9 Small Towns In Arizona To Visit For A Weekend Getaway
Arizona's small towns carry a mix of rugged scenery, old stories, and easygoing charm that make them great for a weekend getaway. Each place has its own setting, whether tucked against red cliffs, shaded by high ponderosa pines, or stretched along quiet desert hills. You can stroll past historic storefronts, step into a museum you did not expect to find, or follow a trail that starts a few minutes from the main street.
A weekend here can turn into a string of small discoveries, like a good plate of local food, an art studio hidden behind a courtyard, a scenic river bend, or a vintage railroad site still in use. These nine towns offer simple places to stay, local restaurants and coffee spots, and enough parks, galleries, and landmarks to keep the days full without feeling rushed.
Sedona
Sedona draws visitors for its dramatic red rock cliffs and vortex sites, but a quieter side sits in its lesser-known cultural spots. The Sedona Heritage Museum explains life on early ranches in a fun, family-friendly way. Kids can even learn how to carve handmade soap. A short hike to the Amitabha Stupa offers tranquil views of the Sedona landscape. Several small galleries and craft studios line State Route 179, including The Melting Point glass studio and Kuivato Gallery. Short trails near Coffee Pot Rock give visitors easy access to the red rocks without taking long drives.
The town has a strong food scene with places like Creekside American Bistro, Sedona Memories Cafe, and the Cowboy Club Grille, where you can try fried cactus and rattlesnake. There are even more dining options at Tlaquepaque, an arts & craft village modeled after a traditional Mexican village. You can also spend an entire weekend visiting Cathedral Rock's trail network, exploring Red Rock Crossing, or taking a jeep adventure through the red rocks. The Amara Resort & Spa works well as a base, as it is within walking distance to the main street and popular trailheads, and the views from the back are exceptional.
Prescott
Prescott centers around Courthouse Plaza Historic District, a 17-acre walkable square with tall trees and historic storefronts. Victorian homes and brick buildings spread out around the plaza, and nearby granite peaks and lakes give the city a mountain feel. The Sharlot Hall Museum offers a clear look at the region's history, and the Phippen Museum highlights western art. Watson Lake sits just outside town with its massive granite boulders and calm water. The area around Whiskey Row shows the town's saloon past and still has lively spots for visitors.
A weekend visit often includes stops at local dining spots like Raven Cafe and Papa's Italian Restaurant. Downtown streets have stores like Van Gogh's Ear Gallery and the Prescott Candle Company, among many others, making it easy to browse between meals. Trails around Watson Woods and the Granite Dells offer quick outdoor escapes. Hotel St. Michael offers charming rooms with historical character and modern amenities, and is located near shopping and attractions like Whiskey Row.
Flagstaff
Flagstaff sits at a high elevation in the San Francisco Peaks, which gives it cooler weather and tall ponderosa pine forests. Historic Route 66 runs through the center, and by Flagstaff Station, which also houses the Visitor Center and rental-car pickup. Flagstaff is a college town, with Northern Arizona University right in the midst of the old brick buildings, cafes, boutiques, and tons of street murals. The Lowell Observatory shares the story of early planetary research and the discovery of Pluto, and the Museum of Northern Arizona explores the region's science and culture. The Arboretum at Flagstaff adds a quiet place to walk among native plants.
Visitors can enjoy places like Tinderbox Kitchen for fine dining, Pizzicletta, and Pato Thai Cuisine. Breweries such as Lumberyard Tap Room & Grille and Dark Sky Brewing attract weekend travelers. Outdoor adventurers will love exploring the numerous National Parks in the area, including Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, and Wupatki National Monument. The Little America Hotel is a great place to stay, with its spacious rooms and hiking trails right in its backyard.
Bisbee
Bisbee, in the Mule Mountains, shows its mining past through old tunnels, hillside mining homes, and narrow streets. Bisbee has become a quirky art town, home to eclectic residents. The Queen Mine Tour takes visitors underground with retired miners who explain how the town worked. The Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum offers deeper insight into the town's mining history and displays early tools both inside and out. Main Street features colorful buildings, boutiques, and numerous antique shops, including the Miners & Merchants Antique Center, which spans three floors. Visitors can also enjoy food, coffee, and drinks, as well as events and performances at the Bisbee Royale .
A weekend here often includes visits to Bisbee Coffee Company, munching on delicious pastries from Patisserie Jacqui, stopping into The High Desert Market for snacks, exploring the galleries in the Arts District, chasing street murals, and going on the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour. The Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb path provides great views of the town's layout. The Copper Queen Hotel is centrally located, works well for a weekend stay, and has some incredible ghost stories.
Jerome
Jerome rises on the steep slopes of Cleopatra Hill, and its layout reveals its mining past at every turn. The Jerome State Historic Park shows how the copper industry shaped the region, and the Douglas Mansion displays early mining tools, maps, and original rooms. The streets climb the hillside in tight turns, giving views across the Verde Valley from almost any spot. You can explore the Sliding Jail, a small concrete structure that slowly moved downhill over time. The town's historic buildings include old hotels, former boarding houses, and former saloons that now house studios and shops, including Nellie Bly Kaleidoscopes, which offers a unique collection of kaleidoscopes, and Liberty Theatre & Gifts, known for its eclectic gifts.
A weekend visit brings many places to explore. Main Street has galleries such as Raku Gallery, Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery, and the small Made in Jerome Pottery studio. Visitors often stop at The Haunted Hamburger, Bobby D's BBQ, and The Clinkscale. Gold King Mine and Ghost Town features vintage cars, machinery, and small exhibits that showcase life in the old mining days. Several short walks around town lead to lookout points, and the drive between Jerome and Cottonwood offers pullouts with wide-open views. The Jerome Grand Hotel sits near old mining sites and offers easy access to the town's historic sites and local shops.
