Overview
Cottonwood is a small city in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States of America.
4 sights · 1 things to do · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Cottonwood
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, wildlife viewing.
Tuzigoot National Monument
A Pueblo ruin from a thousand years ago.
Verde Canyon Railroad
A passenger line heritage railroad running between Clarkdale and Perkinsville. The 4-hour excursion follows the Verde River, crossing bridges and passing through a tunnel amid the Prescott National Forest and Coconino Na…
Riverfront Park
The largest municipal park in Cottonwood. There is a dog park, disc golf and a walking trail along the river.
John Bell Railroad Museum
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–May, Aug–Oct. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 34°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Aug and Jul. (climate data from nearby Jerome)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PRC Prescott Regional Airport - Ernest A. Love Field, Prescott — 24 mi away. Directions
- FLG Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff — 33 mi away. Directions
- PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix — 91 mi away (major hub). Directions
Cottonwood is in northern Arizona at the junction of Arizona State Routes 89A (AZ 89A, ) and 260 (AZ 260, ), south of Sedona and northeast of Prescott, and about 100 mi north of Phoenix (about 2 hour drive) and 60 mi south of Flagstaff (just over an hour drive).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $5–$50 a night (typical $20), from 7 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$50, mid-range ~$100, comfortable ~$220.
Options are grouped as Camping, in Cottonwood in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Riverfront Park, John Bell Railroad Museum
- Afternoon Verde Canyon Railroad, Tuzigoot National Monument
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Self-proclaimed as "The Biggest Little Town in Arizona" since the 1920s, Cottonwood is in Arizona's Verde Valley. At 3,300 ft elevation it's spared the heat of the low desert and the cold of the high plateau. It's surrounded by mountains and forest, with late-1800s mining and settlers' history.
Get in
By car
Cottonwood is in northern Arizona at the junction of Arizona State Routes 89A (AZ 89A, ) and 260 (AZ 260, ), south of Sedona and northeast of Prescott, and about 100 mi north of Phoenix (about 2 hour drive) and 60 mi south of Flagstaff (just over an hour drive).
From Phoenix and Flagstaff, you can take I-17 to Camp Verde and exit onto Arizona State Route 260 (AZ 260) that connects Camp Verde with Cottonwood.
Along AZ 89A, the route is very scenic, through forest and red rock canyons. Large vehicles are not recommended along 89A due to the many hairpin turns and elevation changes.
AZ 89A has scenic and historic designations: between Prescott and Jerome, it is known as the Mingus Mountain Scenic Road. Between Jerome and Cottonwood, it is known as Historic US 89A, officially named the Jerome-Clarkdale-Cottonwood Historic Road. And from Sedona to Flagstaff, the route is known as the Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road.
See
in Cottonwood
There is a park (with dog park), a river, and an Old Town, which has tourist attractions, restaurants and bars.
in Clarkdale
See John Bell Railroad Museum
Do
in Clarkdale
Sleep
Camping
in Cottonwood
* Blackhawk Loop: 17 non-electric campsites, exclusive for tents; RVs/campers/vans not permitted. * Cooper's Hawk Loop: 27 campsites. * Quail Loop: 43 campsites. * Red-Tail loop: 36 campsites.
Go next
- Head further along AZ 89A for a scenic drive.
* North to Sedona and Flagstaff. * South to Clarkdale, Jerome, Prescott and Prescott Valley.
- Head southeast on AZ 260 towards Camp Verde and I-17, for quicker routes to points north (Flagstaff) and points south (Phoenix).
Nearby
Jerome
City / town · 26 listings · 5 mi away
Camp Verde
City / town · 9 listings · 16 mi away
Sedona
City / town · 60 listings · 17 mi away
Prescott
City / town · 36 listings · 28 mi away
Arcosanti
City / town · 2 listings · 29 mi away
Walker
City / town · 29 mi away
Mormon Lake Village
City / town · 4 listings · 35 mi away
Williams
City / town · 33 listings · 36 mi away
My experience
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