is commonly referred to as the “Grand Canyon State”—but you’ll find some fascinating grand castles as well. From a stone monument built into a cliff to an elegant medieval retreat, Arizona’s castle selection offers much to curious travelers.

We mean it when we say that Arizona has some unique architectural landscapes: there’s even a building made out of goat milk and stone!

Before you plan your Arizona road trip, check out this guide to the state’s amazing castles from home and

car insurance

super app

Jerry

Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds

Find Savings!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Address: 2800 Montezuma Castle Highway, Camp Verde, AZ 86322

Built in: 1906

What is the story of Montezuma Castle National Monument?

Montezuma Castle was named one of the first National Monuments in the country by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. The 20-room dwelling, built into the side of a limestone cliff, was used by the Sinagua people between AD 1100 and 1425.

The five-story castle was built over three centuries and is one of the few remaining relics of the Pre-Columbian civilization. As the venue sits more than 90 feet above the ground, the Sinagua likely accessed the dwelling via a series of portable ladders.

Today, the castle sits on 800 acres of protected land near the center of Arizona. It played a prominent role in the 1952 western Flaming Feather.

How to visit Montezuma Castle National Monument

Montezuma Castle and the neighboring

Montezuma Well

are

open every day

, except for December 25 and January 1. Park gates generally close at 4:45 pm, though hours may vary by season. The Montezuma Castle entrance fee is $10 for adults, but children under 15 go free.

MORE:

What to bring on a road trip to make it a success

Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights

Address: 5025 East Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008

Built in: December 1929 to January 1931

What is the story of Tovrea Castle?

Built by sheet metal tycoon Alessio Carrero in the early 20th century, Tovrea Castle is now part of the Phoenix parks system and a designated Point of Pride.

The story begins in 1928 when Carrero and his family moved to

Phoenix

and purchased 277 acres of desert landscape. His dream was to build a boutique hotel inspired by the castles in Italy. Unfortunately, the Great Depression thwarted his dreams, and he sold the building.

Today, the castle is named in honor of Carrero and its second owners, E.A. and Della Tovrea. The current park sits on 46 acres surrounding the castle and boasts over 5,000 individual cacti in 100 varieties. Locals call the castle “The Wedding Cake Building” due to its unique three-tiered structure.

How to visit Tovrea Castle

Guests must take a

guided tour

and are not permitted to walk freely around the grounds. All tours begin with a tram ride around the gardens and outbuildings and then feature a walking tour of the main floor and basement.

It is suggested that guests purchase tickets in advance due to high demand—typically, they sell out months ahead of time.

Pro Tip If traveling by car, do not put “Tovrea Castle” into the GPS, as it will take you to the back of the building where there is no entrance. Make sure to use the actual street address when navigating.

MORE:

Eat your way across Arizona: a food-lover’s road trip

Mystery Castle

Address: 800 East Mineral Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85042

Built in: 1930s

What is the story of Mystery Castle?

Mystery Castle was built in the 1930s as a gift from Bruce Luther Gulley to his daughter, Mary Lou. The unique building is constructed with inexpensive and found materials, such as cement, goat milk, and native stone. It contains 18 rooms, 13 fireplaces, parapets, and many intriguing nooks and crannies.

Mary Lou didn’t know it existed until her father passed away from Tuberculosis in 1945. She moved into the castle and shared her home by giving guided tours until she died in 2010.

How to visit Mystery Castle

Tours are offered

from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm on Thursday through Sunday each week, October through May. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-10.

Mollohan Castle

Address: 1939 West Mollohan Dr., Tucson, AZ 85746

Built in: 1980s

What is the story of Mollohan Castle?

Mollohan Castle is an event and party venue and rental property located in

Tucson

. The red brick building features a white dome, crenelations, arrow slits, and a draw bridge—just like something out of medieval times.

Rumor has it that the original design was inspired by Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears.

Initially built as a private residence, the property is now available for guests to rent for small gatherings and business retreats or overnight for extended stays.

How to visit Mollohan Castle

If you are interested in booking a wedding, party, or vacation retreat, you can call the property at (520) 878-6467 or fill out the

contact form

on their website.

The Ashley Castle

Address: 1300 South Price Rd.,

Chandler

, AZ 85286

Built in: 2006

What is the story of The Ashley Castle?

Another wedding and event destination, the Ashley was built in 2006 by owners who wanted to “put all other medieval wedding venues to shame.” It started when they purchased a pair of 200-year-old doors (said to come from a castle in Asia) at an Arizona antique store. Those doors became the heart of what is now Ashley Castle, opening for each bride and groom.

Though the castle is not a tourist destination, you can drive the grounds and have a look from the outside.

How to visit the Ashley Castle

The Ashley Castle hosts an

open house

every Wednesday from 6 to 8 pm for those interested in hosting a wedding or event. You can also call them at (480) 857-8030 or fill out their

online contact

form to make a booking inquiry.

Camelback Castle (aka the Copenhaver Castle)

Address: 5050 East Redrock Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85018

Built in: 1967

What is the story of Camelback Castle?

The Copenhaver Castle, which sits atop

Camelback Mountain

, is one of the most recognized homes in the Phoenix area. Built in 1967 by eccentric orthodontist Dr. Mort Copenhaver, it sits on an acre of nearly vertical land and is modeled after the Moorish castles found in Spain.

The home features a unique mix of old and new—where else can you find a 22-person jacuzzi and a basement dungeon in the same location? In addition, there are five bedrooms, seven and a half bathrooms, four fireplaces, four garages, and a 17-foot waterfall in the living room.

Eventually, Dr. Copenhaver lost the home in bankruptcy proceedings. The new owner plans on renovating the property and opening it up for guests in the future.

How to visit Camelback Castle

Currently,

Camelback Castle

is not open to visitors, though the new owner hopes to turn it into an event venue in the future.

Pro Tip If you want to see Camelback Castle, keep checking the
website
for updates about construction and possible rental availability.

MORE:

Arizona driver’s license requirements

How to get the best car insurance in Arizona

Before you hit the road to check out Arizona’s amazing castles, take a look at your car insurance. Do you have the coverage you need for a road trip?

Car insurance super app Jerry can help you find the best policy, whether you’re

renting a car

or driving your own.

It’s this simple: download the

Jerry

app or go to

getjerry.com

. In less than 45 seconds, Jerry collects all of your information from your existing insurer. Choose from competitive quotes from top insurance companies and Jerry takes care of the rest—securing your new policy and helping to cancel your old one upon request.

No long forms. No calling around. No hard work. Just savings. The average Jerry user saves $887 a year on car insurance.

“I moved states recently and my old provider didn’t cover me anymore, so I tried using
Jerry
. They handled everything from fetching the quotes to purchasing the new policy. Now I save $30 a month with Progressive!” —Kay J.

RECOMMENDED

Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍

Gabriella R.

Find insurance savings

4.7/5 Rating on App Store

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry