During the wintertime, many people are looking for an escape from the cold or a relaxing getaway. While some places in Arizona may still get snow, it can be a fabulous place to head during the wintertime. From the desert vibes in Southern Arizona to the more snowy Northern portion, these are some of the best winter destinations in Arizona.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no cost to you!
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Arizona hotels here!
Table of Contents
Best Winter Destinations in Arizona: Northern Arizona
Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most unique winter destinations in Arizona. Although it is more popular in the spring and fall, visiting during the winter will be a fun experience.
You will want one to two days in the park to be able to fully enjoy your experience.
You can opt to get there by train and bus or you can choose to drive. Around the park, they have a shuttle that runs to get around. If you want a more flexible experience, then you will want your own car. Visitors can opt to stay inside the park or right outside of the park in Tusayan which is about five minutes from the park entrance.
During the wintertime, the best thing to do at the Grand Canyon is to check out all of the viewpoints. As there may be a bit of snow, make sure to be careful around the rim. If you journey on the Hermit’s Rest Shuttle Route, there are ten stops you can stop at that overlook the canyon.
Visitors can also opt to hike into the canyon using the Bright Angel trail where temperatures may be a bit warmer. Make sure to wear warm clothes and shoes with good traction. You will not be sorry when visiting this winter wonderland. Plan to spend at least $100/night on hotels.
Cottonwood
By Brittany of Travel by Brit
Cottonwood, a small town between Sedona and Jerome in Northern Arizona, is the perfect destination for a quick two-day or three-day winter getaway and one of the best winter destinations in Arizona. Winter is the ideal time to visit Cottonwood—the sizzling summer temperatures have cooled down to a more moderate average high temperature of 60°F, so being outside is much more enjoyable.
The easiest way to get to Cottonwood (if you’re flying) is to fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, rent a car, and drive. While you’ll need a car to get to Cottonwood, once you arrive, all the shops, restaurants, and wineries in Old Town Cottonwood are within walking distance if you stay at a hotel downtown, like The Tavern Hotel, so you won’t need to spend much time driving.
Cottonwood is known for its wineries on the Verde Valley Wine Trail, just downtown, you can walk to and from seven tasting rooms! There are also tons of local restaurants where you can dine—Crema Craft Kitchen & Bar is spectacular for breakfast, and Bocci Pizzeria is an excellent spot for lunch or dinner. You can also take quick day trips to Sedona, Cornville, Jerome, and other cities in Northern Arizona from Cottonwood.
If you subtract the cost of flights, plan to spend between $400 – $800 for a weekend in Cottonwood. The Tavern Hotel is the best place to stay in Cottonwood, and they have a Sip & Stay package that includes free wine tastings, complimentary cocktails, and a $50 gift card to local restaurants in Cottonwood. This package is a great way to save money on food and drinks during your trip to Cottonwood!
Lake Havasu City
Lake Havasu City is one of the ideal winter destinations in Arizona due to its low costs and superb weather. It is the best beach in Arizona and who doesn’t love a good beach day especially mid-winter? A long weekend is enough time to explore the highlights of Lake Havasu including outdoor adventures, watersports, lighthouse hunting, and the historic London Bridge.
To keep costs low, consider renting a cabin from the numerous waterfront campgrounds. They offer small but adequate accommodations. Visitors will want a car to easily get around town. There is no public transportation and limited taxis. Over several days, car-sharing trips, such as Uber or Lyft, can get expensive.
The clear green lake is not the only attraction in Lake Havasu. Due to the mild winter weather, Lake Havasu visitors enjoy world-class mountain biking, hiking, and disc golf. SARA park is a large city park that encompasses all of these outdoor adventures and more.
As the water sports capital of the world, most visitors enjoy at least one day on the water. Dozens of vendors offer watercraft rentals including boats, jet skis, kayaks, and even motorized tiki hut shaped watercraft.
A non-profit organization in Lake Havasu has constructed more than 25 full-size replicas of lighthouses located in North America. Several of these are easily accessible from the multi-use path around Grand Island.
