Top Things to do in Arizona
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Things to do in Arizona, United States: The Best Scenic Drives
The state of Arizona is one that features a fantastic diversity of landscapes and areas of geological interest. North Arizona is famous for the Grand Canyon, a colorful chasm with steep rocky walls more than a mile deep and stretching some 277 miles alongside the Colorado River. Other notable destinations in North Arizona include Flagstaff set alongside the San Francisco Peaks which has the largest ponderosa pine forest, Museum of Northern Arizona, and is close to a number of national parks and monuments. On the south side of Arizona lies the city of Phoenix, the largest in Arizona. Notable day trips in Phoenix include the Heard Museum which is one of America's largest collections of Native American art, Phoenix Museum of History, as well as the Desert Botanical garden which has a great collection of desert plants.
Restaurants in Arizona
1. US Highway 93
2. Joshua Forest Scenic Road
3. Point Imperial Drive
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 106 reviews
An 11-mile scenic drive on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Reviewed By HeidiGrebeinTC - Traverse City, United States
Our family of 3 (mom, dad, and tween son) took this easy drive to the end and back and highly recommend. We stopped at all the vistas and overlooks and took pix galore! The views at each place were amazing. Others have already commented on the fact that Point Imperial Vista is the highest in the park (8800 feet) and well worth the drive, but seemed to not enjoy the actual drive – we did! The air is just better here! The skies were so blue and many plants had blossoms like the cacti. Each vista and overlook was unique and we’re glad we checked each one out. Nough said!
4. East Rim Drive
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 314 reviews
Scenic drive on the East Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Reviewed By 451PaulL - Winnipeg, Canada
This drive ( also known as Desert View Drive ) to the East Entrance of the park has many pull-outs and side roads to more outstanding views of the canyon, ending with the wonderful Desert View Watchtower, before you exit the park.
5. Cape Royal Drive
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 208 reviews
Many of the Grand Canyon's most spectacular panoramas can be viewed along this scenic drive, including Point Imperial and Cape Royal itself (elevation 7,865 feet,) the southernmost viewpoint on the North Rim.
Reviewed By LSUTraveller - Denham Springs, United States
A beautiful drive with lots of spots to stop and take photos, have a picnic or take a hike. Suggest you drive all the way to the end, take the trail out to Angel's Window and make your way back - you'll fight less traffic and compete for parking less that way. A lot of the drive is forested and the view can be visually impeded - but there's so much to see at the stops.
6. Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,151 reviews
The Red Rock Scenic Byway is your Gateway to the world-famous Red Rock Country of Sedona, Arizona … just 110 miles north of Phoenix, about 40 miles south of Flagstaff, and only a few hours south of the Grand Canyon.
Reviewed By kathyfI6813BE - Big Water, United States
Beautiful drive in the red rocks..we stopped several times to take photos and do a bit of browsing at several arts and craft shows.
7. Coronado Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By kepriebe - Orangeville, Canada
We traveled from Scottsdale via a few stops that lead to Alpine. We had arranged to stay at the Lodge. The trip down this section of road is very good. The winding road and major elevation change make for great pictures. We got fuel and snacks and did the trip back to the Lodge. It was nearing dusk and we saw a ton of elk and deer a long the way. Must do trip if you are a fan of twisty roads.
8. Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,150 reviews
Reviewed By seb36 - Tucson, United States
We did this drive during the Covid 19 scare and just before the big fire. It was a perfect outing during the Covid 19 outbreak. You can stay in your car, or stop at various pull-off or trails and basically be all alone with few other visitors on this drive. It is a really educational and beautiful drive, staring out at the desert level and gradually going through multiple nature zones and changes of vegetation, trees, bushes, birds, etc until you get to the top, which is a high mountain zone with lots of green and trees and other nature -- just like mountain areas in Colorado or Canada. It makes us feel like we are on vacation, with all the changes in scenery and temperature. It was 98 degrees at the bottom and 67 degrees at the top. There couldn't be a better half day drive for those of us who have been feeling so very house bound. Actually we do this drive almost every season change and always marvel at the new things we see and feel. There is also a wonderful smartphone app that really helps you to understand the miraculous changes you are experiencing. Going down is like having different scenery even though it is the sam road, so the whole adventure is quit uplifting no matter when you go. Our batteries really get recharged and the trapped feeling lifts for quite a while.
9. Oak Creek Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,381 reviews
Breathtaking in its red rock beauty, the Canyon is a spectacular 16-mile gorge with streams and waterfalls between sheer rock walls.
Reviewed By 51gloriab - Advance, United States
We hiked the West Fork trail and enjoyed the lush area with a well-defined trail for several miles. Our necks were stretched upward as we noted what we saw in the sandstone rock structures formed by wind over the centuries. At the start of the hike, it was a treat to learn about Mayhew Lodge that once was a retreat for politicians and movie stars. We saw squirrels, salamanders, butterflies, and hawks as they thrive in the riparian community.
10. Arizona Route 89A
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 83 reviews
The Sedona area stretch of this drive has been heralded as one of the most beautiful in America.
Reviewed By scoot1862
great riding road. Twisting road with elevation changes, great scenery and safe to travel. Will be back
