Our highlights: Although there is a fair few places you can go to see the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon National Park is probably your best option and not only because it is the closest. Unlimited stops, edit, share, find recommended places of interest and campgrounds, manage budgets, print or export directions and more. The Sky Island name comes from the unique mountains that stand in the middle of the desert, seemingly not part of a mountain range with no other major peaks nearby. If you see one, the rest of the family is usually somewhere about too! Another good scenic drive is, Ah yes Arlin el chorro lodge is great and the scenic drive is awesome great mention I also think they have a groupon or living social coupon avail. One highly unusual sight in Lake Havasu City is the London Bridge. Salim is a lover of adventure and creativity. 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. To request a listing, please fill out the form below and press "Submit. A trip to Summerhaven, a small community on the base, is definitely the most interesting day trip from Tucson. Many of Arizona's most beautiful roadways unwind after a short detour from the interstate. Our highlights: Not only is Zion National Park spectacular with its green canyon scenery, but the trails here are outstanding - you'll have paths that have been carved through sheer rock cliffs and overlooks that will leave you speechless. The huge Meteor Crater is about 30 minutes drive out of Flagstaff. When we were doing this drive, we were amazed at the variance in the different types of desert and the gradual change as you approach San Diego. It was formed 50,000 years ago when a meteorite crashed into the Earth creating a 3,900 ft (1,200 m) wide and 560 ft (170 m) deep crater. 6 hours 40 minutes from Phoenix (410 miles). Go-Arizona.com, part of The Go Travel Sites family, is among the largest websites covering travel and vacationing in Arizona. Other than the small Saguaro National Park just outside Tucson (see #1 above), these are the closest two to Phoenix. However, it is common among sightseers who cant get enough of the dense desert flora, crystal-clear lakes, rock formations, cliff dwellings, canyons, and portals spread along the path. Check out these best scenic drives in Phoenix, Arizona. He has visited many of the waterfalls and museums in Nigeria and (Do a quick search on the following sites). Although Santa Fe is only an hour away from Albuquerque, you'll notice it feels very different. Bonus: If you want to climb even higher, the Arizona Snowbowl is just outside Flagstaff to the north. Bonus: Make sure you go see the La Jolla neighborhood and the La Jolla Cove that is home to a group of sea lions - you'll be able to see them most days relaxing on the rocks. There are some good and not very strenuous hiking trails to explore and in spring the desert has a desert flower bloom which is worth seeing - especially as the temperatures are a lot milder. 1. Our highlights: Unlike many of the other options on this list, Monument Valley is not a National Park because it is located within the Navajo Nation Reservation and the land cannot be Federally owned and managed. At this national monument, you'll see the unique cacti that gave the park its name by the hundreds! Out of all the bidders in the world, Lake Havasu City won an auction to buy the bridge. It's a relatively easy hike up to see the ruins and a great start to the trip. If you were to do a road trip from the Phoenix area to the Grand Canyon on I-40, you'd miss out on so much beauty. 1. $(this).find(".travelPlannerImageWrapper .tpcb").attr("checked", true); Its on this gently winding stretch of road between Sedona and Flagstaff that oak trees burst into vibrant hues of red, gold and yellow. Searchable listings of Phoenix hotels, motels, resorts, bed & breakfast, and more. Time to Allow 1 hour or less 1 - 3 hours Over 3 hours. 1. Being the heart of the state, Phoenix has some of the most breathtaking spots you should experience at least once in your life. Located 87 miles from Phoenix, Salt River Canyon is located just next to the tiny city of Globe AZ in the Tonto National Forest. Located in the vast Lake Pleasant Regional Park just north of Sun City and West Phoenix, Lake Pleasant is filled by the Agua Fria River flowing from the north cool country of Northern Arizona. From Phoenix, head north to Sedona, passing through the village of Oak Creek to access Highway 89A. This short scenic drive of 6 mi (9.7 km) is dotted with informative signs about the surrounding vegetation, as well as dramatic vistas of the Lone Mountain and Pinnacle Peak. These 10 scenic drives near Phoenix show you the right way. It has a speed limit of 15 mph (24 kph) and features 45 mi (72.4 km) of scenic driving. iconShape: "circle", Simple enough! }, Our highlights: Although it's a hot and arid desert, there are a lot of different landscapes and parts of Death Valley. We've found some of the most beautiful scenic drives near you in Phoenix, so hang tight and enjoy the ride! The road trips we listed below are only a couple of hours away and are great getaways. 