When you think of Arizona, the first image that comes to your mind is probably the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, and it’s absolutely worth visiting. But there are so many more places to visit in Arizona!

Plan an Epic Arizona Road Trip

Arizona is home to some of the best national parks, deserts, cities, and road trips in the country. So before or after you visit the Grand Canyon, I highly recommend you explore more of the state.

Here are the best places to visit in Arizona (that aren’t the Grand Canyon)!

Sedona

Known For: Red Rocks, hiking, wellness retreats, scenic drives, and vortexes – swirling energy centers for healing, meditation, and self-exploration.

Located: in the middle of the state, two hours south of the Grand Canyon, two hours north of Phoenix, 45 minutes south of Flagstaff and I-40.

Best Accommodations: Enchantment Resort (my favorite), Sky Rock Inn of Sedona (luxury), Arabella Hotel Sedona (mid-range), A Sunset Chateau (bed and breakfast).

Top Activity Recommendations: drive the Red Rock Scenic Byway, pack out a meal to have at the Crescent Moon Picnic Site, taste your way along the Verde Valley Wine Trail (my favorite wineries are Page Spring Cellars, Javelina Leap, and Oak Creek Vineyards), go on an off-road jeep tour.

Know Before You Go: most trailheads have limited parking, so arrive as early as possible to beat the crowds (and the heat).

Monument Valley

Known For: towering sandstone buttes, being a filming location for Western movies.

Located: on the Arizona-Utah border in the northeast part of the state, two hours from Lake Powell, three hours from the Grand Canyon.

Best Accommodations: Kayenta Monument Valley Inn, Goulding’s Lodge & Campground.

Top Activity Recommendations: drive the scenic Valley Drive, see the spectacular views from John Ford’s Point, see the world-famous panorama of the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte from the visitor center, do a guided tour of the valley.

Know Before You Go: Monument Valley is part of the Navajo Nation.

Tucson

Known For: Saguaro National Park, rooftop restaurants, historic churches, spectacular views.

Located: in southeast Arizona, one hour and forty-five minutes south of Phoenix, about an hour from the Mexico border.

Best Accommodations: Graduate Tucson (my favorite), Miraval Resort (wellness retreat), Arizona Inn (boutique), JW Marriott Tucson Star Pass Resort & Spa (luxury).

Top Activity Recommendations: visit Saguaro National Park, bike around the historic city center, see the views at Sentinel Peak Park, drive the Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway, visit Mission San Xavier del Bac, do a self-guided craft beer tour – my favorite breweries are Crooked Tooth Brewing Co., Barrio Brewing, Ermanos Craft Beer and Wine Bar, Dragoon Brewing Co., and Iron John’s Brewing Company.

Know Before You Go: Saguaro National Park is divided into two sections that give you very different experiences. I recommend spending at least half a day in each side of the park. The park sections are about an hour from each other, and the mornings are always better for beating the heat. So you’ll want to visit the east and west sides of the park on different days.

Lake Powell

Known For: water activities, Horseshoe Bend, The Wave, Antelope Canyon.

Located: in the middle of the state on the Arizona-Utah border, two and a half hours north of the Grand Canyon.

Best Accommodations: Lake Powell Resort, Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell, Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase.

Top Activity Recommendations: paddle on Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, take in the views from Horseshoe Bend, hike The Wave, hike Antelope Canyon, explore Blue Canyon, visit the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

Know Before You Go: hiking The Wave requires a permit.

Known For: the Sonoran Desert, resorts, spas, shopping, outdoor activities.

Located: in Southeast Arizona, one hour and forty-five minutes north of Tucson, 40 minutes from Apache Junction.

Best Accommodations: The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (my favorite), Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale At Troon North (luxury), The Phoenician (boutique).

Top Activity Recommendations: go on a sunset horseback ride through the Sonoran Desert, spend at least half a day exploring Papago Park, hike Camelback Mountain, have a spa day, explore Old Town Scottsdale, sample local wine at a couple of vineyards – my favorites are Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars, LDV Winery, Salvatore Vineyards, Carlson Creek Vineyard, and Aridus Vineyards.

