Star trails and blowing snow over Humphreys Peak in a long night exposure
Things to do

Things to do in Flagstaff

Telescopes, cliff dwellings, a volcano and a meteor crater are all close to town, with snow on the mountain and the Grand Canyon up the road. Most are within an hour of downtown, and several cost nothing.

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Pick by what you want
Checked November 3, 202618 ideasPrices and hours

Humphreys Peak, January 2009 · Photo: JohnIngraham / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Credits

The short answer

Match the day to what you want

  • Stars through a telescopeLowell ObservatorySix telescopes on the open deck after dark; closed Tuesdays.Adults $35, kids $20
  • Cliff dwellingsWalnut CanyonA loop trail past cliff dwellings, about 12 miles east.$25 per car
  • A volcano to walk aroundSunset Crater and WupatkiThe 1-mile Lava Flow Trail, then the Wupatki pueblos on the same loop road.$25 per car for both
  • A walk that costs nothingDowntown and Route 66Historic blocks, the 1926 train station and the old hotels.Free; parking $2 an hour
  • Something for a rainy dayMuseum of Northern ArizonaOpen daily 10 am to 5 pm, last entry 4 pm.Adults $18, kids 9 and under free
  • Snow for the kidsSnow play and tubingThe Snow Park, the Nordic Village and where you can park.Tubing from $13
  • SkiingArizona SnowbowlOpens November 20, 2026, with a free shuttle from downtown.Kids 12 and under free
  • Animals from the carBearizonaA drive-through wildlife park near Williams.Weekdays: adults $30, kids $20
  • The Grand Canyon by trainGrand Canyon RailwayLeaves Williams at 9:30 am and reaches the South Rim at 11:45 am, January to October.From $135.21 on Viator
  • A free hike in townBuffalo ParkA flat 2-mile loop with the San Francisco Peaks behind it.Free

Visiting November to February? Snowbowl opens on November 20, 2026, and the snow play areas open with the snow. The Arboretum is closed until late April, the West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon until February 28, 2027, and Meteor Crater's floor tours are paused.

Snow and Christmas
Show me:

In and around town

Close enough for an afternoon, and most of it works in any season.

  • The wooden Clark Dome at Lowell Observatory
    Photo: Pretzelpaws / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Lowell Observatory

    Mars Hill, 1.75 miles from downtown

    Cost
    Adults $35, kids $20
    Hours
    Noon to 10 pm, closed Tuesdays
    Best for
    An evening, with or without kids

    Tours, exhibits, shows and, after dark, six telescopes on the open deck.

    Visiting Lowell
  • Route 66 in downtown Flagstaff at night, with the lit Hotel Monte Vista sign
    Photo: Rod Ramsey / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

    Downtown and Route 66

    Heritage Square

    Cost
    Free; parking $2 an hour
    Hours
    Any time
    Best for
    A free afternoon on foot

    Historic blocks, the 1926 train station and the old hotels, with ghost, mural and Route 66 walking tours.

    Downtown Flagstaff
  • The stone building of the Museum of Northern Arizona
    Photo: Jllm06 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Museum of Northern Arizona

    3101 N Fort Valley Road

    Cost
    Adults $18, kids 9 and under free
    Hours
    Daily 10 am to 5 pm, last entry 4 pm
    Best for
    A rainy day, and Native art and history

    Closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and December 24 and 25. Buying online is recommended; online tickets can't be refunded.

    Museum of Northern Arizona
  • The Riordan Mansion in Flagstaff
    Photo: James Jones / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

    Riordan Mansion

    1.7 miles from downtown

    Cost
    Guided tour $18 for adults
    Hours
    Tours daily, on the hour
    Best for
    Architecture and history

    A 1904 Arts and Crafts home built for two Riordan families, shown on a one-hour guided tour.

    Riordan Mansion

Parks, trails and gardens in town

Free or cheap, and close enough for a morning before you drive out.

  • Buffalo Park

    North side of town, below Mount Elden

    Cost
    Free
    Best for
    A walk or run with mountain views

    A flat 2-mile loop across open meadow with the San Francisco Peaks behind it, popular with runners training at altitude. The Nate Avery urban trail starts here.

    Hiking in Flagstaff

  • Picture Canyon

    El Paso Flagstaff Road, northeast Flagstaff

    Cost
    Free
    Best for
    Petroglyphs on a short hike

    Sinagua petroglyphs and a small waterfall on the Rio de Flag. The Tom Moody Trail makes a 2.8-mile loop; the Don Weaver Trail a shorter one.

    Hiking in Flagstaff
  • Closed for the season

    The Arboretum at Flagstaff

    Woody Mountain Road, 3.7 miles off Route 66; the last stretch is partly unpaved

    Cost
    Adults $14, ages 5–17 $8
    Hours
    Wednesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm, late April to late October
    Best for
    Gardens in summer

    Gardens of Colorado Plateau plants in the ponderosa forest. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm, from late April to late October; the 2026 season ended October 25.

