The Ultimate Weekend Trip to Phoenix

Sonoran Desert views at Lost Dutchman State Park near Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is the gateway to the American Southwest. The sprawling Arizona capital, nestled within the Sonoran Desert, is a growing hotspot in the U.S. (pun intended). It’s a city filled with great food, culture, and gorgeous desert scenery. Nicknamed the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix is the perfect weekend getaway to escape the cold. This travel guide will cover when to visit, where to stay, and all the best things to do on your weekend trip to Phoenix.

This is your guide for a sunny weekend trip to Phoenix, Arizona.

How to Get to Phoenix

The most direct way to get to Phoenix is the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport located just a few minutes outside of downtown Phoenix. Alternatively, Phoenix is a 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas and a little over 6 hours from San Diego and Los Angeles.

How to Get Around Phoenix

You will absolutely want a car for your weekend trip to Phoenix. It’s a sprawling city, and getting to many of the highlights will require a set of wheels. Uber and Lyft are available, but you’ll end up using them so often that it’ll likely be more cost-effective to rent a car. Parking is generally easy and free in Phoenix as well.

Phoenix isn’t particularly walkable or bikeable, with the exception of the Roosevelt Row area in Downtown Phoenix. There is a public bus system, but stops are limited and aren’t widely available near major attractions. A light rail connects downtown Phoenix to Sky Harbor Airport, Tempe, and Mesa.

Listen on the Drive: The Ultimate Desert Southwest Playlist

Best Time to Visit Phoenix

SUMMER
The summer heat in Phoenix can be intense and dangerous. Summer is also monsoon season in Arizona. So, altogether, it’s not a super great time to visit.

AUTUMN
This is shoulder season in Arizona, which means fewer crowds. Temperatures also get very comfortable starting around late September. You won’t find any autumn colors in Phoenix, but if you want to make the two-hour drive up to Flagstaff during your visit, you’ll find plenty up there.

WINTER
Phoenix has some of the most pleasant winter weather in the country. This is a good time to visit weather-wise, but it also means this is when visitors and snowbirds flock to the area. November through February is the peak tourist season for Phoenix.

SPRING
March and April are lovely times to visit Phoenix. Temperatures are warm but haven’t yet reached the intensity of summer, and the winter crowds start to dissipate. You may even catch the cacti in bloom!

Where to Stay for a Weekend Trip to Phoenix

Airbnb

This has always been my go-to when visiting Phoenix. I find that prices for Airbnb rentals in Phoenix are relatively low for really high-quality and aesthetic homes. Unlike a hotel, most Airbnbs offer free parking as well.

Downton Phoenix

If a hotel is more your speed, downtown Phoenix is where you’re going to find the best options. The downtown area, particularly around Roosevelt Row, is the perfect, central launch point for your stay. If you won’t be renting a car for your visit, this is definitely the location for you.

Scottsdale

If you’re looking for a luxury stay, look no further than Scottsdale. Just a 20-minute drive from Phoenix, Scottsdale is home to a number of luxury resorts. This is a popular spot for romantic getaways and bachelorette parties.

Best Things to Do on a Weekend Trip to Phoenix

Roosevelt Row street art murals in downtown Phoenix

Explore Roosevelt Row

Roosevelt Row is, without a doubt, my favorite area of Phoenix. This walkable arts district in downtown Phoenix is filled with trendy restaurants, boutique shops, galleries, and great spots to grab a drink. And all of this is set against the backdrop of colorful street art that’s seemingly around every corner.

Visit the Desert Botanical Garden

This is definitely one of the highlights of a weekend trip to Phoenix! The Desert Botanical Garden is bursting with thousands of species of cacti, trees, and flowers native to the Sonoran Desert. There’s even a butterfly pavilion filled with over 2,000 butterflies. It’s a beautiful escape into nature, right in the city.

The Desert Botanical Garden is outdoors, so be sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, comfortable shoes, and a water bottle (there are refill stations in the garden).

Sunset at Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona

Explore Papago Park

The Desert Botanical Garden is actually within Papago Park, so don’t miss a chance to explore the rest of the park while you’re there. This desert oasis is filled with lakes, palm trees, desert hikes, and the famous Hole in the Rock geological formation. A very short hike to this spot will reward you with incredible views of the city and surrounding landscape. Hole in the Rock is a popular spot for sunset.

