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Arizona’s VRBO market includes thousands of homes, cabins, and condos around the state. But when it comes to views, vibes and scenery, these 12 vacation rentals are a cut above the rest.
In Arizona, wide open spaces throughout the deserts and mountains make it easier to find quiet corners of even the busiest destinations. That’s also where you’ll find some of the best VRBO options in the state: under-the-radar neighborhoods, secluded acreages with few neighbors, and vacation rentals off the usual well-worn paths.
Here’s a look at some of best and most popular VRBO rentals in Arizona well-suited for adventurous travels in 2022 and beyond.
Related Read: 15 Unforgettable Romantic Getaways in Arizona
1. Private Jewelbox Home
Why you should stay: Quiet, artistic home off Sedona’s well-worn paths.
- Location: Village of Oak Creek
- Sleeps: 4
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
- Rates from: $298/night
Despite Sedona’s reputation for peace and tranquility, the stretch between Village of Oak Creek and Uptown Sedona can be anything but heavenly. Throngs of tourists and lines of cars can make summer and weekend holidays a nightmare to navigate, which is why this home tucked away in Jack’s Canyon is a favorite Arizona VRBO for 2021.
“Thoroughly enjoyed this lovely home in Jack’s Canyon. Well appointed, very comfortable, spacious. Quiet neighborhood and beautiful views.”
Its location just east of Village of Oak Creek offers privacy and views without being far from town. The home itself was a private residence for many years, so it’s a cozy, personal space that doesn’t feel like a vacation rental. It’s easy to get around and hit Sedona’s best hikes, but nearby routes like Jacks Canyon Trail offer a low-key way to see red rock country without the drive.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: The 15 Best Resorts in Arizona
2. East of the Sun Retreat
Why you should stay: A conveniently located and secluded property with stellar mountain views.
- Location: Parks
- Sleeps: 4
- Minimum stay: 5 nights
- Rates from: $400/night
If this year’s travel theme is finding your own space, consider East of the Sun Retreat ahead of the curve. Its 12 acres of land between Williams and Flagstaff make for a quiet, private vacation rental with iconic views of the San Francisco Peaks and the surrounding Kaibab National Forest.
Its uniquely furnished interior works well for small families or multiple couples, and various decks and windows throughout the home keep the high-elevation views front and center. If you’re scoping out Northern Arizona’s popular tourist spots, you’ll dig being not far off I-40. The Grand Canyon is an hour away, and it’s a quick drive into both Williams and Flagstaff.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: 9 Amazingly Cozy Cabin Rentals in Williams, Arizona
3. Luxury Home Near Camelback Mountain
Why you should stay: Magazine-worthy home with outdoor living areas rivaling Phoenix’s best resorts.
- Location: Phoenix
- Sleeps: 8
- Minimum stay: 4 nights
- Rates from: $1,232/night
Outdoor living is always important in a place like Phoenix, but traveling during the pandemic makes stylish backyards even more essential. This luxury home and relative newcomer to Arizona’s VRBO market absolutely nails the “resort at home” vibe with 3,500 square feet of modern space and a exquisite outdoor space to match.
“At night the backyard is a dream as everything lights up and it becomes the perfect outdoor space. We can’t recommend this property highly enough and it will definitely stay at the top of our list when we stay in town.”
The expertly designed yard is perfect for groups or families, and the interior is just as accommodating. The home’s location between Phoenix and Scottsdale makes it easy to skirt around the Valley, from shopping at Fashion Square to hiking at nearby Camelback Mountain. It’s certainly one of the pricier VRBOs in Arizona, but it truly is the ultimate getaway.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: What to See on an Awesome Phoenix to Grand Canyon Road Trip
4. Sedona Cliff House
Why you should stay: Designer home offering an up-close experience of red rock country.
- Location: Sedona
- Sleeps: 5
- Minimum stay: 4 nights
- Rates from: $415/night
The Sedona Cliff House, one might say, is mighty mighty – just lettin’ it all hang out. The curvy, modern home was designed with feng shui and natural light in mind, both of which complement the red rock that butts up against the home.
