Arizona Day Trips & Things to Do

Arizona is one of the best states for unforgettable day trips, and it’s become one of my favorite places to explore thanks to its dramatic landscapes and cultural treasures.

From red rock canyons to historic small towns, Arizona delivers the best mix of adventure, history, and relaxation, often in unique and sometimes underrated spots that make every trip special.

Whether you’re hiking the best trails in Sedona, exploring the unique beauty of the Grand Canyon, or discovering the underrated charm of towns like Jerome and Bisbee, Arizona has endless opportunities for exploration. That’s why it’s considered one of the best states for road trips and short getaways, and why so many of its destinations have become my favorite memories.

The best part is the variety: desert scenery, mountain escapes, and cultural landmarks. Think cruising along the best scenic byways, visiting unique natural wonders, and stopping at underrated hidden gems that give each trip its own character. These details are what make Arizona’s day trips both unique and some of the best in the Southwest.

With destinations just a few hours from Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff, it’s easy to plan the best kind of day trip. Whether you’re after outdoor adventure, historic exploration, or small-town charm, Arizona offers the best mix of activities and scenery for every traveler.

Which Arizona day trip will you choose? If you’re searching for the best mix of scenery, culture, and adventure, these destinations deliver. They’re not just quick drives, they’re the best, sometimes underrated, always unique, and forever some of my favorite escapes in the Southwest.

If you only have one day, choose based on your mood:

• Want something deeply scenic and spiritual? Go for a red rock reset in Sedona’s vortexes and views.
• Craving mountain air + downtown vibes? Spend the day in Flagstaff’s trails and creative scene.
• Need to feel small in the best way? Make the trip to the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon.
• Love ancient history and peaceful desert landscapes? Step back in time at Montezuma Castle’s cliff dwellings.
• Want something strange, sciencey, and awe-inspiring? Stand at the edge of Meteor Crater’s massive impact site.
• Can’t decide? Let the road guide you through Coconino National Forest’s changing landscapes.

Romantic Arizona Day Trips:

If you're looking for something slow, scenic, and a little soul-stirring, these day trips are perfect for two. Whether it's holding hands on a red rock trail or watching the sky change over the canyon rim, these destinations invite connection, wonder, and quiet moments you'll remember long after the drive home.

Exploring stunning red rocks in Sedona

We drove about 2 hours north (115 miles) from Phoenix to Sedona (population 9,700), long regarded as a sacred landscape by the Yavapai and Apache people.

Sedona has a way of pressing pause on everything else. The red rock landscapes stretch wide and deep, glowing with color that seems to shift by the hour. But it’s more than just a beautiful backdrop...it’s the feeling of the place that stays with you. A mix of stillness, energy, and something unspoken that calls you back again and again.

I always look forward watching the sun melt into the red rocks.

My Highlight... Shrimp & Grits at Rascal Modern American Diner & Bar. I also devoured ahi tuna nachos spiced just right. Each dish popped with flavor.

Plan your day trip:

• Drive Time from Phoenix: ~2 hours north
• Vibe: Spiritual, scenic, grounding
• Highlights: Red rock hikes, vortex sites, art galleries, healing sessions
• Best Time to Visit: Spring or fall for cooler temps and colorful light

Tucson Light & Movement

We drove about 2 hours southeast (115 miles) from Phoenix to Tucson (population 545,000), a city with roots stretching back more than 4,000 years.

“It’s the kind of place where even the shadows glow,” I thought, coasting through a quiet neighborhood on a Tucson Bike Tour. The sun slid through saguaro arms, the air dry and full of warmth but not rush. The group pedaled past adobe homes and murals faded just enough to feel part of the landscape. I wasn’t in a hurry to get anywhere, I just wanted to keep gliding.

Later, I spent an hour at Philabaum Glass Gallery & Studio. Inside, everything sparkled, curved and colored glass pieces that caught and bent the desert light. A few artists were working in the studio, and the hiss of flame mixed with the hum of visitors moving quietly from shelf to shelf.

I ended the afternoon at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, just outside the city. It’s not just a museum, it’s zoo, garden, and trail all in one. I stood for a while watching a hummingbird hover near a red blossom, the mountains steady in the distance. Tucson didn’t feel like a place you tour. It felt like a place you ride through slowly, letting it unfold around you.

