Arizona is home to some of the most beautiful destinations in the US and entices travelers from around the world. The state is one of the unique locations in the Southwest and offers plenty of weird places that visitors won’t find anywhere else in the world. Arizona might be loved for its world-famous bustling cities like Phoenix and Tucson but there is something exhilarating about exploring its lesser-known side.
The unique and strange towns in Arizona to add to the bucket list give travelers an incredible chance to immerse themselves in the local culture. These places might not be among the most beautiful Arizona small towns one should visit but they offer an authentic experience of the state.
1. Bisbee
Stroll the narrow streets and see the haunted places
Bisbee is a copper mining town loved for its breathtaking architecture and numerous unique places to explore. The town is also among the most haunted spots in Arizona and has creepy tales. Some of the most haunted locations to explore in the city include Evergreen Cemetery and Bisbee Séance Room.
The Shady Bell is not haunted but is another strange thing to experience in Bisbee and is perfect for lovers of RVs. The nine vintage trailers take travelers back to the 1940s and 1950s. It offers one of the strangest accommodation experiences including TVs that only broadcast in two colors.
Bisbee’s history and its art are intertwined as one strolls the narrow streets and alleys as well as Bisbee’s 350 historic staircases. Enter another time when you visit a museum housed in a 1890s building that was the first rural Smithsonian Affiliate or experience what it was like to be a miner at the Queen Mine Tour.
From Old Bisbee, take a short five-mile drive to the suburb of Warren, one of Arizona’s first master-planned communities which offers visitors a chance to experience baseball at one of the country’s oldest ballparks.
Cultural activities include the Bisbee Farmers Market, infamous mining contests in Brewery Gulch, the Bisbee Blues Festival, the Historic Home Tour, the Bisbee Stair Climb, Mariachi Festival, the Annual Chocolate Tasting, the Altered Book Show, the Sidepony Music Festival, Alice in Bisbeeland, and numerous other festivals throughout the year that offer fun and entertainment for all ages.
- Year founded: 1880
- Population: 4,968
- Elevation: 5,350 feet
- Things to do: National Historic District, Bisbee Staircase, Queen Mine Tour, Evergreen Cemetery, Bisbee Séance Room
- Where to camp: Double Adobe Campground, Shady Dell RV Park
2. Paradise Valley
Visit Cosanti, a historic site that is home to handmade bells and wind chimes
Paradise Valley is a town with a rural feel located east of Arizona’s capital, Phoenix. It is famous for being the wealthiest town in the state and the largest percentage of college graduates in the area with world-class golf courses, incredible culinary experiences, and a fantastic shopping scene.
World-renown architect Paolo Soleri resided in Paradise Valley. Today, his home and workshop are a top visitor attraction offering visitors a chance to buy handmade Soleri Windbells.
What makes this place unique is Cosanti, a designated historic site in Arizona with terraced landscaping and impressive garden courtyards. It is among the strangest places in the state of Arizona. Cosanti is home to handmade bells and windchimes, and vacationers can see these being created in person.
- Year founded: 1890
- Population: 12,707
- Elevation: 1,165 feet
- Things to do: Dining, shopping, hiking, golfing, visiting Cosanti
- Where to camp: Paradise Valley Ranch
3. Globe
A storied past, including the fact that it was named after a globe-shaped silver discovered there
Globe was founded in 1876 and boasts unique experiences that every traveler will fall in love with. Its name originates from the globe-shaped silver that was discovered near the townsite. Located in the middle of Tonto National Forest, this charming town has a long, fascinating history that involves silver miners, gunfighters, and ranchers, among others. Its legacy and unique name have endured through its discovery, mining period, and even today as one of the most stunning places to explore in Arizona.
Take a self-guided tour at Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park and truly take a step back in time.
- Year founded: 1876
- Population: 7,230
- Elevation: 3,510 feet
- Things to do: Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park, Seneca Lake, Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive, Round Mountain Park
- Where to camp: Gila County RV Park
4. Lake Havasu City
Home to a scenic coastline in a desert landscape
Lake Havasu City was founded in 1964 and promoted by the industrialist Robert P. McCulloch as the focal point of a recreational and retirement development. It centers on the 45-mile-long Lake Havasu. One of the focal points for visitors, the lake is impounded by Parker Dam and is 3 miles across at its widest point. Many visitors are drawn to the region by the presence of the historic London Bridge which was purchased by McCulloch for a sum of $2.5 million.
Lake Havasu City is located on the California border and the fact it has an incredibly scenic coastline makes it a unique destination which makes it stand out among other visitor spots. It offers numerous outdoor activities thanks to the pristine beaches, mountains, and the surrounding desert. Some of the best things to do in Lake Havasu City include lounging on the beach, kayaking on the lake, strolling along the historic London Bridge, and taking in the breathtaking mountain and water views.
