Handily situated for Phoenix itself, Sky Harbor Airport is just three miles south-east of the city and, once you’re on the road, you’ll find Phoenix a fantastic place to explore by car. Grab the shuttle to the rental car centre and you’ll be set for the short drive into Phoenix via E Washington Street.

Phoenix is laid out in grid form, so is extremely easy to navigate and the road network here is modern and well-maintained. In fact, a 2015 study ranked Phoenix as the best city for driving in the world. There are no toll roads to pay for, and speed limits vary depending on where you’re driving. The top interstate speed limit is 75mph but will be signposted lower in built-up areas and school zones.

Some highways here – and in Arizona as a whole – have HOV lanes. These are for high occupancy vehicles and you shouldn’t drive in them unless you have at least one passenger in the car with you. Another rule to look out for is that you can make a right turn at intersections even when the traffic lights are red.

Interstate 10 is the main freeway bisecting Phoenix, running east to west through much of the city before heading south to Tucson and then on into New Mexico, Texas and, if you’re really planning a road trip, all the way to Florida. Head west on it and you’ll reach its end in Los Angeles. Interstate 17 will take you north, cutting through the Coconino National Forest before arriving in Flagstaff. From here you can take the 180 for the Grand Canyon. 

When it comes to nicknames, ‘Valley of the Sun’ builds up expectations of year-round rays. And Phoenix doesn’t disappoint - there are over 300 sunny days a year here. Phoenix is a city that’s perfect for discovering on four wheels, with great areas of natural beauty, leading museums and theatres, while there’s more than a hint of Mexican flavour in the architecture and food.

Seen and Heard

There are few places in the world to rival the Heard Museum for American Indian art, both modern and old, and the story it tells about the Native American experience through exhibitions. Since opening in 1929 it has become an important centre for ceramics, fine art, spirit dolls and pottery, while the Heard also works closely with local tribes. There are plenty of kid-friendly interactive exhibits too.

If you have time, there’s a wealth of other museums that will give you a taste of south-western life. The Phoenix Art Museum may boast work by Monet, but it also has a gallery dedicated to depictions of the Arizona landscape. The Arizona Museum of Natural History is a great place to learn about archaeology, see their local exhibits and, perhaps best of all, explore the magnificent Dinosaur Hall. With a unique Musical Instrument Museum and the play-centric Children’s Museum of Phoenix also in town, you’re not short of options.

Dine in the desert

If you’d rather be outside in the sunshine, the Desert Botanical Garden is a beautifully cultivated space with tens of thousands of plants, a wide variety of cacti but also inventive sculpture and well-crafted nature trails. It’s a place that comes alive at light when they light up the gardens, while there’s a rotating schedule of musical performances including blues, Latin, folk-rock, jazz and more. You can eat here too. Gertrude’s focusses on seasonal menus with herbs grown on site. Think bison tenderloin with yucca croquettes, crop rotation risotto or lollipop kale with fermented chilli – all washed down with a truly memorable sunset.

Outside the city limits

There’s so much incredible landscape here, you’ll want to really feel the benefit of car hire at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport by driving beyond the city. Flagstaff is a lively city, the Grand Canyon a must-see, and Mesa also alluring. But a perfect place to cool off outdoors is at Lake Havasu City, three hours from Phoenix. This man-made lake has serene beaches and family activities, but also offers fishing, boating, off-road driving, golf, restaurants and shops and, during winter, even ice skating at the original London Bridge. The latter was taken apart in London, each stone numbered, shipped via the Panama Canal and reconstructed here, opening in 1971. You can camp nearby, or just visit for the day before heading back to Phoenix.

With the rugged desert landscape surrounding you, glorious sunshine, wonderful museums and no shortage of attractions for solo-travellers, couples and families, you can see why Phoenix is growing in popularity as a place to visit.