Plan your Tucson trip:

• Drive Time from Phoenix: ~2 hours southeast
• Vibe: Artistic, sun-warmed, gently paced
• Highlights: Tucson Bike Tours, Philabaum Glass Gallery & Studio, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 5 Points Market & Restaurant
• Best Time to Visit: October through April for cooler weather and clear skies
• Cost: Bike tour ~$50; museum ~$25; glass gallery free to browse; meals ~$10–20
• Hours: Bike tours typically 9am–noon; museum 8:30am–5pm; restaurants and galleries open midmorning–early evening

Lava tubes and canyons in Coconino National Forest

We drove about 2 hours north (145 miles) from Phoenix to Flagstaff, gateway to Coconino National Forest. Established in 1908, the forest spans nearly 1.9 million acres, from ponderosa pine highlands to red rock canyons.

I still remember the first time I found the Lava Tubes, also called the Lava River Caves, tucked away in Arizona’s Coconino National Forest. You’ll find the entrance just about 14 miles outside Flagstaff, which means you can get there in under half an hour. If you’re already in town, there’s really no excuse not to make the drive.

If you’ve ever dreamed of wandering alpine trails in the morning and watching red rock cliffs catch fire in the evening sun, Coconino National Forest delivers. The variety here feels almost unreal. One stretch of road winds through cool, pine-scented air and mountain meadows near Flagstaff... minutes later, you’re deep in the crimson canyons of Sedona. I remember thinking, "How is this all one place?" It’s easily one of the most visually striking forests I’ve ever set foot in.

Moments I Keep Remembering: Driving from pine forests into red rock canyons in a single afternoon, and pulling over in Oak Creek Canyon just to take it all in.

Plan your day trip:

• Drive Time from Phoenix: ~2 hours (varies by trailhead)
• Vibe: Wildly diverse, pine forests to red rock canyons
• Highlights: Scenic drives, forest hikes, lava flows, mountain meadows
• Best Time to Visit: Summer (cooler temps), fall for golden aspens
• Don’t Miss: Scenic drive from Flagstaff to Sedona via Oak Creek Canyon

Mesa Mornings & Quiet Curves

We drove about 25 minutes east (20 miles) from Phoenix to Mesa (population 515,000), Arizona’s third-largest city.

“This is where the day starts soft,” I thought, stirring cream into my coffee at T.C. Eggington’s. The café was warm with chatter, the smell of toasted muffins and maple syrup curling into the corners. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, and my plate arrived stacked, cinnamon apple French toast, golden and crisp at the edges, with a dusting of powdered sugar.

What I Loved Most: The calm before the heat. Mornings that made you want to stay at the table a little longer.

My highlights? After breakfast, I wandered through the Mesa Arts Center, where glass and metal met clean desert lines. The exhibits changed often, but the sense of thoughtfulness stayed the same. Outside, sculptures shifted in the breeze and students walked past in quiet pairs.

Later, I visited the Arizona Museum of Natural History, dinosaurs, fossils, ancient pottery, and a recreated jail cell that made my son stop and stare. We wandered between eras, the desert’s deep past wrapped in glass and exhibit labels.

Plan your Mesa day trip:

• Drive Time from Phoenix: ~30 minutes east
• Vibe: Bright, neighborly, slow-starting
• Highlights: T.C. Eggington’s, Mesa Arts Center, Arizona Museum of Natural History, Pioneer Park, downtown shops
• Best Time to Visit: Fall through spring for cool mornings and outdoor exploring
• Cost: Breakfast ~$10–15; museums ~$10–15; parking generally free or low-cost
• Hours: T.C. Eggington’s open 6:30am–2:30pm; most attractions 10am–5pm

Slowing down in Flagstaff’s mountain air and creative downtown

We drove about 2 hours north (145 miles) from Phoenix to Flagstaff (population 77,000), a city that grew as a lumber and railroad hub along Route 66.

There’s something quietly magnetic about Flagstaff. One minute, you’re hiking beneath tall pines with the sky stretching endlessly overhead...the next, you’re strolling through a downtown that feels equal parts laid-back and creative. I love that you can grab a post-hike pint, wander into a bookstore or gallery, and still be surrounded by mountain air. It’s a town that doesn’t rush you. I remember thinking, "I could stay a little longer," and then staying exactly that, a little longer.

My Highlights: Hiking under a wide blue sky at Buffalo Park, then grabbing a coffee downtown and browsing old bookstores with the mountain air still in my jacket.

