Phoenix road trippers yearn to explore inspiring settings, do fun things and not feel like they're on fire when they're outside in summer.
This summer, travelers are planning road trips in greater volumes. AAA forecasted about 71 million people will travel for the Fourth of July weekend, including 60.6 million who plan to travel by car, the automobile group's highest number on record.
So the timing is right to launch azcentral.com's Best Arizona Road Trip Bracket.
We need your help to determine the best Arizona road trip. We've created a bracket matching up eight of the most beloved road trips that are a reasonable drive from Phoenix. Round 1 of voting begins at 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, and will close at midnight on Sunday, July 7.
Each new bracket will be announced on Tuesday, marking the start of a new round of voting. The winner will be announced Tuesday, July 23.
Here are the contenders for best Arizona road trips and how to vote.
Grand Canyon
It's no secret the Grand Canyon is one of the nation's greatest natural wonders and there are many ways to explore it, on foot, astride a mule or by floating the Colorado River.
The Hopi Point overlook offers some of the state's best sunset views. The hike from Bright Angel Trail more than 4,300 feet down to the Canyon bottom is full of dramatic canyon views.
Summer is busy at the Canyon's South Rim, but the more remote North Rim, only open from mid-May through mid-October, get many fewer visitors. More Canyon adventures are coming soon: REI Co-op plans to open a Signature Camp for its camping trips near Grand Canyon, expected to debut in 2025.
Puerto Peñasco
"Arizona's beach," as Puerto Peñasco is informally known, is a fishing port on the Sea of Cortez in Sonora, Mexico. Although travelers need a passport and Mexican car insurance to drive there, Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point, is the closest beach trip from metro Phoenix, just 213 miles from the city center.
Sandy Beach, Playa Hermosa and Playa Bonita are where people can find beach resorts, opportunities for activities like swimming and snorkeling and restaurants serving fresh seafood. Nearby Encanto Beach, where Encantame Towers is located, tends to be less crowded and is also popular with Arizonans.
Flagstaff
A roughly 2½-hour drive from Phoenix puts you in the heart of Arizona's high country: the historic railroad city of Flagstaff. The elevation of just under 7,000 feet above sea level, compared to around 1,100 feet in Phoenix, means mild summers and snowy winters.
Flagstaff has a lot to see and do, from exploring Sunset Crater, Wupatki and Walnut Canyon national monuments to wandering through the city's historic downtown on Route 66. Stay for the night sky, as the stargazing is considered among the best in the state (and a big reason why CNN recently named Flagstaff one of the top 10 U.S. towns to visit in 2024).
Sedona
The reasons to visit Sedona seem endless: award-winning restaurants, hotels, spas and scenic drives. Iconic hikes and swimming holes. Even the McDonald's is a landmark because of its blue arches. Pictures don't do justice to the red rock landscapes and its notable landmarks like Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and the Chapel of the Holy Cross; they must be seen to be fully appreciated.
Sedona is also a short drive from other nearby Verde Valley destinations, such as the historic mining town/now arts community of Jerome and the wine-tasting havens of Clarkdale and Cottonwood, where travelers can try wines made by Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan. Tuzigoot National Monument and Dead Horse Ranch State Park also draw visitors to Cottonwood.
San Diego
A 5½-hour drive (or a one-hour flight or an eight-hour bus ride) will get Phoenicians to San Diego, where they'll find the closest U.S. beaches from the Grand Canyon State. La Jolla Cove and Mission Beach are among the top spots for swimming, surfing, sunsets and spotting wildlife like sea lions and dolphins.
SeaWorld's San Diego park was recently ranked among the 10 most popular theme parks with Arizonans. Don't miss the San Diego Zoo, the top-rated U.S. zoo or aquarium among Tripadvisor users; visitors can see more than 12,000 animals representing 680 species.
Payson
This Gila County city about 90 miles northeast of Phoenix is sometimes considered "the heart of Arizona" for being near the state's geographic center. It's definitely the heart of Mogollon Rim Country, a region abundant in pine forests and lakes where outdoor lovers can go hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing and camping.
Tonto Natural Bridge, believed to be the largest natural bridge in the world composed of travertine limestone, is protected by a state park is about 20 minutes north of Payson.
Pinetop-Lakeside/Greer
The White Mountains in eastern Arizona would appeal to metro Phoenix residents for the milder summers alone. But the region is also a hub for just about every outdoor activity.
Pinetop-Lakeside, consisting of the neighboring towns of Pinetop and Lakeside, gives visitors their choice of 65 lakes and streams for watersports like kayaking and fishing. Hunting grounds and motorized trails are also prominent. There's also White Mountain Family Fun Park, for those whose favorite outdoor activities are mini golf and go-karting.
Greer, about 40 miles east, has scenic hiking opportunities, cozy cabins and the historic Molly Butler Lodge. The surrounding Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests have several campgrounds and endless recreation options.
And sandwiched right in the middle of all this outdoor goodness is the Fort Apache Reservation, home to the White Mountain Apache Tribe, which operates Sunrise Park Resort, offering skiing in winter and mountain biking and scenic chairlift rides in summer. A mountain coaster thrill ride will open in summer 2024.
Bisbee
Bisbee is having a moment. Named by Travel Lemming and Atlas Obscura as one of the best places to visit in 2024, and recently featured as a USA TODAY hidden gem, the former mining town in the Mule Mountains is a charming spot with stories to tell.
Travelers can immerse themselves in mining history by visiting the Copper Queen Mine, where they'll put on headlamps and helmets as if they were miners for a day. Bisbee's downtown bustles with boutiques, art galleries and restaurants; ghost tours guide visitors through the city's haunted history; and the staircases built into the town's hills inspired October's Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb.
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached atMichael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@salerno_phx.
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