Are there any "cooler" areas of AZ (Flagstaff: RV park, house)

[frankiecd]

... like SLC is "cooler" than St.George? Summers over 95 F are just too much.

[Valley Native]

There are quite a few cooler parts of Arizona. I recently came back from one of them, which can be seen in the photos. Basically, the higher the elevation, the lower the temperatures. You really don't notice the difference until you're above 5,000 feet. Places like Payson & Prescott can still be hot during the summer, but places like Show Low & Flagstaff (which are between 6,000 & 7,000 elevation) are noticeably cooler. Some of the spots along the Mogollon Rim and eastern White Mountains that exceed 7,000 feet very rarely hit 90 degrees, but these are also the areas which tend to receive a lot more monsoonal rains, and heavier snows in the winter.

[grmi66]

Yes, pull out a map and look up anything with an elevation higher than 4000 feet. Which is a good percentage of the state.

[fluffythewondercat]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

There are quite a few cooler parts of Arizona. I recently came back from one of them, which can be seen in the photos. Basically, the higher the elevation, the lower the temperatures. You really don't notice the difference until you're above 5,000 feet. Places like Payson & Prescott can still be hot during the summer, but places like Show Low & Flagstaff (which are between 6,000 & 7,000 elevation) are noticeably cooler. Some of the spots along the Mogollon Rim and eastern White Mountains that exceed 7,000 feet very rarely hit 90 degrees, but these are also the areas which tend to receive a lot more monsoonal rains, and heavier snows in the winter.

Nice photos, VN.

I'm in Kingman for a few days. The temp is currently a pleasant 83 degrees, but if that's too much there's always Hualapai Mountain Park. The park is spread out over 2,300 acres with elevations from 4,984 to 8,417 feet. It really is a must-see if you get the chance.

There's an RV park there, if you have a rig. Generally there are campsites available in the summer. The usual deal... 30/50 amp service, water, sewer. About $40 a night. Hiking trails nearby.

[agorski]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Places like Payson & Prescott can still be hot during the summer

I live at 5500 ft elevation in Prescott and don't have A/C in the house. It will hit 95+ here a few days a year during the run-up to the Monsoon in late June. So about 3 weeks when it gets hot. But it still goes down to 60 at night. I use a whole house attic fan to cool the house down and then shut the windows in the morning. Heat is rarely a problem once the Monsoon starts in July.

It's all about the altitude. I wouldn't want to be without A/C 10 miles away in Prescott Valley.

We only get a few days with snow in the winter. Most days you can walk around with a sweater on.

Higher altitude areas of the state will have a cool summer and frigid winters.

Areas like Kingman and Winslow will have more temperature extremes, hotter than Prescott in the summer and colder in the winter.

[Bondurant]

Originally Posted by grmi66

Yes, pull out a map and look up anything with an elevation higher than 4000 feet. Which is a good percentage of the state.

The best advice. Again. On a roll!

[frankiecd]

I see, it's all about elevation. I forget sometimes that the SLC "basin" is a mile high.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by agorski

I live at 5500 ft elevation in Prescott and don't have A/C in the house. It will hit 95+ here a few days a year during the run-up to the Monsoon in late June. So about 3 weeks when it gets hot. But it still goes down to 60 at night. I use a whole house attic fan to cool the house down and then shut the windows in the morning. Heat is rarely a problem once the Monsoon starts in July.

It's all about the altitude. I wouldn't want to be without A/C 10 miles away in Prescott Valley.

We only get a few days with snow in the winter. Most days you can walk around with a sweater on.

Higher altitude areas of the state will have a cool summer and frigid winters.

Areas like Kingman and Winslow will have more temperature extremes, hotter than Prescott in the summer and colder in the winter.

Kingman is warmer than Prescott all year, especially at night. There are palm trees in Kingman, don't know if you've ever been there. It's only at 3,300 ft, almost 2k feet lower than Prescott

January 15th, mid-winter, avgs 57°F/31°F in Kingman, and only 53°F/24°F in Prescott. Even look at March 30th and Oct 31st, good mid Spring and mid fall dates. March 30th avgs 71°F/41°F for Kingman, 65°F/35°F for Prescott. And October 31st avgs 73°F/44°F in Kingman and 67°F/35°F in Prescott

[teddyearp]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

There are quite a few cooler parts of Arizona. I recently came back from one of them, which can be seen in the photos. Basically, the higher the elevation, the lower the temperatures. You really don't notice the difference until you're above 5,000 feet. Places like Payson & Prescott can still be hot during the summer, but places like Show Low & Flagstaff (which are between 6,000 & 7,000 elevation) are noticeably cooler. Some of the spots along the Mogollon Rim and eastern White Mountains that exceed 7,000 feet very rarely hit 90 degrees, but these are also the areas which tend to receive a lot more monsoonal rains, and heavier snows in the winter.

Your pictures, Nutrioso? I swear that highway picture looks very familiar.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by teddyearp

Your pictures, Nutrioso? I swear that highway picture looks very familiar.

The highway photo is actually the road to Big Lake (I believe it's highway 273). The second photo was taken in Greer at the Red Setter Inn.