6 best day trips from Phoenix

Day trips compared

The day trips

190 km · About 2 hours by car

1.Sedona

Red sandstone buttes, the Chapel of the Holy Cross and trails such as Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock make Sedona the most popular trip from Phoenix. An overnight stay lets you see sunset and sunrise on the red rocks.

Getting there

Car via I-17, or a shuttle or tour

Best for

Couples, First-timers, Quiet stays

370 km · About 3 hours 45 minutes each way by car

2.Grand Canyon South Rim

The South Rim's viewpoints, such as Mather Point and Yavapai Point, look into the canyon's layered walls. It is a very long day from Phoenix; an overnight stay at the rim or in Flagstaff is far more rewarding.

Getting there

Car via I-17 and Flagstaff, or an organised tour

Best for

First-timers, Families, Couples

185 km · About 1 hour 45 minutes by car

3.Tucson

Tucson combines Saguaro National Park's cactus forests, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's outdoor zoo and garden, and the white 18th-century Mission San Xavier del Bac. It is also a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, known for Sonoran food.

Getting there

Car via I-10

Best for

Families, Food lovers, Culture

65 km · About 50 minutes by car

4.Lost Dutchman State Park

At the foot of the jagged Superstition Mountains, the park has desert trails through saguaros and wildflowers, including the steep Siphon Draw route, and views of the cliffs glowing at sunset.

Getting there

Car

Best for

Couples, Families, Quiet stays

150 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car

5.Montezuma Castle National Monument

A five-storey cliff dwelling built by the Sinagua people more than 800 years ago, set in a limestone cliff above Beaver Creek. A short, flat trail leads to viewpoints, and it combines easily with Sedona or Jerome.

Getting there

Car via I-17

Best for

Families, Culture

180 km · About 2 hours by car

6.Jerome

A former copper-mining town clinging to Cleopatra Hill, nearly abandoned after the mines closed and revived by artists. Its steep streets hold galleries, wine-tasting rooms and views across the Verde Valley to Sedona's red rocks.

Getting there

Car

Best for

Couples, Culture, Shopping

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• The free PHX Sky Train connects Sky Harbor's terminals with the 44th Street light rail station and the rental car centre's shuttle buses.
• Valley Metro buses run on the main grid roads, but long distances and waits in the heat make them impractical for most visitors.
• For trips over about 195 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask