North America > United States > Prescott (PRC)
The Car or no Car advice for Prescott can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Prescott ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Prescott ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Prescott?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
✈️ Flights to Prescott: Technically Yes, Practically Limited
Prescott Regional Airport does have scheduled flights, but they are selective rather than comprehensive.
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Flights tend to make sense from larger, more distant hubs rather than nearby ones
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Short hops from Phoenix don’t really stack up, given it’s only a couple of hours’ drive
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Prescott therefore doesn’t function like a true regional hub airport
In practice, many travellers find it simpler to fly into Phoenix, where there’s a far wider choice of flights, schedules, and car rental options, then drive north.
🚗 Why Driving Still Dominates
Whether you arrive via Prescott’s airport or Phoenix, a car is effectively essential.
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Public transport in the region is sparse and unreliable
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Distances between towns and attractions are significant
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Ride-hailing is limited outside very small areas
Once you step beyond downtown Prescott, the landscape assumes you’re driving.
🚞 The Verde Canyon Railway: The Real Highlight
One of the standout attractions in this part of Arizona is the Verde Canyon Railway — a spectacular scenic journey through red rock canyons, rivers, and desert landscapes.
However, there’s an important practical detail:
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The railway does not start in Prescott
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You must travel to Clarkdale to board
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There is no dependable public transport connection
This alone strongly tilts the balance toward renting a car.
🏜️ A Natural Road Trip Region
Most visitors don’t stop at one attraction.
A typical itinerary might include:
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Prescott’s historic centre
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The Verde Canyon Railway from Clarkdale
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Sedona and its red rock scenery
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Possibly continuing on to the Grand Canyon
This is classic American road-trip territory, and a car isn’t just convenient — it’s part of the experience 🚙🌄
🏙️ What You Can Do Without a Car
To be fair, there is a small exception.
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Downtown Prescott itself is walkable
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Historic streets and cafés cluster tightly
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You could manage a short stay without driving
But this is a very limited version of the region.
Conclusion: should you rent a car for Prescott?
Yes — almost certainly.
Even though Prescott has some scheduled flights, the geography, transport realities, and headline attractions all point in the same direction. Most visitors will either:
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fly into Phoenix, rent a car, and drive north, or
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arrive at PRC and still rent a car immediately
Either way, the Verde Canyon Railway, Sedona, and the wider Arizona landscape are best enjoyed with a set of keys in hand.
💡 Rule of thumb:
Prescott is about scenery and movement — and in this part of Arizona, that still means driving. 🚗🌵
