Where to Stay in Scottsdale, Arizona

Old Town is where Scottsdale actually happens. Main Street runs through galleries and tequila bars, 5th Avenue is lined with boutiques, and the Civic Center Mall connects it all with green space and public art. Marshall Way is the gallery corridor with more than 80 dealers in a two-block stretch. You can walk from your hotel to dinner, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Arizona Canal trail without ever getting in a car. Nights here get loud on weekends, especially along Saddlebag Trail and Old Town Road. If you need quiet, book above the third floor or stay a block east of the main strip.

Best for

First-time visitorsnightlife seekersgallery hoppers

Walk times

Scottsdale Fashion Square 12 min
Civic Center Plaza 5 min
Arizona Canal Trail 3 min

Skip if: You want quiet evenings or are traveling with young children who sleep early

Local tip: Park once at the Civic Center lot on 1st Avenue for $5 per day and walk the whole neighborhood. Hotel valet in Old Town runs $25 to $35 per night extra.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$202per night

North Scottsdale (Kierland and Gainey Ranch)

Resort country. Golf, spa, and four-digit thread counts.

Luxury $300-$800/night

North Scottsdale means resorts. The stretch along Scottsdale Road between Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Bell Road is where the big names sit: Hyatt Regency Gainey Ranch, Westin Kierland, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter are outdoor shopping and dining clusters within walking distance of the main hotel strip. TPC Scottsdale, home of the WM Phoenix Open, is 10 minutes away by car. The tradeoff is distance from Old Town, about 20 minutes south. Resort fees here run $40 to $60 per night on top of quoted rates. Ask upfront. They do not advertise it clearly.

Best for

Couplesspa weekendsgolfersand luxury travelers who want a resort pool without driving anywhere

Walk times

Kierland Commons 8 min
Scottsdale Quarter 10 min
Grayhawk Golf Club entrance 15 min

Skip if: You are on a budget or want to be close to Old Town after midnight

Local tip: Call the hotel directly and ask them to waive the resort fee if you are not planning to use the pool or spa. It works about 30 percent of the time on midweek bookings.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$336per night

Central Scottsdale (McCormick Ranch and Lincoln Drive)

The middle ground. Affordable, green, genuinely livable.

Mid-range $120-$280/night

Central Scottsdale runs roughly from Camelback Road north to McCormick Ranch and it is the best value zone in the city. Hotels here cost less than North Scottsdale with easy access to both directions. The Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt runs parallel to Scottsdale Road for 11 miles with paved paths for cycling and jogging. Camelback Mountain is 15 minutes by car. You are close to the Scottsdale Waterfront and Fashion Square without paying Old Town prices. Indian School Road and Chaparral Road are quiet and shaded with solid mid-range restaurants. Kids do well here because of the park access and room sizes.

Best for

Familiesoutdoor enthusiastsand mid-range travelers who want space without resort prices

Walk times

Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt access 5 min
Scottsdale Waterfront 18 min
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park 12 min

Skip if: You want resort amenities included in the rate or walkable access to Old Town bars

Local tip: Scottsdale Bike Share stations are along the Greenbelt at $3.50 per 30 minutes. You can ride straight to Old Town and skip the rental car for half a day.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$134per night

South Scottsdale (Near Tempe Border)

Skip the resort tax. Best prices, worst glamour.

Mid-range $80-$160/night

South Scottsdale sits along Scottsdale Road south of McDowell Road toward the Tempe border. Hotels here cost roughly half what you pay in Old Town for similar room sizes. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is a 10-minute drive with no freeway traffic. Tempe Town Lake and Mill Avenue are 20 minutes on foot or 7 minutes by car. The Valley Metro Light Rail runs through Tempe connecting you to downtown Phoenix for $2 each way. Camelback Road and Thomas Road have the most hotel options. The neighborhood is unremarkable. You are not here for atmosphere. You are here because it is cheap and close to the airport.

Best for

Budget travelersASU visitorsand anyone with an early flight out of Sky Harbor

Walk times

Tempe Town Lake 20 min
Mill Avenue, Tempe 22 min
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport 10 min

Skip if: You want the Scottsdale resort experience or need walkable Old Town nightlife

Local tip: The Valley Metro Light Rail at Tempe's Mill Avenue station is $2 flat fare into downtown Phoenix. Skip the $30 rideshare for concerts and Suns games.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$90per night