Best Arizona Family Vacation Destinations

Arizona is one of my favorite places to go on a family vacation. We have taken our kids to Arizona, specifically the Phoenix area five different times.

During our Phoenix vacations, we have done a number of day trips to other areas of Arizona as well! Every place we have visited in Arizona, we have absolutely loved!

I think Arizona is extremely family friendly and there is so much to do and see.

Additionally, there are often good flight deals here on different budget airlines.

We can fly direct from our local airport-Des Moines International into the Phoenix Mesa Airport on Allegiant Airlines. It is a super quick and easy flight for families!

For these reasons and more, I highly recommend taking an Arizona family vacation!

Phoenix and Scottsdale area

It is not a secret that I am absolutely enamored with Phoenix and its surrounding communities for a family vacation. We keep coming here during the wintertime year after year. It is so great for families!

Here are some of the reasons why I LOVE Phoenix and Scottsdale for a family vacation spot.

1. Unique Parks and Playgrounds

This area has so many unique and adventurous parks and playgrounds for kids of all ages.

You could spend days enjoying the weather and checking out each and every one of these parks.

My favorite park in this community is Riverview Park which is located right by the Cubs’ Spring Training facility in Mesa.  This park has some really unique climbing structures plus a splash pad.

We also are big fans of Playtopia! in Tumbleweed Park located in Chandler, Arizona. This park has different themed play areas including a farm, city, and critters.

2. Family Attractions

The Phoenix/Scottsdale area has so many entertaining things to do and a variety of family attractions. 

Some of our favorite things to do include hiking to the Hole in the Rock in Papago Park, visiting the Phoenix Zoo, spending time in Old Town Scottsdale, taking a hot air balloon ride, riding the train in McCormick Stillman Railroad Park, visiting the Desert Botanical Garden, and so much more.

3. Many Family Friendly Dining Options

The Phoenix and Scottsdale area has so many great places to eat. We have our favorites restaurants and each time we visit, we make our rounds to all of them!

Some of our favorite resturants include:

  • Joe’s Farm Grill  (Gilbert)
  • Oregano’s Pizza (multiple locations)
  • Sugar Bowl (Old Town Scottsdale)
  • Organ Stop Pizza (Mesa)

4. Day Trips from Phoenix

Another great thing about the Phoenix area is that it is the perfect location to go on a couple day trip adventures including Sedona (about a 2 hour drive) or Tucson (about 1 hour 45 minutes).

Arizona Day Trip

Sedona

Besides visiting on a day trip here, Sedona is another amazing place to spend your Arizona family vacation.

If I had one word to describe Sedona it would be WOW! The red rocks of Sedona are absolutely breathtaking. 

Listed below are some of the best activities and places to visit with your family in Sedona.

1. Chapel of the Holy Cross

One of my favorite places to visit in Sedona is the Chapel of the Holy Cross. This chapel sits above the red rocks in Sedona and is absolutely gorgeous. 

Chapel of the Holy Cross is open seven days a week from 9am-5pm. Visiting the chapel is free. 

I would expect to spend about 30-40 minutes here. 

Sometimes parking at the chapel can get busy. You will have to walk up a slight hill to get to the chapel. 

Entrance to Chapel of the Holy Cross

2. Pink Jeep Tours

One of the most adventurous activities in Sedona is the infamous Pink Jeep Tours. These tours are a great way to see the red rocks and learn a little bit about Sedona too!

There are numerous options for tours that are anywhere from one and half hours to four hours.

Depending on the age of your children, I would probably keep the tour to around two hours. If you have older children, they may be able to handle a longer tour.

3. Uptown Sedona

Uptown Sedona is a great place to meander with the family and enjoy the impressive colors of the red rocks. It is very walkable and the perfect place to spend an afternoon or evening. 

Uptown Sedona has many shops, restaurants, local art, and more. We usually like to find a spot to eat Uptown where we can enjoy the beautiful weather and the views. 

