Arizona Day Trips In Arizona's Majestic Western Region
Lake Havasu City's location makes it an ideal home base for western Arizona day trips . All of the trips below are less than 2½ hours away. Spend the day exploring, then return to Lake Havasu City in time for a relaxing lakeside dinner at one of many fabulous Lake Havasu restaurants . If you're in to hiking, take an overnight trip to Havasu Falls and witness one of the most iconic waterfalls in the world. If you're having trouble coming up ideas for Arizona day trips, we have more than a few suggestions.
Several of these Arizona day trips allow you to explore small segments of Route 66, the "Mother Road," which was the main westward route for hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing the Midwest during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Others feature quirky slices of Americana, such as the tame burros that roam the streets of an old west town. These excursions all highlight the unique character, heritage, and wildlife of the region. Check out the listings below for some great day trips in Arizona.
Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge
60911 Hwy 95 S, Parker, AZ 85344
928.667.4144 | fws.gov
The Bill Williams Wildlife Refuge sustains one of the highest diversity of wildlife and plant species within the lower Colorado River watershed and has been recognized by the National Audubon Society and The American Bird Conservancy as a birding area of global importance.
Months
Year-round
Blythe Intaglios
AZ Hwy 95 @ S Riverview, Blythe, CA 92225
928.317.3200
Take a day trip just over 70 miles south of Lake Havasu City to one of the over 300 intaglios in the American Southwest and regions of Mexico. The Blythe Intaglios are a group of giant figures found in the desert near Blythe, California.
Months
Year-round
Desert Bar
AZ Hwy. 95 @ Cienega Springs Rd., Parker, AZ 85344
It's an adventure and a fun trip out to the Nellie E. Saloon, aka, the Desert Bar. Located approximately 30 miles from Lake Havasu City, near Parker, Arizona, and about 7 miles off-road, be prepared for an artsy, quirky, gritty bar with great music and a one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
Months
October-April
Diamond Creek Road to the Colorado River
900 Route 66, Peach Springs, AZ 86434
928-769-2219
Located off Route 66 in Peach Springs, Diamond Creek Road is an adventurous "road less traveled" to the Colorado River. You will actually be driving down into the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River. B
Months
Year-round
Grand Canyon Caverns
Route 66 @ Mile Marker 115, Peach Springs, AZ 86434
928-422-4565 | gccaverns.com
A must-see day trip, this natural wonder was created over a period of 35 million years and the largest dry cavern in the U.S. The air in the caverns is a consistent 56° year-round due to zero humidity and is drawn in from the Grand Canyon through 60 miles of limestone caves and crevasses.
Months
Year-round
Havasu Falls
Trailhead: Supai Village Trail, Supai 86435
928-448-2121 | nps.gov
A beautiful tropical paradise awaits you IF you're up to the challenge of getting there! Hiking to Havasu Falls is a bucket-list adventure for experienced hikers looking for the overnight hike of a lifetime.
Months
Year-round
Hualapai Mountains
6250 Hualapai Mountain Rd., Kingman, AZ 86401
877-757-0915 | mcparks.com
The Hualapai Mountains are a great escape from the desert climate to the mountains. With elevations of 6300 ft to 8240 ft, you'll experience the smell of pine trees, fresh mountain air, and snow in the winter.
Months
Year-round
Keepers of the Wild
13441 E. Hwy. 66, Valentine, AZ 86437
928-769-1800 | keepersofthewild.org
Keepers of the Wild is dedicated to the dignified rescue of exotic animals. Take a day trip to The Nature Park with 175 acres, home to 150 animals, including monkeys, tigers, bears, livestock, reptiles, a variety of birds, and a rare Siberian Tiger.
Months
Year-round
Oatman
Oatman-Topock Hwy./Main St., Oatman, AZ 86433
928-768-6222 | oatmangoldroad.org
Oatman is a unique reminder of the Old West and one of countless gold mining towns that sprung up in the late 1800s. This is one of the only day trips in Arizona where you can stroll along the wooden sidewalks and witness reenactments of a Wild West shootout by gunslingers dressed in period costume and walk among wild burros.
Months
Year-round
Route 66 Museum/Powerhouse Visitor Center, Kingman
120 W. Andy Devine Ave., Kingman, AZ 86401
928-753-9889 | gokingman.com
The Route 66 Museum is truly unique in that it is a museum of history, located in the "heart" of the longest remaining stretch of the 2400 miles that was Route 66. The brilliant murals, photos and life-size dioramas capture each of the groups that have traveled the route that's known as the Mother Road.
Months
Year-round
Stops Along Route 66
Lake Havasu City is just a hop, skip, and a jump to the historic Route 66, and with America's Highway comes many interesting stops along the Mother Road. We've highlighted several great stops along the route if you wish to visit some truly nostalgic places.
Months
Year-round
Topock Maze (Mystic Maze)
I-40, exit Park Moabi Rd., Needles, CA 92363
Less than 45 minutes north of Lake Havasu City to Interstate 40 & Hwy. 95 and west just four miles lies a very special remnant of American Indian heritage in the form of the a 600+ year old geoglyph called the Topock Maze (aka Mystic Maze).
Months
Year-round