Best Time to Visit Scottsdale, Arizona: A Season Guide

Quick Verdict

Generally, roughly January through April is Scottsdale's most comfortable stretch, with mild, sunny days that suit golf, pool time, and Old Town patio dining -- and it's also the most expensive and crowded, especially during WM Phoenix Open week in early February. Summer, roughly May through September, brings serious heat but noticeably lower resort rates. Note that this page presents general seasonal patterns rather than pinned figures; always check current forecasts and event dates before booking.

Winter and Spring: The Comfortable Season

Roughly October through April tends to bring the most comfortable conditions for outdoor time in Scottsdale, with January through April generally considered the true peak. Days are typically mild and sunny, well suited to golf, resort pool time, desert trail walking, and Old Town patio dining all in the same trip -- this is the season the city's resort marketing is built around, and it's generally accurate.

The trade-off is straightforward: this is also when resort rates and crowds are at their highest. Book well in advance if you're targeting a specific property or a peak-season weekend, and check the venue's official site for current rates rather than relying on a general seasonal estimate.

WM Phoenix Open Week: The Peak Within the Peak

TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course hosts the WM Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour every February, widely known as the tour's highest-attendance event by a wide margin, anchored by the notoriously rowdy par-3 16th hole. Tournament week is the single biggest scheduling variable for a Scottsdale trip -- hotel rates and crowds spike hard across the entire city, not just near the course.

If you want to attend, tickets and hospitality packages tend to sell out well in advance, so plan early and check the tournament's official site for current-year dates and ticketing. If you'd rather avoid the crowds and price spike, build your trip around a different week entirely.

Summer: The Heat and the Value Trade-off

Roughly May through September brings serious desert heat to Scottsdale, generally above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and often well past 110 degrees in July and August, based on typical regional climate patterns. That pushes outdoor golf, hiking, and patio dining into early morning and evening, and makes indoor or shaded options -- resort pools with misting systems, spa time, Scottsdale Fashion Square -- a more practical daytime plan.

In exchange, resort rates typically drop sharply during this stretch, which is a legitimate way to experience a five-star property for a fraction of peak-season cost if the heat itself doesn't rule out the trip for you.

Fall: The Shoulder Season

Roughly October and into November functions as a shoulder season, with temperatures generally moderating from summer highs while resort rates and crowds haven't yet reached the winter-into-spring peak. It's a reasonable middle-ground window for travelers who want better weather than summer without the highest prices of the January-through-April stretch.

As with every season on this page, exact temperature and rate patterns shift year to year, so check current forecasts and resort pricing rather than treating these ranges as fixed.

Choosing Your Dates by Trip Type

If golf, resort pool time, and Old Town patio dining are the whole point of the trip, winter through spring is generally the right call despite the higher price. If you're mainly after a discounted resort stay and don't mind confining outdoor time to early morning and evening, summer's lower rates can be worth it. If you specifically want to watch or avoid the WM Phoenix Open, build your dates around that single February week first.

See our 3-day Scottsdale itinerary for one way to structure a trip once you've settled on a season, and our things to do in Scottsdale guide for the full activity list this seasonal advice applies to.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best month to visit Scottsdale? +

Roughly January through April is generally considered the true peak, with cool, sunny days that make golf, pool time, and Old Town patio dining all comfortable at once. If avoiding crowds and the highest hotel rates matters more to you than perfect weather, shoulder months like October, November, or April can offer a reasonable middle ground -- check seasonal averages before locking in dates.

How hot does Scottsdale get in summer? +

Summer, roughly May through September, brings serious heat, generally above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and often past 110 degrees in July and August, according to typical regional climate patterns. That pushes outdoor golf, hiking, and patio dining to early morning and evening, though resort rates also drop sharply during this stretch.

What is the WM Phoenix Open and how does it affect travel? +

The WM Phoenix Open is a PGA Tour event held at TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course every February, widely known as the tour's highest-attendance event by a wide margin. Tournament week is the single biggest scheduling variable for a Scottsdale trip -- hotel rates and crowds spike hard across the city, so check the current-year tournament dates before booking if you want to avoid or attend it.

Is Scottsdale a good winter destination? +

Generally yes, winter is one of the more comfortable stretches for outdoor activities, with mild, sunny days that suit golf, desert trails, and Old Town walking. It's also close to peak season, so expect higher resort rates and more crowds than the summer off-season, especially around the winter holidays.

When are hotel rates lowest in Scottsdale? +

Generally during the summer months, roughly May through September, when resort rates typically drop as daytime heat intensifies. This is a legitimate way to experience a higher-end property at lower cost if you don't mind confining outdoor time to early morning and evening -- check each resort's official site for current seasonal pricing before booking.

The Lowdown Guide earns a commission on qualifying bookings at no additional cost to you. Details such as prices, hours, distances, and access rules change — always verify with official sources before you go.

Best Time to Visit Scottsdale, Arizona