Escape to Adventure: Top Weekend Trips from Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona is something special. From the vibrant food scene, to the plethera of Saguaro cacti, to the rugged mountains, and to the city- it has something to offer for everyone. It’s also close in proximity to many other wonderful places in the state. Within an hour, you can drive from a sea of Saguaro cactus, to the most dense forest of Ponderosa Pines in the entire United States. If you live here, you know sometimes it’s fun to get out of town (especially when its over 100 degrees). You may also be thinking about visiting Phoenix, and wanting to see as much of Arizona as you can during your trip. Either way, this post is for you!
IN ARIZONA, YOU CAN GO FROM BEING IN A SEA OF SAGUAROS TO A DENSE FOREST OF PONDEROSA PINES WITHIN AN HOUR.
ADVENTUROUS WEEKEND TRIPS FROM PHOENIX
1. Sedona
Sedona, Arizona is the NUMBER 1 weekend trip from Phoenix. I’ve lived in Arizona for 9 years, and have been to Sedona about 25 times- it’s that good. There’s ALWAYS something new to try and I love the variety. You can stay in a tent, in a cabin, in a motel, or in a luury hote. You can have your palms read, you can shop, you can eat, you can ride a jeep, fly in a helicopter, or go on a hike. Take your pick! Here are a few of my suggestions-
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
CAMPSITES: FR525c, Cave Springs, Schnebly Hill Road
HOTELS: Amara Resort, Best Wester Plus Arroyo Roble, Ambiente Landscape Hotel, L’Auberge Sedona
HIKES: Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon Cave, Soldier’s Pass, Vultee Arch, Doe Mountain
RESTAURANTS: Oxaca Mexican, Wildflower Bakery, Oak Creek Brewery, Butterfly Burger, Cowboy Club
ACTIVITIES: Go Crystal Shopping, Shop Downtown, Jeep Tour, Hot Air Balloon Ride, Helicopter Ride.
2. FLAGSTAFF
Ohhh, Flagstaff. Arizona’s mountain town. If you didn’t know, Flagstaff sits at a higher elevation than Denver and it’s one of the most snowiest cities in the entire United States. Flagstaff is known for having the tallest mountain in the state (Mt. Humphrey), being a Route 66 town, and is the home to NAU college campus. It’s an adventure center, and is colse to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Page, and more. It’s the perfect weekend trip from Phoenix whether in the fall, winter, spring, or summer.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
CAMPSITES: Pumphouse Wash Dispersed, Lockett Meadow, Arizona Nordic Village, Freidein Prairie Dispersed
HOTELS: High Country Motor Lodge, Hotel Monte Vista, Weatherford Hotel
HIKES: Mt. Humphrey, Mt. Elden, Fat Man’s Loop, Walnut Canyon, Grand Falls, Buffalo Park
RESTAURANTS: Biff’s Bagels, Lumberyard Brewing Company, The Toasted Owl
ACTIVITIES: Ski at Snowbowl, Snowshoe at Buffalo Park, Ride the Gondola at Snowbowl, Visit Nearby National Monuments, Explore Downtown Shops
3. THE GRAND CANYON
As you’d expect, the Grand Canyon is a perfect weekend trip from Phoenix, as it is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Despite that, many Arizona natives haven’t ever been! It’s 100% worth a trip. I will note, you really need to stay for sunrise or sunset to TOTALLY make it worth it- the colors are OUT OF THIS WORLD. The Grand Canyon is the ultimate weekend getaway in Arizona.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
CAMPSITES: Mather Campground (in the park), TenX Dispersed Camping, KOA Grand Canyon
HOTELS: (in the park)- Yavapai, Thunderbird, Bright Angel Lodges, El Tovar. (out of the park)- The Grand Hotel, Red Feather Lodge, Starry Nights Glamping
HIKES: South Kaibab Trail, Bright Angel Trail, Rim Trail
RESTAURANTS: El Tovar Dining, Fred Harvey Burger, Bright Angel Fountain, Arizona Steakhouse, Yavapai Lodge
ACTIVITIES: Rent a Bike, Hike, Expore the Gift Shops, Helicopter Tour, Ride the Shuttle to Viewpoints
NEED SOMEWHERE TO CAMP??
