- An Arizona road trip is one of the best ways to experience the state’s dramatic variety, from the Sonoran Desert and red rock canyons to pine-covered mountains, Route 66 towns, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, Saguaro National Park, Tombstone, and Bisbee.
- Castle Hot Springs offers a restorative desert retreat along the way, with natural mineral hot springs, farm-to-table dining, spa and wellness experiences, guided adventures, stargazing, and secluded Sonoran Desert scenery.
- A five- to seven-day central and north-central Arizona loop from Phoenix or Scottsdale to Castle Hot Springs, Wickenburg, Prescott, Jerome, Sedona, Williams, and the Grand Canyon is one of the best road trips in Arizona for travelers seeking scenery, history, relaxation, and open-road adventure.
There’s nothing quite like an American road trip. An enduring birthright, it romanticizes the open highway as an expression of freedom: the chance to choose your own path, follow your curiosity, and become the captain of your own journey. As Willie Nelson sings in “On the Road,” it’s the promise of “goin’ places that I’ve never been; seein’ things that I may never see again.”
Arizona was made for that kind of travel. The open road is one of the best ways to experience the state’s vast landscapes and shifting ecosystems, from cactus-studded desert and red rock canyons to pine-forested mountain ranges. Driving allows travelers to watch that topography slowly unfold mile by mile, with stops along the way for homemade cherry pie, scenic overlooks into deep canyons, and browsing Native American arts and crafts.
There is much to take in on a multi-day Arizona road trip, and many ways to build an itinerary. For travelers researching things to see on an Arizona road trip, options abound. In northern Arizona, travelers can stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon; drive through historic Route 66 towns; explore the red rocks and vortex energy of Sedona; and continue into Navajo Country to marvel at the sandstone buttes of Monument Valley or visit Canyon de Chelly, a National Monument known for 5,000 years of continuous human habitation.
In the eastern part of the state, Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert are known for vast deposits of petrified wood, ancient petroglyphs, and badlands striated with brilliant color. To the south, the road leads toward Tucson and Saguaro National Park, then on to Tombstone, where the legends of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and others live on with daily re-enactments of the shootout at O.K. Corral. Down the road is Bisbee, a quirky former mining town whose hillside streets are lined with Victorian houses, galleries, historic storefronts, and bohemian charm.
What makes Arizona so rewarding by car is the contrast of dramatic landscapes. One day might begin among a forest of saguaros and end beneath towering ponderosa pines at a cooler elevation. Another might start in a historic mining town and end in a red rock canyon, or cruising along neon-lit Route 66. Roadside attractions, both kitschy and historic, are part of the pleasure of the journey, inviting travelers to slow down.
To fully relax at the end of the trail, save the best for last: Castle Hot Springs. Recognized with accolades as a top resort in Arizona, the U.S., and the world, this is the kind of destination worth building a road trip around.
Set in a secluded canyon in the Bradshaw Mountains northwest of Phoenix, Castle Hot Springs feels like a hidden oasis in the Sonoran Desert. For roadtrippers, it offers the ideal restorative pause, with luxuriously comfortable accommodations, natural hot springs, and farm-to-table meals. After days spent driving, exploring, and taking in Arizona’s extraordinary sights, Castle Hot Springs is the place to stop, relax, and absorb the grandeur of the desert.
Begin by unwinding from the hours spent in the car with a soak in the mineral-rich natural hot springs, letting the waters work their soothing magic. Follow with a custom massage, or try a Watsu treatment in the springs for an even deeper release. Let the quiet desert setting calm the mind and give the memories of the trip time to settle. Journal under the palms, stretch with a yoga class, or tune into the landscape with a sound healing session.
The farm-to-table cuisine is a far cry from the roadside diners of your roadtrip. Castle’s culinary team highlights flavorful produce picked from the resort’s on-site organic farm. Celebrate the moment and share memories from the road over a multi-course dinner tasting menu paired with a wine selected from the resort’s Wine Spectator Award-winning wine list.
There is also plenty to do without getting back in the car. Castle Hot Springs is surrounded by wide-open spaces made for exploring. Take a guided horseback ride with a cowboy, hike desert trails or a slot canyon, explore the foothills by e-bike, climb Arizona’s first Via Ferrata, or rappel down a canyon wall. These are just a few of the activities available to guests at this adults-only playground tucked in a secluded canyon of the Sonoran Desert. Along the way, watch for small wildlife, take in the vibrant sunsets, and stargaze beneath wide-open dark skies.
Castle Hot Springs is the reward at the end of the journey, a place to end the road trip on a high note before heading home. For travelers looking for one of the best road trips in Arizona, a five- to seven-day loop through central and north-central Arizona offers a manageable route with a rich sense of history.
The beauty of an Arizona road trip is not only found in the famous natural monuments, but also in the long stretches of highway between them: desert views, mountain roads, roadside towns, technicolor sunsets, and starry night skies.
Castle Hot Springs offers travelers the ultimate reward. Plan a few days for a restorative desert retreat where mineral springs, farm-to-table cuisine, and the stillness of the Sonoran Desert become the finale at the end of the journey. Castle Hot Springs turns the road trip into a celebration of Arizona’s wild beauty, the restorative power of nature, and the enduring romance of the open road.