, there are routes that will really challenge - the Narrows is a 16-mile one-way trek that will take you up through a tough canyon and includes wading chest-deep in the cold river water and squeezing through narrow cracks between rock faces! From Tucson to Phoenix to Jerome to the Grand Canyon and points east then south we are looking for a great adventure. Tucson about two hours south of Phoenix is one of the sunniest spots in the United States, seeing an average of 350 days of sun each year. at Big Nose Kates Saloon on the main street. The path is extremely easy and is very crowded. Lots of day trips in the Phoenix area. Contributed by Ed Coleman of Coleman Concierge. Were planning another Southwest trip so Im definitely adding that to our list for the road trip! How to get there: Flagstaff is all about the outdoors and to get there from Phoenix, all you have to do is jump on the I-17 north in Phoenix and follow it until the interstate ends and merges with the Historic Route 66 in Flagstaff a little over 2 hours later. Prescott makes an excellent weekend getaway! This is an easy day trip from Phoenix or Flagstaff and can be combined with a trip to Cottonwood, Jerome, or Tuzigoot National Monument. We were all sitting outside one afternoon and he started telling us about all these donkeys and we thought he was totally crazy! Dont forget to take plenty of water, sunscreen and, of course, your camera. Not bad for 2 years of day trips (of course you'll notice I had a few friends share some of their recommendations for some spots that I haven't been to yet or don't have photos for) and can you believe that there are more to discover? We are in the middle of cowboy country. It is mostly shaded and follows a beautiful creek for the entire hike. Distance from Phoenix: 2 hours and 20 minutes. In 1974, Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts discovered Kartchner Caverns and kept it secret for nearly two decades. The more traditional route is up the paved road heading up from Tucson. Tick off the compulsory visit to the Hollywood sign (great views across Los Angeles from up there) and see the stars on the Walk of Fame along Hollywood Boulevard. It is a bit surreal to think that things this beautiful can grow on lava! There are species of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world and thankfully it is protected as a national monument. Watson lake is so gorgeous. Ive been to Phoenix over a dozen times to explore and there are still lots of things on this list Id love to do.
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