Canyons, craters and ruins

Three national monuments and a meteor crater, all within an hour's drive.

Snow and Christmas

From November, Flagstaff turns into Arizona's snow town.

Day trips

The Grand Canyon is about 80 miles north, Sedona about 34 miles south.

Tours

Popular tours from Flagstaff

A full day at the Grand Canyon, or an evening walk downtown.

All Grand Canyon tours All tours from Flagstaff Hiking With kids Rainy day Events
Small-Group Grand Canyon Complete Tour
Photo: Ma & Pa Tours via Viator

Ma & Pa Tours

4.9 (2,144 reviews on Viator)

Small-Group Grand Canyon Complete Tour

9 to 11 hours

One long day that takes in the whole drive: the canyon from the East Rim and the South Rim, ancient ruins, lava fields and the volcanoes north of Flagstaff, with a stop at the Cameron Trading Post on the Navajo Nation.

You're picked up at your hotel in Flagstaff or Sedona, so nobody has to drive or find parking at the rim.

  • East Rim and South Rim viewpoints
  • Hotel pickup in Flagstaff
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

From $208.72 on Viator

Check Prices & Availability
Good to know
  • Groups of up to 14
  • Children 8 and under need a car seat or booster (Arizona law)
  • Send your hotel details at least 72 hours before the tour
Downtown Flagstaff Ghost Tour
Photo: Freaky Foot Tours via Viator

Freaky Foot Tours

4.8 (465 reviews on Viator)

Downtown Flagstaff Ghost Tour

75 minutes

A one-mile walk through the haunted history of downtown, from the old hotels to the railroad blocks.

Short enough for the whole family after dinner, and it ends back in the middle of town.

  • About a mile on foot
  • 75 minutes
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

From $35 on Viator

Check Prices & Availability
Good to know
  • Groups of up to 30
Historic Route 66 Cultural Walking Tour
Photo: Freaky Foot Tours via Viator

Freaky Foot Tours

4.9 (33 reviews on Viator)

Historic Route 66 Cultural Walking Tour

2 hours

A century of Route 66 on foot, with photo stops at classic neon signs and vintage motels along both of the old alignments through town.

  • Neon signs and vintage motels
  • Both Route 66 alignments
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

From $35 on Viator

Check Prices & Availability
Good to know
  • Groups of up to 15
Where to stay

Where to stay for all of it

Downtown and Milton Road put you closest to Lowell, the museums and dinner; the east side is closest to Walnut Canyon and Meteor Crater.

  1. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel FlagstaffPhoto: Expedia

    1 / 7

    Photos: ExpediaCheck prices on Expedia

    Best for groupsMilton Road and NAU 9.2/10 on Expedia

    DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Flagstaff

    Free parkingPets: up to 2 petsBreakfast extra

    On Milton Road near NAU, with free parking, free rollaways and cribs, and two restaurants on site.

    • Good for Groups and families who need free rollaways or cribs
    • Good for Dinner on site: Woodlands Restaurant and Sakura Sushi & Teppanyaki
    • Skip if You want a pool between October and May

    Check prices on Expedia Photos, rules and fees

Quick answers

What is there to do in Flagstaff?

Stargazing at Lowell Observatory, the cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater and Meteor Crater, skiing and snow play in winter, walking tours downtown, and day trips to the Grand Canyon and Sedona.

What to do in Flagstaff in December?

Ski or snowboard at Snowbowl (opening November 20, 2026), go tubing at the Snow Park, take the kids to the North Pole Experience or the Polar Express in Williams, and look at the stars on a clear night at Lowell.

What to do in Flagstaff for a day?

Walk downtown in the morning, see the cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon in the afternoon (last start 4 pm), and spend the evening at Lowell Observatory.

Is Flagstaff worth visiting?

If you like the outdoors, yes: it's a mountain town at 7,000 feet with four seasons, three national monuments nearby, and the Grand Canyon and Sedona within a day trip.

What to do in Flagstaff this weekend?

In winter: Snowbowl, snow play and the Christmas trips. The rest of the year: the monuments, Lowell Observatory and the day trips.

How do you spend a weekend in Flagstaff?

Day one in town: Buffalo Park or Picture Canyon in the morning, downtown at lunch, Walnut Canyon in the afternoon and Lowell Observatory after dark. Day two out of town: the Grand Canyon to the north or Sedona through Oak Creek Canyon to the south. In winter, swap a morning for Snowbowl or the Snow Park.

What are free things to do in Flagstaff?

Walking downtown and along Route 66, the 2-mile loop at Buffalo Park, the petroglyphs at Picture Canyon, and the urban trails along the Rio de Flag. Stargazing is free too: Flagstaff was the world's first International Dark Sky City, in 2001.

What is Flagstaff known for?

The Grand Canyon nearby, dark skies (it was the world's first International Dark Sky City, and Pluto was discovered at Lowell Observatory in 1930), Route 66, and snow at 7,000 feet in a state better known for desert.