Jerome Day Trip From Scottsdale: A Hillside Mining Town

What to see

•Jerome State Historic Park: the Douglas Mansion, built in 1916 by the family that owned the town’s mines, tells the story of the boom years.
•The sliding jail: a former jail that moved about 225 feet downhill because of mining-related ground movement.
•Galleries and shops: Jerome has become an arts town, with studios along its winding main streets.
•Views: look out over the Verde Valley from the hillside.

Planning the day

•Leave early: about two hours each way means a long day (estimate).
•Comfortable shoes: the town is built on a steep slope.
•Combine it: add Sedona or the Verde Canyon Railroad. See a Sedona day trip and the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Where to stay

Paradise Reserve has six bedrooms for up to 16 guests, five of them king suites with their own bathroom, plus a pool and spa, a golf simulator, a putting green and a pickleball court. Events and parties are not permitted at the house, and quiet hours apply.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Jerome from Scottsdale?

About two hours by car each way (estimate).

What is there to do in Jerome?

Jerome State Historic Park and the Douglas Mansion, the sliding jail, galleries, shops and views over the Verde Valley.

Can you do Jerome and Sedona in one day?

Yes. They are about 40 minutes apart (estimate), though it makes for a long day.

Details from Experience Scottsdale and published travel guides, checked October 2026. Drive times are estimates.

A Jerome day trip from Scottsdale.