Last Updated on January 4, 2024 by Arizona Explorer
Nestled high atop Cleopatra Hill between Prescott and Flagstaff is Jerome, Arizona, a former boomtown turned tourist destination with a fascinating history. Once dubbed “the wickedest town in the west,” Jerome has transformed into a thriving artist community and popular weekend getaway.
As you plan your upcoming visit to Jerome, this comprehensive travel guide will provide everything you need to know to make the most of your time in this historic Arizona town. We’ll cover Jerome’s key attractions, dining options, places to stay, things to do, and more so you can craft your ideal Jerome itinerary.
Getting To Jerome, Arizona
Part of what makes Jerome such a joy to visit is its dramatic hillside location. Before traveling to Jerome, it’s important to understand how to reach the town and navigate its steep roads.
Located about 100 miles north of Phoenix, Jerome lies approximately 20 miles southwest of Sedona and 35 miles southeast of Flagstaff. The drive to Jerome on AZ-89A scenic byway takes you past stunning red rock vistas as you ascend Cleopatra Hill.
Once you arrive, Jerome’s roads are notoriously steep and winding. RV travelers may need to park vehicles below town and walk or shuttle up. The main streets in Jerome’s commercial district are Clay Street and Main Street, both featuring shops, restaurants, and galleries.
Click here for directions to the city center of Jerome, Arizona
Top Attractions And Activities In Jerome
This former copper mining hub offers an array of can’t-miss attractions and activities for visitors. Among the top things to do in Jerome are exploring its ghosts towns, riding the mining train, shopping for antiques, taking in wineries, and more.
Jerome State Historic Park
To immerse yourself in Jerome’s mining history, Jerome State Historic Park provides guided tours of the Douglas Mansion and lets you explore the 1917 home of the Little Daisy Hotel. Walking the grounds here illuminates what Jerome was like during its mining heyday.
Click here for directions to the Jerome State Historic Park
Audrey Headframe Park
This park contains the central structure from Jerome’s United Verde Copper Mine operation, giving you a sense of the massive mining activity that built this company town. Views from the headframes let you gaze out over the Verde Valley.
Click here for directions To Audrey Headframe Park
Mine Train Ride
For a unique perspective of Jerome’s landscape and mining history, you can ride through part of the old copper mine on the Verde Canyon Railroad mine train experience. Knowledgeable guides enrich the trip with historical insights about the defunct mines.
Shopping And Galleries
With over 100 shops and galleries clustered along Jerome’s main drag, an afternoon wandering its boutiques, art galleries, tasting rooms, and advocacy stores lets you take home perfect mementos.
Wineries
The Jerome area claims several excellent wineries taking advantage of the favorable climate and high altitude. Wineries like Caduceus Cellars, owned by Maynard James Keenan of Tool, add to the region’s eclectic cultural mix.
Where To Eat And Drink In Jerome
Jerome delivers an impressive collection of restaurants and bars, many offering stellar views overlooking Verde Valley. Here are some top dining and drinking options to try during your Jerome visit.
The Haunted Hamburger
One of the most iconic is the story of the haunted hamburger at Haunted Hamburger located along Jerome’s main drag. As legend goes, the building that houses the popular burger joint dates back to 1898. During its long history, a fire broke out when it operated as a boarding house. The fire sadly claimed the lives of some boarders, including a lady named Claudine who had been cooking hamburgers at the time. To this day, many customers and staff members at Haunted Hamburger report strange occurrences like the aroma of phantom burgers wafting through the establishment or fleeting sightings of a ghostly woman wanding the premises. Whether or not you believe the tales of Claudine’s ghost, it certainly captures the spirited charm of this singular Arizona town and their burgers are amazing!
Learn More About The Haunted Hamburger
The Asylum Restaurant
Housed in a former hospital, the acclaimed Asylum Restaurant crafts creative dishes like their signature fried artichoke hearts. Meats cooked over open flames andestyle complete the distinctive menu at this popular spot.
Learn More About The Asylum Restaurant
Grapes Restaurant & Bar
For fine dining in Jerome, Grapes Restaurant & Bar sets the standard with dishes like crab cakes with red pepper aioli and bacon-wrapped filet mignon. Their wine list offers many excellent Arizona and regional releases.
Learn More About The Grapes Restaurant
Spirit Room Bar
Right on Jerome’s main drag, Spirit Room Bar offers weekday happy hour specials and live music on most weekends. It’s a classic watering hole packing lots of personality into a former gambling hall.
Learn more about The Spirit Room Bar
Where To Stay In Jerome, Arizona
Lodging options in tiny Jerome range from no-frills inns to full-service hotels to quaint bed and breakfast establishments. With rooms filling fast, advance reservations are essential for weekends and holidays.
The Jerome Grand Hotel
For refined, upscale accommodations, the Jerome Grand Hotel is unmatched in town. Guests praise extras like nightly wine tastings, full breakfasts, and scenic Verde Valley vistas.
Learn More & Book A Room At The Jerome Grand Hotel
The Connor Hotel
Rooms at the historic Connor Hotel place you right along Jerome’s lively main street. A stay here puts Jerome’s top restaurants, bars, galleries, and shops right at your doorstep.
Learn More & Book A Room At The Connor Hotel
Ghost City Inn
Built right on a slope overlooking Verde Valley, Ghost City Inn supplies affordable rates and commanding views. The inn’s homey accommodations connect you with Jerome’s unique spirit.
Learn More & Book A Room At The Ghost City Inn
More Cool Towns To Visit Near Jerome
If you’re looking for additional places to explore around the Jerome, Arizona area, several fantastic options exist close by. From artsy enclaves like Cottonwood to the red rocks of Sedona, surrounding communities give you even more ways to experience central Arizona’s beauty.
Charming Cottonwood
Just 10 minutes from Jerome at the base of Cleopatra Hill, Cottonwood delivers wine tasting rooms, boutique shops, cafes, and ample Verde River recreation. It makes a convenient home base for seeing area attractions.
Lovely Camp Verde
Situated along I-17 halfway between Phoenix and Flagstaff, Camp Verde offers access to Montezuma Castle National Monument’s well-preserved Sinagua cliff dwellings and Out of Africa Wildlife Park’s epic animal encounters.
Stunning Sedona
No trip to Arizona is complete without seeing the iconic red rock formations and vortexes of stunning Sedona. Located 30 minutes southwest from Jerome, guide-led Jeep tours and hiking amid the towering columns and buttes prove transformative.
Learn More About What To Do In Sedona!
Historic Prescott
Located about an hour drive northwest, Prescott served as early Arizona’s first state capital. Today, grabbing lunch and drinks in Prescott’s buzzing Whiskey Row historic district is a beloved pastime for Jerome visitors and locals alike.
Learn More About What To Do In Prescott!
So whether you dedicate several days to exploring Jerome itself or visit it as part of a broader northern Arizona road trip, a stop in this engaging artist enclave will create fantastic memories.
Want additional Arizona travel inspiration? Check our website for even more destination guides and itinerary ideas!