89A instead for a stunning drive that beckons you to explore. Keyword Length Under 30 miles 30 to 75 miles Over 75 miles Time to Allow 1 hour or less 1 - 3 hours Over 3 hours Reset Show on Map Add Your Listing! Was doing some research and stumbled across the Apache Trail scenic drive, seems like a really neat thing to do while here in Phoenix. Why you should visit: Grand Canyon is not just Arizona's but probably America's best-known natural feature and with only a short road trip keeping you from seeing it for yourself, how can you not go and see the huge crack in the desert? 5 hours 20 minutes from Phoenix (360 miles). How to get there: Head north via Flagstaff to the town of Page in northern Arizona. So, why not try to take it all in with a drive through any of our states rural highways and roads? 2 hours 50 minutes from Phoenix (190 miles). The beaches on Point Loma are great for an afternoon walk all the way to the Cabrillo National Monument with its historic lighthouse and views back over San Diego and down to Tijuana in Mexico. window._monsido = window._monsido || { These are large and very heavy rocks that appear to move around the basin on their own leaving a track behind them. Payson to Forest Road/Mogollon Rim: 29 miles, Back to Payson from Highway 260: 30 miles. 1. token: "CFJZ1wF8t6yPxV847F1J4g", mainColor: "#0A3859", Sedona is a 2-hour drive from Phoenix. Allow 2-3 hours to fully enjoy this road. theme: "light", If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. We'd love to have your business listed on our site. Ready to explore Arizona by road? Below are the Free Visitor Guides for Phoenix Area. The following is our list of the 20 best road trips from Phoenix starting with the shortest and working our way up in terms of the time it takes to get there. Our highlights: Arches and Canyonlands are on either side of the small city of Moab. =)See more reviews, The park has a great trail and scenic views throughout the area. There are a lot of old colonial buildings that make Tucson feel almost European, but the Pueblo-style architecture and the unique local mix of Mexican and traditional Apache-influenced food styles are unmistakably Arizona. Between the red-rock mesas of New Mexico and the arid desert along the Colorado River, the route runs past dozens of remarkable old highway towns along some of the oldest and longest still-driveable stretches of the Mother Road. Enjoy a short beautiful ride up to Dobbins Lookout, standing as tall as 2,330 ft (710.2 m) and awarding heartwarming views of the mountains and the city. Park at the top and savor gazing at the Superstition Mountains, Estrella Mountains, and Phoenix sitting on the valley below. Length Under 30 miles 30 to 75 miles Over 75 miles. Take a break in Ajo on your way in or out of the park. Right in Phoenixs backyard is a little piece of heaven on the South Mountain Park and Preserve: Dobbins Lookout, located at the south end of Central Avenue, gives anyone in the area a taste of what Arizonas wilds have to offer. Take a winding journey through red rocks, White Mountains or somewhere in between on one of these scenic fall drives just a short distance from Phoenix . The Red Rock Scenic Byway will take you through the Coconino National Forest and into the beautiful Red Rock Country. The ironwood's delicate branches float in the air like ballerinas, but its trunk is one of the world's heaviest hardwoods. Mt Lemmon/Summerhaven Mt. Enjoy the incredible views of four different life zones as you drive on this 26-mi (41.8-km) road, which continues from Highway 60, through the Sonoran Desert, Pinal Mountains, Ponderosa pine forest, and down to Globe. Return to Main Site. Read More: How to Travel to the Grand Canyon From Phoenix. Love Arizona? enabled: true, Scenic drives to consider in the Tucson area are listed below. 1. That said, there are a few ways that the stir-crazy people of the Phoenix area can let off steam, including enjoying the scenery from the safety of their own vehicles. 17 years ago Save I think the Salt River canyon is very pretty. Other than gambling, you've got a big selection of evening shows and some of the country's best restaurants. From the parking area, it is a steady climb to the summit, where you will find an observatory, from where you can enjoy heartwarming vistas, as well as modern solar collectors. It also has a few fairly easy trails where you can park close to the rock formations and this means there are a lot more visitors here. 200 N LaSalle St Ste 1540 Chicago, IL 60601 News? Why you should visit: Everybody has got to visit Sin City at least once and given it's just a jaunt across the desert from Phoenix, it's a great option for a road trip, especially if you want to try your luck at the tables or admire the glitzy neon signs of this city that never sleeps. Click on any scenic byway or backway listed below for complete information. It's not a big place and can get very busy during the summer months when tourists from across the United States come to stay when visiting the National Parks. Yes No Grand Canyon National Park #1 in Best Day Trips from Phoenix One. Your Guide To First Friday Art Walk in Phoenix, State-of-the-Art Stays in Downtown Phoenix, New Stays for Your Next Meeting in Greater Phoenix, Why Diverse and Inclusive Content Makes Meetings Better - For Everyone, Immersive Outdoor Venues Set the Stage for the Future of Meetings, Spacious, Inventive Meeting Spaces Are the Way of the Future, Why Focusing on Wellness Contributes to Successful Meetings, Virtual Hybrid Meetings: Bridging the Gap and Driving Connection, Greener & Cleaner Meetings Have Arrived - And Theyre Here to Stay, Strategic Downtown Investments Help