There are loads of lovely locations to go to in Arizona. Arizona affords a novel mixture of putting landscapes, bustling cities, hidden ghost cities, and distinctive formations, making it an awesome vacation spot any time of 12 months. This information will assist you plan your Arizona getaway now and uncover what this various state has to provide. Whether planning an Arizona highway journey or popping over from Vegas, you’ll certainly discover one thing to fit your wants.
Best Places to Visit in Arizona
This information is break up into particular sections, as Arizona has many various kinds of locations to go to. The finest method to get round Arizona is by automobile. Compare costs from the airport you might be flying into right here at RentalCars.com (This is what we use). So, let’s get began.
1. Coyote Buttes
Do you like distinctive landscapes? The panorama of Coyote Buttes is gorgeous and interesting. It’s is a bit like strolling by means of a maze of pure skatepark ramps.
The Buttes are positioned in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. A little bit like Antelope Canyon, the panorama options wave-like rock patterns. But as a substitute of being in a canyon, you possibly can expertise the waves out in the open, amongst towering buttes.
Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Arizona in its personal proper. Paria has over 100,000 acres of protected lands, however add Coyote Buttes and it’s out of this world.
2. Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is a nationwide treasure. The wave-like sandstone partitions of the slot canyon had been made well-known on social media, however to see it in particular person is magical. Photographers flock to Antelope Canyon to seize the dramatic surroundings and stroll alongside the canyon ground.
If you need to go to Antelope Canyon, you’ll have a selection of which half to go to – Lower Antelope Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon, or possibly each as you possibly can e book excursions and see each.
Upper Antelope Canyon is the best to hike however is darker, whereas Lower Antelope Canyon is narrower however a lot lighter. You can e book on-line or pay a go to to Antelope Canyon Visitor Center. Antelope Canyon is well the most effective pure vacationer points of interest in Arizona. This canyon is a must-visit in order for you to go to bucket checklist out of doors points of interest. Check out Antelope Canyon Photo Tours – How to Make probably the most of it
3. Monument Valley
Monument Valley is positioned alongside the Arizona-Utah border. If you need to go to simply, it’s essential to base your self in a northern metropolis like Flagstaff. The valley is likely one of the most well-known landscapes in the US and simply the most effective locations to go to in Arizona.
The valley is over 90,000 acres and filled with mountaineering trails and spectacular rock formations. It is most recognized for its towering sandstone buttes, which you’ll expertise on scenic drives or on mountaineering trails. Don’t miss Forest Gump Point, the long-lasting viewpoint used in well-known films and is a vital filming location in cinematic historical past.
The valley is a superb place to lower by means of if you’re planning an Arizona highway journey. There are many issues to see whereas driving by means of the valley, and the surroundings is ideal for memorable highway tripping.
4. Montezuma Castle National Monument
Fascinated by historic tradition and archaeological websites of inhabitation? Montezuma Castle National Monument is the place to go to. The website is house to a number of cliffside dwellings, constructed and lived in by Indigenous People round 1100 to 1425 AD.
Sadly, entry contained in the dwellings has now been prohibited in an comprehensible try to shield the location from extreme harm. However, guests can take a digital tour inside the homes. They look unimaginable from the skin, and you may take pleasure in quite a few mountaineering trails for various views.
5. Saguaro National Park
We’ve briefly talked about Saguaro National Park already. The park is positioned simply exterior Tucson. It is a superb place to go to for beautiful surroundings and mountaineering trails whereas visiting Southern Arizona.
The park is most recognized for its cacti. Indeed, in this nationwide park, you’ll discover a number of the largest saguaro cacti in the US. Some of the cacti dwell up to 200 years previous and develop at a really sluggish price. The nationwide park appears like an previous American West film scene and has over 90,000 acres for you to discover.
Whether you select a scenic drive or hike, reserving a rental automobile to go to Saguaro National Park is the best choice. Valley View Overlook Trail is a pleasant brief stroll that ought to take you round 20 minutes to full, whereas mountaineering to Signal Hill Petroglyphs is a should for anybody in historic artwork and civilizations.
6. Petrified Forest National Park
If the Petrified Forest National Park sounds unbelievable, it’s as a result of it’s. However, should you arrive anticipating a lush forest full of gorgeous, fascinating timber, you’ll be shocked. The nationwide park is a barren panorama, filled with fossils and petrified, sliced tree trunks.