There’s not a single place in the house with bad views, but the scene from the deck’s sunken bath below the rocky bluff is hard to beat. The award-winning home (according to the Sedona Art and Architecture Tour) is in a unique area of Sedona not far from Red Rock State Park, but also a quick drive from Uptown’s popular restaurants and dining.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: Red Rock Hiking: 16 of the Best Sedona Hikes
5. ATB House
Why you should stay: Restored mid-century marvel from one of Tucson’s iconic architects.
- Location: Tucson
- Sleeps: 6
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Rates from: $420/night
Architect Arthur T. Brown played an important role in Tucson’s post-World War II boom, and today, he’s known as a “pioneer of passive solar architecture.” One of his homes is this mid-century masterpiece that underwent a heavy renovation a few years back.
“My wife and I agree this is one of the best properties we have stayed at anywhere. The house features genuine mid-century modern architecture, lovingly restored, and it was fun to read about ‘our house’ in the magazine the owners provided.”
Today, the ATB House is one of the best mid-century vacation rentals in Arizona, complete with period furniture and decor. The home’s glass walls lead out to stunning desert views and a mellow pool area that perfects the desert-leisure vibe.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: 9 Rad Camping Spots Near Saguaro National Park, Arizona
6. Norman Lykes House
Why you should stay: Unique-desert mountain living by none other than Frank Lloyd Wright.
- Location: Phoenix
- Sleeps: 6
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Rates from: $1,395/night
Before he passed in 1959, Frank Lloyd Wright designed a circular home to be built in Phoenix Mountains Preserve’s Palm Canyon. Finally built in 1967, the Norman Lykes House brought to life Wright’s vision for a structure that mimicked the curves and ridges of the surrounding mountains. It was the last home ever designed by Wright and perfectly exemplifies his design mantra of being sympathetic to the environment (the concept that gave way to his iconic Prairie-style homes.)
Interior updates approved by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation over the years haven’t changed the home’s main appeal: panoramic views of Palm Canyon and the metro area in the distance. Fans of Wright will appreciate the architect’s signature design elements, but any traveler will enjoy the one-of-a-kind stay in Phoenix. Yes, it’s one of the state’s most expensive VRBOs, but there aren’t too many places in the country where you can sleep in a Wright home.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: 9 Unique Places to Stay in Arizona for an Unforgettable Vacation
7. Midcentury Home on the Fairway
Why you should stay: Massive home and modern atmosphere in a quiet, underrated community.
- Location: Flagstaff
- Sleeps: 15
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
- Rates from: $295/night
Between downtown and Northern Arizona University, the west side of town attracts most of Flagstaff’s visitors. But the east side – particularly Continental Country Club – is a refreshing alternative to the busyness of Beaver and San Francisco Streets.
“This property is even better than it looks in the pictures. The location is fantastic. We spent each day out on the deck watching the golf and it was a short walk to the clubhouse for an evening cocktail.”
This mid-century home on the golf course offers a unique stay in the community, with a modern aesthetic most of the ‘hood’s townhomes and condos lack. Large windows open the living room to the 11th fairway and green, and an impressive suite of entertainment options lay in wait, from an indoor sauna to the impressive basement game room. The treehouse and fire pit out back offer an ideal spot to end mile-high days in any season. It sleeps 15, making it one of the more affordable VRBOs in Arizona if you pack the house.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: 10 Best Flagstaff Cabin Rentals to Escape to This Year
8. Vacation Rental on the Rocks
Why you should stay: Funky, modern home with big deck energy just a few miles from Courthouse Square.
- Location: Prescott
- Sleeps: 10
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Rates from: $389/night
This northern Prescott vacation rental‘s facade teases at what’s inside: a gorgeously decorated “post-modern style holiday home” that holds its own among more recognizable mid-century residences.
Between the shaded courtyard and multiple decks with varying degrees of sunlight and granite boulder views, there’s no shortage of outdoor living here. Inside, the contrast of modern and mid-century decor creates an eclectic but comfortable vibe you won’t find anywhere else in Prescott.
