Flagstaff, AZ Road Trips

1 Flagstaff Visitor Center, 1 E Rte 66 (next to the Amtrak station), ☏ +1 928-774-9541, toll-free: +1-800-842-7293, [email protected]. Although located in Arizona, Flagstaff has a very different climate from the southern desert areas of the state. Winters are cold and sometimes very snowy, depending on the year. Temperatures can dip below 0 °F (−18 °C) in the coldest months. Snow tends to melt quickly, as the temperature is usually above freezing during the day, even in winter. The spring season is windy and chilly, albeit otherwise mild, with occasional rain and snowstorms. Flagstaff's summer begins around May, when temperatures warm substantially; the highs can exceed 90 °F (32 °C) during the hottest days. During the monsoon season (roughly June - September), intense, frequent rainstorms occur, lowering temperatures and ending the dry spell that tends to set in when the weather warms. The cool temperatures and frequent rain continue into the fall, and the first snowfall is often in November or December.

1 Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, ☏ +1 928-774-3358. Daily 9AM-10PM. An astronomical research center from which the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered, this historic institution is on a mesa overlooking the west side of town. The staff leads guided daytime tours, and visitors use the Observatory's 24" Clark telescope and smaller portable telescopes during regular evening programs (inquire). $12 (adults), $10 (students/seniors), $5 (children 5-17). 2 Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N Ft Valley Rd, ☏ +1 928-774-5213, fax: +1 928-779-1527, [email protected]. Daily 9AM-5PM except some holidays. On the north side of town, it has displays on Native American life and the natural history of the region. A good selection of Native American folk art, particularly Navajo rugs, is available at the gift shop. $15 (adults). 3 Arboretum at Flagstaff, 4001 S Woody Mountain Rd, ☏ +1 928-774-1442. W-Su 10AM-4PM, May-Oct. This 200-acre botanical garden, environmental research station, and nature center displays one of America's largest collections of high country wildflowers. Daily guided tours at 11AM and 1PM. Wild Birds of Prey programs at F-M noon and 2PM. $7 (adults), $6 (seniors), $3 (youth 3-17). 4 Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, 409 W Riordan Rd, ☏ +1 928-779-4395 (reservations). May-Oct: daily 9:30AM-5PM; Nov-Apr: daily 10:30AM-5PM. This fine example of an Arts and Crafts style house was built in 1904 for a prominent local family. Guided tours are conducted at the top of the hour, reservations recommended. $12 (adults 14+), $7 (youths 7-13).

1 Twin Arrows Casino Resort, 22181 Resort Blvd, ☏ +1 928-856-7200, toll-free: +1-855-946-894, [email protected]. (updated Mar 2026) The area surrounding Flagstaff is a hotspot for outdoor activities. Many of the bicycle and outdoor sports stores in downtown Flagstaff carry Favorite Hikes: Flagstaff and Sedona and Mountain Biking Arizona Guide: Fat Tire Tales and Trails, two excellent guidebooks written by local Flagstaff mountain bike enthusiast Cosmic Ray. Absolute Bikes, 202 E Hwy 66, ☏ +1 928 779-5969. Mountain bikes can be rented 2 Mount Elden, ☏ +1 928-526-0866 (Ranger District Office). This area is managed by the Coconino National Forest, and is an excellent starting point for exploring the area with numerous trails running up and alongside most faces of the mountain. One of the most popular trails is Elden Lookout Trail, which scales all 2800 ft (855m) from base to summit, and has access to the lookout tower at the top which looks down on the entire city. The trail can be accessed from Hwy 89 across from the Flagstaff Mall and next to the Ranger Station (35.230295, -111.579234). Free. 3 San Francisco Peaks, ☏ +1-928-527-3600. Managed by the Coconino National Forest, the San Francisco Peaks northwest of Flagstaff offer a number of hiking trails for all skill levels, as well as opportunities for mountain biking, rock climbing, camping, and skiing. The range is crowned by the 12,637-ft Humphreys Peak, and is held sacred by the Havasupai, Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni tribes.

