# 10 Best Day Trips from Scottsdale (2026) > Sedona red rocks, Prescott's Whiskey Row, Jerome ghost town. Best drives from Scottsdale. Source: https://guides.thescottsdalescoop.com/best-day-trips-from-scottsdale --- ![Best Day Trips from Scottsdale](/images/day-trips-hero.webp) Activities & Experiences # Best Day Trips from Scottsdale Guides › Best Day Trips from Scottsdale Updated July 8, 2026 10 spots ### In This Guide 1 Sedona 2 Prescott & Whiskey Row 3 Jerome 4 Saguaro Lake 5 Flagstaff 6 Tortilla Flat 7 Montezuma Castle 8 Verde Valley Wine Trail 9 Tonto Natural Bridge 10 Kartchner Caverns ![Sedona in Scottsdale](/images/sedona.webp) 1 ## [Sedona](https://www.visitsedona.com) Sedona, AZ (2 hours north) Red rock formations, hiking, vortex sites, and Tlaquepaque Arts Village. Most popular day trip for a reason. Visit Website View in Directory ![Prescott & Whiskey Row in Scottsdale](/images/prescott-whiskey-row.webp) 2 ## [Prescott & Whiskey Row](https://www.visitprescott.com) Prescott, AZ (1.5 hours north) Historic Western town with saloons, Courthouse Plaza, and Watson Lake. Pine trees and craft beer. Visit Website View in Directory ![Jerome in Scottsdale](/images/jerome.webp) 3 ## [Jerome](https://directory.thescottsdalescoop.com/business/jerome) Jerome, AZ (2 hours north) Former mining ghost town turned artist colony on Mingus Mountain. Tasting rooms and haunted hotels. View in Directory ![Saguaro Lake in Scottsdale](/images/saguaro-lake.webp) 4 ## [Saguaro Lake](https://directory.thescottsdalescoop.com/business/saguaro-lake) Mesa, AZ (45 minutes east) Desert lake for kayaking, paddleboarding, and the Desert Belle cruise. Canyon walls and wild horses. View in Directory ![Flagstaff in Scottsdale](/images/flagstaff.webp) 5 ## [Flagstaff](https://www.flagstaffarizona.org) Flagstaff, AZ (2.5 hours north) Mountain town with Route 66 charm, craft breweries, and 30 degrees cooler in summer. Visit Website View in Directory ![Tortilla Flat in Scottsdale](/images/tortilla-flat.webp) 6 ## [Tortilla Flat](https://directory.thescottsdalescoop.com/business/tortilla-flat) Apache Trail, AZ (1 hour east) Tiny stagecoach stop with a saloon and dollar-bill walls. The desert drive is half the adventure. View in Directory ![Montezuma Castle in Scottsdale](/images/montezuma-castle.webp) 7 ## [Montezuma Castle](https://www.nps.gov/moca) Camp Verde, AZ (1.5 hours north) Sinagua cliff dwelling 90 feet above the valley floor. One of the best ancient ruins. Visit Website View in Directory ### 🌵 Get the Scottsdale Scoop Join 15,000+ Scottsdale locals who get the best events, restaurants, and hidden gems delivered every week. ![Verde Valley Wine Trail in Scottsdale](/images/verde-valley-wine-trail.webp) 8 ## [Verde Valley Wine Trail](https://directory.thescottsdalescoop.com/business/verde-valley-wine-trail) Cottonwood, AZ (1.5 hours north) Arizona wine country with tasting rooms in Cottonwood and Page Springs. View in Directory ![Tonto Natural Bridge in Scottsdale](/images/tonto-natural-bridge.webp) 9 ## [Tonto Natural Bridge](https://www.azstateparks.com/tonto) Payson, AZ (1.5 hours north) Largest natural travertine bridge in the world at 183 feet. Refreshingly cool in summer. Visit Website View in Directory ![Kartchner Caverns in Scottsdale](/images/kartchner-caverns.webp) 10 ## [Kartchner Caverns](https://www.azstateparks.com/kartchner) Benson, AZ (2.5 hours south) Spectacular living cave system with formations millions of years old. Visit Website View in Directory ## Never Miss a Scottsdale Pick Subscribe to the Scottsdale Scoop newsletter and get the best local spots, events, and inside scoop delivered to your inbox every week. It's free. Join 15,000+ Scottsdale locals. Free, always. ## More Activities & Experiences Guides in Scottsdale ![Best Things to Do in Scottsdale](/images/camelback.webp) ### Best Things to Do in Scottsdale A local's guide to the best of Scottsdale · 12 spots ![Best Pools in Scottsdale](/images/fairmont-pool.webp) ### Best Pools in Scottsdale Resort pools you can enjoy without booking a room · 10 spots ![Best Pickleball Courts in Scottsdale](/images/the-picklr.webp) ### Best Pickleball Courts in Scottsdale Where Scottsdale's fastest-growing sport lives · 8 spots ![Best Golf Courses in Scottsdale](/images/tpc-scottsdale.webp) ### Best Golf Courses in Scottsdale The golf capital of the Southwest · 10 spots ![Best Hiking Trails in Scottsdale](/images/camelback-mountain.webp) ### Best Hiking Trails in Scottsdale Desert trails locals actually hike · 10 spots ![Best Shopping in Scottsdale](/images/scottsdale-fashion-square.webp) ### Best Shopping in Scottsdale Retail therapy in the desert · 10 spots ![Best Art Galleries in Scottsdale](/images/smoca.webp) ### Best Art Galleries in Scottsdale The art capital of the Southwest · 10 spots ![Best Kids Activities in Scottsdale](/images/odysea-aquarium.webp) ### Best Kids Activities in Scottsdale Family fun in the desert sun · 12 spots