Check Availability“The home is absolutely beautiful with all the amenities you could ever need. It was clean, top end bedding and towels, great location for enjoying Prescott and the surrounding wine, archaeologic, and historical areas.”
Related Read: 12 Best Cabin Rentals in Prescott, Arizona
9. Snover Lodge & Stables
Why you should stay: Traditional log cabin rental far away from the I-17 crowds.
- Location: Greer
- Sleeps: 7
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
- Rates from: $230/night
Greer doesn’t get the same love as Sedona, Flagstaff, or Williams, which is why it’s one of the best Arizona spots to visit in 2021. Its high elevation at 8,356 feet and location near the Arizona-New Mexico border mean smaller crowds and stretches of pristine scenery in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests’ two million acres.
The Lodge at Snover Lodge & Stables is a rustic-but-polished cabin rental on two acres of land between rolling forest hills. The home’s deck overlooks a small catch-and-release pond, one of many shared amenities across the property. Inside, traditional log-cabin decor and a large stone fireplace create a warm atmosphere that’s especially inviting in fall and winter. It’s one of the best dog-friendly VRBO rentals in Arizona since up to three pups are allowed.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: 10 Best Cabin Rentals in Greer, Arizona
10. Rancho Bonito
Why you should stay: Spanish-influenced desert home in desirable Tucson community.
- Location: Tucson
- Sleeps: 6
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Rates from: $345/night
The neighborhood of Rancho Perdito Estates is defined by large, private lots that offer more seclusion than you’d expect for a neighborhood just east of downtown Tucson. Rancho Bonito, built in the 1960s and renovated a few years back, captures the neighborhood’s eclectic southwestern appeal in a nutshell.
“Even more stunning than the online photos, Rancho Bonito was immaculately clean and exquisitely decorated.”
Traditional chile ristras and cacti adorn the entrance to this sprawling 3,233-square-foot vacation rental. Inside, the mingling of tile, wood, and brick creates the feel of a classic desert dwelling. The home manages to balance clean mid-century elements with unique southwestern furniture and fixtures in a way that’s hard to define but easy to enjoy.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: The 7 Best Campervan Rental Companies in Phoenix
11. Secluded Family Cabin
Why you should stay: Gorgeous views from a deck practically made for social distancing.
- Location: Groom Creek
- Sleeps: 11
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
- Rates from: $305/night
Most vacation rentals have pretty standard rules: no smoking on the patio, no pets on the furniture. This secluded cabin southeast of Prescott has a different rule: only trucks and SUVs with all-wheel drive or four-wheel-drive are allowed at the property.
The policy doesn’t come from a picky VRBO owner — it’s from the steep driveway you’ll navigate in order to reach the cabin and its breathtaking views of the Bradshaw Mountains. For those with the right vehicles, it’s more than worth the extra effort: once you’re out there, it’s you, the cabin and trees for miles. Needless to say, there’s a reason it’s at the top of our list of Arizona’s best secluded cabin rentals.
Check AvailabilityRelated Read: 7 Tranquil Cabin Rentals in Strawberry, Arizona
12. The John Riordan House
Why you should stay: Historic home painstakingly restored to its 20th-century heyday.
- Location: Jerome
- Sleeps: 6
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
- Rates from: $215/night
In the late 1890s, Jerome was still a booming mining town full of opportunity, and this hillside home was built for mining executives living in the area. John Riordan and his family occupied the home for 20 years until a landslide from a ruptured culvert destroyed the home in 1953.
More than 60 years later, the John Riordan House was accurately restored by owner Glenn Odegard, a general contractor who had a vision of what the home could be. It’s quite an interesting story – give the house a Google if you’re keen to learn more about the process.
Jerome is a unique experience no matter how you stay, but a weekend at the John Riordan House offers a glimpse into the bustling days before the town was an artistic retreat in the hills.
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Seen in: Arizona, Southwest, Where to Stay
