Scottsdale
Old Town nightlife, the Scottsdale Waterfront, Taliesin West, and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve — Phoenix's upscale neighbor.
Distance
13 mi
Drive time
~25 min
Route
AZ-202 E / N Scottsdale Rd from downtown Phoenix — 13 mi to Old Town
Best window
October through April for everything outdoor
About Scottsdale
Scottsdale borders Phoenix to the east and runs north up against the McDowell Mountains. Old Town Scottsdale is the dense, walkable nightlife and dining district just 13 miles from downtown Phoenix; the Scottsdale Waterfront and Fashion Square sit a block north; Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home) is in north Scottsdale; and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve — at 30,000+ acres the largest urban preserve in the U.S. — caps the city to the north and east. Spring training brings six MLB clubs to Salt River Fields and Scottsdale Stadium each February–March, and the WM Phoenix Open (PGA, January–February) is the loudest tournament in pro golf. A 12–15 passenger van is the right call: Old Town to a Camelback resort to a dinner-on-the-Waterfront route doesn't work on rideshare without surge.
Why it's worth the drive
- Old Town Scottsdale — dense walkable 6-block district with 90+ bars, restaurants, galleries, and the Saturday-night club row on Stetson and Indian Plaza.
- Taliesin West — Frank Lloyd Wright's 1937 winter home and architectural school; UNESCO World Heritage Site, guided tours daily.
- McDowell Sonoran Preserve — 30,000 acres of preserved Sonoran desert with the Tom's Thumb, Gateway, and Pinnacle Peak trailheads.
- Spring training (Cactus League) — Salt River Fields hosts the Diamondbacks and Rockies; Scottsdale Stadium hosts the Giants. Six MLB clubs within 15 miles.
Things to do
What groups actually do at Scottsdale
Old Town nightlife crawl
Hand Cut Burgers, The Mission, Bottled Blonde, Maya, El Hefe — the Indian Plaza / Stetson / Saddlebag Trail blocks are all walkable. Last call is 2 AM.
Taliesin West tour
1.5-hour guided 'Insights' tour at Frank Lloyd Wright's winter compound — book a few days ahead in season. The architecture-school students still live and work on site October–May.
WM Phoenix Open (late January)
PGA stop at TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course — the 16th hole is the famous stadium par-3 with 20,000 screaming fans. The single largest-attended tournament on tour.
Pinnacle Peak Trail
1.75 mi each way, 1,300 ft gain. The most popular McDowell Sonoran summit hike — great Phoenix-to-Four-Peaks panorama, manageable for most fitness levels, lot fits a Sprinter.
Scottsdale Waterfront + Fashion Square
Canal-front district with Toca Madera, Olive & Ivy, and the Soho House — adjacent to Fashion Square, the southwest's largest mall.
Sonoran Desert sunset jeep tour
Stellar Adventures, Desert Wolf, and Green Zebra all run Sprinter-friendly group pickups at Old Town hotels. Sunset slot is the one to book.
Group + van tips
Driving a 12-15 passenger van to Scottsdale
- Old Town: park the van in the Old Town Public Lot (75th & Stetson) or Civic Center Library garage — both free, both fit a 15-passenger Sprinter, both <5-min walk to Indian Plaza nightlife.
- Spring training: Salt River Fields (Loop 101 & Indian Bend) and Scottsdale Stadium both have oversize lots; pre-pay online via MLB Ballpark on big games.
- WM Phoenix Open: drive the van to a designated lot (e.g., WestWorld), then shuttle in. Old Town is gridlocked the full week — plan to base out of an Old Town hotel, not commute.
- McDowell Sonoran trailheads (Tom's Thumb, Gateway, Pinnacle Peak): big paved lots that fit a Sprinter. Arrive before 8 AM weekends Oct–Apr.
- AZ-202 E from downtown Phoenix to Old Town is the fast route (25 min). Avoid Scottsdale Rd through Tempe at rush hour.
Old Town Public Lot at 75th & Stetson and the Civic Center Library garage are both free and fit a 15-passenger van.
When to go
Best time to visit
October through April for everything outdoor. February for Cactus League spring training and the WM Phoenix Open back-to-back. March–April is peak desert wildflower season. Summer Old Town nightlife runs year-round but pool season and resort discounts (May–September) are the Scottsdale value play.
Need a van for the trip?
Our Phoenix fleet of 12-15 passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits delivers to Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), Scottsdale, and every major resort across the Valley of the Sun.
See Phoenix vansPlan your visit
Official Scottsdale resources
Experience Scottsdale — official tourism
www.experiencescottsdale.com
Old Town Scottsdale
www.experiencescottsdale.com
Taliesin West
franklloydwright.org
McDowell Sonoran Preserve
www.mcdowellsonoran.org
WM Phoenix Open
wmphoenixopen.com
Cactus League Spring Training
cactusleague.com
More background
Scottsdale FAQ
How far is Old Town Scottsdale from downtown Phoenix?
About 13 miles — 25 minutes via AZ-202 E and N Scottsdale Rd. Allow 35–40 minutes during rush hour or on event nights.
Where do I park a 15-passenger van in Old Town?
The Old Town Public Lot at 75th St & Stetson Dr is free and fits a Sprinter. The Civic Center Library garage two blocks east is also free and oversize-friendly. Both are <5 min walk to Indian Plaza nightlife.
Can I do Cactus League spring training without a van?
You can, but a 15-passenger van is the cleanest play if you're seeing multiple games — six MLB clubs train within 15 miles and the parking lots all handle Sprinters. Salt River Fields and Scottsdale Stadium are the two anchors.
Is Scottsdale a separate city from Phoenix?
Yes — separate incorporated city with its own mayor, police, and code. They border each other; Old Town is 13 miles from downtown Phoenix, and most of Scottsdale's growth runs north along the Loop 101 to Carefree Highway.