We spent 4-days in Flagstaff, Arizona. Here is everything we did and the things we wish we had time for.
In this guide (jump to section):
- Flagstaff, AZ Quick Stats
- Our 4-day itinerary in Flagstaff, AZ
- Things we wish we had time for
- Practical Information for your trip
Flagstaff, Arizona Quick Stats
| Location | Flagstaff, AZ |
| Population | ~76,989 |
| Popular things to do | Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Lowell Observatory, Lava River Cave, Coconino National Forest, Walnut Canyon National Monument, San Francisco Peaks, Arizona Snowbowl and more. |
| Official Website | City of Flagstaff |
| Popular day trips | Arizona Snowbowl (~25 minutes), Sedona (~45 minutes), Grand Canyon (~1.5 hours), Page, AZ (~2 hours 15 minutes), Phoenix, AZ (~2 hours 15 minutes), Monument Valley (~3 hours). |
| Rating | 4.5 Mooses |
4-Day Itinerary for Flagstaff, Arizona
Day 1: Summer fun at Arizona Snowbowl
1. Playing a round of disc golf at the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort
We were excited to try out the 18-hole disc golf course at the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort. This course is nestled on the western slope of the tallest mountain in Arizona, Mount Humphreys. Players will enjoy the scenic views and unique holes before heading to the lodge for some cold drinks and snacks. This course is only accessible during the summer months.
Cost: Free (discs not provided)
Average Time: 2 – 3 hours
Learn more about our experience at the Snowbowl Disc Golf Course.
2. Riding up the Snowbowl scenic gondola
The Snowbowl scenic gondola takes adventurers up to 11,500′ on Agassiz Peak. Pack a picnic lunch and get ready to experience expansive views, epic photo ops, and fresh air on this journey into the San Francisco Peaks area.
Cost: Starting at $19 and up (they utilize dynamic pricing which varies based on the day you visit)
Average Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
Highlights: Scenic views, a short walk, picnic benches, and the highest toilet in Arizona! The summit of Agassiz Peak is closed to visitors.
Learn more about our experience riding the Snowbowl scenic gondola.
3. Hiking the Aspen Loop Trail
The Aspen Loop trail is a short and sweet hike which takes adventurers through gorgeous aspen trees, meadows of wildflowers and features stunning views of Humphreys Peak.
Average Time: 1 – 1.5 Hours
Difficulty: Easy
Round Trip Mileage: ~2.5 miles
Best time to visit: June through October
Learn more about our hike on the Aspen Loop Trail.
Day 2: Day trip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
1. Hiking the South Kaibab Trail
The South Kaibab trail, located on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, takes hikers along an memorable trail into the canyon. Whether you choose a short-day hike, or traverse all the way to canyon floor, expansive views and adventure awaits.
Cost: Entrance Fee for the Grand Canyon National Park. $35 per private vehicle (valid for 7 days), or $80 for an America the Beautiful annual pass. (Prices subject to change)
Difficulty: Very difficult
Average Time: Varies depending on distance traveled
Learn more about our experience on the South Kaibab Trail.
2. Hermit Road shuttle bus tour of the Grand Canyon
The Hermit Road route shuttle bus, aka the red line, takes visitors between the Grand Canyon Village and Hermits rest along a 7-mile road built on the rim of the Grand Canyon. Visitors will enjoy stops at up to 9 scenic viewpoints.
Cost: Entrance Fee for the Grand Canyon National Park. $35 per private vehicle (valid for 7 days), or $80 for an America the Beautiful annual pass. (Prices subject to change)
Average Time: 4 + hours
Highlights: Scenic views, hiking opportunities, a snack shop at Hermits Rest and 9 scenic stops. The stops include Pima Point, Monument Creek Vista, The Abyss, Mohave Point, Hopi Point, Powell Point, Maricopa Point, Trailview Overlook and Hermit Trailhead.
Day 3: Visiting Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
1. Wupatki National Monument – historic pueblo buildings and visitor center
The Wupatki National Monument features a glimpse into the historic lives of the Pueblo communities who lived in the area in the early 1100s. Historic buildings, history and scenic desert views await visitors.
Official Website: Wupatki Monument
Cost: The entrance fee for the Wupatki National Monument is $25 per private vehicle (valid for 7 days), or $80 for an America the Beautiful annual pass. (Prices subject to change)
Average Time: 2 – 3 hours
Highlights: Visit pueblo structures, explore the visitor center, and see local wildlife.
2. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater Volcano (formed around 1085 AD) is a large cinder cone located in a string of volcanoes near Flagstaff. Experts believe the original eruption created lava flows extending up to 6 miles away from the crater itself.
Today, the volcano is still considered a “moderate” threat and monitored closely by officials.
Official Website: Sunset Crater Park
Cost: The entrance fee for the Sunset Crater Volcano is $25 per private vehicle (valid for 7 days), or $80 for an America the Beautiful annual pass. (Prices subject to change)
Average Time: 1 -2 hours (unless hiking)
Highlights: Visitor center, various hikes and trails, though the main crater trail is closed, local wildlife and historic information.
