National parks near Phoenix

Phoenix sits in the Sonoran Desert with Saguaro National Park less than two hours south, on either side of Tucson. The Grand Canyon's South Rim is three and a half hours north via Flagstaff, a common two-day trip that can take in Sedona, and Petrified Forest lies the same distance to the north-east on Interstate 40. Joshua Tree is four hours west. Winter and spring are the seasons for the low desert; the canyon rim is pleasant in summer.