8 Adorable Small Towns In Arizona

While there are some who would claim that there is nothing outside of Tucson and Phoenix aside from the odd cactus and strange desert lizard, Arizona is home to some of the most charming and alluring small towns in the United States. 

A great mixture of American and Mexican culture, rural and urban, new and old. Rural Arizona has something for just about anyone who cares enough to look. Behind miles of empty desert and record-breaking heatwaves are some of the most lively and vibrant places around. 

Bisbee

Bisbee was first settled in the middle of the 19th century by Europeans to capitalize on a nearby boom of gold and silver mines in the hills that surround the town. The glory days of extracting precious metals are long gone but the charm and history of this era still radiates throughout Bisbee. 

The long and winding roads of the downtown core are filled to the brim with small family-run shops. Each of which has an eclectic atmosphere to it. Walking down the cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways will have you feeling as though you have been transported to Colonial Mexico rather than the 21st-century United States. If you really want to immerse yourself in the local history and culture make sure to make a stop at the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum.  

Tombstone

Tombstone has long been the gathering place for any Wild West aficionado looking to live out their fantasy as an old-time gunslinger roughing it around the frontier with his trusty steed and six-shooter at his hip. The modern incarnation of Tombstone is still very much in touch with its old Wild West past. You can still walk down the main strip of the town that still has some of the original buildings from the late 1800s. Visitors can even visit the very location of the infamous shootout at the O.K. Corral. Live shows are held usually on the weekends filled with stuntmen getting into brawls and "shootouts" with their fellow co-stars. It is quite a sight to behold and a great experience if you plan on bringing kids with you. 

Tubac

Only a short drive from Tucson will land you in the unique town of Tubac. Tubac has long served as a town that thrives on its tourism and local production of southwestern home decor. Walking through the open-air markets in town will allow you to choose from a nearly endless supply of handcrafted furniture, jewelry, and art. 

Many of the houses are made out of adobe or are painted in vibrant colors giving the town a very special personality to it. The townsfolk who live here are more than accommodating to those who visiting and are more than happy to point you in the right direction or recommend the best place to grab a hot meal. 

Sedona

Certainly the most famous small town in Arizona, Sedona is home to one of the most beautiful landscapes in the entire southeastern part of the United States. The town is dominated by towering red earth rock spires that are so often associated with this part of the county. 

Thousands of tourists arrive every year in Sedona to go explore the countryside. While the natural beauty of Sedona is undeniable the town itself has plenty to offer too. Sedona has one of the fastest-growing local art scenes in all of Arizona. In the past decade, Sedona has been transformed into an artist's paradise with tons of new art galleries and museums opening up around town. 

Jerome

Much like Bisbee, Jerome owes its origins to a late gold and silver rush that took place in the 1920s. Jerome became a boomtown overnight and quickly built up quite the sinister reputation of being a town that was overrun with debauchery and evil. Some went so far as to call Jerome "the Wickedest City in the West." When all of the gold and silver dried up the town was abandoned until the 1960s when Jerome gained its official National Historic Landmark status. Since then the town has slowly been regaining some of its population and today it remains a great place to drive through and visit. 

Today Jerome is far from its "wicked" past and is a pleasant place to stop by and explore while you are taking a trip through the desert. There are plenty of shops and local restaurants to check out as well. 

Wickenburg

Wickenburg is best known for being the dude ranch capital of Arizona. Much like Tombstone, Wickenburg very much imbraces its Wild West past minus the shootouts and choreographed fist fights. 

The main strip in Wickenburg is filled with the original wooden 19th-century buildings that were once the origins of the town. As mentioned earlier, there are tons of ranches throughout town. If you are wanting to go horseback riding you will have a lot of options to choose from. Even if you are not wanting to unleash your inner cowpoke, there is still much that Wickenburg offers outside of rodeos. There are a good amount of quality restaurants and nightlife to make your time here worthwhile. 

Williams

Situated along the world-famous Route 66, the town of Williams gets its fair share of visitors all year round. Williams usually serves as a base of operations for those who are looking to explore the nearby Grand Canyon but the town itself has a lot to offer as well. 

Much of Williams has done a remarkable job in maintaining and preserving a kind of 1950s retro vibe around town. Many of the local businesses and restaurants have a lot in terms of vintage aesthetics. It is not uncommon to see dinners equipt with old-fashioned soda fountains and milkshake machines along with an old-school American muscle car parked out front. 

Winslow

Another town that is located right along Route 66, the small town of Winslow is also in the middle of Navajo Country. Aside from all of the car culture and Americana that comes with being a major town along Route 66, Windslow is a fascinating mix of Native American, Mexican, and American cultures. If you are interested in learning more about the storied past of the Navajo people then make sure to stop by the Old Trails Museum. Here you can find all types of artifacts from the native tribes of the American Southwest. 

Summary

If you are willing to bare the scorching desert heat and take the time to plan, then taking a road trip through the Arizona countryside is an experience like no other. You will meet some of the most welcoming people in the United States and run into some of the most unique towns in the nation. Not to mention the breathtaking backdrop of the desert environment. All of these things are enough to keep people coming back for decades to come.