Day Trips from Scottsdale

Scottsdale is surrounded by some of the most dramatic landscapes in the American West. Sedona’s red rocks, the Grand Canyon, and historic mining towns are all within day-trip range.

Sedona — 2 Hours North

Red rock formations, hiking, art galleries, and a spiritual energy that draws visitors from around the world. The town sits in a canyon surrounded by towering sandstone buttes and mesas.

Must-do: Cathedral Rock hike (moderate, 1.2 miles with scrambling — the most iconic Sedona hike), Bell Rock trail (easy, great for families), and the Chapel of the Holy Cross (a church built into the red rock cliffs).

Pink Jeep Tours — Off-road tours into the backcountry. Bouncing up impossible terrain with red rock on all sides. Touristy but genuinely fun.

Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village — A Mexican-inspired arts village with galleries, shops, and restaurants along Oak Creek.

Grand Canyon South Rim — 3.5 Hours North

The ultimate Arizona day trip. 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. No photo prepares you for the reality of standing on the rim.

From Scottsdale: Take I-17 north to Flagstaff, then Highway 180/64 west to the South Rim. 3.5-4 hours each way. Leave by 6 AM for a full day at the canyon.

At the rim: Mather Point (first viewpoint), Rim Trail (paved, easy, connects viewpoints for miles), and the Desert View Watchtower (east end of the rim drive, panoramic views).

Jerome — 2 Hours North

A former copper mining town perched on the side of Cleopatra Hill. Population peaked at 15,000 in the 1920s, dropped to 50 by the 1950s, and has rebounded as an artist colony and tourist destination. Winding streets, art galleries, wine tasting rooms, and the Jerome Grand Hotel (a converted 1920s hospital rumored to be haunted).

Tombstone — 3 Hours South

“The Town Too Tough to Die.” The site of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1881). Daily reenactments, authentic 1880s buildings, stagecoach rides, and a saloon scene. It’s touristy and kitschy and absolutely worth the drive if you have any interest in the Old West.

Montezuma Castle — 1.5 Hours North

A remarkably well-preserved cliff dwelling built by the Sinagua people around 1100 AD. The 5-story, 20-room structure is nestled into a limestone cliff above Beaver Creek. National Monument. $10 entry. Easy, accessible viewing from a paved trail below.

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