Just when we think all the hidden gems in Arizona have been discovered, a few more rear their heads. From a quaint fishing community frozen in time to a whimsical town with a space-themed restaurant and motel, this 10-hour Arizona hidden gems road trip leads to some of the Grand Canyon State’s most underrated destinations.
Google Maps Follow along on Google Maps!
- Martinez Lake
Facebook/Martinez Lake Resort Established in 1958, Martinez Lake is a quaint little fishing community frozen in time. With a population of under 1,000, the town flies under the radar of most Arizonans—but we’re seeking to change that. If you’re looking for an overnight adventure, Martinez Lake Resort offers year-round water recreation, a top-notch bar and restaurant, and several different lodging options. Martinez Lake, AZ 85365, USA
- Dateland Travel Center & Date Gardens (Dateland)
TripAdvisor/DrPaulagrace Not your average gas station, Dateland Travel Center & Date Gardens is a quirky roadside stop between Yuma and Phoenix. From all sorts of date-filled baked goods to their world-famous date shakes and ice cream, this middle-of-nowhere destination serves up delicious treats you won’t believe are healthy. Dateland Travel Center (Autos), 1737 Ave 64 E, Dateland, AZ 85333, USA
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (Ajo)
Google/Moly Noky Sharing a border with the Mexican state of Sonora, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a place in the U.S. where the organ pipe cactus grows wild. Spanning over 330,000 acres, this incredible place is not only a national monument, but a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, as well. In addition to the organ pipe cactus, visitors will also see a variety of other types of cacti and desert plant life on dozens of hiking trails. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, 10 Organ Pipe Dr, Ajo, AZ 85321, USA
- Gila Bend
Google/Best Western Space Age Lodge Among the quirkiest towns you’ll ever visit, Gila Bend is truly “out-of-this-world.” Between massive dinosaur statues, ancient petroglyphs, and a space-themed Best Western motel, this itty bitty city is a hidden gem that everyone should visit at least once. Gila Bend, AZ, USA
- Estrella Mountain Regional Park (Goodyear)
TripAdvisor/Jerri L. Not far from the much more popular South Mountain Park and Preserve, Estrella Mountain Regional Park often gets overlooked. That’s a real shame, as its 20,000 acres of largely undisturbed mountain and wetland terrain boast endless opportunities for adventure. Over 33 miles of multi-use trails, baseball fields, a golf course, fishing from the Gila River, and the only grassy picnic area in the Maricopa County Park System await you. Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W Vineyard Ave, Goodyear, AZ 85338, USA
- Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
Wikimedia Commons / Farwestern Photo by Gregg M. Erickson Kofa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939 as part of an effort to protect desert bighorn sheep. Rugged and desolate, the 665,000-acre expanse boasts a striking variety of native flora and fauna, which visitors can marvel at on several hiking trails. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Palm Canyon Rd, Yuma, AZ 85365, USA
How many of these hidden gems in Arizona have you visited? Would you add any to the list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and check out some of our previous articles to learn more about Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
Google Maps
Follow along on Google Maps!
Facebook/Martinez Lake Resort
Established in 1958, Martinez Lake is a quaint little fishing community frozen in time. With a population of under 1,000, the town flies under the radar of most Arizonans—but we’re seeking to change that. If you’re looking for an overnight adventure, Martinez Lake Resort offers year-round water recreation, a top-notch bar and restaurant, and several different lodging options.
Martinez Lake, AZ 85365, USA
TripAdvisor/DrPaulagrace
Not your average gas station, Dateland Travel Center & Date Gardens is a quirky roadside stop between Yuma and Phoenix. From all sorts of date-filled baked goods to their world-famous date shakes and ice cream, this middle-of-nowhere destination serves up delicious treats you won’t believe are healthy.
Dateland Travel Center (Autos), 1737 Ave 64 E, Dateland, AZ 85333, USA
Google/Moly Noky
Sharing a border with the Mexican state of Sonora, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a place in the U.S. where the organ pipe cactus grows wild. Spanning over 330,000 acres, this incredible place is not only a national monument, but a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, as well. In addition to the organ pipe cactus, visitors will also see a variety of other types of cacti and desert plant life on dozens of hiking trails.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, 10 Organ Pipe Dr, Ajo, AZ 85321, USA
Google/Best Western Space Age Lodge
Among the quirkiest towns you’ll ever visit, Gila Bend is truly “out-of-this-world.” Between massive dinosaur statues, ancient petroglyphs, and a space-themed Best Western motel, this itty bitty city is a hidden gem that everyone should visit at least once.
Gila Bend, AZ, USA
TripAdvisor/Jerri L.
Not far from the much more popular South Mountain Park and Preserve, Estrella Mountain Regional Park often gets overlooked. That’s a real shame, as its 20,000 acres of largely undisturbed mountain and wetland terrain boast endless opportunities for adventure. Over 33 miles of multi-use trails, baseball fields, a golf course, fishing from the Gila River, and the only grassy picnic area in the Maricopa County Park System await you.
Estrella Mountain Regional Park, 14805 W Vineyard Ave, Goodyear, AZ 85338, USA
Wikimedia Commons / Farwestern Photo by Gregg M. Erickson
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939 as part of an effort to protect desert bighorn sheep. Rugged and desolate, the 665,000-acre expanse boasts a striking variety of native flora and fauna, which visitors can marvel at on several hiking trails.
