There are a number of locations to go to in Arizona – from admiring the Grand Canyon to experiencing cultural vacationer sights all through its desert panorama.
We’ll have a look at the most effective cities, nationwide parks, and out of doors sights, after which end with a particular extras part leaving you with loads of inspiration on your upcoming journey to Arizona.
High locations to go to in Arizona
This information is cut up into particular sections, as there are numerous various kinds of locations to go to in Arizona. so let’s get began.
Finest cities to go to in Arizona
Arizona isn’t all desert and canyons; the state has a number of cities that deserve visiting. The next cities are a few of the finest locations to go to in Arizona.
1. Phoenix
Phoenix is the sunny state capital of Arizona. Positioned in central Arizona, Phoenix is surrounded by mountains and desert landscapes. Its location appears unlikely for a metropolis, with skyscrapers and luxurious motels capturing up from what (earlier than 1881) was as soon as sand and mud. Nonetheless, its incongruous attract is all a part of Phoenix’s appeal.
Phoenix is the most effective place to go to in Arizona for a big-city expertise. The town is bursting with creativity and sights, together with extra artwork galleries than you would see in an entire week.
Phoenix can also be residence to the Musical Instrument Museum, Pure Historical past Museum, Phoenix Bat Cave, and Desert Botanical Backyard.
2. Lake Havasu Metropolis
If Phoenix is finest for a big-city-feel, Lake Havasu Metropolis is finest for the alternative. The tiny metropolis sits subsequent to Lake Havasu, which is fed by the Colorado River and is a sizzling spot for watersports and rest.
Nature lovers and people searching for a quiet base in Arizona will love Lake Havasu. The town has a sluggish tempo, and its lakeside location is a nice change from Arizona’s dry desert panorama. There are many out of doors actions and sights, together with Lake Havasu State Park and London Bridge. London Bridge is an architectural marvel transported from London within the Seventies and there’s a distinct English really feel within the London Village.
You’ll be able to 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 take a look at the Lake Havasu Lighthouses that span the shoreline..
3. Tucson
Tucson is Arizona’s second-largest metropolis and is stuffed with cultural range and issues to do. If you need a totally different Arizona expertise, we advocate visiting Tucson.
Tucson sits simply above the US-Mexican border in Southern Arizona. Due to its location, the town has a number of Mexican affect. One of many high 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 yr. The church is taken into account the best Spanish Colonial structure in the US.
You’ll discover many new experiences and immersion alternatives, from the town’s delicacies to its cultures. It’s essential to attempt some Mexican delicacies whereas visiting.
Tucson can also be residence to the College of Arizona. As a college metropolis, guests can get pleasure from an additional sociable, pleasant ambiance – particularly within the metropolis heart. Whereas, simply exterior the town heart, you’ll discover sights like Saguaro Nationwide 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.
4. Flagstaff
Flagstaff is a small metropolis in Northern Arizona and is often known as the gateway to the San Francisco Peaks and the Grand Canyon. Flagstaff is without doubt one of the finest locations to go to in Arizona if you wish to be centrally positioned amongst many of the state’s pure sights.
You’ll be able to spend your days excitedly exploring all of the close by sights. Alternatively, keep in Flagstaff for the day and head to the town’s historic downtown. You’ll discover a brewery path, wonderful eating places, and the Flagstaff Customer Middle. Bear in mind to deliver a digicam as effectively, as you’ll stumble throughout loads of road artwork and nice picture spots.
Flagstaff is surrounded by each desert and forest. Coconino Nationwide Forest envelops the town and is the biggest Ponderosa Pine Forest on this planet. For a metropolis the place you’ll be able to simply take a day journey into nature, Flagstaff is a perfect place to go to in Northern Arizona. Take a look at our information on the most effective cabins in Flagstaff for lodging inspiration.
Finest Nationwide Parks to Go to in Arizona
What would a visit to Arizona be with out visiting a nationwide park? Arizona’s nationwide parks are famend for his or her unbelievable sights, together with the well-known Grand Canyon.
