7 Activities
Traveling Back in Time: Road Trip to Casa Grande
Starts from
Phoenix
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
7
Duration
10 hours
Length
35 mi
Guide details
Starts from
Phoenix
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
10 hours
Length
35 mi
Nathan Lemin
Travel Expert
- Visit museums and ruins describing the landscape.
- Dine at regional staples with local charm.
- Check out art and design that help define Casa Grande.
These former mining towns have a distinct Southwestern flair, but beneath the surface you will uncover thousands of years of human history. From ancestral Sonoran desert people to early Western settlers, visiting the museums and landscapes along this loop will give you a vivid understanding of these communities south of Phoenix, Arizona.
Both Casa Grande, Arizona, and Florence have much to offer, and watching the big-city fade behind you on this route will help transport you back in time.
Both Casa Grande, Arizona, and Florence have much to offer, and watching the big-city fade behind you on this route will help transport you back in time.
These former mining towns have a distinct Southwestern flair, but beneath the surface you will uncover thousands of years of human history. From ancestral Sonoran desert people to early Western settlers, visiting the museums and landscapes along this loop will give you a vivid understanding of these communities south of Phoenix, Arizona.
Both Casa Grande, Arizona, and Florence have much to offer, and watching the big-city fade behind you on this route will help transport you back in time.
Both Casa Grande, Arizona, and Florence have much to offer, and watching the big-city fade behind you on this route will help transport you back in time.
Nathan Lemin
Travel Expert
- Visit museums and ruins describing the landscape.
- Dine at regional staples with local charm.
- Check out art and design that help define Casa Grande.
Day Itinerary
7 Activities
Day 1
35 mi0.7 mi
Loop Through Southwestern Histories Both Ancient and Modern
Experience the Arizona's Old West in towns like Casa Grande and Florence. Learn the various histories that have intersected this landscape. Be inspired by the ruins and artifacts left over thousands of years by people indigenous to the area.
09:001 hr
McFarland State Historic Park
Visitor Centre
Open Details
Glean information about the complicated past here at McFarland State Historic Park in Florence. The living museum contains exhibits dedicated to the settlement of the town, as well as the native Hohokam people who inhabited the area long before. Additionally, visitors can find information regarding the surrounding attractions, including the legendary Silver King Mine, the richest silver mine in Arizona. The town of Florence is part of the National Historic Register, with many well-preserved buildings.
10.6 mi
20 min
10:201 hr
Casa Grande Ruins
Park
Open Details
Discover a wealth of knowledge about ancestral Sonoran Desert people at the inspiring "Great House," or Casa Grande Ruins. Guessed to be built in the 1300s, archaeologists are not entirely sure what purpose this large and detailed structure served. While the structure cannot be entered, you can marvel at its intricacies and hypothesize for yourself the role this building had in an ancient civilization.
24.3 mi
40 min
12:0045 min
Big House
Café
Open Details
The best spot in town for breakfast and lunch, Big House Cafe—so named for the ruins and town—serves up giant portions at great prices. A hot spot for locals and tourists alike, this is a great first stop in the city of Casa Grande before exploring the attractions. Big House offers American and Mexican classics, as well as seasonally inspired specials, all in a cozy, at-home setting.
Park somewhere nearby in the downtown area, and use Big House as a jumping off point for the rest of the day.
Park somewhere nearby in the downtown area, and use Big House as a jumping off point for the rest of the day.
0.3 mi
10 min
13:001 hr
Casa Grande Art Museum
Art Museum
Open Details
The quaint local Casa Grande Art Museum is a surprising gem. The building itself is in the National Historic Register, and the museum features an outdoor sculpture garden in addition to its indoor galleries. Building and maintaining a creative space for residents and visitors to be inspired is the central mission for the museum, and it is a can't-miss stop when traveling through Casa Grande.
0.2 mi
5 min
14:151 hr 30 min
Museum of Casa Grande
Museum
Open Details
Containing days' worth of artifacts, special exhibits and collections, the Museum of Casa Grande is a gateway into the history of Arizona. With a rich archives and a library detailing local and regional histories, as well as artifacts and items from both indigenous and settler communities, the museum will inspire you to connect the various pasts that intersected this landscape.
0.1 mi
5 min
16:001 hr
Casa Grande Neon Sign Park
Museum
Open Details
Walk right into an illuminating past! The Neon Sign Park is a fun walk down memory lane. The park contains beautifully maintained signs, with information to be found about each, both in the park and online. If it is not quite dusk by the time you visit, make sure to stop by after dinner and check out the signs once they are illuminated against their desert backdrop.
0.2 mi
5 min
17:151 hr 30 min
BeDillon's
Restaurant
Open Details
BeDillon's features an expansive menu with Southwestern staples like fine steaks to innovative regional fare like Mexican lasagna. Weather permitting, dine in the pristine cactus garden. The tranquil Southwestern setting paired with local staples make this the perfect place to wind down your day-trip to Casa Grande at sunset.