Phoenix gets a bad reputation as a driving city. Flat, straight, freeway-dominated - the metro area itself doesn't exactly inspire. But drive 30 to 90 minutes in any direction and you're on some of the best sports car roads in the country. Arizona's geography is dramatic: elevation changes of 4,000+ feet, canyon walls, switchback mountain passes, and desert straightaways that stretch to the horizon.
At Arizona Elite Motors, located at 1005 E Madison St in Phoenix, we're enthusiasts first. We drive these roads. We've taken Corvettes up the Apache Trail, pushed Shelby GT500s along Carefree Highway, and clipped the corners on US 89A through Sedona. This guide is the version we'd give a friend - not a tourist pamphlet.
The Apache Trail (AZ-88) - The Classic
Distance from Phoenix: 35 miles to trailhead (Superstition Freeway to Apache Junction) Road length: 40 miles from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Dam Best car: Anything nimble. This road rewards lightweight and balance over horsepower. Best time: October through April. Summer heat is genuinely dangerous beyond Canyon Lake.
The Apache Trail is the first road every Phoenix car enthusiast should drive. AZ-88 begins paved at Apache Junction, passes through Canyon Lake, and eventually turns to improved dirt road past Tortilla Flat. The paved section - roughly 18 miles to Tortilla Flat - is the one we care about.
What you get: constant direction changes, tight hairpin switchbacks carved into canyon walls above Apache Lake, dramatic elevation changes with 800-foot drops visible just past the guardrail, and almost no traffic on weekday mornings. The road demands attention. It rewards smoothness and rhythm over speed. A well-driven C7 Corvette on these corners is a religious experience.
Practical notes:
- Fill up before you leave Apache Junction. There's no fuel between Apache Junction and the settlement at Roosevelt (65 miles).
- Tortilla Flat at mile 18 has a restaurant and a general store. It's a natural turnaround if you don't want the dirt section.
- The road surface varies - some sections are recently repaved and excellent, others have significant patching and edge crumbling. Keep speed sensible and stay off the shoulder.
- Morning (7-9am on weekdays) is the sweet spot. Tourist traffic arrives mid-morning on weekends and the canyon walls get hot by noon.
- Beware of gravel in corners - flash floods deposit debris across the road regularly. After any rain in the surrounding mountains, inspect corners before committing to them.
Carefree Highway (AZ-74) - The Open Desert Run
Distance from Phoenix: 25 miles to junction (I-17 north to AZ-74) Road length: 38 miles from Lake Pleasant Road to Carefree Best car: Any sports car or muscle car. Low elevation change, long sight lines, great for high-speed cruising. Best time: Year-round. Early morning runs in any season are excellent.
Carefree Highway doesn't have the canyon drama of the Apache Trail, but it's a completely different kind of road. Long, flowing curves through the Sonoran Desert with Bradshaw Mountain views, minimal traffic especially on weekday mornings, and a surface that's typically well-maintained.
This is the road for a Shelby GT500 or a C7 Z06 when you want to use the power. Sight lines allow appropriate speeds, corners are gentle enough to carry real velocity, and the elevation changes are gradual. It's also genuinely beautiful - saguaro-covered hillsides and dramatic desert light make this one of the most scenic drives in the Phoenix area.
The Carefree/Cave Creek section at the east end adds tight canyon terrain as the road climbs into the foothills. Worth doing the full route east to west through Carefree and back via Scottsdale Road for the complete experience.
Practical notes:
- AZ-74 connects I-17 and Scottsdale Road (Pima/Cave Creek area). A popular loop is north on I-17 to AZ-74, east to Carefree, south through Cave Creek to Scottsdale Road, and back to Phoenix on the 101.
- Wildlife crossings happen - deer, coyotes, and javelina are active at dawn and dusk. Night driving requires extra attention.
- Fuel in Lake Pleasant or Carefree/Cave Creek. Limited options between.
Mount Lemmon (Catalina Highway / AZ-77 Access) - The Crown Jewel
Distance from Phoenix: 110 miles south (I-10 to Tucson, then Tanque Verde Road to Catalina Highway) Road length: 27 miles from the base to Summerhaven Best car: High-revving sports cars. Technical corners reward precision, not horsepower. Best time: Spring and fall. Avoid monsoon season (July-September) when the road gets debris and lightning. Summer is actually excellent up top - 40 degrees cooler than Phoenix.