Plan this day trip:

• Drive Time from Phoenix: ~2.25 hours north
• Vibe: Chill mountain town meets creative downtown
• Highlights: Pine hikes, Route 66 charm, breweries, bookstores
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round; especially great in summer to escape the heat
Don’t Miss:

Don’t Miss... The alpine-inspired dinner at Diablo Burger in historic downtown. I had the “Blake” burger with Hatch green chiles and sharp cheddar on an English muffin, plus crispy DB frites dusted with herbs. The open-air patio, cool pine-scented breeze, and relaxed college-town energy made it feel like the kind of place you stumble into, and immediately want to come back to.

Family Arizona Day Trips:

These spots are full of curiosity-sparking views, easy walks, and stories carved into stone. Whether you're traveling with little explorers or curious teens, these family-friendly day trips blend fun, history, and wide-open skies, without requiring a long hike or a hotel stay.

Finding awe at the edge of the Grand Canyon

We drove about 1.5 hours north (80 miles) from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon South Rim, one of the world’s greatest natural landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

The Grand Canyon really lives up to the hype...and then some. The first time I stepped up to the rim, it was like the air changed. Everything slowed down. The canyon just goes on and on, layers of stone stacked into silence. Even if you’re only there for a few hours, the scale of it stays with you.

This is one of those places you go at least once, whether you're chasing your first glimpse or coming back to see how the light hits it differently this time. I always tell people: it doesn’t matter if you’re a serious hiker or a casual road tripper, there’s something here for you. It’s vast, grounding, and strangely comforting all at once.

I love how easy it is to explore without feeling rushed. The free shuttles are a quiet gift, you hop on and off, letting the views change around you. Every overlook brings a new kind of awe: shadows stretching across the cliffs, a sudden patch of sun lighting up the rock like fire, or that soft hush that settles in just before sunset. I remember thinking, “This is what stillness looks like.”

The Part That Stayed With Me: Watching the first light stretch across the canyon at sunrise, and standing at Hopi Point in silence, feeling impossibly small and somehow more grounded.

One downside? The dangers are real. Heat, dehydration, and overconfidence send hikers into trouble every year. I recommend listening to the rangers’ warnings about carrying water and turning back.

Plan your Grand Canyon vacation:

• Drive Time from Phoenix: ~3.5–4 hours north
• Vibe: Epic, quieting, unforgettable
• Highlights: Rim Trail views, shuttle access to overlooks, visitor centers
• Best Time to Visit: Spring or fall (milder temps, fewer crowds)
• Don’t Miss: Hopi Point at sunset, Yavapai Geology Museum

Green Valley’s Desert Heart & Market Rhythm

We drove about 35 minutes south (25 miles) from Tucson to Green Valley (population 23,000), a retirement and resort community in the Santa Cruz Valley.

I arrived on a Wednesday morning just as the sun lit the Santa Rita foothills. The air felt warm and earthy with a whisper of creosote on the breeze. I stood near the entrance of the market and thought, “This place pulses quietly, but it pulses all the same.”

What I Loved Most: The way Green Valley balanced calm with community, the desert’s hush punctuated by live music, fresh produce, and artisans at work.

My highlights? I wandered through the Wednesday Green Valley Village Farmers & Artisans Market, where nearly every stand felt like a story waiting to be tasted. The stalls offered everything from vivid heirloom vegetables to flaky pastries. I grabbed a cup of freshly roasted coffee, its aroma rich and nutty, paired with a buttery pastry that melted on my tongue. I browsed through handmade jewelry, colorful crafts, and artisan goods as live guitar music drifted through the aisles. For lunch, I headed to a nearby café and ordered a Southwestern taco plate, corn tortillas warm, fillings spiced with chili and lime, bright beans and crisp greens echoing the landscape around me.

Plan your Green Valley day trip:

• Drive Time from Tucson: ~20 minutes south
• Vibe: Desert-laid-back, community-oriented, artsy
• Highlights: Green Valley Village Farmers Market, walking trails near the Santa Cruz River, vineyards nearby, local artisan shops
• Best Time to Visit: Winter and spring for sunny mornings and crisp evenings
• Cost: Market free to browse; meals and snacks ~$5–$15; artisans vary
• Hours: Market Wednesdays: 8–12 pm (May–Sep), 9–1 pm (Oct–Apr)

Apache Junction: Dust Trails and Gold Hints

We drove about 40 minutes east (35 miles) from Phoenix to Apache Junction (population 39,000), a desert town at the foot of the Superstition Mountains.

