Phoenix’s last 100-degree day usually comes around October 5, and by November the normal high at Sky Harbor has fallen to 76.5°F, with lows near 54°F and barely half an inch of rain all month. That’s why Phoenix in November makes a strong case for being the best month of the year: the trails reopen to all-day hiking, the resorts haven’t hit their February peak, the winter visitors are only starting to arrive, and the sun sets early enough for a sunset hike before dinner. If you’re comparing months, our guide to the best months to visit Phoenix puts November in context; this page covers what the month itself looks like in 2026.
Short answer: November is one of Phoenix’s best months to visit: highs in the mid-70s, cool mornings, almost no rain, and hiking, golf, balloon flights and patio dining all back in full swing. Plan around Thanksgiving week (November 26, 2026), when several museums close for the day and flights fill, and book late-month dates early because snowbird season and holiday events start pushing prices up.
Prices, hours and rules in this guide were last checked on October 1, 2026.
Phoenix in November at a glance
| What | November in Phoenix (checked Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Weather | Normal high 76.5°F, low 53.7°F; about 0.57 inches of rain; no 100°F November day on record (the latest came on October 27, 2016) |
| Daylight | Sunrise about 6:59 a.m., sunset about 5:27 p.m. in mid-month; Arizona doesn’t change its clocks when the rest of the country falls back on November 1, 2026 |
| Crowds | Moderate; busier from Veterans Day and through Thanksgiving week as snowbirds arrive |
| Prices | Rising through the month but below the February-March peak; 13.07% hotel tax in Phoenix |
| Best for | Hiking, golf, sunset viewpoints, balloon flights, Taliesin West, patio dining |
| Big dates | Canal Convergence November 6-15; Thanksgiving November 26; Las Noches de las Luminarias from November 27 |
| Watch out for | Thanksgiving closures, sold-out late-month weekends, cold desert dawns |
What is Phoenix weather like in November?
Close to perfect for most visitors. Sky Harbor’s 1991-2020 normals give a November high of 76.5°F and a low of 53.7°F, a big step down from October’s 89.2°F high and still well above December’s 66.2°F. The month averages just 0.57 inches of rain, with only about one day bringing a tenth of an inch or more, and the normals record about 1.4 days at 90°F or warmer and none at 100°F, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix and NOAA.
| Month | Normal high | Normal low | Rain | Sunrise / sunset (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 89.2°F | 65.6°F | 0.56 in. | 6:32 a.m. / 5:56 p.m. |
| November | 76.5°F | 53.7°F | 0.57 in. | 6:59 a.m. / 5:27 p.m. |
| December | 66.2°F | 45.3°F | 0.74 in. | 7:25 a.m. / 5:22 p.m. |
The averages hide a wide daily swing. Phoenix’s normal daily range is about 21 to 26 degrees, so a November day that tops out at 78°F at 3 p.m. can start in the low 50s at dawn, and out in the desert at a trailhead it can feel colder still. Early November can still feel like the tail of summer, with normal highs around 80°F in the first week, but no November day has ever reached 100°F; the latest 100-degree day on record came on October 27, 2016. By Thanksgiving, highs in the upper 60s and low 70s are typical, and evenings on a patio call for a jacket.
One quirk of the clock is worth knowing. On Sunday, November 1, 2026, most of the United States ends daylight saving time, but Arizona never changed in the first place. From that date Phoenix runs on the same time as Denver and an hour ahead of Los Angeles, which matters if you’re juggling flights, calls home or a day trip to the Navajo Nation, which does observe daylight saving time.
The sun is gentler than in summer but still strong. You’ll burn on a 75-degree afternoon if you’re careless, so the usual desert kit of sunscreen, a hat and water still applies, just without the life-or-death stakes of July. Our Phoenix travel tips cover hydration, wildlife and packing in more detail.
What is there to do in Phoenix in November?
Almost everything that summer shuts down comes back. Here are the November highlights, in the order most visitors will care about them.
