Getting Here and Around

Getting Here: Phoenix and Tucson have international airports. Amtrak lines service Flagstaff and Tucson. Car rental is available at airports in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff.

Getting Around: You'll need a car to properly explore Arizona. Deceptively vast, Arizona is the nation's sixth-largest state at nearly 114,000 square miles. No matter where you start your journey, expect to spend a good portion of your time in the car. Fortunately, Arizona offers an attractive canvas that ranges from desert to forest. It surprises some visitors that the drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon takes at least a half day—and that's without stopping or taking side roads.

Road conditions vary by season and location, so expect anything: you can start your day in 100°F heat in Phoenix and end it in near-freezing temperatures in the Grand Canyon. Be sure to plan accordingly for the weather: if driving in the desert in summer, keep bottled water in the car; in winter in the high country be prepared for icy roads. And remember that violent flash floods and dust storms can pepper the desert during the summer monsoons. Storms usually pass quickly. For road information, the Arizona Department of Transportation has a travelers' assistance line. Just dial 511 from any phone.