The Best Weekend Getaways in Arizona

These are the best weekend getaways in Arizona, from a foodie weekend in Tucson to a romantic trip in Sedona.
Written by Payton Ternus
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Whether you’re looking for an afternoon trip in
Phoenix
or a long, relaxing weekend in Sedona,
Arizona
is the right place for the mini vacation you’ve been meaning to take.
Some of the greatest things in life are short—like a two-day weekend getaway with companions of your choice. Choosing how to fill that weekend, though, can be a little tricky.
Car insurance
comparison super app
Jerry
understands the importance of taking time for yourself—so we’ve compiled this list of weekend getaways in the Grand Canyon State.
From outdoor adventures and family fun to romantic venues and entertainment, these are the best weekend getaways in the sunny state of Arizona.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Find insurance savings

The best weekend getaways for couples in Arizona

Sedona

Sunset over Sedona
Stay at:
A Sunset Chateau
(rooms from $299/night)
Or:
Sky Ranch Lodge
(rooms from $203/night)
Start your romantic getaway with coffee and donuts at
Sedonuts
before heading to the
Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village
for lunch and an iconic shopping spree
After lunch, spend the afternoon winery hopping down the
Valley Verde Wine Trail
—it has over 20 wineries to enjoy! End your day at
Cathedral Rock
for amazing views of the sunset and stargazing. 
Day 2 begins with brunch at the
Red Rock Cafe
, followed by a soothing and relaxing experience at one of the area’s many local spas. Take a drive through
Oak Creek Canyon
to see beautiful scenery. Book a fancy dinner at
Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill
, and end the night at the
Hudson
drinking classic cocktails with a creative spin.

Scottsdale

View over Scottsdale Arizona
Stay at:
Royal Palms Resort and Spa
(rooms from $305/night)
Or:
Hermosa Inn
(rooms from $284/night)
Wake up to a fresh roast at
Sips Coffee
downtown, then head over to
Civic Center Mall
downtown for a walk through the sculpture park. Enjoy some shopping and people-watching at
Old Town Scottsdale
. End the night with a romantic dinner and drinks at
The House Brasserie
Spend your second day in some of the most beautiful nature spots in Scottsdale. Visit
Butterfly Wonderland
, the largest indoor butterfly atrium in the country. Then go to the
Desert Botanical Garden
to see beautiful wildflowers and cacti. Make sure you stop by some delicious ice cream parlors while you’re out in the heat!
Pro Tip Book your trip well in advance to get some great deals and exclusive travel packages!

The best weekend getaways for families in Arizona

Lake Havasu

Hot air balloon over Lake Havasu
Stay at:
London Bridge Resort
(rooms from $129/night)
Or:
Havasu Dunes Resort
(rooms from $160/night)
Lake Havasu is full of fun for the whole family. Visit
London Bridge Beach
for swimming, playgrounds, sports courts, and a dog park.
Lake Havasu State Park
is another beautiful spot in nature for swimming, fishing, camping, and more. Head over to
Havasu Lanes
to end the day with some cosmic bowling!
If you’ve got plenty of mouths to feed, you’ll want to check out the famous restaurants in Lake Havasu. Try
Javelina Cantina
,
Angelina’s Italian Kitchen
,
Rusty’s Restaurant
, and more!

Arizona Grand Resort & Spa

Stay at:
Guest Suites
(rooms from $199/night)
Or:
Villas
(rooms from $449/night)
If you’re looking for a family-friendly resort, check out this spot in Phoenix. There’s a water park,
golf course
, a
full-service spa
, and more amenities on-site so there’s something for the whole family to enjoy. 
There are four
restaurants
at the resort too: Lobby Grill, The Lobby Bar, Marketplace Cafe, and Oasis Bar & Grill. There’s a menu for every craving, from Mexican cuisine to seafood! Pick your venue for the day and have a memorable dining experience.

The best weekend getaways for sports lovers in Arizona

Phoenix

Stay at:
Gila River Resort
(rooms from $176/night)
Or:
GreenTree Inn & Suites
(rooms from $135/night)
If sports is your passion, Phoenix is the spot for you. Phoenix is one of only twelve U.S. cities to have NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB teams—the
Suns
, the
Cardinals
, the
Coyotes
, and the
Diamondbacks
, respectively. Plus, Phoenix is also home to
WNBA Mercury
, the Pacific-12’s
Wildcats
and
Sun Devils
,
Cactus League Spring Training
, and
NASCAR
.
Phoenix is a great place to be active year-round. Work up a sweat with hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, marathons, golf, skiing, or other activities.

Flagstaff

Stay at:
Hotel Monte Vista
(rooms from $110/night)
Or:
Little America Hotel
(rooms from $230/night)
If you’re not one for spectator sports and prefer to taste the action yourself, Flagstaff is a great place for rock climbing.
The Pit
will challenge you with a hike that’s doable but definitely has its difficulties. There are also indoor gyms for rock climbing if you’re a beginner or don’t want to try it outside.
Flagstaff also has plenty of hiking trails where you can exercise and enjoy some gorgeous scenery.

