What is within 2 hours of Phoenix? 10 best day trips to take

Roger Naylor
| Especially for the Republic

During the sweltering summer, extended escapes from Phoenix are crucial for mental health. That urgency disappears once temperatures start to moderate. Staying close to home suddenly feels really good. While it’s still fun to get out of town, long vacations aren’t necessary. No one wants to give up the sun and 70 degrees.

Instead, let’s focus on quick and easy day trips. Hit the highway, have an adventure, and then return home the same day. There’s plenty to see and do within a two-hour drive of metro Phoenix.

Here are 10 of the best day trips from the Phoenix area.

Tonto National Monument

Tucked into alcoves of steep mountainsides above Roosevelt Lake, two prehistoric Salado cliff dwellings built more than 700 years ago still overlook the wide Tonto Basin.

Built in natural caves, they are located high on the slopes above the visitor center which houses an impressive collection of artefacts. The Lower Cliff Dwelling is open year-round and is located at the end of a 0.5 mile paved trail.

The Upper Cliff Dwelling is only accessible by guided tour from November to April. Reservations fill up quickly. Rangers lead small groups on a 3-mile loop hike with an elevation gain of 600 feet. The Upper Cliff Dwelling contains approximately 40 rooms, some with partially intact roofs and parapet walls.

Admission to the park is $10 per person; There are no additional costs for the tour.

Details: 26260 State Route 188, Roosevelt. 928-467-2241, www.nps.gov/tont.

Arcosanti

This community looks like a Dr. construction site. Seuss and consists of a series of striking and imaginative constructions. Clustered modular homes, large round windows and curved rooflines rise above a dry riverbed.

Architect Paolo Soleri, a former student of Frank Lloyd Wright, broke ground for Arcosanti in 1970. He coined the term ‘arcology’ to describe the concept of architecture shaped by ecology to create a new type of urban habitat, one that is compact and efficient. and sensitive to the environment.

Soleri died in 2013, but his followers keep Arcosanti going. Today it serves as a learning institution.

General tours of Arcosanti are offered daily. During these tours you will get a glimpse into the history, design and functionality of the project and will often see the famous Soleri wind chimes being cast at the foundry. The café serves simple, healthy meals and homemade cakes. Tours cost $22, $13 for ages 12-17.

Details: 928-632-7135, www.arcosanti.org.

Florence

To understand what Arizona looked like in territorial days, take a walk through downtown Florence. The city still has a strong Western flavor with more than 120 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the structures date from the 1870s and ’80s and include Sonoran style, Arizona Territorial, American Victorian and Mission Revival.

Don’t miss it McFarland Historic State Park24 W. Ruggles St., the oldest surviving courthouse in Arizona. Built in 1878 with mud bricks, it also serves as a visitor center and features a number of notable exhibitions. Admission is free.

Nearby Pinal County Historical Museum715 S. Main St., visitors can wander past a room of beautiful 1930s cactus furniture, get details about a famous gunfight and learn about the state prison. Admission is €7, free for 18 years and under. Admission is free for everyone every first Saturday of the month.

Details: www.florenceaz.gov/historic-district.

Camp Verde

Tucked between Sedona and Jerome, Camp Verde is often overlooked by travelers. Yet the city is full of attractions just minutes from Interstate 17, including Montezuma CastleMontezuma So what Fort Verde Historic State Park.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park offers an intimate look at lions, tigers, hippos, giraffes and more. Shows and tours are offered throughout the day. General admission is $42.95, $27.95, for ages 3 to 12. 928-567-2840, www.outofafricapark.com.

For an unforgettable meal, visit the Italian restaurant Moscato. Housed in an Old West style building, Moscato offers an authentic taste of the Italian countryside in the center of Camp Verde. 368 S. Main Street, 928-567-7417, www.moscatoaz.com.

Dolly steamer

Of all the excursions you expect in the middle of the desert, a steamboat ride might not be high on the list. But make the drive to Canyon Lake and you can take a scenic cruise on Dolly Steamboat. The cliff-lined waterway is part of a chain of lakes along the Apache Trail, formed by dams that enclose the Salt River.