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Palm Canyon Rd, Yuma, AZ 85365, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Arizona Hidden Gems Road Trip May 13, 2022 Tori Jane What are some of the best hidden gems in Arizona? Arizona is in and of itself a hidden gem if you ask us! It’s so much more than just the Grand Canyon (which is still pretty awesome) and seemingly endless desert landscapes. We have lots of favorite hidden gems in Arizona to choose from, like Saguaro Lake, and many other lakes as well. We love Lake Mary, in northern Arizona, and Woods Canyon Lake as well. You can visit Colossal Cave, an absolutely incredible cave system in southern Arizona complete with stalactites and stalagmites galore. Other beloved hidden gems in Arizona include delights like the crazy drive on Schnebly Hill Road in Sedona, which is a rough road appropriate for high-profile vehicles that leads to some of the most incredible scenery in Arizona. Where are the most unique places in Arizona? Arizona is in and of itself a very unique place. After all, it’s not every day you come across a place that’s got almost every kind of ecosystem in it! In northern Arizona, you’ll find stunningly beautiful Ponderosa Pine forests. These forests are home to some of the best hikes in Arizona - and the weather is always much cooler up there than it is down in Phoenix. Down south, around Tucson, you’ll find incredible desert beauty at Saguaro National Park, which is about as unique as it gets, considering the desert southwest is the only place where the giant saguaro grows. Visit Sedona and take in some of the world’s most incredible geography in the form of red cliffs, buttes, and mountains. Arizona is amazing – get out and explore! What kind of Arizona road trip ideas are the best ones? Honestly… every road trip in Arizona is a great one. Some of our favorite Arizona road trips include driving the amazing 89A, north to south or south to north. You’ll pass through incredible forests, see an epic extinct volcano at Sunset Crater north of Flagstaff, and you’ll also meander through Oak Creek Canyon between Flagstaff and Sedona. The 89A is considered one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the United States – not just in Arizona! You could also create road trips out of things like the amazing state parks in Arizona, our stunning National Parks, or even simple city parks. We’re also big fans of driving all the scenic routes in Arizona – our scenic byways are second to none.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Arizona Hidden Gems Road Trip
May 13, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some of the best hidden gems in Arizona? Arizona is in and of itself a hidden gem if you ask us! It’s so much more than just the Grand Canyon (which is still pretty awesome) and seemingly endless desert landscapes. We have lots of favorite hidden gems in Arizona to choose from, like Saguaro Lake, and many other lakes as well. We love Lake Mary, in northern Arizona, and Woods Canyon Lake as well. You can visit Colossal Cave, an absolutely incredible cave system in southern Arizona complete with stalactites and stalagmites galore. Other beloved hidden gems in Arizona include delights like the crazy drive on Schnebly Hill Road in Sedona, which is a rough road appropriate for high-profile vehicles that leads to some of the most incredible scenery in Arizona. Where are the most unique places in Arizona? Arizona is in and of itself a very unique place. After all, it’s not every day you come across a place that’s got almost every kind of ecosystem in it! In northern Arizona, you’ll find stunningly beautiful Ponderosa Pine forests. These forests are home to some of the best hikes in Arizona - and the weather is always much cooler up there than it is down in Phoenix. Down south, around Tucson, you’ll find incredible desert beauty at Saguaro National Park, which is about as unique as it gets, considering the desert southwest is the only place where the giant saguaro grows. Visit Sedona and take in some of the world’s most incredible geography in the form of red cliffs, buttes, and mountains. Arizona is amazing – get out and explore! What kind of Arizona road trip ideas are the best ones? Honestly… every road trip in Arizona is a great one. Some of our favorite Arizona road trips include driving the amazing 89A, north to south or south to north. You’ll pass through incredible forests, see an epic extinct volcano at Sunset Crater north of Flagstaff, and you’ll also meander through Oak Creek Canyon between Flagstaff and Sedona. The 89A is considered one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the United States – not just in Arizona! You could also create road trips out of things like the amazing state parks in Arizona, our stunning National Parks, or even simple city parks. We’re also big fans of driving all the scenic routes in Arizona – our scenic byways are second to none.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Arizona is in and of itself a hidden gem if you ask us! It’s so much more than just the Grand Canyon (which is still pretty awesome) and seemingly endless desert landscapes. We have lots of favorite hidden gems in Arizona to choose from, like Saguaro Lake, and many other lakes as well. We love Lake Mary, in northern Arizona, and Woods Canyon Lake as well. You can visit Colossal Cave, an absolutely incredible cave system in southern Arizona complete with stalactites and stalagmites galore. Other beloved hidden gems in Arizona include delights like the crazy drive on Schnebly Hill Road in Sedona, which is a rough road appropriate for high-profile vehicles that leads to some of the most incredible scenery in Arizona.
Where are the most unique places in Arizona?
Arizona is in and of itself a very unique place. After all, it’s not every day you come across a place that’s got almost every kind of ecosystem in it! In northern Arizona, you’ll find stunningly beautiful Ponderosa Pine forests. These forests are home to some of the best hikes in Arizona - and the weather is always much cooler up there than it is down in Phoenix. Down south, around Tucson, you’ll find incredible desert beauty at Saguaro National Park, which is about as unique as it gets, considering the desert southwest is the only place where the giant saguaro grows. Visit Sedona and take in some of the world’s most incredible geography in the form of red cliffs, buttes, and mountains. Arizona is amazing – get out and explore!
What kind of Arizona road trip ideas are the best ones?
Honestly… every road trip in Arizona is a great one. Some of our favorite Arizona road trips include driving the amazing 89A, north to south or south to north. You’ll pass through incredible forests, see an epic extinct volcano at Sunset Crater north of Flagstaff, and you’ll also meander through Oak Creek Canyon between Flagstaff and Sedona. The 89A is considered one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the United States – not just in Arizona! You could also create road trips out of things like the amazing state parks in Arizona, our stunning National Parks, or even simple city parks. We’re also big fans of driving all the scenic routes in Arizona – our scenic byways are second to none.