The best weekend getaways for foodies in Arizona

Tucson

Stay at:
Lodge on the Desert
(rooms from $218/night)
Or:
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa
(rooms from $301/night
Tucson is famous for its food—you’ll want to book one (or more) of their
food tours
to scope everything out! Each tour lasts around 4 hours and features 5-6 local restaurants. It’s a foodie’s dream! 
Choose from the Main Gate/4th Avenue Tour, the Downtown Tucson Tour, or the Downtown-4th Avenue Hybrid Tour.
If a tour isn’t your style, that’s okay—you’d be successful finding delicious food just roaming the streets of Tucson!

Tempe

Stay at:
Papago Inn
(rooms from $129/night)
Tempe may not be as big of a city as Phoenix, but it’s a great place for foodies to enjoy themselves.
Alter Ego
serves up new, Polynesian fusion cuisine and cocktails.
CoreLife Eatery
is a great option if you’re looking to eat a little healthier on your weekend getaway.
If you’re looking to really treat yourself on your mini vacation, try
House of Tricks
and
Top of the Rock
Restaurant. They serve delicious contemporary American cuisine, and House of Tricks is an award-winning restaurant!

The best outdoor weekend getaways in Arizona

The Grand Canyon

River flowing through the Grand Canyon
Stay at:
The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon
(rooms from $373/night)
Or:
Bright Angel Lodge
(rooms from $217/night)
You can’t go to Arizona without going to the Grand Canyon! If you’re feeling especially outdoorsy, you can go on the
24-mile Rim-to-Rim Hike
that takes between 2 and 5 days to complete.
At the Grand Canyon, you can experience every single ecosystem in existence between Mexico and Canada. You’ll see hundreds of millions of years' worth of history in the stunning rocks.

The Petrified Forest

Stay at:
La Quinta Inn & Suites
(rooms from $138/night)
Or:
Best Western Arizonian Inn
(rooms from $105/night)
The
Petrified Forest National Park
isn’t actually a forest—it’s the site of an ancient riverbed that accumulated fallen plants for years. You’ll get to see lots of extinct plant species there, since a lot of the fossilized logs belonged to trees that have long been extinct.
You won’t be walking trails in this forest. Instead, you’ll follow one of eight Off the Beaten Path routes administered by the National Park Service.
Pro Tip Arizona can get extremely hot, so make sure you’re staying hydrated and applying sunscreen. 
MORE: 5 best road trips in Arizona for outdoor adventure

The best weekend getaways for history buffs in Arizona

Bisbee

Stay at:
Bisbee Grand Hotel
(rooms for $130/night)
Or:
Jonquil Motel
(rooms from $130/night)
Bisbee
is a historic mining town tucked in the Mule Mountains. Take a tour to the
Copper Queen Mine
, visit the
Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum
, and the
Belleza Fine Art Gallery
to experience local history and culture.
Here’s where it gets even more interesting—Bisbee is one of the most haunted towns in America. If you’re interested in the paranormal, make sure you go on the
Old Bisbee Ghost Tour
!

Tombstone

Stay at:
The Tombstone Grand Hotel
(rooms from $73/night)
Or:
Tombstone Monument Guest Ranch
(rooms from $129/night)
Want to step into the Old West? Take a trip to Tombstone and see the
O.K. Corral
, the site of the legendary 1881 gunfight. You can also visit the
Gunfighter Hall of Fame
and go on several tours to get in the Wild West spirit. 
Tombstone is also home to quite a few theaters and saloons so you can immerse yourself in the experience of the Old West!

The best cheap weekend getaways in Arizona

Mesa

Stay at:
Best Western Legacy Inn
(rooms from $148/night)
Or:
Days Hotel
(rooms from $120/night)
Mesa is home to the
Arizona Museum of Natural History
, and it’s a great option for an affordable activity. It’s only $12 for adults, and tickets for children are $7-$8.
There are also plenty of hiking trails and nature parks in Mesa that have free or inexpensive admission costs. You can save money and spend time in the beautiful Arizona weather!

Glendale

Stay at:
GreenTree Hotel Phoenix West
(rooms from $143/night)
Or:
Home2 Suites
(rooms from $185/night)
Want to save money but still get a sweet treat? Visit the
Cerreta Candy Company
in Glendale. Tours are free, and VIP tours cost $12.50 per person. Another way to nurture your inner child is to take a free tour of the
Arizona Doll and Toy Museum
.
If you’re wanting a vintage feel to your day, try visiting
historic downtown Glendale
or the
Martin Auto Museum
. Stroll through the historic buildings while you shop, and admire Mel Martin’s car collection.
Pro Tip Make sure you check for special travel deals, especially if you’re looking to go during peak tourism season (i.e., winter, especially January through April). 

Why you need the right car insurance (and how to save on your policy!)

No matter where you decide to go on your Arizona getaway, make sure you’re covered with the right car insurance policy with Jerry.
Jerry isn’t like any other insurance company—it’s a licensed broker and comparison app that finds quotes fitting your budget and needs from top-rated insurance providers in under a minute. 
In addition to access to a friendly and knowledgeable team of agents, you’ll get end-to-end support: Jerry takes care of all the paperwork for you and can even help you cancel your existing policy.
The best part? On average, Jerry users save $887 per year on car insurance premiums. With those kinds of savings, you can treat yourself to the best on your Arizona getaway!
“When using
Jerry
, I was impressed at how their representative took care of my situation. He was so knowledgeable about my state’s insurance laws!” —Rabi B.
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👍
avatar
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
rating primary
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings