Must-visit places in Arizona: The ultimate guide from the Grand Canyon to Scottsdale

Pacaso script in charcoal.
Pacaso's Editorial Team
May 15, 2026
View of mountains in Sedona
Key takeaways
Few states match Arizona for sheer variety. A single trip can take you from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the red rocks of Sedona, through saguaro-studded desert and up into ponderosa pine forests, all within a few hours' drive. This guide covers must-visit places in Arizona worth anchoring a trip around, the best things to do by region and time of year, and why markets like Scottsdale and Sedona consistently rank among the top destinations for second home buyers in the country.

What are the must-visit places in Arizona?

Arizona's appeal is its range. In a single week you can hike the South Rim of the Grand Canyon at sunrise, tee off in North Scottsdale at noon and watch the red rocks of Sedona glow at sunset. The must-visit places in Arizona tend to fall into four buckets: design-forward desert cities, red rock and canyon country, national parks and natural wonders, and lake or mountain getaways.
A short list of the top Arizona destinations to anchor any trip:
  • Scottsdale: golf, spa culture, Old Town nightlife and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve
  • Sedona: red rock vistas, the Chapel of the Holy Cross and Oak Creek Canyon
  • Grand Canyon National Park: one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
  • Antelope Canyon and Page: photo-famous slot canyons on Navajo land
  • Saguaro National Park and Tucson: giant cacti, dark skies and a UNESCO food city
  • Lake Havasu City: 400 miles of shoreline and the relocated London Bridge
  • Flagstaff: ponderosa pine forest, Route 66 history and four real seasons

Why is Scottsdale a top Arizona destination?

Scottsdale is one of the most popular entry points for an Arizona trip. It sits at the edge of the Sonoran Desert just outside Phoenix, gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year, and is consistently ranked among the country's top second home markets. Maricopa County, where Scottsdale sits, has ranked as the single most active second home county in the U.S. in recent years.

Best things to do in Scottsdale

  • Tee off on more than 200 area golf courses, including TPC Scottsdale (host of the WM Phoenix Open) and Troon North's Monument and Pinnacle courses
  • Hike the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, with 230+ miles of trails ranging from easy ADA paths to summit climbs
  • Wander Old Town Scottsdale for galleries, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the Thursday ArtWalk
  • Book a spa day at one of 50-plus luxury resort spas, then have dinner at one of the city's 800+ restaurants
  • Take a hot air balloon over the Sonoran Desert at sunrise or a Hummer tour through Tonto National Forest

Best Scottsdale neighborhoods for a second home

If you are looking at buying a second home in Arizona, three Scottsdale neighborhoods consistently come up first: Troon North for golf-course living and McDowell Mountain views, Ancala for gated quiet near the preserve, and North Scottsdale for new-build estates and access to the Loop 101. You can browse current Pacaso Scottsdale listings here.

What makes Sedona one of the best places to visit in Arizona?

About two hours north of Scottsdale, Sedona is the photogenic heart of red rock country. Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and the Chapel of the Holy Cross (a chapel built directly into a sandstone cliff) are some of the most photographed places to visit in Arizona, and the town has built a parallel reputation as a wellness and arts destination.

Best things to do in Sedona

  • Hike Cathedral Rock at golden hour or do the easier Bell Rock loop with kids
  • Drive Oak Creek Canyon to Slide Rock State Park, a natural sandstone water slide
  • Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross and the Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village
  • Take a Pink Jeep tour over the Broken Arrow trail or a vortex tour with a local guide
  • Book a sound bath, energy session or spa treatment at Mii Amo or L'Auberge de Sedona
Sedona pairs naturally with Scottsdale on a longer trip: fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor, spend a few days in the desert, then drive north to the red rocks. For repeat visitors, both markets are credible answers to the question of where the best place to buy a second home in Arizona actually is.

Which natural wonders should be on your Arizona bucket list?