Know Before You Go: these desert cities are next door to each other, so it’s easy to visit them both in one trip.

Lake Havasu

Known For: water sports, hiking, beaches, Lake Havasu State Park.

Located: in northwest Arizona, two and a half hours from Las Vegas, four hours from the Grand Canyon.

Best Accommodations: London Bridge Resort, The Nautical Beachfront Resort, The Hampton Inn Lake Havasu City.

Top Activity Recommendations: boat, water ski, fish, or swim in Lake Havasu, kayak through the lake’s hidden coves, marvel at the London Bridge (which was relocated from London, England), go on a hike, enjoy the city’s shopping and restaurants.

Know Before You Go: Lake Havasu is the most out-of-the-way place on this list. So unless you’re headed to or from Southern California, I’d prioritize the other destinations in this post.

Saguaro National Park

Known For: the famous Saguaro cacti, the Sonoran Desert, hiking, being divided into two sections.

Located: on both sides of Tucson. The east side of Saguaro National Park is located 30 minutes from downtown Tucson, and the west side of the park is 20 minutes from downtown.

Best Accommodations: Graduate Tucson (my favorite), Miraval Resort (wellness retreat), Arizona Inn (boutique), JW Marriott Tucson Star Pass Resort & Spa (luxury).

Top Activity Recommendations:

Saguaro West: drive the scenic Bajada Loop Drive, hike the Valley View Overlook Trail, hike from the Signal Hill picnic area to the Hohokam petroglyphs, which are around 1500 years old.

Saguaro East: drive the scenic Cactus Forest Loop Drive, hike the Desert Ecology Loop Trail, hike half of the Cactus Forest Trail from either side and then turn around, have a picnic lunch at one of the shaded picnic sites.

Know Before You Go: this national park is divided into two sections that give you very different experiences. I recommend spending at least half a day in each side of the park. The park sections are about an hour from each other, and the mornings are always better for beating the heat. So you’ll want to visit the east and west sides of the park on different days.

Route 66

Known For: being one of the most famous and iconic road trips in the United States.

Located: parallel to I-40 across the entire state.

Best Accommodations: Brad’s Desert Inn, La Posada Hotel, Little America Hotel.

Top Roadside America Stops: Oatman, Holbrook Wigwam Village Motel, Winslow, Meteor Crater, Williams, Seligman, Peach Springs.

Know Before You Go: towns and gas stations can be few and far between, so make sure you always have enough gas and water to get where you’re going.

Apache Junction

Known For: being the junction of the Apache Trail and Old West Highway.

Located: 45 minutes from downtown Phoenix, 40 minutes from Scottsdale.

Best Accommodations: The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (my favorite), Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale At Troon North (luxury), The Phoenician (boutique).

Top Activity Recommendations: ride the Dolly Steamboat through Canyon Lake, hike at Lost Dutchman State Park, and visit the Goldfield Ghost Town to re-live the “glory days” of the Wild Wild West.

Know Before You Go: I highly recommend visiting Apache Junction as a day trip or on your way to your next destination.

Petrified Forest National Park

Known For: the Rainbow Forest, paleontology exhibits, hiking, petroglyphs.

Located: in Northeastern Arizona right off I-40.

Best Accommodations: Best Western Arizona Inn, Howard Johnson by Wyndham Holbrook, Days Inn by Wyndham Holbrook.

Top Activity Recommendations: drive the scenic Petrified Forest Road, hike the Blue Mesa Trail or Blue Forest Trail, enjoy the viewpoints along the Blue Mesa Scenic Road, walk the Crystal Forest, see The Tepees, hike the Giant Logs Trail, hike the Painted Desert Rim Trail.

Know Before You Go: there are two sections to Petrified Forest National Park. The highest concentration of petrified wood is in the southern section of the park, and the Painted Desert is in the northern part.

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