Our picks for the most remote, refreshing or otherwise unconventional vacation rentals in Arizona this summer.
“Arizona is the land of contrast,” wrote journalist and author Margaret Bayard Smith during a visit to the burgeoning territory in the early 19th century. “Of its arid deserts, with their intense heat, rises the cool, pine-clad plateaus and snowcapped peaks of the San Francisco Mountains.” Though vibrant cities have since sprouted up around its natural marvels, the state’s vast geographic variation persists. From far-flung forest retreats to subterranean desert dwellings, Arizona’s short-term rentals are an object lesson in this topographical diversity. Start planning your summer getaway with this wide-ranging roadmap of rental properties available on airbnb.com.
Cool Pools
Ask any Phoenician: staying submerged in a body of water is a failsafe way to survive the summer months. To enhance this nifty life hack, consider swapping a swim in an overcrowded resort pool for a more secluded aquatic experience. Concealed among the saguaros and sagebrush of North Scottsdale, the Sonoran vacation rental (search “Luxury Estate, Sleeps 24 | Sonoran By HomeStakes” on Airbnb; $580-$992/night) is a sprawling oasis boasting 7,000 square feet of relaxation and recreation.
The property features six bedrooms with ensuite baths, dual dining spaces, a game room with pool and ping-pong tables, an arcade and a home theater, but it’s the backyard that makes this rental home feel like a private resort. A state-of-the-art saltwater swimming area features a pool, a pair of waterfalls with shady grottoes, a slide and an in-ground hot tub, while the spacious lawn is tailor-made for summer fun with a grilling station, cornhole and lounge chairs. A winding iron staircase leads to a rooftop patio with views of the yard below and the McDowell Mountains and sweeping Sonoran Desert beyond.
More…Cool Pools
Sedona’s Best Casita
$395-$495/night
Cradled between Castle Rock and Cockscomb Butte on the southern end of Sedona, this stunning brick adobe blends in seamlessly with its surroundings. It’s the serene, resort-style infinity pool that makes the remote rental stand out.
Wall Street Journal – Featured Luxe Villa
$316-$730/night
Take a dip amidst arresting views of Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak at this Paradise Valley villa touted in the Journal’s luxury real estate section.
Campers & Trailers
Funky clusters of refurbished RVs – e.g. Air Village in Prescott and The Shady Dell in Bisbee – seem to get all the press when it comes to glamping havens in Arizona. While we certainly enjoy these offbeat encampments, we love a hidden gem – like this truly off-the-beaten-path glamping experience in the dusty desert town of Marana just outside of Tucson. Located on an 11-acre compound abutting Saguaro National Park, artist Olivier Dubois-Cherrier’s “desert sanctuary for a new paradigm,” dubbed The Island in Tucson, features a vintage Boles Aero travel trailer (search “Groovy Glamper in the Sonoran Desert” on Airbnb; $63-$85/night) that
allows guests to blissfully dismiss the outside world.
The soft glow of artfully strung garden lights serves as an ethereal beacon when dusk approaches. Sunrises and sunsets are particularly breathtaking here – and don’t miss the opportunity to shower under the stars on the back deck. Though the circa-1960s camper has been completely revamped, it still retains much of its vintage charm via bold colors and midcentury motifs like a beaded curtain, record player and seafoam kitchen appliances.
Though the décor decidedly borrows from the past, the camper is thoughtfully outfitted with the future in mind. A dry compost toilet minimizes water consumption via sawdust and source separation. The water used in the outdoor shower and sink comes from harvested rainwater and an on-site well. It’s also directly returned to the earth via an underground drain system, hydrating a truss of young trees that will eventually provide shade for future guests.
More…Campers & Trailers
Airstream at Arrandale Farms
$94-$118/night
This modern Airstream provides a unique staycation situation on a working farm in North Phoenix. A private patio is primed for chillaxing with Adirondack chairs, a retro fire pit, propane grill, hammock and hot tub. Take a stroll around the 2-acre property and pay a visit to the urban farm’s animal residents, including rabbits, goats, pigs, alpacas and a flock of exotic birds.
Vintage Airstream Near Downtown & Arts District
$62-$112/night
Spend the night in Central Phoenix in a 1967 Airstream Overlander reimagined by local design luminary Joel Contreras, featuring a shaded deck, fire pit and renovated bathroom. Perfect for a First Friday flop or post-prandial Bacanora crash pad.
Secluded Mountain & Forest Retreats
Arizona is no stranger to Instagram-famous architecture, though you’re more likely to see midcentury breezeblocks or retro bungalows on your feed than A-frame cabins. That’s part of the allure of the 1979 A-frame bordering the Coconino National Forest in Flagstaff (search “A-frame Mountain View Cabin in the Forest” on Airbnb; $175-$269/night), sustainably restored in 2014 using recycled and organic building materials. This rustic sanctuary boasts nearly 13,000 followers on Instagram (@aframeflagstaff) and was recently featured in an American Eagle Outfitters campaign (peep the framed shopping bag proudly hung in the hallway).
The pet-friendly property also features a porch and two patios, fully equipped kitchen, cozy living room with vaulted ceilings, one bedroom and an upstairs loft. Like any high-country haven worth its salt, the cabin doesn’t bother with distracting details like cable TV or Wi-Fi. Guests are encouraged to find a connection via complimentary mountain bikes, telescopes, binoculars and a bevy of books and board games.
More…Secluded Mountain & Forest Retreats
The Majestic Mountain Retreat
$195/night
Situated on a cliff overlooking an endless emerald sea of ponderosas in Prescott, this tranquil cabin in the woods boasts bohemian-chic décor, a cozy reading nook and a palatial patio.
