Among the best places to snowbird is the state of Arizona. The Grand Canyon State is perfect for active adults looking to escape during the winter months. It is known for its arid desert landscapes, cities with a small-town feel, and the classic American southwest tradition.
When moving to Arizona, even for a short period, it’s best to research in advance to find the right city and community for your needs as an active adult. Look for the places that appeal to your taste and the activities you hope to partake in throughout your winter-long stay.
Continue reading our Snowbird Arizona Guide to help you decide where to spend your winter and what you can look forward to in Arizona.
Winter in Arizona
You’ve decided to become a snowbird for the winter, and now it’s time to consider your destination options—and Arizona should be at the top of your snowbird locations list. Wintering in Arizona means mild desert temperatures compared to their scorching summers, making them a favorite location for those trying to escape snow, ice, and frigid winds.
Afraid of missing the sight of snow but don’t want to deal directly with it? No worries! Arizona snowbirds can usually see snow-covered mountain caps while enjoying the warm sunshine below.
The mild winter weather in Arizona means snowbirds can still partake in all the activities the state has to offer. This includes exploring national parks, golfing at popular courses, hiking the Grand Canyon, and more.
Arizona Cities for Snowbirds
Now that you’ve chosen Arizona for your snowbird destination, it’s time to decide which city you’ll call home for the winter. But where do snowbirds go in Arizona?
There are plenty of cities throughout the state that welcome snowbirds each winter. Each city has its appeal—all you have to do is decide which best suits your needs. Explore some of the top Arizona cities for snowbirds below:
Gilbert
Gilbert, Arizona, is popular for active adults seeking a quieter city with nearby access to a large metropolis. This large suburb of Phoenix provides residents with all of the charm of a small southwestern town. Spending winters in Gilbert is ideal for active adults who like spending time in nature—with the city featuring the Riparian Preserve Water Ranch, hiking, birdwatching, and a year-round Saturday farmers market.
Mesa
Mesa, Arizona, is another suburb of Phoenix. However, this city is located in the Sonoran Desert. Surrounded by the mountains, Mesa is perfect for active adults, especially those who enjoy golfing. Fans can find championship golf courses at Mesa Country Club, Longbow Golf Club, and Superstition Springs Golf Club. Or, if you need some retail therapy, visit Mesa Riverview for outdoor shopping while you enjoy the mild winter weather.
Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona, is one of the most popular destinations for active adults to relocate to. Phoenix’s year-round 55+ population has grown significantly over the past few decades, as has its winter snowbird population. The city, located in south-central Arizona, boasts an average of 330 days of sunshine per year. Phoenix and its surrounding communities offer its residents a little bit of everything, including several golf courses, fine arts venues, museums, hiking, parks, and more.
Surprise
Surprise, Arizona, is the perfect location for active adults seeking various recreational activities. Surrounded by mountain ranges and canyons, the city boasts the usual Arizona activities like golf and tennis. Still, it adds places like White Tank Mountain Regional Park, where people can hike and explore 30,000 acres. Or, you can travel 20 minutes outside the city for rafting, kayaking, and paddling. For a more relaxed activity, visit Justice Brothers U-Pick, where you can pick 75 varieties of citrus to use in your snowbird home.
Tucson
Tucson is a popular destination for snowbirds in Arizona due to its many age-restricted communities and classic southwestern appeal. While many in Tucson enjoy a laid-back lifestyle, the city and its communities also feature plenty of activities and amenities for residents. Staying in a 55+ community in Tucson allows you to take part in typical activities like golf and tennis. Still, you also have the perks that come with a lifestyle director who organizes clubs, group activities, and events. Within Tucson, you can also enjoy many of the city’s cultural festivals and events that take place year-round.
Sun City
Sun City, Arizona, is the state’s original retirement destination and was built for active adults. This planned community is age-restricted, meaning that at least one resident in each house must be at least 55, and no one under 19 can reside there. Activity-wise, residents can visit the many country clubs, golf at popular courses, explore Litchfield Park, indulge in Desert Diamond Casino, enjoy performances at Arizona Broadway Theatre or Stage Left Productions, and more.
The 10 Best Communities in Arizona for Snowbirds
The 55+ active adult communities in Central and Southern Arizona appeal to snowbirds as they provide the best amenities and warm winter climates.
Here are the best snowbird communities in Arizona:
1. Trilogy at Power Ranch – Gilbert, AZ
Low $400s – High $700s
Trilogy at Power Ranch is a gated community of 2,035 single-family homes for 55+ active adults. It’s in Gilbert, a 30-minute drive from Downtown Phoenix and on the southeastern edge of the Phoenix urban area. Residents can be in the 10,000-acre San Tan Mountain Regional Park in about 25 minutes.
A popular amenity is the Trilogy Golf Club at Power Ranch, which has practice facilities, a pro shop, and a bistro and bar. Other amenities within the community include a movie theater, several dining options, a culinary teaching kitchen, a fitness center, arts and crafts studios, two outdoor pools, and courts for tennis and bocce.
The smallest models offer 1,100 square feet and have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two- or two-and-a-half-car garage. The largest homes offer 2,505 square feet with two bedrooms, a den, two- or two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a three-car garage.
2. Sunland Springs Village – Mesa, AZ
Mid $300s – Mid $700s
Sunland Springs Village is an active adult golf community with 2,890 homes. Located in Mesa, east of Phoenix, residents have easy access to the metropolis and the East Valley.
The most popular amenity at Sunland Springs Village is its 27 holes of golf, providing residents with inexpensive access to a course without championship-level difficulty. Other popular amenities include a large recreation center, two outdoor pools, tennis, pickleball, and volleyball courts, a softball field, a card room, a library, and a woodworking shop.
Smaller, low-maintenance townhomes and golf condos offer 1,000 to 1,700 square feet of space. Single-family models range from 1,100 to over 3,200 square feet and boast low homeowners association fees.
3. Hillcrest – Phoenix, AZ
Mid $600s
Hillcrest is a community of 120 single-family homes located in Phoenix. Residents can reach the downtown area in just 25 minutes or explore their direct access to hiking and outdoor space.
Among the featured amenities at Hillcrest is the community’s social calendar, which is filled with seasonal events and activities and a weekly happy hour to get to know your fellow residents. Other amenities include a year-round heated saltwater pool, patio, the community’s own park and pavilion, and greenspace.
Floor plan models include both single and double-level homes ranging from 1,500 to 3,100 square feet. Each home has various bedrooms and bathrooms, including covered patios, foyers, eat-in kitchens, and spacious backyards. Most homes also include an attached two-car garage.
4. Sun City Grand – Surprise, AZ
High $300ks – Low $1Ms
Sun City Grand is a 45+ active adult community of over 9,800 attached and single-family homes and condos. It’s a ten-minute drive from downtown Surprise, a city of over 140,000 people at the north-western edge of the Phoenix urban area. If you’re a snowbird who wants to be near the desert, then the 30,000-acre White Tank Mountain Regional Park is only a 20-minute drive away.
Snowbirds are also drawn by Sun City Grand’s many amenities. These include four championship golf courses, five all-season pools, eleven lighted tennis courts, 22 lighted pickleball courts, eight lighted bocce courts, two fitness centers, and fishing lakes.
The fact that there are homes here as small as 427 square feet will appeal to snowbirds who want a small, low-maintenance winter bolthole in Arizona. These have one bedroom, one bathroom, and a one-car garage. Several other models come in under 1,000 square feet, though if you want more space, homes go up to 3,388 square feet with three bedrooms, a den, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a two-and-a-half-car garage.
5. The Preserve at SaddleBrooke – Tucson, AZ
High $800s – Mid $1Ms
The Preserve at SaddleBrooke is a 55+ active adult community of single-family homes. It’s a 45-minute drive north of Downtown Tucson in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, appealing to snowbirds who want an active outdoor lifestyle.
