Phoenix, AZ is one of the best destinations in the US for a guys’ trip. With all the action you’d expect from a major US city, Phoenix also offers almost endless sunshine for your outdoor adventures. With so many amazing things to do, Phoenix is an amazing choice for your guys’ trip.
If you are a die-hard sports fan, Phoenix has year-round major league sports on offer. Phoenix is three major league teams: the Arizona Cardinals (NFL), the Phoenix Suns (NBA), and the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB). Not only is it a ton of fun to go catch a game, each of these stadiums are nicely air conditioned, giving you a break from the hot desert sun.
It’s no secret that Phoenix is a golfer’s paradise. Phoenix is famous for its incredible golf courses, and every February, it hosts the Waste Management Phoenix Open – the most fun stop on the PGA Tour. Known as “The Greatest Show on Grass,” this PGA event is a wild mix of golf and party – the 16th hole is a must-see!
Outside of watching and playing sports, Phoenix is an amazing destination for guys who love playing in the outdoors. You can go for a hike up Camelback Mountain, or make a short road trip up to Sedona for a some incredibly scenic hiking. You can rent ATVs for an adrenaline-pumping ride through the desert, or even take a kayaking trip in a scenic canyon just outside the city.
There are so many reasons to have a guys’ trip to Phoenix. No matter what brings you to Phoenix, you’re virtually guaranteed to have an epic time!
Things to do on a Guys’ Trip to Phoenix
Catch a Game
Phoenix is a great place to catch some professional sports on a boys’ trip. Phoenix is home to 3 major league sports teams:
NFL – The Arizona Cardinals
From September to January, you can catch some NFL action at State Farm Stadium. The NFL season is short, and the Arizona Cardinals will only host 8 or 9 regular season home games, so if you want to catch an NFL game in Phoenix, check the Cardinals schedule before booking your flights.
Read More
If you want to catch a game at State Farm Stadium, don’t miss my guide to going to an Arizona Cardinals game.
Use my code SPORTSROADTRIP for $20 off your first SeatGeek order!
State Farm Stadium Tour
Even if you don’t catch a Cardinals game, you can always go on a stadium tour at State Farm Stadium. I went on one and I loved it! My favorite parts were getting to go down to field level when the grass was indoors ready for game day, and getting to go into the FOX broadcast booth!
Use my code SPORTSROADTRIP for $20 off your first SeatGeek order!
MLB – Arizona Diamondbacks
Catching an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game at Chase Field is an excellent boys’ trip activity in Phoenix during the summer. The Diamondbacks will play 81 home games between early April and late September. Although there’s 10x the number of home games than the Cardinals, you’ll still want to check the schedule to make sure your Phoenix boys’ trip lines up with a Diamondbacks home game.
Read More
Yup – you guessed it… I’ve also written a guide to going to an Arizona Diamondbacks game.
Chase Field Stadium Tour
Even if you don’t catch a Diamondbacks game, you can always go on a stadium tour at Chase Field. I went on one the afternoon of my Diamondbacks game and had an awesome time.
NBA – Phoenix Suns
Last, but definitely not least, are the Phoenix Suns of the NBA. The Suns play 41 home games per season at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix – right next door to Chase Field.
Read More
If you are catching a Phoenix Suns or Arizona Diamondbacks home game, check out these great hotels near the stadium.
The Phoenix Open
Whie they are not a professional sports franchise, it’s also worth noting that one of the most fun PGA Tour events of the year is played in Phoenix. The Waste Management Phoenix Open is typically played in early February each year and is renowned for its enthusiastic (ie: drunk and noisy) crowds.
Concerts
With a population base of nearly 5 million people, Phoenix is a big enough city to attract every single major music act on tour. Major concerts in Phoenix are held at State Farm Stadium, Chase Field and the Footprint Center.
Golf
With a warm and pleasant weather during the cooler months, Phoenix is an awesome place to play some golf on a boys’ trip. There’s no shortage of golf courses to play in the Greater Phoenix area, but three in particular are worth taking a look at:
TPC Scottsdale (home of the famous Waste Management Phoenix Open)
Off-Road Desert Adventures
Add some adrenaline to your boys’ trip by hopping in a UTV or ATV to explore the nearby Sonoran Desert. Hop on your ATV and rip past cacti and canyons along some rugged trails in the nearby Bradshaw Mountains.
