This Arizona Downtown Is Made For Strolling

High in the heart of Arizona, Prescott is a friendly town with a rollercoaster past, showcased in its Wild West downtown. Since its founding in 1864, this Old West community has made its mark on Arizona, thriving as a mining hub, serving as the state’s original Territorial Capital, and establishing the World’s Oldest Rodeo.

Today, Prescott’s downtown is home to an unrivaled balance of past and present, fusing rough-and-tumbling saloons with cool and trendy attractions. Whether bar hopping on Whiskey Row, touring the Prescott Heritage Trail, or watching the World's Oldest Rodeo Parade pass by, this Arizona downtown is made for strolling through time.

Where To Park In Downtown Prescott

With a Walk Score™ of 90/100, downtown Prescott is a “Walker’s Paradise,” making it easy to explore on foot. The downtown district is dotted with a range of free 2-hour and all-day parking spots, which can be viewed online using the Downtown Public Parking Map on the official town website. Alternatively, the five-story Garage on Granite is just one block away from Courthouse Plaza, an anchor attraction in downtown Prescott. The garage offers free parking on a first-come, first-served basis, coupled with paved pedestrian access to downtown businesses.

Start The Day At Courthouse Plaza

Courthouse Plaza is a historic gathering space and scenic gateway to downtown Prescott, making it an ideal place to start your visit. Plans for the 4-acre green space date back to 1864, centered in the town's traditional grid design. As a result, the plaza is a short walk from Prescott’s best commercial strips and attractions, with something fun on each end. But before you leave, make sure to explore the plaza itself. At its core, the Yavapai County Courthouse is a remarkable granite centerpiece, built in 1916 in the Neo-Classic Revival-style. Its surrounding park is also a serene place to picnic or stroll, punctuated with tall elm trees, manicured lawns, bronze statues, and stone paths.

Tour Prescott’s Past

Heading south from Courthouse Plaza, Historical Walking Tours are an awesome way to explore downtown Prescott from a local’s perspective. The tours depart from Goodwin Street at the Prescott Visitor Center, a former Firehouse and City Jail built in 1898. From there, an informed guide leads attendees past downtown Prescott’s greatest sites and landmarks, illuminating the town’s dramatic Wild West past and influential present. The tours are offered for free each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from May to October at 10:00 am. Outside of these times, the Prescott Heritage Trail Downtown Map can also be downloaded for free online, leading to major landmarks like the Sharlot Hall Museum, a 4-acre heritage site with 11 historic structures.

Wine And Dine On Whiskey Row

West of Courthouse Plaza, Whiskey Row is Prescott’s best-preserved Wild West strip, lined with a wide array of historic bars. At one time, over 40 saloons studded this historic block, driven by Prescott’s mining boom. After the Great Prescott Fire of 1900, locals were quick to rebuild Whiskey Row businesses with brick instead of wood, catering to the miners, cowboys, outlaws, and settlers who brought the stretch to life. Today, Whiskey Row is an iconic remnant of Prescott’s Old West days, inviting guests to embrace their inner cowboy or cowgirl.

Across from the lower Courthouse Plaza, the Bird Cage Saloon is a cool first stop on Whiskey Row. Beloved for its laid-back atmosphere and live music, the DailyCourier Reader’s Choice Awards named it the Best Whiskey Row Bar in 2025. Continuing up Montezuma Street, the Palace Restaurant & Saloon serves mouthwatering Mexican-American bites, with the honor of being Arizona’s oldest bar. Established in 1877 and rebuilt in 1901, the Palace is a memorable spot to wine and dine, where cowboys and miners once gambled, drank, and shared stories.

Further up Montezuma Street, other Whiskey Row bars keep downtown Prescott alive well into the night. The Jersey Lilly Saloon is another unpretentious spot for live music and drinks, open daily until 12 am. Right next door, Matt's Saloon can be enjoyed even later, closing daily at 2 am. Housed in a building from 1901, Matt’s is a popular spot for country music lovers and bar-goers who love an old-school atmosphere.

Discover Arizona Arts And Culture

For cultural fun on Montezuma Street, you can also find a great range of art galleries to explore. Beginning south, Van Gogh's Ear is a must-see for contemporary art lovers, showcasing 3400 square feet of work from over 70 artists. Moving up Montezuma, the Mountain Spirit Gallery specializes in Southwestern Art, from bronze sculptures to oil paintings and everything in between. Walking just a bit further, the side-by-side Arts Prescott Gallery and Ian Russell Gallery of Fine Art both display and sell a range of artworks and styles, including ceramics, glasswork, jewelry, and more.

Shop For Unique Souvenirs

If souvenir shopping is on your list of downtown to-dos, stick to Montezuma Street for a while. Between its saloons and galleries, Western-themed stores like the Prescott Trading Company specialize in authentic Western Wear and Whiskey Row merchandise. Up toward Gurley Street, the souvenir hunt extends to Drawn West, another colorful Western apparel store. Next door, Black Arrow Native American Jewelry & Art sells an array of beautiful Indigenous-made accessories and artworks, from bolo ties to turquoise jewellery. In the same plaza, youngsters can also enjoy spots like Prescott Candy Co., a nostalgic candy shop selling a mix of old-fashioned and modern confectionery.

Visit During A Downtown Event

Prescott’s world-famous rodeo dates back to 1888, and the tradition draws tens of thousands every summer. The week-long event is a great way to experience authentic Western culture and kick off 4th of July celebrations. Although the Prescott Rodeo Grounds are a short drive from downtown, the Rodeo Parade takes place near the Courthouse Plaza. As Arizona’s second-largest parade, this Prescott tradition brings downtown to life in a big way.

Courthouse Plaza hosts plenty of other exciting festivities throughout the year, including the Prescott Bluegrass Festival. Held in June, this free, weekend-long event is perfect for families and music lovers, spotlighting award-winning bluegrass bands. Later in the year, the Annual Christmas Courthouse Lighting is another downtown event to mark your calendars for in early December. Paired with a same-day downtown Christmas parade, the plaza is brightened with 100,000 lights and a fireworks show.

Explore Western Towns Near Prescott

If you love downtown Prescott’s Wild West atmosphere, consider a drive to nearby Jerome, a historic mining town once called the “Wickedest Town in the West.” Located about 35 miles northeast of Prescott, downtown Jerome is best explored on foot, showcasing a similar mix of past and present. Main Street is lined with architectural remnants of Jerome’s wicked western days, like the Paul & Jerry's Saloon and The Connor Hotel, both built in 1899. Sprinkled throughout, you will also find a fun mix of artsy attractions and funky souvenir stores, like the Raku Gallery and The Miner's Pick Rock Shop.

Another 15 minutes from Jerome, Cottonwood’s downtown boasts its own balance of Western history and modern charms. The historic farm town once supported mining camps, including nearby Jerome. Today, the architecture in Old Town Cottonwood reflects its days as a Western boomtown, visible in landmark sites like the historic Cottonwood Hotel. The rest of Main Street features over 60 eclectic businesses to explore on foot, including Main St. Mercantile, The Old Town Cafe, and The Hippie Emporium.

Strolling Through Arizona’s Past And Present

Merging history with modern appeal, downtown Prescott offers the best of both worlds. By preserving its Western architecture, Whiskey Row saloons, and rodeo traditions, guests can travel back to frontier days, learning about Prescott’s cowboy past. Coupled with contemporary souvenir shops and art galleries dotted throughout, downtown has something for every traveler. The best part, though, is getting to park, leave your car behind, and experience this incredible Arizona downtown at eye-level, right alongside the locals lucky to call Prescott home.