The Best Things to See, Do, and Eat When Visiting Pinetop, AZ

Looking for a relaxing small mountain town vacation? Head to Pinetop, Arizona! Our family loves this place and I am so excited to share all the details with you!

Pinetop is about 3 hours northeast of Phoenix. It is located in the white mountains and has four amazing seasons!

How to get there

  • Fly into Phoenix, AZ

  • Rent a car and drive to Pinetop

  • We usually take the route that goes through Globe, but there is also an option to go through Payson

Where to stay

  • I recommend using Airbnb or VRBO to rent a cabin/house.

    • There are lots of options for different sizes of groups!

    • Since the town is in the pines, we love the cozy cabin vibes.

  • There are a few hotel options in town, but not anything fancy.

  • We have also stayed at a Bed and Breakfast here.

Things to know

  • Pinetop gets a ton of snow! People don’t usually associate Arizona with snow, but we get lots up north! The winters are beautiful, but just be aware that it does snow quite a bit.

  • Pinetop gets all four seasons, and all are amazing! We love every time of year.

  • Pinetop has the best small town feel! All the locals are so nice and most stores around town are locally owned.

What to do in Pinetop

  • Take time to relax

    • This town is the perfect place to sit outside and breathe in fresh mountain air.

  • Walk around the lake at Woodland park

    • The loop is about 1 mile and paved. It is wheelchair and stroller friendly. Dogs are also allowed.

    • There is also a disc golf course and park here!

  • Go on a hike

    • There are so many hikes in Pinetop! They aren’t too strenuous, and lots of fun.

    • I suggest going to AllTrails and searching for Pinetop. It will be able to give you lots of choices for all different levels of hikes/trail walks.

    • One hike that we love is the Springs Trail!

    • If you’re looking for an all-day hike (17 miles and 2500 ft of elevation) check out Mount Baldy! I love doing the loop (either direction).

  • White Mountain Family Fun Park

    • Go karting

    • Mini golf

    • Arcade

    • Other fun family activities!

  • Sunrise Park Resort

    • This ski resort is about 45 minutes out of Pinetop.

    • In the winter you can ski and snowboard here.

    • There is also a lodge you can stay at!

    • In the off seasons, you can ride an alpine coaster or ride the ski lift up and down the mountain.

  • Hot Air Balloon Festival

    • This happens once a year, and it’s so cool to see! 

    • Look up the dates on this one as it varies each year.

    • There are also food trucks and live music!

  • Look at shops

    • Wander the “downtown” area and look through shops!

    • There are thrift shops, fudge stores, and other cute small town stores.

Where to eat

  • Pasta House

    • Amazing Italian food!

    • They bring fresh bread with olive oil and vinegar.

    • Some favorite dishes are gnocchi in vodka sauce and chicken parmesan.

    • This place is very small and fills up quickly!

      • If you have 5 or more people, you can make a reservation. If not, you will need to get to the restaurant about 20 minutes before they open for dinner (if you don’t want to wait). Or go closer to 7 pm, once the restaurant has been open long enough for the first round of people to move out.

  • Red Devil

    • We love the pizza, salads, and wings here!

    • We get take out from here pretty often, and it’s perfect for feeding a crowd.

  • Charlie Clarks

    • Classic steakhouse!

    • I recommend getting reservations or getting there before they open to get in line.

    • I love the ambiance here.

  • Chalet

    • Great steaks! 

  • Los Corrales

    • Best Mexican food in Pinetop!

    • We love the cheese crisps with fresh green chilies and the fajitas.

  • Darbi’s Cafe

    • Amazing breakfast!

    • Everything is good here, we haven’t been disappointed.

  • Bistro at Annie’s

    • Sit on the porch if the weather is nice!

    • Great fish, chicken, and steak. Very well done American food.

  • The House

    • This restaurant is about 20 minutes away in Show Low.

    • They have yard games, live music, great burgers, and chicken sandwiches.

    • Dogs are welcome and the vibes are great!

    • They also have a little house in the yard to get homemade ice cream.

  • Persnikkity's cafe

    • This restaurant is also 20 minutes away in Show Low.

    • We love the spicy chicken pita wrap, all the baked goods, and the soups and salads.

    • Great local place!

  • Grocery shopping - Go to Eddie’s Market

    • Check out their meat counter! They smoke a lot of their meats in-house and they are delicious!

    • The applewood smoked bacon is amazing!

    • It’s the cutest small town grocery store! (My daughter says it feels like being in Gilmore Girls here.)

    • We like to pick up food here to cook some of our meals so that we’re not always eating out.

Lisa AndrewsComment