5 Easy Day Trips From Phoenix, Arizona You Can Do in One Day

Do you know what I absolutely love about living in the Phoenix area? While there are seemingly endless things to see and do within the city itself, numerous destinations await outside the city limits, ready for us to explore. Many day trips from Phoenix, AZ, are as close as an hour away, while others can take up to two hours to travel to, which is still close given the massive size of our state.

I have included several day trip options for you below, including my favorite spot to escape for an afternoon. I hope this inspires you to take a day trip from Phoenix sometime soon.

1. Arcosanti, Mayer

Distance: 68 miles

Drive time from Phoenix: 1 hour 8 minutes

Highlights of this day trip destination: Take a tour to learn the history and purpose of this fascinating experimental community. Guided tours are held three times a day, Thursday through Monday, and can be booked online in advance.

Arcosanti is such a fascinating place to me. Located off the I-17, I've stopped here on my way to Prescott, which is one of the most charming small towns in Arizona, and it does not disappoint! With its unique concrete buildings created by a method called earth-casting, it's an oasis of sorts against a barren desert landscape. In 1970, the non-profit group Cosanti Foundation established this experimental community that combined architecture and ecology, and a focus on sustainability for its residents.

With its location just an hour north of Phoenix, spending a day here will be memorable. Visiting hours are from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and tours of the grounds and architecture are offered. There are hiking trails on the property and an on-site cafe where you can relax, have a cup of coffee and a pastry, and marvel at the surrounding architecture. For a memorable, more immersive getaway experience, you can book a room or a suite for a night or two through the Arcosanti website.

2. Tortilla Flat

Distance: 52 miles

Drive time from Phoenix: 1 hour 10 minutes

Highlights of this day trip destination: Dining at the Tortilla Flat Saloon with saddle barstools and thousands of dollar bills signed by customers over the years covering the walls, the post office inside the mercantile, and the tiny museum housed inside a replica of a schoolhouse.

For easy day trips from Phoenix, Tortilla Flat is one of those places that's fun to drive to and even more fun when you get there. About 1 hour and 10 minutes away from where I live, it's a convenient destination, not just for me but for anyone living in Phoenix. To get here requires a drive along the scenic Apache Trail through Apache Junction, past the Goldfield Ghost Town, and, eventually, through mountain passes and past pristine lakes. Trust me, the Apache Trail is among the most scenic drives in Arizona!

Home to just six people, Tortilla Flat is a tiny town with a campground on one side of the street and a saloon, restaurant, mercantile, post office, and museum with information on the town's history on the other. There's plenty of parking in front of the buildings and a large dirt lot behind them. Fall through spring is the busiest time here, as the weather is much cooler. On the weekends, during the busy season, there's often live music on the restaurant's patio.

3. Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Distance: 60 miles

Drive time from Phoenix: 1 hour

Highlights of this day trip destination: Walking across the suspension bridge and strolling through the scenic Wallace Desert Garden.

Nearly the same amount of time it takes to get to Tortilla Flat will get you to Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior. It's located off U.S. 60, also known as the Superstition Freeway, and it's worth spending a day here. Why? Well, not only is it the largest botanical garden in the state, but it is the oldest.

Established in 1924 by its namesake, William Boyce Thompson, this outdoor attraction sits on 372 acres of upland desert. There are over 4,000 species and 20,000 plants, both foreign and domestic, throughout its gardens. Take a self-guided or guided tour through the gardens and hike the 4.7 miles of trails. Boyce Thompson Arboretum is one of the most stunning Arizona day trip ideas and a family-friendly one as well. Visit the arboretum's website for current hours and upcoming events.

4. Cottonwood

Distance: 104 miles

Drive time from Phoenix: 1 hour 40 minutes

Highlights of this day trip destination: Small-town vibe, wineries, and shopping in the downtown area.

A little farther from Phoenix, but absolutely worth the drive, is Cottonwood. It takes nearly two hours to get here from our capital city, and you can even stop at the haunted town of Jerome while you're up this way. Home to just over 12,000 people, Cottonwood has a small-town feel that I crave.

If you find yourself in the downtown area of Old Town Cottonwood, you'll find a variety of shopping and dining options along with wine-tasting rooms. My favorite spot here is Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria, a 4.5-acre vineyard with an excellent restaurant overlooking downtown Cottonwood. The wine and food here are excellent, so make it a point to visit when you're in town. You can make a reservation on the Merkin Trattoria website.

5. Payson

Distance: 88 miles

Drive time from Phoenix: 1 hour 30 minutes

Highlights of this day trip destination: The scenic drive along the Beeline Highway and the natural attractions, including Water Wheel Falls.

Last but not least, my favorite day-trip destination from Phoenix. Welcome to Payson! At 1.5 hours from home, this day trip also involves one of the best scenic drives in Arizona, this time along the Beeline Highway through a variable landscape of desert, mountains, and rock formations. I'm always in awe when taking this scenic route, which leads to a place that lowers my blood pressure the moment we arrive.

Payson is home to two incredible natural wonders, Tonto Natural Bridge and Water Wheel Falls, which I visit nearly every time I'm here. Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is home to the largest natural travertine bridge in the world, and it's as impressive and awe-inspiring as you can imagine! It can be viewed from the top or via a short but steep hike to an observation deck below. Depending on the time of year you visit, there may be a waterfall cascading off the bridge.

At Water Wheel Falls in Payson, you'll have to take a hike over boulders and rocks along a trail that runs parallel to the East Verde River that runs through the area. Along the way, you'll encounter several cascades. It's a gorgeous area that my kids and I love! Come here in the summer and take a dip in the river or any number of swimming holes along the trail. It's a bit of a hidden gem that only locals seem to know about. Not only is it my favorite place in Payson, but one of the most beautiful places to visit near Phoenix.

Taking a Day Trip From Phoenix

You don't have to travel too far from Phoenix for an extraordinary day trip experience; in fact, many day trip destinations from the city are only an hour or two away. From the Old West vibes of Old Town Cottonwood and Tortilla Flats to immersive nature escapes found in Payson and Boyce Thompson Arboretum, as well as the funky architecture of Arcosanti, escape for a few hours to one of these Phoenix day trip destinations. Discover more Arizona day trips or, for a quick overnight getaway, check out some of the best places to stay in Arizona.