5 Affordable Winter Escapes in Arizona

Holiday season markups, eye-wateringly expensive ski passes, and far-flung beach resorts can make winter getaways notoriously pricey. These five trips buck the big-bucks trend.

Savor snowy sports in the White Mountains.

Far from the glitz and glamor of marquee ski resorts, eastern Arizona’s White Mountains region serves up frugal frosty fun. Thanks to its 9,100-foot elevation, Hannagan Meadow south of Alpine is typically blessed with one of the longest snow seasons in the state. At Hannagan Meadow Lodge, you can score midweek rooms for as low as $65 and rent cross-country skis or snowshoes for $25 a day, then meander along 16 miles of trails through conifer and aspen forests. If you have kids (or an inner child) in tow, grab a complimentary tube and zoom down the lodge’s hill, then defrost with hot cocoa by the fire. 

About an hour away, near Greer, Sunrise Park Resort is fresh off a multi-million-dollar spruce-up of its lodge, lifts, and equipment. But that doesn’t mean you’ll shell out beaucoup bucks to bomb (or bunny) down the three mountains’ 65 runs. Full-day passes start at $77. In addition, you can cross-country ski, tube, or try your hand at ski biking (picture standing up on a bicycle with skis in lieu of wheels). 

Soak up art and history in Tubac.

With around 100 art galleries and crafty shops, hidden historic sites, and purse-friendly places for self care, this town 45 minutes south of Tucson offers a budget alternative to swanky arts destinations. Explore 2,000 years of the area’s rich past, including the remains of the oldest Spanish presidio in Arizona, at Tubac Presidio State Park. In Tumacácori National Historical Park, stroll through the starkly beautiful ruins of three Spanish colonial missions. In the free Tubac Center of the Arts, get a taste of the thriving local creative community and peruse juried exhibitions of Southwestern paintings, sculptures, and more. 

Treat yourself to a modestly priced massage and alfresco aquatherapy at the nonprofit Soulistic Healing Center. Then rusticate at Tubac Secret Garden Inn, where charming Southwestern casitas start at $132 a night. During Luminaria Nights de Tubac (December 6-7), bask in the glow of lights as you amble the historic district, popping into festively decorated galleries and shops. Or hit the free​ Tubac Festival of the Arts (February 5-9), which spotlights 200 fine artists and craftspeople.

Kayak or SUP western Arizona.

Winter brings pleasant weather and migratory birds like spotted sandpipers and redhead ducks to the riparian areas surrounding Lake Havasu City. Wacko (which thankfully stands for Western Arizona Canoe and Kayak Outfitters rather than reflecting the staff’s personalities), offers a range of self-guided tours for $45 to $70 per person, including equipment rental and shuttle. In winter only, you can paddle the Bill Williams Wildlife Refuge through cottonwood and willow stands, scanning the sky and shore for some of the 340 avian species that have been spotted along the river. 

More ambitious paddlers can ply the lazy emerald waters of the Colorado River for five to seven hours through rusty cliffs at Topock Gorge, pausing to admire petroglyphs at Picture Rock. For a shorter excursion, kayak or standup paddleboard Lake Havasu, either by the light of the sun or the full moon. At the lake, take a self-guided walking tour to functional, scaled-down replicas of 28 famous lighthouses from around the country.

Find cheap skiing and free festivals in Flagstaff.

Attention, planners: If you commit well in advance, you can snag midweek lift tickets at Arizona Snowbowl for prices so low they seem like a typo: $19. Plus, kids 12 and under ski free. The resort’s dynamic pricing system aims to curb crowds on Mount Humphreys’ 777 skiable acres by encouraging powder hounds to hit the slopes on off-peak days. But as the runs fill up, the rates could rise day by day. If you’re a spontaneous type, you can still glide away with bargains at Arizona Nordic Village, where equipment rental plus day passes for cross-country skiing costs $54, while snowshoe rental and passes come in at $34. Kids 12 and under are free, and you can take Fido for $5. 

Consider pairing snow play with one of Flagstaff’s free seasonal events. Gallery hop and get into the holiday spirit on the First Friday ArtWalk on December 6. Bring the kiddos to Winter Wonderland & Tree Lighting for crafts, music, Santa selfies, and s’mores on December 7. The Holiday Parade of Lights promenades through downtown with illuminated floats on December 14. Earlybirds can ring in 2025 at the family friendly Noon Year’s Eve bash, while night owls can stay up for Flag’s famous Great Pinecone Drop at midnight.

Escape to the Salt River and Saguaro Lake or Canyon Lake.

Searching for a gas-saving adventure that feels epic? Just a short jaunt northeast of Phoenix lies a region that puzzles together wide-ranging pieces of classic Arizona scenery: towering mountains, cerulean lakes, wild horses, and an Old West ghost town. At Saguaro Lake Ranch, non-guests can book self-guided kayaking trips along the Salt River starting at $51, including shuttles. As you paddle the mostly smooth but sometimes swift water, you might spot river otters, great blue herons, and wild horses splashing under shade trees. You can also kayak or SUP on Saguaro Lake, a serene expanse crowned by golden mountains. 

Alternatively, head to Canyon Lake, which is close by as the crow flies but not as the car drives. Trek Boulder Canyon Trail, a lengthy out-and-back route with staggering panoramic views of the lake and its towering cliffs in the first three miles. Then cruise to Tortilla Flat, which harkens to 120 years ago when it was established as a stagecoach stop and freight camp for workers building Roosevelt Dam. The resident population of six maintains the hamlet’s quirky vibe and preserves its history in a free schoolhouse museum. At Superstition Saloon & Restaurant, belly up to the bar on a saddle stool and sip a prickly pear lemonade as you drool over the approximately 700,000 dollar bills papering the walls.