Planning an Arizona Destination Wedding: Airports, Hotels and Guest Travel

Arizona is a popular destination wedding state: sunny winters, dramatic scenery and plenty of resorts. When most of your guests are traveling, a little extra planning makes the trip easy for them and keeps your day on schedule.

Which airport?

• Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX): the state’s largest airport, with the most flights. Best for Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale and Peoria, and the usual choice for Sedona and Prescott as well.
• Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (AZA): a smaller airport in the East Valley with mostly low-cost carriers. Handy for Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek.
• Tucson International (TUS): best for Tucson and southern Arizona.
• Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG): small, with limited flights, but close to Flagstaff and about 45 minutes from Sedona.
• Yuma (YUM) and Prescott (PRC): small regional airports with few routes.

Many guests flying to Lake Havasu or Kingman find it easier to fly into Las Vegas and drive.

Typical drive times from Phoenix Sky Harbor

• Scottsdale: about 20 to 30 minutes
• Tucson: about 1 hour 45 minutes
• Sedona: about 2 hours
• Prescott: about 1 hour 45 minutes
• Flagstaff: about 2 hours 15 minutes
• Lake Havasu City: about 3 hours

Traffic, weekend tourism and weather can add time, especially on I-17 heading north on Friday afternoons.

Hotel room blocks

• Reserve a block 9 to 12 months out for peak months, especially in Scottsdale, Sedona and Flagstaff, where events and tourism fill hotels.
• Ask for a courtesy block with no penalty for unused rooms when possible.
• Choose hotels close to the venue, or provide a shuttle.
• Note big local events on your weekend, such as spring training baseball in March, major golf tournaments and college events, which can push up prices.

Getting guests to the venue

Many Arizona venues are outside town, with long dark roads and limited parking. A shuttle between the hotel and the venue keeps guests safe and on time and means no one has to drive after the reception. Ride-share coverage can be thin in rural areas and late at night, so do not count on it for Sedona, Cave Creek or high-country venues.

A welcome bag for the desert

• Bottled water and electrolyte packets
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Local snacks and treats
• A printed schedule with addresses and shuttle times
• Tips for local restaurants, hikes and sights

Travel tips to share

• Time zone: Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year and does not use daylight saving time, except on the Navajo Nation. Remind guests to check local time for the ceremony.
• Weather: share what to expect for your date and what to pack. See our guest attire guide.
• Elevation: Flagstaff sits near 7,000 feet. Guests may feel the altitude and should drink extra water.
• Hiking safety: guests exploring trails should carry water, avoid midday heat and stay on marked paths.

Making a weekend of it

Destination guests often arrive a day or two early. Consider a welcome party, a group brunch the morning after, or a list of easy activities nearby. Planning your wedding weekend around guests makes the trip worth it for them. Our planning timeline shows when to send save-the-dates and book hotel blocks, and our Sedona wedding guide covers one of the state’s most popular destinations.