11 Amazing Arizona Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive
Red sandstone defines Sedona's landscape so completely that the Chapel of the Holy Cross, completed in 1956, rises directly from the surrounding cliffs. A few miles north of that same town, Oak Creek has worn a slickrock channel smooth enough to function as an 80-foot natural water slide, drawing swimmers on hot afternoons from as far as Phoenix. The eleven day trips below are organized around two base cities, Phoenix and Tucson, and a Sedona side trip within about two hours of Phoenix, leaving the better part of the day for the destination itself rather than the drive to it. Every stop is inside one of Arizona's major metros or within that two-hour radius.
Hurricane Harbor Phoenix, Glendale
Arizona's largest water park, Hurricane Harbor Phoenix, is a solid warm-weather day trip about 30 minutes from downtown Phoenix in Glendale. The 35-acre park holds dozens of attractions, from a lazy river and a wave pool to full-scale water slides. Anaconda, one of the park's headline rides, sends visitors through a twisting serpentine flume to a splashdown pool, and Tornado drops at least two riders at a time through a huge funnel into another pool. For younger visitors, Splashwater Beach has a kids' pool and safer play structures. On-site restaurants cover light snacks through full meals, with Cowabunga Wings handling the chicken wing side of the menu.
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
The Desert Botanical Garden is the better Phoenix day trip for plant lovers. The 140-acre garden in Papago Park holds over 50,000 plants drawn from deserts around the world. The Desert Discovery Loop Trail lines up the showpiece cacti, the Center for Desert Living Trail works through shadier, residential-style plantings, and the Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Trail is the spot to be during spring bloom, when it pulls in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Beyond the trails, the garden runs specialized tours and hands-on programming for kids, and Gertrude's by Tarbell's handles on-site dining.
Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona
Once voted one of Arizona's seven man-made wonders, the Chapel of the Holy Cross sits within Sedona, about two hours from Phoenix, and is known for minimalist architecture that fits directly into the red rock formations. The Roman Catholic chapel was built in 1956 into the sandstone face and is most recognizable for the 90-foot cross that also serves as a structural element, along with the large glass front that fills the interior with changing red-rock light. Visitors can walk the short, steep path up to the chapel itself, which runs a gift shop of spiritual items alongside the active worship space. The Chapel Trail adds a moderate 1.3-mile round-trip hike from the parking area into the surrounding red rock landscape.
Encanto Park, Phoenix
Encanto Park is the most family-oriented of the Phoenix options. The 222-acre park holds Enchanted Island Amusement Park, a 7.5-acre kids-focused section with bumper boats, vintage trains, a historic carousel, a splash zone with water slides, and a climbing wall. Beyond the amusement park, Encanto has sports facilities, picnic areas, golf courses, and a nature trail, along with a swimming pool and a lagoon open to paddling, fishing, and waterfowl watching. The park's mix of palm and deciduous trees gives it a cooler, shadier feel than most Phoenix green space.
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is one of Arizona's top natural destinations and can easily fill a full day. The park covers about 92,000 acres of Sonoran Desert ecosystem across nearly 200 miles of trails, split into the Tucson Mountain District west of the city and the Rincon Mountain District to the east. Both districts are about 25 minutes from downtown Tucson. In the east district, the paved eight-mile Cactus Forest Loop Drive gives a relaxing tour past desert plants and provides access to trails including the Cactus Forest Trail, a 2.5-mile one-way route open to hiking and biking through diverse cacti and saguaros.
In the Tucson Mountain District west of the city, the six-mile gravel Bajada Loop Drive covers similar terrain with stronger access to some of the park's best trails. The Desert Discovery Nature Trail is the easiest option at 0.5 miles, with wide views of cacti, large saguaros, and the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Devil's Bridge Trail, Sedona
Devil's Bridge Trail is one of Arizona's most popular day hikes, sitting just outside Sedona about two hours from Phoenix. The trail length depends on which trailhead visitors use: from the Mescal Trailhead it's about four miles round-trip, from the Dry Creek Vista trailhead slightly longer, and from the high-clearance Dry Creek Road trailhead about two miles. The route runs through red rock desert with juniper, prickly pear, and regular bird activity. The grade is moderate with some mild scrambling near the end, and the payoff is the large sandstone arch that gives the trail its name. Sunrise and sunset light the rock most dramatically.
