Written and Fact-checked by | Last Updated: June 08, 2026

Where is Phoenix, AZ?

Phoenix is a city in Arizona. Phoenix is in the southwestern United States, in the south-central portion of Arizona, about halfway between Tucson to the southeast and Flagstaff to the north.

Location Map of Phoenix, Arizona

Where is Phoenix
About Map: Map showing location of Phoenix in the Arizona.

Where is Phoenix Located, TX?

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city in Arizona and the 5th most populous city in the United States, it is the seat of Maricopa County. It comprising a total area of 519.11 sq mi (1,344.50 sq km), with an estimated population of 1,680,992 in 2019.

Arizona MapArizona County MapMap of Arizona With Cities
Arizona ZipcodesAirports in ArizonaArizona Road Map
Arizona Area CodesArizona Blank MapArizona River Map
US County MapArizona Physical MapUS States and Capitals Map
Where is GilbertWhere is MesaWhere is Phoenix
Where is ScottsdaleWhere is TucsonWhere Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona Quick Facts

FactDetails
CityPhoenix
CountyMaricopa County
StateArizona
State CapitalPhoenix
US RegionWest
Latitude33.4484° N
Longitude112.0740° W
Elevation1,086 ft (331 m)
Land Area517.6 sq mi
Water Area1.2 sq mi
Total Area518.8 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)1,608,139
Population DensityApproximately 3,106 per sq mi
ZIP Codes85001-85099
Area Code602, 480, 623
Time Zone StandardMountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7)
Time Zone DaylightMountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7)
CurrencyUS Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code04-55000
Congressional DistrictArizona 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Congressional Districts

Location and Surroundings

Phoenix is located in central Maricopa County within the Salt River Valley of south-central Arizona. It lies between Glendale to the northwest and Tempe to the east, surrounded by mountain ranges including the Phoenix Mountains and South Mountain. The city is known for its desert climate, major sports venues, growing technology sector, and status as Arizona's capital and largest city.

Nearby Cities to Phoenix, Arizona

  • Tempe, Arizona - 9 mi East
  • Glendale, Arizona - 10 mi Northwest
  • Scottsdale, Arizona - 12 mi Northeast
  • Mesa, Arizona - 19 mi East
  • Chandler, Arizona - 22 mi Southeast
  • Gilbert, Arizona - 24 mi Southeast
  • Peoria, Arizona - 15 mi Northwest
  • Goodyear, Arizona - 20 mi West
  • Avondale, Arizona - 18 mi West
  • Buckeye, Arizona - 35 mi West

Phoenix, Arizona Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January67461.0
April86590.2
July106851.0
October92660.6
Annual88648.0
Climate AttributeDetails
Climate Classification (Köppen)Hot Desert (BWh)
Annual RainfallAbout 8 inches
Annual Sunshine DaysMore than 300 days
Hurricane/Tornado RiskVery low
SnowfallRare

Driving Distances from Phoenix, Arizona

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
TempeArizona915 min
GlendaleArizona1015 min
ScottsdaleArizona1220 min
MesaArizona1925 min
PeoriaArizona1520 min
GoodyearArizona2025 min
BuckeyeArizona3540 min
Casa GrandeArizona4950 min
TucsonArizona1161 hr 50 min
FlagstaffArizona1452 hr 20 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Phoenix, Arizona

CategoryDetails
Airport NamePhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
IATA CodePHX
PortNot Applicable
Major HighwaysI-10, I-17, Loop 101, Loop 202, SR 51, US 60
Train/Amtrak ServiceNo direct Amtrak service within the city
Local Bus/Transit ServiceValley Metro Bus and Light Rail
  • Interstate 10 - Major east-west corridor connecting Phoenix with California, Tucson, and Texas.
  • Interstate 17 - Connects Phoenix with Flagstaff and northern Arizona.
  • Loop 101 - Beltway serving communities throughout the metropolitan area.
  • Loop 202 - Major freeway connecting eastern and western suburbs.
  • State Route 51 - Important north-south route through central Phoenix.
  • US Route 60 - Connects Phoenix with eastern Arizona communities.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Phoenix, Arizona

Landmark NameType
Desert Botanical GardenBotanical Garden
South Mountain Park and PreserveRegional Park
Heard MuseumMuseum
Phoenix Art MuseumMuseum
Papago ParkPark
Arizona Science CenterScience Museum
Chase FieldSports Venue
Footprint CenterSports Arena
Arizona State Capitol MuseumMuseum
Camelback MountainNatural Attraction

Waterbodies in Phoenix, Arizona

Salt River, Gila River, Tempe Town Lake, Arizona Canal, Crosscut Canal, Agua Fria River, Lake Pleasant, New River, Cave Creek, Roosevelt Lake

Golf Courses in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix Country Club, Encanto Golf Course, Papago Golf Club, Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, Aguila Golf Course, Cave Creek Golf Course, Raven Golf Club Phoenix, Legacy Golf Resort, Lookout Mountain Golf Club, Grand Canyon University Golf Course

Economy and Major Employers in Phoenix, Arizona

SectorMajor Employer or IndustryNotes
GovernmentState of ArizonaMajor public-sector employer.
HealthcareBanner HealthLeading healthcare provider.
TechnologySemiconductor and Technology IndustryRapidly growing economic sector.
FinanceBanking and Financial ServicesMajor regional employment base.
EducationArizona State UniversityLarge higher education institution nearby.
AerospaceAerospace and Defense IndustryImportant advanced manufacturing sector.
TourismHospitality and Convention IndustryBenefits from year-round visitors.
RetailRegional Commercial CentersSupports metropolitan growth.

Colleges and Schools in Phoenix, Arizona

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix CampusPublicUniversityUrban higher education
Grand Canyon UniversityPrivateUniversityLarge private university
University of PhoenixPrivateUniversityOnline education
Phoenix CollegePublicCommunity CollegeHistoric community college
GateWay Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeWorkforce development
Phoenix Union High School DistrictPublicK-12 DistrictLargest secondary school district in Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona - Key Historical Facts

  • Phoenix was founded in 1867 near the site of ancient Hohokam irrigation canals that had supported agriculture centuries earlier.
  • The city was incorporated in 1881 and became the capital of Arizona Territory in 1889.
  • Phoenix continued to grow through extensive irrigation projects that transformed the Salt River Valley.
  • The completion of Theodore Roosevelt Dam in 1911 helped secure a reliable water supply for the region.
  • Following World War II, Phoenix experienced rapid suburban and economic expansion.
  • Today, Phoenix is the largest city in Arizona and one of the fastest-growing metropolitan centers in the United States.

Sources