Cottonwood
Cottonwood has a lively Old Town district with early brick buildings, tasting rooms, and small storefronts, making it easy to explore on foot. The Clemenceau Heritage Museum offers a look into the area's early farming, ranching, and railroad past. Dead Horse Ranch State Park sits just north of downtown with river trails offering views of cottonwood trees, ponds, and open grasslands. Tuzigoot National Monument, located just outside town, stands on a hilltop and features the remains of a large Sinagua pueblo, offering amazing views of the Verde Valley. The town's central location makes it an easy base for visiting nearby wine regions and state parks.
Visitors can spend a weekend tasting wine at Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria, and Alcantara Vineyards along the river. Restaurants such as Pizzeria Bocce, Crema Craft Kitchen, and Nic's Italian Steak and Crab House offer plenty of dining options. Old Town has several shops that sell antiques, handmade goods, and local art. Outdoor options include kayaking on the Verde River, birdwatching near the lagoons, and walking the Jail Trail that connects Old Town to the river. The Tavern Hotel in Old Town is within walking distance of tasting rooms, shops, and restaurants.
Tubac
Tubac is one of Arizona's oldest settlements. The Tubac Presidio State Historic Park covers Spanish colonial history, early frontier life, and the role Tubac played along the frontier. The main streets hold many studios and galleries where painters, potters, metalworkers, and jewelers display their work. Local artists bring a steady flow of new work, which gives the town a laid-back, creative feel. The Tubac Festival of the Arts is Southern Arizona's longest-running art festival, featuring over 200 artists that last over five days. Visitors can also explore the Anza Trail, a quiet riverside path that connects Tubac with Tumacácori National Historical Park, which has an 18th-century mission and shaded garden paths.
A weekend in Tubac often centers around its arts scene and food spots. Places like K Newby Gallery and Clay Rabbit House Pottery show different styles of regional art. Local stores such as Lone Mountain Turquoise offer jewelry and handmade goods. There are plenty of dining options in Tubac, including Elvira's, with its colorful interior; Shelby's Bistro, for casual meals; and Tubac Deli and Coffee Company for breakfast. Visitors can also play a round at the Tubac Golf Resort and Spa, take a short nature walk at the Tubac Presidio trail system, or explore seasonal art festivals and open studio events. The Tubac Golf Resort and Spa is well-suited for a weekend stay, as it offers easy access to the historical park, galleries, and local restaurants.
Williams
Williams is a classic Route 66 town, framed by tall ponderosa pines and right in the Kaibab National Forest. As you walk down its main street, you'll pass neon-lit diners, historic storefronts, and vintage motels, all echoing the nostalgia of mid-century America. Pete's Route 66 Gas Station Museum displays vintage signs and restored pumps. The Williams Historic Business District preserves architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Williams Depot, built in 1908, is still active; it's the southern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway, and riding that train is one of the most scenic, iconic ways to reach the Grand Canyon's South Rim. Cataract Lake and Kaibab Lake are both a short drive from the center and offer simple fishing and walking areas.
Visitors can spend a weekend exploring the shops along Route 66, stopping at Pine Country Restaurant for pies, Brewed Awakenings Coffee for breakfast, and Station 66 Italian Bistro for dinner. Small stores such as Thunder Eagle Native Art and Addicted to Route 66 give easy browsing between meals. Bearizona Wildlife Park adds a popular drive-through and walk-through area where guests can see bison, wolves, and black bears. The Canyon Coaster Adventure Park offers a mountain coaster, tubing, and family activities. The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel sits beside the train depot, making it easy for visitors to explore downtown, reach forest trails, and take day trips to the Grand Canyon.
Wickenburg
Wickenburg is a small western town with deep roots in Arizona's gold-rush era and cowboy culture. It is surrounded by desert and rugged hills, and its historic downtown reflects its mining and ranching history. Along Frontier Street, you'll spot old buildings, a restored Santa Fe locomotive and caboose, and interactive bronze statues that tell stories of Wickenburg's founding and characters. The Desert Caballeros Western Museum showcases historic Western art, cowboy artifacts, and Native American decorative arts. A self-guided downtown walk highlights sites like the Jail Tree, Santa Fe Depot, and the Garcia (Little Red) Schoolhouse, built in 1905, which is a well-preserved piece of educational history in town.
Main Street has several shops and cafes, including Bedoian's Bakery & Bistro, Mecca Bar and Grill for great burgers, and the Old Livery Mercantile. For nature lovers, the Hassayampa River Preserve offers a lush bird-loving habitat with self-guided trails through cottonwood, willow, and mesquite forests. Nearby, Vulture Peak offers hiking opportunities and wide views of the desert. History buffs can tour Vulture City, a restored ghost mining town once part of the Vulture Mine, Wickenburg's original gold mine. Rodeo events at the Everett Bowman Rodeo Grounds add a lively touch depending on the season. The Rancho de los Caballeros resort sits just outside town. Besides great rooms, it offers horseback riding and wide desert views.
Arizona's small towns have a way of slowing everything down without feeling dull. Each place has its own rhythm, shaped by red cliffs, old mining roads, pine forests, and decades of local stories. From the red rock mesas, railroad history, to the creative energy tucked into hillside streets, these towns all offer solid places to stay, delicious food, a mix of shops and galleries, and outdoor spots that you can reach without a long drive. It is easy to spend a couple of days sampling pies, checking out art studios, poking around historic sites, and chasing a good sunset here in these nine Arizona small towns.