- Year founded: 1964
- Population: 59,961
- Elevation: 938
- Things to do: Lounging on the beach, kayaking on the lake, strolling along the historic London Bridge, and taking in the breathtaking mountain and water views
- Where to camp: Lake Havassu State Park
5. Jerome
A former boom town on a hillside with winding streets, art galleries, and scenic overlooks
Jerome is built on Cleopatra Hill above a vast deposit of copper. The mines, the workers, and those who sought its wealth formed Jerome’s history. They were a brave and raucous mix. Miners, smelter workers, freighters, gamblers, bootleggers, saloon keepers, storekeepers, prostitutes and preachers, wives and children all made Jerome what it was. At one point, Jerome was called the “Wickedest Town in the West”.
Famous for its authenticity, Jerome is one of the strangest and most unique towns in Arizona and offers some of the most unforgettable memories. This spot was once the “wickedest town in the west” and has multiple unique places to explore. The Abandoned Post Office which is about a quarter mile from the free parking lot is among the most unusual places. The aging dates back to the mining days. Other strange places in Jerome include the Sliding Jail, Jerome State Historic Park, and the Gold King & Ghost Town.
- Year founded: 1899
- Population: 329
- Elevation: 4,600 feet
- Things to do: Visit the Mine Museum, Sliding Jail, Jerome State Historic Park, take a ghost tour
- Where to camp: Rain Spirit RV Resort
6. Winslow
Explore this Route 66 gem that presents Western heritage with a big slice of Americana
Iconic selfies await in Winslow. The 9/11 Memorial Park near the east entrance to town is a great place for a shot of the Route 66 sign that welcomes visitors. At 2nd Street and Kinsley Avenue in the historic district, Standin’ on the Corner Park pays tribute the Eagles tune that put Winslow’s stretch of Route 66 in the history books. Snap a shot with the Jackson Brown statue (he wrote “Take it Easy” with the Eagles’ Glenn Frey). Check out the visitor center located in a former Hubbell Trading Post before strolling blocks lined with gift shops, restaurants, and watering holes along historic Route 66.
Winslow’s centerpiece is La Posada Hotel, built in 1929. It is considered the last great Fred Harvey hotel built by the Santa Fe Railroad and the Southwestern masterpiece of architect Mary Jane Colter. Visitors can walk through lush courtyards and a fascinating labyrinth of interior corridors and staircases that reach gathering rooms and private nooks all decorated with period furnishings and artifacts. Visitors come from around the region to dine at the Turquoise Room and shop at the on-site trading post. The original train depot on-site now houses the extraordinary Affeldt Mion Museum which honors the good citizens who preserved La Posada to its original elegance and ultimately kept Winslow on the map.
- Year founded: 1882
- Population: 8,831
- Elevation: 4,866 feet
- Things to do: Standin’ on the Corner Park, La Posada Hotel, Affedt Mion Museum, Homolovi State Park
- Where to camp: Homolovi State Park, Meteor Crater RV Park
7. Sedona
Breathtaking red sandstone formations and Sedona vortexes, believed to emit energy
While there are small and underrated towns in Arizona that are great alternatives to Sedona, this place is like no other. What makes Sedona stand out from other destinations include its unique red rock formations and the vortexes which emit their energies. The Sedona vortexes can be seen in Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, and Boynton Canyon. Other unique things to do include visiting the spiritual stores and taking a healing massage treatment.
- Year founded: 1902
- Population: 9,896
- Elevation: 4,360 feet
- Things to do: Visit the Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Boynton Canyon, hiking, scenic drives, jeep tour
- Where to camp: Dead Horse Ranch State Park
8. Tombstone
The Wild West is on display at The Town Too Tough to Die.
Tombstone established its unruly reputation in the 1800s when the frontier was untamed. See daily re-enactments with actors dressing the parts of the cowboys and outlaws who immortalized this Western outpost. Find the O.K. Corral on Allen Street where actors playing the Earps, Clantons, and Doc Holliday stage the most famous shootout in the Old West.
Visit Wyatt Earp’s home, now a great museum with a big collection of Earp memorabilia. Step inside Big Nose Kate’s Saloon and the Bird Cage Theatre, two Tombstone landmarks that preserve many wild stories. Walk along boardwalks between shops that sell boots and antiques, plus Western art and souvenirs.
One block over on Toughnut Street, Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is a museum that preserves the town’s original sheriff’s office, jail, and courtrooms. See exhibits that reveal the stories of Tombstone’s mining and ranching heritage from the late 1800s. The 1882 red-brick structure was a pivotal site that helped tame the lawless region as Tombstone grew as a frontier boom town. Sit in the recreated courthouse and imagine the outlaws who met their fates there.
- Year founded: 1879
- Population: 1,308
- Elevation: 4,406 feet
- Things to do: OK Corral, Big Nose Kate’s Saloon, Bird Cage Theater, Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, Boothill Graveyard
- Where to camp: Tombstone RV Park & Campground
9. Wickenburg
An authentic Western town with dude ranches, rodeos, museums, and outdoor fun
Wickenburg is an unusual gem with multiple strange things to experience. One of the top spots to explore is Vulture City Ghost Town which is situated in the Sonoran Desert just outside the town. Established in 1863, Vulture City Ghost Town is one of the things that make Wickenburg among the unique and strange towns in Arizona to add to a bucket list. It was a vibrant gold mining town until 1942, when it met its fate, thanks to the War Production Board, which authorized the shutting down of all the non-essential mines.