A replica of a classic American sternwheeler provides a close-up view of the high cliffs that define Canyon Lake’s rugged shoreline. The 90-minute Scenic Nature Cruise explores remote inland waterways with frequent sightings of desert bighorn sheep, bald eagles and other wildlife.

Enjoy the captain’s story from a comfortable seat in the lower or upper cabins or open-air observation areas. Price is $35, $17 for ages 5-12.

Details: 16802 SR 88, tortilla flat. 480-827-9144, www.dollysteamboat.com.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Located in Superior, Boyce Thompson is a shady retreat, a peaceful oasis where cacti rub spiky elbows with a beautiful collection of drought-tolerant trees. Thousands of different species of plants from the arid regions of the world are scattered across the landscape. Five kilometers of hiking trails wind through themed gardens.

The Main Trail makes a 1.5-mile loop, a wide, smooth path suitable for wheelchairs, at least until you reach Ayer Lake. (The Demonstration Garden, Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden and Children’s Garden are also wheelchair accessible.) Tucked at the base of a ridge of rugged, jagged bare rock and lined with cattails, Ayer Lake is home to the endangered desert fry and the Gila -topminnow. .

Bird walks, geology walks, history tours, photography workshops and more are regular events. Check the calendar for specific dates. Admission is $24.95, $10 for children ages 5 to 12.

Details: 37615 E. Arboretum Way, Superior. 520-689-2723, www.btarboretum.org.

Hassayampa River Reserve

Enjoy a peaceful stroll through a lush lakeside corridor southeast of Wickenburg. For most of its 100-mile course, the Hassayampa River flows underground, but it emerges as a perennial stream through the reserve, creating a rare habitat of poplars and willows.

Nearly 300 bird species can be spotted in this surprising forest, including the Zone-tailed Hawk, the Mississippi Kite and the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. A handful of trails follow the river bottoms, cross the floodplains and circle Palm Lake. Guided walks are offered during the colder months. Admission is $5 per person, free for ages 12 and under.

Details: 49614 US 60, near Wickenburg. 602-506-2930, ext. 9; www.maricopacountyparks.net.

Prescott

There’s so much to do in Prescott that it’s hard to limit your visit to just a day trip. Try this plan: take a walk, then grab a snack. This gives you the chance to explore one of Arizona’s underrated scenic wonders, Prescott’s Granite Dells.

The vast field of exposed rock has been gnawed by erosion into curious formations and jumbled piles of boulders. Some trails that explore this stone playground are Granite Gardens, Constellation, Centennial, and Watson Lake Loop. More information can be found at www.prrescotttrails.com.

When you’re ready to fuel up, Lazy G’s Brewhouse (220 W. LeRoux St., 928-445-2994, www.lazygbrewhouse.com) offers burgers, sandwiches, salads and shareable plates. Or try some comfort food at Uncle Bud’s Place (150 E. Sheldon St., 928-237-4316, www.unclebudsplace.com), where they serve Cajun, Creole and barbecue.

Details: www.experimentprescott.com.

Casa Grande ruins national monument

An impressive four-story structure made of earth is still standing after 700 years in Coolidge. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument protects the largest building left of the Hohokam culture.

Casa Grande, or ‘Big House’, is 11 meters high and was built of unreinforced clay (caliche) in the mid-13th century and is said to have been used for astronomical observations. The grounds also include an excellent museum, smaller structures and a ceremonial ball field. Admission is free.

Details: 1100 W. Ruins Drive, Coolidge. 520-723-3172, www.nps.gov/cagr.

Biosphere 2

Located at the foot of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Oracle, north of Tucson, this massive experiment is home to seven model ecosystems, earning it the title of the world’s largest earth science laboratory. The facility is run by the University of Arizona for research purposes and tours are available.

Visitors can wander through a tropical rainforest and savannah grasslands and even smell an ocean, complete with coral reef. Tours cost $27 ($17 for ages 5 to 23) and are self-guided with your smartphone and headphones.

Details: 32540 S. Biosphere Road, Oracle. 520-620-4800, www.biosphere2.org.

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