15 Amazing Day Trips From Phoenix Arizona (2025)
Are you planning a day long getaway from Phoenix? If so, this article is for you.
Arizona is not only home to dozens of natural attractions and interesting small towns, but it’s in the perfect location for travel. I’ve lived in Phoenix for over 5 years, and have spent a decent amount of time exploring this beautiful state!
To help you plan an epic day trip, I’ve compiled a list of all of the best places to visit near Phoenix. From Sedona’s red rocks to ghost towns, and Joshua Tree, there’s something on this list for everyone.
Here are the 15 best day trips from Phoenix.
Best Day Trips From Phoenix
Sedona
- Distance: 2 hours/117 miles
Sedona is the best day trip from Phoenix if you love hiking, relaxing in nature, and trying new restaurants.
It’s known for its beautiful red rock mountains, and it has incredible hiking trails for all experience levels.
Beyond hiking, Sedona has wineries, unique shopping centers, and top-notch spa resorts to stay at. Here are some of the best things to do in Sedona.
- Hike Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, or Devil’s Bridge
- Go on a Jeep tour
- Shop at Tlaquepaque Shopping Village & Son Silver West Galleries
- Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Dine with a sunset red rock view at Mesa Grill or Mariposa Latin Grill
Scottsdale
- Distance: 20 min/12 miles
Scottsdale is a short day trip from Phoenix that offers tons of fun activities.
In Scottsdale, you can stroll around Old Town, a charming old west downtown with shops, museums and restaurants.
It’s within a 10 minute drive from Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Gardens, and the Phoenix Zoo, all of which you can visit in a day!
Here’s the best things to do in Scottsdale.
- Shop and dine in Old Town
- Hike the hole in the rock at Papago Park
- Explore the Desert Botanical Gardens
- Hike Pinnacle Peak or Camelback Mountain
- Visit the Phoenix Zoo
Mesa
- Distance: 25 min/19 miles
Mesa is another short, but exciting day trip if you love nature. In Mesa, you can hike the Superstition Mountains, spot wild horses in the Lower Salt River, or spend the day doing water activities at Saguaro Lake.
Here are some of the best things to do in and around Mesa.
- Watch a cowboy show at Ghostfield’s Ghost Town
- Hike at the Lost Dutchman State Park
- Ride the Dolly Steamboat over Saguaro Lake
- Go horseback riding at Saguaro Lake Ranch
- Spot wild horses at the Lower Salt River
- Go kayaking on Saguaro Lake
Jerome
- Distance: 2 hours/110 miles
Jerome is a historic mining town perched on Cleopatra hill, and one of the most interesting places to visit in Arizona.
It operated as a mining town for nearly a decade, and was rebuilt several times due to catastrophic fires and mine explosions!
After the mines closed down in 1950, it became a popular tourist attraction, and has a strip lined with quirky shops, museums and restaurants.
In town, you can learn about its history at Jerome’s State Historic Park, go on a ghost tour, or dine at the famous Haunted Hamburger.
And if you’re up for an adventure, stay at one of the supposedly haunted hotels!
Camp Verde, Clarkdale, and Cottonwood
- Distance: 2 hours/110 miles
The Verde Valley is a region that encompasses Sedona and Jerome, as well as a few other small cities nearby that are worth checking out.
Camp Verde is home to the famous Montezuma Castle, where you can see one of the best preserved ancient pueblo sites in Arizona.
If you purchase entrance tickets to Montezuma’s Castle, you’re covered to visit the Tuzigoot National Monument in Clarkdale as well. This is another well-preserved ancient pueblo site, with a beautiful view of the Verde Valley.
Here are some more of the best things to do in Camp Verde, Clarkdale, and Cottonwood.
- Ride the Verde Canyon Railroad
- Visit Montezuma’s Castle and the Tuzigoot National Monument
- Go river rafting on the Verde River
- Visit the Copper Art Museum
- Shop and dine in Old Town Cottonwood
- Go on a wine-tasting tour
Prescott
- Distance: 2.5 hours/125 miles
Prescott is a charming small town with a historic downtown square, lakes, and an over 1 million acre national forest to explore!
In Prescott, you can stroll downtown to see the historic buildings, attend the world’s oldest rodeo, or spend the day relaxing at Watson Lake.
Prescott is also only an hour’s drive from Jerome, where you delve into more of Arizona’s fascinating history! Here are some of the best things to do in town.
- Stroll down Whiskey Row and the historic plaza
- Attend the World’s Oldest Rodeo
- Hike in the Prescott National Forest
- Go kayaking at Watson’s Lake
Grand Canyon South Rim
- Distance: 3.5 hours/230 miles
The Grand Canyon is Arizona’s most spectacular natural wonder, and the perfect day trip from Phoenix.
