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29 Best Day Trips From Scottsdale Arizona (2024)
Looking for some unique day trips from Scottsdale? Then you’ve come to the right place!
After living in Scottsdale multiple times for a combined total of about 15 years, we’ve visited lots of towns near Scottsdale as well as much further afield.
Below we have a list of city and town destinations, as well as outdoor and nature destinations that can be reached on day trips from Scottsdale AZ in as little as 30 minutes and up to a couple of hours.
We also had to include some very popular destinations that are a bit further out day tours from Scottsdale AZ but can still technically be done as day trips if that’s all the time you have.
After reading this list, chances are you’ll realize you need more days in your Scottsdale AZ travel itinerary!
Best Scottsdale AZ Day Trips
There is enough to see and do in the Scottsdale area to easily fill your vacation itinerary, especially if you’re visiting during some of the city’s popular events.
However, where are so many great destinations to explore outside of this desert city that can easily be visited on day trips.
City Day Trips From Scottsdale
The Phoenix Metropolitan Area covers a large chunk of central Arizona, including cities like Scottsdale, Tempe, and Cave Creek.
It is easy to get to cities near Scottsdale and it is also pretty quick and simple to get to other cities around Arizona like Flagstaff and Tucson.
1. Phoenix
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 12 to 15 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 20 to 22 minutes
Scottsdale and Phoenix basically mesh together but they are technically two separate cities.
Depending on where you choose to stay in Scottsdale (North Scottsdale and Old Town Scottsdale are the most popular), downtown Phoenix is just about 20 to 40 minutes away.
Other than checking out some museums or catching some NBA or MLB games in downtown Phoenix, one of the best areas to visit in Phoenix is Papago Park.
Inside Papago Park you can hike, golf, visit the Phoenix Zoo, or visit the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden.
2. Tempe
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 5 to 6 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 14 to 15 minutes
Tempe is another small city that meshes together with both Scottsdale and Phoenix and is located just south of Scottsdale and just east of Phoenix.
The Arizona State University campus is located in Tempe and you can also check out the popular Tempe Town Lake just south of Papago Park and just north of the ASU campus.
3. Tucson
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale to Tucson: 117 to 126 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 1 hour & 45 minutes to 2 hours & 15 minutes
Tucson is the second largest city in Arizona and is located in the southern part of the state, about two hours southeast of Scottsdale.
It is a college town that is home to the University of Arizona, and lots of southwestern history.
There are a few nature spots to visit in Tucson, and one of the most popular historical sites to see is the San Xavier del Bac Mission which was built in the late 1700s.
Tucson is also on the way to the historic western town of Tombstone.
4. Tombstone
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 189 to 209 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 2 hours & 45 minutes to 3 hours & 15 minutes
Tombstone is a little bit of a touristy town now, but it is still worth a visit if you’ve never seen it before.
The Wild West town was not only the filming site of a number of Hollywood movies, but the cowboy history dates back to the late 1800s with one of the most famous gunfights in history at the O.K. Corral.
Tombstone is a little bit further from Scottsdale, about a three hours drive, but it can still be reached on a day trip. If you are already visiting Tucson or the Kartchner Caverns State Park, Tombstone is easy to add on to your day.
5. Cave Creek
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 29 to 31 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 36 to 38 minutes
Cave Creek is a popular old western town with saloons, bull riding, and cowboys located just 30 to 45 minutes north of Scottsdale. It’s home to Spur Cross Ranch Conservation area.
In addition to the Wild West-style town, Cave Creek also has plenty of hiking trails, golf courses, and beautiful Sonoran Desert landscapes.
It used to be such an isolated small town when we lived in Scottsdale but it has grown immensely over the years.
There is still plenty of open nature though, which gives you the chance to see more desert wildlife than down in the city (we’ve spotted plenty of coyotes, bobcats, gila monsters, etc. while up in Cave Creek).
6. Flagstaff
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 154 to 172 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 2 hours & 15 minutes to 3 hours & 10 minutes
Flagstaff is the largest city in northern Arizona, about two and a half hours from Scottsdale. The San Francisco Peaks are just north of the city, and are a popular hiking area.