Hiking all day again
November is when Phoenix’s trails become all-day propositions again. The City of Phoenix’s heat restrictions, which close its busiest summit trails from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Extreme Heat Warning days, belong to the hot months, and in November you can climb Piestewa Peak or Camelback at 10 a.m. without risking your health. Arizona Game and Fish says rattlesnakes in the warm desert are most active from March through October, so by November they’re winding down, though a warm afternoon can still bring one out; watch where you put your hands and feet.
Two things haven’t changed. Camelback’s Echo Canyon lot is typically full from late morning to early afternoon on weekdays and all day on weekends from now through spring, so go at dawn or choose Piestewa Peak, whose lot opens at 5 a.m. And because the sun sets around 5:30 p.m., an afternoon hike needs a hard turnaround time; start descending well before dark and carry a headlamp. For November Phoenix hiking with a view and little effort, the 0.2-mile walk up to Hole-in-the-Rock in Papago Park is ideal at sunset.
Sunset viewpoints you can actually reach
From October to March, sunset beats the 7 p.m. gate closures at Phoenix’s favorite viewpoints, and in November it beats them by a mile. South Mountain’s entrance and lots stay open until 7 p.m., so a drive up to Dobbins Lookout, 2,330 feet up, for a 5:27 p.m. sunset leaves plenty of time to get down. The same goes for Hole-in-the-Rock, whose lot closes at 7 p.m. (checked October 2026). Pack a layer: once the sun drops, the temperature falls fast.
Canal Convergence in Old Town Scottsdale
The month’s signature event is Canal Convergence, the Scottsdale Waterfront’s festival of large-scale light and water art, which runs November 6 to 15, 2026, under the theme “Western Nature.” Experience Scottsdale’s listing describes it as free, open 6 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, with live music and dance, workshops, tours, food trucks and a beer and wine garden (checked October 2026). Pair it with dinner in Old Town and the Thursday-evening ArtWalk among the galleries.
Golf after the overseed
Most Valley courses close for a few weeks in the fall to overseed their fairways with winter grass, and November is when they come back green. In 2025, the City of Phoenix reopened Aguila on October 20, Cave Creek on October 27 and Encanto’s 18-hole course on November 3 at post-overseed rates of $58 to $68 for public walking rounds, depending on the course and day. Resort courses climb toward peak pricing: We-Ko-Pa, owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, lists $239 for resort guests and $179 with an Arizona ID from October 23, 2026 to January 7, 2027 (checked October 2026). Book tee times early for Thanksgiving week.
Balloon flights, Taliesin West and desert tours
Two November changes make the Valley’s splurges easier to schedule. Hot air balloon companies add afternoon and sunset flights in the cool months: Hot Air Expeditions flies them from November 1 to March 15, and Rainbow Ryders from November through March, so you no longer need a 4:30 a.m. alarm. Hot Air Expeditions’ shared sunrise flight costs $239 for adults before 9% taxes and fees, with $20 off through December 20, 2026 (checked October 2026). At Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home in north Scottsdale, the site opens daily from November 1, its guided Behind-the-Scenes Tour returns on November 3, and its Golden Hour Sunset Hikes run on weekend evenings through December 27, according to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
Football, basketball and a free museum day
November is a big sports month. The Arizona Cardinals are scheduled to play at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on November 15 against the Los Angeles Rams and on November 29 against Washington, and Arizona State plays home football games at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on November 7 against Colorado and November 21 against Oklahoma State, its homecoming game. The Suns’ NBA season is in full swing downtown at Mortgage Matchup Center. On the cultural side, the Phoenix Art Museum’s Family Funday Sunday on November 15 is one of its two free days of the year (checked October 2026).
The Desert Botanical Garden’s Community Day falls on Tuesday, November 10. Admission that day is pay what you can, with suggested amounts of $5, $10 or $15, against a regular adult price from $32.95 (checked October 2026). Arrive early, because it’s popular.