Finally, the most famous attraction in Lake Havasu is the London Bridge. It was purchased from the City of London in the 1970s, deconstructed at its original location on the River Thames, and re-assembled on top of a new and stronger steel frame in Lake Havasu.
Visitors can now walk or drive over the London Bridge in Lake Havasu. An English Pub serves traditional English Bitter Ales and fish and chips in the nearby English Village. The red phone booth along the waterfront is one of the most photographed locations in Lake Havasu.
Winter is a great time to visit Lake Havasu because rental rates are lower than the peak summer season and the weather is great. Crowds are smaller during winter in Lake Havasu versus spring break and summer. Plus the winter weather is still sunny and mild enough to spend every day outdoors.
Petrified Forest National Park
By Jessica of The Uprooted Traveler
Petrified Forest National Park, tucked away in the northeastern corner of Arizona, is a wonderful place to visit in the wintertime. While the temperature can get quite chilly at night, it’s usually in the 50s or 60s during the daytime, offering the perfect hiking weather. Plus, the summer crowds have faded, leaving the park’s trails and overlooks open for your enjoyment.
Petrified Forest is a little over 110 miles east of Flagstaff. You’ll want to rent a car to get here because even driving here is a bit of a bucket list-worthy experience. You’ll drive along the famed Route 66!
Once you’re here, the park only takes a day or two to explore, given its small footprint. Make sure to carve out some time to hike the Painted Desert Rim trail, which skirts the rim of a mesa and overlooks the pink and scarlet badlands of the eponymous desert, for miles and miles in each direction. To get a peek at some of the incredible fossils the park is named after hit the Crystal Forest trail, where you’ll hike along rolling hills, with countless pieces of ancient, colorful wood scattered in every direction.
To enter the park, it will cost you $25 for a private vehicle. After you’ve had your fill of the vibrant badlands and colorful fossilized trees, you can stay the night in the nearby town of Holbrook, full of kitschy ‘50s diners and lots of Route 66 memorabilia. It makes for one of the best winter destinations in Arizona.
Sedona
By Jordan of The Homebody Tourist
Although Sedona may not be the warmest of the winter destinations in Arizona, there are still so many adventurous things to do. With average winter temperatures in the 60s, it’s the perfect time to get outside and explore for the weekend.
I recommend starting your getaway with a hike to the famous Devil’s Bridge. Be sure to get here early as the parking lot always fills up no matter what season. After you take your iconic picture on the natural rock bridge, head back into downtown Sedona for a delicious brunch and some window shopping.
Depending on the length of your trip, you’ll have to choose between horseback riding among the red rocks, a sunrise hot air balloon ride, searching for all of Sedona’s hidden caves, a bumpy jeep tour, a sunset hike up to Cathedral Rock, or go stargazing and UFO hunting. You may never want to leave!
There are countless options as to where to stay in Sedona, but be prepared to spend a bit of money. Traveling in the winter does help the prices as it is off-season, but I would still recommend booking early. If you cannot find a hotel within your budget, you can check in the surrounding towns of Cornville or Cottonwood.
Page
By Shannon of Adventuring with Shannon
One of the best winter destinations in Arizona is the adventure-filled city of Page. There are many cool things to do in Page in Winter including the famous Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Page is home to many incredible hiking opportunities as well as the entrance to Monument Valley.
Winter is one of the best times to visit Page because the weather, which is normally very hot, is actually bearable for many outdoor activities. By going in winter, you also get to avoid the busy summer crowds at the famous lookout points.
Page itself is a relatively small city, but there is so much to do in the area that it is worth staying at least a couple of days. One of the most popular things to do is visit Antelope Canyon which is the most famous slot canyon in the world. It became famous for the light beams that shoot through the canyon and the unique shapes and colors of the walls. If you want to visit, just be sure to book your tour in advance as they sell out. Also located in Page is Horseshoe Bend which overlooks the Colorado River.
If you have extra time in Page, it is worth taking the time to drive out to Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. It is home to the famous “Wave” rock formation as well as other cool hikes like White Pocket and Buckskin Gulch to Wire Pass. If you want to hike the Wave, you have to win a lottery through the national parks service. If you want to visit anything in Vermillion Cliffs, you will want to rent a car or book a tour.
