This Is Arizona’s Hidden Gem For Outdoor Lovers! Here’s How To See The Best Spots In A Day

Heading for a day trip to one of the best hiking destinations in Arizona and want to squeeze every ounce of adventure out of it? 

Drawing from my own whirlwind visit during my vanlife years (as it is the gateway to the Grand Canyon), I’m about to lay down a packed itinerary that mirrors the best experiences from my spontaneous detour. 

I’ve also enlisted the help of Katie of Happily Ever Emporium, who spent over 9 months in the Flagstaff surrounding area, which I would effectively call a Northern Arizona high country local. Her extended stay allowed her to really see the various sides of the city and understand its rhythm.

Flagstaff is pretty compact, perfect for a leisurely afternoon at its hipster cafes thrown in with outdoor adventure. It’s perfect for those with only a single day and time to spare.

Ready to explore Flagstaff like a pro? We’ll start this Flagstaff itinerary with a sunrise hike to the highest summit in the state and wrap up under the stars at Lowell Observatory. And if time is on your side, I’ve got a few more recommendations up my sleeve, along with some travel tips to help with your travel planning.

Sample One Day in Flagstaff Itinerary

Morning:

• Start with an early hike along the Humphreys Trail to catch the sunrise.
• Experience year-round activities at Snowbowl, including scenic gondola rides.
• Alternative: Learn the history at the Wupatki National Monument

Afternoon:

• Explore Flagstaff’s historic downtown and historic Route 66.
• Visit Riordan Mansion State Historic Park.
• Go shopping in downtown Flagstaff with its local art galleries, boutique jewelry shops, and gear shops.
• Grab a slice of pizza at Pizzicletta for lunch.

Evening:

• Go for an evening stargazing at Lowell Observatory.
• End the night at Mother Road Brewing Company for tasty craft beers.

Recommended Places to Stay in Flagstaff

• 📍Luxury: High Country Motor Lodge
• 📍Mid-Range: Little America Hotel Flagstaff 
• 📍Budget: Weatherford Hotel 

Quick Facts to Visiting Flagstaff

This Arizona mountain town is not just a gateway to the Grand Canyon but also home to the famous Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered. With over 300 sunny days a year, Flagstaff is your perfect Arizona outdoor playground, with everything from skiing to hiking with a view. And here’s a fun fact: it’s actually one of the highest-elevation cities in the United States!

Quick Facts About Flagstaff
Location	Northern Arizona, USA
Best Time to Visit	May to October
Where to Stay	Downtown Flagstaff for easy access to dining, shopping, and entertainment
Best Hotels	📍Luxury: High Country Motor Lodge 📍Mid-Range: Little America Hotel Flagstaff 📍Budget: Weatherford Hotel
Famous For	Proximity to the Grand Canyon, cute downtown, Route 66, and stargazing
Population	Approximately 75,000
Time Zone	Mountain Standard Time (MST), no daylight saving time adjustment
How to Get Around	Walking and biking in downtown Car rental is recommended for exploring surrounding areas. Use DiscoverCars to find rental car deals
City Airports (Distance from Downtown)	Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) – About 7 miles south of downtown Use Expedia to find the best flight prices.
Don’t Forget!	Consider purchasing a National Park Annual Pass if you plan to visit multiple national parks during your trip, including the nearby Grand Canyon.

What to Do in Flagstaff in One Day

Humphreys Trail 

• Length: 10.3 miles round trip 
• Difficulty: Strenuous 
• Trailhead: Arizona Snowbowl 

Flagstaff is simply brimming with some of the most beautiful trails in the Southwest. If you’re up for an adventure that’ll give you bragging rights along with phenomenal views, the Humphreys Peak Trail will take up at least your entire morning. Stretching over 10 miles round trip, this trek is not for the faint of heart as it’s the highest point in Arizona!

The San Francisco Peaks crown the Flagstaff skyline with Humphreys Peak. Starting from the Arizona Snowbowl, the trail will lead you through meadows and Ponderosa pine forests. And as you climb higher, the terrain gets tougher. Expect steep and rocky patches, but as you push past the treeline and emerge onto the alpine tundra, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world.

Reaching the summit gives you vistas of the dormant volcano that once shaped this terrain, with sights of the Grand Canyon on clear days. 

It can take 5-8 hours to do the entire trail depending on your fitness level. We were able to do it in 5.5 early in the morning and have the rest of the day to explore, but if you aren’t in the mood for hiking check out the alternative activity at Snowbowl!

Snowbowl

If the Humphreys Peak hike sounds like a bit too much for your taste or timing, don’t worry! Snowbowl is an excellent alternative that doesn’t skimp on the scenic views. 

