Can't take the heat? Here are cheap flights to cool destinations from Phoenix this summer
When the calendar hits June, Phoenix residents long for an escape to anywhere with double-digit temperatures.
Last year, Phoenix temperatures averaged 103.3 degrees in June, 114.7 degrees in July, 109.5 degrees in August and 103.4 degrees in September, according to the National Weather Service.
Just as people from northern states and Canada flock south for the winter, people in the Valley might find themselves needing a vacation from the summer heat.
Alaska, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, offer much lower temperatures even in the summer months. Here's how to get cheap flights from Phoenix to these cool summer destinations on Alaska, Delta, Frontier, United and Southwest airlines.
Cheap Phoenix-Alaska flights this summer
Alaska is a very cool summer destination. The south-central region that includes Anchorage, Fairbanks and Denali National Park experiences average highs of 62 to 65 degrees from June to August, according to Alaska.org.
Alaska has no shortage of nature and outdoor activities. It's home to six national parks, including North America's tallest mountain peak at Denali and the glaciers, temperate rainforests and fjords of Glacier Bay. Anchorage has the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a nonprofit animal sanctuary with native Alaskan animals in their natural settings.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has nonstop flights to Anchorage via Alaska Airlines. We found itineraries in June and July from $439 round trip.
You could save more if you're willing to deal with a layover; we found Delta Air Lines flights between Phoenix and Anchorage for $385 round trip from June 22-27 and $374 round trip from Aug. 22-27 with a connection in Seattle.
Alaska Airlines has round-trip flights to Fairbanks and Ketchikan for less than $400 round trip this summer; these involve layovers.
Cheap Phoenix-San Francisco flights this summer
Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, the breezes from the waters regulate the city's temperatures. It rarely gets too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter.
Average highs between June and August 2023 ranged from 65 to 72 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The city's summer chill takes unsuspecting tourists by surprise; it was the focus of a 2022 New York Times article.
Visits to San Francisco might include walking along the Golden Gate Bridge, taking a ride on one of the city's historic cable cars, seeing Alcatraz Island or wandering to Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf to see the sea lions.
San Francisco frequently appears in The Arizona Republic's monthly roundups of cheap flights from Phoenix based on data from the travel website Hopper. For June, Hopper forecasted low round-trip fares near $73.
We found Frontier Airlines offered round-trip base fares of $58 for a handful of itineraries, including June 10-12; remember that Frontier, an ultra-low-cost carrier, charges low base fares with additional fees for seat assignments, carry-on and checked bags and other amenities.
Other airlines have deals on nonstop flights to San Francisco, too. We found round-trip tickets with United Airlines for Aug. 10-13 available from $119, and with Southwest Airlines for Aug. 20-24 for $120.
Cheap Phoenix-Seattle flights this summer
While Seattle has experienced warmer than usual summers in recent years ? and is forecast to have another one in 2024 ? it remains a cooler getaway for people looking to escape the triple digits of Phoenix. The average June-August temperature in the city was just under 67 degrees in 2023, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Seattle is best known for iconic destinations like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, while Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Museum of Pop Culture are also popular. For outdoor lovers, Mount Rainier National Park is an 80-mile drive from the city center, while Olympic National Park is about 111 miles.
Frontier Airlines has round-trip base fares as low as $60 for some June and August itineraries. Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines advertised round trips near $120 for Aug. 8-12.
Cheap Phoenix-Portland, Oregon, flights this summer
Like Seattle, Portland can get hot in the summer but not Phoenix hot. Average June-August temperatures in 2023 were around 72 degrees, according to NOAA.
Portland draws visitors for its hundreds of gardens, including the country's oldest continuously operating public rose test garden; Powell's City of Books, the world's largest independent bookstore; and a dining scene that includes the popular gourmet dessert chains Voodoo Doughnut and Salt & Straw. It's close to many natural landmarks in Oregon including Multnomah Falls, Mount Hood and Cannon Beach.
Frontier Airlines has round-trip base fares from $98 for June 8-11. Southwest offers round-trip fares from $120 for Aug. 12-15.
New flights from Phoenix
More flight options in Phoenix are springing up, including JSX's new route to Dallas, American Airlines' new flight to Provo, Utah, expanded flights to Mexico and JetBlue Airways' expanded East Coast routes with business class seating.
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cheap airfares from Phoenix to these cool destinations
