Road Trips from Glendale, AZ
Glendale is a good starting point for a variety of day trips. You've got options ranging from short, under-an-hour drives to nearby towns with park access, to longer hauls that push three to four hours and offer more extensive park systems. If you're looking for something closer, there are several places within a 30-mile radius. For a more ambitious drive, longer routes can get you to national monuments and recreation areas. Most of these trips are designed as day excursions, but the longer ones might tempt an overnight stay.
Total Routes
5
Shortest
2.1h
With Parks Nearby
5
Full-day getaway
Sells, AZ
3h 1m143.6 mi one way
For a longer day trip, Sells is 143.6 miles away and takes about 3 hours. The route is mixed highway and surface roads with a high drive score. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a notable park nearby, offering a significant historical point of interest on this longer excursion.
Mescal, AZ
3h164 mi one way
This 164-mile drive takes 3 hours and is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive. It's one of the longer options, providing access to Saguaro National Park and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, making it suitable for those seeking extensive park exploration.
Arivaca Junction, AZ
2h 55m158.7 mi one way
Tonto Basin, AZ
2h 7m99.5 mi one way
Weekend trip
Browse by Mood
When to Go
Spring
Spring offers pleasant temperatures for drives to nearby parks like Montezuma Castle or Casa Grande Ruins. Longer trips to Saguaro National Park are also ideal in this season.
Summer
Summer heat makes longer drives less appealing. Stick to shorter trips or focus on destinations with indoor historical sites rather than extensive outdoor park exploration.
Fall
Fall is an excellent time for all routes. Cooler weather enhances the experience of visiting national monuments and recreation areas like Organ Pipe Cactus or Lake Mead.
Winter
Winter provides comfortable driving conditions for all destinations. Consider the longer drives to Ajo or Beaver Dam to explore desert landscapes and national park areas.
Starting Somewhere Else?
Other nearby cities with their own escape planners.
Ready to plan?
Pick any destination above for full turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost, rest stops, and weather. Or visit the Glendale, AZ city hub for all incoming and outgoing routes.