It is home to Northern Arizona University, and it is close to the Grand Canyon, Williams, the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark, and about halfway between Scottsdale and Antelope Canyon.
There are actually two routes you can take to get to Flagstaff from Scottsdale, one which goes near Sedona.
The other that is a little bit further but takes you through the Tonto National Forest, Payson, and the Coconino National Forest which is home to Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive.
7. Williams
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 169 to 204 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 2 hours & 40 minutes to 3 hours & 30 minutes
Williams, Arizona is a historic Route 66 town just under three hours from Scottsdale.
The town is only about 40 minutes west of Flagstaff, and both can easily be visited on a day trip from Scottsdale. But being only an hour south of the Grand Canyon, you may want to spend a few more days here.
There is even a historic vintage train, the Grand Canyon Railway, that runs between Williams and the Grand Canyon.
8. Prescott
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 109 to 134 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 1 hour & 45 minutes to 2 hours & 30 minutes
Prescott is a small city to the northwest of Scottsdale that can be reached in about a two hours drive.
We always used to have summer camp up in Prescott back when we lived in Scottsdale decades ago, and love the town!
Besides its beautiful nature like the Granite Dells, Prescott is also known for its museums, art, live music, cowboys, Whiskey Row, and more. The Sharlot Hall Museum has really interesting historical items!
You can also get to the Grand Canyon along this route from Scottsdale. However, it is not an ideal Scottsdale AZ to Grand Canyon route because it is still about another two hours drive to the north.
9. Jerome
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 120 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 2 hours
Jerome is an old copper-mining town in Central Arizona, just over two hours from Scottsdale.
It’s actually about halfway between Sedona and Prescott so you could combine a few of these destinations on one day trip.
A visit to Jerome is all about late 19th-century history with sites like the Jerome State Historic Park, the 1916 Douglas Mansion, the Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum, and the Audrey Headframe Park with a glass bottom viewing platform over an old mine.
Outdoor & Nature Day Trips From Scottsdale
There are a few great outdoor and natural places to visit within the Scottsdale area, including one of the best hikes at Camelback Mountain.
Arizona is full of beautiful desert nature, most of which can easily be visited on Arizona day trips from Scottsdale or Phoenix.
The best time to visit Scottsdale Az and these destinations is during the winter or early spring months to avoid the extreme temperatures of the summer.
Even in the winter, the nice Scottsdale AZ weather means is typically good to start your outdoor days early because activities and hikes tend to get very crowded very fast.
If you like to hike and stay active for a healthy lifestyle, Scottsdale is full of delicious and healthy restaurants that you can check out after spending the day outdoors.
10. Sedona
🚗 Scottsdale to Sedona Distance: 125 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 2 hours
Sedona is amazing! The beautiful red rock state park is the main attraction in Sedona and you can get out to see them by hiking, biking, or even taking one of the popular jeep tours.
🏆 Editor’s Pick: This guided jeep tour of Sedona’s mystical vortexes has over 1,000 five-star ratings and this Outlaw Trail jeep tour takes you through Arizona’s western canyons!
Plus, the Verde Canyon Railroad is just outside Sedona and winds through some breathtaking scenery in Verde Valley! This rail journey is a must-do on Sedona day trips from Scottsdale.
It is also a very easy day trip to Sedona from Scottsdale to do on your own (it’s only about a two-hour drive) but there are also plenty of day trip tours that go up to Sedona from Scottsdale if you prefer to have everything organized for you.
Sedona is also under an hour from Flagstaff, so the two can easily be combined together for the ultimate Scottsdale to Sedona day trip.
Is a day trip to Sedona worth it?
Day trips from Scottsdale to Sedona are probably the most popular day trips Scottsdale AZ has to offer. A Sedona day trip from Scottsdale is definitely worth it if you love nature.
11. Lake Pleasant
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 49 to 54 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 1 hour
Lake Pleasant is one of the closest large bodies of water to Scottsdale and is only about an hour from Old Town Scottsdale.
We recently went horseback riding out there and loved riding through the desert landscape and seeing great views of the lake.