1 Dara Thai Restaurant, 14 S San Francisco St, ☏ +1 928-774-0047. Downtown, centrally located serving decent Thai food. Get a seat by the window and view San Francisco Street while you dine. Takeout available. 2 Hunan East, 1926 N 4th St #8 (East Side). Su-Th 11AM-8:45PM, F Sa 11AM-9PM. Great Chinese food in a casual atmosphere. Takeout available. 3 Little Thai Kitchen, 1051 S Milton Rd, ☏ +1 928-226-9422. A Thai restaurant popular with locals. 4 Pato Thai, 104 N San Francisco St, ☏ +1 928-213-1825. Downtown, another popular one with locals. 5 Fratelli Pizza, 119 W Phoenix Ave; 2120 N 4th St, ☏ +1 928-774-9700 (Phx Ave location). A pizza place that is well-loved by the locals. They have cheese, pepperoni, and pesto slices, and many specialty pies. Their pizza is hand-tossed, thin crust, brick oven pizza, like what is found back east. 6 New Jersey Pizza Company, 2224 E Cedar Ave #6, ☏ +1 928-774-5000, [email protected]. Daily 4-9PM. Excellent choice for those looking for an all organic menu or more exotic options than the typical pizza restaurant offers. 7 NiMarcos Pizza, 101 S Beaver St, ☏ +1 928-779-2691. Locally owned and operated in Flagstaff for years, NiMarcos offers semi-thick crust pizza, salads and soft-serve ice cream. Go in and order your own pie or just buy a slice. Local favorite. Oregano's Pizza Bistro, 1061 S Plaza Way, ☏ +1 928-773-8600. Daily 11AM-9PM. Fantastic Chicago-style pizza with a great throw-back atmosphere.

For beer fans, Flagstaff boasts several brewpubs and microbreweries. 1 Altitude's Bar & Grill, 2 Beaver St #200, ☏ +1 928-214-8218, [email protected]. Daily 11AM-10PM. Relaxed atmosphere, great outdoor seating and a cozy fireplace inside for the winter months. Live music. 2 Beaver Street Brewery, 11 S Beaver St, ☏ +1 928-779-0079, [email protected]. Restaurant: Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight; Brewpub: Su-W 11AM-1AM, Th-Sa 11AM-2AM. Brewpub. Serves up a wide range of their own beers, as well as a good selection of reasonably priced and tasty German-style pub grub (sausages, mashed potatoes and the like). 3 Flagstaff Brewing Company, 16 E Rt 66, ☏ +1 928-773-1442, [email protected]. Daily 11AM-2AM. Brewpub serving ales, pub food, and a good selection of whiskeys. 4 Historic Barrel+Bottle House, 110 S San Francisco St, ☏ +1 928-774-0454, [email protected]. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight. The popular brewpub serves locally-crafted and imported beers, and pub food. (updated Oct 2018) 5 Lumberyard Brewing Company, 5 S San Francisco St, ☏ +1 928-779-2739. Su-Tu 11AM-11PM, W-Sa 11AM-2AM. A brewery/restaurant with outdoor area. Has good food and great beer. They have square-dancing nights one day a week. (updated Aug 2016) 6 Mother Road Brewing Company, 7 South Mikes Pike St. (Corner of W Phoenix Ave and South Mikes Pike St.), ☏ +1 928 774-9139, [email protected]. M-Th 2-9PM, F Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-9PM. Really, really good craft brews with friendly service. Pizzicletta handles the food menu.

