
Make no mistake, Arizona is set in the sweltering heat of the crossroads of four different deserts. It has a dry and sunny climate that can reach higher than 100 degrees in the summertime, and depending on where you step you may encounter rattlesnakes, scorpions, gila monsters, and so much more.
However, Arizona is a haven with beautiful, vibrant rock formations, starry night skies, and the famously tall saguaro cactus! Take a trip to Arizona on Route 66 and see just how grand the Grand Canyon is, explore its state and national parks, and try some cactus candy or a chimichanga! Arizona has something for everyone.
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Arizona Itineraries
This is one of the best road trips in the USA. On this American Southwest road trip, you will visit Utah’s Mighty 5, the Grand Canyon, and a handful of wonderful state parks and national monuments.
This is the itinerary I wish we had when we planned our first road trip to the American Southwest.
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Top Experiences in Arizona
Explore Antelope Canyon. This colorful slot canyon has two main parts, Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon. The Upper Canyon is incredibly photogenic, with light beams, falling sands, and very high canyon walls. Lower Antelope Canyon is known for its fun to be had squeezing through twisted narrow passageways and climbing ladders.
Sedona. Sedona is a beautiful city in Arizona known for the red rock formations, evergreens and more than 400 miles of trails around it for hiking and biking. Sedona was regarded as sacred in the past, and even today people cite Sedona’s magnetic vortices as a source of inspirational and healing energy. As such, Sedona has many famous locations and is famous for psychic readings, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, and its night sky.
Take a trip to Phoenix. Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona, and is known for lavish hotels, authentic Southwestern and Mexican cuisine, and rodeos. You can see yourself how the Sonoran Desert mingles with the city when taking a stroll in the Desert Botanical Garden or taking a swim in the beach around Lake Havasu.
Monument Valley. When picturing old American westerns, a view like Monument Valley’s is sure to come to mind. With sandstone buttes, colossal mesas, and panoramic vistas, Monument Valley is one of America’s iconic landscapes. While far away from Arizona’s major cities, this Navajo Tribal Park has plenty of things for everyone. Most hikes of Monument Valley require a tour guide, but allow you to explore petroglyphs, Anasazi sites, and caves.
Grand Canyon National Park. Walk up to it, fly above it, hike around it, or take a rafting trip. The Grand Canyon is one of the US’s most popular tourist destinations and is both larger than the state of Rhode Island and a mile deep.
Petrified Forest National Park. Visiting Petrified Forest National Park feels like taking a step back in time. Walking into this relatively small park you will be greeted with colorful, uniquely beautiful hills of the Painted Desert, giant, petrified trees that puzzle the mind, and the chance to walk backcountry trails without another person in sight.
Saguaro National Park. Located near Tucson, Saguaro National Park is named for the Saguaro cactus, which grows only in the Sonoran Desert. This is an easy park to visit, with scenic drives and short walks among the towering cacti.
Best Time to Visit Arizona
The best time to visit to get the most out of your trip is fall and spring, when the weather is most mild, often from mid sixties to mid eighties.
However, Arizona is good to visit any time of the year, as long as you are willing to wake up early to do your outdoor activities. Keep in mind that the summer, more specifically the middle of June to the end of September, marks Arizona’s monsoon season.
Arizona can have huge storms, including dust storms, called haboobs, that can be dangerous especially to people with respiratory conditions.
If you plan to fly to Arizona, the cheapest flights are during summer and winter.
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