10 Small Towns In Rural Arizona That Are Downright Delightful
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Monica Spencer
Author
It should come as no surprise that Arizona is home to a large number of small towns. You’ll find quite a few of these places dotted across the state and they are the perfect place for folks looking for a slower, quieter pace of life. Whether you’re looking for this kind of environment for a day or a lifetime, you’ll want to check out our list for some delightful small towns.
This former mining town is small but a well-known tourist stop. You’ll find a beautifully preserved main street filled with small shops and delicious eateries sitting in the hilly terrain. The weather here is also pretty amazing where the winters are mild and the summers don’t get too terribly hot.
Once a mining town that worked in conjunction with Jerome, Clarkdale has come to be known as a destination for retirement, art, and a place to stay when Jerome’s hotels are booked. The town sits along the Verde River so the nights are quiet and you will get to see the local wildlife come in and out of town.
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The population in these two towns hasn’t quite reached 3,000 combined but that actually adds to the atmosphere. The views here are gorgeous! It sits right near the Mogollon Rim and plenty of popular recreation areas like Chevelon Canyon Lake and Woods Canyon Lake, making it the perfect place to stay if you’re looking for some outdoor adventure.
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This town has a history that dates to the 1880s but it managed to survive the 20th-century thanks to old Route 66. Because of that diverse history, you’ll find some pretty cool sights around town including the Wigwam Motel, petrified wood shops that look as old as time, and some buildings that date to Holbrook’s wild west days.
This little town has a population of about 5,500 and is a nice, quiet little place sitting at the very edge of the White Mountains. If you’re looking for a place to experience small town Arizona with all its seasonal festivities and lovely buildings, you’ll want to check out Snowflake.
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Sitting just a few miles shy of the Arizona-New Mexico border, Springerville is another quiet little town that sits in the White Mountains. Because of that and the nearby Casa Malpais ruins, you’ll find this to be a charming little tourist town.
Surrounded by mountains and hills, Superior is a fantastic town that is known for its mining history and horror film setting. Book a stay here (especially around the same time as annual festivals) and you’ll find that this town is actually quite charming.
Is there anything about Tombstone that hasn’t already been said? You’ll enjoy the town’s wild west history by visiting its historic districts and original buildings to learn more about Tombstone’s infamous history.
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Now known as part of Arizona wine country, Willcox is a tiny town that has stayed true to its rural identity. If there’s any small town where you’ll find that farming and ranching are still quite prevalent, Willcox is definitely one of those towns.
Another Route 66 town, Williams is often called the Gateway to the Grand Canyon since it is the last "larger" town tourists pass through when visiting the Canyon. You’ll find a lot of cool things to do in this town and some fantastic places to eat.
Want to check out some other amazing small towns? Read our article, 14 Small Towns In Arizona Where Everyone Knows Your Name.
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