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 (advance reservations required). 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. If you want to see Route 66 much as it looked in its 1950s heyday, check out our itinerary for a day trip to the birthplace of old Route 66 in nearby Seligman, Arizona.

Other stops along Route 66 feature quirky slices of Americana, such as Oatman: an old west town where tame burros roam the streets freely. 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.

Details

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

Details

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

Details

Desert Bar

AZ Hwy 95 @ Cienega Springs Rd, Parker, AZ 85344

thedesertbar.com

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

Details

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

Details

Grand Canyon Caverns

Route 66 @ Mile Marker 115, Peach Springs, AZ 86434

928.422.3223 | 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

Details

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

Details

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

Details

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

Details

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

Details

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

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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

Details

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 4 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