Top 10 Most Beautiful Places to Elope in Arizona

Here are a few ways to know if Arizona might be the right elopement location for you:

You love vast desert landscapes with flat mesas, deep canyons, and layers of red rocks
You want to experience the great outdoors by hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, or horseback riding through the desert
You want your elopement to be filled with warm colors & desert-inspired textures + decor
You want to take epic desert elopement portraits in some of the coolest natural wonders in the world (hello, red-rock buttes & winding slot canyons)
You want to explore small desert towns & visit local shops/restaurants
You want to stay in a desert-themed Airbnb with boho decor + neutral colors

If any of those sound like what you and your partner are envisioning for your adventure elopement, then I can’t recommend eloping in Arizona enough. Now, onto what you came here for!

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10 Best Places to Elope in Arizona

Because Arizona is jam-packed with so many incredible places, from the giant saguaro-filled deserts of Tucson, to the vast scenery of the Grand Canyon, all the way to the insane views in Page overlooking the Colorado River, it’s nearly impossible to pick where you want to elope. I’ve narrowed it down to a list of the 10 best places to elope in Arizona so that hopefully, you can easily find the one that’s right for you (or find multiple that you want to explore during your time in AZ)!

Quick disclaimer: I have way more locations up my sleeve than are mentioned in this blog post, but I like to keep them secret for my couples since I’ve come to find & explore them on my own! Reach out here and let’s get planning your elopement + talk all the secluded spots we can hit up for your Arizona desert wedding!

Here are the top 10 best places to elope in Arizona:

For each location below, I’ve included any permits you need to visit the location + hold your elopement ceremony there, as well as the closest airport, the best time of year to elope there, and ideas of fun activities to do in the area. Enjoy!

1. Horseshoe Bend/Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Page is an absolutely insane desert area in Arizona that has become super popular for elopements - and for good reason! Page sits right on the northern border of Arizona, super close to Utah, which makes it pretty easy to travel to both AZ & UT for your elopement if you wanted to.

There are TONS of nearby spots to hit up in the Page & Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, some of the most popular being Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, & Lake Powell.

If you’ve seen my Instagram feed at all, you’ll definitely recognize Horseshoe Bend – I’ve shot there tons of times and it truly never gets old. It’s a horseshoe-shaped bend along the Colorado River overlooking epic views of the colorful canyons of Arizona.

Closest Airport: Page Municipal Airport (PGA)

Required for Entry: $10/vehicle for Horseshoe Bend, $30/vehicle pass for entire recreation area

Elopement Permit Required: Special Use Permit

Best Time to Elope at Horseshoe Bend: October–February

Horseshoe Bend Elopement Activities:

Go hiking – here are some of the best hikes in the Glen Canyon Recreation Area:
- Horseshoe Bend Trail: 1.5 miles; easy
- Antelope Canyon Trail: 0.6 miles; easy
- Kachina Bridge Trail: 1.3 miles; moderate
Take a tour of Antelope Canyon
Get up early & watch an epic sunrise over the canyon
Take a scenic drive along the Hole-in-the-Rock Road

3. Saguaro National Park

If you’re picturing large saguaro cacti in the background when you think about your elopement, Tucson is probably the place for you! Tucson is home to Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona, which is filled with enormous cacti and incredible wide-open desert views. It’s the perfect location to stay for a week (or more) with your family & friends so you can explore the desert and all that Tucson has to offer.

Closest Airport: Tucson International Airport (TUS)

Required for Entry: $25/vehicle pass

Elopement Permit Required: Special Use Permit

Best Time to Elope at Saguaro National Park: December–February

Saguaro National Park Elopement Activities:

Go hiking – here are some of the best hikes in Tucson:
- Catalina Canyon Loop Trail: 2.3 miles; easy
- Tanque Verde Falls Trail: 1.9 miles; moderate
- Sabino Lake Loop: 2.3 miles; easy
- Hidden Canyon Bowen Loop Trail: 2 miles; moderate
Explore Mount Lemmon
Walk around Old Tucson
Visit the Signal Hill Petroglyphs

If you’re loving the sound of eloping in Tucson, you won’t want to miss this guide to the Top 6 Best Desert Wedding Venues in Tucson, AZ!

5. Lost Dutchman State Park

Lost Dutchman State Park is a beautiful location for an Arizona desert wedding if you’re looking for a landscape filled with cacti and mountain ranges in the background. This state park is located in the Sonoran Desert at the base of the Superstition Mountains, just 40 miles outside of Phoenix. Once again, this location has plenty of trails to offer hikers & bikers and would be a beautiful spot for an intimate wedding.

Closest Airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX)

Required for Entry: $10/vehicle

Elopement Permit Required: Wedding Reservation

Best Time to Elope at Lost Dutchman State Park: April–May, September–November

Lost Dutchman State Park Elopement Activities:

Go hiking – here are some of the best hikes at Lost Dutchman State Park:
- Jacob’s Crosscut and Siphon Draw Trail: 2.4 miles; easy
- Treasure Loop Trail: 2.3 miles; moderate
- Discovery Trail: 1 mile; easy
- First Water Creek and Weaver Needle Trail: 5.6 miles; easy
Visit the Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum
Tour the Goldfield Ghost Town

6. Sedona

If you’ve ever seen photos of those unreal red rocks that look like they’re from another planet, you were probably looking at Sedona. It’s a desert town near Flagstaff that sits just north of the center of the state, filled with the most incredible & unique desert landscapes everywhere you look. From red-rock buttes towering over the desert to steep canyon walls to even pine forests (yes, forests in the desert!), Sedona truly feels magical as soon as you step foot outside. Honestly it’s unlike any desert in the country, except for some areas of the Utah desert that it resembles!

