Arizona
Arizona is a southwestern US state known for the Grand Canyon, saguaro desert and Route 66 towns. It suits trips that pair city stays with long drives across very different terrain.
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Arizona is a landlocked state in the Southwestern United States, one of the Four Corners states, with Mexico's Sonora and Baja California states along its southern border. Phoenix is the capital and largest city, and Tucson, about 110 miles southeast, is the second-largest. The state splits into two very different landscapes: saguaro-studded Sonoran-type desert in the south and pine forests, canyons and mesas on the northern plateau.
The best-known sights are the Grand Canyon, cut by the Colorado River in the north, and the cacti of Saguaro National Park just west of Tucson. Phoenix suits city stays with museums and historic resorts, while Sedona and Flagstaff are bases in the cooler north. Winter is the most comfortable season in the desert lowlands, and summers in Phoenix are very hot, so plan for a week or more and dress for the season and altitude.
Arizona in five
- Avoid flooded washes in July and AugustMonsoon thunderstorms in July and August can cause deadly flash floods. Turn around at any flooded road or streambed. Arizona has a state law, nicknamed the Stupid Motorist Law, aimed at keeping drivers out of flooding streams.
- Keep the clock on Arizona timeArizona does not observe daylight saving time, so Phoenix, Tucson and Sedona keep the same clock all year. The Navajo Nation in the northeast does observe it.
- Ride Valley Metro light rail in PhoenixValley Metro Rail connects central Phoenix with Mesa and Tempe. Phoenix has had no Amtrak train since 1996, so the light rail is the rail option for getting around the metro area.Getting around
- Take the Amtrak Southwest Chief to FlagstaffThe Southwest Chief stops at Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams and Kingman. Flagstaff is a base for trips to the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.Flagstaff
- Time outdoor plans for Phoenix wintersPhoenix averages highs of 106°F in July and 67°F in January. In the desert lowlands, weather is most comfortable from late fall to early spring.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Arizona, the full guide
Sedona
- Best for: Art lovers, scenic stays
- Price band: $$
- Galleries and small arts scenes line the town
- Jerome, a former copper camp, is also an artist colony
- Oak Creek Canyon is a trip from Flagstaff
Skip if you need big-city nightlife or a late-night dinner.
Flagstaff
- Best for: Cooler stays, Grand Canyon base
- Price band: $$
- Humphreys Peak, Arizona's highest, is nearby
- Historic Route 66 is the main east-west street
- Amtrak Southwest Chief stops in Flagstaff
Skip if you want the desert lowlands and cacti on every walk.
Phoenix
Go to Phoenix for desert hikes, museums and resort stays, and plan your days around the summer heat.
Tucson
Tucson is a desert city in southern Arizona, known mainly for Saguaro National Park and Sonoran cooking. Plan the trip for the cool months and early starts on the trails.
Things to do in Arizona
See all attractions in Arizona
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; ESTA needed by eligible visa-waiver travelers Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- 15 to 20% at restaurants; tip drivers and hotel staff
- Time
- UTC-7, no daylight saving (Navajo Nation observes it)
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryMild, frost nights
- FebruaryMild, sunny
- MarchWarm, mild
- AprilWarm, dry
- MayHot, dry
- JuneVery hot
- JulyMonsoon, very hot
- AugustMonsoon storms
- SeptemberHot, storms
- OctoberMild, pleasant
- NovemberMild, cooling
- DecemberCool, mild
Right now in Arizona
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
7
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 69%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 13%
Arizona
01:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°6°13%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Tue15°7°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed16°7°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu18°6°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri18°7°2%Friday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat20°8°0%Saturday: Clear. High 20°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun21°8°0%Sunday: Clear. High 21°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 09:17 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Sedonaby road from FlagstaffRed rock and galleries in an artist colony.Read the guide
- Grand Canyon South Rimby road from FlagstaffThe canyon the Colorado River carved, about 277 miles long.Read the guide
- Tombstoneby road from TucsonA silver-rush town known for its outlaws and lawmen.
Before you go to Arizona
Rules for Arizona, checked
- Check whether you need ESTA or a visa before you fly, on the official CBP ESTA site.Source
- Do not drive across flooded streams during the July and August monsoon. Turn back at any flooded road.
- Reservation land covers about a quarter of Arizona. Check each tribe's entry and permit rules before you enter reservation land or a tribal park.
Plan around Arizona
Light rail, Amtrak, Greyhound and the Interstates.
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules for your passport before you fly.
Read the guideMoney and costsTypical prices for beds, meals, tips and tickets.
Read the guideWhere to stayBases in Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona and Flagstaff.
Read the guidePhoenixThe capital, its museums and its historic resorts.
Read the guideGrand Canyon South RimThe main rim of the Grand Canyon, carved by the Colorado River.
Read the guideArizona FAQ
How many days do you need in Arizona?
Plan about a week to cover Phoenix or Tucson, Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Phoenix and Tucson are about 110 miles apart, so pick one as your main base.
Should I base in Phoenix or Tucson?
Phoenix for the capital, its museums and the light rail to Tempe. Tucson for Saguaro National Park, the Sun Link streetcar and the University of Arizona.
Is Arizona too hot to visit?
Only in the low desert in summer. Phoenix averages highs of 106°F in July, while Flagstaff and Prescott sit higher and are much cooler than Phoenix.
Do I need a rental car in Arizona?
For most trips, yes. Phoenix has had no Amtrak train since 1996, and buses reach fewer of the sights in this guide than a car does.
Is the Grand Canyon worth visiting?
Yes. It is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, about 277 miles long and more than a mile deep, with the Colorado River at the bottom.