3. Dinner at NiMarco’s Pizza
Dinner at NiMarco’s Pizza West – 1800 S Milton Road, # 500, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Official Website: NiMarco’s Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza, wings, salad and cold drinks.
Cost: $$
Our thoughts: Yelp, TripAdvisor and Google Reviews all clock-in at 4.5 stars for NiMarco’s. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sample their pizza while in town. The salad was huge, the pizza delicious, and we had leftovers the next day for our big hike up Humphreys Peak. This is definitely on our list of go-to pizza places when we’re back in Flagstaff.
Day 4: Summiting Humphreys Peak, the tallest mountain in Arizona
1. Hiking up Humphreys Peak
Humphreys Peak Trail (No. 151) is a steep mountain trail that takes hikers to the highest point in all of Arizona. Located next to the Snowbowl Resort, hikers will be awed by sweeping views, seasonal wildflowers, and bragging rights for summiting the 12,633’ dormant volcano.
Distance: ~10-11 miles round trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation Gain: ~3,350
Average Time: ~7 Hours
Learn more about our experience summiting Humphreys Peak.
2. B-24 Plane Crash Wreckage Site (on the way up Humphreys Peak)
On the side of Humphreys Peak, at approximately 11,000 feet, you’ll find the crash site of a B-24 Bomber that smashed into the mountainside, killing all those onboard.
Distance: ~7.0 miles round trip
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation Gain: ~1,940 feet
Learn more about our experience searching for the B-24 Plane Crash site.
3. Dinner at Coco’s Bakery
Dinner at Coco’s Bakery – 360 W. Forest Meadows St., Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Official Website: Coco’s Bakery
Cost: $$
Cuisine: Casual American fare and bakery
Our thoughts: Coco’s has something for everyone. Chow down on a burger, sandwich, or salad. You can even get breakfast served all day! The best part, of course, is their freshly baked goodies. Pies, cinnamon rolls, muffins and delicious shakes. I never knew I wanted a piece of homemade pie in a milkshake before Coco’s. We ended up eating at Coco’s twice on our visit. It was close to our hotel and we enjoyed both our meals.
Is visiting Flagstaff, Arizona worth it?
Rating: 4.5 Mooses
What we liked:
- Flagstaff is filled with tons of outdoor activities, far more than four days allow.
- There were plenty of lodging opportunities and restaurants to choose from.
What we didn’t like:
- The town has been around for a long time and used to be a popular stop on Route 66. Unfortunately, this means the traffic and population have outgrown the infrastructure. Driving around the city can be frustrating in high traffic times.
- The altitude in Flagstaff is nearly 7,000 feet above sea level. This can take some getting used to if you live in lower altitude areas. It can make sleeping and physical activity more difficult.
Verdict: We really enjoyed our time in Flagstaff and we are already planning a trip back.
Things we wish we had time for
- Visit the Grand Canyon Deer Farm. The Deer Farm describes itself as a 10-acre animal wonderland. You can view many different animals including wallabies, bison, peacocks and of course feed deer from your hand. We had hoped to go on our way out of town, but ran out of time. It’s on our list for our next visit!
- A day trip to Sedona. Sedona is packed with things we love. Hiking, biking, beautiful scenery, and so much more. The temperature in Sedona was too hot when we were in town and we ultimately decided we wanted to spend more than one day there.
- Hiking – we only completed two hikes (Humphreys and Aspen Loop) and we know there is more to explore. A few popular ones include, Elden Lookout Trail, Mars Hill Trail and the Inner Basin Trail.
- Walnut Canyon National Monument – This area features ancient ruins of dwellings carved into the local cliffs. We were hoping to have time to see the cliff houses and check out the visitor center. There are also scenic views and a variety of plant life.
- A visit to Bearizona. This is a unique wildlife park that offers a self-guided drive-thru tour, a walk-thru area and various shows. It was another activity we were eyeing, but ran out of time.
- There were three other disc courses in town: McPherson Park, Thorpe, and Fort Tuthill. All three are highly rated on google and on our list!
- Coconino National Forest. While part of Humphreys peak was in Coconino, we feel there is more to explore. There are multiple lakes, hiking trails, and points of interest to see.
Practical Information for your trip
Where to stay in Flagstaff, AZ?
We ended up staying at the Springhill Suites Flagstaff. There are a ton of Airbnb options and other rental options available in the area. In fact, we were supposed to visit Flagstaff about six months before and had an Airbnb picked out, but unfortunately had to cancel our trip.
The second time around, we decided to use some long overdue hotel points and stayed for free (except for parking).
I didn’t take any pictures of the hotel, but I did get a snap of a nice sunset from our room. Yes, that’s an actual Sizzler near the hotel and it’s still open.
Flagstaff is pretty spread out, but depending on where you stay, you may be able to walk to a fair number of restaurants. Our hotel was close enough to several options.
More information for your trip to Flagstaff, AZ
