Rent a Car in Phoenix

Phoenix and its surrounding Valley of the Sun — Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler — form one of the most sprawling metro areas in the United States, with a light rail line that covers only a fraction of it. Getting between a downtown hotel, a Scottsdale resort and a hiking trailhead in the Sonoran Desert essentially requires a car; distances that look short on a map often mean a 30-minute freeway drive.

Phoenix is also the natural launch point for some of Arizona's biggest draws. Sedona's red rock formations are about two hours north, the Grand Canyon's South Rim is roughly three and a half to four hours north, and Saguaro National Park near Tucson is under two hours south-east. Closer in, Camelback Mountain and the Desert Botanical Garden are quick drives from most hotel clusters. With over 300 days of sun a year, a car also means being able to time desert hikes for early morning before the heat sets in.