Arizona's 12 Best Affordable Retirement Destinations

Arizona is a magnet for retirees to spend time and enjoy their golden years. With the sunshine, dry desert air, and stunning physical beauty, there are stops at each corner of the Grand Canyon State to keep you entertained. Because of the many options for seniors in Arizona, we wanted to focus on affordability and senior-friendly activities. While a Grand Canyon hike is unforgettable, it's not the most realistic idea for many retirees. So, we chose some of the more manageable hikes, outdoor tours, museums with unforgettable exhibits, wine vineyards, and so much more.

Another factor we took into consideration was steering our readers away from the biggest cities like Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa, and show some of the well-known and not so well-known towns, so the populations of our towns range from as low as 1,900 up to 50,000 people, to give every traveler a location that they might prefer.

Located east of Phoenix, Apache Junction has just over 40,000 people and provides what many Arizona retirement towns offer: warmth, sunshine, and a glimpse into living life in the Old West. Apache Junction is the perfect opportunity for retirees to take in the scenery of the surrounding wilderness and enjoy activities that match their pace of life.

A great place to check out while visiting Apache Junction is the Superstition Mountain Museum, located just outside Lost Dutchman State Park. Here, you'll be able to take in a 4,900 square foot exhibit hall, western storefronts, a historical model railroad, and structures left over from the Apacheland Movie Ranch. Best of all, you can take a walking tour of the grounds completely free. Another fun site to explore is nearby Tortilla Flat, Arizona's last stagecoach town, which will transport you back to the Wild West. Here, you can visit a little red schoolhouse, a country store that was owned by a couple in the 1920's, or stop and get a bite to eat at the Superstition Saloon and Restaurant. 

If old school watercrafts are more your thing, a short 15-mile drive over to Canyon Lake will allow you the opportunity to see a golden sunset on the Dolly Steamboat dinner cruise for $88, or the cheaper option to skip dinner and enjoy the scenic nature cruise on Canyon Lake for only $35.

Oro Valley is a bedroom community north of Tucson that offers plenty for a retirement vacation, including a magnificent botanical garden. Tucked between the Catalina and Tortolita Mountain ranges, you'll experience stunning views and a dramatic landscape while visiting this town of just under 50,000 residents.

One feature you'll notice in the area is the public art, over 200 pieces, dotted throughout the town for you to enjoy. Next, you'll want to venture to the southern tip of town and the highly regarded Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens. Seniors' admission fee is just $15, to experience 49 acres of amazing nature trails, art galleries, and themed gardens such as Hummingbird, Desert Palm Oasis, Penstemon Garden, and many others. If you want to brush up on your history, there are plenty of locations to visit, including the Honey Bee Village Archaeological Preserve, which is a historical native culture site. Nearby, you can get your rest at the WorldMark Rancho Vistoso hotel for as low as $89 a night.

Lying on the edge of Prescott National Forest in west-central Arizona, Prescott is an ideal retirement getaway, especially for those who combine nature and history as two of their favorite pastimes. Home to around 47,000 residents, Prescott leans on its Old West reputation, stunning natural geography, and the largest collection of lakes of any city in Arizona. 

Speaking of lakes, you can find yourself at Watson or Willow Lake, where you can enjoy the surrounding beauty while boating, fishing, or walking along one of the more moderate trails. Getting to know the history of the area won't be hard to do, seeing as Prescott has a number of amazing museums to explore. The Museum of Indigenous People highlights contributions of Native communities through curations, exhibits, and artifacts, and there is a low $8 admission fee for seniors. 

You can also stop by the Sharlot Hall Museum; admission for seniors is $15 and showcases eleven exhibit buildings, including one on the National Register of Historic Places, and a rose garden dedicated to the women of Arizona's history. A great option to enjoy dinner is Torme, a locally owned restaurant that specializes in great pasta, breads, and sauces.

Located on the western edge of Arizona near the Nevada and California border is Kingman. This old Route 66 town is home to a population of around 35,000 people, and while it's known as one of the West's sunniest hidden cities, with over 300 sunny days each year, it also has museums celebrating its past, proud transportation history, and proximity to the Grand Canyon, 70 miles north of town.

While many think of Kingman as a Route 66 town, there is so much more to this under-the-radar southwestern getaway than meets the eye. Kingman offers unique shopping stops like Import Corner. Located at the Kingsman airport, Import is a home and goods store that has treasures, unique art, and craftsmanship from over 50 countries. With a 20,000-square-foot showroom that features more than home and garden items, Import Corner combines affordability with amazing global items.