Thanksgiving in Phoenix
Thanksgiving falls on November 26, 2026, and it’s one of the busiest travel weeks of the year at Sky Harbor, so book flights and rental cars early and leave extra time at the airport. Several of the Valley’s big attractions close for the day, while others stay open, which makes Thanksgiving morning a good time for a hike and the afternoon a good time for a long meal.
| Attraction | Thanksgiving Day 2026 (checked Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Heard Museum | Closed |
| Phoenix Art Museum | Closed |
| Musical Instrument Museum | Closed |
| Taliesin West | Closed |
| S’edav Va’aki Museum | Closed |
| Cosanti | Closes at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve |
| Phoenix Zoo | Open (it closes only on Christmas Day) |
| Scottsdale trolley neighborhood routes | No service |
| City trails and mountain parks | Open during normal hours |
The holiday season starts the moment the turkey’s cleared. The Phoenix Zoo’s ZooLights is scheduled to begin on November 25, the night before Thanksgiving, and run until January 15, 2027. The Desert Botanical Garden’s Las Noches de las Luminarias, its candlelit holiday walk, opens on November 27 and runs on 26 nights through January 3, 2027, from 5 to 9:30 p.m.; general adult tickets cost $39.95 to $44.95 depending on the night and children’s $18.95, and on event dates the garden closes to regular visitors at 4 p.m. (checked October 2026). Members could buy from October 1 and everyone else from October 16, so book early for the holiday weeks. If you want the garden by day that weekend, go in the morning.
For the meal itself, many Valley resorts and restaurants serve Thanksgiving dinners and brunches, and popular ones book up, so reserve as soon as your dates are set. A Thanksgiving plan that works well here: a sunrise hike on Piestewa Peak or a walk in Papago Park, an afternoon meal, then an evening drive to see the lights.
November 2026 events calendar
| Date (checked Oct 2026) | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Through November 1 | Arizona State Fair (Thursday-Sunday) | State Fairgrounds, central Phoenix |
| November 1 | Taliesin West opens daily; afternoon balloon flights resume | North Scottsdale; north Valley |
| November 6-15 | Canal Convergence (free) | Scottsdale Waterfront |
| November 7 | ASU football vs. Colorado | Mountain America Stadium, Tempe |
| November 10 | Desert Botanical Garden Community Day (pay what you can) | Papago Park |
| November 15 | Phoenix Art Museum Family Funday Sunday (free); Cardinals vs. Rams | Midtown Phoenix; State Farm Stadium, Glendale |
| November 21 | ASU homecoming vs. Oklahoma State | Mountain America Stadium, Tempe |
| November 25 | ZooLights begins | Phoenix Zoo |
| November 26 | Thanksgiving; several museums closed | Valley-wide |
| November 27 | Las Noches de las Luminarias begins | Desert Botanical Garden |
| November 29 | Cardinals vs. Washington | State Farm Stadium, Glendale |
A long November weekend in Phoenix
Here’s a three-day plan that uses November’s strengths, assuming a Friday arrival. For longer trips and other seasons, our Phoenix itineraries lay out two- to seven-day plans.
Friday: land at Sky Harbor, check in, and head to the Scottsdale Waterfront if it’s November 6 to 15 for Canal Convergence, which runs from 6 p.m. Otherwise, take the 0.2-mile walk up to Hole-in-the-Rock in Papago Park for a 5:30 p.m. sunset, then dinner in Old Town Scottsdale or Tempe.
Saturday: climb Piestewa Peak at first light, around 7 a.m., when the lot is open and the air is cool. Spend late morning at the Heard Museum, which opens at 10 a.m., and the afternoon at the Phoenix Art Museum. If ASU is at home that night, the Mill Avenue crowd makes Tempe lively; otherwise drive up to Dobbins Lookout on South Mountain for sunset, well before the 7 p.m. gate closes.
Sunday: drive to Taliesin West, open daily from November 1, for a morning tour, then spend the afternoon at the Musical Instrument Museum in north Phoenix, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On November 15, swap the museum for the Phoenix Art Museum’s free Family Funday Sunday if you skipped it on Saturday.
Can you visit the lakes and the river in November?
