The Best Small Towns in Arizona to Chill Out In 2024
While Arizona may have some extreme landscapes and temperatures, its beautiful desert sceneries, luxurious nooks, and love for Western culture make it a top vacation destination in the United States. It’s a great place to unwind and eat cowboy-themed food!
However, relaxing on your vacation is notably harder when you’re stuck in a crowded city. Apart from long queues and noise pollution, metropolitan hubs just don’t have the charm of tiny towns. In this guide, you’ll find nine of the coziest and most interesting small towns in Arizona to chill out on a vacation. Whether you’re up for a hike in the desert or living a life of luxury on a golf course, there’s a small Arizona town suited for you.
Ajo
If you desire a laid-back and art-filled vacation, take your wandering boots to Ajo, a tiny mining town in southern Arizona that has kept its art heritage well. From the get-go, you’ll immediately notice the numerous murals around town, which you can see more of through a self-guided art tour. Its 1916 schoolhouse, with its beautiful Spanish revival architecture, is now the Curley School, a hub for art galleries, exhibitions, and studios.
The natives in the land used to get red pigment from Ajo’s soil, and Spanish settlers later turned the area into a copper mine. The Ajo Historical Society details this history, while the New Cornelia Mine gives visitors a front view of the mine that placed the town on the map. Other notable sites in Ajo are the school-turned-lodge Sonoran Desert Inn and the old train depot, now a visiting center and plaza.
Paradise Valley
Named the wealthiest municipality in Arizona, turn your Arizona trip into a relaxing and lavish vacation in Paradise Valley. Choose from luxurious hotels and picturesque golf clubs around town, like Sanctuary Camelback Mountain for its beautiful mountain views and the exclusive Paradise Valley Country Club. You can even share the lap of luxury with your pets at Applewood Pet Resort!
Additionally, dinnertime is an extravagant affair at Paradise Valley. Have a romantic dinner at Lon’s Restaurant, eat like a king at El Chorro, enjoy seasonal eats at Hearth 61, or snack and golf at Rusty’s. After pampering yourself like royalty, give yourself one last treat at Cosanti Originals for a wind bell souvenir that’s uniquely Paradise Valley.
Wickenburg
For a taste of cowboy life, giddy-up to a trip to Wickenburg! Nicknamed the “Dude Ranch Capital” of Arizona, take your pick from the many ranches in town that offer all-inclusive cowboy-themed vacations. Kay El Bar Guest Ranch has trail rides, target shooting, and family-style meals, while Flying E Dude Ranch lets you experience a working cattle ranch.
The Desert Caballeros Western Museum shares the gold mining origins of Wickenburg, which was the force that eventually attracted ranchers and farmers to the area. Do a self-guided walking tour around town to learn more, then grab some grub at Cowboy Cookin’ and Deb’s Horseshoe Cafe. If you’re serious about your cowboy skills, don’t miss out on Rancho Rio’s roping events.
Litchfield Park
From being a farm for Goodyear in the early 1900s, Litchfield Park eventually grew into a golf lover’s paradise and a haven for animals. The Wigwam Golf Club, a stunning 440-acre golf course with 54 holes and three courses, is one of the go-to places for Arizona golfers. Stay at The Wigwam, the golf club’s very own resort, to be always close to all the golf action.
You don’t even have to go far to taste Litchfield Park’s culinary scene. Litchfield’s, specializing in American fare, and Wigwam Bar can be found inside the golf course. Love animals? Wildlife World Zoo is a must-visit when you’re in town. This unique zoo has over 600 species, the largest collection in Arizona! You can even book a private meet-and-greet with some of their beloved animals. However, if you want something chill and free, the ducks at the city’s Tierra Verde Lake Park would love to have you for an afternoon.
Camp Verde
Arizona's Historic State Park, Camp Verde, Arizona. Editorial credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com
With its Native American monument, safari, vineyards, and great outdoors, Camp Verde is an eclectic mix of attractions and activities fit for any type of traveler. Start with the finest tourist stop in town: the Montezuma Castle. These well-preserved dwellings of indigenous people in the area provide a glimpse of America’s ancient past.
