How to Survive (and Enjoy) Summer in Phoenix

Summer in Phoenix has a fearsome reputation, and it is earned: from June through September, daytime highs routinely climb past 100 degrees, and the hottest stretches push well beyond that. But locals do not just endure the desert summer, they have a whole rhythm for thriving in it. The secret is timing, water, and knowing when to head for the hills. Do it right and a Phoenix summer has its own pleasures: dramatic monsoon storms, empty trails at dawn, cheap resort stays, and the mountains a couple hours away. Here is a local survival guide to summer in Phoenix.

Understand the rhythm of the day

The first thing to internalize is that summer life in the desert shifts to the cool edges of the day. Locals are outside at dawn and after dark, and indoors or in the water through the brutal afternoon hours. Once you flip your schedule this way, summer becomes much more manageable. Plan your outdoor activity, exercise, errands, anything strenuous, for early morning, and treat the midday hours as time to retreat to air conditioning.

Hike at sunrise, not after

The desert hikes around Phoenix are still doable in summer, but only if you go early. Be on the trail at or before sunrise and finished before mid-morning. Many city mountain trails effectively become dangerous, and some are restricted, during summer afternoons because of the heat. Carry far more water than you think you need, wear a hat and sunscreen, and turn around at the first sign of overheating. A dawn hike with the desert to yourself and the light coming up over the saguaros is one of the best parts of a Phoenix summer.

Embrace the monsoon

One of the most spectacular things about an Arizona summer is the monsoon. From roughly July into September, a seasonal shift in winds pulls moisture into the desert, and the afternoons can erupt into dramatic thunderstorms, towering clouds, lightning shows, sudden downpours, and the occasional wall of blowing dust known as a haboob.

• The good: Monsoon storms break the heat, bring the desert to life, and put on some of the best skies and sunsets you will ever see.
• The cautions: Never drive into a flooded wash, lightning makes exposed trails dangerous, and dust storms can drop visibility to nothing on the freeway, pull over and wait them out.

Watching a monsoon storm roll across the Valley from a safe vantage point is a quintessential desert-summer experience.

Get in the water

In a desert summer, water is everything. The Valley is built for it.

• Splash pads: Free, family-friendly fountains in city parks across the metro.
• Resort pools and water parks: Full water parks plus resort day passes to pools and lazy rivers, summer is actually the cheapest time to enjoy the Valley's famous resorts.
• Tempe Town Lake and the desert lakes: Paddle boats, kayaking, and shoreline play; the urban lake is a popular spot for a sunset paddle. See the Tempe Town Lake page.
• Tubing and river days: Floating a cool desert river is a beloved Arizona summer tradition.

Master the indoor escapes

The afternoon hours are made for air conditioning, and Phoenix has plenty of great indoor options to fill them: aquariums, museums, science centers, indoor entertainment complexes, malls, and movie theaters. The Valley's strong happy-hour culture also shines in summer, an air-conditioned bar or a misted patio in the evening is the perfect way to wait out the heat. Treat the indoor scene as a feature, not a consolation prize.

Escape to the high country

The best-kept secret of a Phoenix summer is how close the cool mountains are. Within a couple hours you can climb thousands of feet into pine forests where summer days are pleasant and nights are downright cool.

• Sedona sits in red-rock canyon country at a higher elevation than the Valley, noticeably cooler and a gateway to shaded creek hikes. See the Sedona hub.
• Flagstaff, at about 7,000 feet, is a full 20 to 30 degrees cooler than Phoenix and hosts a busy summer festival season in the pines. Check Flagstaff events.
• Prescott, the White Mountains, and the Mogollon Rim all offer cool-weather escapes within reach of a day trip or weekend.

For Valley residents, a summer weekend up in the cool pines is a cherished tradition, and it is the single best way to remember that Arizona is not just desert.

The summer survival checklist

• Hydrate constantly. Drink water all day, not just when you feel thirsty.
• Time everything. Outdoor activity at dawn and dusk; indoors and in the water midday.
• Never leave kids or pets in cars. Interior temperatures turn deadly within minutes.
• Mind your car. Sunshades, never touch a metal seatbelt buckle barehanded, and keep an emergency water supply.
• Respect the monsoon. Avoid flooded roads, exposed ridges in storms, and driving in dust.

Make the most of a Phoenix summer

Summer in Phoenix is not the season to avoid the desert, it is the season to outsmart it. Hike at dawn, watch the monsoon roll in, spend the afternoons in the water or the AC, and escape to the high country when you want a break. To find summer events, splash pads, festivals, and cool-weather getaways during your visit, browse the Arizona events calendar for what is on right now.