Arizona Road Trips

What are the best drives in Arizona?

These are the routes people ask for by name. Road conditions and closures change, so check the official source for each before you set out.

Apache Trail

Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat: 16.5 miles, 30 minutes without stops. The paved first stretch of State Route 88. The pavement ends around Mile 22, and damage has blocked the road beyond Fish Creek Vista for long periods, so check az511.gov before going past Tortilla Flat. Official information.

Historic Route 66 in Arizona

Lupton on the New Mexico border to Topock near the California border: 250 miles, 3 days, the recommended minimum. Sixteen historic communities, plus 157.87 miles that its association calls the longest uninterrupted stretch left. Official information.

Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive

Sedona to Oak Creek Vista at the canyon rim: 16 miles, an hour. State Route 89A climbs about 2,200 feet from Sedona, ending in hairpin turns up to the rim. Flooding can close the road, so check az511.gov before you go. Official information.

Sky Island Scenic Byway

East Catalina Highway near Tucson to Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon: 27.2 miles, 3 to 6 hours, including backtracking. The Federal Highway Administration compares its biological diversity to a drive from Mexico to Canada, in just 27 miles. Official information.

Coronado Trail

Springerville and Eagar to Clifton and Morenci: 120 miles, 4 hours. A National Scenic Byway on the trail used in 1540 by the Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, with sharp curves and steep drop-offs. Official information.

Looking for somewhere to stop? See places in Arizona and the Arizona outdoors.