One restaurant is Canyon Breeze which has a great balcony overlooking the canyon. It is a counter service restaurant with a large variety of food and even an ice cream shop. The kids will love that!  You will not be disappointed eating here!

4. Sedona Heritage Museum

The Sedona Heritage Museum is a fantastic place to learn about Sedona’s history and see its unique exhibits. One thing to make sure to see is the Telegraph Office. It was once a movie set for close to 100 western films!

The Museum is free for children under 13 unless they want to do the audio tour which is $3. The self guided tour for adults is $7, and it is $10 for the audio tour. 

5. Red Rock State Park

Red Rock State Park is about 10 miles from Uptown Sedona and is about a 20 min drive.  This nature preserve is a fantastic place to hike, view wildlife, picnic, and check out the visitor center.

At the visitor center, families can ask about the ranger program for kids. Additionally there are numerous hands-on educational exhibits and of course, a gift shop!

Entrance fees to Red Rock State Park are $7 for an adult ages 14 and over and $4 for kids 7-13.  Children 6 and under are free.

Sedona also has a ton of great hotel and resort options for families. If a vacation rental better suits your family, Sedona has many of these accommodations as well.

Tucson

Tucson is another fantastic option for your Arizona family vacation. It is a great place to enjoy the Arizona sunshine and the Sonoran Desert. 

While vacationing in Tucson with your family you can enjoy these attractions and things to do.

1. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum includes a zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, natural history museum, and more all in one place! This museum is sure to keep your family busy for a few hours or even for most of the day. 

It is important to know that the majority of the museum is outside so make sure you are prepared for that with comfortable shoes, sunscreen, water, etc. 

2. Pima Air and Space Museum

The Pima Air and Space Museum is about a 20 minute drive from Tucson. Before heading to the museum, make sure you check the hours. In the summer, the museum closes at 3pm with the last admission being accepted at 1:30pm.

The museum has countless displays of aircraft both outside and inside various hangars. Your kids are bound to absolutely love seeing all of the aircraft and other displays.

Expert Recommendation

The Pima Air and Space Museum has a really cool restaurant called the Flight Grill on the grounds that has awesome views of some of the aircraft. It has a variety of sandwiches, pizza, snacks, and more.

This is definitely a place your family does not want to miss!

3. Children’s Museum of Tucson

Our family always loves checking out the children’s museum wherever we visit. It is fun to compare them and maybe even add on to our list of favorites. 

The Children’s Museum of Tucson has some really cool exhibits for kids and is definitely worth a visit! 

4. Saguaro National Park

Of course a visit to Tucson cannot be complete without visiting a national park! Saguaro National Park is home to the Saguaro cacti which are America’s largest cacti.

The Saguaro cacti are so amazing to see with your own eyes. 

Make sure to come visit Saguaro National Park to get your passport stamped, do some hiking, and see some cool cacti and amazing views. 

5. Tucson Hiking

If your family enjoys being active plus spending time outside, Tucson is an excellent destination for some family hiking.

Tucson has an abundance of hiking trails catering to all skill levels including ones perfect for young children.

The best hikes in Tucson for your family also offer some amazing scenery unique to this area too.

You will definitely want to add a hike to your family’s Tucson itinerary.

Tucson has so many beautiful hotels and resorts that your family can enjoy as well! Spend an afternoon or day with the family simply enjoying the pool and amenities at your resort.

I hope this gives you a few ideas for your Arizona family vacation. If you have some flexibility and keep your eyes out for deals, you can definitely find some good flight and hotel bargains for Arizona. 

Additionally Tucson and Phoenix are less than 2 hours from each other so another option is to fly into whichever one has the cheapest flight deal and then drive to your intended destination. 

A few other ideas of sights to visit on an Arizona family vacation include:

  • Grand Canyon
  • Horseshoe Bend
  • Hoover Dam

I hope this gives you an idea of all of the phenomenal places you can go on your Arizona family vacation. 

SAVE and PIN this post to make your Arizona family vacation bucket list. May you love your adventure! KW

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