Snowbowl has activities throughout the year, from a winter wonderland of pristine skiing conditions to a summer retreat with gondola rides that take you to 11,500 feet. The gondola averages about 15 minutes each way, so you have plenty of time to take photos of wildlife and the landscape.

If you have time, stop by the Toasted Owl in downtown Flagstaff for breakfast and coffee, before heading to Snowbowl. Or if you want more of a brunch, eat on top of the mountain Agassiz Lodge Restaurant which opens at 10 am!

Alternative: Wupatki National Monument

For those intrigued by history and culture, a visit to Wupatki National Monument is a must-do while in Flagstaff. This site, less than an hour’s drive north, glimpses into the lives of ancestral Puebloans. 

Wupatki, which means “Tall House” in the Hopi language, is home to several well-preserved pueblo ruins, the largest and most impressive of which is the Wupatki Pueblo.

Self-guided tours lead you through a series of ruins, each telling a story of communal living, survival, and adaptation. Nearby, the volcano field played a significant role in the lives of its ancient inhabitants. 

Flagstaff’s Historic Downtown

After a satisfying morning in the mountains, it’s time to descend into this mountain town’s historic downtown, known for the infamous Route 66. This iconic highway, synonymous with vintage Americana, runs right through Flagstaff for a nostalgic trip down memory lane. You’ll find lots of murals and storefronts that pay homage to this era.

Flagstaff is a college town so there are plenty of fast food joints to visit if you need a quick snack. And my personal favorite is finding the best artisan coffee shops that fill the air with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and hops from the local craft breweries.

I also recommend stopping by the Riordan Mansion State Historic Park to see the opulent home of Flagstaff’s early timber barons. The interior of the home is really unique and tours are given daily on the hour. 

Downtown Flagstaff

After browsing the Riordan Mansion, head over to the downtown Flagstaff area. 

Parking Tip! Paid parking lots are available from 9 am to 5 pm and free after 5 pm. Free parking is available in residential areas along streets, but may come with a 2-hour limit.

Pop into the local art galleries, gear shops, and boutique jewelry shops that line the streets of downtown Flagstaff. You could spend 30 minutes or a few hours just strolling around the shops and looking at the architecture. Be sure to stop by Old Town Shops for a mix of gifts, food like Bigfoot BBQ, and other eclectic storefronts.

Next, walk two blocks over to Pizzicletta at Dark Sky Brewing and treat yourself to a slice of Flagstaff’s finest wood-fired pizza. It’s a beloved local pizzeria, and my favorite as they have is artisanal, wood-fired pizzas that are as authentic as they are delicious. I highly recommend trying the Margherita or the Amore Oi Mari. There are two Pizzicletta’s in Flagstaff, both delicious, but the Dark Sky Brewing location is right in the heart of downtown.

Evening: Lowell Observatory

Nothing beats Arizona sunsets and dark skies because the light pollution is so minimal, so it’s perfect for stargazing. No visit to Flagstaff is complete without joining an evening stargazing program at the Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered. 

Perched on Mars Hill, just a mile west of downtown, You will need to take a short drive to this location even though it is located in the downtown area. 

We spent about two hours visiting and testing out the different available telescopes. I recommend going on nights where you can see certain planets like Jupiter and Saturn for a prime viewing experience. 

Places to Visit with More Time

Other Things to Do in Flagstaff

If, by some miraculous energy, you’re still left craving more of Flagstaff, here are some additional adventures:

• Test your mettle at Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course, a treetop obstacle course that is a great way to have a blast with friends or family.
• Get up close with the ancient cliff dwellings of Walnut Canyon National Monument.
• Catch the stunning sunset at the Chapel of the Holy Dove for one-of-a-kind architecture and some seriously awesome views of the Painted Desert and San Francisco Peaks. 
• Travel to historic Williams, AZ, for a nice railway ride on the Grand Canyon Railway Adventure (this experience takes a full day) to see the Grand Canyon.
• Visit the Coconino National Forest for more landscapes and endless recreational activities like hiking, mountain biking, and camping.
• Discover the Native American culture at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
• Step into the surreal landscape of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument to see the results of volcanic activity up close.