There are lots of other outdoor activities to participate in here like hiking, biking, boating, fishing, camping, and visiting a number of historical landmarks.
12. Montezuma Castle National Monument
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 102 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 1 hour & 30 minutes
If you’re heading up to Sedona on a day trip from Scottsdale, the Montezuma Castle National Monument is right along the way and only about an hour and a half from Scottsdale.
The monument is a bit like Arizona’s version of Petra, Jordan with prehistoric homes built into the cliffs.
Although the castle is named after the Aztec ruler who fell to the Spanish in present-day Mexico City, it actually did not belong to the Aztecs.
🏆 Editor’s Pick: See Jerome, Sedona, & Montezuma’s Castle National Monument in just one day!
Europeans that discovered the monument in Arizona falsely named it, as it was built and inhabited by the Sinagua Indians.
13. McDowell Mountain Regional Park
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 4 to 25 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 7 minutes to 35 minutes
If you’re staying in the North Scottsdale area, when you look to the east you will see the large McDowell Mountains and the famous Thompson Peak with huge radio towers at the summit.
You can find some great hiking trails on the western side (closer to North Scottsdale) in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
On the northwest section of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve (still close to North Scottsdale) you can find the very popular Tom’s Thumb Trail.
And a little bit further around to the east, you can find even more trails for hiking, biking, or horseback riding as well as camping at the McDowell Mountain Regional Park.
14. Saguaro National Park
🚗 Scottsdale to Tucson Distance: 110 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 1 hour & 30 minutes
If you’re heading down to visit Tucson or Tombstone and want to spend some time outdoors, the Saguaro National Park is just 20 minutes outside of the center of Tucson and about an hour and a half from Scottsdale.
Saguaro National Park has some of the best day hikes near Scottsdale!
There are some great short and easier hikes inside the park, some longer wilderness hikes, camping, road biking, mountain biking, prehistoric petroglyphs (rock carvings), and a cactus garden.
🏆 Editor’s Pick: See both Tombstone and Saguaro National Park in just one day on this highly rated tour from Scottsdale!
There is a fee per vehicle to enter the park ($25 for the week) but they do have a few free days throughout the year, just know that they’ll likely be pretty busy on these days.
15. Salt River
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 63 to 108 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 2 hours to 2 hours & 30 minutes
The Salt River is about two hours directly east of Scottsdale and although it can be a pretty crowded place, it is definitely worth checking out.
There are a number of water activities to participate in here like kayaking, tubing, and fishing, as well as hiking and camping but the main draw is the chance to see wild horses.
The wild horses typically won’t come around when there are a lot of people, so early mornings, late in the evening, or during the off-season would be the best chance to see them.
There are two ways to get there, straight east from Scottsdale, or out and around to the north through the Tonto National Forest.
16. Saguaro Lake
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 32 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 40 minutes
A little bit further down the Salt River to the west you’ll find Saguaro Lake. It is located about 45 minutes from Scottsdale and is a popular place to cool off from the Arizona heat.
Wild horses can also be spotted here whether you’re on the lake or out hiking, and there are also plenty of water activities like boating, jet skiing, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, etc.
17. South Mountain Preserve
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 12 to 16 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 20 minutes
The South Mountain Preserve is located just south of Phoenix, and about 30 minutes from Old Town Scottsdale.
There are three mountain ranges within this park where you can go hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
If you visit in the Summer, or even early Fall, be sure to go out early in the morning or late in the evening and bring plenty of water (more than what you’d think). The summit at Dobbins Lookout is over 2,300 feet so it definitely heats up quickly here.
18. White Tank Mountain Regional Park
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 47 to 60 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 55 minutes to 1 hour
Over on the west side of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area is the White Tank Mountain Regional Park. It is located just over an hour from Scottsdale and is a popular place to camp or stay in the RV park.
As with all the other parks in the area, there are great hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails and they also do stargazing programs where you can view through a telescope and learn all about space.
19. Phoenix Sonoran Preserve
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 25 to 28 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 30 minutes
The Phoenix Sonoran Preserve is located up north of Scottsdale by about 30 minutes and is pretty close to the Cave Creek area.