I’ve created a FORTY PAGE GUIDE outlining all the best free and paid campsites in Northern Arizona, including The Grand Canyon.
It can be hard to spend hours researching campsites, trying to figure out were they’re located, what they look like, the price, and the amenities. With my guide, those days are over! I give you everything you need to know, with links to my Google Maps AND it’s in a PDF so you can access it any time!
4. PRESCOTT
Prescott, Arizona (pronounced press-kit by locals) is located about 2 hours Northwest of Phoenix, in Prescott National Forest. It definitely has small town vibes, and it’s really cute! It is very underrated- there’s so much to do! Prescott is known for its mountain biking trails, unique forest and rock formations, being the home of the “World’s Oldest Rodeo,” and Whiskey Row, the downtown area. I highly recommend a trip here, especially in the fall and summer. Definitely put Prescott on your list of weekend trips from Phoenix.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
CAMPSITES: Lynx Campground, White Spar Campground, Prescott Basin Dispersed Camping
HOTELS: The Grand Highland Prescott, Hotel St Michael Prescott, Prescott Resort and Conference Center, Bucky’s Casino
HIKES: Thumb Butte, Granite Mountain, Boulder Creek Trail, Peavine Trail
RESTAURANTS: El Gato Azul, Rosa’s Pizzeria, The County Seat, Matt’s Saloon, Jersey Lilly Saloon
ACTIVITIES: Go Mountain Biking, Visit for the 4th of July or Christmas, Grab a Drink on Whiskey Row, Shop Downtown, See Watson, Lynx, and Goldwater ake.
5. JEROME
Jerome is a fun weekend trip from Phoenix. Jerome is a former mining town nicknamed “The Wickedest Town in the West.” It’s population is only a few hundred, and some of the buildings are known to be haunted. It’s a great middle ground between Prescott and Sedona.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
CAMPSITES: Mingus Mountain, Prescott, Sedona
HOTELS: The Grand Hotel, Ghost City Inn, The Connor Hotel
HIKES: Woodchute Trail, Mingus Mountain, Potato Patch Trail
RESTAURANTS: The Haunted Hamburger, Asylum Restaurant, The Flatiron, Bobby D’s BBQ
ACTIVITIES: Stay at Jerome’s Haunted Hotel (The Grand Hotel), walk through the ghost town, have a burger at The Haunted Hamburger.
6. PAYSON
Payson, Arizona is one of my family’s favorite weekend trips from Phoenix. It is only an hour away from where we live in Mesa, or an hour and a half from Phoenix. It’s much less popular and less developed than Sedona or Flagstaff, which I like. It’s a place for true Arizona Adventurers, not for tourists. Payson is home to the Mogollon Rim and the most dense forest of Ponderosa Pine Trees in the entire United States.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
CAMPSITES: Christopher Creek, Lower Tonto Creek, Rim Campground, Crook Campground, Aspen Campground, FR 9350 Dispersed Campground
HOTELS: Kohl’s Ranch Lodge, Majestic Mountain Inn
HIKES: Mogollon Rim Vista Trail, Horton Springs, See Canyon
RESTAURANTS: Common Grounds Coffee, Daisen Danzeisen Dairy, Diamond Point Steakhouse, Backwoods Pizza, Macky’s, Pinon Cafe
ACTIVITIES: Camp on the Mogollon Rim, Search for Natural Diamonds at Diamond Point, Hike to a Waterfall, Visit a Rim Lake (Woods Canyon, Bear, Willow Springs Lake)
7. PINE/STRAWBERRY
Pine and Strawberry are about 30 minutes past Payson, Arizona. They’re cute little towns primarily known for private cabins and Airbnb’s. Pine has a cute downtown area with lots of shops. They’re close in proximity to many fun hikes and landmarks in the area. Make sure to add these two to your weekend trip in Phoenix list!
