Arizona

Best time to visit Arizona

The best time to visit Arizona depends on your preferences and what you want to do.

In spring (March-May) you can expect pleasant temperatures, blooming wildflowers, fewer crowds, and lower prices. It's important to note that some areas can still be chilly, especially in the mornings and evenings.

Summer (June-August) has longer days, more outdoor activities, and lower prices but it you will experience extremely hot temperatures, especially in the desert regions.

In autumn (September-November) you'll get mild temperatures, beautiful foliage in the northern parts, fewer crowds, and lower prices. Some areas can still be hot, especially in the desert regions.

Winter (December-February) has pleasant temperatures in the southern parts, snow in the northern mountains, and fewer crowds, however there will be higher prices, especially during the holidays, and limited outdoor activities in the northern parts.

Overall, the best time to visit Arizona is during the shoulder seasons, spring and fall, when the temperatures are pleasant and the crowds are smaller. However, if you're looking for a more affordable trip, you can consider visiting during the summer or winter.

Discover Arizona

Arizona, a masterpiece of the natural world, is a state made for road trips and the cityscapes and suburbs of metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson obligingly give way to open-road panoramas. Cactus, chaparrals, pine-covered mountains and a stunning array of geologic formations dating back two billion years ensure your camera is an essential travelling companion.

Nowhere in the US is the contrast between tradition and modern quite so marked as in America’s sixth largest state. Cowboy culture is deeply entrenched in Arizona’s psyche with cattle ranching still of great economic importance, while a journey through America’s tribal lands takes you along the colourful and exotic paths of America’s indigenous peoples.

Natural highlights blend effortlessly with modern-day development, as desert mountains form the picture-perfect skyline to Phoenix and its environs. The vivid red rocks and sheer sandstone canyon walls play spiritual host to the artisan town of Sedona, while the dramatic rock formations of Oak Creek Canyon carve out an extravagant doorway to the laid-back charms of Flagstaff.

Highlights of Arizona

What is Arizona famous for?

• The Grand Canyon
• Scottsdale
• Lake Powell
• Sedona
• Route 66

Swipe left or right to learn more about each destination.

The Grand Canyon

This tops the list of any must-see attractions and is about a 3 ½-hour drive north of the greater Phoenix area. At one mile deep, 277 miles long and as much as 18 miles wide, many of history’s writers and photographers have found its splendour impossible to capture. In addition to hiking its trails, visitors may fly over the canyon in helicopter or plane tours or venture down its winding paths on the back of a sure-footed mule.

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Scottsdale

State capital, Phoenix, and its suburbs - including the resort of Scottsdale - lie in the appropriately named “Valley of the Sun” As part of the “Valley”, Scottsdale manages to retain its own secluded individuality with avariety of spas and resorts, basking in over 300 days of glorious sunshine a year and takes advantage of a very mild winter climate. Tucked away from all the excellent golfing, pampering spa treatments, shopping malls and dining options, you will find delightful Old Town Scottsdale. This Wild West themed community has covered sidewalks and porch-fronted art galleries, restaurants, and stores selling Indian jewellery, Western art and clothing.

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Lake Powell

Straddling the border with Utah lies America’s second largest reservoir, created by the construction of Glen Canyon Dam in 1963. Almost 2,000 miles of shoreline meld into red rock formations created by centuries of wind erosion. Here, visitors enjoy sunny days of water-skiing, boating and exploring the sapphire waters and sandy coves from the comfort of their rented houseboat. In addition to the abundance of recreational pursuits on Lake Powell, other activities include flightseeing tours of the spectacular surrounding scenery and Navajo-guided tours of Antelope Canyon can be booked from the gateway town of Page.

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Sedona

Red-rock buttes, towering pinnacles and sandstone monoliths reach up into a seemingly perpetual blue sky. Oak Creek, responsible for carving this stunning landscape, glides gracefully through the town of Sedona, located 30 miles south of Flagstaff along a stretch of State Route 89A, a designated Scenic Highway. Fully narrated 4 x 4 jeep tours provide an off-the-beaten-track insight into the history and geology of this unique area, while hikers and bikers can explore wild country trails that loop through a labyrinth of stone towers. The red rocks of Sedona also cradle an array of resorts, spas, art galleries and boutiques.

Route 66

This iconic highway played a key role in shaping the lives of countless Americans, transforming communities along its path and the developing the country as a whole. It not only connects the East and West but also links the past to the present. For a taste of nostalgic Americana and quirky side road attractions make sure to stop at the cities of Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams, Seligman and Kingman which all proudly lie on “the Mother Road” of America.