Unexpected places can be destinations for vacationers.
A new survey from Hostinger, an AI-powered business platform, highlighted some of those unlikely vacation spots in a ranking of 85 U.S. travel destinations that have the greatest unrealized tourism potential. The survey was based on responses from 3,000 U.S. travelers.
Most of the destinations on the list are in the South and/or feature water-based recreation, according to Hostinger. Lake Placid, Florida, a small town between Sarasota and Fort Pierce famous for its freshwater lakes, outdoor murals and plants with heart-shaped leaves called caladiums, came in at No. 1 on the ranking.
Three Arizona towns appeared on the list, led by the historic mining town of Clifton at No. 45.
These places are
not overlooked or underrated because of their character, but because of their visibility, according to Hostinger spokesperson Gabrielė Račaitytė-Krasauskė.
"The towns in our research already have what travelers want," she said. "It just isn't easy to find online."
Here's what Arizona towns were included in the ranking.
No. 45: Clifton
Clifton is a historic mining town south of the Apache National Forest. The present-day town was visited in 1540 by the Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado in his search of gold and the mythical Seven Cities of Cibola, but his search came up empty, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Coronado's expedition is commemorated with the 120-mile Coronado Trail National Scenic Byway, which runs along U.S. Route 191 from Clifton to Springerville and follows the expedition's approximate route. People who traverse the byway will experience twisting roadways and landscapes that range from high deserts to alpine forests, with a chance of seeing wildlife like elk and hummingbirds. (ADOT said the route was once called Route 666 and nicknamed "the Devil's Highway.")
Prospectors in search of gold did find copper, which helped build Clifton into what it was starting in the mid-19th century. Many of the relics of its mining past are preserved in the Chase Creek district, which today houses shops and museums.
Visit Arizona stated that Clifton is worth a stop for the "bubblegum pink" Greenlee Historical Museum, the Territorial-style architecture of Union Hall and browsing the town's antique shops. It also recommends visiting when the Colors of Copper art festival takes place.
The 2026 festival ran from Feb. 27 to March 1, though it was held in November in past years.
No. 51: Safford
About 43 miles southwest of Clifton is Safford, a rural city near the Gila River and Mount Graham with abundant outdoor adventures, hot springs and salsas.
Stargazers can marvel at the sky at Mount Graham Observatory, located on a remote site in the Pinaleño Mountains. Observatory tours involve a 40-mile drive to the observatory near the summit of Mount Graham, including a discussion on the mountain's history and ecology as well as the astronomy activities.
Safford also includes the 23,000-acre Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area, a diverse ecosystem with four perennial waterways and opportunities for hiking, backcountry experiences, paddling and wildlife viewing. Gila Box also has spots for tubing. And people can swim in mineral springs at Roper Lake State Park, located at the base of Mount Graham.
Safford is known for its Mexican restaurants and salsas, so much that people who stop by the city's visitor center can find out how to follow a route connecting several restaurants and a tortilla factory in southeast Arizona, billed as the Salsa Trail.
There's also SalsaFest, scheduled for Sept. 25-26 at Safford City Hall; the event includes salsa tastings, salsa competitions and live music.
No. 67: Ajo
Like Bisbee, four hours to its east, Ajo is a former copper mining community that evolved into a vibrant arts hub. Ajo, whose name is also the Spanish word for garlic, bears influence from its proximity to Mexico and the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Ajo's open-pit mine, the New Cornelia Mine, can be viewed from a lookout point in the area. The palm-lined plaza, anchored by a train depot, is distinctive for the colorful historic buildings with an architecture that Visit Arizona said is reminiscent of Spain. Its status as a creative hub is evident in the abundant galleries and murals.
Ajo is a stop for travelers on the way to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, an International Biosphere Reserve that protects a part of the Sonoran Desert wilderness, including the namesake organ pipe cactus. It's also the gateway to "Arizona's beach" Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point, via Mexico's Federal Highway 8.
Is it worth it to visit these destinations?
Clifton, Safford and Ajo are not the first places most travelers would think of when planning Arizona vacations.
But Hostinger's survey that called attention to them fits with an emerging trend of U.S. vacationers seeking more obscure, off-the-map locations to see new places and find more authentic experiences when traveling. Hostinger even mentioned authenticity as a reason to visit Clifton.
A 2026 report from Airbnb, the travel website that sells short-term rental bookings, showed 86% of travelers — including 94% of Gen Z travelers — are interested in vacationing to lesser-known or rural destinations. About 64% of guests visit from within 300 miles of the destination, indicating travelers' interest in finding vacation spots closer to their homes.
The report singled out Snowflake, a small town near the White Mountains and the Mogollon Rim, as one of the places benefiting from this growing interest. The White Mountains and the Mogollon Rim have sparked interest for reasons that include cooler weather escapes from metro Phoenix during the summer and seeing the leaves on trees change color during the fall.
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 3 Arizona travel destination named among most overlooked in US