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
CAMPSITES: Kehl Springs Campground, Rim Road 300 Dispersed Camping, Blue Ridge Reservoir (farther north)
HOTELS: Strawberry Inn, The Lodge at 5600, Beeline Guest House, Airbnbs in the area
HIKES: Water Wheel Falls, Tonto Bridge State Park, Fossil Springs, The Arizona Trail, Pine Loop Trail
RESTAURANTS: Old County Inn, THAT Brewery & Pub, Windmill Coffee, PIEbar AZ
ACTIVITIES: Ski or Ride the Scenic Lift at Sunrise Resort, Visit Pacheta Falls, Go Fishing
8. WHITE MOUNTAINS
The White Mountains refer to the area in Northeastern Arizona that makes up Pinetop-Lakeside, Show Low, Greer, and more. It’s a great weekend trip from Phoenix. This area is known for its green landscape and much cooler climate than the valley. It is 3.5 hours away, so you need at least 2 days of your weekend to enjoy the area. If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway, away from the hustle & bustle, this is the trip for you.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
CAMPSITES: Show Low Lake Campground, Upper & Lower Log Campground, FR 112 Dispersed Camping, Reservation Lake Campground
HOTELS: The Nook Pinetop, Corduroy Lodge, Timberlodge Inn, Greer Lodge
HIKES: Thompson Trail, Mt. Baldy, Pacheta Falls, Government Springs
RESTAURANTS: Cycleogical Coffee, Darbi’s Cafe, Munich Haus Beer Garden, The Spaghetti Shack, Pinetop Brewing Company
9. PAGE
Page, Arizona is an absolutely stunning red-rock community. It’s close in proximity to so many outdoorsy hot spots including Zion National Park, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, Vermillion Cliffs, Horseshoe Bend, Lee’s Ferry, and more! It is surrounded by Navajo tribes, so please respect their rules and their land- were lucky they share it with us. Page, Arizona is 4 horus due north of Phoenix! In my opinion, it’s best for a long holiday weekend trip from Phoenix.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
CAMPSITES: Wahweap Campground, Page Lake Powell Campground, Lee’s Ferry Campground, Antelope Point Campground, Lone Rock Beach Campground
HOTELS: Hyatt Place Page, Under Canvas Lake Powell, Wingate by Wyndham Page
HIKES: Rainbow Bridge (have to boat to it), Horseshoe Bend, Beehive Trail, Page Rimview Trail
RESTAURANTS: Big John’s Texas BBQ, State 48 Tavern, El Tapatio, Bonker’s Restaurant
ACTIVITIES: Rent a boat on Lake Powell, Take an Antelope Canyon Tour, Hike to Horseshoe Bend, Go Off-Roading
10. SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS
You might be wondering why I added this to the list! I only live 15 minutes from the Supes (nickname for the Superstitions), but others in the Valley live over an hour away. And some of you may not live in the Valley and live in other areas of Arizona. For that reason, I suggest staying for more than just a day. The Supersitions are rugged and absolutely beautiful. I’m always enjoying new views. So, when thinking of weekend trips from Phoenix, don’t forget about the Superstition Mountains.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
CAMPSITES: Lost Dutchman State Park, Peralta Road Dispersed, Peralta Regional Park (new), Canyon Lake Campgrounds
HOTELS: Lost Dutchman State Park Cabins
HIKES: Flatiron, Treasure Loop, Massacre Falls, Broadway Cave, Massacre Falls, Hackberry Springs, Weaver’s Needle
RESTAURANTS: Golfield Ghosttown Salloon, Tina’s Breakfast
ACTIVITIES: Visit Goldfield Ghosttown, Boat on Nearby Canyon and Saguaro Lake, Backpack into the Supersitions, Conquer Flatiron, take pictures at sunset
FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT WEEKEND TRIPS FROM PHOENIX
Phoenix is a great central location to multiple wonderful getaway locations. Whether you’re going to the red rocks or to the forest, you’ll make memories of a lifetime. Sometimes, all you need is a little time away from the city.