If you're interested in the history and unique story of Route 66, stop by the Arizona Route 66 Museum(Powerhouse), which is available seven days a week for only $6 if you're a senior and has amazing murals, life-size dioramas, and hands-on interactive experiences. One of the most unique restaurants you'll ever set foot in is in Kingman, and you've guessed it, it's Route 66-themed. Rutherford's 66 Family Diner is an old-school American diner where you'll find outstanding sandwiches, burgers, and more.

Tucked in the southwest corner of the state, next to the California and Mexico border, is where you'll find Fortuna Foothills. Home to around 28,000 people, this desert oasis has plenty to do for thrill seekers, but don't sleep on Fortuna Foothills as a great getaway for retirees.

Golf is always a favorite activity for a large portion of the retirement community, and there are plenty of options around the area. One unique course that's easier on older golfers is the Foothills Par 3 Golf Course, where you'll get beautiful mountain views, a short course that's walkable for anybody, and affordable rates of only $20 for the 9 holes. Feel like getting some shopping in and mingling with the locals? Head over to the Arizona Marketplace next door in Yuma and find over 100 vendors and unique treasures, food, and entertainment throughout. A common thread for many retirees when they travel is finding lodging among fellow seniors. In Fortuna Foothills, the Caravan Oasis 55+ RV Park is an affordable option if you're traveling by RV, as the daily rate is $65 per day, beating out most local hotels. With over 300 spots, two swimming pools, and plenty of desert beauty, it's a popular choice for many.

Willcox is found in the southeastern part of the state in the Sulphur Springs Valley. Easily the smallest town on our list, Willcox is home to under 4,000 people, but surrounded by stunning mountains and vineyards, it's one of the best-kept secrets for a retiree vacation.

No matter what time of year you decide to visit Willcox, there is no shortage of both entertaining and affordable activities you can take part in. During the summer and fall, Apple Annie's Orchard has fresh produce, orchards, pumpkin patches, and a country store to buy local jams. If wildlife viewing is a passion of yours, head south of town to Lake Cochise Wildlife Viewing Area, where you can check out the migration pattern of birds, like sandhill cranes, ducks, and shorebirds throughout North America. Get to know the history of the area for only a $5 admission by visiting the Rex Allen Museum and learning about the life of the last singing cowboy of Western movie fame.

One of the most memorable sites in the area is Tirrito Farm, a destination farmstead in the middle of wine country where you can support agritourism and appreciate the local wines, seasonal food, and memorable craftsmanship.

You'll find Bullhead City on the Nevada border with the famous Colorado River tracing through the western edge of town. Almost 43,000 residents call Bullhead City home.

While the beauty of the desert is prevalent in the area, like so many parts of Arizona, in Bullhead City, you get the added benefit of walkable riverfront trails on the Colorado River and serene desert views. Check out Davis Camp, where you can take advantage of 2 miles of developed shoreline for great fishing spots, picnic sites overlooking the river, or rent paddleboards to explore the river.

Another way to enjoy the Colorado River is a relaxing evening on a boat and dinner on the Bullhead Belle, a dry-docked river boat where you can take in the sunsets and black mountains. If you want to stretch your legs along the river and enjoy a relaxing, slow-paced walk, the Colorado River Nature Center Trail is just outside of town. It has 500 acres of protected river and desert habitat to take in along paved trails for ease of walking, and best of all, it's a completely free activity.

If peace and quiet with an eclectic attitude is your ideal vibe, Quartzsite may be the perfect place for you. Arizona's real "Nomadland" is a small desert town of around 1,900 people on the western edge of Arizona, and it will get you closer to the vast desert and away from the hectic pace of a bigger city, while still offering things to do.

Quartzsite is a huge RV snowbird community, so visiting during the winter months, you'll find many retirees from northern states escaping the cold. If you come down in an RV, you can stay at the La Posa Long Term Visitor Area and get a spot on a 14-day permit for only $40. 

January and February you'll see huge swap meets and rock and gem shows in January and February, where you can try to find great deals amidst hundreds of vendors. There is also the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation, & RV Show at the Big Tent, one of the biggest RV shows in the western half of the U.S. in January, and it has everything you'd ever need for your RV set-up, and it's all here, and free admission. There are also several historical landmarks around the area to admire, like the Old Quartzsite Mine, which is now abandoned, the Medicine Wheel, and Joanne's Gum Gallery Museum.

