Fodors Travel Guides - Fodors Arizona & the Grand Canyon 2015

High season at the resorts of Phoenix and Tucson is winter, when the snowbirds fly south. Expect the best temperaturesand the highest pricesNovember through March, when nearly every weekend is filled with outdoor festivals. Spring wildflowers are best from March until May. If youre on a budget, the posh desert resorts drop their pricessometimes by more than halfJune through September. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon and Sedona are busy year-round, but least busy during the winter months.

For a statewide excursion, keep in mind that Arizonas climate is extreme. Although a winter visit might be most comfortable in Phoenix, remember that the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and SedonaArizonas high countrywill be quite cold then. Also take note that areas such as eastern Arizona are most popular with summer travelers, so many shops and restaurants are closed in the winter months. Remember that the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed in winter, from mid-October to mid-May.

Getting Here: Phoenix and Tucson have international airports. Amtrak lines service Flagstaff and Tucson. Car rental is available at airports in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff.

Getting Around: Youll need a car to properly explore Arizona. Deceptively vast, Arizona is the nations sixth-largest state at nearly 114,000 square miles. No matter where you start your journey, expect to spend a good portion of your time in the car. Fortunately, Arizona offers an attractive canvas that ranges from desert to forest. It surprises some visitors that the drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon takes at least a half dayand thats without stopping or taking side roads.

Road conditions vary by season and location, so expect anything: you can start your day in 100F heat in Phoenix and end it in near-freezing temperatures in the Grand Canyon. Be sure to plan accordingly for the weather: if driving in the desert in summer, keep bottled water in the car; in winter in the high country, be prepared for icy roads. And remember that violent flash floods and dust storms can pepper the desert during the summer monsoons. Storms usually pass quickly. For road information, the Arizona Department of Transportation has a travelers assistance line. Just dial | from any phone.

Thanks to extreme climates and Western informality, you can go almost anywhere in Arizona in a pair of jeans.

Bring layers for trips north or east, particularly when temperatures dip after the sun sets.

For formal dining, call ahead for attire requirements. In most places, a shirt and dress slacks will be sufficient.

Depending on your desired level of activity, youll need to pack different gear: golf shoes, hiking boots, or flip-flops. Most golf courses offer club and golf-cart rentals, but plan on bringing your own shoes. If the slopes are your destination, you can rent all your ski or snowboard gear before hitting the lifts.