Arizona isn’t tropical like Florida or stylish like Southern California, but it’s hard to beat when it comes to winter sun escapes.
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In lieu of sandy beaches and stylish towns like Palm Springs, Arizona offers commanding desert views, quirky and artistic towns, and a solid range of gorgeous national parks.
The southern half of the state has temperatures that hover in the 60s and 70s, even throughout the depths of winter. That being said, if you get a hankering for classic winter fare, you can still head north and see snow-capped mountains around areas like Flagstaff and Tucson.
In short, you’ve got it all—from warm days that let you hike through canyons to snowstorms that let you ski down the mountainsides.
The big question is… where are you better off heading for your next Arizona winter travel adventure? Let’s dig into the best spots to go for a winter sun escape based on things like sunny days, mild temperatures, and a diverse list of things to do.
5 destinations ideal for Arizona winter travel
Enjoy artsy small-town vibes: Jerome
Around 100 miles north of Phoenix is Jerome, a small town located in the Black Hills—which are usually pretty green, even in winter. Once a booming mining town, Jerome’s defunct saloons, bordellos, and opium dens have since been converted to art galleries and fine dining restaurants.
You can walk through town to hit its coolest shops and studios, assuming you’re in shape enough to handle its steep inclines. If you’re lion-hearted, you can also take a ghost tour to establish contact with the town’s earliest inhabitants.
Soak up the desert views: Tucson
If you’re a desert rat (I say that lovingly), Tucson is top of the list for Arizona winter travel. It’s a gateway to hotspots like Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, and Mt. Lemmon. Thanks to milder temperatures, you can hike through the day without risking a heat stroke—even when the sun is shining at full force.
Tucson also comes alive during winter with festivals like the Tucson Tamal and Heritage Festival and the Tucson Jazz Festival.
Get outdoors: Patagonia
If Tucson is a bit too big-city for your winter birding in Arizona, head to Patagonia. It’s a small enclave just outside the city, which gives you even better access to nature. Specifically, you’ll be right in the center of the Sky Islands, a range of mountaintops that reach heights between 6,000-10,000 feet.
Aside from hiking and cycling, the Sky Islands are a hotspot for birders. The town of Patagonia also has museums and galleries to explore, similar to Jerome.
Go all-in all wellness: Sedona
Sedona has a reputation for spiritual adventures thanks to its vortexes, along with gorgeous views of the red rock formations that surround the city. It’s a popular stop for Arizona winter travel for anyone looking to focus on wellness, whether through high-class spa treatments, yoga classes, or remote resort stays.
One of the city’s tourism slogans is ‘where magic meets the elements’, which does a great job of summarizing what to expect.
Soak up the sunshine: Yuma
If seasonal affective disorder wreaks havoc on your nervous system, head to Yuma. It’s known as the ‘sunniest city on Earth’ thanks to the fact that it gets 300 days of sunshine annually. You can get out in nature at the Centennial Beach in West Wetlands, along with Gateway Park—or the Colorado River State Historic Park and the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, if you like a little history with your hiking.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg in Yuma. It’s also renowned for its ATV adventures, birding opportunities, and its winter veggie harvest.
