Arizona is a popular place to visit many months out of the year. This post covers some of the best places to visit in Arizona in December. December is the perfect time to celebrate the holiday season and check out some of the winter sites and decorations. You cannot go wrong with wherever you visit in Arizona, especially if you take a road trip or follow this one week Arizona itinerary.
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Grand Canyon National Park
By Kenny of KYCX Journeying
As one of the most iconic natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon has been captivating visitors for generations with its awe-inspiring views and rich geological history. It is one of the best places to visit in Arizona in December.
December is an excellent time to visit Grand Canyon National Park, especially if you want to avoid the large crowds and scorching summer heat. The cooler temperatures make hiking more pleasant, and while snow occasionally dusts the rim, it only enhances the canyon’s beauty.
A three-day stay is perfect to explore the South Rim, where most viewpoints and amenities are located. Flying into Flagstaff or Phoenix and renting a car is the easiest way to reach the park, as public transportation is limited, and having your own vehicle gives you flexibility to explore at your own pace.
Accommodations inside the park, such as Bright Angel Lodge or El Tovar Hotel, provide the best access to the canyon’s edge, while nearby Tusayan offers additional lodging options. Must-do activities include hiking popular trails like the Bright Angel Trail, visiting the Yavapai Museum of Geology, and catching a breathtaking sunrise at Mather Point.
For the adventurous travelers, helicopter tours offer a unique view of the canyon, while those looking for a more relaxed experience can enjoy scenic drives along Desert View. A mid-range budget for the trip is around $200 to $300 per day, including accommodations, meals, and activities, with the park entry fee costing $35 per vehicle for a week.
Be sure to pack layers and prepare for variable weather, as temperatures can be chilly at the rim while warmer in the canyon’s depths.
Sedona
By Jess of Uprooted Traveler
Sedona is an underrated place to visit in December. Daytime highs are usually in the upper 50s, which is perfect for hiking and its famed red rocks look absolutely epic with a light dusting of snow. Plus, the town, which is usually packed to the brim with tourists, is much more peaceful than the busy spring and fall.
A weekend is the perfect amount of time to squeeze in seeing some of the biggest highlights of this quirky city. Sedona is one of the best places to visit in Arizona in December.
For example, one of the best ways to enjoy its impressive red sandstone formations and Ponderosa pine tree forests is on foot along its many incredible hiking trails. A popular option is hiking to the Subway Cave, a now Instagram-famous cave with rounded walls and stunning views of the surrounding rock formations.
In addition to being a paradise for outdoor lovers, Sedona is known for its unique New Age-y vibes, with tons of crystal shops, reiki healers, and aura readers. The town has been a magnet for spiritual enthusiasts, due to its purported “energy vortexes” of healing and positive energy at various rock formations around town. If that’s up your alley, consider joining a tour to do yoga on one of these vortexes—whether or not there’s any special energy here, you’ll still get to enjoy a yoga class with epic views!
Sedona has gotten pretty pricey in recent years, but, as an added bonus of visiting in December, you can usually get much better deals on hotels and rental cars in the wintertime. A good middle-of-the-road accommodation is the Best Western Arroyo Roble, which offers reasonable pricing, while still offering plenty of amenities, including a hot tub, sauna, and breakfast.
Having a rental car to get around is definitely a good idea, so you can more easily get out and explore Sedona’s jaw-dropping landscape.
Phoenix
By Lisa of Waves and Cobblestones
Phoenix is one of the best places to visit in Arizona in December. It’s the time of year when we locals have bragging rights about our weather! Plan to stay for three days to enjoy a good mix of activities and attractions.
It’s the perfect time of year to take a hike on Camelback Mountain, enjoy a round of golf, or rent a kayak on Tempe Town Lake. In case you get unlucky with an occasional rainy day, the Phoenix area has plenty of great museums to visit including the Heard Museum, the Musical Instrument Museum, and the Phoenix Art Museum.
Another fun reason to visit Phoenix in December is to see the local attractions all dressed up for the holidays! Take a walk on the wild side with ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo, or experience Las Noches de la Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden.
Stay in downtown Phoenix to be close to attractions like the Footprint Center, theaters, and the Arizona Science Center. You should be able to find a nice hotel for under $200 a night in this area. Check out the Hotel San Carlos (a 3-star historic hotel featuring a rooftop pool) or the 4-star Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix.
