Camelback · Luxury resort
The Phoenician
A grand resort below Camelback Mountain with golf, pools and a spa.
Official details for The PhoenicianArizona · Couples · Two nights
Scottsdale
Resorts, golf and the Sonoran Desert.
Scottsdale is Arizona’s classic resort town, with spa resorts below Camelback Mountain, a walkable Old Town of galleries and restaurants, and the saguaro-covered Sonoran Desert all around. Land at Scottsdale Airport, stay at the Phoenician or mid-century Hotel Valley Ho, tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert home and school at Taliesin West, walk the Desert Botanical Garden, and plan a winter visit around spring training or the Barrett-Jackson car auction.
Resort weekendGolfDesert
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KSDL
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~1641 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~11 hr 10 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rideshare or rental car
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land at Scottsdale.
KSDL, Scottsdale Airport, is a towered airport at 1,510 feet with an 8,249-foot runway, inside the Phoenix Class B and about 15 minutes from Old Town.
The FBO
Jet Aviation Scottsdale
480-866-8270Scottsdale Airport, Scottsdale, AZ
Other FBOs: Atlantic Aviation (480-948-2400) and Signature Aviation (480-951-2525). Confirm parking ahead, especially during Barrett-Jackson and the Phoenix Open, when the ramp fills. Under the Phoenix Class B; voluntary noise-abatement curfew 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Transient overnight parking fees apply. No live fuel price is shown.
Desert Southwest flying: summer temperatures above 110°F with high density altitude, strong afternoon winds and turbulence, monsoon storms and dust from July to September, and long distances between airports. About 1640 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way with several fuel stops. Plan a week, or overnight on the way out and back.
02 / Where to stay
Desert resorts.
Rates and availability need travel dates. Winter and spring are peak season; summer rates drop sharply.
Old Town · Mid-century hotel
Hotel Valley Ho
A restored 1956 hotel with a lively pool, walkable to Old Town.
Official details for Hotel Valley HoParadise Valley · Spa resort
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain
Casitas on the side of Camelback with a spa and sunset views.
Official details for Sanctuary Camelback Mountain03 / Where to eat
Old Town dinners.
Reserve weekend dinners.
Saturday dinner · Arizona cooking
FnB
Vegetable-forward cooking and Arizona wines in Old Town.
Official details for FnBFriday dinner · Modern Latin
The Mission
Tableside guacamole by the Old Adobe Mission.
Official details for The MissionLocal guide
More restaurants
Restaurants in Scottsdale.
Experience Scottsdale for More restaurants04 / Things to do
Architecture, gardens and the desert.
Hike early; summer afternoons are dangerously hot.
Taliesin West
Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and studio; guided tours.
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
January
Barrett-Jackson
The famous collector-car auction.
Barrett-Jackson for Barrett-JacksonFebruary
WM Phoenix Open
PGA Tour golf at TPC Scottsdale.
WM Phoenix Open for WM Phoenix OpenFebruary–March
Cactus League spring training
Fifteen MLB teams around the Valley.
Cactus League for Cactus League spring trainingConcerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample Scottsdale weekend. This is a two-day flight each way; plan a week. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at KSDL mid-morning.
- Midday
Lunch in Old Town.
- Afternoon
Taliesin West, then back to the airport.
DAY 1
Arrive
- Arrival
Land at KSDL, subject to weather, density altitude and your actual flight plan.
- Afternoon
Check in and the pool.
- Evening
Dinner at The Mission.
DAY 2
Explore
- Morning
Taliesin West.
- Afternoon
Desert Botanical Garden.
- Evening
Dinner at FnB.
DAY 3
Morning & home
- Morning
A sunrise hike.
- Before leaving
Compute takeoff performance for the temperature and allow time at the FBO.
- Fly home
Desert afternoons are hot, bumpy and gusty; leave in the morning.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
Desert Botanical Garden.
- Afternoon
Resort pool and spa.
- Evening
Dinner at FnB.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Resort and FBO parking first.
Very long flight
About 1,640 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way.
Heat
June to September is extreme; plan early-morning flights.
Best seasons
October to April.
Reviewed · Destination 237
Reviewed November 6, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.