You’ll be able to discover the mountaineering trails, biking trails, take off-roading excursions, or ebook a scenic helicopter flight – it’s as much as you. These are the most effective nationwide parks to go to in Arizona.
5. Saguaro Nationwide Park
We’ve briefly talked about Saguaro Nationwide Park already. The park is positioned simply exterior Tucson. It’s a good spot to go to for gorgeous surroundings and mountaineering trails whereas visiting Southern Arizona.
The park is most recognized for its cacti. Certainly, on this nationwide park, you’ll discover a few of the largest saguaro cacti within the US. A few of the cacti dwell as much as 200 years outdated and develop at a really sluggish fee. The nationwide park seems like an outdated American West film scene and has over 90,000 acres so that you can discover.
Whether or not you select a scenic drive or hike, reserving a rental automobile to go to Saguaro Nationwide Park is the simplest choice. Valley View Overlook Path is a pleasant quick stroll that ought to take you round 20 minutes to finish, whereas mountaineering to Sign Hill Petroglyphs is a should for anybody inquisitive about historical artwork and civilizations.
6. Petrified Forest Nationwide Park
If the Petrified Forest Nationwide Park sounds improbable, it’s as a result of it’s. Nonetheless, when you arrive anticipating a lush forest full of lovely, attention-grabbing bushes, 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’ll drive the size of the park in round an hour – stopping at no matter spot catches your eye. Some to not miss locations embrace Rainbow Forest Museum, the Crystal Forest hike, and the Blue Mesa hike.
Questioning how this pure phenomenon happens? Petrification of bushes takes place when bushes 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 kind, simply in a special materials.
For a singular pure expertise, Petrified Forest Nationwide Park is without doubt one of the finest locations to go to in Arizona. We advocate selecting this nationwide park for anybody intrigued by pure ‘mysteries’ and wanting a memorable expertise in Arizona.
7. Grand Canyon Nationwide Park
The Grand Canyon. What can we are saying? The park is one among the most effective locations to go to within the US, by no means thoughts Arizona. Visiting the Grand Canyon is up there on most individuals’s US bucket lists.
South Rim and North Rim are the preferred areas to discover the Grand Canyon on foot. The North Rim is the lesser seen facet of the Grand Canyon and is finest for individuals who need a quieter place to expertise it. South Rim is far busier and is full of totally different mountaineering trails.
A well-liked mountaineering route is the Vibrant Angel Path. The path is well-maintained and comparatively straightforward. It follows a facet canyon, previous cliff faces, and varied switchbacks, earlier than ending at Plateau Level. Plateau Level has gorgeous views of the canyon and the park’s surroundings.
After all, you’ll be able to at all times splurge on a helicopter journey as a substitute. Many vacationers decide to view the canyon from above, which is without doubt one of the most exhilarating issues to do in Arizona.
8. Canyon de Chelly Nationwide Monument
Canyon de Chelly Nationwide Monument is a nationwide park in Northeastern Arizona. It’s positioned in Navajo Nation and is exceptionally near the Arizona-New Mexico border. For many who wish to expertise nature within the north, it’s simply the most effective locations to go to in Arizona.
Canyon de Chelly Nationwide Monument covers over 80,000 acres and is residence 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 consider it was as soon as linked to a ridge. These days, it makes an uncommon pure attraction and an important {photograph}.
You’ll be able to drop by the Canyon de Chelly Customer Middle for professional native steerage on issues to see and do. Nonetheless, it’s best to undoubtedly be sure to attempt a mountaineering path or scenic drive. You can even discover the canyon on horseback if you’d like a extra thrilling expertise.
Finest Outside Sights
After exploring the most effective nationwide parks and cities, let’s have a look at Arizona’s largest class – its out of doors sights.
Arizona is ideal when you love being outdoor and experiencing pure sights. The state is stuffed with issues to see and do outdoor, together with visiting the Nationwide Monument, Antelope Canyon, and Monument Valley. Able to be impressed? Let’s have a look.
9. Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is a nationwide treasure, not simply an merchandise on a listing of the state’s finest locations to go to. The wave-like sandstone partitions of the slot canyon are well-known on social media and in journey magazines. Photographers and common vacationers alike flock to the canyon to seize the magical surroundings and stroll alongside the canyon flooring.
