Best Western Hotels in Flagstaff: Planning Your Stay and Booking the Best Rate
Flagstaff sits at over 2,100 meters of elevation in the pine forests of northern Arizona, making it a natural base for exploring the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and the historic Route 66 corridor. The town itself has a walkable downtown with a railway running through it, a university population, and four distinct seasons rare in the rest of the state. This guide focuses on how to plan your stay and how to secure the best rate when booking directly rather than through a third party.
Choosing where to stay in Flagstaff
Flagstaff is compact, but the area you pick still affects your trip. Staying near the historic downtown puts you within walking distance of the old Santa Fe railway depot, local breweries, and the Lowell Observatory grounds, but parking can be tighter and rooms often book up faster in summer.
Properties along the Route 66 and interstate corridors (near the I-40/I-17 interchange) tend to offer easier parking and quicker access if you are driving in or out early for a Grand Canyon day trip. This is usually the practical choice if you are road-tripping and want to be on the highway at sunrise.
If you are visiting Northern Arizona University for a game, graduation, or conference, look for something within a short drive of campus rather than downtown, since traffic and event parking can slow things down on game days.
How many days to plan
One night is enough if Flagstaff is purely a stopover between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. Two nights lets you add a half-day in town (downtown walk, a museum, dinner) plus one full excursion day.
Three to four nights works well if you want to use Flagstaff as a base for both the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and Sedona, since both are roughly a one to one and a half hour drive and deserve separate days rather than being combined.
Winter changes the calculus: snow is common from December through March, so build in extra time if you plan to drive to the Canyon rim or through Oak Creek Canyon toward Sedona.
Getting to and around Flagstaff
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport has limited commercial service, so most visitors fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor and drive north on I-17, a trip of roughly two hours depending on traffic and weather.
Amtrak's Southwest Chief also stops in downtown Flagstaff, which is a reasonable option if you are combining this trip with other Southwest rail travel.
Once in town, a car is the most practical way to reach the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Walnut Canyon, and Sunset Crater, since none of these are served by frequent public transit from Flagstaff.
How to book the best rate
Rates for any hotel change with season, local events, and how far ahead you book, so always check current pricing directly on the booking page rather than relying on a figure you saw elsewhere.
Booking directly on bestwestern.online skips third-party markups and account requirements. You can compare room types and cancellation terms for the same property in one place without creating an account.
If your travel dates are flexible, compare a few nearby dates, since Flagstaff rates often shift around summer weekends, Grand Canyon peak season, and NAU event dates.
Check the cancellation policy before booking, especially in winter, when weather can affect mountain driving plans with little notice.