Jerome is the old copper town on the side of Cleopatra Hill, and with the Verde Valley towns below it makes one of the best single-day loops out of Phoenix. Count on about two hours of driving each way via I-17 and the Verde Valley.
Getting there
Take I-17 north and exit at Camp Verde. From there SR-260 runs west through the valley to Cottonwood, and SR-89A climbs from Cottonwood up to Jerome. That last stretch is the memorable part: switchbacks, hairpins and a town built into the hillside with streets that bend around the mine. The Verde Valley sits well above the desert floor, so expect noticeably cooler air than Phoenix.
What is in the valley
The loop has more than one stop. Montezuma Castle National Monument is just off I-17 near Camp Verde. Tuzigoot National Monument sits near Clarkdale, and Clarkdale is also the departure point for the Verde Canyon Railroad. Cottonwood handles most of the food and shopping for the area, and Jerome shuttle itself is a state historic park town full of galleries, old storefronts and mining history.
Making it a day trip
The classic shape is an early start north, a couple of hours in Jerome, lunch in Cottonwood, and one historic stop on the way back. Sunday afternoons send the return traffic back to the Valley in a wave, so an earlier start home pays off. If you extend into a second day, Sedona is a short drive east and the Sedona shuttle page covers that approach.
Airport connections
The Verde Valley has no major commercial airport, so the trip usually starts with a flight into Sky Harbor and a drive north. A Jerome shuttle handles Jerome directly, and the valley towns are covered on the Cottonwood shuttle, Clarkdale shuttle and Camp Verde shuttle pages. For longer northern trips, see the Flagstaff shuttle and Grand Canyon shuttle pages.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Jerome from Phoenix?
About two hours by road, taking I-17 north to Camp Verde and then SR-260 and SR-89A through Cottonwood.
Is Jerome worth a day trip from Phoenix?
For mining history, galleries and the drive itself, yes. Most visitors pair Jerome with Cottonwood and a monument stop in the same day.
What is the elevation of Jerome?
Jerome sits above 5,000 feet on the side of Cleopatra Hill, so it runs cooler than Phoenix year-round.