Send Greater Phoenix Soaring in Destination Rankings. Here you can stop to take a look at the Grand Canyon's Horseshoe Bend which is an incredible 180-degree bend in the canyon with an overlook that has the perfect view. If you want to see classic Sonoran desert landscapes, take Highway 85. This is the old London Bridge that was dismantled in London in 1968 when it began sinking into the riverbed clay to be replaced with a newer structure. This route gives you a spectacular opportunity to see all around you, with farm and desert land alike to admire, and picturesque structures like Gillespie Dam Bridge to enjoy along the way! Phoenix, which is also called the Valley of the Sun, is characterized by warm temperatures, year-round sun, and a beautiful desertscape and rocks that meet the Western splendor. You might have guessed after reading our article highlighting the best scenic routes in Arizona that the Grand Canyon State is tailor-made for a road trip. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. You have to scale a 148 ft (45 m) tall rim just to peek inside - well worth the detour before heading back to Phoenix. The combination of it being the hottest desert in the world and being sunny means that summers tend to be seriously hot - we're talking daily highs of 108 degrees Fahrenheit on average through the months of July and August. The haunting beauty of this mountainous region is representative of some of the states best assets. From here, Highway 89A curves toward the historic town of Jerome through a series of scenic switchbacks and a climb up and down the summit of Mingus Mountain. Why you should visit: Joshua Tree is one of two National Parks (along with Grand Canyon) that are a little further away from Phoenix and both take a little over 3 hours to get to. Byways, Backways, Historic Routes,. Begin this scenic venture by driving northeast from Phoenix to the mountain town of Payson, climbing 4,000 feet into Rim Country. Enjoy a beautiful ride up the Harquahala Mountain, the highest in southwestern Arizona, standing at 5,681 ft (1,731.6 m), built over 70 years. How to get there: To get to see the rim and the nature around it, head up the Beeline Highway (Route 87) to the town of Payson. 1 hour 40 minutes from Phoenix (110 miles). Although this is not super scenic, this is my favorite hike in Phoenix! More Visitor Guides are available in Arizona. He is fascinated with the beauty of nature and the great African arts and history. If you like a flutter, this is the undisputed gambling capital of the world and from endless rows of slot machines to huge poker rooms, there's something for everyone. To request a free visitor guide from Phoenix, Arizona - Scenic Drives, please fill out the form below direction: "leftbottom", Our highlights: US Route 93 is definitely the way you should go and it might just be one of our favorite stretches of road of all time. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. }). The scenery is dominated by the nearby Mogollon Rima dramatic escarpment on the edge of the Colorado Plateau that looms 2,000 feet over the towns below. From majestic saguaros in Lost Dutchman State Park near Gilbert, take Hwy. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Then, just before you enter the city, you'll get to Old Tucson. You might be surprised by the fact that the road is also free - there's no tolls to pay unless you're planning to camp. 400 E. Van Buren St., Ste. The steady elevation along Highway 60 from Globe to Show Low results in a vast temperature difference so you might need a sweater. The truth is that they actually do move themselves during the winter months when Death Valley gets to freezing point overnight but despite the physics, it still looks odd. Although the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Zion National Parks are all within reach of Phoenix and all on this list, Monument Valley might just top them all for the sheer otherworldly feel that you get when you see these rocks for the first time. Click on any additional guides you would like to receive. Your email will not be provided to third parties. From the thrilling activities within the city such as golfing, clubbing, and dining to the dramatic landscape, heartwarming views from mountain peaks, camping, and more in the countryside, an exciting time awaits you. From there it's a half hour drive up to Tuzigoot National Monument along the Verde River. Click on any scenic byway or backway listed below for complete information. Searchable lists of Phoenix tourism offices and other helpful government agencies. A slight northwest route from Phoenix will bring you toward the city of Prescott and the wooded mountains of Prescott National Forest. title: "Accessibility Options", There are several different trails to choose from, so you could go for a quick 20-minute hike, or 90 minutes. 3 hours 20 minutes from Phoenix (230 miles). The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular national parks in America, and it's only about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Phoenix. ", How to get there: The drive up to Sedona from Phoenix is simple - the I-17 will take you most of the way before you turn off onto Highway 179 for the last stint. The Gila-Pinal Scenic Road was designated a scenic road on June 20, 1986, by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

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