How to Spend the Perfect 3 Day Weekend in Phoenix Itinerary
Last Updated on 11th April 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
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Phoenix, Arizona is a growing state capital and popular vacation destination. However, many don’t consider it when thinking about where they want to travel in the United States. That doesn’t mean that you should make the mistake of missing out on this upcoming destination, even if it’s just for a long weekend. Here’s the perfect itinerary for how to spend a 3 day weekend in Phoenix.
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Introducing Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, located in the southwestern US, is a city known for its sunny weather and outdoor recreation. Phoenix attracts golf enthusiasts from around the world to play on its world-renowned courses. The city is also home to South Mountain Park, the largest municipal park in the US, and the Desert Botanical Garden, featuring the unique flora of the Sonoran Desert.
With more than 1.6 million residents, Phoenix is the fifth most populous city in the US, and this number is only likely to keep growing in the coming years, so don’t sleep on this awesome destination!
Nicknamed the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix gets 300 days of sunshine a year, meaning bad weather likely won’t affect your trip. And whether you’re a nature lover, history buff, or foodie, Phoenix has something to offer everyone.
Before we get into the perfect 3-day itinerary for Phoenix, let’s talk about the things you need to know to plan your trip.
When to Visit Phoenix
In the summer, Phoenix can get hot—and by hot I mean a sizzling average high of 98°F (37°C), though July’s average is 106°F (41°C). Unless you want to experience that kind of heat (I know I don’t), November through April is the best time to visit. I’ve visited Phoenix in both the summer and the winter, and I much prefer it in the winter.
If you live somewhere chilly, this makes Phoenix a nice place to getaway from the cold weather and get some sunshine during those dreary months.
Is 3 days enough time in Phoenix?
Despite its status as the capital of Arizona, three days is more than sufficient to discover Phoenix and nearby Scottsdale (which is part of the Arizona Metropolitan Area but is by some counts considered to be its own city). Over the course of a long weekend, you’ll easily see the major attractions and get a feel for just what Phoenix is all about.
Where to Stay in Phoenix
For your first trip to Phoenix, you’ll probably want to stay downtown for easy access to all the activities. There are many great places to stay, ranging from hostels to luxury hotels.
If you want something nice but a little bit more budget friendly, you can stay in Tempe or Scottsdale, which are both just outside the main city area, or even Gilbert which is about a 30-minute drive to the city center.
Suggested itinerary for a long weekend in Phoenix
Day 1 – Hot-Air Balloons, Old Town Scottsdale, and Phoenix Nightlife
Start your Phoenix trip off bright and early with a morning hot-air balloon ride over the desert landscape. Rise up into the clear blue sky and enjoy the peace that comes with looking out over the desert. You’ll be enamored with the beautiful reds and browns laid out beneath you.
For an even more special experience, schedule your ride at sunrise to watch the Sonoran Desert come alive as it’s bathed in sunlight. For more information, check out this Hot Air Balloon Ride with Champagne and Catering.
Once you’re done gliding through the air, it’s time to head to Old Town Scottsdale. This is a wonderful walkable area that has lots to explore, including shopping and several historic sites.
You can visit the Old Olive Trees, the Little Red Schoolhouse, and the Mission Church and take in the public art around the area. This is a great place to grab lunch and meander through shops, taking your time.
You’ll likely have some time before your night out, so you can spend it in Old Town Scottsdale or you can make your way over to the Phoenix Art Museum. Wandering through the exhibits is a great way to spend the afternoon.
The museum has over 20,000 artifacts that span through many different cultures and eras. Their collection extends back to the Renaissance and has work from artists such as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
At dinnertime you have over 200 restaurants in the area to choose from and so you’re sure to find something you like. If you’re in the mood for Mexican food, Barrio Café comes highly recommended and it’s not too far from the art museum.
There are also tons of bars that offer live music with fun crowds. This is where the nightlife begins, and you can stay out as late (or as little) as you want to. Don’t worry if you get caught up in bar hopping until late into the night; you can sleep in on Day 2 if you’d like.
Day 2 – Zoos, Museums, and Downtown
If you manage to rise early, head over to Papago Park for a morning hike or walk. The park spans more than 1500 acres. Hole-in-the-Rock is one of the most popular hikes here. It’s only 0.3 miles. Most of the trail is simply steps that lead up to a big hole in a rock where you can look out on some brilliant views of the surrounding areas.
