9 Best Things To Do in Phoenix, Arizona

If you’re looking for things to do in Phoenix, Arizona, this is the place for you!

Over the last five years, my wife and I have been traveling the USA full time in our vintage Airstream. We’ve found that Arizona is a great winter travel destination. Phoenix, in particular, offers so many fun activities.

The city has an amazing culture, tasty treats, lots of hiking trails, and craft beer galore.

Today we’re sharing the best of what’s around.

Let’s dive in!

Papago Park

Price: Free

Why You’ll Love It: If you like to go hiking you have to check out Papago Park. There are lots of trails in this park that range from easy to difficult.

What makes this place special is the sandstone buttes and wildflowers during the springtime. You can also spend time at the botanical garden, fishing, or even archery range.

Address: 625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008

What’s the Word: A recent review from Google says, “Amazing. Must do. This park is easy to walk even in Temp of 110f. Just watch your step. Cactus may bite.”

Phoenix AZ Vibe Score: 9.2/10

Desert Botanical Garden

Price: $25

Why You’ll Love It: One of the best places to go out for a walk and explore is the Desert Botanical Garden. It’s a unique experience to learn about the local plants and animals.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how much life lives in such a hot and dry place. They also have lots of fun programs for all ages.

Address: 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008

What’s the Word: A recent review from Google says, “Raw nature. Thank you. I appreciate this place more than the manicured gardens out there. This really does a beautiful job of guiding you into a select area of raw nature settings, where you can experience sitting or walking tours or by yourself, the way nature was intended within these small settings.”

Phoenix AZ Vibe Score: 9.4/10

Musical Instrument Museum

Price: $20

Why You’ll Love It: If you’re looking to get out of the heat (and have a love for music) you should visit the Musical Instrument Museum. This museum has great exhibits that teach about music from all over the world and the history behind it.

You will be surprised to learn the real meaning behind why an instrument came to exist and how it has evolved today. You can also attend live music events as well.

Address: 4725 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85050

What’s the Word: A review from Google says, “This museum is amazing.  The amount of media available to show you what the instruments sound like is nearly overwhelming.  Each station plays multiple videos showing the instruments in use.  Each person gets a personal listening device to watch these videos.”

Phoenix AZ Vibe Score: 9.2/10

Heard Museum

Price: $15

Why You’ll Love It: This is a great museum to visit if you like local history and learning about the natives that inhabited the land. This is a very well put together museum that takes you back into what it was like before settlers arrived.

You will learn the importance of the area and how it was cultivated to provide life for those that occupied it.

Address: 2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

What’s the Word: A recent review from Google says, “This is our favorite museum in Phoenix after living there 14 years. The collection of Indian artifacts is stunning from modern to antiquity.”

Phoenix AZ Vibe Score: 9.3/10

Camelback Mountain

Price: Free

Why You’ll Love It: You have to check out Camelback Mountain. This is a popular hike because of the incredible views. There are two trails you can hike both about 2 miles round trip. This is a strenuous hike and be sure to do it early in the day to catch the sunrise and beat the heat.

Address: 4925 E McDonald Dr, Phoenix

What’s the Word: A recent review from Google says, “One of the more difficult hikes in Arizona but definitely worth it!”

Phoenix AZ Vibe Score: 9.6/10

Brewery: Wren House Brewing

Price: Starting at $5

Why You’ll Love It: If you’re looking for a refreshing beer to beat the heat, check out Wren House Brewing. They have a range of beers for whatever your favorite flavor might be. The brewery has a fun atmosphere and is a favorite spot with the locals. 

Address: 2125 N 24th St, Phoenix, AZ 85008

What’s the Word: A recent review from Google says, “Seriously the best brew house in Phoenix. Even beers that are my taste are fantastic. You’d be doing yourself a great disservice not to visit.”

Phoenix AZ Vibe Score: 9.7/10

Winery: GenuWine

Price: Starting at $6

Why You’ll Love It: There is nothing better than getting a nice glass of wine after a long day in the sun. GenuWine is a local winery that offers a wide variety of reds and whites. The atmosphere is very relaxing and the people are friendly. If you want to experience one of the local favorites you have to stop by the winery.

Address: 888 N 1st Ave #101, Phoenix, AZ 85003

What’s the Word: A recent Google review says, “This is great for gatherings, couples and individuals to unwind or relax from work and or anywhere. This place is great to taste before purchasing your own bottle.”

Phoenix AZ Vibe Score: 9.8/10

Campground: Apache Palms RV Park

Price: Starting at $50 a night

Why You’ll Love It: If you need a good place to stay with your RV Apache Palms RV Park is perfect. What makes this RV park great is the location. It’s close to everything and you can take the Metro Lite Rail to any destination without having to drive.

Staff is accommodating and they have large spaces for big RVs.

Address: 1836 E Apache Blvd, Tempe, AZ 85281

What’s the Word: A recent review from Google says, “Very good RV Park. Thank you so very much for having my wife and I. The location was perfect! We will be back!”

Phoenix AZ Vibe Score: 8.8/10

Hotel: The Biltmore

Price: Starting at $260 a night

Why You’ll Love It: If you’re looking for a luxury place to stay in Phoenix you should check out the Biltmore. This hotel is one of the top rated in the city with a spa, golf course and great restaurants. There is no way you will leave not feeling relaxed.

Address: 2400 E Missouri Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85016

What’s the Word: A recent review from Google says, “A very classy place to stay, relax and do business. The pools are a good size and each offers a nice bar nearby, some within a few steps of the water. The rooms are nice and quiet, well-stocked and maintained. The staff is friendly and went the extra mile, leaving a small treat for my wife and I when we returned from a shopping trip. Great food and shopping is nearby.”

Phoenix AZ Vibe Score: 9.7/10

Trip Routing to Phoenix

If you’re traveling with an RV (or large vehicle), trip planning to Phoenix is essential.

With RV Trip Wizard you can get a much better understanding of what to expect for a travel day. After spending a big amount of money on an RV, you don’t want to run into a low hanging bridge!

We use RV Trip Wizard to route our cross country trips. With tools like budgeting, fuel planning, and avoiding bridges, we can easily travel safely through the USA.

Here’s how to sign up to RV Trip Wizard for free.

Discover the Best Free Camping in America

To be honest with you, we hate paying for camping. There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy).

You should give it a try!

As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours. Every time you pay federal taxes, you’re contributing to these lands.

Become a FREE CAMPING INSIDER and join the 100,000 campers that love to score the best site! 

We’ll send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state). Access the list by submitting your email below: