Best Arizona Small Town Hidden Gems 2024

In this Arizona small towns travel guide we explore 10 hidden gem small towns that you can discover across the state. Many people visiting Arizona and Arizona residents love to visit small towns. Arizona does have many. But these are some of the top small towns for you and your family to explore in Arizona. We are also considering making a part 2 for this video about small towns in Arizona as well as a Ghost towns tour.
If you love Arizona small towns then you can also watch our Arizona road trip videos.
Arizona Small Town Hidden Gems 2024
(Timestamps)
0:00 Intro
0:50 Bisbee
2:02 Oatman
3:00 Cave Creek
4:52 Cottonwood
6:39 Tombstone
8:47 Wickenburg
10:47 Tubac
12:41 Patagonia
13:52 Jerome
15:55 Payson
17:41 Outro
Living in Arizona is quite a unique experience because of the vastness that the state offers. From the Sonoran Desert in the south to the high country in the north all the way up towards the Four Corners east and the Grand Canyon in the west. Known as the Grand Canyon state, Arizona is diverse in many ways. The state tree is the Palo Verde, the state cactus is the Saguaro, the state bird is the Cactus wren. If you are thinking about moving to Arizona feel free to subscribe and check us out on our other channels.

[@LivinginArizona]

Arizona Day Trips Travel Guide 2023 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJiqq2OjfJyjm7M

[@ijohnsonramos]

I just visited Arizona from August 13 to August 20, 2023. I simply fell in LOVE with Arizona. Went to Monument Valley, Grand Canyon Skywalk and Sedona. I'm from Puerto Rico and this was my first solo trip. But it wasn't enough for me, I want more. So I'm planning to visit Arizona again as soon as possible ($$$) to enjoy its small towns and hidden gems. Thanks so much for sharing all this information in your videos. They are my travel guides.💖👍

[@outdoorliving4724]

I visited Payson back in 2016 and loved it. My wife and I stayed at a very rustic but modern lodge called Kohl's Ranch Lodge. We reserved a cabin with wood burning fireplace and a year round creek that runs behind all the cabins. We then had a real estate agent drive us around Payson looking at homes. But everything in my budget had us in the fixer upper category. But the real beauty was the towns you spoke of like Happy Jack, Strawberry and Pine. I hope to eventually make my way there in the near future. We got a brand newly built home in Nevada, since my goal was to escape the rancedness of Los Angeles CA, as I vowed to never return to such an upside down tyrannical state like commiefornia.

[@thanhphongpham1860]

​@@ijohnsonramos.Greetings from my Vietnam. Arizona in my heart, welcome to Arizona State 💝🙋‍♀️🌵🌵✈

[@carollyngillespie3860]

I love small towns. Especially the ones with less than 1 thousand residents. Also the ghost towns.

[@HisVictoryGirl]

Yes, show more small towns, especially in northern areas. Thanks!

[@bruceklassen8261]

I want to see the ten ghost towns

[@schmonsequences]

Do Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside. Basically Flagstaff on the cheap.

[@billybrown1979]

I LIVE IN Arizona. Wilcox.Tucson.Yuma and Safford Bowie.San Simon. BE BLESS AND LOVE AND BE SAFE.

[@jameschryst7776]

I got one for ya. In 1973 I use to hitchhike up to Jerome. I'd just walk around the old house's. Pick out one that looked sound. Explore it, they were left open back then and most of them were vacant, seriously! Then I'd pick one and sleep there in the abandoned house. Can't do that anymore, most of the big buildings were abandoned too. The hospital, big apartment building on top. Dam few people back then. Jim BCC AZ

[@kenwing6196]

Bisbee has an awesome chocolate shop too! Oatman burros are cool too.

[@Nfm25]

Burros are awesome!! They make me wanna go to Oatman 🥰😻🐶😇

[@richardsanty9063]

I love all of these towns. Bisbee is my favorite.

[@ChollaJJ]

These towns are supported mostly by Tourists ! How about a list places to live that have services needed…..Grocery stores, Doctors, Hospitals, restaurant’s, Gas stations, etc…..Like Payson , Wickenburg….and smaller etc……with miscellaneous information. Thanks

[@user-xr3qi5cc7q]

Glad to see some living beings in smal towns

[@edkirby5863]

I would love to see more videos about small towns/hidden gems, etc. Thanks Jeff!

[@sweetladyjane6462]

Loved this video!!!!

[@vincenzolee6576]

We love videos on secluded areas!

[@ijohnsonramos]

I just visited Arizona from August 13 to August 20, 2023. I simply fell in LOVE with Arizona. Went to Monument Valley, Grand Canyon Skywalk and Sedona, as well as a quick visit to Kingman and Seligman (Those two weren't originally in my plans, but they just "pop up" in my way so I took the chance and visited them briefly. So glad I did! 😍) I'm from Puerto Rico and this was my first solo trip. But it wasn't enough for me, I want more. So I'm planning to visit Arizona again as soon as possible ($$$) to enjoy its small towns and hidden gems. Thanks so much for sharing all this information in your videos. They are my travel guides. 💖👍

[@estrusdavis4960]

I was born in Tucson in 1958. I really enjoy your videos of my home state. I think that you all are doing a great job showing how beautiful Arizona really is.😊

[@thanhphongpham1860]

Me too

[@Hipsygirl]

I grew up in a small town called Concho. It's about 48 minutes north of Show Low. It's starting to grow a little more, but it's got a booming town history during the 1950s, & I think (if I remember correctly) it used to be an old fort town. There's technically two parts of Concho; Old Concho & Concho Valley. While I grew up there, it was more popular for being a retirement town. And like any old "ghost towns", it has its share of ghost stories, including it's own version of La Llorona & the old dance hall where the devil would dance (it burnt down once he was discovered, & then the San Rafael Catholic Church was built on the hall's remains).

[@watertiger319]

Jeff, I seriously love these type of videos. I live in AZ and love to explore this beautiful state. A definite yes to Ghost towns with real ghosts. Many thanks to you 😊.

[@michaelbarnes4403]

Jerome was a regular town when my dad was a kid, mid 40's and was a ghost town when I was a kid, then in the late 60's the hippies found it and that is when people started living there again. :)

[@katherinegoodman6574]

Love the small town videos! Please do more. ☺️

[@wendaltvedt4673]

Jerome is by far one of my favorite places to visit in Arizona. I swear there is something truly magical about the Arizona mountain deserts in combination with the clear blue skies. It's almost like another planet. It's what keeps me coming back to visit every summer. Still need to see Tombstone and Oatman.

[@alliedavidson4175]

I'm with you, Jerome is my favorite. What a great town with an amazing view.

[@bellestarr6484]

Are you serious? Jerome is nothing but a tourist trap. The locals are laughing.

[@wendaltvedt4673]

@@bellestarr6484 I've been to Jerome a handful of times and it's never been a tourist trap. Maybe you're confused? The locals are laughing? Good for them.

[@princessmich4628]

Love the small town videos, always looking for a cool town to check out! 👍🏻🌵

[@luisbuabud9852]

What is a ghost town? Luis from argentina

[@lorimarino2173]

Love the small towns! More please!😊

[@zackman5348]

I'm visiting Seligman right now. It's a nice little AZ town that served as the inspiration for Radiator Springs in "Cars" and calls itself "The Birthplace of Historic Route 66."

[@Pompomgrenade]

Your videos are consistently making Arizona an inviting getaway...

[@iteachmy3]

Great video. I just feel like you missed all the fun shopping, especially antique shops all over Payson. If I hadn't been there, I'd assume it's bare except for hiking and camping.

[@johngray9986]

Jeff once again you hit another homerun with this video 😊

[@michaelpugh7731]

Would like to see you go to Chloride off hwy 93 between Kingman and Hoover Dam. Old ghost town that is not overrun by tourists yet. Thanks, love the Arizona videos!

[@darkduude]

Love the small town videos.

[@elm_asper]

My wife and I are moving to Phoenix in October from Virginia, I'm a retired veteran and we purchased a new house close to state farm stadium and Luke AFB. We love watching your videos so we can plan our adventures and maybe you can create a video for places and things to do during fall and winter season in AZ.

[@88pjtink]

I hope your move goes well.

[@gonnacry96tears]

Thanks for showing the small towns in the south. I especially enjoy seeing the area around Patagonia and Tubac. I am planning to visit that area this fall.

[@joannewinters9616]

Yes please more small towns this was so interesting tonight thank you

[@royt9412]

We are snowbirds to Surprise from Canada and you are so correct- we need to see more of southern Arizona. Loved the video, thank you.

[@Esmeralda505]

I absolutely love these videos! I have lived in Arizona all my life, but I find it more interesting to learn more there's more outside of the Phoenix Metro area or the more popular cities like Flagstaff and Tucson! Please continue these videos! Also very happy to see Payson is on the list! One of my favorite towns to visit!

[@GHE2005]

💓 small town!👍🏾

[@lancefulmer8153]

My wife and I retired here in AZ 3 years ago and we just enjoy visiting these little towns. We've visited 5 of the ten and we live in #6. Your videos are partly the reason we chose to retire here. The main reason is my son and his wife live here. Thanks for the videos.

[@stephencarter5090]

Truly a breath of fresh air and good, clear narration. Just great.

[@Bookwormgal1]

I grew up in N. Arizona near Winslow and Holbrook. I know it might be boring but I love the area there plus it’s a little cooler than the desert. I love your channel!!❤❤❤

[@luisbuabud9852]

Cómo es Winslow y Holbrook? Puedes contarme? ...thanks

[@marklamasky6304]

Please more small towns.

[@alisawilder-jato2660]

Loved the video. Keep them coming. Raised in DC but love the high desert!

[@jackbest6677]

Great tour. Thank you.😊

[@toddhall3720]

Awesome work. I really appreciate it. More please :-)

[@annettacnossen2651]

Really enjoyed this video. Take us to Greer again and keep up the good work. 👍🌵😊

[@ChickenStamps]

Mining / Ghost Towns would be fantastic! I love exploring Arizona and I have Nevada miners in my family.

[@romalacroix8162]

Great video . I really enjoyed trips to these small towns . Morenci , Ya I'm in for that trip. THANK YOU 😊❤

[@Nfm25]

Me too lived there for a year almost 40 years ago ! Would be interesting to see if has changed much.

[@deborahthaler35]

I would love to see secluded areas.

[@markpelenytschka8374]

Loving your videos, keep up the great work

[@caroldonaldson4723]

Would like to see all the ideas you suggested! Thanks for all your hard work!

[@bonnieblenders4606]

Keep them coming! Thank you

[@lauramadrid1769]

Love this! All of our favorite towns we love to venture to since we moved out here in SE Arizona! I’d love to see you visit and document our beautiful wineries in the Sonoita/Elgin/Patagonia areas too. Thank you!

[@douglaskaye1395]

The mining company is ready to destroy the entire area so sad

[@wideabarth]

Please make more videos like this. This is my favorite kind of content from you.

[@davidroberson8030]

Yeah that's pretty awesome and seeing Arizona all over the place north south east and west is pretty great, and I agree with you about getting out and seeing the state instead of watching negative television, I'd love to do more but I can't afford the gas anymore on a fixed income, but definitely do more small-town videos, and Arizona is a great state to live in, I been in Southern Arizona since 1970 March.

[@bethjoyce-smith1400]

Thanks for the great small town trip ideas. Thanks for Al of your videos of Arizona! It’s really helped me decide to move there!

[@daleebner4625]

Would love to see more smaller towns

[@edwardrapp235]

Living in Florida now. This video makes me homesick for Arizona.

[@connieheadley7559]

18 months before I retire and moving back to AZ. Sierra Vista is my plan. I love mine tours and real ghost towns. I absolutely love your channel

[@bernardpfife]

Thank you, love the small towns!

[@janettehughes2957]

I loved this video, thanks so much! I'm looking at the possibility of moving to the Phoenix area (from Nairobi, Kenya!), but would rather live an hour or so outside of the city. So, I'd love to see a Hidden Gems TO LIVE IN within an hour/hour and a half of Phoenix. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos!

[@user-vq4ts1qs2w]

My father in law and his brothers were born in Jerome at what is now called the Jerome Grand Hotel. It was a hospital back in the 1930's. My wife put together a book from the pictures her grandmother took back then, it was in the lobby of the hotel the last time we were there. My wife has many ancestors buried at the cemetery in Clarkdale. We have talked about moving to the Verde Valley some day, we really like the Cottonwood area.

[@RobinPleines1704]

A big thank you for doing one on Wickenburg. I just love your videos. Plan to be living there in the next few months.

[@spx954]

More videos of small towns in Arizona? Hell yes - full speed ahead.

[@TravelSauce]

I love Arizona! I was able to visit Bisbee in May. Such a cool town!

[@BrewDub73]

Love this video! Thanks for sharing! Makes us want to go back out there to check out some of these gems. We went to Oatman in January this year. We’d like to request a part two and more small towns!

[@davidjeffrey8204]

It would be nice to see more small towns in Arizona. Thanks

[@jonathansherwood5841]

Let's go! 🐺🔧

[@knapalo]

Really enjoying these Arizona videos. I travel for vacation to Oahu and Maui. I used to watch you as Island Hopper. I think I might check out Bisbee or Prescott for retirement. Semper-Fi

[@cecilialara9414]

Keep up the good wok! Love all these small towns, just moved to Lake Havasu

[@bryandraughn9830]

I lived in Patagonia for about 10 years and had the time of my life. My good friend painted most of the murals and signs in that place and the locals are great people. I'll never forget how beautiful that whole part of Arizona is. Stunning views everywhere. Love your videos!

