layover in Phoenix

We have a 5 hour layover in Phoenix and were wondering if there was anywhere close to the airport that we could get to

layover in Phoenix

If you watch your time carefully, you could hop in a cab and enjoy the Desert Botanical Gardens or the Phoenix Zoo.

layover in Phoenix

Old Town Scottsdale and Scottsdale Fashion Square, if you%26#39;re into shopping. A quick taxi ride, or you could take a bus.

5 hrs isn%26#39;t really worth leaving the airport IMHO. The zoo would be the only thing but then there is traffic depending on the day and time of day. Is it worth it having to get a rental car, finding your way around possibly getting lost only to have to be back at the air port 1-2 hrs before your flight leaves if its international? What if your flight is delayed or late ect....

At MOST you would want to think of the Desert Botanical Gardens or Pueblo Grande. They are close by and you can spend as little or as much time as you like. The Zoo would take too much time, and I would not risk a trip to Scottsdale or anywhere else.

Personally, considering the security lines, etc., I would call the airline to see if I could get a one-day pass to their airport club and kill the time there. Since you have a five hour layover, I assume you%26#39;re on US Airways, since Phoenix is one of their hubs. If you are on US Airways, or you%26#39;re flying Southwest, Terminal Four has a lot of very good restaurants and some shopping that would help you kill a few hours.

In my experience the wait to go through security in Terminal 4 runs about 45 minutes to an hour most of the time, unless you%26#39;re in first or business class. Considering that the 5 hour layover counts from when the plane lands, until the next one leaves, and does not include how long it takes to get off the first flight, or the time to allow for boarding and security for the next flight, you don%26#39;t really have 5 hours. More like 3 or 3.5.

Thank you so much for your insights. It sounds like we need to see how long it takes to get through security -- maybe just shopping and eating. We are with friends who have never been in Arizona and we would have loved for them to see the mountain views etc BUT

Hi DENKingston! I would agree with DougAZ--if you are in terminal 4 (US Air or Southwest), stay right where you are! There%26#39;s a brand new large and very beautiful shopping center right there. And most of the shops feature Southwestern wares that you won%26#39;t find elsewhere (take a peek at the many beautiful Arizona tour books you%26#39;ll find there!). The Phoenix sun will be shining, the skies will be blue, so spend some time shopping, then pick out a nice restaurant for lunch with your friends. Relax and enjoy your ';day trip'; at Sky Harbor Airport! Best Regards, Rick (constant-cruiser), Gold Canyon, Arizona

Actually, the Phoenix airport is right in the middle of town, and if you are in Terminal 4 the gates are well-placed on either side of the terminal so that you get great views of much of the city, including lots of mountains. Terminal 3 (Northwest, Delta, Frontier, American) is also pretty good for that; Terminal 2 (Alaska, United, Continental)not so much. It%26#39;s not the prime way to see the views, but, for an airport, it%26#39;s not bad.

Here is a website that tracks security wait times (it should pop in PHX, and if on BA, US, or WN you%26#39;ll want terminal 4):

flightstats.com/go/鈥?/a>

I currently have elite status on US, and it is unusual for it to take me more than 10 min to get through security (usually less than 5 min). However, if no one in your group is elite (has status on an airline), the lines could easily be an hour during peak times. You could make your way toward exiting security, and ask one of the agents what the wait is like (they may or may not be friendly...they%26#39;re government workers).

US Airways charges $40 for a day club pass, which would get in 2 passengers.

usairways.com/awa/鈥emberships.aspx

There really isn%26#39;t anything compelling inside, maybe some snacks and soft drinks; alcholic beverages are extra. There are some half-decent restaurants inside security at the airport that you could easily hang around at for an hour or even 2. Terminal 4 is quite large, and you could take your time and walk around the whole thing (there%26#39;s a moving walkway to the side that connects the B gate area to C/Southwest).

All that said, if you want to take a chance, if this is in the next few months (say before April), I%26#39;d take a taxi to the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens. Especially with people who have never been to AZ, it has some unique plants. You could see a good deal of it in 2 hours. Unless you are traveling between 6-9am or 4-7pm, traffic shouldn%26#39;t be an issue....even if during those hours, a good cab driver should know how to avoid it (take the AZ 153/44th St North to Van Buren, to Galvin, maybe 5-10 min tops). In late April, the heat will start to kick in, and you really wouldn%26#39;t want to be outside, especially in the middle of the day.