Swanky Newly Remodeled A-Frame Cabin
$89-$149/night
The listing for this 1970s A-frame in Heber-Overgaard encourages visitors to “revisit the days of fondue, vinyl and variety shows.” A midcentury modern motif, capacious back porch and a slew of cookware and kitchen gadgets – including a vintage fondue pot – add to its homey, historical charm.
Lincoln Log Cabin, Tranquility Close to Downtown
$361-$457/night
Five acres of forest land surround this souped-up log cabin with a wood-burning stove, exposed beam ceilings and wrought iron, stone and wood accents that read both rustic and refined.
Luxurious Modern Masterpiece in Uptown Sedona
$1,500-$2,108/night
Enjoy panoramic red rock views from the balcony of this ultra-luxe manse, featuring a hot tub, reflexology path, arcade and four bedrooms appointed exclusively with furniture, lighting fixtures and art from Restoration Hardware.
Cozy High-Desert Cottages
Venturing to an unfamiliar destination allows visitors to immerse themselves in new surroundings, but hotels can often feel sterile, lacking the lived-in warmth of home. Ensconced in the heart of Arizona wine country, the Airbnb at Wild Oak Farm in Sonoita (search “The Cottage at Wild Oak Lavender and Goat Farm” on Airbnb; $140-$196/night) allows guests to dive into a new setting without sacrificing creature comforts. Get a good night’s rest among quaint farmhouse décor and eclectic furniture that mimic the familiarity of home. Then, enjoy a morning cup of coffee overlooking a maze of lavender before greeting a herd of baby goats.
The recently renovated guest cottage features two bedrooms, a dining area, a spacious kitchen and two living rooms. Nostalgic touches such as a VCR and VHS tapes suggest a simple, leisurely lifestyle. Wild Oak’s owner, Muriel Gardner, invites guests to roam the 13-acre farm, featuring hammocks suspended between mature oak trees, horses, goats, chickens and a handful of luxury yurts she plans to add on Airbnb soon.
The lavender fields and farm are open to the public through July, and Gardner will host a lavender festival on June 15 offering pick-your-own bouquets, lavender and farm products for sale, live music, food trucks and more.
More…Cozy High-desert cottages
Country Cottage in Cottonwood
$120/night
“Experience the tiny-home concept without the minimalist mindset,” beckons the listing for this 380-square-foot barn-like residence featuring custom copper accents and granite countertops, a cozy fireplace, private patio and front porch overlooking a working micro-farm with lavender fields and fruit trees.
Historic Dairy Near Old Town, Vineyards & Sedona
$189-$287/night
Nostalgic accents like milk cans, glass Coke bottles and vintage signs mingle with a modern layout and surfaces handmade with wood from the property’s collapsed trees at this converted 19th-century dairy building that once delivered milk to the entire Verde Valley.
Up Above & Underground
Amidst the desolate, sunbaked landscape of Dolan Springs – near the Nevada border about 200 miles northwest of Phoenix – a seemingly endless stretch of dirt, brittlebush and cholla eventually gives way to a commanding cliffside refuge shrouded by rocks and sand (“Taylor Mountain Cave Inn Retreat” on Airbnb; $149-$199/night). Guests are greeted at the edge of the craggy escarpment by host Jeannette “Jo” Taylor, who will welcome you into her stately DIY bunker, a project she began with her husband, Kevin, in 1996. The couple chipped away at the mountainside six feet at a time to create the underground palace they now call home and began renting out via Airbnb in 2019.
Powered solely by a rooftop generator, the cave is well-lit and filled from floor to ceiling with an overwhelming hodgepodge of artifacts from the Taylors’ more than 50 years together. Visitors have access to the entire 6,000-square-foot cave, including Jo and Kevin’s living quarters, though the guest suite includes two private bedrooms as well as a bathroom, common area and makeshift kitchen. In the library, wall-to-wall bookcases extend from the carpeted floor to the imposing rock ceiling, displaying a coterie of tomes spanning dozens of genres and eras. Jo is a skilled photographer and macramé artist, and many of her works freckle the cave’s walls.
Carve out some time to explore the 100-plus acres surrounding the cave to discover hidden hiking trails, an 1890s stamp mill and a sprawling junkyard containing dozens of antique cars, buses, campers, boats and other rusted relics.
More…Up Above & Underground
Wild Treehouse Paradise in the Cliffs & Trees
$159/night
Built around a cluster of trees at the edge of Prescott’s otherworldly Granite Dells, this three-room treehouse boasts a solarium pool, seasonal pond, trampoline, shaded deck, outdoor shower and meandering flagstone pathways. The summer months welcome wildlife like ducks, foxes, owls and Arizona tree frogs.
Dome on the Range with Sweeping Mountain Preserve Views
$108-$130/night
Exposed stone, wooden beams and concrete floors add to the primitive mystique of this geodesic structure carved into the mountainside in the Ocotillo Hills neighborhood near Sunnyslope.
House on the Edge of Time
$159-$186/night
Constructed by Paolo Soleri protégé Paul Nonnast in 1977, this one-bedroom earthen home in Jerome can comfortably accommodate two guests. Host Jessie Pfieffer pulls no punches about its ruggedness in her Airbnb listing: “The home is not ADA-compliant, pet- or kid-friendly… The home is made entirely of rock!” But those with an unabashed sense of adventure will be rewarded with natural light bouncing off brick walls and unobstructed views of the Verde Valley.
The Kiva Cave Creek
$103-$116/night
In numerous Native American cultures, kivas – circular subterranean chambers – serve as sacred spaces for spiritual ceremonies. In this setting, the round, underground room is a great place to relax, renew and enjoy the sunrise over the Sonoran Desert from a loft bed above the fridge.
