Arizona Travel
Whether you’re a baseball fan or just a sun-worshipping traveler, you’ll find everything you need to plan a trip to the Arizona desert in this guide. Use the sites below to plan your Arizona travel, including transportation around the state, flights and hotels, and learn where the locals go to play, eat and party.
Expand All Guide SectionsArizona Travel Information
Arizona presents travelers with myriad possibilities. Get an overview of your choices by browsing Arizona travel information Web sites and articles on travel in the Grand Canyon State.
Top Sites for Arizona Travel Information
For official Arizona tourism resources …
The Arizona Office of Tourism
Web site provides comprehensive information specific to the city or region you plan to visit. Begin with the interactive map of Arizona for regional itineraries and feature articles, then try “What to Do” to access a range of activities in Arizona.
For an overview of Arizona attractions …
The Arizona Republic
has “destination guides” to Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale and more. Consult sections on things to do for families and couples, get the critics’ dining picks and find suggested itineraries based on interests like golf, shopping and fine art.
For Chandler …
The City of Chandler Economic Development Division
details the finer points of this centrally located, fast-growing city less than a half hour from the Phoenix airport. Chandler has a few quirks, including an ostrich festival and a historic downtown.
For Glendale …
Glendale Visitor Center
helps you find a place to stay and things to do while you’re in town. Look for details on outdoor activities, shopping, spa-going, cultural pursuits and dining options.
For Mesa …
City of Mesa
is the official site of Mesa, the third largest city in Arizona. Find typical tourism resources, including ideas for what to do.
For Peoria …
Official Tourism Site of Peoria Arizona
contains essential information for tourists, including the scoop on Peoria’s Lake Pleasant, a prime water sports location, and what’s showing at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.
For Phoenix …
ESPN Sports Travel City Guide to Phoenix
is geared toward sports fans heading to the city. Learn where to find unique activities like the Hall of Flame Firefighting Museum and sports venues.
Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau
provides contact information for visitor centers and Chambers of Commerce across the Greater Phoenix area. Web sites are listed for some organizations.
For Surprise …
The City of Surprise
Web site details what's happening in Surprise with images linking to events, museums, golf courses and more.
For Tempe …
Tempe Convention and Visitors Bureau
Web site provides insight into cultural and recreational opportunities in this vibrant university town. Tempe is a hot spot for live bands, and also boasts art by Georgia O’Keefe, theater and arts festivals.
For Tucson …
Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau
has separate sections for the arts, the outdoors, heritage and culture, dining and more. Get free and low cost Tucson travel guides by mail or e-mail.
For Arizona travel articles …
The New York Times
“Travel” section provides feature articles on Arizona, including popular nearby destinations like Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Find reviews of restaurants, hotels and attractions from the Times and Frommer’s on the upper left.
Things to Do in Arizona
Arizona provides a vibrant combination of natural beauty, old West charm and contemporary culture. Whether you have particular interests or wish to see it all, the sites in this section can help you find things to do in Arizona.
Top Sites for Things to Do in Arizona
For an Arizona entertainment overview …
The Phoenix New Times
calendar is full of feature articles on upcoming events in and around Phoenix. For restaurants, music and movies in the greater Phoenix area, navigate the top toolbar.
For outdoor activities in Arizona …
Arizona State Parks
has resources to help you get outdoors all around Arizona. Look for downloadable brochures, a list of parks and calendars of events for things like hikes and historic park tours.
The City of Phoenix
site has a section on special-interest parks and recreation areas, including dog parks, hiking trails, skate parks and even a park for bird watchers.
The National Park Service
Web site offers information on Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in the Sonoran desert. Find opportunities for camping, scenic driving, hiking and views of the Organ Pipe cacti.
For drives in Arizona …
Phoenix Magazine
published an article on “The Borderlands,” the area along southeastern Arizona. Learn what you’ll see on a drive along the route, and get tips for where to stop along the way.
The Great American RoadTrip Forum
includes this thread on driving from Phoenix to Vegas and back, providing a detailed itinerary for those interested in a longer vacation. Also see this entry on driving from Phoenix to Vegas via the Grand Canyon.
For trips to Vegas …
Concierge.com
has a guide to the glitzier side of Las Vegas, detailing high-end restaurants and nightlife spots, lavish hotels and things to do, whether you’re interested in fine art, boxing or exploring the Hoover Dam.