Because of its proximity to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff has a wide array of hotels and other lodging, with over 5,000 rooms available. Cheap rooms are available at older non-chain motels, but you get what you pay for, and prices may not be that much cheaper than discount chains. Be sure to shop around and bargain as proprietors are often willing to drop prices during the off-season. Many motels of the older variety are located along Route 66 east of downtown. More older hotels and most newer motels are located south of downtown along Milton Road. There are a few historic hotels downtown, as well as two hostels. Various B&B establishments can be found near downtown in older neighborhoods. Campgrounds and RV parks can be found on the outskirts of town. Note that the BNSF rail line is very busy and in many hotels train horn noise is prominent (though not overwhelming as no facility is directly on the tracks). Sensitive sleepers should look to the Milton Road area for more quiet. Visible from the I-40 freeway off the Butler Ave. exit on Lucky Lane is a large selection of national chain economy class hotels including Econo Lodge, Motel 6, Quality Inn, Super 8 and Howard Johnson. 1 DuBeau Hostel, 19 W Phoenix St, ☏ +1 928-774-6731, toll-free: +1-800-398-7112, fax: +1 928-774-6047, [email protected]. Free wi-fi and breakfast, free coffee and tea available throughout the day. $22-24 (bed), $48-60 (private room). 2 Grand Canyon International Hostel, 19½ S San Francisco St, ☏ +1 928-779-9421, toll-free: +1-888-442-2696, [email protected].

Flagstaff is at the intersection of I-40, which runs west to California and east to New Mexico (following historic Route 66) and I-17, which runs south to Phoenix. 1 Amtrak Station - FLG, 1 E Rte 66, ☏ +1 928-774-8679, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. The daily Southwest Chief Chicago-Los Angeles line makes a stop in downtown Flagstaff. The westbound train arrives at 9:51PM and the eastbound train arrives at 6:06AM. 2 Greyhound, 880 E Butler Ave, ☏ +1 928-774-4573, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222. 3 Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG IATA) American Airlines provides service from Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix Sky Harbor as the only commercial airline to Flagstaff. Otherwise the airport serves a general aviation airport. The nearest major airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX IATA). Driving time between Flagstaff and Sky Harbor is greater than the 150-mile separation would suggest: the airport is on the east side of Phoenix, traffic jams in Phoenix are a problem, and I-17 can be shutdown for accidents or wildfires. Allow 2½ hours or more to get from one to the other by car.

Flagstaff is stretched out along historic Route 66, which runs roughly east-west. The fairly small (about 5 blocks square) downtown is on the western side of town, near the base of Mars Hill, the location of Lowell Observatory. The I-40 highway and the BNSF railroad tracks run roughly parallel to Route 66. Northern Arizona University is south of downtown and the tracks, but north of I-40. Here the north-south oriented Milton Road, which becomes I-17, is the main thoroughfare, with Route 66 heading west north of the railroad underpass. The city is fairly bike-friendly, with many roads having bike lanes. In 2006 Flagstaff was designated a "Bicycle-Friendly Community" by the League of American Bicyclists. The Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) includes more than 50 miles of paved and unpaved trails that wind throughout the town and are used extensively for recreation and transportation. One well-traveled FUTS path runs along the south side of Route 66 from downtown to the east side of town. The Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority operates The Mountain Line, fixed-route bus service that extends throughout Flagstaff and carries more than one million passengers per year.

Although Flagstaff is well within the southern half of the U.S., it receives more snowfall than just about any other American city. Always come prepared in wintertime. There is not a huge crime problem, but certain areas noted below should be avoided, mainly at night: Sunnyside, one of Flagstaff's larger neighborhoods, is on the east side of town (bordered by Cedar Ave. on the north, 4th St. on the east, Izabel St. and Cedar Hill on the west and Route 66 on the south). Sunnyside is an incredibly diverse and interesting neighborhood but is also one of the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods in the city. Most points of interest are restaurants located on the edge of the neighborhood in the business districts which are generally safe any time of day. The area has been afflicted with some gang activity, mostly in the very center of the neighborhood. Just don't walk the neighborhood at night or hang out in an area that seems unsafe. The other area that becomes unsafe at night is some areas of what locals call the "South Side". South of the railroad tracks, west of Lone Tree Road, east of Milton and north of the NAU campus is the general designation of this area. The exception being most of the areas along South Beaver St. and South San Francisco St., which are safe even at night because of the night-time music, restaurant and bar scene that takes place along these streets. Areas closer to campus and on side streets such as South O'Leary and South Fontaine should be avoided at night.