When to Go

Low Season: If you're on a budget, the posh desert resorts drop their prices—sometimes by more than half—June through September. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon and Sedona are busy year-round but least busy during the winter months. Remember that the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed in winter, from mid-October to mid-May.

Shoulder Season: Spring is a near-perfect time to visit; wildflowers are best from March until May in Southern Arizona and May-June in the higher elevations. Prices for lodging in Phoenix and Tucson can still be high through April, as the weather is glorious for golfing, hiking and biking; May is less expensive, though a bit warmer in the desert. Fall is a great shoulder season in terms of both budget and weather in all parts of the state: lodging costs less, and it's balmy in the desert regions and pleasantly crisp in the mountains up north.

High Season: High season at the resorts of Phoenix and Tucson is winter, when the snowbirds fly south. Expect the best temperatures—and the highest prices—January through March, when nearly every weekend is filled with outdoor festivals. Also take note that areas such as eastern Arizona are most popular with summer travelers, so many shops and restaurants are closed in the winter months.

Weather

For a statewide excursion, keep in mind that Arizona's climate is extreme. Although a winter visit might be most comfortable in Phoenix, remember that the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and Sedona—Arizona's high country—will be quite cold then.

Phoenix averages 325 sunny days and 7 inches of precipitation annually. The high mountains see about 25 inches of rain. The Grand Canyon is usually cool at the rim and about 20°F warmer on the floor. The North Rim is generally about 10°F cooler than the South Rim, which is open year-round. Temperatures in valley areas like Phoenix and Tucson average about 60°F to 70°F in the daytime in winter and between 100°F and 115°F in summer. Flagstaff and Sedona stay much cooler, dropping into the 30s and 40s in winter and leveling off at 80°F to 90°F in summer.