Plan to fly into the Sky Harbor Airport. You’ll need to rent a car, as Phoenix is fairly widespread and there is not a good public transportation network.
Page and Antelope Canyon
By Mike of Our Campfire Unplugged
Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona is a breathtaking winter destination that dazzles with brilliant red and orange sandstone formations. This unique destination offers some of the best photography opportunities in the U.S. due to its rare “slot canyon” structure carved by flash floods over millions of years. Page if one of the best places to visit in Arizona in December.
December is an excellent time to visit Antelope Canyon because of its mild temperatures and smaller crowds compared to peak summer months. While the desert does get chilly, the cooler temperatures make hiking and exploring far more comfortable than in the intense summer heat. The winter light filtering through the canyon’s narrow walls also provides softer lighting for perfect photos.
Plan for a half-day to explore Antelope Canyon. You’ll need a car to reach Page, AZ, about 130 miles north of Flagstaff. From your hotel, you’ll drive to the tour company, where guides handle all transport to the canyon itself.
For comfort and convenience, stay at the Wingate by Wyndham in Page. The hotel is centrally located and close to additional sights like Horseshoe Bend and Glen Canyon Dam Overlook, which offers stunning views similar to the Hoover Dam, but without the crowd.
Guided tours are required to visit Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, as both are located on Navajo Nation land. Expect to pay around $115-$125 per person for Upper Antelope Canyon tours, which last about two hours, and $85-$100 for Lower Antelope Canyon, which offers a more adventurous experience involving ladders and narrow passageways.
Tucson
Tucson is one of the best places to visit in Arizona in December. The weather in Tucson will be perfect during December and perfect to go on many amazing hikes. Hotel Congress is one of the best hotels to stay at during your time in Tucson. You will want 2-3 days in Tucson in order to see everything. A car is recommended to get around as things are pretty spread out.
The highlight of any Tucson visit is Saguaro National Park. This park is known for its massive saguaro cacti and has many amazing hikes. Plan to spend a full day exploring the two sides of the park. The cactus forest drive loop is well worth a visit.
Other fun things to do in Tucson include wine tasting, visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the Pima Air and Space Museum. Both of these provide opportunities to learn about Tucson and Arizona.
Food wise, you won’t want to miss Seis Kitchen, and make sure to grab some pan dulce from La Estrella Bakery. Agustin Kitchen is also another awesome place to grab a meal.
Tucson is a pretty affordable destination to visit. Hotels cost around $100/night. Many of the activities are free or do not cost too much.
Hoover Dam
By Yukti of Travelwithme24x7 Blog
Due to the cooler temperatures, visiting the Hoover Dam as a day trip from Las Vegas in December is a great choice. As the summer is scorching in Arizona and Nevada, the best time to visit Hoover Dam is in December due to mild weather. You can explore the dam’s outdoor features without the sweltering heat. This engineering marvel is constructed on the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona. It offers a stunning view of the Black Canyon and Lake Mead.
Half a day is enough to explore Hoover Dam. You can book guided tours of the Power Plant and the dam’s inner workings to gain interesting insights into its history and construction. The Visitor Center has engaging exhibits and a deck with panoramic views of Lake Mead and the dam. Walking across the dam offers the unique experience of straddling two states and admiring the magnificent structure up close.
For an overnight stay, you can either stay in Las Vegas and take a day trip from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam or stay at the nearby Hoover Dam Lodge.
You can drive to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas, the nearest major city, about 35 miles away. A scenic 45-minute drive on US-93 S takes you right to the site. You can also book guided tours from Las Vegas, which include a visit to the Grand Canyon West Rim.
Important Tips: Arrive early to get parking quickly, and you will have more time to explore the Dam region. Dress in layers since temperatures can vary. The Powerplant Tour may have age restrictions for children, so check before visiting if traveling with family. You will not be sorry visiting Hoover Dam as it is one of the best places to visit in Arizona in December.
Final Thoughts on Best Places to Visit in Arizona in December
There are many amazing and best places to visit in Arizona in December. Other awesome places to check out include the Verde Valley and Wilcox.
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