The Christmas Lights Road Trip Through Arizona That’s Nothing Short Of Magical
No matter the time of year, it seems there’s no place more beautiful and diverse than the route between Prescott and Flagstaff. But in winter, it becomes magical and easily takes your breath away. In fact, within the past few years, this short GIF of Route 89A took the social news site Reddit by storm, leaving many readers 100% surprised that Arizona even has winter weather. Who wouldn’t be enchanted by that sight? But if you are surprised about winter in Arizona, then get ready to have your mind blown by the best Christmas lights in Arizona.
The truth is, Christmas lights can make even the blandest landscape beautiful. Once the sun starts to set, flip on the lights and watch the faint glow bring smiles to faces. If you want to check out some of the fantastic holiday lights in Arizona, you’re in luck! We’ve put together a road trip centered around this very area.
Here it is! The best Christmas lights-themed road trip!
Take your time and expect to spend a couple of days on this trip so that you can really absorb all the local fun in these Arizona cities and towns. Alternatively, you can pick and choose a couple of favorite places to visit along the route and watch the scenery come to life. Let's get started!
If you want to check out the road trip map, click on this link to access the locations.
Any Christmas-themed road trip ought to include Arizona’s Christmas town so that’s where we naturally are starting to journey. Courthouse Square is well-known for its fabulous light displays and sets a high standard for the lights in other areas of the state! Expect to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour walking through the downtown area of Prescott to enjoy the decorations and annual joy. Fans of holiday lights in Arizona can't miss this.
Courthouse Plaza, 120 S Cortez St, Prescott, AZ 86303, USA
2. WildLights at Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary (Prescott)
This animal sanctuary helps to bring in extra guests by installing a colorful light display every December to make this area look like a dreamscape. Walk through the park to enjoy the displays, music, and warm refreshments! We can't get enough of these wonderful Christmas lights in Arizona, and we suspect you won't either!
Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, 1403 Heritage Park Rd, Prescott, AZ 86301, USA
3. Valley of Lights at Fain Park (Prescott Valley)
This little drive-thru light display is the perfect example of enjoying a short and sweet holiday display. You’ll find a range of themed displays - everything from traditional Christmas to patriotism to your favorite childhood cartoon characters - lighting up the night. Christmas in AZ has never been so magnificent.
Fain Park, 2200 N 5th St, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314, USA
4. Main Street Lights in Jerome, Clarkdale, & Cottonwood
As you make the trip from Prescott to Sedona, you’ll pass through some adorable little towns like Jerome, Clarkdale, and Cottonwood. The main streets here are lit up, making these areas even more attractive! Check out the festivities during Christmas in Jerome and you might be tempted to move here!
Jerome, AZ 86331, USA
Cottonwood, AZ, USA
Clarkdale, AZ, USA
5. Various light displays at Tlaquepaque Arts & Craft Village (Sedona)
You’ll find quite a few Christmas events happening in Sedona and some of the top displays are all taking place in or around the Tlaquepaque Arts and Craft Village. The lights are on every night until January!
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, 336 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ 86336, USA
6. Holiday lights at Little America Hotel (Flagstaff)
Think of this light display as Tinsel Town times ten! While enjoying this amazing holiday tradition in Arizona, you’ll find the nearby pines and other trees all spruced up with colorful twinkle lights to make one amazing light display. It looks even more magical after a recent snowfall when the lights reflect and glow off the white snow.
Little America Hotel, 2515 E Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, USA
If you’ve never had the chance to visit Bearizona, the annual light setup is a good time to visit! You’ll get to see the park absolutely glowing with lights wrapped around trees and small bear-themed displays scattered around the park. How many lighted bears can you spot in one visit? To find out more about this Christmas light display in Arizona, keep an eye on the official Bearizona website.
Bearizona Wildlife Park, 1500 E Rte 66, Williams, AZ 86046, USA
Finally, finish up the road trip with a look at a classic American town like Williams, which sits right along Route 66. You’ll see the street decorated, a towering Christmas tree sitting at the center, and plenty of happy faces walking around here! We can't get enough of this Christmas lights display in AZ and year after year it is never less magical than before.
West Historic Route 66, W Historic Rte 66, Williams, AZ, USA
So, what do you think about these Christmas lights in Arizona? Do you have any more holiday lights in Arizona that you think we should check out? Make sure to share with us in the comments section!
Want to check out another fantastic road trip through the Grand Canyon state? One of our favorites is this trek through some of Arizona’s famous ghost towns: this haunting road trip through Arizona ghost towns is one you won’t forget.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Christmas Lights In Arizona
October 06, 2021
Marisa Roman
What are the best drive-thru light shows in Arizona?
Holiday lights in Arizona don’t all need to be explored on foot. Some of the best Christmas lights in Arizona can be enjoyed simply from the comfort of your own car. Arizona has some pretty phenomenal drive-thru light shows throughout the state, each offering a different experience. For instance, Arizona's newest drive-thru Christmas attraction, Holiday Lights at Salt River Fields, offers up to five million lights in just over a mile. Plus, it’s all synchronized to music!
Should I go hiking in winter in Arizona?
If you’re thinking about what types of seasonal activities to enjoy, whether taking a few road trips in Arizona or seeing the holiday lights, we have something else to consider - hiking! There are a few picturesque winter hiking trails in Arizona that are worth checking out but must be exercised with caution. Ice and snow can end up creating really challenging terrain. One of the best trails, Agassiz Peak, is one of the highest points in the state. This trail is only accessible when snow is covering the ground, which makes it that much more enjoyable!
How much snowfall does Arizona get each year?
Winter in Arizona looks different depending on where you’re located. For anyone in the southern part of the state, snow isn’t really a thing to worry about. But northerners definitely see snow throughout winter. On average, there are about 102 inches of snow that falls every year in Flagstaff, Arizona, the town that gets the most snow in the state. In comparison, Williams, which is located just west of Flagstaff, averages about 74 inches of snow per year.
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Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
