We Bet You Didn't Know These Rural Arizona Destinations Even Existed
By Melissa Mahoney|Published August 08, 2023
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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!
Arizona is much more than the Grand Canyon, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Flagstaff, Sedona, and Tucson — so much more! And while all of these locations I just mentioned offer so much in terms of scenery and attractions, there are many other destinations around the state that maybe you never heard of before. Numerous rural destinations in Arizona are tucked away in every corner of the state. Let’s see if you’ve heard of any of them!
Located in Santa Cruz County, Rio Rico is home to less than 20,000 residents. Close to the Mexican border, it's best-known for the Rio Rico Resort and a country club against a backdrop of mountains and the Sonoran Desert.
A village within the Navajo Nation, Bitter Springs' population is less than 400 people. The most notable attraction here is the bridge spanning the Colorado River between Bitter Springs and another small rural town, Jacob Lake.
Just 35 miles north of Tucson in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains is Oracle, a census-designated community of less than 4,000 residents. Known for its scenery, it's also home to Mount Lemmon, Biosphere 2, and several guest ranches if you'd like to spend the night.
Part of Yuma County, it may come as no surprise that Dateland is known for its production of dates. Take the I-8 and make a stop at the Dateland Travel Center & Date Gardens where you can try one of the famous date shakes!
Located between Payson and the Tonto Basin in Gila County Gisela has a population of around 500 and is known for its Old West feel. When you're here, make sure to check out the Gisela Ruins as well as Tonto Creek just below the Mogollon Rim.
Located just off the I-17 on the way to Flagstaff is the community of Munds Park. Here you'll find a gas station with an excellent restaurant (Pinewood Restaurant -- I've been here and love its pizza), Odell Lake, and the Pinewood Country Club.
Known for its wineries, along with Elgin, Sonoita is also home to a brewery and a couple of distilleries. There's also the Sonoita Fairgrounds which holds a variety of events throughout the year including rodeos. This is definitely a rural town that's worth checking out!
Have you heard of any of these rural destinations in Arizona? What other rural areas of the state do you know about? Let us know in the comments!
How about a road trip to visit the aforementioned destinations? Check out our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List before you hit the road!
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