Scottsdale to Flagstaff road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time

The best road trip stops on the Scottsdale to Flagstaff drive are the Agua Fria National Monument, Camp Verge and Sedona. The distance from Scottsdale to Flagstaff is 154 miles, with a 2h33m driving time.

Planning a Scottsdale to Flagstaff road trip itinerary

The Scottsdale to Flagstaff drive connects two of the biggest tourist cities in Arizona.

Scottsdale is an upmarket city in the Greater Phoenix area, known for its restaurants, golf courses and spa resorts.

Great Scottsdale experiences include an old town tour in a stretch limo golf cart. There are also food tours and Segway tours.

If you wish to explore the surrounding desert scenery, you can do so on an e-bike tour, a sunset jeep adventure or a guided hike.

Fantastic Scottsdale accommodation choices include the Hotel Valley Ho for its weekend pool parties and the Talking Stick Resort for its golf course.

Flagstaff AZ is largely known as a gateway to the Grand Canyon. You can take a Grand Canyon day tour from here, but you can also do a day trip to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

Other Flagstaff experiences include haunted pub crawls, e-bike tours and an adventure course of wobbly bridges, ropes and ziplines. Stargazing enthusiasts can also take a tour of the Lowell Observatory and the Walnut Canyon National Monument is just to the east of the city. The latter is home to several ancient cliff dwellings.

Good Flagstaff accommodation options include the utterly charming Little America, and the great value Elev8.

Scottsdale to Flagstaff distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Scottsdale to Flagstaff is 154 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 33 minutes. The quickest route is up the I-17.

The best stops to add to a Scottsdale to Flagstaff road trip itinerary are the Agua Fria National Monument, Camp Verge and Sedona.

Scottsdale to Flagstaff drive: Agua Fria National Monument

The Agua Fria National Monument is primarily of interest for it’s architectural record. Hundreds of Native American pueblo structures, built between 1250 and 1450, have been found here. The Pueblo La Plata section is the best bet for visitors wanting to know more.

There’s also an extensive haul of petroglyphs between the dormant volcano and two Scottsdales that provide the monument’s visual appeal. It’s a good spot for hiking and wildlife-viewing.

Best stops between Scottsdale and Flagstaff: Camp Verde, Arizona

Camp Verde is an all-action kind of place. Great Camp Verde activities include tackling the Verde River in an inflatable kayak, horseback-riding through the mountains and off-road Jeep tours.

Top attractions include the Out of Africa Wildlife Park – where you can also take on a zipline course – and the Verde Valley Archaeology Center. The latter looks at the life of the Native Sinagua people.

Great Camp Verde accommodation options include the Cliff Castle Casino Hotel and the Fort Verde Suites.

Scottsdale to Flagstaff road trip attractions: Sedona, Arizona

Desert town Sedona sits in an inspirational setting amid red rock buttes, canyons and forest. It’s no wonder so many artists choose to live there.

The surrounding desert trails and state parks are magnificent for hiking and biking. You can also explore on a scenic helicopter flight, outback Jeep tour, guided ATV adventure or e-biking at Cathedral Rock.

Other Sedona experiences include Verde Valley wine tours, Jeep tours of the mystical Sedona vortexes, glassblowing workshops and nighttime stargazing sessions.

For great Sedona accommodation that makes the most of the views, try the Sky Ranch Lodge or Amara Resort.