Cottonwood (Arizona)

Cottonwood is a small city in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States of America.

Understand
Self-proclaimed as "The Biggest Little Town in Arizona" since the 1920s, Cottonwood is in Arizona's Verde Valley. At elevation it's spared the heat of the low desert and the cold of the high plateau. It's surrounded by mountains and forest, with late-1800s mining and settlers' history.

By car
Cottonwood is in northern Arizona at the junction of Arizona State Routes 89A (AZ 89A, ) and 260 (AZ 260, ), south of Sedona and northeast of Prescott, and about north of Phoenix (about 2 hour drive) and  south of Flagstaff (just over an hour drive).

From Phoenix and Flagstaff, you can take I-17 to Camp Verde and exit onto Arizona State Route 260 (AZ 260) that connects Camp Verde with Cottonwood.

Along AZ 89A, the route is very scenic, through forest and red rock canyons. Large vehicles are not recommended along 89A due to the many hairpin turns and elevation changes.

AZ 89A has scenic and historic designations: between Prescott and Jerome, it is known as the Mingus Mountain Scenic Road. Between Jerome and Cottonwood, it is known as Historic US 89A, officially named the Jerome-Clarkdale-Cottonwood Historic Road. And from Sedona to Flagstaff, the route is known as the Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Road.

in Cottonwood
There is a park (with dog park), a river, Old Town (with tourist attractions, restaurants and bars).

in Cottonwood

 * Blackhawk Loop: 17 non-electric campsites, exclusive for tents; RVs/campers/vans not permitted.
 * Cooper's Hawk Loop: 27 campsites.
 * Quail Loop: 43 campsites.
 * Red-Tail loop: 36 campsites.
 * Red-Tail loop: 36 campsites.



Go next

 * Head further along AZ 89A Arizona 89A.svg for a scenic drive.
 * North to Sedona and Flagstaff.
 * South to Clarkdale, Jerome, Prescott and Prescott Valley.


 * Head southeast on AZ 260 Arizona 260.svg towards Camp Verde and I-17, for quicker routes to points north (Flagstaff) and points south (Phoenix).