No list of must-visit places in Arizona is complete without the state's headline natural wonders. These are the trips most travelers take once and never forget.

Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon draws more than 4.5 million visitors a year and is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The South Rim is open year-round, easier to reach and home to most of the iconic viewpoints (Mather Point, Yavapai Point, Bright Angel Trail). The North Rim is higher, cooler, less crowded and only open mid-May through mid-October. From Scottsdale, the South Rim is roughly a 3.5-hour drive.

Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

On Navajo land near Page, Antelope Canyon is one of the most famous slot canyons in the world. Upper Antelope is easier walking and known for its light beams; Lower Antelope is narrower with more ladders and stairs. Both require a Navajo-licensed guide. Horseshoe Bend is a 15-minute walk from a parking lot just south of Page and is one of the most photographed places to visit in Arizona.

Saguaro National Park and Tucson

The giant saguaro cactus only grows in the Sonoran Desert, and Saguaro National Park outside Tucson is the densest forest of them in the country. Pair the park with a stay in Tucson (a UNESCO City of Gastronomy) and side trips to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Mount Lemmon and the dark-sky preserves around Kitt Peak.

Lake Havasu City

Lake Havasu has roughly 400 miles of shoreline and around 300 days of sunshine a year, and it is home to the original London Bridge, which was disassembled in England and reconstructed here in the late 1960s. It is the state's go-to for boating, paddleboarding and houseboating.

Flagstaff and Monument Valley

Flagstaff sits at 7,000 feet in the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the country, with four real seasons and roughly 108 inches of snow a year. It is also the gateway to the Grand Canyon's South Rim and to Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah border, where towering sandstone buttes have framed countless Westerns.

What are the best things to do in Arizona year-round?

Beyond the headline destinations, the best things to do in Arizona break down by season and by region.

Outdoor adventure

  • Hike Camelback Mountain, Pinnacle Peak or the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in greater Phoenix and Scottsdale
  • Paddleboard or kayak the Lower Salt River, where wild horses are a regular sight
  • Off-road through the Sonoran Desert with a guided ATV, Hummer or Jeep tour
  • Float over the desert in a hot air balloon at sunrise
  • Drive scenic routes like Oak Creek Canyon, the Apache Trail or Route 66 through Williams and Flagstaff

Arts, culture and food

When is the best time to visit Arizona's top destinations?

Arizona is a year-round state, but the right window depends on where you are going.
RegionBest monthsWhy
Scottsdale and PhoenixNovember to April70s and 80s by day, golf and spa season, MLB Spring Training and the WM Phoenix Open
SedonaMarch to May, September to NovemberCooler hiking, fewer crowds and the best red rock light
Grand Canyon (North Rim)Mid-May to mid-OctoberOnly window the North Rim is open
Lake HavasuApril to early June, OctoberBoating weather without peak summer heat
Flagstaff and the high countryJune to September, December to FebruaryCool summer escape from the desert, ski season at Arizona Snowbowl
If you are deciding between trips and might want to revisit, you may want to consider what it would cost to own a second home rather than booking a short-term rental or hotel each time.

How does owning a second home in Arizona change the way you visit?

Arizona is one of the most popular second home markets in the country, and Maricopa County (Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley) regularly leads the U.S. in second home transactions. Owning a second home in Arizona, instead of booking a hotel every winter, changes the trip in three ways:
  • Time. You stop spending the first day finding a coffee shop you like and the last day repacking. The home is already set up the way you set it up.
  • Money. Repeat hotel and rental stays in luxury markets like Scottsdale and Sedona add up fast. Ownership turns that spend into equity in a real asset.
  • Roots. Owners build relationships with neighbors, restaurants, golf clubs and trail systems in a way short-term visitors rarely do.
The catch is that the average, luxury single-family home in Scottsdale or Sedona is well into seven figures, and most owners only use a second home a handful of weeks a year. That is exactly the gap co-ownership was designed to close. For a deeper read on the economics, see our guide to the best places to buy a second home.

