Lowell Observatory
The hilltop observatory where Pluto was discovered in 1930, with daytime tours of historic domes and evening telescope viewing on the open deck in the heart of the first International Dark Sky City.
Arizona
Flagstaff
Flagstaff sits at 7,000 feet in a ponderosa pine forest at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks, and it packs more variety into a day's drive than almost any town in the Southwest.
Percival Lowell's observatory, where Pluto was found in 1930, still opens its telescopes to the public. A 50,000-year-old meteor crater lies half an hour east, Sinagua cliff dwellings hang in Walnut Canyon, and the cinder cones and lava fields of Sunset Crater and Wupatki sit just north. In town, Route 66 and the railroad still run through a lively brick downtown of breweries, murals and a haunted hotel or two, while Arizona Snowbowl lifts you toward the 12,633-foot summit of Humphreys Peak in summer and winter alike. Add day trips to the Grand Canyon South Rim, Sedona's red rocks and Monument Valley, and you have the best-placed base camp in Arizona.
Don't miss
Lowell Observatory
The hilltop observatory where Pluto was discovered in 1930, with daytime tours of historic domes and evening telescope viewing on the open deck in the heart of the first International Dark Sky City.
Meteor Crater
A bowl nearly a mile across and deeper than a football-field-and-a-half is tall, blasted out about 50,000 years ago and so well preserved that astronauts trained on it for the Moon.
Arizona Snowbowl and the Scenic Lift
A ride up the San Francisco Peaks to around 11,500 feet for views over the Painted Desert and, on clear days, the Grand Canyon, then skiing in winter and aspen color in fall.
Historic Downtown Flagstaff and Route 66
Brick storefronts, railroad tracks, Route 66 neon, craft breweries, murals and the old depot visitor center, all walkable in a few blocks at 7,000 feet.
Things to do in Flagstaff
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Meteor Crater
A bowl nearly a mile across and deeper than a football-field-and-a-half is tall, blasted out about 50,000 years ago and so well preserved that astronauts trained on it for the Moon.
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Sinagua cliff dwellings tucked under limestone ledges in a deep green canyon, reached by a one-mile loop trail just ten minutes east of downtown Flagstaff.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
A cinder cone with a rust-red rim, a river of black lava and a one-mile trail across it, about 15 miles north of Flagstaff on the start of a scenic loop drive.
Wupatki National Monument
A red-sandstone pueblo of about 100 rooms, a ball court, a natural blowhole and four more ruins in the Painted Desert, north of Flagstaff on the same loop as Sunset Crater.
Arizona Snowbowl and the Scenic Lift
A ride up the San Francisco Peaks to around 11,500 feet for views over the Painted Desert and, on clear days, the Grand Canyon, then skiing in winter and aspen color in fall.
Museum of Northern Arizona
The Colorado Plateau in one building: Native art from the Hopi, Navajo and Zuni, dinosaur fossils, geology and a pine-shaded trail, three miles north of downtown.
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
A 13,000-square-foot log-and-stone mansion built in 1904 for two lumber-baron brothers, toured with a guide through rooms still furnished with the family's belongings.
Historic Downtown Flagstaff and Route 66
Brick storefronts, railroad tracks, Route 66 neon, craft breweries, murals and the old depot visitor center, all walkable in a few blocks at 7,000 feet.
2 to 3 hoursDetails →
Humphreys Peak and the San Francisco Peaks
Arizona's highest summit at 12,633 feet, a rare alpine tundra island and gold aspen groves, reached by a long, rewarding trail from the Snowbowl road.
Full day for the summit, 2 to 3 hours for shorter trailsDetails →
Historic Route 66 Cultural Walking Tour in Flagstaff
A guided stroll through the Route 66 and railroad story of Flagstaff, from the depot and neon to the characters who built the Mother Road town.
Downtown Flagstaff Ghost Tour: Haunted History Walking Tour
An evening walk through downtown Flagstaff's haunted past, told by local guides in the streets and alleys of a railroad and lumber town.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$Hotel Monte Vista
Downtown Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff's 1927 Route 66 landmark - a downtown hotel funded partly by Zane Grey, with a long ghost list, a cocktail bar in the old lobby and a Western Hollywood past.
Check rates →The Weatherford Hotel
Downtown Flagstaff, Arizona
A downtown Flagstaff landmark dating to around 1900, with historic rooms, a lively pub and ghost stories, steps from Heritage Square and the Route 66 strip.
Check rates →Little America Hotel Flagstaff
East Flagstaff, Arizona
A large pine-forest hotel on the east side of Flagstaff with spacious rooms, a pool and easy access to the interstate and the Grand Canyon road.
Check rates →Embassy Suites by Hilton Flagstaff
South Flagstaff, Arizona
An all-suite Hilton brand hotel south of downtown, with a separate living area in every suite, breakfast and a good fit for families and longer stays.
Check rates →Hilton Garden Inn Flagstaff
Woodlands Village, Flagstaff, Arizona
A modern Hilton brand hotel in the Woodlands Village area, with comfortable rooms, an on-site restaurant and easy access to shops and the main roads.
Check rates →DoubleTree by Hilton Flagstaff
West Flagstaff, Arizona
A full-service Hilton hotel on the west side of Flagstaff, with a restaurant, a pool and the brand's welcome cookie, close to the interstate and the Route 66 corridor.
Check rates →Courtyard by Marriott Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona
A modern Marriott hotel with a bistro, an indoor pool and comfortable rooms, a practical mid-range base for Flagstaff day trips.
Check rates →Best Western Pony Soldier Inn and Suites
East Flagstaff, Arizona
A budget-friendly Best Western on the east side of Flagstaff along Route 66, with a pool, free parking for drivers and quick access to the interstate.
Check rates →Hampton Inn and Suites Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona
A clean, modern Hampton Inn with breakfast, a pool and comfortable beds, a dependable mid-range base for exploring northern Arizona.
Check rates →Flagstaff guides
First Time in Flagstaff: How to Plan a Visit to Arizona's Mountain Town
What makes Flagstaff different from the rest of Arizona, how the altitude shapes your trip, which sights to book first and how to split time between town, the national monuments and the big day trips.
Flagstaff in Three Days: Pluto, Pueblos and the Peaks
A three-day itinerary that pairs the town's observatory and historic downtown with the volcanic monuments, a mountain day and a flexible fourth option for the Grand Canyon or Sedona.
Where to Stay in Flagstaff: Downtown, East Side or the Woodlands
How Flagstaff's neighborhoods differ, which hotels suit couples, families and budget travelers, and what to know about trains, parking, snow and booking in busy seasons.
Eating and Drinking in Flagstaff: Breweries, Green Chile and Mountain Coffee
A guide to Flagstaff's food scene: craft breweries, Southwestern flavors, coffee, picnic supplies for the monuments, and how altitude changes the way you drink.
Best Time to Visit Flagstaff: Seasons, Snow and Monsoon Storms
Month-by-month and season-by-season guidance on Flagstaff weather, aspen color, skiing, monsoon storms, crowds and which sights shine at which time of year.
Day Trips from Flagstaff: Grand Canyon, Sedona, Monument Valley and the Monuments
How to choose and plan day trips from Flagstaff: distances, drive times, guided tours versus self-drive, and which excursions fit one day or deserve an overnight.