Tacos from Taco Chelo in Phoenix, Arizona

Eat as many tacos as you can

I want to make sure your read that right – eat as many tacos as you can. It should come as no surprise that Phoenix has some of the best tacos in the country. There’s a whole episode about it on Netflix’s Taco Chronicles. In my experience, you pretty much can’t go wrong with any taco place in Phoenix, but these are some of my tried-and-true favorites:

Taco Chelo: This is a must-stop every time I visit Phoenix. This trendy spot in Roosevelt Row isn’t just Instagram bait, it also serves us world-class Sonoran cuisine.
Ta’Carbon: Simple, cheap, and quite possibly the best tacos I’ve ever had. Get the carne asada (trust me).
La Santisima: Two words – salsa bar. A lot of taco spots have a salsa bar, but this one is particularly fantastic. Plus, the tacos are solid, and they have some great vegan and vegetarian options as well.
Tacos Chiwas: Featured on the aforementioned Taco Chronicles. There are a few locations in the Phoenix area, and the menu is equally as delicious at all of them, but I prefer the ambiance of the Mesa location.
Barrio Cafe: For when you want delicious, authentic tacos (or other Mexican fare) but in an upscale, chef-driven way.

Visit a museum

Heard Museum

This museum is dedicated to the art and culture of Indigenous peoples of the Southwest. Two to three hours is a good amount of time to allocate for this museum, but it’s well worth whatever time you have.

Phoenix Art Museum

This is the largest art museum in the southwest United States. With so much to see, the Phoenix Art Museum is the perfect spot to escape the midday sun.

Musical Instrument Museum

Tucked away up in North Phoenix, the MIM is the largest musical museum in the world. With a collection of over 15,000 instruments from around the world, listening experiences, and an experiential gallery of instruments you can play yourself, it’s a must-visit for any musician or music lover.

Hiking trail at South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona

Hike at South Mountain Park and Preserve

This park is HUGE. In fact, it’s the largest city park in the country – the equivalent of about 19 Central Parks combined! This rugged desert park has plenty of hiking trails and scenic views. The most well-known is Dobbins Lookout which offers a panoramic view of the city. You can hike to Dobbins Lookout or drive right up to it.

South Mountain Park is also known for its chuckwalla population (that’s a type of lizard). It has the highest density of chuckwallas in the world! Don’t worry – chuckwallas are non-poisonous and non-aggressive.

Hiking in Lost Dutchman State Park near Phoenix, Arizona

Take a hike

Looking for more hiking opportunities and outdoor adventures? The Phoenix area is filled with them! Here are a few other parks you can check out:

Camelback Mountain Recreation Area
Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Sonoran Preserve
Pinnacle Peak Park
Lost Dutchman State Park
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
White Tank Mountain Regional Park

Wine tasting at Aridus Winery in Scottsdale, Arizona

Get a little fancy in Scottsdale

Phoenix’s fancy next-door neighbor, Scottsdale, is known for its luxury resorts, pro-level golf courses, flourishing wine scene, and high-end boutiques. Make a trip over to Old Town Scottsdale, just a 20-minute drive from the city, to peruse the art galleries, do some wine tastings, or even dance your heart out in a nightclub.

Scottsdale competes with Nashville as the top bachelorette party destination in the US. Because of this, you can expect a weekend visit to be a much different experience than during the week. Weekdays are generally calm and quiet while weekends can get downright rowdy.

Whether you’re a foodie, hiker, or luxury traveler, Phoenix makes for an exciting weekend trip. Despite its harsh summers, it’s easy to see why this desert metropolis is growing in popularity so rapidly.

Have any questions about your upcoming trip to Phoenix that I didn’t answer here? Let me know in the comments.

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Weekend Travel Guide to Phoenix, Arizona - The Awayist. Phoenix is filled with great food, culture, gorgeous desert scenery, and year-round sun. It's also the perfect weekend getaway to escape the cold. This travel guide will cover when to visit, where to stay, and all the best things to do on your weekend trip to Phoenix, Arizona.