Good AZ one-two day road trips with family?

Hey y'all, I live down in San Tan Valley (85143). Just looking for some cool 1-2 day destination road trips to do with the family.

Have done the Grand Canyon 1x, Sedona area 2x but more on the 89A and not really the desert part, usually go camping once a year on the Rim near Woods Canyon Lake, and have hiked to Cibecue Falls twice.

Prefer things that are relatively kid friendly (9 & 11 year old girls), and stock height 4x2 friendly as well.


Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

-Rob

 

Have you been to Tonto National Bridge? It's up just north of Payson, and it's an easy kid-friendly hike down to the bottom below the arch. It's a few bucks to get into the park, and it's all paved, but something really cool to do for a couple hours while enjoying the Payson/Pine/Strawberry area.

Crown King is one of my favorite day trips. You can get to it off the I-17 a little bit north of Black Canyon City but before Sunset Point. 25 miles of graded and maintained dirt road up to the top, but it puts you over 6500' in elevation so it's a quick way to see some snow and pines. Nice drive ranging from typical AZ desert all the way up to ponderosa pines with snow (got some yesterday). Great couple of old rustic restaurants up there, and if you drive through town (all dirt) just a couple miles back, there are all sorts of places to picnic and hike around. Just don't go up when it's too wet, or the roads past town get really sticky and rutted. One of the main characters from the Discovery Channel show Gold Rush lives up there during the winter, so you'll see him at The Mill restaurant quite often.

Local reservoirs down by Phoenix are always good for day trips. I like Lake Pleasant because there are a few things to do and different ways to access parts of it. Have lunch or dinner at Dillon's barbecue down in Scorpion Bay, or go to the main marina and check out the boats and eat at the restaurant there. Grated dirt trails that go around the west side of the lake to the north coves, too. 4x2 and stock height friendly (I saw a Camaro back there last year) to explore the north coves. Bartlett Lake is always an easy drive, but bring a lunch. Same with Canyon, Apache, etc.

Flagstaff is a fun town. Take the kids sledding off the side of the road, lots of places downtown to just park and walk around to. Hiking in the area all over. Tons to do.

Those are just a couple fan favorites (and personal favorites). Let us know more of the activities you guys like to do, and maybe we can offer more specific ideas.

 

Seabass has some good suggestions.

The Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson is a must see. IMO probably the best zoo in the country. Gonna try to make it there again this winter.

Kartchner Caverns is on my list to see.

The territorial prison in Yuma is interesting. There are a couple of other worthwhile places to see in that area, too.

 

Everyone, thank you for the suggestions so far. Went up to the Tonto Natural Bridge last Weds with my daughters and their friend since they were out of school for Veteran's Day.
-Took the drive up in the morning, and ate breakfast at the Beeline Cafe in Payson before going to the park (note to others: cash only there. Food was on par with what I expected for breakfast. Their bacon was crisp & thick if you like bacon. Gravy for the biscuits was a little bland, but they have to accommodate everyone's tastes so it was about what I expected).
-Went to the park and hiked three of the trails. Was a great time and not crowded at all. All three trails were fun. Took some pictures out there, but haven't downloaded them yet.
-Went to Wilderness Village or whatever that little shop is. Let the kids walk around and look at things in there. Kinda a neat little shop.
-Went to the top of the Rim to Forest Lakes area just for the drive since my kids' friend had never been up there. There was a small amount of snow left over, very slushy though. Kids did not care, they were very excited about snow.

Brought some snacks and a thermos of coffee for me, and a thermos of hot chocolate for the kids. Everyone had fun and we were back in Queen Creek in time for some In N Out for an early dinner.

Great day!

 

I'll second the Apache Trail, and you make make it a loop by coming back trough Globe-Superior. This can be done as a long day trip or better as a 1 nighter, which is what we did in the spring by staying at a B&B in Globe. Stop at the lakes, check out the dam, hit up Tonto Nat. Mon. (Indian ruins) near the dam, and there are lots to see and do coming back on the 60. I like to check trip adviser ahead of time on the towns we pass to locate points on interest.

 

I'm glad you went and checked it out, and that the kids had fun!

Pro tip: for the best breakfast in Payson, skip the Beeline Cafe and go to the Pinon Cafe which is just a few buildings to the south on the same side of the road. Their gravy is much better, portions are huge, bacon is thick and crispy. Friendly family-owned joint where all of the kids in the family are put to work and do a great job. They take credit cards, too

https://goo.gl/maps/6skYUv6ftSt

 

I've never had a need to be up there. Most folks stay right on the highway.

 

Cool. My family has lived up there for 40 years, and they go to the Pinon or they go up to Pine. I'll have to give the airport diner a shot sometime.

 

Sub'd I need to find a place away from the city for a day