There isn’t much shade available up at this park (it will actually close when it’s too hot outside) so if you’re visiting in the summer, you need to come prepared.
There are plenty of hiking and biking trails, and in the early mornings or late afternoons you can typically see lots of hot air balloons up in the sky waiting for the sunrise or the sunset.
20. Phoenix Mountain Preserve
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 8 to 10 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 14 to 20 minutes
Aside from the nature and hiking spots within Scottsdale, the Phoenix Mountain Preserve is one of the closest natural areas to Scottsdale with only about a 20 minute drive.
This preserve has one of the area’s most popular hikes called Piestewa Peak or more commonly known as Squaw Peak. Like the Camelback hike, this hike will give you great views of the city and valley down below.
21. Meteor Crater Natural Landmark
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 193 to 195 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 2 hours & 45 minutes to 3 hours & 20 minutes
The Meteor Crater Natural Landmark is one of the most unique sites to see in Arizona that was created more than 50,000 years ago when a 30 to 50-meter-sized meteor hit the earth and left a 600-foot-deep crater.
It is located about three hours northeast of Scottsdale but there are two different routes you can take from Scottsdale to get there.
If you are already planning to visit Flagstaff, the meteor is located about 45 minutes to the east and can be reached along this route from Scottsdale which also passes by the Montezuma Castle and Sedona.
Although slightly longer (only by 30 minutes), you can also take the eastern route up to the meteor which passes through the Tonto National Forest, Payson, and Winslow.
22. Kartchner Caverns State Park
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 171 to 191 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 2 hours & 30 minutes to 3 hours
If you’re heading down to visit Tucson or Tombstone, the Kartchner Caverns State Park is located in between the two, about two and a half hours from Scottsdale.
The main draw here is the expanding limestone cave that you can tour, but they also have camping, wildlife viewing, hiking trails, and the park is part of the Star Night Party Program.
Doable Day Trips From Scottsdale (but a little further away)
There are plenty of day trip destinations within a reasonable distance of Scottsdale, but there are some very popular destinations just a little bit further out that are just too great to leave off the list.
You may want to spend more time at these destinations but technically they can be done as just a day trip.
23. Grand Canyon National Park
🚗 Scottsdale to Grand Canyon Distance: 228 to 238 miles
⏰ Scottsdale to Grand Canyon Driving Time: 3 hours & 30 minutes
Grand Canyon National park is absolutely breathtaking. It’s one of the most-visted national parks for good reason.
Can you do a day trip to the Grand Canyon from Scottsdale?
This is a complicated question to answer because yes it is entirely possible to reach the Grand Canyon National Park on a day trip from Scottsdale. However, it’s a pretty far drive so there isn’t much more you can do in a day than just view the Grand Canyon.
However, if you don’t have the time to stay the night and explore the Grand Canyon further, it is still worth it to visit on a day trip just to get a glimpse of the beautiful Grand Canyon.
If you do have the extra time, it’s better to spend at least a night or two so you can explore more of the Grand Canyon and all of the great things to do there.
Is it better to drive to the Grand Canyon? Or take a Scottsdale to Grand Canyon Day Trip?
There are plenty of Grand Canyon tours from Scottsdale and Phoenix available to take you up to the Grand Canyon in just a day and we think this might be a better option than driving yourself.
The drive from Scottsdale to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is just under four hours one way (typically with a pretty long line into the park).
So letting someone else do the driving will make the long day much easier and less stressful for you not haveing to worry about driving back from the Grand Canyon to Scottsdale in one day.
🏆 Editor’s Pick: This small group tour from Scottsdale to Grand Canyon has the Viator’s Badge of Excellence!
24. Oatman
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 233 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 3 hours & 50 minutes
Oatman is a preserved old western town located just under four hours from Scottsdale.
Like the Grand Canyon it is possible to make it there and back in just a day, but Oatman is actually best to visit if you’re taking a road trip from Scottsdale to Las Vegas.
Besides the historic wild west gold mining past and the views of the surrounding Black Mountains, Oatman is most famous for its free-roaming donkeys and its location on the historic Route 66.