[@Cyphen19824]

Can we get more videos like this I really enjoy them I’m still exploring arizona I’m a local trucker and I enjoy hitting these towns in your videos on my day off. My wife loooves ghost towns and stuff like that

[@genxskeptic5816]

Love the small town videos. Keep ‘em coming. 👍

[@jorgealvarez1690]

Caballero is gentleman, vaquero is cowboy 🤠

[@lisaroth7526]

Definitely want more small town videos! Very enjoyable.

[@ijohnsonramos]

Please keep on doing more of these videos! I really enjoy them and they are excellent travel guides. Thanks so much! ❤

[@susanmoralis3259]

Love the small towns!❤

[@mommejuergensen]

I'd love to see more of payson area!

[@johncrooks8979]

Yes, more small towns please.

[@beckymeacham1747]

Awesome tour! I'm from Az but there's so much i haven't seen. Coming back on vacation and checking out a bunch of these places... thanks!🎉❤

[@leonardszymanski5341]

I love your channel, I hope some day to see Young Az. (Pleasant Valley) Thanks for your work.

[@cjmueller5455]

You did a good job! Definitely go to more of the small, isolated towns!!!

[@dalehutchings6350]

When I went through Jerome in 1983 it was a ghost town. At that time no one lived there at all. My friend and I spent almost a whole day there. It was a lot of fun looking at the old town. It is located on the side of a mountain. Fun times back then.

[@SmellLies]

Love the small towns & nature. I didn’t know about Natural Bridge State Park… really cool! 👍 Thank you for the great videos!!!

[@forthejoyofvegas9375]

GREAT VIDEOS,Your videos are so Informative, I Love Hidden Gem videos and Ghost town videos too. Keep up the Great Work Have a Blessed day ❤

[@jagsterr1]

Love the small towns -they have so much character

[@CindyTLC]

I do love Small Towns! Thank you ☺️

[@forthejoyofvegas9375]

I Love your Videos so Informative, You show me places I never knew existed here in Arizona, Yes More Videos on Different small towns / Hidden Gems. Have a Blessed day ❤

[@salvadorsepulveda6415]

Love the old buildings 🙏

[@larueutt3367]

Keep 'em coming. Been to most of them, but still good video.

[@amonamaria2000]

Yes, we would love to see more.This one was awesome. Thank you

[@sandybaker5227]

I love the small towns that you show!! My husband and I enjoy seeing what you show! We dream of going to Arizona someday!

[@elphoenix1248]

Yes please, more small towns 🤗 I miss Arizona, I was born in Phoenix and grandma talked me into Omaha but mama, I'm coming home ❤️

[@garykirkland927]

I rode my donkey to the top of black mountain back in the year 1902. Quite a ride.

[@Omoroseangel]

I love Arizona! How beautiful!

[@Geovea-Travel]

Hi Jeff - this is a great video showing 10 hidden gem small towns from the Mexican border up through the central part of the state. I have only done a few of them a long time ago, looks like I need to make another trip! Thanks - Kirk

[@user-kz1vx8ni1q]

Never been to Bisbee, gonna have to go. Thanks, great presentation!

[@jordanfreitag9519]

I love videos like this! Off the beaten path yes please! I'm heading down to Golden valley in April hopefully it's not too hot already. When is swimming weather?

[@verarelerford8653]

I love this continued on showing more of these videos I am from back east so moving out here in Arizona is like moving to another country of beautiful country so many beautiful places to go and see the nature out here is much different than what we have in Boston is just beautiful thank you for sharing

[@user-jo8qw6qn9h]

"Love" "Love" all your videos! I was watching them, before we moved to Surprise. My Daughter Tara and her husband now with 3 boys Moved her around the same time! 💯

[@aparnachakraborty1793]

Loved the video😊....would like to see more which focus on mining areas. I would love to know about "Sahuarita" please.

[@j2xtrm]

Love the vid brother, this is my first one from YA!!! I’ve seen . I live here in Yuma north foothills and take my pontoon up river then go explore the old gold mines / towns for few days or few weeks… I’m always finding new stuff up there….

[@loisstill2257]

Love Arizona! Lived there for 25 years - think maybe it’s time to return !

[@AnyExcuse2Travel]

Great video, love some of these towns when we vistited

[@oohmomma69]

Yes please show us more interesting real ghost towns . Arizona is a very gorgeous state. My husband is retiring by the end of the month we will start to travel a lot. Please keep the videos going 👏👏