Today, visitors can take a ghost tour of the abandoned remnants of this former mining town. The tour guide will walk the group through the haunted buildings as he narrates some of the creepy tales of the ghost town’s haunted history. One will get a chance to spot paranormal activities including flickering lights and weird shadows in the historic buildings.
Wickenburg boasts three beloved cultural institutions. Desert Caballeros Western Museum houses a top-notch collection featuring artists like Frederic Remington, Thomas Moran, and Maynard Dixon, a vignette gallery that tells the story of Wickenburg and a popular annual exhibit, “Cowgirl Up!” spotlighting women artists. The modern Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts has a robust season of performances by the likes of Lily Tomlin, the Beach Boys, Pink Martini and the Glen Miller Orchestra. Like your movies in a vintage setting? Saguaro Theater has shown first-run and classic Western films since 1948.
You didn’t come to Wickenburg to spend all your time indoors. Meander along gentle paths through a lush riparian setting at Hassayampa River Preserve, a birder’s paradise where nearly 300 species of feathered friends have been spotted. Across town, go for a challenging hike up Vulture Peak where the steep trail’s reward is a view across miles. Power walkers and bike riders will like the Sunset Multi-Use Path that runs through historic downtown Wickenburg. Need more? Hit a golf course for 18 holes.
- Year founded: 1863
- Population: 8,045
- Elevation: 2,202
- Things to do: Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Vulture City Ghost Town, Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts, Saguaro Theater, Hassayampa River Preserve
- Where to camp: Trail West RV Resort, Aztec Village RV Park
10. Nothing
An unusual name and a sign with a weird statement written on it
Nothing, Arizona is an uninhabited ghost town located in eastern Mohave County. It was established in 1977 by Richard “Buddy” Kenworthy and is situated 118 miles northwest of Phoenix and 23 miles south of Wikieup, known as the “rattlesnake capital of Arizona.” The town is west of Bagdad at milepost 148½ on U.S. Route 93 also known as the Joshua Forest Scenic Parkway.
At its peak, Nothing had only two buildings: a gas station with a garage and a small roadside market which was humorously named “All-Mart”. The town was abandoned by 2005 due to its remote location.
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) installed one of four motorist call boxes on U.S. 93 at Nothing, featuring a sign that reads: “Town of Nothing Arizona. Founded 1977. Elevation 3269 feet. The staunch citizens of Nothing are full of Hope, Faith, and Believe in the work ethic. Thru-the-years-these dedicated people had faith in Nothing, hoped for Nothing, worked at Nothing, for Nothing”.
Today, little remains of the town with only one abandoned building still standing surrounded by a crumbling fence. It serves as a unique photo opportunity for travelers passing through the area.
- Year founded: 1977
- Population: 0
- Elevation: 3,268 feet
- Things to do: ADOT sign, Joshua Forest Scenic Parkway
11. Ajo
Ajo’s Spanish architecture is an excellent introduction to southern Arizona’s colonial history and a gateway to adventure in nearby Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Anchored by a historic train depot, Ajo’s graceful town plaza—surrounded by shops, a post office, restaurants, and punctuated by towering palm trees and a central park—may remind you of Mexico. Built in 1917, the Spanish Colonial Revival style is a perfect complement to the sunny desert terrain. The heart of Ajo, the plaza hosts frequent festivals that bring together Arizonans, members of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Mexicans, and visitors from around the world. As you meander, be sure and stop into the two lovely houses of worship built in the mid-1920s, the Catholic Church and the Federated Church.
Once a copper mining town—you can view the Cornelia Open Pit Mine from an overlook outside of town—Ajo is now an emerging arts community attracting creatives from Tucson, Phoenix, and other Southwestern cities. The beautifully renovated Sonoran Desert Conference Center—part conference center and hotel, part artist community—furthers this creative vibe.
Just 15 miles south, along the border with Sonora, Mexico, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument reveals its wonders. An unspoiled preserve, this cactus forest has been honored by UNESCO as an International Biosphere Reserve for its biodiversity. Serene and under-visited, it’s the best place to see wild stands of these unusual cacti that feature multiple columns growing out from a central base. Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge is another nearby place to bird, camp, hike, and view wildlife. Whatever your interests, Ajo is alive with activity.
- Year founded: 1847
- Population: 3,039
- Elevation: 1,759
- Things to do: Historic Plaza and Railroad Depot, Cornelia Open Pit Mine, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge
- Where to camp: Ajo Heights RV Park & Campground
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in October 2025. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.
Worth Pondering…
To my mind these live oak-dotted hills fat with side oats grama, these pine-clad mesas spangled with flowers, these lazy trout streams burbling along under great sycamores and cottonwoods, come near to being the cream of creation.
—Aldo Leopold, 1937