Looking for a road trip destination for your next vacation? From historic sites to recreation areas, check out these breathtaking and awe-inspiring state parks to visit in Arizona ASAP. You will be so, so glad you made the trip!
- Catalina State Park
Michael Wifall/Flickr This state park is located north of Tucson and is a great choice for general outdoor activities. While the desert scenery is the most common sight visitors see, you can also find areas like this. Click here to learn more about this incredible Arizona state park. Catalina State Park, 11570 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85737, USA
- Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Alan English CPA/Flickr Birdwatching is a popular attraction but you can also find preserved buildings and reconstructions such as this chuckwagon around the park. Read more about Dead Horse Ranch State Park in this article. Dead Horse Ranch State Park, 675 Dead Horse Ranch Rd, Cottonwood, AZ 86326, USA
- Kartchner Caverns State Park
Mike Lewis/Wikimedia Drive south of Benson and you’ll come across one of the few caves in Arizona open to the public. This particular site is best known for having some of the world’s longest stalactites (the icicle-like formations in a cave.) While your eyes will very much enjoy this incredible scenery, keep in mind that photography is not allowed inside the caverns by the public. Read more about this incredible state park here. Kartchner Caverns State Park, 2980 AZ-90, Benson, AZ 85602, USA
- Lost Dutchman State Park
Pete Fussle/Flickr The allure of the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s gold mine is partially what draws people to this park. The other is attempting to scale the treacherous landscape. Click here to read all about this spooky and spectacular state park and its most haunted hike! Lost Dutchman State Park, 6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119, USA
- Red Rock State Park
wensday01/Flickr Check out the iconic red landscape that surrounds Sedona and see if it’s possible to take a bad picture of the landscape. We doubt that’s possible. Check out this article for more about one of Arizona’s most incredible natural wonders. Red Rock State Park, 4050 Red Rock Loop Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336, USA
- Slide Rock State Park
turcottes78/Flickr Another beautiful example of Arizona’s red landscape, this state park is best known for its natural water slide. Click here to read more about this incredibly beloved state park located within Oak Creek Canyon. Slide Rock State Park, 6871 AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336, USA
- Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
Teemu08/Flickr If you want to have a good look at how law operated back in the Wild West, check out this courthouse and its grounds, which now operates as a historical museum of the era. Learn more here! Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, 223 E Toughnut St, Tombstone, AZ 85638, USA
- Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
K e v i n/Flickr Need a cool escape? Visit the Tonto Natural Bridge, which is considered the largest in the world. It’s truly too beautiful for words. Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, Nf-583A, Pine, AZ 85544, USA
- Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
Austin Gruenweller/Flickr Once referred to as the “Country Club on the Colorado,” this former prison had some modern amenities and was considered one of the better institutions for the time period. Can you imagine having to serve your sentence here with only ventilation as a form of cooling? Read more in this intriguing article! Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, 220 Prison Hill Rd, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
Which location would you like to visit during your next trip across the state? Let us know in the comments!
Michael Wifall/Flickr
This state park is located north of Tucson and is a great choice for general outdoor activities. While the desert scenery is the most common sight visitors see, you can also find areas like this. Click here to learn more about this incredible Arizona state park.
Catalina State Park, 11570 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85737, USA
Alan English CPA/Flickr
Birdwatching is a popular attraction but you can also find preserved buildings and reconstructions such as this chuckwagon around the park. Read more about Dead Horse Ranch State Park in this article.
Dead Horse Ranch State Park, 675 Dead Horse Ranch Rd, Cottonwood, AZ 86326, USA
Mike Lewis/Wikimedia
Drive south of Benson and you’ll come across one of the few caves in Arizona open to the public. This particular site is best known for having some of the world’s longest stalactites (the icicle-like formations in a cave.) While your eyes will very much enjoy this incredible scenery, keep in mind that photography is not allowed inside the caverns by the public. Read more about this incredible state park here.
Kartchner Caverns State Park, 2980 AZ-90, Benson, AZ 85602, USA
Pete Fussle/Flickr
The allure of the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s gold mine is partially what draws people to this park. The other is attempting to scale the treacherous landscape. Click here to read all about this spooky and spectacular state park and its most haunted hike!
Lost Dutchman State Park, 6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119, USA
wensday01/Flickr
Check out the iconic red landscape that surrounds Sedona and see if it’s possible to take a bad picture of the landscape. We doubt that’s possible. Check out this article for more about one of Arizona’s most incredible natural wonders.
Red Rock State Park, 4050 Red Rock Loop Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336, USA
turcottes78/Flickr
Another beautiful example of Arizona’s red landscape, this state park is best known for its natural water slide. Click here to read more about this incredibly beloved state park located within Oak Creek Canyon.
Slide Rock State Park, 6871 AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336, USA
Teemu08/Flickr
If you want to have a good look at how law operated back in the Wild West, check out this courthouse and its grounds, which now operates as a historical museum of the era. Learn more here!
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, 223 E Toughnut St, Tombstone, AZ 85638, USA
K e v i n/Flickr
Need a cool escape? Visit the Tonto Natural Bridge, which is considered the largest in the world. It’s truly too beautiful for words.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, Nf-583A, Pine, AZ 85544, USA
Austin Gruenweller/Flickr
Once referred to as the “Country Club on the Colorado,” this former prison had some modern amenities and was considered one of the better institutions for the time period. Can you imagine having to serve your sentence here with only ventilation as a form of cooling? Read more in this intriguing article!
