Phoenix

Go to Phoenix for desert hikes, museums and resort stays, and plan your days around the summer heat.

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Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and the largest city in the state. It sits in the Sonoran Desert, in the Salt River valley of Maricopa County, where the suburbs of Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Glendale run into the city. Come for the desert itself: saguaro cactus, rocky peaks and clear skies that make early starts on the trail worth the alarm.

Hiking, museums and resort stays are the main reasons people visit. Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak are the best-known trails in the city. The light rail links downtown Phoenix with Tempe and Mesa, and Scottsdale is the usual base for resort stays. Winter and spring suit outdoor plans. Summer highs often pass 40°C (105°F), so plan early hikes and spend afternoons indoors. Three to four days covers the main sights; a week leaves room for a resort stay and day trips.

Phoenix in five

Know the extreme-heat trail closuresWhen the National Weather Service issues an Extreme Heat Warning, Camelback's Echo Canyon and Cholla trails, the Piestewa Peak summit trail and parts of South Mountain close from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Start at dawn or switch to a museum.Phoenix trail heat safety
Ride the free Sky Train to the light railThe PHX Sky Train is free, runs 24 hours and links the terminals to the 44th and Washington light rail station. Full-fare bus and light rail costs $2 per ride or $4 for a 1-Day pass.Valley Metro fares
Spend the hot midday at the Heard MuseumThe Heard Museum, on American Indian art and cultures, opens daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closes only on Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.Heard Museum tickets
Choose Downtown, Scottsdale or Tempe by evening plansDowntown has the stadiums, museums and light rail; Scottsdale has walkable dining and resorts; Tempe adds the lake and a student-town feel. Rail links Downtown and Tempe, but Scottsdale mostly needs a ride.Greater Phoenix
Give Saguaro and the Canyon their own daysSaguaro National Park sits on the Tucson side and the Grand Canyon is far to the north. Each is a full day by car, so do not squeeze both into one outing.Saguaro National Park

Things to do in Phoenix

See all attractions in Phoenix

Museum · PhoenixRosson House Museum at The Square PHXReserve online or buy tickets at the visitor center; tours run at intervals during the day.

Gallery · PhoenixCosanti OriginalsBook a guided tour to see the design studio and learn how the site was made.

Museum · PhoenixASU Art MuseumCheck the museum website before you go for current exhibitions and special events.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to PhoenixPut the places you like in Phoenix on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), free 24-hour Sky Train to the light rail
Getting there: Direct flights across the US; I-17 north to Flagstaff, I-10 south to Tucson
Getting around: Light rail to Tempe and Mesa; rental car for trailheads and day trips
Best base: Downtown Phoenix, Old Town Scottsdale or Tempe
Time needed: 3 days; add 1 each for Saguaro or the Canyon

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh19°Low7°Mild, clear
FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh21°Low9°Warm, busy
MarchClear4 rainy daysHigh25°Low12°Warm, wildflowers
AprilClear1 rainy dayHigh30°Low16°Hot by day
MayClear1 rainy dayHigh34°Low21°Hot
JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh41°Low27°Extreme heat
JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh41°Low30°Monsoon storms
AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh40°Low30°Monsoon storms
SeptemberClear3 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh38°Low26°Still very hot
OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh32°Low19°Warm, easy
NovemberClear2 rainy daysHigh25°Low13°Mild, clear
DecemberClear4 rainy daysHigh20°Low8°Mild, lights

Average daily high and low in Phoenix, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Phoenix

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 20°
Humidity: 46%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 3%

Phoenix

04:22 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-7

Today20°14°3%Monday: Clear. High 20°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 3%.
Tue22°12°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed25°13°1%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 1%.
Thu26°19°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri27°20°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat28°20°0%Saturday: Clear. High 28°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun29°20°0%Sunday: Clear. High 29°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 02:41 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Phoenix

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Before you go to Phoenix

Rooms by the light railDowntown and Tempe stays skip a carCheck availability

Rental car for trailheadsSaguaro and the Canyon need wheelsCompare cars

eSIM for PhoenixHeat alerts and Valley Metro ticketsRead the guide

Insurance for desert tripsHeat illness and hiking injury coverRead the guide

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Rules for Phoenix, checked

On NWS Extreme Heat Warning days, Camelback's Echo Canyon and Cholla, the Piestewa Peak summit trail and parts of South Mountain close 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Valley Metro full fare for local bus and light rail: $2.00 for a 1-Ride, $4.00 for a 1-Day pass; children 5 and under ride free.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
The PHX Sky Train is free and runs 24 hours a day between the terminals, the Rental Car Center and Valley Metro Rail at 44th and Washington streets.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Heard Museum: open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around Phoenix

All of the USA

Parks, cities, entry rules and money for a US trip

Read the guide Greater Phoenix

Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and spring training

Read the guide Saguaro National Park

Giant cactus forests on the Tucson side

Read the guide Grand Canyon National Park

The Canyon, a long day or a night from the Valley

Read the guide Flagstaff

Cool pines on the road to the Canyon

Read the guide Getting around the USA

Rental cars, trains and flights compared

Read the guide ESTA before a Phoenix flight

Visa-free visitors: sort it before connecting via Sky Harbor

Read the guide

Phoenix FAQ

Is Phoenix worth visiting?

Yes for desert scenery, hiking, resorts and Native American art, if you go from October to April. It is spread out, so plan around a few clustered areas instead of trying to see it all.

Are Camelback and Piestewa Peak closed in summer?

Only on days with an Extreme Heat Warning, when Echo Canyon, Cholla, the Piestewa summit trail and some South Mountain trails close from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On other days they stay open, so hike at dawn and carry plenty of water.

How do you get from Phoenix airport to downtown?

Take the free Sky Train from the terminals to the 44th and Washington light rail station, then ride the line toward downtown. A 1-Ride costs $2 for full-fare adults, and rideshare is the other quick option.

How many days do you need in Phoenix?

Three days cover a hike, the Heard Museum, a Scottsdale evening and a Tempe lake walk. Add a day each for Saguaro National Park or the Grand Canyon, which are long drives.

Is Phoenix too hot to visit in July?

Highs near 41°C and monsoon storms make outdoor sightseeing hard. Go only if you want resort rates and pool days, and keep museums and rides for the afternoon. For hiking and sightseeing, October to April is easier.