These 9 Towns In Arizona Feel Like Home

Arizona, situated in the southwestern quadrant of the contiguous states, occupies part of the Four Corners region with Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. Distinguished for the cacti and creosote bush-covered desert landscapes, evergreen ponderosa pine woodlands, many rivers and sizeable artificial lakes, deep canyons, the Colorado Plateau, imposing San Francisco summits, and the hypnotizing Grand Canyon National Park, this singly landlocked state truly catches the eye. Nevertheless, beyond the most frequently visited urban agglomerations of Tucson, Scottsdale, and the state capital, Phoenix, are the Grand Canyon State’s numberless alluring towns that, with their leisurely lifestyle, affable townspeople, and sociocultural traditions, make one feel right at home.

Jerome

Located at the top of Cleopatra Hill commanding Central Arizona’s Verde Valley in the Black Hills of Yavapai County, Jerome is placed along the State Route 89A highway, about 100 miles north of the state capital city. This teeny alpine town, tagged the ‘Wickedest Town In The West’ during its heyday, is at present lauded for its creative sphere and as a pivotal cultural beacon. Holidayers need to check out the diverse old miners' equipment and traces of gambling in saloons at the Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum; the Douglas Mansion Museum displaying mining artifacts and vintage photographs in Jerome State Historic Park; and the works of over 30 native artists from the Verde Valley region at the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery in Old Hotel Jerome.

Sedona

Titled after Sedona Schnebly, the wife of the town’s pioneer postmaster Theodore Carlton Schnebly, this visually appealing community sits entirely within Coconino National Forest in the northern Verde Valley region, straddling the county border between Coconino and Yavapai Counties. Sedona’s sequence of red sandstone formations that create an ethereal scenery against blue skies, are favorite setting for unlimited trekking, biking, and off-roading activities in addition to religious quests. Supplementarily, try out the sought-after regional wines at Winery 1912 and be present at the Sedona Arts Festival on October 11 and 12, 2025.

Seligman

Dubbed “The Birthplace of Historic Route 66,” Seligman is a census-designated place located on the northern limit of Yavapai County in the state’s northwestern portion. Initially christened ‘Prescott Junction’ for being a prominent railroad stop on the Santa Fe central junction, the settlement was rebaptized as a tribute to Joseph Seligman, the founder of New York City’s J. & W. Seligman & Co. investment bank, who funded the construction of the area’s railroad paths. The 18-acre Seligman Commercial Historic District, set parallel to Historic Route 66, features a massive number of early 20th-century commercial properties like the Return to the 50’s Gift Shop in the Old Olson’s Shell Gas Station and Pitts & Washington Central Commercial Building, marvelously reflecting the roadside architectural style. Every year in spring, Seligman draws thousands of retro car and truck lovers from all over the globe to participate in the 3-day Annual Route 66 Fun Run Event.

Williams

A magnetic Old West town, Williams, called after the illustrious mountain man William Sherley, sits exactly 60 miles from the Grand Canyon’s Southern Rim in Coconino County of north-central Arizona, directly west of Flagstaff. Primarily a railroad, timber, and ranching epicenter, this ‘Gateway to the Grand Canyon’ was the final town whose branch of U.S. Route 66 was circumvented for Interstate 40’s terminal section. The National Register listed Williams Historic Business District incorporates a plethora of late 19th-century structures, such as the Art Deco style Babbitt-Polson Building and the Renaissance Revival style Fray Marcos Hotel. Inspect the classic artifacts at Pete’s Gas Station Museum, purchase unique gifts, specialty foods, and western-themed home décor at Copper Canyon Trading (Souvenirs & Saltwater Taffy), partake in a variety of outdoor recreations at the Williams Recreation Center & Skate Park, and enjoy a ride aboard the Grand Canyon Railway, which maneuvers through the Arizona High Country’s graphic landscapes taking passengers from Williams to the Southern Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

Payson

Encircled by the Tonto National Forest and situated in the northern portion of Gila County, not far from the geographic center of the state, is Payson, fittingly ratifying its motto: “Arizona’s Cool Mountain Town.” Positioned to Payson’s north is the Mogollon Rim, the Colorado Plateau’s southernmost part, and to the northwest is the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park that houses the biggest natural travertine bridge in the world. Trippers should pay a visit to the Rim Country Museum & Zane Grey Cabin at the Green Valley Park to learn more about the natural and cultural anecdotes of the greater Payson area, and enjoy live performances of the state’s most gifted fiddlers at the Annual Arizona State Old Time Fiddling Championship on September 5 and 6, 2025.