If you wish to go to Antelope Canyon, you’ll have to decide on which half to go to – Decrease Antelope Canyon, Higher Antelope Canyon, or possibly each as you’ll be able to ebook excursions and see each.
Higher Antelope Canyon is the simplest to hike however is darker, whereas Decrease Antelope Canyon is narrower however a lot lighter. Determine which choice most closely fits you, after which both ebook on-line or pay a go to to Antelope Canyon Customer Middle.
Antelope Canyon is well the most effective locations. This canyon is a must-visit if you wish to go to bucket listing out of doors sights.
10. Monument Valley
Monument Valley is definitely positioned alongside the Arizona-Utah border. If you wish to go to simply, you’ll must base your self in a northern metropolis like Flagstaff. The valley is without doubt one of the most well-known landscapes within 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’s most recognized for its towering sandstone buttes, which you’ll expertise on scenic drives or on mountaineering trails. Don’t miss Forest Gump Level, the long-lasting viewpoint utilized in well-known motion pictures and is a vital filming location in cinematic historical past.
The valley is a good place to chop by means of if you’re planning an Arizona street journey. There are lots of issues to see whereas driving by means of the valley, and the surroundings is ideal for memorable street tripping.
11. Lake Powell
In case you are heading as much as the Arizona-Utah border, it’s effectively price detouring to Lake Powell. The lake is a shocking synthetic physique of water located between Monument Valley and Grand Canyon Nationwide Park. It’s a stunning place to go to in Arizona. The lake’s shiny blue water and orange sandstone environment minimize a picture-perfect scene.
The lake is fed by the Colorado River and covers over 2,000 miles of shoreline. The Rainbow Bridge Nationwide Monument is a big vacationer attraction on the lake, and the huge stone arc is the biggest pure bridge on this planet. It is a wonderful attraction to mix with having fun with the lake itself.
Many individuals spend a day or two staying alongside the shores of the lake. You might want to go to as a day journey or search for a cabin, lodge, or campsite in an effort to keep in a single day.
12. Montezuma Citadel Nationwide Monument
Fascinated by historical tradition and archaeological websites of inhabitation? Montezuma Citadel Nationwide Monument is the place to go to. The positioning is residence to a number of cliffside dwellings, constructed and lived in by Indigenous Individuals round 1100 to 1425 AD.
Sadly, entry contained in the dwellings has now been prohibited in an comprehensible try to guard the positioning from extreme harm. Nonetheless, guests can take a digital tour inside the homes. They give the impression of being unbelievable from the surface, and you’ll get pleasure from quite a few mountaineering trails for various views.
13. Horseshoe Bend
You’ll be able to’t go to Arizona with out visiting the Colorado River. After all, there are numerous sections of the river which you could select to see. Nonetheless, we extremely advocate visiting Horseshoe Bend.
Horseshoe Bend is the postcard picture of the Colorado River. It’s undoubtedly the most effective locations to go to in Arizona. As you might have guessed, the curve is formed like a horseshoe, and also you’ll discover a improbable viewpoint the place you’ll be able to admire the distinctive surroundings up shut. Ensure to pack a digicam when you’ve bought one, as Horseshoe Bend is without doubt one of the hottest sights within the US.
Reaching the point of view 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’s little or no shade and Arizona will get dangerously sizzling in summer time.
14. Desert Botanical Backyard
We spoke in regards to the Desert Botanical Backyard when discussing Phoenix. The backyard is positioned in Papago Park, within the heart of Arizona’s capital metropolis. Nonetheless, the Desert Botanical Backyard is worthy of a spot on our listing in its personal proper. We extremely advocate visiting even when you simply fly into Phoenix and head straight out of the town after (however severely, a minimum of give the town a day or two).
Why is the Desert Botanical Backyard 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 areas like Saguaro Nationwide Park.
Phoenix’s botanical backyard is a improbable place to go to in Arizona. The backyard is a good compromise choice when you nonetheless wish to expertise the desert panorama and attribute cacti and flora.
15. Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam is located in Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation Park, a one million-acre reserve encompassing biking trails, mountaineering trails, and Lake Powell.
Planning a visit to Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation Park to go to Lake Powell? We advocate taking a detour to go to the Glen Canyon Dam. The dam is a hydroelectric energy plant and has turn out to be an iconic attraction alongside the Colorado River.
Guests 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 unbelievable from a distance and much more spectacular up shut. After all, to avoid wasting a bit of cash, you’ll be able to at all times stroll throughout Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, the place you’ll nonetheless have nice views over the dam.
16. Lake Mead
Lake Mead is one other spectacular synthetic attraction. The lake has the very best water capability of any US reservoir and sits on the Nevada-Arizona border. In the event you love water actions and lakeside residing, Lake Mead is without doubt one of the finest locations to go to in Arizona to unwind and calm down.
We advocate permitting time to take a Lake Mead cruise, because the distinction between desert and an oasis-like physique of water is hanging and finest skilled from the water itself. You can even fish, and boat on the lake. The desert mountains are the proper locations for scenic drives and biking; nonetheless, will probably be exhausting to attract your self away from the refreshing lake that they encompass.
In case you are planning a street journey, Lake Mead is ideally positioned en path to Las Vegas. It’s price detouring to benefit from the lake and think about combining it with a go to to the close by Hoover Dam.
17. Coyote Buttes
Do you’re keen on distinctive and thrilling landscapes? In that case, Coyote Buttes are the most effective locations to go to in Arizona.
The Buttes are positioned in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. Slightly like Antelope Canyon, the panorama options wave-like rock patterns. However as a substitute of being in a canyon, you’ll be able to expertise the waves out within the open, amongst towering buttes. The panorama is fascinating and is a bit like strolling by means of a maze of pure skatepark ramps.
Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness is a good spot to go to in Arizona. However, if you’re visiting, prioritize a go to to the Buttes. Paria has over 100,000 acres of protected lands, however the Coyote Buttes are essentially the most thrilling half to see.
18. Hoover Dam
As soon as the tallest dam on this planet, the Hoover Dam has a nostalgic sort of energy. Whereas it not holds that grand title, it’s nonetheless one among Arizona’s finest locations to go to. Guests shortly admire its energy and energy. It’s mentioned that the dam might face up to the drive of Niagara Falls – which supplies you a wonderful perspective on how robust it’s.
You’ll be able to view the Hoover Dam from afar or drop by the Hoover Dam Guests Middle to ebook a guided tour. Excursions sometimes embrace entry to the Hoover Dam tunnels, an elevator journey to the highest, and particular entry to practical rooms all through the constructing.
In case you are inquisitive about structure or simply wish to see a nationwide historic landmark up shut, the dam is nice to go to. Additionally it is mixed with a visit to Las Vegas, because the dam sits on the Nevada-Arizona border.
19. Jerome State Historic Park
Fancy indulging in a little bit of historical past? Jerome State Historic Park is a improbable 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.
Guests can wander by means of two flooring of informative reveals plus out of doors gardens. The museum balances common mining tales and the native city’s historical past. You’ll be able to study region-specific minerals and mining processes by means of varied mediums, together with cinematic movies.
The park is effectively mixed with a go to to Montezuma Citadel or an important day journey if you’re staying in close by Flagstaff. It’s undoubtedly an exercise to notice down on your Arizona itinerary.
20. the Superstition Mountains
The Superstition Mountains cowl 160,000 and are filled with beautiful mountainous and desert scenes. That isn’t 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 a number of riches. You’ll be able to be part of the crowds or, alternatively, discover non-gold-related leisure within the mountains.
You’ll be able to go to the Superstition Mountains Museum, discover the encircling Tonto Nationwide Forest, or hike alongside one of many varied trails. These mountains are the most effective locations to go to in Arizona for journey.
Extra Locations to Go to in Arizona
These locations are particular additions to our information on the most effective locations to go to in Arizona. Whether or not they’re a museum or sacred tribal lands, they don’t match into the out of doors vacationer attraction class. So, here’s a class of their very own.
Right here is our ultimate subsection, our particular listing of extra locations to go to in Arizona.
22. Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is without doubt one of the most unusual locations to go to in Arizona, and there’s no means we couldn’t add this distinctive Catholic church to our listing.
Whereas we aren’t inserting the church in our out of doors attraction class, its exterior is a phenomenal sight. 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’ll be able to enter the church to go searching or be part of a service if you want. The church is close to Sedona and loads of different sights, so it isn’t an excessive amount of of a detour to make.
23. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is located on the outskirts of Tucson. Nonetheless, the museum deserves a spot on this listing in its personal proper.
The museum is a little bit of the whole lot – from pure historical past museum to a zoo and a botanical backyard. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum covers 98 acres and consists of an aquarium part, dwell animal reveals, plus flora shows within the botanical backyard part. There may be additionally an artwork gallery for guests to get pleasure from.
You may simply spend an entire day on the museum. The museum is an opportunity to expertise a number of vacationer sights directly. It’s good for a household day trip.
24. Little Colorado River Navajo Tribal Park
Little Colorado River Navajo Tribal Park is one other of the most effective locations to go to in Arizona so as to add to your listing. The park is positioned simply north of Flagstaff. It’s simply mixed with a go to to Lake Powell or Monument Valley.
The park’s major spotlight is the gorge overlook, the place you’ll get the possibility to admire the sheer drop of a lesser visited canyon. Be cautious of the place you’re stepping as there’s 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.
In case you are driving from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, or Monument Valley, be sure to cease at Little Colorado River Navajo Tribal Park. The gorge outlook is completely positioned to fit into even the busiest day journeys.
25. Gold King Mine Museum and Ghost City
Gold King Mine Museum and Ghost City is by far the quirkiest place on our listing. The property is about up as an Outdated West mining camp and is designed to provide you an perception into what the lifetime of a miner was like.
You’ll be absolutely immersed with outdated classic autos and mining gear on show. Automobile fans will particularly love this museum, and we advocate visiting if you’re inquisitive about outdated vehicles and autos. The variability is spectacular even when nothing about vehicles.
It isn’t simply all outdated relics, although; there are working areas like a sawmill and blacksmith’s store to go to as effectively. Gold King is designed to be a step again in time – absolutely immersing guests within the outdated mining life-style.
You’ll be able to count on to spend a minimum of a few hours studying, laughing, and admiring your means across the museum and ghost city. It’s like its personal little world and a enjoyable but traditionally informative factor to do in Arizona.
26. Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway
In search of a scenic drive? Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway is an unbelievable, comparatively quick scenic drive which you could get pleasure from from Tucson. Brief sufficient to comfortably squeeze right into a day but lengthy sufficient to offer numerous scenes and sights, this scenic byway is a good place to drive.
You gained’t discover the byway marked on a map. Nonetheless, it’s the solely paved street resulting in Mount Lemmon’s high. The street known as Mt Lemmon Freeway and begins from the outskirts of Tucson. Altogether, the route is roughly 60 miles lengthy and takes three to 4 hours to finish – plus additional time to permit for stops.
Talking of stops, we advocate stopping at Babad Do’ag Scenic Overlook, Molino Canyon Vista, Thimble Peak Vista, Windy Level Vista, and Geology Vista Level. There are fairly actually dozens of mountaineering trails and trailheads alongside the freeway as effectively. You’ll be able to simply park up and take a detour on foot.
Permit additional time once more when you attain Mount Lemmon’s peak. There may be Mt Lemmon Ski Valley, Mt Lemmon Sky Observatory, and a Hearth Lookout Station to go to. Mount Lemmon has a small city on the mountain high too, the place you’ll be able to seize refreshments and do some gentle purchasing.
The ‘Grand Canyon State’ is full of great actions and vacationer locations. Visiting Arizona is assured to be memorable, and also you’ll keep effectively entertained all through your keep. The state has a lot to supply, whether or not you need a typical desert expertise, a unusual vacationer attraction, or a cultural immersion.
Have a improbable journey. We hope you handle to expertise a minimum of a few these finest locations to go to in Arizona.
Picture Credit score: Chapel of the Holy Cross