Arcosanti Is Unlike Anything Else in Arizona

Arcosanti sits on a mesa about an hour north of Phoenix, and it looks like nothing you have seen before. Founded in 1970 as a working experiment in sustainable urban design, it is part architectural laboratory, part functioning community, part open-air art installation. A morning visit gives you enough time to take the tour, browse handmade bronze windbells in the gallery, and leave with a lot to think about.

What Arcosanti Actually Is

The word arcology combines architecture and ecology, and that idea drives everything here. Paolo Soleri, the Italian-born architect who founded the project, believed cities should work with the natural world rather than against it. The buildings at Arcosanti were designed to minimize sprawl, reduce energy use, and house a self-sustaining community on a fraction of the land a conventional town would require. The project is still unfinished and intentionally so. Walking through it, you are watching an idea in progress, not visiting a completed monument.

What You Will See on a Guided Tour

Day visitors must join a guided tour to access the grounds and architecture. Tours run Thursday through Sunday at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m. Resident guides lead you through the concrete vaults, apses, and terraced spaces that define the site, explaining the philosophy behind each structure and the people who built and live here now. The 9:30 tour is the best choice in warmer months. Much of the walking is on uneven terrain and exposed surfaces, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The site is not fully accessible for those who cannot manage unpaved paths or varied elevation changes.

The Bronze Foundry and Ceramics Apse

One of the most memorable parts of a visit is watching artisans at work in the bronze foundry and ceramics apse. These are not demonstrations staged for tourists. The Cosanti Originals windbells produced here have been made on this site since nearly the beginning, and each one is hand-carved before casting, which means no two are identical. You can hear them before you see them. The gallery and gift shop in the Visitor Center carry a full selection, and a purchase directly supports the Cosanti Foundation’s ongoing work.

Planning Considerations

Arcosanti is open Thursday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The café is currently closed, so bring your own food and water, especially in warm weather. The Visitor Center, gallery, gift shop, and restrooms are available to anyone, even those who skip the guided tour. Tours and overnight guest rooms fill up, so reservations are recommended. The site is closed on several holidays including Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Check arcosanti.org before you go. There is no shade along much of the tour route, so early morning visits are strongly preferable from April through October.

The Drive Up

From Phoenix, take I-17 north to the Cordes Junction exit, then follow signs. The drive takes about an hour. The final stretch of road to the site is unpaved for a short distance, but it is manageable in a standard vehicle. Parking is on-site and free. There is no drop-off area with covered shelter, so plan accordingly on very hot days.

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