I know what you’re thinking – the middle of the desert? In summer? What are you, nuts? Maybe a little, but there are definitely a lot of perks about visiting Arizona in the middle of summer! Push the triple-digit temperatures out of your mind, and take the good with the bad! Here’s what to expect visiting Arizona in July.
It’s really f****** hot.
This is probably the most obvious statement ever. Sure, “it’s a dry heat” – but it’s also a heat like no other. Imagine sitting inside a convection oven. It’s hot. Like, stupid hot. Do as the locals do and get up and do your outdoor activities early, or later in the evening. If you’re staying in Phoenix and are hoping to hike up Camelback Mountain, you’ll want to be on the trails by 6 am. Any later and you’ll be caught outside in the intolerable mid-day heat. Once the sun starts to set, it’ll cool down and you can be outside again, but you’ll be racing daylight. Spend your days in the pool or air conditioning!
You’ll beat the crowds
The middle of the desert in summer isn’t exactly “high season” for tourists. Activities, attractions, and the cities/towns in general will feel comfortable. When we visited the Grand Canyon on the Fourth of July, we were anticipating the place to be mobbed. Sure, it was relatively busy (for being one of the most famous national parks and a major holiday), but there was never a time where we felt crowded. We had plenty of room to walk, explore, take pictures, and space out. We felt that way in general, whether we were riding scooters around Scottsdale or driving through downtown Phoenix. It was a nice change of pace!
Everything will be cheaper
This is off-season, and everything is priced as such! Hotels, rental cars, and even some tourist attractions price their services to match the demand. Take full advantage by booking a stay at a luxury resort for a fraction of what it’d be in high season. Invest in a good resort with nice pools- you’ll need it during the days! We stayed at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, a four-star resort in Phoenix. This is totally something that I would never do. I always book relatively cheap accommodations, and fill my days with activities instead of lodging amenities. However, when we saw it was less than $100 per night, it was too good of a deal to pass up! There was a lazy river, numerous pools, hot tubs, waterslides, and so much more. In peak season, the same room was going for $300-$400 per night! We felt like bandits!
Some businesses will be closed
One thing that we were not expecting, was that businesses, restaurants, and shops close during the hot summer months. Not everywhere, but when we were riding scooters around Scottsdale, it was very quiet. We’d pass by dozens of small stores and wanted to go in- only to find a note on the door that they were closed until late August/early September. Thankfully, we still found plenty that were open to fill our shopping itch, but it was certainly something that threw us for a loop. Can’t say I blame business owners for getting out of town to avoid the heat!
There are places to beat the heat
While I realize this entire post has been referencing to Arizona as the Phoenix/Scottsdale/desert area, I also recognize that’s not fair. Arizona is a huge state and is as diverse as any other! If you’re visiting Arizona in July, escape to the mountains and the cooler towns of Flagstaff or Sedona. On average, summer temperatures in are anywhere from 10-25 degrees cooler than in Phoenix. They’re both adorable cities with plenty of shops and restaurants, and plenty of outdoor activities as well. Plus, you’ll get to diversify your vacation from desert and cacti. Win, win!
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