You can also go to Camp Verde Historical Society and Fort Verde State Historic Park to do a Historic Building Walking Tour to learn more about Camp Verde. Outdoorsy adventures would probably appreciate kayaking down the Verde River more, while animal lovers will enjoy Out of Africa’s wildlife theme park. Lastly, hang out at Alcantara Vineyards for a sip of wine and a view of Camp Verde’s fields.
Fountain Hills
Golf, gardens, and the United States’ second-tallest fountain (fourth worldwide) await you in Fountain Hills! Make The Fountain one of your stops and witness it shoot water 560 feet in the air every hour for 15 minutes. Golfers will love the fact that Fountain Hills Disc Golf Course is just within the vicinity of the fountain, with eateries like Arrivederci Cucina Italiana and Euro Pizza Cafe just nearby.
After a fountain-filled day, take things slow with a River of Time Museum tour for a history lesson of Fountain Hills’ past, or catch a musical at Fountain Hills Theater. Meanwhile, the Fountain Hills Desert Botanical Garden will show you the flora of the region. Excited to make your way to Fountain Hills? Here’s a handy-dandy 2024 visitor’s guide to help you plan your trip!
Clarkdale
From the tracks of its historic train to the ripples of Verde River, Clarkdale is considered the “Gem of Arizona” and is a top tourist destination in the region. The scenic train excursions of Verde Canyon Railroad lets passengers get a good view of Clarkdale’s landscape and the bald eagles nesting nearby. Clarkdale Kayak Company, on the other hand, brings tourists on a wild ride down Verde River.
Art enthusiasts and history buffs should visit the Arizona Copper Art Museum and the Clarkdale Historical Society & Museum for displays of local art and artifacts. In addition, the Tuzigoot Visitor Center and Museum explores the indigenous past of the land. If you want to explore Clarkdale in a wine-tastic way, the Clarkdale Wine Tasting Tour is always open for wine connoisseurs.
Cave Creek
From horseback rides to an old Western town replica, the spirit of the Wild West is alive and well in Cave Creek! Begin your cowboy adventure with a guided trail ride via Arizona Horseback Adventures and stay at the southwestern-style suites of Spur Cross Inn. Then, dine on the finest southwestern fare at Tonto Bar & Grill at Rancho Manana—a fancier cowboy meal than usual!
To fully embrace the American Frontier era in a fun way, visit Frontier Town, a replica of a 19th-century Western town. You’ll find a faux cemetery and jail, as well as Western-style buildings with Cave Creek merchandise and souvenirs. While a fake mini-town is fun, the real Wild West lesson can be learned from Cave Creek Museum.
Apache Junction
Whether you’re here for the amazing views of the Superstition Mountains or want a piece of gold from the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, Apache Junction will make your 2024 vacation a trip to remember. Start by going on a hike via the beginner-friendly Silly Mountain Trail or the challenging Siphon Draw Trail. End your adventure in the mountains with a tour of the Superstition Mountain Museum to learn about Apache Junction’s past and Old West history.
The existence of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine may or may not be real, but it’s fun to hike around the area to pretend-search for it while hiking in the Lost Dutchman State Park. The Goldfield Ghost Town also invites tourists to visit what once was an abandoned mining post, now turned into a lively Wild West tourist town. Pan for gold, witness cowboy gunfights, and tour the old saloons and shops in this delightful recreation of what life was like in the American Frontier.
While these small Arizona towns might not be as grand as cities like Phoenix and Tucson, they still have a wellspring of attractions—both natural and man-made—that can make your Arizona vacation worthwhile. In addition, these towns can let you relax and enjoy life at a slower pace, as small towns are wont to do, while not skimping on attractions and activities.
From cowboy towns and scenic train rides to fancy golf courses and mountain hikes, these are the best small towns in Arizona to chill out on your next vacation. There is more to Arizona than the Grand Canyon, and these towns are more than happy to give you a serene, albeit still exciting, vacation experience in their lovely hometowns.