How does Pacaso make co-owning an Arizona second home accessible?

Pacaso’s co-ownership model allows buyers to purchase a share (1/8 to 1/2) of a fully managed luxury home through a property-specific LLC, giving them a true real estate asset for a fraction of the cost. In Arizona, that means owning a curated, professionally designed luxury home in markets like Troon North, North Scottsdale, or Paradise Valley without paying for time you would not use.Every Pacaso home in Arizona comes turnkey: fully furnished, professionally managed, with stocked essentials and local support on the ground. Scheduling is handled by SmartStay™, Pacaso's proprietary scheduling system, which gives every owner equitable access to peak season weeks (think March golf) without the conflict that historically broke informal co-ownership arrangements. It is structured ownership of a real asset, not a timeshare; for a side-by-side, see Pacaso vs. timeshare.If Arizona keeps showing up on your travel list, ownership is worth pricing out. Explore Pacaso's current Arizona listings to see what's on the market.

Must-visit places in Arizona FAQs

01: What are the most beautiful, must-visit places in Arizona?

The most beautiful, must-visit places in Arizona are the Grand Canyon, the red rocks of Sedona, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend near Page, Saguaro National Park outside Tucson and Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah border. Scottsdale rounds out the list as the state's most popular luxury base for trips into the Sonoran Desert.

02: What are the best places to visit in Arizona for first-time travelers?

First-time travelers usually start with a Scottsdale-Sedona-Grand Canyon loop. Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor, spend a few days in Scottsdale for the desert, golf and dining, drive two hours north to Sedona for red rock hikes, then continue to the Grand Canyon's South Rim. The full loop fits comfortably in 5 to 7 days.

03: What are the top things to do in Arizona besides hiking?

Beyond hiking, top things to do in Arizona include golfing more than 200 courses around Scottsdale, taking a hot air balloon over the Sonoran Desert, paddleboarding the Lower Salt River, touring Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West, watching MLB Spring Training in the Cactus League and exploring Native American art at the Heard Museum in Phoenix.

04: When is the best time to visit Arizona?

November through April is the best window for the desert (Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tucson, Lake Havasu) when daytime highs sit in the 70s and 80s. June through September is best for the high country (Flagstaff, Grand Canyon North Rim, Sedona's higher elevations), where you can escape the desert heat. Spring and fall are the sweet spots for Sedona itself.

05: Where are the best luxury homes in Arizona?

The best luxury homes in Arizona are concentrated in greater Scottsdale (Troon North, Ancala, North Scottsdale, Paradise Valley) and in Sedona's red rock communities. These markets pair high-end inventory with strong rental demand, golf, dining and proximity to the Sonoran Desert and the Coconino National Forest.

06: Where is the best place to buy a second home in Arizona?

For most buyers, the best place to buy a second home in Arizona is greater Scottsdale. Maricopa County has been the single most active second home market in the U.S. in recent years, thanks to year-round sun, world-class golf, a major airport and consistent appreciation. Sedona is the strongest secondary option for buyers who prioritize red rock views and a quieter pace.

07: How does Pacaso work for Arizona second homes?

Pacaso lets you buy a 1/8 to 1/2 share of a fully managed luxury home in markets like Scottsdale. Pacaso curates the property, sets up a property-specific LLC, handles all furnishing and management, and schedules stays through SmartStay™ so every owner gets fair access to peak season weeks. You own a real asset and can resell your share when you are ready.

08: Can you co-own a vacation home in Scottsdale?

Yes. Pacaso has been live in greater Scottsdale since 2022 and curates luxury co-ownership homes across North Scottsdale, Troon North and surrounding desert communities. You can browse current Pacaso homes available in Arizona here and request a tour or more about financing directly.

Featured articles

1/

Recommended Articles

1/

Sign up

Get the latest insights and tips.