The South Rim is around a 3.5 hour drive from Phoenix, which is the park’s main entrance.
In a day, you have plenty of time to see the popular viewpoints, hike the South Rim Trail, and dine by the rim at Grand Canyon Village.
If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, it’s definitely worth visiting to cross off your bucket list!
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
- Distance: 2 hours/100 miles
The Tonto Natural Bridge is a beautiful state park with the world’s largest natural travertine bridge, waterfalls, and natural swimming holes.
It’s a 1.4 mile round trip hike to get to the bridge, and it has multiple observation decks so you can explore it’s unique geology.
There are also designated swim areas along the trail, so it’s the perfect hike for the summer.
Page: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
- Distance: 4.5 hours/270 miles
Page Arizona is a small town that straddles the Utah and northern Arizona border. It’s home to some of Arizona’s most iconic landmarks, including Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the Glen Canyon Dam.
Antelope Canyon is a gorgeous red-orange slot canyon located on tribal lands that you can visit by guided hiking tour.
Horseshoe Bend is a breathtaking horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River that you can visit by a short 10 minute hike.
The Glen Canyon Dam is a towering 710 ft dam that formed Lake Powell, with a visitor center and overlook.
In a day, you can easily visit all three landmarks, as they’re within a 15 minute drive of another. I’ve made the drive from Phoenix to Page twice, and it’s one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever visited.
Flagstaff
- Distance: 2 hours/145 miles
Flagstaff is a beautiful city nestled in the Ponderosa pine forests, around 45 minutes north of Sedona.
It has a historic district with shops, cafes, restaurants, and a train station that runs along route 66. The city snows during the winter, and is only an hour’s drive from the Grand Canyon, so it’s a popular road trip stop.
Besides stopping in town for food, here are some of the best things to do in Flagstaff.
- See ancient ruins at Wupatki and Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Stroll around Buffalo Park
- See old lava flows at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
- Hike an underground lava tube (Lava River Cave)
- Go stargazing at the Lowell Observatory
Joshua Tree
- Distance: 5 hours/290 miles
Joshua Tree National Park is a spectacular national park that spans over 800,000 acres in California’s desert.
If you love hiking, camping, or stargazing, this is the place to go.
Joshua Tree has a variety of amazing hiking trails, where you can see unique rock formations, cholla cacti, or get a sweeping view of the Coachella Valley from a mountain summit.
It’s perfect for a day trip, but I recommend staying overnight so you can return to stargaze in the park.
Palm Springs
- Distance: 4.5 hours/270 miles
If you’re looking for somewhere unique to go, head to Palm Springs. Palm Springs is a beautiful desert city with museums, botanical gardens, spa resorts, and a lively downtown shopping plaza.
In Palm Springs, you can ride the aerial tramway over the Coachella valley, stroll downtown, try a classic date shake, or simply relax by your hotel’s pool.
It’s less than an hour’s drive from Joshua Tree, and has a variety of charming and colorful boutique hotels.
Lake Havasu City
- Distance: 4 hours/200 miles
Lake Havasu is a vibrant city that straddles the border between Nevada and western Arizona.
It’s home to the original London Bridge, which was transported to Arizona and reconstructed in 1970!
In Lake Havasu, you can do watersport activities, go fishing, or relax by the lake. It has a variety of campsites, and nearby shops and restaurants.
Las Vegas
- Distance: 5 hours/300 miles
Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, and one of the most exciting day trips you can take from Phoenix.
The Las Vegas strip is lined with casinos, lively shopping malls, amusement parks, entertainment venues, and much more.
Beyond the strip, you can visit the towering 726 ft tall Hoover Dam, or go kayaking to the Emerald Cave.
Here’s some of the best things to do on a day trip to Las Vegas.
- Go shopping on Fremont Street
- See the Bellagio fountain
- Get a day pass to Mandalay Bay Beach
- Watch a show at the Sphere
- Visit the Hoover Dam
- Go kayaking to the Emerald Cave
Tucson
- Distance: 2 hours/112 miles
If you love museums and hiking, go on a day trip to Tucson. Tucson is a beautiful city in southern Arizona, with amazing hiking trails, restaurants, and a variety of interesting museums.
Here are some of the best things to do in Tucson.
- Stroll around the old western Trail Dust Town
- Hike To the Seven Falls in Sabino Canyon
- Spot wildlife at the Sonora Desert Museum Zoo
- Visit the San Xavier del Bac Mission
- Visit the Pima Air & Space and Mini Time Machine Museum
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