Most visitors reach Arizona one of two ways: they fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor and rent a car, or they drive in from Las Vegas, Southern California or New Mexico. Both work, and many trips combine them, flying into one city and out of another. The state is large and public transport between its sights is thin, so the real decision is which airport or road puts you closest to the places you want to see first.
This guide covers the main airports, the road distances from the neighbouring cities, and the things that change the plan in November 2026: a flood-closed highway near Sedona, a South Rim with no in-park hotels, and the Navajo Nation's different clock from March.
Which airport to fly into
| Airport | Code | Best for | Scheduled service (Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Sky Harbor International | PHX | Almost every trip; Phoenix, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Tucson | 25 commercial airlines, 130+ domestic and 24 international nonstop destinations |
| Tucson International | TUS | Tucson, Saguaro, Tombstone, Bisbee, the southeast | Not confirmed for this guide; check flytucson.com |
| Mesa Gateway | AZA | Budget flights to the East Valley | Allegiant and Sun Country, 43 nonstop destinations |
| Flagstaff Pulliam | FLG | Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon | American Airlines, daily to Phoenix and Dallas/Fort Worth |
Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) is the gateway for most trips. The airport says 25 commercial airlines serve it, with more than 130 domestic and 24 international nonstop destinations, and it handled more than 51.6 million passengers in 2025. It has two passenger terminals, 3 and 4, and the free PHX Sky Train links them with the Rental Car Center and with Valley Metro Rail at 44th and Washington streets.
Tucson International (TUS) is about 9 miles (14 km) by road from downtown Tucson. Compare fares into Tucson and Phoenix: Phoenix to Tucson is only about 113 miles (182 km), roughly two hours on Interstate 10.
Mesa Gateway (AZA), in the far southeast of the Phoenix area, is served by Allegiant and Sun Country, which the airport says fly to 43 nonstop destinations. It is about 33 miles (54 km) from downtown Phoenix by road.
Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG) has one airline, American, with daily flights to Phoenix and Dallas/Fort Worth. If those connections suit you, it saves the 144-mile (232 km) drive up from Phoenix and puts you about 87 miles (140 km) from Grand Canyon Village.
Driving in from the neighbouring cities
Road distances below were measured city centre to city centre with OSRM, using the fastest route. Real driving times are longer with stops, traffic and roadworks.
| From | To | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | Kingman | 103 mi / 166 km | about 2 h 10 min |
| Las Vegas | Flagstaff | 250 mi / 402 km | about 4 h 40 min |
| Las Vegas | Grand Canyon Village (South Rim) | 276 mi / 444 km | about 5 h 20 min |
| Las Vegas | Phoenix | 286 mi / 460 km | about 6 h |
| Los Angeles | Phoenix | 373 mi / 600 km | about 6 h 40 min |
| Los Angeles | Kingman | 319 mi / 513 km | about 5 h 45 min |
| San Diego | Yuma | 172 mi / 276 km | about 3 h 10 min |
| San Diego | Phoenix | 354 mi / 570 km | about 6 h 35 min |
| Albuquerque | Holbrook | 233 mi / 376 km | about 4 h |
| Albuquerque | Flagstaff | 323 mi / 520 km | about 5 h 30 min |
| El Paso | Tucson | 318 mi / 512 km | about 5 h 30 min |
From Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon is the natural first stop. US 93 reaches Kingman in about two hours, and the fastest route to the South Rim continues on Interstate 40 and State Route 64 through Williams. A common plan is to fly into Las Vegas, drive the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Phoenix, and fly home from Phoenix; price a one-way rental against a return trip before you book.
From Los Angeles and San Diego, Interstate 10 reaches Phoenix and Interstate 8 reaches Yuma. The fastest route from Los Angeles to Kingman follows Interstate 15 and Interstate 40.
From Albuquerque, Interstate 40 enters Arizona from the east. Holbrook, the nearest town to Petrified Forest National Park, is about four hours from Albuquerque, and Flagstaff about five and a half.
Getting from Phoenix to the main sights
| From Phoenix to | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson | 113 mi / 182 km | about 2 h |
| Sedona | 116 mi / 186 km | about 2 h 15 min |
| Flagstaff | 144 mi / 232 km | about 2 h 35 min |
| Grand Canyon Village (South Rim) | 228 mi / 367 km | about 4 h 15 min |
| Page | 278 mi / 447 km | about 5 h 20 min |
The National Park Service gives similar figures for the Grand Canyon: about four hours from Phoenix to the South Rim, about 90 minutes from Flagstaff and about 60 minutes from Williams.
Interstate 17 is the main road north from Phoenix to Flagstaff. The National Weather Service in Flagstaff notes that it climbs from about 1,000 feet to 7,000 feet, so in winter you can leave Phoenix in sunshine and meet snow and ice near the top.
What's different in November 2026
- SR 89A through Oak Creek Canyon is closed. Flooding on November 1 closed State Route 89A between Sedona and Kachina Village, mileposts 375 to 397, and on November 6 ADOT reopened only the stretch from Sedona to Slide Rock State Park; north of the park the road stays closed with no reopening estimate. Until it reopens, the usual 29-mile run from Flagstaff to Sedona becomes about 58 miles (93 km) by Interstate 17 and State Route 179, roughly an hour and a quarter. From Phoenix, Sedona is reached by Interstate 17 and SR 179 as usual.
- No hotel rooms inside Grand Canyon National Park. All in-park concession lodging on the South Rim stopped taking overnight guests on August 31, 2026 after a flood broke the park's water line. The park estimated in September that water distribution would start around Thanksgiving, with lodging returning in phases. The park itself is open, and hotels in Tusayan, about 7 miles south, were not affected. See our where to stay guide.
- The North Rim closes for winter. It stays open through November 30, 2026, or until the first major snowstorm, and then State Route 67 to the rim closes to all vehicles until May 14. There is no fuel at the rim this season; the park points drivers to Jacob Lake and the North Rim Country Store, both outside the park.
- Cards only at the Grand Canyon. The park does not accept cash at its entrances. Fees are $35 per private vehicle for seven days, and non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 each unless the vehicle has an annual pass.
Time zones
Arizona does not observe daylight saving time and stays on Mountain Standard Time all year. The Navajo Nation, in the northeast, does observe it. From November 1, 2026 to March 14, 2027 the two match; from March 14, the Navajo Nation, including Monument Valley, runs one hour ahead of Phoenix and Flagstaff. If you book a tour or a timed entry in the northeast, check which time the ticket uses.
By train
Amtrak serves Arizona with two long-distance routes, but neither stops in Phoenix. The daily Southwest Chief stops at Winslow, Flagstaff and Kingman between Chicago and Los Angeles. The Sunset Limited runs three times a week in each direction between New Orleans and Los Angeles and stops at Benson, Tucson, Maricopa and Yuma. Details are in our airports and Amtrak guide.
Before you go
- Compare fares into Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas; open-jaw trips are common.
- Check az511.gov or call 511 for SR 89A and other closures before driving north.
- Carry a card for the Grand Canyon entrance; cash is not accepted.
- Grand Canyon Lodges said on November 3 that it plans to reopen its South Rim lodges on November 20, 2026. Until that is confirmed, book a bed in Tusayan, Williams or Flagstaff.
- Check whether a Navajo Nation booking is in Navajo or Arizona time after March 14, 2027.
Details checked November 6, 2026.