If you’re looking for something longer, Double Butte Loop is a 2.3-mile easy trail that takes you past a big butte and a small butte, both made of 6-million-year-old, red sandstone.
After your hike—or if you get a late start—it’s time to see some animals. The Phoenix Zoo is in Papago Park. There you can see the Arabian Oryx, which likely would have gone extinct without the help of this zoo.
The 125-acre zoo has more than 3,000 animals across 400 species for you to see, including the Mexican wolf, flamingos, golden eagles, coyotes, cheetahs, Asian elephants, burrowing owls, African lions, and more. The Phoenix Zoo opened in 1962, and it’s the largest privately owned non-profit zoo in the US.
You could spend all day here if you desire, but if you’d like to continue learning, the museums await. If you didn’t get a chance to go to the Phoenix Art Museum on Day 1, you can head there now. Or you can visit the Heard Museum of Native American Art, the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting, the Arizona Science Museum, or the Musical Instrument Museum.
Each of these museums offer different things to spark your interest. Choose the one that sounds best to you, or if there’s time, visit multiple.
Even after experiencing the nightlife of Phoenix on Day 1 and the many museums on Day 2, there’s still plenty to explore in downtown Phoenix. CityScape is a 3-block area full of bars, clubs, restaurants, and shops. They often have open-air movies in the plaza, and people in the area love to socialize with locals and tourists alike.
Spend your evening dining and relaxing here, though you may not want to stay out too late. We’ve got a full—though not too taxing—day planned for Day 3.
Day 3 – Camelback Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, and Spa Treatment
Hiking Camelback Mountain is a great way to start your third and last day in Phoenix. This trail is only about 25 minutes away from downtown. It’s a famous hike that offers stunning views overlooking the city.
Two trails go to the top of the mountain. The Cholla Trail is 3 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,279 feet. It’s the longer and easier trail, but it does have some scary heights with no rails. The Echo Canyon Trail is 2.5 miles, but it is steeper with an elevation gain of 1,420 feet. This trail does have rails to help hikers feel safer.
Both hikes will take a little over 2 hours, depending on your speed. Because there’s not a lot of shade on either trail, we don’t recommend you try this in the summer. No matter what time of year you go, bring plenty of water and sunscreen, along with good shoes.
After your morning hike, grab lunch and then make your way to the Desert Botanical Garden. Or have lunch at Gertrude’s restaurant, which is located within the garden.
At the Desert Botanical Garden, you can learn about the diverse plant life of the Sonoran Desert, along with the plant life of deserts around the world. Here, you can take a tour and see over 50,000 plants, including cacti, succulents, and wildflowers, 400 of which are rare, endangered or threatened.
You can spend a few hours strolling through the garden, but when you’re done, the true relaxation begins.
What better way to end your trip to Phoenix than with a tranquil spa treatment? There are many spas in the city to choose from. Two that come highly recommended are the Aji Spa at the Wild Horse Pass and the Sanctuary Spa at Camelback Mountain.
The Aji Spa at the Sheraton Grand uses both modern treatments and the sacred doctrines of the Pima and Maricopa tribes native to the Sonoran Desert.
Experience treatments such as Nahtogig, or the Four Directions treatment, which draws on the tribes’ Creation Story with a restorative shower using local ingredients like blue cornmeal, pomegranate, honey, and salt, which combine to nourish and exfoliate.
At Camelback Mountain, the Sanctuary Spa will give you an Asian-inspired treatment focused on rejuvenation. Their wide selection of services ranges from facials to acupuncture. With 12 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and a Zen meditation garden, you are sure to feel renewed after a visit here.
A final note on planning a trip to Phoenix
We hope this itinerary is helpful on your trip to the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix has a lot to offer with it’s sunny weather, beautiful landscapes, exciting nightlife, and rich history. It’s perfect for those who love cities and nature; they come hand-in-hand here.
Enjoy your 3 days in Phoenix, and if you have time and resources to, consider expanding your trip, so you can take in everything this city has to offer.
Happy traveling!
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About the author: Lexi Cooper is a freelance editor and writer. Her parents taught her a love for traveling, seeing new sights, and learning about the world. Along with her passion for travel, she loves stories and dreams of spending her days reading and writing books and wandering the globe.
