Jerome AZ Day Trip — Historic Ghost Town Guide

Jerome: Arizona's Most Livable Ghost Town

At its peak in the early 1900s, Jerome was home to 15,000 people and produced billions of dollars in copper. When the mines closed in 1953, the population crashed to fewer than 100 residents and the town was officially declared a ghost town. Today, Jerome has reinvented itself as a thriving arts colony and tourist destination perched dramatically on the slopes of Mingus Mountain at 5,000 feet elevation — making it one of the few places in Arizona where you can escape the desert heat without driving to Flagstaff.

From Goodyear or Glendale, Jerome is about two hours north on I-17, then scenic Highway 89A through Cottonwood. The drive through the Verde Valley is beautiful on its own.

What to Do in Jerome

• Jerome State Historic Park: Tour the Douglas Mansion, built in 1916 by mine owner James Douglas. The museum inside covers the full arc of Jerome's boom-and-bust copper mining era with original equipment and period photographs.
• Gold King Mine and Ghost Town: Just outside Jerome, this private attraction displays vintage mining machinery, antique vehicles, and a working blacksmith shop. Worth an hour if you have kids or love industrial history.
• Art galleries: Jerome has a dense concentration of working studios and galleries for such a small town. Zen Mountain Gallery, Pura Vida Gallery, and the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery are among the most established. First Saturday of each month brings extended gallery hours and open studios.
• Ghost tours: Jerome has a well-documented history of reported hauntings tied to its mining accidents and rough frontier past. The Jerome Grand Hotel — a repurposed 1926 hospital — offers weekend ghost tours that are popular year-round.

Where to Eat and Drink

The Haunted Hamburger is Jerome's most famous restaurant, a casual spot with a deck overlooking the Verde Valley and burgers that consistently win Arizona food rankings. Arrive early on weekends — waits can stretch past an hour at peak times.

Caduceus Cellars, the winery co-founded by Maynard James Keenan of the band Tool, produces small-batch Arizona wines from Verde Valley grapes and operates a tasting room in Jerome. The wines are serious, the setting is eclectic, and the story behind the winery is worth knowing before you visit.

The Flatiron Cafe is a breakfast and brunch institution in a narrow historic building — excellent coffee and creative egg dishes in a tight, lively space.

Pairing Jerome with Sedona

Jerome and Sedona are only 45 minutes apart via Highway 89A through Cottonwood, making them a natural pair for a single long day trip or a weekend getaway. Hit Jerome in the morning when it is cooler and less crowded, have lunch, then drive down to Sedona for the afternoon red-rock views. Check out our full hiking guide near Phoenix for trails to add to the Sedona leg of your trip, and browse Arizona day trips for more inspiration.