Best Day Trips from Scottsdale: Top 5 Epic Adventures 2025

So you’ve conquered Old Town Scottsdale’s bars, played a round at TPC, and lounged by enough resort pools to last a lifetime. Now what?

Here’s the thing about Scottsdale that most visitors don’t realize until they’re already here: it’s one of the best base camps in the entire Southwest.

Within a two-hour radius, you’ve got red rock canyons that look like Mars, ancient cliff dwellings older than the pyramids, ghost towns perched on mountainsides, and yes—the most famous hole in the ground on planet Earth.

The best day trips from Scottsdale aren’t just scenic drives. They’re the kind of experiences that make you forget you’re technically still on vacation in Arizona. We’re talking epic hikes, wine tasting in towns where Doc Holliday once drank whiskey, and sunsets that’ll wreck your camera roll in the best way possible.

Whether you’re looking for a quick 90-minute escape to Sedona or ready to tackle the 4-hour haul to the Grand Canyon, this guide breaks down the top 5 day trips from Scottsdale you need to know about in 2025—with real talk on costs, timing, and what’s actually worth your time.

Let’s break it all down.

Why Scottsdale is Perfect for Arizona Day Trips (Location, Weather & More)

Before we dive into the destinations, let’s talk geography.

Scottsdale sits in the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix metro) at about 1,250 feet elevation. You’re smack in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by saguaro cacti, mountain ranges, and year-round sunshine.

But here’s where it gets interesting: head north, and you climb into high desert and pine forests. Drive east, and you hit lakes and ancient ruins. Go west, and you’re in mining country with ghost towns straight out of a Western.

This diversity means you can experience four different climates and ecosystems in a single day without leaving Arizona. Plus, Scottsdale has the infrastructure (hotels, car rentals, restaurants) and location (right off I-17, US-60, Loop 101) to make these trips stupid easy.

You’re not roughing it. You’re just exploring with a nice hotel bed waiting at the end of the day.

Top 5 Day Trips from Scottsdale: Complete Comparison Table

Here’s a quick overview of the best day trips from Scottsdale, ranked by distance and epic-ness:

Top 5 Day Trips from Scottsdale at a Glance

Now let’s get into the details.

1. Sedona Day Trip from Scottsdale: Red Rocks, Vortexes & Oak Creek Canyon (90 Minutes)

If I could only send you on one day trip from Scottsdale, this would be it.

Sedona is what happens when someone takes the American Southwest, cranks the saturation to 11, and adds a soundtrack of mystical nonsense (in the best way). The red rocks here aren’t just pretty—they’re absurd. We’re talking cathedral-like formations that glow orange at sunset, hiking trails that feel like walking through a postcard, and enough Instagram spots to make your followers hate you.

The drive from Scottsdale takes about 90 minutes via I-17 North, and honestly, the drive through Oak Creek Canyon alone is worth the trip. You’ll go from desert cacti to pine forests in less than an hour.

Things to Do Between Scottsdale and Sedona: Best Stops

Don’t just drive through and take photos from the car. That’s amateur hour. Here’s how to do Sedona right:

Cathedral Rock Hike

This is the iconic shot you’ve seen on Instagram 47 times. The hike is short (1.5 miles round trip) but steep—you’re scrambling over rocks for the last bit. Reward? Panoramic views of the entire valley and a spot to sit on the rocks and contemplate your life choices (in a good way).

Not into hiking? No problem. Sedona has plenty of easy scenic drives and art galleries. After your day trip, head back to your Old Town hotel for dinner at one of Scottsdale’s best mexican restaurants.

Devil’s Bridge

Sedona’s most photographed hike. It’s a natural sandstone arch you can walk out on for views that’ll make your palms sweat. The hike itself is moderate (4 miles round trip), but you’ll need to get there early—parking lots fill up by 9 AM on weekends.

Chapel of the Holy Cross

A Catholic chapel built directly into the red rocks in 1956. Even if you’re not religious, the architecture and views are stunning. It’s free, and you can knock it out in 20 minutes.

Sedona Vortex Sites (Airport Mesa, Bell Rock)

Okay, hear me out. Sedona is famous for “vortexes”—spots where spiritual energy supposedly swirls out of the earth. Whether you believe in that or not, the four main sites (Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon) are objectively beautiful and worth visiting. Worst case? You hiked somewhere scenic. Best case? Your chakras are aligned or whatever.