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, 220 Prison Hill Rd, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
The OIYS Visitor Center
State Parks to Visit in Arizona January 12, 2022 Tori Jane What are the best state parks in Arizona? Arizona is home to more than 30 state parks, but there definitely are some that are more popular than others. For example, Slide Rock State Park is so world-famous that it can be hard to get in – usually the line is SO long that it takes hours to reach the front! We won’t count Grand Canyon National Park (as it’s a “national” park, after all), but we will include Red Rock State Park, which is in Sedona and quite possibly more epic than the Grand Canyon anyway (depending on what you’re into, we guess). There’s also Kartchner Caverns State Park, which provides a look into some of the most intricate and amazing cave systems in the southwest. Lake Havasu State Park is a MAJOR favorite among in-state and out-of-state visitors (it’s currently the #1 destination of the southwest for spring break revelry), and it’s beautiful, too! Finally, Catalina State Park, way down south near Tucson, is breathtakingly beautiful and worth a visit, too. What are some lesser-known hiking trails in Arizona? Arizona is full of world-famous hikes, but what about some of the lesser-known and lesser-trekked ones? Those are wonderful, too, and can be painfully underrated. For example, near Kingman, there’s the Hualapai Peak Trail, an 8.1-mile adventure that takes you to the highest point of the Hualapai Mountains. It’s a little on the challenging side, but we promise it’s worth it. Flagstaff is home to some amazing, totally underappreciated trails as well; some of our favorites include Passage 34, in the San Fransisco Peak. It’s a haul, as it connects two more loved trails, but also well worth the journey. While you’re up there, try out the Kelsey-Dorsey Loop Trail, which is amazing (and has springs). For more of our favorite, easier, shorter hiking trails, check out this list of some of our favorite hiking trails in Arizona under five miles.
The OIYS Visitor Center
State Parks to Visit in Arizona
January 12, 2022
Tori Jane
What are the best state parks in Arizona? Arizona is home to more than 30 state parks, but there definitely are some that are more popular than others. For example, Slide Rock State Park is so world-famous that it can be hard to get in – usually the line is SO long that it takes hours to reach the front! We won’t count Grand Canyon National Park (as it’s a “national” park, after all), but we will include Red Rock State Park, which is in Sedona and quite possibly more epic than the Grand Canyon anyway (depending on what you’re into, we guess). There’s also Kartchner Caverns State Park, which provides a look into some of the most intricate and amazing cave systems in the southwest. Lake Havasu State Park is a MAJOR favorite among in-state and out-of-state visitors (it’s currently the #1 destination of the southwest for spring break revelry), and it’s beautiful, too! Finally, Catalina State Park, way down south near Tucson, is breathtakingly beautiful and worth a visit, too. What are some lesser-known hiking trails in Arizona? Arizona is full of world-famous hikes, but what about some of the lesser-known and lesser-trekked ones? Those are wonderful, too, and can be painfully underrated. For example, near Kingman, there’s the Hualapai Peak Trail, an 8.1-mile adventure that takes you to the highest point of the Hualapai Mountains. It’s a little on the challenging side, but we promise it’s worth it. Flagstaff is home to some amazing, totally underappreciated trails as well; some of our favorites include Passage 34, in the San Fransisco Peak. It’s a haul, as it connects two more loved trails, but also well worth the journey. While you’re up there, try out the Kelsey-Dorsey Loop Trail, which is amazing (and has springs). For more of our favorite, easier, shorter hiking trails, check out this list of some of our favorite hiking trails in Arizona under five miles.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Arizona is home to more than 30 state parks, but there definitely are some that are more popular than others. For example, Slide Rock State Park is so world-famous that it can be hard to get in – usually the line is SO long that it takes hours to reach the front! We won’t count Grand Canyon National Park (as it’s a “national” park, after all), but we will include Red Rock State Park, which is in Sedona and quite possibly more epic than the Grand Canyon anyway (depending on what you’re into, we guess). There’s also Kartchner Caverns State Park, which provides a look into some of the most intricate and amazing cave systems in the southwest. Lake Havasu State Park is a MAJOR favorite among in-state and out-of-state visitors (it’s currently the #1 destination of the southwest for spring break revelry), and it’s beautiful, too! Finally, Catalina State Park, way down south near Tucson, is breathtakingly beautiful and worth a visit, too.
What are some lesser-known hiking trails in Arizona?
Arizona is full of world-famous hikes, but what about some of the lesser-known and lesser-trekked ones? Those are wonderful, too, and can be painfully underrated. For example, near Kingman, there’s the Hualapai Peak Trail, an 8.1-mile adventure that takes you to the highest point of the Hualapai Mountains. It’s a little on the challenging side, but we promise it’s worth it. Flagstaff is home to some amazing, totally underappreciated trails as well; some of our favorites include Passage 34, in the San Fransisco Peak. It’s a haul, as it connects two more loved trails, but also well worth the journey. While you’re up there, try out the Kelsey-Dorsey Loop Trail, which is amazing (and has springs). For more of our favorite, easier, shorter hiking trails, check out this list of some of our favorite hiking trails in Arizona under five miles.
