I’m back with the second installment of my blog series about National Parks near major cities. With fall weather fast approaching this is the ideal time to plan a visit to some of our desert National Parks! These are also great places to visit in the winter and crowds are often lower than the busy summer months. Start planning your trip now and cross off a few of these National Parks close to Phoenix from your bucket list!

| Read: National Parks Near Las Vegas |

about Phoenix, Arizona

Summer temperatures can reach triple digits. However, the rest of the year ranges from upper 60°s to upper 80°s. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is the most convenient major airport, but there are also a handful of public airports in town. Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) is another international airport located 20 miles southeast of Phoenix.

4 National Parks close to Phoenix

Saguaro NP (1½ hours from Phoenix)

Saguaro National Park is divided between two different districts in Tucson, Arizona. In the east you have the Rincon Mountain District and includes a portion of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. The Tucson Mountain District is in the west and features many more difficult hikes. It’s best to get an early start and beat the heat and crowds! Looking for a great place to stay in Tucson? Check out our review of the Hotel McCoy here!

Petrified Forest (3½ hours from Phoenix)

Petrified Forest National Park is located between Interstate 40 and Highway 180 in eastern Arizona. In addition to the unique archeology and ecology of the park, it is the only park in the National Park System containing a section of Historic Route 66. Keep in mind that unlike most National Parks, Petrified Forest is not open 24 hours. That means you can only drive through from 8 am to 6 pm.

Joshua Tree NP (3½ hours from Phoenix)

Joshua Tree National Park is located in the California desert where two desert ecosystems come together. This makes the plant and animal life very unique. The 10 freeway is only minutes from the Cottonwood Visitor Center so you can easily and quickly visit on your way through. If you have time plan a stop at Skull Rock–your kids will love exploring the boulders.

Grand Canyon (3½ hours from Phoenix)

We haven’t been to Grand Canyon National Park since our youngest was a newborn but we can’t wait to go back! Why? Grand Canyon is one of those places that you need to experience because pictures don’t do it justice! Spring and fall are considered to be the best times to visit when weather is pleasant and crowds are low. Only the south rim is close to Phoenix though–the north rim is an additional 4+ hours away!

Which one of these desert National Parks would you like to see?

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