The petrified wooden is scattered throughout the nationwide park, and you may drive the size of the park in round an hour – stopping at no matter spot catches your eye. Some not to miss locations embrace Rainbow Forest Museum, the Crystal Forest hike, and the Blue Mesa hike.
Wondering how this pure phenomenon happens? Petrification of timber takes place when timber have been buried underground with out oxygen for hundreds of years. Over time, the decaying wooden turns into mineralized and turns into fossilized stone, creating a precise reproduction of the unique type, simply in a special materials.
For a novel pure expertise, Petrified Forest National Park is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Arizona. We suggest selecting this nationwide park for anybody intrigued by pure ‘mysteries’ and wanting a memorable expertise in Arizona.
7. Grand Canyon National Park
What can we are saying? The park is one in all one of the best locations to go to in the US, by no means thoughts Arizona. Visiting the Grand Canyon is up there on most individuals’s US bucket lists. From mountaineering to whitewater rafting, and tenting to taking a path journey, this vacation spot is likely one of the hottest vacationer locations in your entire world.
South Rim and North Rim are the preferred areas to discover whereas the North Rim is the lesser seen aspect of the Grand Canyon and is finest for individuals who need a quieter place to expertise.
A well-liked mountaineering route in the Grand Canyon is the Bright Angel Trail. The path is well-maintained and comparatively straightforward. But there are many different mountaineering trails in the Grand Canyon which you can discover. Read The Absolute Best Things to do in The Grand Canyon for extra info.
Of course, you possibly can at all times splurge on a helicopter journey over the Grand Canyon. Many vacationers decide to view the canyon from above, which is likely one of the most exhilarating issues to do in Arizona. Whichever method you determine to see the Grand Canyon, it’ll depart you breathless. It actually lives up to the hype. Read extra: Where to Stay At The Grand Canyon: Best Hotels And Areas For Every Budget
8. Havasu Falls
While visiting the Grand Canyon, it’s essential to plan a hike to Havasu Falls. This trek wants to be deliberate in advance, as permits to the falls are laborious to get, however it’s well worth the time..
Havasu Falls is likely one of the prettiest waterfalls in the U.S. The water is a putting pastel blue from the excessive calcium carbonate and magnesium ranges. The falls drop over 100 ft in a single drop to fill a substantial plunge pool on the backside.
Getting to the falls is an journey in itself, one you possibly can learn extra about right here. It is advisable that you simply keep in a single day on the Lodge or campground. But for all the hassle of getting there, the turquoise water of the Havasu Falls will soothe your weary physique, offering yet one more dream-like expertise.
Better but, you possibly can swim – uncommon amongst the prettiest waterfalls since tourism often damages their pure magnificence. Havasu Falls continues to be sufficient below the radar to keep away from this strict rule introduced on by over-tourism. So seize a bikini and towel and luxuriate in.
9. Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Canyon de Chelly National Monument covers over 80,000 acres and is house to the Spider Rock spire. The spire is a 700-foot-high sandstone rock. Spider Rock spire gained its form by gradual erosion over time, and specialists imagine it was as soon as linked to a ridge. Nowadays, it makes an uncommon pure attraction and an awesome {photograph}.
You can drop by the Canyon de Chelly Visitor Center for skilled native steering on issues to see and do. However, it is best to positively be certain to strive a mountaineering path or scenic drive. You may discover the canyon on horseback in order for you a extra thrilling expertise.
After exploring one of the best nationwide parks and cities, let’s take a look at Arizona’s largest class – its out of doors points of interest.
Arizona is ideal should you love being outside and experiencing pure points of interest. The state is filled with issues to see and do outside, together with visiting the National Monument, Antelope Canyon, and Monument Valley. Ready to be impressed? Let’s have a look.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a nationwide park in Northeastern Arizona. It is positioned in the Navajo Nation and is exceptionally shut to the Arizona-New Mexico border. For those that need to expertise nature, it’s simply the most effective locations to go to in Arizona.
10. Lake Powell
If you might be heading up to the Arizona-Utah border, it’s nicely value detouring to Lake Powell. The lake is a surprising synthetic physique of water located between Monument Valley and Grand Canyon National Park. It is an attractive place to go to in Arizona. The lake’s vibrant blue water and orange sandstone environment lower a picture-perfect scene.
