Nothing compares to the charm of the small towns in Arizona. Looking for a chance to relax and unwind from your busy life in the city? There’s no better place to do so than right here in Arizona, where wide open skies, dramatic landscapes, and slow-paced Arizona small towns thrive. Since we’ve grown to love road trips over the years, we’re going to take a look at one that takes you through some gorgeous towns and their equally beautiful landscapes. Get ready for one of the downright most scenic road trips in Arizona! (If you’re looking for the best small towns in Arizona to live, you’ll definitely find a bunch on this trip!) Then, be sure to use our carefully curated ultimate road trip packing list to pack your bags and get exploring!

Google Maps
Overall, the entire trip should take you about six to seven hours if you're driving straight through; however, I would recommend turning this into an overnight trip in order to best experience these little towns and their surrounding landscapes. A link to the map’s route can be found at this link.
1. Alpine
Alpine, AZ 85920, USA
Phillip Capper/Flickr
The first stop on our trip is Alpine, the little town sitting on the outskirts of the White Mountains. This town is tiny with a population of just 145 and makes for a perfect introduction to our trip. Find out why Alpine is the best small town in Arizona to visit during the winter.
2. Greer
Greer, AZ 85927, USA
Terri Ellis/Flickr
Another small mountain town, Greer is a picturesque little retreat with cabins, campgrounds, and plenty of areas for hiking and nature walks. If you love nature, you'll likely fall head over heels for this small Arizona town.
3. Pinetop-Lakeside
Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ, USA
Kenneth Hagemeyer/Flickr
Pinetop-Lakeside is a popular summer and winter retreat, when people flock here for the numerous outdoor activities that can be done in the area, including camping, fishing, and skiing. In addition to being surrounded by a vast pine forest, the town is a charming location with some log-based architecture to get you into the mountain town mood. Discover why Pinetop-Lakeside is perhaps the coolest small town in Arizona in our previous article.
4. Snowflake
Snowflake, AZ 85937, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
From Pinetop, you'll leave the mountains to head towards flatter territory that better resembles grasslands. You'll pass through Show Low and then reach Snowflake, which has a population of approximately 5,500. This town maintains some of its rural, agricultural history, and you'll see a larger number of areas off the road that look like ranches and farms before eventually seeing a collection of historical buildings.
5. Heber-Overgaard
Heber-Overgaard, AZ, USA
Jedi
From Snowflake, we travel back to the mountains and off to Heber-Overgaard. A good chunk of the town is hidden behind pine trees, but when buildings do emerge, you'll that this is a pretty cute little place. From here, you'll pass through communities like Christopher Creek and Kohls Ranch, and then eventually the town of Payson. It's just one of countless delightful small towns in Arizona.

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6. Pine
Pine, AZ 85544, USA
Alan Levine/Flickr
The next stop is Pine, a little town located at the base of the Mogollon Rim and much more compact than some of the previous towns we saw. Pine is a good stop for food and browsing antiques. You'll find a few of these stores located just off the highway. Discover why this Arizona town belongs on your bucket list by reading our previous article.
7. Strawberry
Strawberry, AZ 85544, USA
M P R/Flickr
Just a few minutes away from Pine is Strawberry, a town just a little ways north. This town also sits right along the highway and is just as cute. You'll find two main attractions here: the Strawberry Schoolhouse, the oldest standing one-room schoolhouse in the state, and Fossil Creek, which is located a couple of miles outside of town. Plan your trip to this adorable tiny town in Arizona.
8. Cottonwood
Cottonwood, AZ, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
If the weather permits, definitely take a drive from Strawberry through Camp Verde and right into the Verde Valley, with the first stop being Cottonwood. The little town has a nice main drag that looks exactly like what you would expect from a small western town, complete with false front buildings lined right up against the main road. The area is pretty and some of the main attractions include Dead Horse Ranch, a few vineyards, and the Blazin' M Ranch, which offers a western-themed dinner theatre. Read more about this darling small Arizona town.
9. Clarkdale
Clarkdale, AZ, USA
Flickr/Don Barrett
Right next to Cottonwood is Clarkdale, another little town that has a lovely main street. There are fewer attractions in Clarkdale, but the Verde Railway and Tuzigoot National Monument bring in quite a few tourists year after year.
10. Jerome
Jerome, AZ 86331, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
Then, of course, there's Jerome. This old mining town is very walkable, with interesting buildings and quite the history, including that of the Jerome Grand Hotel: the most haunted place in Arizona. This place is a must-visit, especially for paranormal enthusiasts! Plan your visit to this adorable tiny town in Arizona.
Bonus Town! - Prescott
Prescott, AZ, USA
Micheal Wilson/Flickr
Prescott isn’t exactly a small town (unless you consider a population of 40,000 small) but when you drive through the main strip, it certainly feels that way. This Arizona city is one beautiful place and, as the state’s original territorial capital, it makes a great stop for our road trip. Walk through downtown, browse Whiskey Row, and enjoy the fall foliage around here when the time is right. Did you know that this Arizona town is also picture-perfect during the winter?

What do you think are the best small towns in Arizona? Are there any popular towns in Arizona that you think should have made this road trip? Let us know in the comments! Check out our article that features 14 places that offer the perfect small town ambiance in Arizona.

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Scenic Road Trips in Arizona

Tori Jane | July 17, 2021

Where are some beautiful small towns in Arizona? 

Arizona is most well-known for the Grand Canyon, the big cities, and some of the most beautiful landscapes in the United States. It’s also home to some super-charming small towns, many of which just don’t seem to get the love they deserve. Among the best, most beautiful small towns in Arizona, you’ll find places like:

  • Pinetop is in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona and heavily forested.
  • Jerome is a famous old ghost town that’s not quite a ghost town at all; it used to be a booming mining town, and now it’s home to artists, galleries, and wineries.
  • Sonoita, in southern Arizona, is the heart of AZ wine country and is all-around splendidly beautiful.

 

Here are some more popular small towns in Arizona. 

What are the most charming small towns in Arizona?  

Some of the small towns in Arizona are adorably charming, and each has its own kind of magic to it. We really love:

  • Flagstaff is the perfect college mountain town, and the downtown area is charming beyond words.
  • Verrado, west of Phoenix, is so full of charm and cuteness that you might think you’ve been transported to somewhere in the Midwest!  
  • Munds Park allows you to relax among the tall pine trees.
  • Patagonia is simply picturesque.

 

What are the best things to do in Arizona? 

Arizona is an amazing state and an outdoorsman’s paradise. You can find all kinds of fun things to do even if the outdoors isn’t quite your thing, too. Check out some of the following things to do in Arizona:

  • The Phoenix Art Museum is amazing and filled with brilliant artists’ greatest works.
  • Downtown Phoenix is a fun place to be when the sun goes down, too, with professional baseball games, hip restaurants, and unique city bars. 
  • There are all kinds of camping, with hundreds of great campsites scattered throughout the state.
  • Fishing in Arizona is wonderful, too, and Oak Creek Canyon in northern Arizona is teeming with trout.
  • Rock climbers, bikers, and geocachers also really love the Copper State.  

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