Neighborhood 48H guide
Old Town Scottsdale: Where to Stay & What to Do in 48 Hours
Western Spirit museum, SMoCA and the Rusty Spur Saloon.
Old Town is Scottsdale’s walkable center: Western-themed blocks, galleries, museums and a dense strip of bars and restaurants.
Photo gallery
Photo: Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: PamMcP · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Why stay here
Walk to museums, galleries, bars and restaurants, with Camelback 10 minutes away.
Who it's for: First-timers, groups and nightlife lovers.
Pros
- Walkable
- Museums and galleries
- Busy nightlife
Cons
- Loud on weekend nights
- Bachelor-party crowds
- Car needed for hikes
48H in Old Town
Museum of the West, contemporary art, a saloon.
10:00 – Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Western art and artifacts, a short walk from the hotels.
13:00 – Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
SMoCA, in the Civic Center; closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
20:00 – Rusty Spur Saloon
Live country music in an old bank building.
Named recommendations
Real places with links to their official site or a Maps place page. We do not invent hours, prices, or ratings.
Drink
Drink
Rusty Spur Saloon
7245 E Main St
Old Town’s country bar, open seven days with live music.
Official site / map →
See / do
See / do
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
3830 N Marshall Way
Art and artifacts of the American West.
Photo: PamMcP · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Official site / map →See / do
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
7374 E 2nd St
Contemporary art, architecture and design in a converted cinema.
Official site / map →
Where to stay
Specific named properties—not vague city-wide searches. Expedia stays use tracked Creator links; others open the hotel's official site.
Roam48 may earn a commission when you book a stay through Expedia or Vrbo links on this page, at no extra cost to you. All commercial stay links use rel="sponsored nofollow".
Hotel · Expedia
Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town
7142 E 1st St, Scottsdale
Rooftop pool with Camelback views, steps from Western Spirit.
Check rates on Expedia →
Vacation rentals
Prefer an apartment or whole home in this neighborhood? Browse Vrbo listings for Old Town Scottsdale.
Arizona cities, including Scottsdale and Phoenix, require short-term rentals to hold a local permit or license. Look for the license number on the listing before you book.
Browse vacation rentals in Old Town Scottsdale on Vrbo →Other ways to spend 48 hours in Scottsdale/Phoenix
- Paradise Valley — Camelback resorts, Elements at Sanctuary and Cosanti’s bronze bells.
- Arcadia & Camelback East — Echo Canyon up Camelback, Papago’s Hole-in-the-Rock and the Desert Botanical Garden.
- Biltmore — The Arizona Biltmore, Wrigley Mansion and the Piestewa Peak summit.
- Downtown Phoenix — Pizzeria Bianco, a Diamondbacks game and the Arizona Science Center.
- Roosevelt Row & Midtown — Murals, First Friday, the Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard.
- Tempe — Tempe Town Lake, A Mountain and Mill Avenue by ASU.
- Kierland & North Scottsdale — Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Quarter and Taliesin West.
- Troon North & Pinnacle Peak — Pinnacle Peak, Tom’s Thumb and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
- Carefree & Cave Creek — The Carefree Sundial, Harold’s Corral and Cave Creek Regional Park.