Best driving roads near Phoenix

Around Phoenix the desert gives way to sky islands and saguaro forests, where a single road can climb 6,000 feet from cactus to pine in a string of switchbacks.

1. Catalina Highway / Mount Lemmon (Sky Island Scenic Byway)

Catalina Highway climbing through rock formations on the way up Mount Lemmon above Tucson
Photo: Philcomanforterie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A climb up 9,171-foot Mount Lemmon from Tucson, about 2.5 hours from Phoenix, taking you from desert to alpine forest through numerous switchbacks.

Length
27 mi
Drive time
about 50 min

Best time to go: Year-round; the top runs 20 to 30 F cooler than Tucson, and winter brings 10 to 20 inches of snow a month, so check conditions.

Map of Catalina Highway / Mount Lemmon (Sky Island Scenic Byway) from Catalina Hwy at Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson to Summerhaven
Route: Catalina Hwy at Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson to Summerhaven, about 29.2 mi. Map © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

Sources: Length · Best time. Drive time is the route time for the mapped route without stops, from Mapbox.

2. Apache Trail (SR-88)

Apache Trail curving through desert canyon country in the Superstition Mountains
Photo: Alan Stark from Goodyear, AZ, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A desert mountain road winding past Superstition Mountain, Goldfield Ghost Town, and Tonto National Forest just east of Phoenix. It is paved to just past Tortilla Flat; beyond that it turns to dirt.

Length
45.7 mi (paved to Tortilla Flat)
Drive time
about 40 min

Best time to go: Cooler months. The unpaved Fish Creek Hill stretch (mileposts 222 to 227) is open to high-clearance 4WD and UTVs only.

Map of Apache Trail (SR-88) from Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat (end of pavement)
Route: Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat (end of pavement), about 17.5 mi. Map © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

Sources: Length · Best time. Drive time is the route time for the mapped route without stops, from Mapbox.

3. Yarnell Hill (SR-89)

Arizona State Route 89 curving across desert scrub toward the snow-capped Weaver Mountains on the way up to Yarnell
Photo: Alan Stark from Goodyear, AZ, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A winding four-mile grade climbing about 1,300 feet out of the desert toward Prescott, about 1.5 hours northwest of Phoenix.

Length
about 4 mi of grade
Drive time
about 15 min

Best time to go: Fall through spring for cooler temps; no seasonal closure is listed for this state highway.

Map of Yarnell Hill (SR-89) from Congress (SR 89 and SR 71) to Yarnell
Route: Congress (SR 89 and SR 71) to Yarnell, about 9.6 mi. Map © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

Sources: Length · Best time. Drive time is the route time for the mapped route without stops, from Mapbox.

4. SR-89A (Prescott to Flagstaff)

State Route 89A winding through the red rock and pine walls of Oak Creek Canyon
Photo: 7263255, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

About 84 miles of mountain road through Jerome and Oak Creek Canyon, known for its scenery. Prescott is about 98 miles from Phoenix, so plan a full day.

Length
about 84 mi
Drive time
about 2 h 20 min

Best time to go: Open year-round as a state highway; no seasonal closure listed.

Map of SR-89A Prescott to Flagstaff from Prescott (SR 89 junction) to Flagstaff
Route: Prescott (SR 89 junction) to Flagstaff, about 82.8 mi. Map © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

Sources: Length · Best time. Drive time is the route time for the mapped route without stops, from Mapbox.

5. Cactus Forest Loop Drive (Saguaro National Park)

Paved Cactus Forest Loop Drive curving through desert scrub and ocotillo in Saguaro National Park East
Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An 8-mile paved, low-speed loop, part one-way, through dense saguaro forest east of Tucson, about two hours from Phoenix.

Length
8 mi, paved
Drive time
about 40 min

Best time to go: Cooler months; Rincon Mountain District is open to vehicles 7 a.m. to sunset.

Map of the Cactus Forest Loop Drive, Saguaro National Park loop from Rincon Mountain Visitor Center
Loop from Rincon Mountain Visitor Center, about 8.1 mi. Map © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

Sources: Length · Best time. Drive time is the route time for the mapped route without stops, from Mapbox.

Track your next drive near Phoenix

Open Road keeps every drive: the route on a map, the time and the distance. On iPhone and Android.

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Questions, answered

What are the best driving roads near Phoenix?
Top picks near Phoenix: Catalina Highway / Mount Lemmon, Apache Trail, Yarnell Hill, SR-89A, Cactus Forest Loop Drive. Each one is here for the drive and the scenery.
How long are the best driving roads near Phoenix?
Catalina Highway / Mount Lemmon: 27 mi. Apache Trail: 45.7 mi (paved to Tortilla Flat). Yarnell Hill: about 4 mi of grade. SR-89A: about 84 mi. Cactus Forest Loop Drive: 8 mi, paved.
When is the best time to drive these roads?
Catalina Highway / Mount Lemmon: Year-round; the top runs 20 to 30 F cooler than Tucson, and winter brings 10 to 20 inches of snow a month, so check conditions. Apache Trail: Cooler months. The unpaved Fish Creek Hill stretch (mileposts 222 to 227) is open to high-clearance 4WD and UTVs only. Yarnell Hill: Fall through spring for cooler temps; no seasonal closure is listed for this state highway. SR-89A: Open year-round as a state highway; no seasonal closure listed. Cactus Forest Loop Drive: Cooler months; Rincon Mountain District is open to vehicles 7 a.m. to sunset.
What's the best app to track a drive near Phoenix?
Open Road records your drive and saves it to your drive log with the route on a map, the distance and the time. It is on iPhone and Android.

Famous driving roads