Amenities include the Preserve Golf Club, which has an 18-hole golf course, pro shop, restaurant, fitness center, outdoor pool, and tennis courts. Other amenities at the community include a bistro, arts and crafts studios, an aerobics and dance studio, a library, a performing arts/movie theater, two outdoor pools, a softball field, and courts for basketball, volleyball, and badminton.
This is a community for snowbirds who want space. The limited number of models ranges from 2,395 to 3,118 square feet. All have a den, two or three bedrooms, two-and-a-half or three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a two-, three-, or four-car garage.
6. Sun City – Sun City, AZ
Below $100k – Low $1Ms
Sun City is the largest active adult community in the state, and it’s one of the best communities in Arizona for snowbirds because of the sheer variety it offers. It has an age restriction of 55+ and has over 27,000 attached and single-family homes, and condos. It’s located in Sun City—a 45-minute drive northwest of Downtown Phoenix between Peoria and Surprise.
Amenities include 11 golf courses, 19 shopping areas, 31 places of worship, an amphitheater hosting major artists, numerous fitness centers, indoor and outdoor pools, arts and crafts studios, and facilities for most sports.
Snowbirds can enjoy the Sun City lifestyle regardless of budget or space requirements. Condos start with studio apartments at 635 square feet, and several other models under 1,000 square feet offer one or two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a one- or two-car garage or a carport. If you need more space, the largest homes offer 2,137 square feet with two bedrooms, a den, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. For those on a budget, prices start below $100k, with the largest homes in the low $1M.
7. Province – Maricopa, AZ
High $200s – High $600s
Province is a gated community with 2,217 attached and single-family homes for 55+ active adults. It’s a five-minute drive from Maricopa, a city of almost 60,000 people in Central Arizona. Arizona’s desert and mountains surround the city, but Downtown Phoenix is only a 40-minute drive away.
The many outdoor amenities in this community make it appealing to snowbirds. Although it doesn’t have its own golf course, it does have an 18-hole putting green, and several courses are within a 10-minute drive. Province has courts for tennis, bocce, pickleball, shuffleboard, and basketball, an outdoor amphitheater, 50 acres of scenic lakes, outdoor and indoor pools, a fitness center, a ballroom, a library, and arts and crafts studios.
Snowbirds appreciate the fact that there are almost forty models available, covering a wide range of space requirements and budgets. Homes start at 1,172 square feet and have one bedroom, a den/second bedroom, two bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage. The largest homes provide 2,830 square feet with up to four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a three-car garage.
8. Country Club Vistas – Green Valley, AZ
Low $300s – High $400s
Country Club Vistas is a 55+ community of 512 attached and single-family homes. It’s about a five-minute drive north of Green Valley, an unincorporated community of about 25,000 people that’s a 30-minute drive south of Tucson. It’s an extremely popular Arizona snowbird destination, so all the services snowbirds might need are available here.
Residents have access to all the amenities provided by Green Valley Recreation (GVR). This umbrella organization provides recreational facilities to member homes in Green Valley in return for an annual fee. Country Club Vistas is a five-minute drive from GVR’s Las Campanas Center, which has a fitness center, an outdoor pool, and courts for tennis, bocce, and racquetball. Other GVR facilities are just a short drive away.
There are only two standard home models, but these range from 1,132 to 3,601 square feet, offering snowbirds a choice of two to four bedrooms, two to four bathrooms, and a one- or two-car garage.
9. Sun Lakes – Sun Lakes, AZ
Low $200s – Low $1Ms
Sun Lakes has 6,683 attached, single-family, and manufactured homes for 55+ active adults. It’s on the southern edge of the Phoenix area, just south of Chandler. Downtown Chandler is a 20-minute drive north, while the unspoiled landscape of the Gila River Indian Community is immediately south of Sun Lakes.
Sun Lake’s amenities will appeal to golfing snowbirds, including four 18-hole golf courses and three nine-hole courses. There’s also a fitness center, restaurants, an aerobics and dance studio, a ballroom, fishing lakes, and courts for tennis, bocce, racquetball, and handball.