If you’re looking to elope with an incredible red & orange desert color palette behind you and tons of hiking trails + opportunities for adventure (one of my favorites is Cathedral Rock) Sedona is definitely the location for you.

One thing to keep in mind is that Sedona has become increasingly popular over the past few years, not only due to more visitors but also because more rental properties have been created in the area. It’s best to find locations that may not be the most popular ones to try and avoid crowds, or to visit them at sunrise/on weekdays when there will be less crowds.

Closest Airport: Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG)

Required for Entry: N/A

Elopement Permit Required: Depends on specific location

Best Time to Elope in Sedona: March–May

Sedona Elopement Activities:

Go hiking or biking – here are some of the best hikes in Sedona:
- Cathedral Rock Trail - 1.2 miles; hard
- Devil’s Bridge Trail - 2.9 miles; moderate
- Fay Canyon Trail - 2.3 miles; easy
- Bell Rock - 0.8 miles; moderate
- Birthing Cave - 2 miles; moderate
Go fishing at Oak Creek Canyon
Visit the Tuzigoot National Monument
Explore Dead Horse Ranch State Park

7. Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness (The Wave)

“The Wave” is one of the most iconic locations in Arizona that is pretty hard to beat – the layers of rock, the patterns and textures, and the colors are truly out of this world.

Closest Airport: Page Municipal Airport (PGA)

Required for Entry: Permit (by lottery)

Elopement Permit Required: N/A – I would recommend just taking portraits here, as permits are difficult to get and the permitted group size is very limited.

Best Time to Elope at Vermilion Cliffs: April–May, September–October

Vermilion Cliffs Elopement Activities:

Go hiking at one of these top 9 trails
Camp at Paria Canyon
Visit the White Pocket

8. Painted Desert

Another epic location that will make you feel like you’ve been transported to another planet! These vast badlands show off the Arizona high desert in such an insane way through otherworldly mesas & buttes, colorful hills, and crazy pigmented rocks like nothing you’ve seen before.

Closest Airport: Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG)

Required for Entry: $25/vehicle

Elopement Permit Required: Special Use Permit

Best Time to Elope in the Painted Desert: June–August

Painted Desert Elopement Activities:

Take a scenic drive along the Historic Route 66
Explore the rest of Petrified Forest National Park
Visit the Rainbow Forest Museum
Check out the Crystal Forest

9. Chiricahua National Monument

Nicknamed a “Wonderland of Rocks,” this national monument is one of the most unique natural wonders in all of the midwest. Boasting massive rock formations (hoodoos), 17 miles of trails, and a variety of campgrounds + hiking opportunities, this extensive southeastern Arizona wilderness is such a crazy cool sight to see.

Closest Airport: Tucson International Airport (TUS)

Required for Entry: No entry fee

Elopement Permit Required: Special Use Permit

Best Time to Elope at Chiricahua National Monument: March–May

Chiricahua National Monument Elopement Activities:

Take in the scenery from the Bonita Canyon Scenic Drive
Go horseback riding through the hoodoos
Find a day hike
Spend the day hiking the Heart of Rocks Loop

10. Monument Valley

Last but not least, the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is a super awesome region of the Colorado Plateau, with vast views of a stunning valley and sandstone buttes galore. It’s right on the Arizona-Utah border, and has actually been used as a filming location for many Western movies!

Closest Airport: Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG)

Required for Entry: $8/person

Elopement Permit Required: No permit required for groups of under 4 people

Best Time to Elope at Monument Valley: September–October

Monument Valley Elopement Activities:

Drive around Tribal Park Loop (Valley Drive)
Take the Wildcat Trail
Book a guided Jeep tour

Best Places to Stay in for Your Arizona Elopement

Now that you’ve looked through some of my favorite Arizona elopement locations, here’s a list of awesome places to stay in different aprts of the state!

Where to Stay in Sedona, Arizona

Sedona has TONS of rad Airbnbs in the area, with views of the desert and outdoor pools, hot tubs, & more. Check out some of the top-rated ones below that would be awesome to stay at for your elopement!

Where to Stay in Tucson

One of the most epic places to stay in the Tucson area (and perfect for a Tucson elopement, too) is JTH Tucson, a 5-suite inn bordering the west side of Saguaro National Park. This is truly a one-of-a-kind location that can host all your guests, filled with modern boho decor, unique suites, a pool, stunning views, and more - seriously one of the most dreamy places to stay.

If you’re looking for something smaller or more minimalistic, check out some other sweet Tucson desert Airbnbs below!

Real Arizona Elopement Inspiration

Now that you’ve most likely fallen in love with the Arizona desert, you might want to see more real-life Arizona elopement inspiration at some of these best places to elope in Arizona. Take a look at two of my favorite recent AZ elopements below and get ready to plan your own epic adventure elopement in Arizona!