Fun Fact: Route 66 started in Chicago and there’s a fun diner at the starting point that’s been open since before Route 66 existed!
25. Antelope Canyon
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 285 to 335 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 4 hours & 15 minutes to 5 hours & 15 minutes
Antelope Canyon is not located super close to Scottsdale but it is such an amazing and unique natural location that it had to be added to the list. It’s definitely doable in a day trip from Scottsdale!
And if you really don’t want to drive the four and a half hours from Scottsdale to the canyon, there are day trip tours available to take you there and back.
🏆 Editor’s Pick: This highly rated Antelope Canyon day trip from Scottsdale means you don’t have to drive!
It is an extremely popular place to visit so advanced tickets are required to visit any of the sections (Upper Antelope Canyon, Lower Antelope Canyon, or Antelope Canyon X).
Even if you drive yourself to the canyon, a day tour is still required to enter and explore the canyon as it is protected by the Navajo Parks and Recreation.
26. Lake Havasu City
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 203 to 224 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 3 hours & 15 minutes to 3 hours & 45 minutes
Lake Havasu City is located just under four hours from Scottsdale and can be done as a day trip, but it is best on the way to Oatman, Las Vegas, or California (it’s not the most direct route but it doesn’t add too much extra time).
The most unique thing about Lake Havasu City is that it has the original London Bridge.
In 1968 the London Bridge that was built in the 1830s was purchased by Robert P. McCulloch and moved brick by brick to Lake Havasu City to attract visitors and residents to his city.
27. Yuma
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 196 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 3 hours
Yuma is located just about halfway between Phoenix and San Diego, and about a three-hour drive from Scottsdale.
Yuma holds the Guinness World Record for being the World’s Sunniest City and only sees an average of three days of rain per year.
There are plenty of historic sites to explore as well as outdoor and nature sites in Yuma.
One of the most popular attractions a little outside of Yuma, technically in California, is the Imperial Sand Dunes.
A number of movies have been filmed here, including a Star Wars movie, and you can explore the dunes by truck, dune buggy, jeep, dirt bike, or the most popular 4-wheelers.
28. Four Corners Monument
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 380 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 5 hours & 40 minutes to 6 hours & 15 minutes
Visiting the Four Corners Monument on a day trip from Scottsdale is really pushing it, it’s just over five and a half hour’s drive, but it’s a popular site to see in Arizona and might be best visited on road trips to other states.
If you’re unfamiliar with the four corners, it is the spot where four states come together (Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado).
The Four Corners Monument is part of the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation, and costs $8.
29. Petrified Forest National Park
🚗 Distance from Scottsdale: 200 to 268 miles
⏰ Drive Time from Scottsdale: 3 hours & 20 minutes to 4 hours & 15 minutes
The Petrified Forest National Park is located about three hours to the northeast of Scottsdale and can be visited on a day trip or on your way to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The park has some of the world’s largest and most colorful collections of petrified wood. You can drive through and view a good amount of the park, or you can venture out further into the park on a hike.
Editor’s Note on the Apache Trail
The Apache Trail tour is one of the best day trips from Scottsdale. Unfortunately, the Apache Trail has been closed since 2019 when the Woodbury Wildfire destroyed the Superstition Wilderness.
A rockfall on the most scenic section of the Apache Trail has prevented it from reopening, including the Canyon Lake Vista. So an all-day Apache Trail adventure will have to stay on your bucket list for another year (hopefully)!
👉 While we have global health insurance for our day-to-day lives, we also elect travel insurance with SafetyWing for our spurts of fast travel adventure!
Final Thoughts: Best Day Trips From Scottsdale
Scottsdale is a fantastic destination to visit with so many things to see and do that you could easily fill your vacation and stay right in the city.
But if you want to get out of the city and explore more of Arizona, there are so many great Scottsdale day trips to choose from that go all over the state.
This post was contributed to Our Offbeat Life by Fernweh Foreigner, a mother-and-daughter team that focuses on traveling with a healthy lifestyle. They share their passion for traveling while having severe dietary restrictions and food allergies, to encourage others to do the same!