Best Winter Destinations in Arizona: Phoenix Area
Phoenix
Phoenix, also the capital of Arizona, is one of the best winter destinations in Arizona. In Phoenix, there are a ton of things to do to keep you busy for several days. Plan to spend at least three days in Phoenix and more if you want to take some day trips.
Visitors will need a car to get around as public transportation in Phoenix is not the best and things are very spread out. Plan to stay near Downtown Phoenix or near Grand Canyon University. To save money, you could also stay by the airport. Plan to spend around $100/night on hotels.
Phoenix has a wide variety of things to do and many of them are free or are pretty cheap! There are a ton of amazing hikes around Phoenix. Favorites include Dobbins Lookout and Papago Park. Winter makes for the best time for hiking as the weather is perfect.
If you visit later in the wintertime, you can attend spring training at one of the many baseball campuses scattered around the Phoenix area. Visitors can watch baseball players practice or attend a game.
Phoenix also has a ton of museums to visit like the Musical Instrument Museum, the Heard Museum, or the Phoenix Art Museum. The Desert Botanical Gardens are also worth a visit.
Cave Creek
By Haley of Adventure Evermore
Cave Creek is a wild west-style town about 30 minutes north of Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona. During the winter months, both Scottsdale and Phoenix become popular and pretty expensive destinations due to all of the events, golf, and good weather but you might find some more affordable accommodations in Cave Creek compared to those bigger cities further south.
Although it doesn’t happen often, you could get lucky with a little snow in Cave Creek during the winter months. When it does snow, it is usually just barely cold enough for the snow to stick on the ground and it usually only happens in Cave Creek because the elevation is nearly 1,000 feet higher than in Scottsdale. Typically, temperatures in Cave Creek stick between the 40s and 60s with the coldest months usually being December and January.
Unless you are driving in or flying into the private airport Sky Ranch in Carefree, you will have to fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and drive about 40 minutes north to Cave Creek. The most convenient area to stay is on the main street, E Cave Creek Road.
There are lots of shops and restaurants nearby and some attractions like Frontier Town and Black Mountain Trail are within walking distance. If you prefer to be a little closer to places like Starbucks, Chipotle, or Sprouts, you can stay near N Cave Creek Road and E Carefree Highway which is about a 10-minute drive from the main part of Cave Creek.
You can visit Cave Creek on a day trip but if you want more time to explore the western town, hike in the desert or go golfing, you could spend a couple of days up here. When you do visit, be sure to include a Wednesday or Friday night in your trip so you can attend the $10 bull riding at Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse.
Best Winter Destinations in Arizona: Southern Arizona
Tucson
Tucson is one of the best winter destinations in Arizona. During the wintertime, the weather is perfect for hiking and outdoor activities, which Tucson has plenty of. Plan to spend at least two days to be able to cover all of the main sites in Tucson.
Visitors will want a car to get around Tucson as many of the sites are quite spread out and you will need it to drive around Saguaro National Park. Plan to stay near the airport if you want to save money or in Downtown Tucson to be within walking distance of many fabulous places to eat.
Saguaro National Park has a ton of awesome hiking trails and many cacti that will tower over you. Visitors can easily spend an entire day hiking around the park. Outside of Saguaro, make sure to visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the Pima Air and Space Museum. You can easily spend half a day at either of them.
When you are hungry, grab food at Augustin Kitchen, Seis Kitchen, 47 Scott, and Nook. If you love pan dulce, make sure to stop at La Estrella Bakery. Hotels should only run around $100/night which makes it a pretty affordable destination.
Wilcox
Wilcox is one of the best winter destinations in Arizona for wine lovers. This area produces 74% of Arizona’s grapes and frequently holds a variety of festivals and fun weekend excursions.
You really only need one to two days to explore what Wilcox has to offer. Visitors will need a car to get around unless you book a tour from Tucson. There are not a ton of places to stay in Wilcox as many people stay in Tucson. The Sunset Inn is one of the more popular options.
Wilcox has ten different wineries to visit. Top favorites include Birds and Barrels Vineyard, Bodega Pierce, Copper Horse, Strive, and Zarpara. All wineries had a variety of wines to offer and several unique options.
While wine tasting may be the main attraction of Wilcox, there are several other outdoor sites nearby. Fort Bowie National Historical Site lets visitors see the ruins of an old fort and the site where settlers and Native Americans clashed. For those more into hiking, opt to visit Chiricahua National Monument. It has a ton of impressive hoodoos and rock formations in addition to hiking trails.
During the wintertime, there are some fun festivals and it is a great time to go hiking as it will not be as hot. The wineries are all very inexpensive for wine tasting and start at $8.
Tombstone
By Jenny of Traveling In Focus
If you are visiting Arizona in the winter, be sure to add Tombstone to your list. It makes for one of the best winter destinations in Arizona. The city is known for its Old West roots and the gunfight at the OK Corral. The famous shootout left three dead and made Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday household names.
Located about an hour southeast of Tucson, driving yourself is the best way to visit Tombstone. But there are a few tours that leave from Phoenix if you prefer. Once in Tombstone, the downtown area is quaint, and almost all the attractions are within easy walking distance.
With winter temperatures in the 60 to 65° F range during the daytime, it is perfect weather to wander East Allen St. This main downtown strip, with many locals dressed in Old Western attire, will have you thinking you have stepped back in time to the 1880s.
There are tons of things to do along East Allen St. Stopping by the OK Corral to watch the re-enactment of the shootout is a must. And you can’t miss the Bird Cage Theater which opened in 1881. Along with being a theater and prostitution house, it also claims to have held the longest-running poker game at eight years.
Swing by boothill graveyard, take a horse-drawn stagecoach ride, grab a bite at Big Nose Kate’s saloon, or visit the gunfighter hall of fame. Most of Tombstone’s activities are budget-friendly at under $20 per person.
If you are planning a visit, we recommend a couple of days. This will allow you to take a leisurely pace to see the attractions and include a ghost tour after dark before retiring for the night. We recommend the Larian Motel to keep the paranormal activity going or the Tombstone Bordello B&B if you want some comfort and a good breakfast.
Yuma
By Theresa of The Local Tourist
When you are looking for one of the most fantastic winter destinations in Arizona, head to the southwest corner of the state. There are so many things to do in Yuma you’ll want to plan multiple days. Considered one of the sunniest parts of the country, winter’s the perfect time to visit because daytime temps are balmy and nights are cool.
It’s best to have a vehicle because many of the activities are a short drive from the town itself. Make the Coronado Motor Hotel your home base and it’ll be easy to get to the area’s attractions. You’ll also get free breakfast at Yuma Landing Bar & Grill, which celebrates the city’s aviation heritage.
A must-visit is the nearby Castle Dome Museum, a ghost town from the 1800s on the longest working mining district in the state. It’s near Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. There are no facilities at that site, so be sure to check out their visitor center in Yuma before heading out.
Another unique activity is the Yuma Territorial Prison Museum. During its heyday, it was one of the most feared places in the American Southwest. Later, it served as a temporary high school. From the watchtower, you can see Castle Dome in the distance. The Colorado River State Historic Park tells the stories of Yuma’s early importance to the U.S. Army and how pioneers tamed the river to irrigate the land.
With rates starting at $129 at the Coronado Motor Hotel, and inexpensive or free admission at many area attractions. Yuma is an affordable place for a winter getaway.
Shaka Guide
Shaka Guide is a GPS self-guided audio tour that you can download to your phone. Currently, they have one for several of the National Parks. They provide great background information about the area. The best part is you do not need the internet to use them.
Final Thoughts on the Best Winter Destinations in Arizona
These are just some of the amazing winter destinations in Arizona. Other fun destinations include Flagstaff, Sedona, Scottsdale, and Jerome. If you have more time, head out on an Arizona road trip and visit several of these destinations or head to California for some other amazing places to visit.