Ajo

This desert mining community called ‘Ajo’ by Spaniards, is located on the State Route 85 highway in the southwestern part of the state, nearly 43 miles from the international border with Mexico. Tourists sojourning in this Pima County town can conveniently access the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the singular site in the entire US where organ pipe cactus and senita cactus develop organically. Furthermore, the spirited artistic realm of Ajo impresses tourists with ceramic wares, carvings, contemporary paintings, and other quirky collectibles retailed by The Art Under The Arches Fine Art Gallery & Gift Shop; the picturesque Ajo Plaza - a regional commercial mecca having a series of Spanish Colonial Revival style arches around a verdant park; the Ajo Train Depot (currently The Ajo Visitor Center) providing information about the area’s attractions and intriguing past; and the nearby Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge home to over 400 floral species and 275 different faunal species.

Bisbee

Cochise County’s administrative capital, Bisbee, sits in the Mule Mountains of southeastern Arizona, approx. 11 miles north of the US-Mexico international boundary. Named in reverence of the Copper Queen Mine’s financier Jurist DeWitt Bisbee, this erstwhile silver, gold, and copper mining town’s year-round temperate climate and welcoming atmosphere have helped develop Bisbee into an excellent creative community. While on a trip to the town, do inspect the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, which through its detailed exhibition of photographs and artifacts, chronicles the storied heritage of a western copper-mining town; the Belleza Fine Art Gallery in Old Bisbee’s Main Street that displays works of over 20 fine artists; partake in the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour to delve into the town’s spooky tales, and attend the Annual Bisbee Plein Air Festival from October 9 to 12, 2025.

Tubac

Set up as a Spanish presidio in 1752, Tubac is located betwixt the Santa Rita and Tumacacori Mountain ranges in southern Arizona’s Santa Cruz County, around 45 minutes south of Tucson. Marking the site of the foremost European settlement in the state, the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park preserves the remains of an old Spanish-built fortress, besides containing a handful of historic sites, a museum, a picnic area, and an underground exhibition of the foundations of Tubac Presidio. The town, worthily endorsing the catchphrase: ‘where art and history meet,’ transformed itself into a well-known artists’ colony featuring countless art galleries like Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery, gift shops like Tubac Art & Gifts, pottery stores like Clay Rabbit House, etc. Throughout the year, sightseers get to witness amazing exhibitions and enjoy events hosted by the Tubac Center of the Arts, play golf at the panoramic 27-hole golf course of Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, and engage in birding, hiking, and horseback riding activities along the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

Winslow

Winslow, a tiny community on the historic U.S. Route 66 in east-central Arizona’s Navajo County, sits on the upland desert plains of the Little Colorado River Valley. Vacationers on a trip to this scenic town would not want to miss a photo session with the human-sized bronze statue of a guitar player and his Ford flatbed truck at Standin’ on the Corner Park, a public park that commemorates the ‘Take It Easy’ song by the American rock band Eagles. Stroll through Winslow’s historic district, stopping by the Old Trails Museum, which houses numerous old Native American artifacts, equipment of the Santa Fe Railroad, and Fred Harvey memorabilia. Also, observe the prehistoric ruins of pueblos constructed by the ancestors of the indigenous Hopi Tribe at the Homolovi State Park, and stay overnight at the beautifully restored La Posada Hotel.

From Bisbee’s mining heritage to the red-rock spectacles of Sedona, the closely allied communities in Arizona have much to offer. Whether you are an excursionist set out to explore the awe-inspiring natural treasures, a history fanatic curious about the regional narratives, a culture enthusiast soaking in boomy Western cultures, or a road tripper driving down the Historic U.S. Route 66, these Copper State towns are where you can feel a little warmer and strongly connected by the embracing hospitality of the harmonious neighbors.