Some of them. The Salt River’s tubing season ended at the end of September, so the river’s famous summer float is over until spring. Canyon Lake, on the Apache Trail, was closed on September 8, 2026 for a dam-safety drawdown by SRP that lowers the lake about 54 feet for roughly 16 weeks, so plan on it being unavailable through November and into early 2027, and the Dolly Steamboat that cruises it is closed too. Saguaro Lake, northeast of Mesa, and Lake Pleasant, north of the West Valley, stay open; Maricopa County charges $10 per vehicle at Lake Pleasant Regional Park (checked October 2026). The water is too cold for most people to swim by late November, but kayaking, paddleboarding and lakeside picnics are at their most pleasant.
Is November good for families?
Very. The weather lets children play outside all day without heat risk, and the month’s discount days line up well: the Phoenix Art Museum’s Family Funday Sunday on November 15, when admission costs nothing, the Desert Botanical Garden’s Community Day on November 10, when you pay what you can, and the Phoenix Zoo’s ZooLights from November 25. The zoo itself is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through mid-January, with adult admission at $44.95 and children 3 to 13 at $32.95 (checked October 2026). Many Arizona schools take their fall break in October rather than November, so weekday attractions tend to be quieter than over Thanksgiving week.
How much does a November trip to Phoenix cost?
Less than a winter or spring trip, but not summer-cheap. The best public gauge of the seasonal swing is Scottsdale’s monthly bed-tax collections, which track hotel revenue. In 2024, the city collected $2.86 million in November, against $6.58 million in April at the peak of spring and $1.37 million in August at the bottom of summer (checked October 2026). Those receipts are recorded when the tax is paid, so they trail actual stays by about a month, but the pattern is clear: November sits in the middle, with rates climbing toward the holidays and the February-March peak.
Budget for the extras, too (checked October 2026). A Phoenix hotel stay carries 13.07% in taxes, and Scottsdale’s total is about 14%, before any resort fee; some Camelback-area resorts list $45 to $55 a night. Late November is pricier than early November because of Thanksgiving and the first wave of winter visitors, so if your dates are flexible, the first two weeks of the month usually give you the best mix of weather and value. Our Phoenix itinerary planner shows how to group your days so you spend less time and money driving.
November is when the snowbirds arrive
Metro Phoenix’s winter visitor population is commonly estimated at 300,000 to 400,000 people, and they start arriving from mid-November, filling RV resorts, monthly rentals and golf tee sheets through April, with the peak in January and February. For a short-term visitor that means busier restaurants and courses in the East Valley and the retirement communities of the West Valley as the month goes on. If you’re thinking of staying for weeks or months yourself, our guide to snowbirds in Arizona covers where winter visitors base themselves and what a season costs.
What should you pack for Phoenix in November?
Layers. Days are T-shirt weather, but dawns and evenings run in the 50s and can dip lower in the desert outside the city. Bring a light jacket or fleece for evenings, patios and early hikes, long pants for trail mornings, and shorts for the afternoon. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat still matter, because the sun is strong even when the air is mild. Pack a swimsuit if your hotel heats its pool; many do through the winter, but check before you count on it. And bring sturdy shoes with grip if you’ll hike, since the trails are at their busiest and most inviting this month.
Are day trips a good idea in November?
Mostly yes, with one big exception. Sedona’s normal November high is 66.9°F, so it’s comfortable for hiking all day, and Tucson’s desert parks are pleasant too. The Grand Canyon’s South Rim is open year-round, but its mornings are cold, so pack a warm layer. The North Rim is a different story: in 2026 its campground closed for the season on October 15, its gas station closed in September, and there’s no lodging there after the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire, so plan only for the South Rim this month. For how November stacks up against December and the spring months, see our month-by-month guide to Phoenix weather.
What to skip in November
- A museum day on Thanksgiving. The Heard, the Phoenix Art Museum, the Musical Instrument Museum and Taliesin West are all closed on November 26. Hike or visit the zoo instead.
- The Desert Botanical Garden after 4 p.m. on Luminaria nights. From November 27 the garden closes early on event dates, and the evening needs its own ticket.
- Camelback after sunrise on weekends. The Echo Canyon lot is full all day on weekends from now through spring.
- Late-afternoon hikes without a headlamp. Sunset comes around 5:30 p.m., and the desert gets dark quickly.
- Leaving Thanksgiving week to the last minute. Flights, rental cars and holiday meals sell out.