The lake is fed by the Colorado River and covers over 2,000 miles of shoreline. The Rainbow Bridge National Monument is a major vacationer attraction on the lake, and the huge stone arc is the most important pure bridge in the world. It is a superb attraction to mix with having fun with the lake itself.
Many folks spend a day or two staying alongside the shores of the lake. You may need to go to as a day journey or search for a cabin, lodge, or campsite with the intention to keep in a single day.
11. Lake Mead
Lake Mead is one other spectacular synthetic attraction. The lake has the best water capability of any US reservoir and sits on the Nevada-Arizona border. If you like water actions and lakeside dwelling, Lake Mead is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Arizona to unwind and calm down.
We suggest permitting time to take a Lake Mead cruise, because the distinction between desert and an oasis-like physique of water is putting and finest skilled from the water itself. You may fish and boat on the lake. The desert mountains are the proper locations for scenic drives and biking; nevertheless, will probably be laborious to draw your self away from the refreshing lake that surrounds them.
If you might be planning a highway journey, Lake Mead is ideally positioned en route to Las Vegas. It is value a detour to benefit from the lake and you might have considered trying to take into account combining it with a go to to the close by Hoover Dam.
12. Horseshoe Bend
You can’t go to Arizona with out visiting the Colorado River. Of course, you possibly can select to see many sections of the river, nevertheless, we extremely suggest visiting Horseshoe Bend.
Horseshoe Bend is the postcard picture of the Colorado River. It is unquestionably the most effective locations to go to in Arizona. As you’ll have guessed, the curve is formed like a horseshoe, and also you’ll discover a unbelievable viewpoint the place you possibly can admire the distinctive surroundings up shut. Make certain to pack a digicam should you’ve acquired one, as Horseshoe Bend is likely one of the hottest sights in the US.
Reaching the perspective is comparatively straightforward and is only a 1.3-mile spherical hike. Horseshoe Bend is finest visited in the course of the early morning or late afternoon, although, as there may be little or no shade and Arizona will get dangerously sizzling in summer season.
13. Hoover Dam
Once the tallest dam in the world, the Hoover Dam has a nostalgic sort of energy. While it now not holds that grand title, it’s nonetheless one in all Arizona’s finest locations to go to. It is claimed that the dam may stand up to the pressure of Niagara Falls – which supplies you a superb perspective on how sturdy it’s.
You can view the Hoover Dam from afar or drop by the Hoover Dam Visitors Center to e book a guided tour. Tours sometimes embrace entry to the Hoover Dam tunnels, an elevator journey to the highest, and particular entry to practical rooms all through the constructing.
If you have an interest in structure or simply need to see a nationwide historic landmark up shut, the dam is great to go to. It can be mixed with a visit to Las Vegas, because the dam sits on the Nevada-Arizona border.
14. Glen Canyon Dam
Planning a visit to Glen Canyon National Recreation Park to go to Lake Powell? We suggest taking a detour to go to the Glen Canyon Dam.
Glen Canyon Dam is located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Park, a one million-acre reserve encompassing biking trails, mountaineering trails, and Lake Powell. The dam is a hydroelectric energy plant and has turn out to be an iconic attraction alongside the Colorado River.
Visitors can take boat excursions to view Glen Canyon Dam up shut and even fly over the dam with a flight expertise. The 710-foot infrastructure is unimaginable from a distance and much more spectacular up shut. Of course, to save a bit of cash, you possibly can at all times stroll throughout Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, the place you’ll nonetheless have nice views over the dam.
15. Jerome State Historic Park
Fancy indulging in a little bit of historical past? Jerome State Historic Park is a unbelievable place to go to in Arizona. The state park has a few acres surrounding Douglas Mansion, which has been remodeled into a unusual mining museum.
Visitors can wander by means of two flooring of informative reveals plus out of doors gardens. The museum balances basic mining tales and the native city’s historical past. You can study region-specific minerals and mining processes by means of varied mediums, together with cinematic movies.
The park will be mixed with a go to to Montezuma Castle or it’s a nice day journey if you’re staying in close by Flagstaff. It is undoubtedly an exercise to be aware down to your Arizona itinerary.
16. the Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains cowl 160,000 and are filled with beautiful mountainous and desert scenes. That is just not what makes this place well-known, although; it’s the misplaced gold mines.
Legends of gold have stored mining corporations and unbiased hunters looking the mountains for years. Many hunters have hit the jackpot and located numerous riches. You can be part of the crowds or discover your personal non-gold-related leisure in the mountains.
