Take a Family Day Trip in Arizona This Summer

Wherever you are in Arizona, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a wealth of fun opportunities to strengthen family relationships by taking a family day trip. I love this state and it’s so fun to explore Arizona’s unique geologic history and, as a family, experience a new adventure, all within a few hours of home.

Cool Caves and Caverns

Given how hot it is in Arizona over the summery (yes, I’ve tried cooking an egg on the sidewalk), my first recommendation is to head underground. There are several cool caves and caverns throughout Arizona, and many are easily accessible and open to the public.

• Kartchner Caverns in Benson (south of Tucson): This is great for kids older than 6 years old as strollers and backpacks aren’t allowed.
• Colossal Cave Mountain Park in Vail which is near Benson. Tickets go quickly so snatch them before they’re gone.
• Grand Canyon Cavern near Peach Springs, west of Flagstaff. These are the largest dry caverns in the United States, located 200 to 300 feet below the surface, and accessible via an elevator.
• Lava Tubes is 14 miles north of Flagstaff. This is a super cool (literally) experience so it’s perfect for the sweltering summer. A visit to the lava tubes is actually a “rite of passage” for Flagstaff 6th graders. I recommend to bring a jacket down there as it was a bit chilly our last visit, also don’t forget the head lamps as its also very dark down there. It was an amazing experience.

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

Taking it to the top! Living in the Valley you might forget there are amazing mountains within 1-2 hours of your Phoenix address for a great family day trip. You can easily extend your family day trip into a fun weekend camping trip at any of these locations.

• Grand Canyon 230 miles north of Phoenix, this is a must-do for every family and Arizona resident. It’s one of the wonders of the world and will leave you speechless (especially if you do the glass bridge).
• Sunset Crater Volcano in Flagstaff. 10 centuries after the eruption visit this historic and beautiful inactive volcano.
• Tonto Natural Bridge in Pine (near Payson). It’s believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. Drive north through the Rim Country to visit this kid-friendly natural bridge (kids 6 and under are free). It’s always cooler up north and with lots of fun places to eat and shop along the way it’s the perfect day trip for the whole family.
• Sedona is 2 hours north of Phoenix and has more to do than you can squeeze into 1 day trip. With mild temperatures, Slide Rock, Oak Creek, outlet shopping, and Jeep tours, this has happy family vacation written all over it.

When the A/C Beats the Heat

Another great option for a family day trip if it’s too hot, you can always head indoors! Mingle with dinosaur specimens and replicas or tour the gem, mineral, and fossil collections of our many museums around the state. Arizona is fortunate to have a rich culture and history, so make the most of it and travel to a museum with the fam.

• Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa
• UofA Mineral Museum in Tucson
• Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson

Off the Beaten Path

If your family is a bit more rough and tumble and adequately equipped for the climate, there are a few prehistoric gems worth exploring off the beaten path.

• Petrified Forest 259 Miles northeast of Phoenix
• Dino Tracks in Tuba City (Navajo Nation)
• Meteor Crater in Winslow

All of these destinations are well worth the drive, wherever your starting point is. If you pick a longer trip, however, it would be helpful to keep the young ones occupied by bringing along some activities. Geology themed puzzles, balsa wood dinosaur replicas, mini-mineral specimen identification sets, or prehistoric themed books and movies all will help the youngsters make a deeper connection to the theme of the prehistoric family day trip. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the gummy dinosaurs!

Arizona’s numerous state parks, national monuments, museums, and wilderness areas make summer day-tripping with the family convenient, affordable, educational, and fun.

Being a parent is a blast – so recharge yourself and your family by getting out of town for a day and explore this awesome state. I’m sure there’s tons of hidden gems I didn’t mention and I’d love to hear from you what they are and what you do to recharge.