The Official Las Vegas Tourism Web Site
offers a user-friendly layout and essential sections on where to stay and what to do, as well as special offers on casinos like the Bellagio.
For trips to the Grand Canyon …
The National Park Service
site has a section for the Grand Canyon with resources to help you plan a trip, including a podcast about visiting in the wintertime. Get the scoop on park fees and hiking opportunities, as well as driving directions.
Travel to Arizona
Seeing the great American desert and feeling that warm sunshine will make the flight, drive, train or bus trip to Arizona all the more worthwhile. Use the sites in this section to plan your travel to Arizona.
Insights for Travel to Arizona
- The findingDulcinea Travel Web Guide equips savvy travelers with the Web’s best resources for finding cheap airfare.
Top Sites for Travel to Arizona
For flights …
Farecast
predicts the fluctuation of airline ticket prices. Find the best deals on flights to Phoenix in the near future. Each listing includes a note as to whether the fare is holding steady or rising, so you’ll know how fast to act on a purchase.
For airlines …
Southwest Airlines
offers some of the lowest rates available on flights within the United States. To find deals, be sure to check the “Special Offers.”
US Airways
counts Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport as a hub, offering numerous flights to and from the city. Search for flights or sign up for “Dividend Miles” to be eligible for discounted fares.
For buses …
Greyhound
has a terminal next to the Phoenix airport and in Tucson, and has multiple routes into both cities from locations near and far. Get departure and arrival times, as well as a list of Greyhound stations in each state.
For car rental in Arizona …
Thrifty Car Rental
has a pick-up location at the Phoenix Airport, and you can drop off the car at a different location. Visit this site to book a car from a variety of model and make options.
National Car Rental
has pick-up and drop-off locations in Tucson, Mesa and Flagstaff, in addition to Phoenix.
Fodor’s
offers a rundown of additional transportation options in its Phoenix-Scottsdale travel guide.
For maps …
Google Maps
makes it easy to drive from place to place, whether it’s within Arizona, around Phoenix or across the United States. Enter departure and destination addresses to get written directions and a detailed map.
Arizona Hotels
There are still great deals to be found on Arizona hotels throughout the state. We’ve highlighted the best resources on the Web to help you book a room.
Insights for Arizona Hotels
- The last existing hotel in the world with a design scheme directly influenced by architect Frank Lloyd Wright is the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix. The hotel pool was Marilyn Monroe’s favorite. For more lore, visit the Arizona Biltmore's Web site.
Top Sites for Arizona Hotels
To search for Arizona hotels …
Mobissimo
directly searches the Web sites of travel agents and hotel chains to find the lowest hotel prices in the city of your choice. Get results with rating, price and provider.
For traveler reviews …
TripAdvisor
has a search tool that scours numerous sites like Expedia to find the best deals on hotel rooms. Results include photos, videos and traveler-written reviews to show you what each property is really like.
For rental properties in Arizona …
Craigslist
posts a motley assortment of ads, including housing and real estate. Scour the Phoenix page for lists of apartment and home rentals available in the city, or post your own “housing wanted” ad. Also find an identical Craigslist Tucson page.
For niche hotels in Arizona …
Arizona Dude Ranch Association
lists ranches near Tucson and in Wickenburg, just an hour from Phoenix. Use the site’s ranch comparison chart to ease your selection process, and link directly to ranch Web sites for booking.
Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau
offers information on spas in Tucson, a city that's consistently praised by Zagat for its luxurious spa resorts. Spas are listed with contact information, reservation details and links to Web sites.
Transportation in Arizona
Arizona offers starkly different environments: sophisticated cities, rugged backcountry, stark desert and jagged peaks. To see it all, use the sites in this section to plan your transportation in Arizona.
Top Sites for Transportation in Arizona
For bus transportation in Arizona …
Valley Metro
provides bus service and Dial-a-Ride around Phoenix and the Greater Phoenix metro area. Get route maps and schedules, purchase fares online and read transit news and alerts.
Sun Tran
is Tucson’s regional public transportation system. Get schedules and routes, and find out about fares and passes for coach buses.
For maps …
Copper Square
Web site offers a clickable map of downtown Phoenix. Find parking garages, major buildings, restaurants and more.
Downtown Tucson Partnership
is a must-have travel resource. Find a PDF map of downtown Tucson, as well as information about cultural happenings, museums, where to eat and shop, and historical information on the city.
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