If you have a hire car in the state of Arizona you will certainly have a great choice of spectacular scenery to visit. Choose between silent snow-capped mountains or bustling bright cities; romantic dry deserts or deep, dark national forests.

It’s easy to get around this big and varied state in your hire car. There’s a comprehensive network of Interstate motorways linking the main cities and sights. The main west-east routes are I-40 (through Flagstaff) and I-10 (through Phoenix and Tucson). And the I-17 links Flagstaff and Phoenix from north-to-south through the heart of the state.

Around Phoenix, the biggest city, there is more of a conventional grid pattern of roads and a useful beltway ring road, Route 101.

Driving in Arizona is much like driving in any US state. Speed limits are relatively normal, with a 75mph maximum on rural interstate highways and 25mph in business or residential areas. Always carry your driving licence, wear your seat belts and don’t drink and drive or use a mobile phone while driving.

You’ll find the lack of traffic in most areas means that driving in Arizona is largely stress-free. The hazards come from unexpected natural events, like monsoons, flash floods or dust storms. The state tourism website has advice about driving in Arizona – you can read it online here.

Whether you're wanting to enjoy the state's warmer climates, delve deep into its history or simply take in the inner-city atmosphere of Phoenix, you'll find a whole host of things to see and do when you’re in Arizona.

The Big One

There’s no denying that the Grand Canyon is the state’s biggest sight – in fact, it is one of the world’s biggest natural tourism sites. The Canyon itself is an incredible deep chasm that has been etched through orange and red rock by the Colorado River. On average it is ten miles across and a mile deep, and it runs for an astonishing 277 miles through Arizona. There are viewing points, including a daunting glass ‘Skywalk’ if you're feeling brave, but it’s also a destination for lots of outdoor activities too, including hiking, mule and horse rides and white-water rafting. Take a sightseeing flight over the Canyon in a helicopter or light aircraft and you'll be able to truly take in the size of this natural phenomenon.

By the time you get to Phoenix

It’s warm all year in Arizona's state capital Phoenix, with visitors flocking here for the top golf courses and luxury resorts. However, there are plenty of sights for you to explore too. The Heard Museum is a nationally recognised hub of Native American art and culture that celebrates the artefacts of local tribes, and includes regularly-changing exhibitions of contemporary native art and craft. And if you're fanatic about flowers, check out the Desert Botanical Garden, a collection of desert plants including giant cacti brought to life by a nightly light show. Don’t underestimate the garden: there are 140-acres with more than 10,000 plants to see.

Down a dark desert highway

It’s easy to experience a little of the spirit of the Old Wild West in southern Arizona. You can take guided horse treks along Apache trails or visit 19th century frontier towns like Rawhide and Tombstone - look out for cowboy re-enactments and special tours of Wild West heritage sites. Take a tours of the outback and hire equipment to bike or hike among the distinctive rock formations and desert cacti. For a truly memorable experience, take a balloon ride across the vast open landscape.

Northern exposure

Towards the north of the state, you'll find mountain ranges with lively resort cities among them. The city of Flagstaff stands on the famous Route 66, more than a mile high among the pine forests and is the perfect for exploring in your hire car. There’s a charming old-fashioned centre packed with diners and hotels and a backdrop of jagged mountain peaks to see.

Towards the state border with Utah you’ll discover Monument Valley, one of America’s most photographic landscapes. The colourful rock towers and outcrops have been the setting for scores of western movies. At the far north-eastern corner of the Arizona, visitors flock to the only place in the US where you can stand in four states at once. The Four Corners Monument and visitor centre marks the spot where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado meet.