Looking for fun places to visit in arizona? Think red-rock overlooks, colorful streets and lakes surrounded by rounded boulders.
These pictures give you plenty to start with, whether you’re planning a hiking trip or would rather spend the afternoon exploring a small town.
You can keep things simple or build a longer road trip. A few pictured locations need confirming before you add them to your map, so those are flagged below.
Check current access, reservations and weather before heading out.
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Arizona places and views worth saving
Horseshoe Bend
We’re starting off strong with this gorgeous Horseshoe Bend view. I love the deep blue-green river wrapping around that huge orange rock formation.
Even the cloudy sky makes the scene look dramatic.
Save this stop near Page if a big canyon overlook is on your list. Enjoy the view from designated areas rather than copying an exposed-edge photo.
Sedona’s red-rock scenery
How gorgeous are these tall red-rock formations? The person standing beside them really shows their scale.
That narrow opening onto the distant landscape is my favorite part.
Use this as inspiration for exploring Sedona, but confirm the exact trail separately. A picture of someone on a ledge doesn’t tell you how difficult or safe the route is.
Havasu Falls
I am obsessed with this turquoise water. Havasu Falls pours down the orange cliff into a pool surrounded by green trees. There’s so much color in one view!
Read also: 20 Places to Visit in the US for Gorgeous Views and City Strolls
This isn’t a casual roadside stop. Visiting Havasupai requires advance planning and permission through the tribe’s reservation system, so start there before building your itinerary.
Antelope Canyon’s curving walls
If you love unusual rock formations, this canyon belongs on your inspiration list. The walls curve around the visitors in waves of orange, pink and shadowy purple.
For Antelope Canyon, book with an authorized tour operator. Confirm which canyon section you’re visiting rather than assuming every tour follows the passage pictured here.
Grand Canyon Skywalk
Would you walk out onto this? The horseshoe-shaped Skywalk extends beyond the cliff, which looks especially striking from this angle underneath.
This is at Grand Canyon West on Hualapai land, not inside Grand Canyon National Park. Keep that distinction in mind when planning your drive and checking admission.
Colorful Bisbee inspiration
How cute is this turquoise and orange pairing? The flower-filled balconies and buildings stepping up the hillside make this a lovely bit of Bisbee inspiration.
The picture’s sign names Bisbee, but don’t use it as proof of an exact street or bookable property. Plan a town wander rather than a hunt for this particular doorway.
Towering saguaros
These saguaros are something else! I love how the person between them shows just how tall they are.
Smaller cacti and distant mountains fill the rest of the view.
For a similar desert outing, consider Saguaro National Park near Tucson. The exact photo location isn’t confirmed, but it’s a beautiful starting point for your cactus-view wish list.
Monument Valley inspiration
The tall buttes and dark rock framing are so striking here. That oversized moon makes the picture especially dramatic, though you shouldn’t expect to recreate this exact scene.
If this landscape is your favorite, look into Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park along the Arizona-Utah border. Follow tribal access rules and choose an authorized guide for restricted areas.
Big Nose Kate’s Saloon
Don’t want every stop to involve hiking? This Tombstone saloon gives you a completely different kind of Arizona outing.
I love the decorative lettering above the doors and the peach-colored arch.
Check current opening information before stopping by Big Nose Kate’s Saloon. Leave yourself time to look around the surrounding streets too.
A cave-pool picture to verify
That round opening to the sky is gorgeous. Striped rock walls surround the blue water, with a swimmer visible near the far side.
This image doesn’t establish a real, accessible Arizona destination. Keep it as visual inspiration for now rather than adding an unnamed swimming cave to your itinerary.
The location and authenticity need verifying first.
Jerome’s mining-history scenery
If you like a little history with your views, this scene is worth a closer look. Rust-colored mining equipment lines the gravel foreground, with a long building sitting across the hillside.
It appears to show the area around Jerome State Historic Park. Confirm the exact site and current visitor access before planning around the equipment display.
Petrified Forest’s striped hills
I love these bands of purple, gray and cream. The slopes have so many little ridges that you could spend ages just looking at the patterns.
The image identifies Petrified Forest National Park. If these hills are what caught your eye, look into the park’s Blue Mesa area when choosing your stops.
Red-rock creek scenery
Want a change from wide-open desert views? This narrow creek runs between broad red-rock shelves, with people gathered along both sides.
The scene resembles Slide Rock near Sedona, though the exact spot needs confirming. Check current water conditions and park guidance before planning any swimming. Wet rock deserves extra caution.
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Ferris wheel lights after dark
How fun is this nighttime scene? There’s a bright Ferris wheel in the background, strings of lights overhead and people sitting around circular fire pits.
This looks like the kind of evening you could plan at a venue such as The Pemberton in Phoenix, but the pictured venue isn’t confirmed. Verify the location and current attractions before making it a stop.
A steep climb with handrails
This one is clearly more than a gentle stroll. The rocky incline, handrails and people using their hands show a demanding section of the route.
It resembles a steep section of Camelback Mountain’s Echo Canyon Trail, but confirm the trail before setting out. Choose a hike that fits your ability and check heat advisories rather than planning from the photo alone.
A cactus garden at sunset
I am obsessed with the orange sky behind these cacti. The curved framework overhead and little glowing lights along the path make the garden look especially pretty.
For a similar outing, explore the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. Check its current event calendar if you want an illuminated evening visit, since this particular display isn’t something to assume you’ll find every night.
Read also: 20 Places to Visit in California for Coastlines, Desert Views and Cute Towns
Watson Lake in Prescott
This is one of my favorite landscape combinations on the list. The rounded boulders look so pretty beside the water, especially in the lower picture with the clouds reflected across the lake.
The collage shows both kayaking and exploring on foot at Watson Lake. Pick the activity that suits your day, then check current access and equipment options.
Route 66 in Williams
Who else loves a street full of old-fashioned signs? The Route 66 shields, gift-shop signs and big circular pizza sign give you plenty to look at before you even step inside anywhere.
This streetscape points to downtown Williams. Make it a walking stop on your road trip rather than just driving straight through.
Montezuma Castle
Look at how the rooms sit inside that cliff recess. The pale walls almost blend into the surrounding rock, with little dark openings breaking up the facade.
Montezuma Castle National Monument is a place to admire the cliff dwelling from the designated ground-level viewing area. You won’t be climbing into the rooms pictured above.
A historic mission near Tubac
Last but definitely not least, we have this beautiful mission facade. I love the exposed brickwork above the pale walls and the deep arch around the entrance.
Although the image says Tubac, the building appears to be the mission church at nearby Tumacácori National Historical Park. Confirm that stop separately from Tubac so you arrive at the historic site you actually want to see.