StayAreas logoStayAreas

Where to stay in Phoenix

Phoenix is a spread-out desert city, so where you stay shapes your trip. Stay Downtown for the convention centre, the Suns and Diamondbacks and the light rail; in Old Town Scottsdale for walkable restaurants, galleries, nightlife and pool hotels; or in Tempe for Arizona State University, Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake. Sky Harbor Airport sits in the middle, about 15 minutes from all three.

Find your area, then your hotel

Tap one of our picks, or any area, to see its hotels on the map, what it costs, where we'd book and how long it takes to get around.

In short: our pick for each kind of trip. Tap one to see why.

Should you stay in

Downtown Phoenix?

Convention centre, stadiums & Roosevelt Row

What a night costs

Budget
$165
Mid-range
$235
Luxury
$520

2nd cheapest of 3 areas, about $55 a night less than Old Town Scottsdale.

Where we'd book

The verdict

The centre of Phoenix, with the convention centre, Footprint Center and Chase Field, the Roosevelt Row arts district and the light rail to the airport and Tempe.

  • Stay here if
  • Convention visitors
  • Sports fans
  • Travellers without a car
  • Look elsewhere if
  • You want a resort pool scene
  • You want lively streets every night
  • You want desert hiking on the doorstep

Minutes to the sights

  • Phoenix Convention Center7 minwalk
  • Footprint Center9 minwalk
  • Chase Field14 minwalk
  • Heard Museum15 min
  • Phoenix Art Museum16 min
  • Roosevelt Row19 minwalk

Stations and airports

5 min to Downtown Phoenix. Valley Metro light rail runs through downtown to the airport's 44th St station, Tempe and Mesa, and north along Central Avenue. The PHX Sky Train links the light rail to the terminals.

  • From Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)tram, bus 70, tram A37 min
Read the full Downtown Phoenix guide →

Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Minutes planned with the Transitous (MOTIS on published GTFS timetables and OpenStreetMap) for a weekday, including walking and waiting · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more

Phoenix questions

What is the best area to stay in Phoenix for first-timers?

Downtown Phoenix puts the big sights within easy reach and is 5 minutes from Downtown Phoenix. Old Town Scottsdale are good alternatives.

Which area of Phoenix has the cheapest hotels?

Tempe and Downtown Phoenix, with budget hotels from around $145 and mid-range around $215–$235 a night.

Where is the best nightlife in Phoenix?

Old Town Scottsdale has the most bars, restaurants and late nights. Tempe are good alternatives.

Is it worth staying outside central Phoenix?

It can save around $75 a night on a mid-range room compared with Old Town Scottsdale, but adds travel time. Tempe is 25 minutes and Old Town Scottsdale is 25 minutes from Downtown Phoenix.