Kayaking on the Lower Salt River
I went on this self-guided kayaking trip on the Lower Salt River the morning of my Arizona Diamondback game. Over the course of two hours, I enjoyed a gentle float through some truly amazing landscape.
The kayaking tour begins through a tall canyon just downstream of a dam. Along the way, I was able to enjoy spotting some local wildlife, including a majestic bald eagle and a herd of semi-wild horses taking a morning dip in the river.
There are several small rapids to kayak through on the Lower Salt River, but they are pretty tame. If you are looking for adrenaline, then you may want to check out the ATV tour above, but if you want a fun outing on the water with some great scenery, I recommend this self-guided kayking tour in Phoenix.
Hiking in Phoenix
Camelback Mountain Hike
Located near Scottsdale, the Camelback Mountain hike is one of the best hikes in the Phoenix area.
There are two trails up Camelback Mountain – the most popular is via Echo Canyon, while the other is via the Cholla Trail. Both trails are short, steep and rocky, but you and the boys will be rewarded with Phoenix and the surrounding desert landscape.
This hike isn’t too far from downtown Phoenix, so it could be a great morning activity if you are planning on going to a Diamondbacks game later in the day.
Trail map for Cambelback Mountain via Echo Canyon
Trail Map for Camelback Mountain via Cholla Trail
Side Trip to Sedona
Hiking is one of my favorite activities, so rather than enjoy a single hike up Camelback Mountain, I drove north to Sedona for a few days.
Sedona is one of the most beautiful places in America, and it’s only 2 hours away from Phoenix on the I-17. There’s a ton of fun things to do on a boys’ trip to Sedona, including offroad 4×4 trips to see the incredible red rock landscapes.
I came to Sedona for 48 hours on my boys’ trip to do a lot of hiking. The red rock landscapes around Sedona are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen anywhere and there’s a ton of great hiking trails.
Recommended Sedona Hiking Trails
Cathedral Rock Loop – an awesome 7.5 mile hiking loop around the iconic Cathedral Rock. Enjoy epic Sedona scenery from the elevated hiking trail. There’s an optional 1.5 mile add-on hike to the Cathedral Rock viewpoint. This intense uphill scramble is a ton of fun and pays off in amazing views. (TRAIL MAP)
Boynton Canyon Cave – A beautiful hike on a well-treed trail leading into Boynton Canyon, with towering red rock walls on both sides. The highlight come at the end of the trail, where you can enjoy a small scramble up to a cave. The views from the elevated cave of the surround red rocks of Sedona are spectacular. (TRAIL MAP)
Broken Arrow Trail to Chicken Point & Submarine Rock – a moderate difficulty Sedona hike which leads to two outstanding viewpoints of the red rock landscape. (TRAIL MAP)
Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Loop – Bell Rock is likely the most famous red rock formation in Sedona. This easy hiking loop circumnavigates Bell Rock and its imposing neighbor – Courthouse Butte. (TRAIL MAP)
My Guys’ Trip to Phoenix
The primary reason for my boys’ trip to Phoenix was to see the Green Day Saviors Tour concert at Chase Field. With the Linda Lindas, Rancid and Smashing Pumpkins as opening acts, I did not want to miss this Green Day stadium concert!
Checking the Phoenix event schedule, I decided to hang around for a few days to catch the Arizona Cardinals play the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium on Sunday and the San Francisco Giants play the Arizona Diamondbacks on the Monday.
The concert was on a Wednesday night, so on Thursday morning, I hopped in a rental car and drove 2 hours north to Sedona – one of the most beautiful places in the USA. I hiked non-stop for 48 hours, before returning to Glendale on Saturday afternoon.
Once in Glendale, I headed over to State Farm Stadium for a stadium tour, and of course, the Lions – Cardinals NFL game on Sunday afternoon.
On Monday, I went kayaking on the Lower Salt River in Tonto National Forest early in the morning. I had an early tour so I could get to Chase Field for an afternoon stadium tour. Then it was back to the stadium for an early evening Diamondbacks game.
I had an awesome 7 day boys trip to Phoenix & Sedona. My version of this boys’ trip to Phoenix is just one of many iterations. There are a ton of things to do on a Phoenix mancation – I’m sure you’ll find the right combination for your boys’ trip.