Mount Lemmon isn't the closest road to Phoenix, but it's worth the 110-mile drive from the city. The Catalina Highway climbs from the Sonoran Desert floor at 2,800 feet to the village of Summerhaven at 8,200 feet over 27 miles. You pass through multiple ecological zones - desert, grassland, oak woodland, pine forest - in one drive. The road itself is technical, constant, and demanding.
The drive up is characterized by tight switchbacks with limited sight lines. The descent is where drivers really earn their keep - long downhill sections that load front brakes heavily, combined with tight corners that punish any early entry. A well-sorted sports car with good pads and fresh fluid is noticeable here. A stock vehicle with faded brake fluid at mile 15 of the descent gets concerning.
The views from the upper sections are extraordinary. The entire Tucson valley visible below, the Santa Catalina peaks above, and road surface that's been recently improved in several key sections.
Practical notes:
- There is a $10 fee to access Catalina Highway (National Recreation Area pass). Keep cash or card available at the gate.
- Summerhaven at the top has a small restaurant and pie shop. Genuinely worth stopping.
- Check brake fluid condition before this drive. If you've been deferring brake fluid replacement, do it first.
- Early morning weekdays are best - minimal traffic and cool temperatures. Weekend afternoons bring recreational cyclists who are technically permitted on the road but create tricky passing situations.
- Cell service drops completely around mile 8 and doesn't return until near the summit. Tell someone your route before going.
- Gas up in Tucson. There is no fuel on the mountain.
US 89A Through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon - The Scenic Route
Distance from Phoenix: 110 miles north (I-17 to Flagstaff, then AZ-89A south through Oak Creek Canyon) Road length: 14 miles from Flagstaff to Sedona through the canyon Best car: Any sports car. The canyon section rewards precise cornering; the Sedona-to-Jerome extension adds more technical terrain. Best time: Fall for foliage. Spring for mild temperatures. Avoid summer weekends - tourist traffic turns the canyon section into a parking lot.
US 89A through Oak Creek Canyon might be the most visually spectacular drive in Arizona. Red rock canyon walls, creek crossings, forest transitions, and a road that descends 2,000 feet from the Coconino Plateau to Sedona's red rock terrain in 14 miles.
The canyon section is tight - two lanes with active oncoming traffic and limited passing opportunities. Drive it for the experience, not for speed. The reward is visual immersion in one of Arizona's most dramatic landscapes. In fall, the canyon bottom turns orange and gold where maple and oak trees line the creek.
From Sedona, continue southwest on 89A through Cottonwood toward Jerome. This section adds another dimension - long sweepers through high desert terrain leading to Jerome's switchbacks climbing to 5,000 feet. Jerome itself is worth the stop.
Practical notes:
- Flagstaff to Sedona on 89A is about 30 minutes of driving. Add Jerome and you're looking at a full day from Phoenix.
- Fuel in Flagstaff before the canyon. Sedona has fuel but at tourist markup prices.
- The most popular tourist stop is Slide Rock State Park (mile marker 12). Weekends it creates sudden traffic stoppages. Budget extra time.
- The descent from Flagstaff to Sedona is dramatically winding. Take it easy on the first pass to learn the surface and sight lines.
Bush Highway (AZ-87 / Beeline Highway Adjacent) - The Local Loop
Distance from Phoenix: 20 miles northeast Road length: 10 miles along the Salt River corridor Best car: Anything. Great for short enthusiasm runs without leaving the metro area. Best time: Year-round, but early morning to avoid recreational crowds.
Bush Highway runs along the Salt River northeast of Phoenix through the Tonto National Forest. It's short, it's close, and it's accessible on any morning before work. The road surface is variable (improved dirt in sections) but the paved portions offer flowing curves through saguaro desert with the Salt River visible below.
This is the local enthusiast's road - not the most dramatic, but accessible on a Tuesday morning when you need to stretch a car's legs. Connects to Mesa and Tempe via Power Road and to the Apache Trail via AZ-88.
Practical notes:
- There are Tonto National Forest fees for some access points. Check signage.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles share this road on weekends. Weekday mornings are much cleaner.
- The road conditions after monsoon season can be rough. Check reports before assuming the surface is good.