- Expecting hockey. Some generic guides still promise an NHL season in Phoenix; Arizona hasn’t had an NHL team since 2024. Catch the Suns, the Cardinals or ASU instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is November a good time to visit Phoenix?
Yes, it’s one of the best. Normal highs are about 76.5°F and lows about 54°F, rain is rare, and the trails, golf courses and patios are all back in full swing after summer. Prices are rising but still below the February-March peak, especially in the first half of the month. Thanksgiving week is the busiest and priciest stretch.
How hot is Phoenix in November?
Warm but comfortable. Sky Harbor’s normal November high is 76.5°F and the normal low is 53.7°F (1991-2020 normals). The first week can still reach the 80s, while highs near Thanksgiving are often in the upper 60s or low 70s. A normal November has no 100-degree days, and only about one or two days reach 90°F.
Does it rain in Phoenix in November?
Very little. Phoenix averages about 0.57 inches of rain in November, with only about one day bringing a tenth of an inch or more. The monsoon ended on September 30, and winter storms usually don’t arrive in force until December, so most November days are sunny and dry.
What is open in Phoenix on Thanksgiving?
City trails and mountain parks are open, and the Phoenix Zoo stays open, since it closes only on Christmas Day. The Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, the Musical Instrument Museum, Taliesin West and the S’edav Va’aki Museum close on Thanksgiving. ZooLights begins the night before, on November 25, 2026, and the Desert Botanical Garden’s Luminarias start on November 27.
Is November good for hiking in Phoenix?
It’s one of the best months. Highs in the 70s mean you can hike at any hour, and the city’s heat restrictions on its busiest summit trails don’t come into play. Start early anyway on weekends, because Camelback’s Echo Canyon lot fills fast, and plan to finish well before the roughly 5:30 p.m. sunset. Carry water and a layer for cool mornings.
What events are in Phoenix in November 2026?
Highlights include the free Canal Convergence light-art festival at the Scottsdale Waterfront from November 6 to 15, Cardinals home games on November 15 and 29, ASU home games on November 7 and 21, the Phoenix Art Museum’s free Family Funday Sunday on November 15, ZooLights from November 25 and the Desert Botanical Garden’s Luminarias from November 27.
Can you swim in Phoenix in November?
In heated pools, yes; many hotels and resorts heat theirs through the winter, so ask before you book. Outdoor water in the lakes and river is cold by late November, and the Salt River’s tubing season ended in September. With highs in the mid-70s, an afternoon by a heated pool is still one of November’s pleasures.
Related Phoenix Guides
- Phoenix’s month-by-month weather and travel guide: how November compares with the rest of the year.
- Snowbirds in Arizona: where winter visitors stay and what a season in the Valley costs.
- Phoenix Travel Guide: heat, wildlife, packing, taxes and local rules.
- Phoenix Itineraries: day-by-day plans for two to seven days.
Sources and verification
This guide is built from research, not hosted visits. Weather normals, prices, hours and event dates were checked on October 1, 2026 (some on September 23-24) against the agencies, venues and organizers listed below.
- Weather: National Weather Service Phoenix, NOAA 1991-2020 normals for Sky Harbor
- City of Phoenix: trail heat safety, South Mountain Park and Preserve, Papago Park trails, S’edav Va’aki Museum
- City of Scottsdale: lodging statistics report; Experience Scottsdale: Canal Convergence
- Attractions: Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo, Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Musical Instrument Museum, Taliesin West, Cosanti
- Tours and golf: Hot Air Expeditions, Rainbow Ryders, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, City of Phoenix golf rate sheets
- Sports: Arizona Cardinals schedule, Sun Devil Athletics; National Park Service: Grand Canyon
Photo Credits
- Papago Park butte, November 2021: photo by The Eloquent Peasant, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Piestewa Peak: photo by Ted Eytan, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Scottsdale Waterfront: photo by User:Joseph Plotz, Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
- Encanto Golf Course: photo by Chris English, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Las Noches de las Luminarias: photo by Dru Bloomfield from Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Sunset over Papago Park (featured image): photo by John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)