Apache Junction felt like the start of a story you’re not sure is true, but want to believe anyway. I stood at the foot of the Superstition Mountains and thought, “Something about this place dares you to disappear for a while.”

What I Loved Most: The way the desert wrapped around the legends, mines, ghosts, and wild silence, all stitched into red rock and prickly pear.

My highlights? A stop at Mining Camp Restaurant for a plate of mesquite-grilled chicken and cowboy beans. The smoky scent hit before I even sat down. The meat was tender, laced with char, and the beans had a slow burn that made me reach for my lemonade. I ate outside under string lights, boots dusted from the trail.

Plan your day trip:

• Drive Time from Phoenix: ~45 minutes east
• Vibe: Gritty, scenic, legend-heavy
• Highlights: Lost Dutchman State Park, Goldfield Ghost Town, Superstition Mountain hikes
• Best Time to Visit: October through April for hiking weather and clearer views
• Cost: State park ~$7 per vehicle; ghost town free to enter, attractions vary
• Hours: Trails sunrise to sunset; ghost town and restaurants typically 10am–5pm

Standing at the edge of Meteor Crater

We drove about 45 minutes east (40 miles) from Flagstaff to Meteor Crater, a massive impact site formed about 50,000 years ago when an iron-nickel meteorite struck the Colorado Plateau. Nearly a mile wide and 550 feet deep, it’s one of the best-preserved craters on Earth.

If you’ve ever been even a little curious about space, geology, or the sheer force of nature, standing on the rim of Meteor Crater will hit you in a way you don’t expect. It’s quiet out there, desert all around, and then suddenly, this massive bowl opens in the Earth, nearly a mile across. I remember walking up to the edge and just stopping. "This is what impact looks like," I thought. You can almost feel the story still echoing off the rock. It’s otherworldly, and somehow humbling.

Can’t-Miss Moment: Walking up to the edge of the crater and feeling the scale hit all at once, like standing in a bowl made by the universe.

Plan this day trip:

• Drive Time from Flagstaff: ~45 minutes east
• Vibe: Otherworldly and humbling
• Highlights: Rim views, interactive visitor center, guided tours
• Best Time to Visit: Year-round
• Don’t Miss: Stand at the edge and imagine the impact, it really hits

Camp Verde’s Canyon-Rooted Calm

We drove about 1.5 hours north (90 miles) from Phoenix to Camp Verde (population 12,000), a town with roots stretching back to prehistoric cliff dwellers and later frontier forts.

The morning sun lit up Montezuma Castle’s limestone towers in soft gold as I stepped onto its winding trail. The dwellings seemed to hang in time, and I thought, “This history is carved into silence.”

What I Loved Most: The stillness of ancient ruins balanced by the green pulse of the Verde River, deep and steady beneath wide skies.

My highlights? I walked the path past Montezuma Castle’s cliff dwellings, marveling at how entire homes had been shaped into stone walls hundreds of years ago. Down in town, I wandered through the Verde Valley Archaeology Center, dim rooms filled with pottery, woven baskets, and quiet stories. For a restful break, I stopped at Verde Ranch RV Resort. Nestled between the river and the red hills, it offered wide-open skies, cottonwood trees, and a quiet walking trail where I could slow down. Later, I sat down to a plate of slow-smoked brisket and roasted corn salad, smoky, tender meat with bright, citrusy herbs. As the day cooled, I watched the river catch the light and thought about how this place holds onto time in layers.

Plan your Camp Verde day trip:

• Drive Time from Phoenix: ~90 minutes north
• Vibe: Historic, river-woven, desert-hushed
• Highlights: Montezuma Castle, Verde Valley Archaeology Center, Verde Ranch RV Resort, local cafés
• Best Time to Visit: Spring or fall for mild breezes and blooming desert
• Cost: Monument ~$10; center by donation; resort access varies; meals ~$10–$20
• Hours: Most attractions open by 8am; resort amenities open daily

Ready to hit the road?

Arizona has a way of reminding you that wonder doesn’t have to be far from home...or complicated to find. Whether you’re chasing red rock sunsets, tracing ancient history into the cliffs, or just breathing deep in the pines, these day trips offer something more than just miles. They give you room to slow down, look around, and feel a little more connected to the world around you.

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Let me help you plan your next authentic and truly unique getaway. I've been a travel professional for nearly 30 years. I've been featured on abc6 Morning Show, Best of the Web, USAToday, and many other media outlets, government and educational institutions. Click for more.