OdySea Aquarium, Scottsdale
OdySea Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the Southwestern United States and works as a strong family day trip out of Phoenix. The facility holds over two million gallons of water, more than 6,000 animals, and a substantial shark collection. The giant Pacific octopus, which has three hearts, is one of the rarer species on display. Across 70 exhibits, the headline draw is the OdySea Voyager, a rotating aquarium exhibit in which seated guests are slowly turned past massive windows showing sea turtles, sharks, and other species. Other highlights include SeaTREK Helmet Diving for an underwater walk among fish and rays, Rivers of the World for freshwater species, and multiple touch pools with sea urchins, anemones, and stingrays.
South Mountain Park & Preserve, Phoenix
Seven miles south of downtown Phoenix, South Mountain Park & Preserve is one of the largest municipal parks in the country at more than 16,000 acres, with more than 50 miles of trails open to hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The park's National Trail is a 15.5-mile ridge-line route with moderate elevation changes, wide desert views, rock formations, abandoned mines, and petroglyph sites. Holbert Trail is a shorter 2.5-mile option that climbs through rocky terrain and petroglyphs to Dobbins Lookout. Summit Road, a 5.5-mile paved drive, provides an easy way to reach some of the park's best overlooks by car.
Slide Rock State Park, Sedona
Slide Rock State Park, a few minutes north of Sedona and about two hours from Phoenix, runs on a single standout feature: an 80-foot stretch of Oak Creek Canyon with a smooth, slippery rock surface that functions as a natural water slide into a series of pools. It's the Sedona-area hot-day move. Beyond the slide, the park has short hiking trails including the 0.25-mile Clifftop Nature Trail, which gives a view over the slide area from above, and the 0.25-mile Pendley Homestead Trail, which passes a historic homestead, cabins, and working apple orchards.
Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix
Phoenix Zoo is the largest privately owned nonprofit zoo in the country, covering 125 acres with over 3,000 animals. More than 2.5 miles of trails give access to the zoo's habitat exhibits. The Arizona Trail runs through a Sonoran-style ecosystem with saguaro, coyotes, and Mexican wolves. The Africa Trail holds cheetahs and giraffes, and the Tropics Trail houses jaguars and Bornean orangutans. For families with younger kids, the Children's Trail includes closer contact with animals like sloths, sheep, deer, and owls.
Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Morristown
Arizona is better known for desert than water, but the state does hold a handful of serious lakes, and Lake Pleasant is one of the closest day-trip options from Phoenix. About 40 miles from downtown Phoenix, the 10,000-acre lake supports boating, scuba diving, swimming, and shoreline or boat fishing, with two boat launching ramps on site. Scorpion Bay is the park's main marina, handling everything from pontoon and ski boat rentals to kayak rentals, slip rentals, and an on-site restaurant. Pleasant Harbor Marina, also on the lake's shores, handles boat rentals and repairs, lake cruises, and food and drink.
On shore, the park runs strong programs for birdwatching, camping, and hiking across around 20 miles of trails along the shoreline and through surrounding desert. Pipeline Canyon Trail is the most popular option, a moderate 3.8-mile round-trip hike with lake views and access to the broader desert landscape.
How To Plan An Easy Arizona Day Trip
These day trips share a basic advantage: no hotel booking required. With every destination either inside one of Arizona's major cities or within about two hours' drive, the long-distance driving fatigue is off the table. A few practical notes: Arizona is one of the sunniest states in the country, the hottest part of the day is worth avoiding, and carrying plenty of water is especially important on outdoor routes where shade is limited.