You can go to the Superstition Mountains Museum, discover the encircling Tonto National Forest, or hike alongside one of many varied trails. These mountains are the most effective locations to go to in Arizona for journey.
You can discover the mountaineering trails, biking trails, take off-roading excursions, or e book a scenic helicopter flight – it’s up to you. These are one of the best nationwide parks to go to in Arizona.
17. Phoenix
Phoenix is the sunny state capital of Arizona. Located in central Arizona, Phoenix is surrounded by mountains and desert landscapes. Its location appears unlikely for a metropolis, with skyscrapers and luxurious inns taking pictures up from what (earlier than 1881) was as soon as sand and mud.
Phoenix is one of the best place to go to in Arizona for a big-city expertise. The metropolis is bursting with artwork, nightlife and points of interest, together with extra artwork galleries than you would see in a complete week.
Phoenix is house to the Musical Instrument Museum, Natural History Museum, Phoenix Bat Cave, and Desert Botanical Garden. Read extra: 34 Best Things To Do In Phoenix (By A Local)
18. Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden is positioned in Papago Park, in the middle of Arizona’s capital metropolis. However, the Desert Botanical Garden is worthy of a spot on our checklist in its personal proper. We extremely suggest visiting even should you fly into Phoenix and head straight out of the town after (however significantly, no less than give the town a day or two).
Why is the Desert Botanical Garden so spectacular? The 150-acre backyard has over 50,000 desert vegetation and is the perfect place to go to for a handy desert expertise. The botanical backyard is a straightforward and enjoyable various for individuals who don’t have time to go to main desert places like Saguaro National Park.
Phoenix’s botanical backyard is a unbelievable place to go to in Arizona. The backyard is a superb compromise choice should you nonetheless need to expertise the desert panorama and attribute cacti and flora.
19. Lake Havasu City
If Phoenix is finest for a big-city really feel, Lake Havasu City is finest for the other. The tiny metropolis sits subsequent to Lake Havasu, which is fed by the Colorado River and is a sizzling spot for watersports and leisure. But it was the Little London Village that made us take a detour to go to Lake Havasu.
Nature lovers and people searching for a quiet base in Arizona will love Lake Havasu. The metropolis has a sluggish tempo, and its lakeside location is a pleasing change from Arizona’s dry desert panorama. There are loads of out of doors actions and points of interest together with Lake Havasu State Park and London Bridge. London Bridge is an architectural marvel transported from London in the Seventies and there’s a distinct English really feel in the London Village.
You can spend your days fishing, having fun with the footpaths and inexperienced area across the metropolis, or swimming and boating on the lake. Don’t overlook to try the Lake Havasu Lighthouses that span the shoreline..
20. Tucson
Tucson is Arizona’s second-largest metropolis and is filled with cultural range and issues to do. If you need a completely different Arizona expertise, we suggest visiting Tucson.
Tucson sits simply above the US-Mexican border in Southern Arizona. Thanks to its location, the town has loads of Mexican affect. One of the highest locations to go to San Xavier del Bac is a Spanish Catholic Mission. This nationwide historic landmark was based in 1692 and welcomes greater than 200,000 guests per 12 months. The church is taken into account the best Spanish Colonial structure in the United States.
You’ll discover many new experiences and immersion alternatives, from the town’s delicacies to its cultures. You should strive some Mexican delicacies whereas visiting.
Tucson can also be house to the University of Arizona. As a college metropolis, guests can take pleasure in an additional sociable, pleasant environment – particularly in the town middle.
While simply exterior the town middle, you’ll discover points of interest like Saguaro National Park and Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (extra on them later). Tucson is a enjoyable, contemporary metropolis to go to in Arizona. For an introduction to Southern Arizona, don’t look no additional.
21. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is positioned simply on the outskirts of Tucson. However, the museum deserves a spot on this checklist in its personal proper.
The museum is a little bit of all the pieces – from pure historical past museum to a botanical backyard. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum covers 98 acres. There can also be an artwork gallery for guests to take pleasure in.
You may simply spend a complete day on the museum. The museum is an opportunity to expertise a number of vacationer points of interest without delay. It is ideal for a household time out.
22. Flagstaff
Flagstaff is a small metropolis in Northern Arizona referred to as the gateway to the San Francisco Peaks and the Grand Canyon. Flagstaff is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Arizona in order for you to be centrally positioned amongst many of the state’s pure points of interest.