Head straight down Interstate 19 out of Tucson, and you'll come across Green Valley, a southern Arizona town with a population of 22,114 residents. Green Valley is a perfect getaway for the retirement community, known as a retirement hot spot, it offers memorable destinations and a reasonable price throughout the area.

One must-do when visiting Green Valley is heading to the north side of town to see the Titan Missile Museum. This unforgettable attraction is the last of 54 missile sites that were on alert up until 1987. There is a guided 45-minute tour throughout the entire underground complex for only $16.75 for seniors or $7 for the self-guided "topside" tour if you are unable to traverse the 55 stairs that are part of the guided tour. Another jaw-dropping attraction just north of Green Valley is the Asarco Mineral Discovery Center & Mine Tours, which showcases equipment, a video theater, cactus garden, and more. Seniors can take hour-long guided tours for $14 or choose the free self-guided tour. After a day of wandering around tours of missile silos and mines, you may want to relax and enjoy a show at the Community Performance & Art Center that showcases art, concerts, and more than 150 performances throughout the year.

Snowflake, Arizona, is a small town of 6,444 people and is more than just an oxymoron to those attuned to the Grand Canyon State. This quiet town in eastern Arizona, with a pioneer charm and local cuisine, allows you to have your retirement vacation at your own pace.

Wherever you look, there is history on display in Snowflake, and one place that embodies this is the Stinson Museum, which showcases talented Mexican craftsmanship, a working blacksmith shop, and a dive back into what some homes looked like in 1878. It is also part of Snowflake's Historic Homes Walking Tour, which includes others like the William Jordan Flake Cabin and the Gothic Revival John A. Freeman Home. If you're feeling up to it, the Petrified Forest National Park is one of the more unique and surreal natural landscapes you'll ever lay eyes on. The standard entrance pass is only $15-25 per vehicle.

One of the most popular attractions is right outside Snowflake, Red Rock Lavender. Here, you'll be able to enjoy wine tasting, stroll through lavender plant grounds, and even treat yourself to some aromatherapy.

The second spot on our list that has Route 66 running through it is Winslow, a central Arizona community of just under 9,000 residents. While Winslow is a great vacation spot for any retirees passionate about the Route 66 road, because it has everything Route 66 available, there are other attractions to appreciate as well. One place is Standing On The Corner Park, a famous spot with ties to music history, and a great place to grab a memorable photo 

Maybe you want to get an up-close look at history made from space. Drive over to the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark just west of town. For $27 tickets for any seniors 60+, you can get up close to the remnants of one of the biggest known meteor strikes in the world. Winslow is one of the communities across the U.S. that received beams from the World Trade Center attacks, so you can head over to the 9-11 Memorial Garden to pay your respects and see actual wreckage from the towers. Finally, out of all the great attractions around Winslow, one of the most visited — and a great place for you to stay– is La Posada. This crown jewel is a throwback Fred Harvey series of luxury railroad hotels from the past. Today, it is impeccably preserved and is a hotel, restaurant, and museum all-in-one. Rooms range from $189 a night on up, but if you're traveling in an RV, they have a spot on the grounds for just $30 a night. 

Sierra Vista is a community of around 45,000 people and is located in southern Arizona near the Mexico border. This scenic southwest mountain town allows you to enjoy a retirement vacation, soaking up the majestic scenery all around you.

On your way into Sierra Vista, you may notice Kartchner Caverns State Park, which houses a massive limestone cavern. It's an ADA accessible park that anyone can venture through with tours available for $30 and up, depending on which tour, to see stalactites, the Kubla Khan, a 58-foot column formation, and other wonders in this underground world. Sierra Vista is one of 20 Arizona sites designated as Dark Sky Communities. You can head to the Patterson Observatory and view planets, stars, and nebulae. Just make sure to plan ahead, as the observatory is only open once a month to coincide with the new moon. Once you get done touring caves and gazing at the stars, you can head to 143 Street Tacos, an excellent restaurant to get authentic Mexican food.

Our focus for this feature was on senior-related activities for the retirement crowd while visiting Arizona. Aiming for things to do, restaurants to explore, and notable attractions of the town were our goals. We wanted to highlight lesser-known areas besides the more obvious big cities in the state, so we have towns as small as Quartzsite, with 1,900 people, all the way up to the 50,000-strong Oro Valley. 

As you can see, no matter the location, Arizona is filled with amazing attractions to visit. Like the Patterson Observatory in Sierra Vista, one of the largest Meteor Crater impact zones in the world in Winslow, or an upcoming Route 66 festival in Kingman to celebrate the centennial of the famous roadway, you'll be able to find something that interests you in the Grand Canyon State.