Sedona Day Trip Cost Breakdown

• Gas: ~$15-20 round trip from Scottsdale
• Lunch: $20-40 per person (budget cafes to upscale patios like Elote Cafe)
• Parking: Free at most trailheads (arrive early)
• Wine tasting: $20-30 per person if you stop in Cornville on the way

Total: Expect to spend $50-80 per person for a solid day trip.

Pro Tips for Sedona Day Trips from Scottsdale

• Leave Scottsdale by 7 AM to beat crowds at popular hikes
• Download AllTrails before you go—cell service is spotty
• Bring hiking shoes—flip-flops won’t cut it on rocky trails
• Fill up gas in Scottsdale—prices jump 20-30% once you hit Sedona
• Combine with Jerome—only 30 minutes further for ghost town vibes

Want someone else to drive?

2. Day Trip to Grand Canyon from Scottsdale: South Rim Bucket List Adventure (3.5 Hours)

Let’s get this out of the way: yes, the Grand Canyon is far from Scottsdale. It’s a 3.5-hour drive each way (230 miles). You’ll need to leave at 5-6 AM to make it work as a day trip.

And yet—it’s the Grand Canyon. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. A mile-deep, 277-mile-long gorge carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. The kind of place that makes you feel hilariously small and weirdly inspired at the same time.

If you’ve never been, you need to go. If you have been, you know why people keep going back.

Grand Canyon South Rim: What to See from Scottsdale

Mather Point

Your first stop. It’s right near the visitor center and gives you that jaw-drop “holy shit, this is real” moment. Get here for sunrise if you left early enough.

Desert View Watchtower

The eastern end of the South Rim. It’s a 70-foot stone tower built in 1932 with incredible 360° views. Less crowded than Mather Point and worth the extra 25-minute drive.

Bright Angel Trail (Partial Hike)

Want to hike into the canyon? This is the trail. Warning: Do NOT attempt to hike to the bottom and back in one day unless you’re an ultra-marathoner with a death wish. Instead, hike down 1-2 miles, take photos, and turn around. That’s plenty.

Grand Canyon Day Trip Costs from Scottsdale

• Park entrance: $35 per vehicle (good for 7 days)
• Gas: ~$40-50 round trip from Scottsdale
• Food: $20-40 per person (pack snacks or eat at El Tovar)

Total: Budget $100-120 per person including gas, food, and park fee.

Pro Tips for Grand Canyon Day Trips

• Leave Scottsdale by 5-6 AM—seriously. You want to arrive before 10 AM.
• Bring layers—it’s 20-30°F cooler at the rim than in Scottsdale
• Pack lunch—food options are limited and overpriced
• Spend 3-4 hours minimum at the canyon to justify the drive

Want a stress-free tour with transportation?

3. Things to Do Between Scottsdale and Sedona: Jerome Ghost Town (2 Hours)

If Sedona is the pretty, spiritual friend, Jerome is the edgy, tattooed friend who drinks whiskey and tells the best stories.

Once known as the “Wickedest Town in the West”, Jerome was a booming copper mining town in the early 1900s with 15,000 residents, saloons on every corner, and enough vice to make Tombstone look tame. When the mines dried up in the 1950s, the town nearly died—population dropped to 50 people.

Fast forward to 2025, and Jerome is an artist colony and tourist destination perched 5,000 feet up on Cleopatra Hill. The buildings are original (and crooked—many slid downhill during mining days), the views stretch for 50 miles, and the vibe is equal parts quirky and haunted.

What to Do in Jerome Arizona

Walk Main Street & Browse Art Galleries

The entire “downtown” is three blocks long. Browse art galleries, vintage shops, and stores selling everything from handmade jewelry to taxidermy. Don’t skip Nellie Bly Kaleidoscopes—it’s exactly what it sounds like and somehow fascinating.

Caduceus Cellars Wine Tasting

A wine tasting room owned by Maynard James Keenan (yes, the lead singer of Tool). The wines are actually good, and the space has a rock-and-roll edge you won’t find at typical Arizona wineries. Tastings are $25.

Jerome Grand Hotel Ghost Tours

Jerome is legitimately haunted. The Jerome Grand Hotel (formerly a hospital) offers ghost tours. Even if you’re skeptical, the building’s history is fascinating.

Jerome Day Trip Costs

• Gas: ~$20 round trip from Scottsdale
• Food: $15-30 per person (try Haunted Hamburger)
• Wine tasting: $20-30 per person
• Museum: $7 per person

Total: Budget $50-75 per person for a half-day trip.

Pro Tip: Combine Jerome with Sedona—they’re only 30 minutes apart.

4. Montezuma Castle Day Trip: Ancient Cliff Dwellings Near Scottsdale (1.5 Hours)

History nerds and wine lovers, this one’s for you.