There are a few dozen models, the smallest offering 1,320 square feet, one bedroom, a den, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. The largest homes offer 3,497 square feet, and these have three bedrooms, a den, up to four bathrooms, and a three-car garage.
10. PebbleCreek – Goodyear, AZ
High $300s – Mid $1Ms
PebbleCreek is a gated community of 6,200 attached and single-family homes for 55+ active adults. It’s a 10-minute drive from the center of Goodyear, which has a population approaching 90,000. Downtown Phoenix is a 40-minute drive due east, while a 20-minute drive west takes you to the Skyline Regional Park, an 8,700-acre mountain preserve.
Amenities include both the Eagle’s Nest and Tuscany Falls championship golf courses, several restaurants, several fitness centers, two auditoriums and a theater, arts and crafts studios, indoor and outdoor pools, a pickleball complex, and lighted courts for both tennis and bocce.
Snowbirds could try one of the smallest homes, which offers 1,110 square feet and has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. The largest homes offer 3,217 square feet and have two bedrooms, a den, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a two-car garage.
Planning Your Snowbird Getaway to Arizona
Now that you’re fully aware of your options for your winter in Arizona, it’s time to choose the right community for you. Determine how much space you need to live comfortably, how much you can spend, and which amenities appeal to your activity preferences. If you’re snowbirding to a second home, make sure you’re budgeting appropriately to uphold your standard of living in each location.
When becoming a snowbird and temporarily moving to Arizona in winter, you also need to plan logistics in addition to deciding your destination. Moving temporarily means you need to properly close your primary home, which includes forwarding mail, unplugging appliances, checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, setting up timers for lights, and more. Taking care of these logistics in advance gives you peace of mind while on your snowbird getaway.
FAQs for Snowbirds Going to Arizona
Have more questions as a snowbird going to Arizona or wondering what is snowbird season? Read on for some answers to frequently asked questions about navigating wintering in Arizona like a pro snowbird:
What is snowbird season?
Gorgeous weather draws snowbirds to Arizona as early as October every year. Some snowbirds, however, will wait until closer to or after the holiday season to begin their stay. But when do snowbirds leave Arizona?
People often stay until April or May and leave Arizona before the weather gets too hot. The length of your snowbird stay is ultimately up to you.
What is the meaning of being snowbirds in Arizona?
The American snowbird is a person who migrates to a warmer climate for the winter, usually in the southeast or southwest. These people are called snowbirds because their pattern of moving for the winter is similar to how birds migrate during winter months.
The typical snowbird buys or rents a second home in a warmer climate and stays there for three to six months.
What are some of the top Arizona attractions for snowbirds?
Top Arizona attractions for snowbirds include:
- Taking in the Grand Canyon
- Going to Tombstone
- Playing golf at a popular championship course
- Exploring Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
- Visiting Saguaro National Park
These are just a few of the sights and experiences Arizona offers. Your preferences will determine other activities.
Where are the most snowbirds in Arizona?
Most snowbirds in Arizona flock to the greater Phoenix area when looking for a community to call home for the winter. Another area with mild weather and reasonable prices is Sierra Vista, while Sedona is more expensive but is known for red rocks, hiking, and arts.
How much does it cost to be a snowbird in Arizona?
The total cost of being a snowbird in Arizona depends on various factors, including the city you choose to stay in and the community you buy or rent in. When buying in Arizona, it’s notable that the state has lower than the national average property taxes. Buying property within a community has many perks, including discounts and access to amenities to provide activities you don’t have to pay an additional amount for.
Snowbird in Arizona With Help From 55places
As an active adult, finding a property in a community of like-minded individuals will ensure you stay in a place you can comfortably call home, even as a snowbird. Completing your home search through 55places allows you to work with a real estate agent specializing in Arizona’s active adult communities. Using our Snowbirds Arizona Guide will help you settle into your winter home and routine in no time.