Best Day Trips from Flagstaff

• Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) (1.5 hours): Experience the vistas of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. (Join a tour here from Flagstaff)
• Sedona (50 minutes): Famous for its red rock landscapes, Sedona has endless trails, a huge arts and culture scene, and spiritual vortexes.
• Monument Valley (2.5 hours): One of the American West’s coolest landscapes of towering sandstone buttes.
• Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend (2 hours): Explore the curves of Antelope Canyon on a guided tour through the Navajo Nation, then catch the sunset at Horseshoe Bend.
• Jerome (1 hour 20 minutes): Visit this quirky, haunted ghost town turned artist haven perched high above the Verde Valley.
• Phoenix (2 hours): Hit up a museum, eat some amazing Mexican food, and if it’s not too hot, hike one of the city’s famous trails.
• Montezuma Castle National Monument (50 minutes): Not actually a castle nor did Montezuma ever live there, but this five-story cliff dwelling is a marvel of ancient architecture.
• Meteor Crater (45 minutes): Where else can you say you’ve seen a giant hole in the ground made by a space rock?
• Petrified Forest National Park (1 hour 45 minutes): Experience the colorful petrified wood, historic petroglyphs, and vast painted desert.

Where to Stay in Flagstaff

Downtown Flagstaff is a prime location, with easy access to local dining, shopping, and historic landmarks. For a quieter stay, stay around Northern Arizona University or East Flagstaff for more budget-friendly accommodation options.

If you are open to camping, you can mostly free camp in Cococino National Forest in many boondocking spots. 

Best Hotels in Flagstaff

Hotel Name	Benefits
📍Luxury: High Country Motor Lodge	– Chic, mid-century modern design meets comfort – On-site Nordic Spa for peak relaxation – Prime location for nature and city exploration
📍Mid-Range: Little America Hotel Flagstaff	– Surrounded by ponderosa pines – Spacious rustic rooms with cozy vibes – Full suite of amenities, including an outdoor pool and hiking trails
📍Budget: Weatherford Hotel	– Historic restored hostel with ornate lobby – Live entertainment and dining options – Centrally located to downtown Flagstaff

Is 1 Day Enough for Flagstaff

One day is enough for the city of Flagstaff, as the town itself is pretty small. To go around downtown, you really only need an afternoon, but depending on the hikes you want to go on, you may need more time. If you plan to go to the Grand Canyon for the day, you also may not have enough time to see the rest of Flagstaff. 

Best Time To Visit

The best times to visit Flagstaff are late spring and early fall, for great weather and fewer tourists. While the summer and winter months present unique attractions like camping, stargazing, and skiing, they can be crowded or chilly. 

Once in Flagstaff, the sun can be intense! Even if temperatures don’t feel excessively hot (it’s a dry heat, remember?!), the thinner atmosphere and increased UV exposure can lead to sunburns more quickly than at lower elevations.

Check your travel dates to see if they overlap with Arizona’s monsoon season, which typically runs from mid-June through late September. During this time, Flagstaff can experience sudden and intense thunderstorms, leading to flash flooding in some areas.

How to Get Here

Flagstaff is at the crossroads of Arizona’s major highways, making it a prime location for visitors from other parts of the state. 

By Air: While Flagstaff does have its own regional airport, flying directly into it can often be quite expensive. Most travelers opt to fly into the larger Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and then make the scenic 2.5-hour drive north to Flagstaff. Score the best flight prices using Expedia.

I highly recommend renting a car with DiscoverCars for this trek so you can venture out to nearby attractions like the Grand Canyon or Sedona, or amazing roadside attractions like Bedrock City.

By Road: Situated on Interstate 40 (I-40) and closely linked to Interstate 17 (I-17), the city is a pivotal hub for those traveling from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon and for east-west cross-country journeys.

High Altitude Tip! The drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff involves a significant elevation change, climbing from around 1,000 feet above sea level to nearly 7,000 feet in Flagstaff. This rapid ascent can sometimes cause dizziness, fatigue, or even motion sickness for those sensitive to altitude changes.

By Rail: Amtrak’s Southwest Chief line passes through Flagstaff daily between Chicago and a trip to Los Angeles.

Final Thoughts: Day Trip to Flagstaff

Flagstaff really threw me for a loop; I basically just drove through the first time, thinking nothing of it. Upon revisiting and just planning as a quick stop, I ended up drinking at least two coffees and spent an overnight in nearby Cococino. 

Going on more Arizona escapades? Check out our other travel guides for insider tips on the best spots across the state.

Don’t close that tab just yet…Where to Next in Arizona?

Arizona is amongst my top favorite places in the world. I’ve vanlifed around and through this great state back and forth, north and south, multiple times on my road trips. If you’re looking for more itineraries on Arizona, check out these other destinations.

• Perfect One Day In Petrified Forest National Park Itinerary
• One Day in Saguaro National Park Itinerary for First-Timers
• One Day in Grand Canyon South Rim: First-Timers Itinerary

MY FAVORITE TRAVEL RESOURCES

✈️ Find amazing guided tours and experiences with Viator to maximize your time! 🏘️ Plan ahead and secure your accommodation with Booking.com in advance. 🧾 Rent a car with Discovercars in advance and get the best prices for your day trip adventures.