Montezuma Castle National Monument is one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in North America—a 5-story, 20-room structure built into a limestone cliff by the Sinagua people around 1100 AD.

Fun fact: It’s not actually a castle, and Montezuma never lived here. Early settlers just named it that because it sounded cool.

What to Do at Montezuma Castle & Verde Valley

• Montezuma Castle Walk: Paved 1/3-mile loop with interpretive signs. $10 per person.
• Montezuma Well: Natural limestone sinkhole filled by underground spring. Free entry.
• Verde Canyon Railroad: 4-hour scenic train ride ($79-150). Book at verdecanyonrr.com
• Wine Tasting: Hit Alcantara Vineyards or Page Springs Cellars ($15-25 tastings)

Montezuma Castle Costs

• Gas: ~$15 round trip
• Park entry: $10 per person
• Wine tasting: $15-25 per person

Total: $40-60 per person (or $120-200 if you add Verde Canyon Railroad).

5. Apache Trail & Tonto National Monument: Scenic Drive Near Scottsdale (2 Hours)

This is for the adventurous types who want the road trip to be part of the experience.

The Apache Trail (State Route 88) is a 120-mile scenic loop through the Superstition Mountains, past three desert lakes, and along cliff-hanging dirt roads with views that’ll make you grip the steering wheel a little tighter.

What to Do on the Apache Trail

• Tonto National Monument: Salado cliff dwelling from 13th century. $10 entry.
• Roosevelt Lake: Arizona’s largest lake. Stop at overlook or grab lunch at marina.
• Tortilla Flat: Tiny town (pop. 6) with quirky saloon covered in dollar bills.
• Canyon Lake: Dolly Steamboat tour available ($28)

Apache Trail Costs

• Gas: ~$30-40 (long loop)
• Park entry: $10 per person
• Food: $15-30 per person

Total: $55-80 per person for a full-day adventure.

Pro Tip: The dirt road section past Tortilla Flat is rough—regular cars are fine, but RVs should turn back.

Best Time of Year for Day Trips from Scottsdale

Timing matters. Here’s the breakdown:

• Spring (March-May): Best overall. Perfect weather (70-85°F), wildflowers bloom, peak season.
• Summer (June-August): Hot in Scottsdale (105-115°F), but mountain destinations stay 20-30°F cooler. Start hikes by 6-7 AM.
• Fall (September-November): Second best. Temps cool down, fall colors hit Oak Creek Canyon in October.
• Winter (December-February): Mild in Scottsdale (60-70°F), but higher elevations can be cold (30-50°F) with occasional snow at Grand Canyon. Pack layers.

Traveling with kids? Choose a resort with multiple pools and water features so they have something fun to do during the afternoons.

FAQs: Day Trips from Scottsdale

How far is Sedona from Scottsdale?

About 100 miles, or 90 minutes by car via I-17 North and AZ-179.

Can you do a Grand Canyon day trip from Scottsdale?

Yes, but it’s a long day (7+ hours of driving round-trip). Leave by 5-6 AM, or book a guided tour via Expedia with hotel pickup.

What’s the best day trip from Scottsdale for families?

Sedona or Montezuma Castle—both have easy trails and lots to see without extreme hiking.

What should I pack for day trips from Scottsdale?

• Water (1-2 liters per person)
• Snacks (granola bars, trail mix)
• Sunscreen & hat
• Layers (30-40°F temp swings)
• Hiking shoes
• Offline maps

Where should I stay in Scottsdale for day trips?

For easy highway access to I-17 North (Sedona, Grand Canyon), stay in North Scottsdale near the 101. If you want walkability and nightlife, book a hotel in Old Town Scottsdale. Families should consider a resort with pools and kid-friendly amenities.

Final Thoughts: Get Out There and Explore Arizona

Scottsdale’s great, but some of Arizona’s best experiences are just a short drive away.

Whether you’re chasing red rocks in Sedona, standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon, sipping wine in a ghost town, or exploring ancient cliff dwellings, these day trips from Scottsdale will give you stories worth telling—and photos that’ll make your friends back home jealous.

Pro move? Book a guided tour via Expedia so you can sit back, relax, and let someone else navigate while you soak in the views. Most tours include hotel pickup in Scottsdale, transportation, and a knowledgeable guide.

Ready to explore? Pick a day trip, pack the cooler, and hit the road. Arizona’s waiting.

Skip the stress of planning and driving—let the experts handle it. Most guided tours from Scottsdale include hotel pickup, transportation, park fees, and knowledgeable guides who know all the best spots.

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