Route 188 Along Roosevelt Lake - The Overlooked Gem
Distance from Phoenix: 75 miles east via US-60 and AZ-88 or via AZ-87 north Road length: 30 miles from Roosevelt Dam to Globe junction Best car: Sports cars and performance sedans. The terrain rewards good suspension tuning. Best time: Fall through spring. Summer is hot and boat traffic on the lake creates distracted drivers.
Route 188 runs along the east side of Roosevelt Lake and then through the rugged terrain above it. Less famous than the Apache Trail, less crowded, and arguably better road surface. The southern section near Roosevelt Dam has the tight canyon feel; the northern section opens to high desert terrain with long sight lines.
Combine with the Apache Trail for a full day: take AZ-88 from Apache Junction through the canyon to Roosevelt Dam, then north on AZ-188 to AZ-87, and back to Phoenix via the Beeline Highway. The loop covers roughly 150 miles and takes 3-4 hours of driving time - one of the best all-day routes in Arizona.
Practical notes:
- There is fuel at Roosevelt (small store at the dam). Limited options elsewhere.
- Cell coverage is minimal throughout. Paper map or downloaded offline route recommended.
- The road is used by trucks serving the lake communities. Give wide vehicles plenty of room on the narrower sections.
General Phoenix Driving Tips
Tire Condition Matters More Here Arizona's asphalt absorbs and radiates heat differently than surfaces in milder climates. Hard compound tires that would be acceptable in Seattle or Chicago can overheat and rubber-off on desert canyon roads in summer. Check tread depth and compound before any serious mountain drive.
Heat Management is Real Any car driven hard in summer Arizona heat will be working its cooling system harder than the same car in cooler climates. Check coolant levels and condition before driving. Monitor temperature gauges actively. Pull over and cool down if a temperature gauge climbs unusually.
Best Season for Canyon Roads October through April is optimal. The shoulder seasons (March-May, September-October) offer mild temperatures, lower tourist traffic, and dry road surfaces. December through February at higher elevations can bring ice on shaded corners - check conditions at Mount Lemmon and Oak Creek Canyon before assuming dry roads.
Performance Cars Available in Phoenix If you're reading this and looking for a sports car to actually drive these roads, Arizona Elite Motors stocks Corvettes, Shelby GT500s, BMW M cars, and performance cars across a wide range at 1005 E Madison St, Phoenix. We buy cars specifically because we'd drive them ourselves - which means the inventory tends to be the right ones for roads like these.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the best time of year to drive mountain roads near Phoenix?
A: October through April is the optimal window for most mountain roads. Specifically: November through March is ideal for the Apache Trail (cool temperatures, no summer heat risk), March through May is excellent for Mount Lemmon (before the summer crowds, manageable temperatures at the summit), and October through November catches the fall color in Oak Creek Canyon. Summer driving at lower elevations like the Carefree Highway is fine in the morning but unpleasant by noon. Summer driving at higher elevations (Mount Lemmon, Sedona) is actually quite pleasant because the elevation brings temperatures down 30-40 degrees from Phoenix's valley floor. Monsoon season (July-September) introduces additional hazards - flash flooding can deposit debris across mountain roads rapidly, and afternoon lightning storms can be dangerous at elevation.
Q: Are these roads legal to drive enthusiastically, or do I need to worry about enforcement?
A: All the roads listed are public highways with posted speed limits that you are legally required to observe. We are not suggesting or endorsing exceeding speed limits on any public road. What we are saying is that these roads have technical character, demanding terrain, and low traffic that make even legal speeds rewarding to drive. A Corvette or M3 driven at the posted limit on a twisting canyon road with proper technique delivers a legitimate driving experience. If you want to explore your car's limits at speed, the appropriate venue is a sanctioned track event - the NASA and SCCA run track days at the various Arizona facilities throughout the year, and Arizona Elite Motors is happy to point you toward local clubs and events.
Q: What should I bring on a long driving day in Arizona?
A: Water is non-negotiable - carry at least two gallons per person in summer or one gallon per person in cooler months. A printed or downloaded offline map of your route is important since cell coverage disappears completely on several of these roads. Basic tool kit and a roadside emergency kit with jumper cables or a jump pack, a tire inflator, and a basic first aid kit. Sunscreen is mandatory year-round. Cash for park entry fees and small gas stations in remote areas. And your car should be in solid mechanical condition before any mountain drive - check tire pressure, fluid levels, and brake pad thickness before heading out. The distances from help are real, and the terrain makes flat tires complicated.