The best times to visit Arizona from winter snow to wildflower season

17.09.2023 - 06:27 / lonelyplanet.com

Bold, big and beautiful, Arizona has plenty to brag about. Framed by New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and California, and with Mexico at its southern reaches – the state gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year and has four distinct seasons, so you can bask in summer, hike and bike in spring and fall and ski in winter.

Arizona's sprawling deserts and massive mountains provide a range of weather conditions year-round,  so there's always plenty to do, but hotel rates soar or plummet at certain times of the year. Spring and fall typically have the mildest weather, which draws crowds statewide. Summer can be scorching in the south, but low humidity and monsoon rain showers from June to September help keep the heat in check.

Famed as the gateway to the Grand Canyon, Arizona has plenty of high-elevation hiking trails and mountain wineries, set in locations where the climate is often cooler. Phoenix is Arizona’s top winter destination, luring travelers chasing the sun, but the state also has some great skiing at Arizona Snowbowl near Flagstaff and other mountain resorts.

Whether you're here for summer heat, spring and fall trekking or winter snow, here are the best times to visit Arizona.

Arizona’s diverse climate means that temperatures can climb above 100°F in places such as Tucson and Phoenix, while higher-altitude areas such as Flagstaff and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park still haven’t cracked 70°F. Although spring brings the fragile beauty of desert flowers, fall brings optimum hiking weather, though both seasons are sublime for outdoor activities. Since these months are also the best times to visit Arizona, they’re also the busiest and hotels can be pricey.

Arizona has a thriving wine scene, with some great tasting rooms in the Verde Valley, Sonoita and Willcox (the latter two are in the south). Taste local drops during local wine and food fests in September, and maybe explore a corn maze or two. Gorgeous weather means accommodations and restaurants can get busy, so book well ahead to avoid disappointment.

Winter temperatures in the state’s northern reaches can dip as low as 42°F, but the brisk weather brings dustings of snow to higher-elevation cities such as Sedona and Flagstaff, kicking off a ski season that lasts until spring.

It might seem strange to see Santa in the desert in December, strings of lights adorning cactuses and snow in the desert, but Arizona embraces holiday revelry to the max.

You might find moderate rates in less touristy places, and even Sedona is at its quietest in December. Although people chasing the weather (warmth in the south, skiing in the north) can drive up costs at weekends and during the winter holidays. Come January, it's also idyllic for hopping aboard one of the