Explore Small-Town Charm And Nature Galore In Payson, Arizona On This Extraordinary Eight-Hour Day Trip
By Melissa Mahoney|Published December 05, 2022
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Throughout Arizona, you can find exceptional beauty and natural wonders. It is home to one of the seven natural wonders in the world, after all. In fact, the natural wonders and otherworldly landscapes, including desert, mountains, and rock formations, are a big part of why so many people enjoy visiting or even living in this southwestern state. And if you live here, you know how easy it is to find a great day trip destination.
Hi, I’m Melissa, and I will take you on a tour of one of my favorite day trip destinations – Payson! Although I love living in Scottsdale, which is known as “The West’s Most Western Town” and is often considered one of the best places to live in the U.S., sometimes I just need a quick escape. And with two kids in tow, it’s fun to explore a place together.
While Sedona, Flagstaff, and Tucson are all great day trip destinations, they are also about two hours away. Payson, on the other hand, is just a little over an hour away and has become our preferred place of escape for a few hours. With its exceptional beauty and its own natural wonder, it’s a great destination for exploring the great outdoors with children. And the drive there, well, it’s simply breathtaking! Here is what my kids and I like to do on an eight-hour day trip to Payson.
Heading out of Scottdale, we take Shea Blvd. through Scottsdale and Fountain Hills until it ends at Arizona State Route 87. This route is also known as the Beeline Highway.
North Beeline Highway, N Beeline Hwy, Arizona, USA
The journey is sometimes just as magnificent as the destination, which is how I feel about cruising the Beeline Highway. This scenic route meanders through an everchanging landscape of desert, valleys, mountains, rock formations, and forest. There are jaw-dropping views the entire way.
About an hour later, we hit the town of Payson. Situated in Gila County in the confines of the Tonto National Forest, Payson sits at 5,000 feet of elevation and provides cooler temperatures than we experience in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. In addition, you’ll also find forests here, which is quite a nice change to the desert landscape.
Our first stop in Payson is lunch at the Beeline Cafe. Situated right along SR 87, this is the perfect place to fuel up before exploring.
A friendly mom-and-pop type of diner, visitors can enjoy a deliciously hearty meal. Whether it’s a breakfast or lunch dish, the portions are huge and the prices are reasonable.
Beeline Cafe Payson Az, 815 S Beeline Hwy, Payson, AZ 85541, USA
Just make sure you bring cash with you as this is a cash-only joint.
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When we visit Payson, the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is a place we always stop. Although it is technically located in the town of Pine, it's not too far away up the Beeline Highway.
When we arrive, we park and then head inside the historic 1920s Goodfellow Lodge to pay the park fee. It feels like stepping back in time when you enter this rustic building.
Check in with one of the rangers and pay the park fees of $7 per adult and $4 per youth (7-13 years old). Children ages six and under are free.
Now it's time to explore Tonto Natural Bridge State Park! Home to what is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world, stopping here is more than worthwhile.
While you can certainly just take in the views from the top of the famous travertine bridge, it's worthwhile to take a hike down the hill on either side to see it in its full splendor.
In all, there are 1.4 miles of hiking trails. However, the trails are rather steep and aren't for everyone. If you're intent on hiking, make sure you come prepared with proper footwear and plenty of water.
If you can make it to the bottom, you'll be amazed at how massive the bridge truly is. And the rock is quite thick! There is an observation bridge as well as places to sit and just marvel at its beauty and the waterfall cascading into the creek below.
Visitors can walk through the tunnel under the bridge if it's not flooded and closed. The tunnel is 150 feet wide and 393 feet long. Keep in mind, though, that you must clamber over rocks and, due to the water in the tunnel, the rocks can be quite slippery.
Walking through this tunnel is an experience like no other! Once you have your fill of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, it's time to go to a local lavender farm.
We always feel the need to stop at Pine Creek Lavender Farm Store when we come up to the Payson area. This family-owned lavender farm is a lovely and charming place to spend some time.
Depending on the time of year, you may see rows of lavender plants in bloom. There are three varieties of lavender grown here and the plants are fed by a spring.
The kids and I love perusing the shelves of the quaint store. There are sprigs of lavender hanging from the ceiling and lavender products like soaps, lotions, candles, essential oils, cooking essentials, and more. It's amazing to see how many products are made using farm-grown lavender.
Our next stop feels a bit out of the way but it's a place where you can bring out your inner paleontologist. Welcome to Paleo Site Monument off of AZ-260 in Payson!
It's hard to imagine, but this area was once underwater. Today, visitors can search for ancient fossils that are millions of years old. It's the perfect place to spend time outdoors with children as they can really let their imaginations run wild.
While you really have to search hard for fossils, it's also fun to see the fascinating rocks and stones as well. Before heading to Payson, make sure to pack a hammer or two in order to help you in your fossil-hunting quest.
On our way out of town, Water Wheel Falls is another excellent family-friendly destination. It's a bit of an off-the-beaten path drive, but it is so worth it!
Make sure you bring a sturdy pair of shoes, however, because you must scramble over some rocks along the trailside creek to get to the falls. However, there are gorgeous views along the way.
While you can come here any time of the year, it's an ideal summertime destination as there are numerous places off the trail to take a dip in the creek or under one of the small cascades. My kids had a blast here and can't wait to go again!
Water Wheel Falls Hiking Trail, Payson, AZ 85541, USA
It’s so convenient to take a day trip to Payson from Phoenix and Scottsdale. I can’t recommend it enough! With so much to explore between a natural wonder, hunting for fossils, and cooling off in a series of waterfalls, Payson is a nature lover’s paradise.
To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series. What destinations would you like to see featured next on OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers? Tell us where we should go on our nominations page.
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