Arizona
Small-Town Weekend Getaways from Phoenix
Red rock vortexes, copper-mining ghost towns, and high-desert artist colonies, all within two hours of the Valley.
The short version
Small towns near Phoenix worth a 48-hour trip
Phoenix weekend trips climb out of the desert into red rock, mining ghost towns, and dude-ranch country. Within two hours you reach the most photographed red-rock town in Arizona, a cliffside artist mining town, and a desert dude-ranch outpost. These are weekend trips from Phoenix built on red rock, altitude, and old-west character.
Sedona (2 hours north on I-17) is the red-rock town, surrounded by sandstone formations and built around Oak Creek, with a walkable uptown and trailheads in town. Jerome (2 hours north, past Sedona) is a copper-mining ghost town built on a cliff at 5,000 feet, now an artists' colony with switchback streets and valley views. Wickenburg (1 hour northwest) is the desert dude-ranch town, with working guest ranches and a western downtown.
The roundup
3 Best Weekend Escapes Near Phoenix | 48-Hour Trip Ideas
Three easy Arizona getaways for Phoenix locals who want a real change of scenery by Saturday morning.
Read the guide →All Phoenix escapes
3 weekend trip ideas from Phoenix, sorted by how far you have to drive. Vibes covered: mountains, nature, food.
Under 1 hour
1 escape from Phoenix
1 to 2 hours
2 escapes from Phoenix
Questions & Answers
Phoenix weekend FAQ
Wickenburg (1 hour), Sedona (2 hours), and Jerome (2 hours) are the strongest small-town escapes from Phoenix, covering a desert dude-ranch town, the red-rock destination, and a cliffside mining ghost town.
Sedona is about 2 hours north of Phoenix via I-17, surrounded by red sandstone formations with trailheads accessible from town and a walkable uptown district.
Jerome, about 2 hours north of Phoenix past Sedona, is a former copper-mining town built on a cliff at 5,000 feet, now an artists' colony with sweeping Verde Valley views.
Wickenburg (1 hour, a desert dude-ranch town), Sedona (2 hours, the red-rock destination), and Jerome (2 hours, a cliffside mining ghost town) are the best weekend getaways from Phoenix, covering desert, red rock, and altitude.