You can spend your days excitedly exploring all of the close by points of interest. Make certain to keep in Flagstaff for the day and head to the town’s historic downtown. You’ll discover a brewery path, glorious eating places, and the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Remember to deliver a digicam, as you’ll stumble throughout loads of road artwork and nice picture spots.
Both desert and forest encompass Flagstaff. Coconino National Forest envelops the town and is the most important Ponderosa Pine Forest in the world. For a metropolis the place you possibly can simply take a day journey into nature, Flagstaff is a perfect place to go to in Northern Arizona. Check out our information on one of the best cabins in Flagstaff for lodging inspiration.
23. Little Colorado River Navajo Tribal Park
If you might be driving from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, or Monument Valley, be certain to cease at Little Colorado River Navajo Tribal Park. The gorge outlook is completely positioned to slot into even the busiest day journeys.
Little Colorado River Navajo Tribal Park is one other of one of the best locations to go to in Arizona to add to your checklist. The park is positioned simply north of Flagstaff. If you might be searching for to make a time out of it, mix this with a visit to Lake Powell or Monument Valley.
The park’s most important spotlight is the gorge overlook, the place you’ll get to admire the sheer drop of a lesser-visited canyon. Be cautious of the place you might be stepping as there may be little to no barrier safety, and the park isn’t as commercialized as others in Arizona. Many discover it a peaceable various to busier canyons – just like the Grand and Antelope Canyons.
24. Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is likely one of the most original locations to go to in Arizona, and there’s no method we couldn’t add this distinctive Catholic church to our checklist. We’re not spiritual folks, however this is likely one of the most original buildings in Arizona. So it’s value seeing.
The church is wedged between two sandstone buttes and has giant, plain glass home windows that give it a contemporary, stylish design. The Chapel of the Holy Cross is just not your typical church.
You can enter the church to go searching or be part of a service if that’s your factor. The church is close to Sedona and loads of different points of interest, so it isn’t an excessive amount of of a detour to make.
25. Gold King Mine Museum and Ghost Town
Gold King Mine Museum and Ghost Town are by far the quirkiest place on our checklist. The property is about up as an Old West mining camp and is designed to provide you with an perception into what the lifetime of a miner was like.
You’ll be absolutely immersed with previous classic autos and mining gear on show. Car fans will particularly love this museum, and we suggest visiting if you’re in previous vehicles and autos. The selection is spectacular, even when you recognize nothing about vehicles.
It isn’t simply all previous relics, although; there are working areas like a sawmill and blacksmith’s store to go to as nicely. Gold King is designed to be a step again in time – absolutely immersing guests in the previous mining way of life.
You can count on to spend no less than a few hours studying, laughing, and admiring your method across the museum and ghost city. It is like its personal little world and a enjoyable but traditionally informative factor to do in Arizona.
26. Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway
Are you searching for a scenic drive? Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway is an unimaginable, comparatively brief scenic drive from Tucson which you can take pleasure in. Short sufficient to comfortably squeeze right into a day but lengthy sufficient to present various scenes and points of interest, this scenic byway is a superb place to drive.
You received’t discover the byway marked on a map. However, it’s the solely paved highway main to Mount Lemmon’s high. The highway known as Mt Lemmon Highway and begins from the outskirts of Tucson. Altogether, the route is roughly 60 miles lengthy and takes three to 4 hours to full – plus further time to enable for stops.
Speaking of stops, we suggest stopping at Babad Do’ag Scenic Overlook, Molino Canyon Vista, Thimble Peak Vista, Windy Point Vista, and Geology Vista Point. There are fairly actually dozens of mountaineering trails and trailheads alongside the freeway as nicely. You can simply park up and take a detour on foot.
Allow further time once more when you attain Mount Lemmon’s peak. There is Mt Lemmon Ski Valley, Mt Lemmon Sky Observatory, and a Fire Lookout Station to go to. Mount Lemmon has a small city on the mountain high too, the place you possibly can seize refreshments and do some gentle buying.
The ‘Grand Canyon State’ is full of great actions and vacationer locations. Visiting Arizona is assured to be memorable with breathtaking sights that may make your jaw drop all through your keep. The state has a lot to provide, whether or not you need a typical desert expertise, a unusual vacationer attraction, or a cultural immersion.
Photo Credit: Chapel of the Holy Cross