Why Scottsdale works for one
A solo trip to Scottsdale is simpler than most cities. The trails are busy enough at sunrise that you are never really alone on them, Old Town is compact and walkable, and the restaurants are used to people eating at the bar. The weather does a lot of the planning for you: outside in the morning, inside or in the pool at midday, out again for the evening.
We host solo guests most weeks. Here is the shape their best trips tend to take.
Mornings: get outside early
Start each day on a trail. Pinnacle Peak Park in North Scottsdale is the easiest place to begin, a well-kept path of about two miles each way with lookouts the whole way up. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve has trailheads all along the north and east of the city, Gateway and Brown's Ranch among them, with routes for any fitness level. Camelback Mountain, closer to central Phoenix, is steeper and far busier, and the small lots fill early.
For a change of scene, drive east to Saguaro Lake in the Tonto National Forest and rent a kayak or paddleboard at the marina. On a weekday morning it is quiet water under red cliffs.
- Tell someone where you are hiking and when you expect to be back.
- Carry more water than you think you need, even in winter.
- Stay on busy, marked trails if you are new to the desert.
Afternoons: art and architecture
Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and studio at the foot of the McDowells, is the best two hours in the city for anyone traveling alone. The self-guided audio tour lets you go at your own pace. In Old Town, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is small enough to see in an hour and holds James Turrell's Knight Rise, a skyspace worth sitting in for a while.
On Thursday evenings the Old Town galleries stay open late for ArtWalk, which is an easy way to talk to people without trying. Over in Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park fills a cooler afternoon or an early morning.
Evenings: a show and a seat at the bar
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, in the civic center in Old Town, runs a full season of concerts, comedy and dance, and a single ticket is usually easy to find. Check the season calendar when you book the trip.
For dinner, treat yourself. Dominick's Steakhouse at Scottsdale Quarter has a long bar, a serious wine list and rooftop poolside tables. Mastro's City Hall on Camelback has live music most nights. Solo diners at the bar are often looked after better than the big tables.
Something you would not do with a group
Traveling alone means you can do the one thing nobody else wanted to. Book a trail ride at MacDonald's Ranch on Scottsdale Road, with the McDowells on the horizon. Take a guided Jeep tour into the Tonto National Forest and let someone else drive. Spend a whole morning at a spa. Or drive the Apache Trail toward Tortilla Flat and stop wherever you like. Nobody is waiting in the car, and nobody needs a vote on lunch.
Practical notes for solo travelers
Rent a car. Scottsdale is spread out, and the trailheads, the lake and Taliesin West are not walkable from each other. Rideshare is easy for evenings in Old Town. Keep your phone charged on the trail, since coverage can thin out in the canyons and on the far side of the lakes. Fall through spring is the best time to come. In summer, keep the outdoor hours to the early morning and plan the day around air conditioning and the pool.
Where to stay on your own
A big house is the wrong answer for one person, and a hotel room is not much of a trip. The Cabin Casita at Troon Ranch in North Scottsdale is what we suggest: one bedroom for up to two guests, its own entrance and a quiet patio on a horse ranch beneath Troon Mountain. The shared pool and spa sit among the boulders, there is a putting green, and Pinnacle Peak Park is a few minutes away.
It is close to the trails and an easy drive to Old Town for dinner. Call (480) 781-0717 if you want help planning the days.
Questions we get asked
Is Scottsdale good for solo travel?
Yes. It is easy to get around by car, the trailheads are busy at sunrise, Old Town is walkable, and the restaurants are used to solo diners at the bar.
Is Scottsdale safe for solo travelers?
It is generally considered a safe, comfortable place to travel alone. Use normal city sense at night, and on the trails tell someone your plan and carry plenty of water.
What should I do alone in Scottsdale?
Hike Pinnacle Peak Park, tour Taliesin West, see SMoCA and the Knight Rise skyspace, catch a show at the Center for the Performing Arts, and have dinner at the bar at a good steakhouse.
Do I need a car for a solo trip to Scottsdale?
Yes, for the trails, the lakes and Taliesin West. Use rideshare for evenings in Old Town.
Where should a solo traveler stay in Scottsdale?
Somewhere small and quiet. The Cabin Casita at Troon Ranch is a one-bedroom for up to two guests, with its own entrance, near Pinnacle Peak.
