Highest-rated free things to do in Arizona, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in Arizona, according to Tripadvisor
It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Arizona.
Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Arizona using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
#30. Apache Trail Scenic Drive
- Rating: 4.5/5 (648 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Downtown Historic Area
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,093 reviews)
- Address: 117 W. Goodwin St. Prescott, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Pinnacle Peak Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,017 reviews)
- Address: 26802 North 102nd Way Scottsdale, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Scottsdale Fashion Square
- Rating: 4.5/5 (612 reviews)
- Address: 7014 East Camelback Road Scottsdale, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Lake Havasu
- Rating: 4.5/5 (797 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. London Bridge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,840 reviews)
- Address: 314 London Bridge Rd. Lake Havasu City, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Main Street
- Rating: 4/5 (872 reviews)
- Address: Main St. Sedona, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Boynton Canyon Trail
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,052 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Oatman Ghost Town
- Rating: 4/5 (712 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. South Mountain Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,338 reviews)
- Address: 10919 South Central Ave. Phoenix, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Canyon de Chelly National Monument
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,924 reviews)
- Address: Highway 191 Chinle, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (804 reviews)
- Address: 2650 Pueblo Drive Sedona, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,246 reviews)
- Address: 7301 East Indian Bend Road Scottsdale, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. McDowell Sonoran Preserve
- Rating: 5/5 (1,151 reviews)
- Address: 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy Scottsdale, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Goldfield Ghost Town
- Rating: 4/5 (1,866 reviews)
- Address: 4650 North Mammoth Mine Road Apache Junction, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Papago Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (862 reviews)
- Address: 625 N. Galvin Parkway Phoenix, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Airport Mesa
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,887 reviews)
- Address: 483 Airport Road Sedona, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179)
- Rating: 5/5 (4,287 reviews)
- Address: Highway 179 Red Rock Visitor Center and Ranger Station Village of Oak Creek, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,768 reviews)
- Address: 336 State Route 179 Sedona, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Mission San Xavier del Bac
- Rating: 4.5/5 (4,413 reviews)
- Address: 1950 West San Xavier Road Tucson, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
- Rating: 5/5 (3,264 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Hole in the Rock
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,117 reviews)
- Address: 625 North Galvin Pkwy Papago Park Phoenix, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Camelback Mountain
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,561 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Bell Rock
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,008 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Oak Creek Canyon
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,431 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Old Town Scottsdale
- Rating: 4/5 (5,650 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Devil's Bridge Trail
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,708 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Rating: 4.5/5 (10,756 reviews)
- Address: 780 Chapel Road Sedona, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Cathedral Rock
- Rating: 5/5 (6,072 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Horseshoe Bend
- Rating: 4.5/5 (15,445 reviews)
- Address: Mile Marker 545, Highway 89 Page, Arizona
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
