Field Itinerary · CLE ⇄ PHX · Sept 8–18 2026 · 2 travelers

Phoenix to the
Gila Hot Springs Loop

A mellow, soak-heavy circle through the Sonoran desert, the Safford mineral wells, and the canyons of southwest New Mexico — six hot springs, one night in the river, no long hikes.

10nights
6soaks
~1,400miles
~8rental days
$2,075all-in · 2 ppl
01

The Route

AZ · NM · drag to explore
stop / overnight hot spring soak Schematic line — actual roads wind more (esp. NM-15).
02

Day by Day

11 days · 10 nights
03

Cost Calculator

edit anything · live total

Fuel — the one you'll tweak most

$
≈ 43 gallons burnedFuel cost $152

Corolla ≈ 35 mpg loaded with A/C in the desert. Gas is ~$4.25 in AZ/NM right now (up ~29% YoY) — nudge it higher if prices climb by September.

Lodging, car, food & fees

Gila 9/14
ItemNights/DaysRateSub
Drury (PHX, ×2)
Essence (×4)
Faywood (×2)
Murray (×1)
Tent — Gila campground
Corolla rental
Food / day (2 ppl)
Flights (2 ppl, CLE⇄PHX)—
Park & soak fees—
Camp gear (tent night)—
Misc / incidentals—
Trip total$0
All-in for 2 — flights, fuel & fees included
04

Directory

tap to call · open · map

Stay & Camp

Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport 9/8 · 9/17
(602) 437-8400 · druryhotels.com · map
3333 E University Dr. 24h desk & airport shuttle, pool, free breakfast + kickback.
Essence of Tranquility 9/9–10 · 9/15–16
(928) 428-9312 · azhotmineralspring.com · map
Your Southwest soak home — an under-the-radar treasure. Six private mineral tubs, quirky art, shabby-but-lovely cabins, and resident desert cats (say hi to George & Blue Cheese). Tue–Sat 8a–9p, closed Sun/Mon.
Faywood Hot Springs 9/12–13
(575) 342-8181 · faywoodhotsprings.com · map
Reservation required — NO walk-ins. Gate code at check-in. Bring drinking water (standing advisory). 11a–8p.
Murray Hotel 9/14
(575) 956-9400 · themurrayhotel.com · map
200 W Broadway, Silver City. 24h desk, free breakfast, street parking.
Gila Hot Springs Campground 9/14
gilahotspringscampground.com · map
$12/person, riverside, pools included. Cash/check only; reserve by email. Your tent option for 9/14.
Copper Manor Motel — Silver City 9/14 option
(575) 538-5392 · map
The Silver City option for 9/14: skip the tent, take a remodeled room (~$70–90, fridge + breakfast) and day-trip up to the Cliff Dwellings. Also a budget swap for the Murray.
Becky's — Gila Hot Springs Ranch bailout
gilahotspringsranch.com · map
The close bail if you can't camp — furnished casitas right at Gila Hot Springs, ~$120–140. Call to book.

Soak & See

Hot Well Dunes (BLM) 9/11
(928) 348-4400 · blm.gov · map
$3 day pass, open 24h. Bring cash for the self-pay box.
Gila Cliff Dwellings NM 9/15
(575) 536-9461 · nps.gov/gicl · map
Trail closes 4pm (last entry ~3pm). Confirm hours before you go.
Catwalk / Whitewater (Gila NF) 9/14
(575) 539-2481 · fs.usda.gov · map
$5 parking, 7a–7p. Mogollon ghost-town spur nearby.
Rockhound State Park 9/13
(575) 546-6182 · emnrd.nm.gov · map
6a–9p, day-use fee. Keep what you dig.
City of Rocks State Park 9/12
(575) 536-2800 · emnrd.nm.gov · map
Boulder maze next door to Faywood. Day-use fee.
Apache Trail / Tonto NF 9/9
(602) 225-5395 · fs.usda.gov/tonto · map
Paved out-and-back to Tortilla Flat in the Corolla; check Tonto NF fire restrictions before you drive.

Logistics

  • PHX Rental Car Center 9/9 · 9/17
    skyharbor.com · (602) 273-3300
    Free 24/7 Sky Train from terminals. Counters 6a–midnight.
  • Los Jilbertos — Miami 9/9
    (928) 473-4074 · map
    🌯 The takeout burrito on the way to Safford — order the Madrazo burro (steak, shrimp, cream); road-trippers call it the best they've ever had. Drive-thru, 4.7★.
  • El Ranchito — Globe 9/9
    (928) 402-1348 · map
    Sit-down alternative in Globe if you'd rather not eat in the car. 4.6★, closed Mondays.
  • Walmart Supercenter — Claypool/Globe 9/9
    (928) 425-7171 · map
    100 S Ragus Rd, on US-60. Day-1 resupply + gas before the run to Safford. 6a–11p.
  • Walmart Supercenter — Silver City 9/15
    map
    3025 US-180 E. Last big resupply, ATM & gas before the Gila.
05

Soaks & Checklist

why you came

Hot springs, in order

  • Essence private tubsSafford ×3
  • Hot Well Dunes106°F
  • Faywood mineral poolsdark-sky
  • Lightfeather (wild)~130°F src
  • Gila Hot Springs river poolsadjustable
  • Drury poolbookends

Don't leave without

  • Air mattress + battery pump — grab at the Silver City Walmart on 9/14, before the Gila camp
  • Insulate on top of the air mattress — Rim nights near freezing
  • Cash — Gila campground is cash/check, ATM is 1+ hr away
  • Water for the dry camp + desert legs
  • Suits + quick-dry towels within reach
  • Offline maps — no cell in the Gila or on the Rim
  • Check Tonto NF fire restrictions before a campfire
  • Lightfeather: keep your head above water (amoeba)
  • Return the Corolla full; add 2nd driver at the counter
06

Nearby Extras

optional detours

Apache Trail highlights · Day 2

  • Goldfield Ghost Town
    Restored 1890s mining town at the start — gunfights, mine tour, saloon. Easy paved stop.
  • Lost Dutchman State Park
    Base of the Superstitions; short easy trails and the classic mountain view. $10/vehicle.
  • Canyon Lake
    First reservoir — steep canyon walls, marina, the Dolly steamboat. Swimming & paddling.
  • Tortilla Flat
    Pop. 6 stage stop — saloon with saddle barstools, prickly-pear ice cream. Last pavement (MP213); good lunch.
  • Fish Creek Vista beyond pavement
    The dramatic cliff descent — but ~9 mi into the primitive dirt past Tortilla Flat, so not a Corolla stop. You turn around at Tortilla Flat.
  • Apache Lake
    Quiet reservoir past Fish Creek — only via the full primitive road, so not on the Corolla plan.
  • Tonto National Monument
    Salado cliff dwelling near Roosevelt — reachable on pavement via US-60 then SR-188 from Globe, if you want the detour.

Water & Soaks

Roper Lake State Park Safford · 9/10, 9/16
Heads up — the hot-spring tub looks permanently closed now (call 928-428-6760 to confirm). Still a lovely paved stop for the 30-acre lake (kayak / electric-motor only), swimming beach & Mount Graham views.
Kachina Mineral Springs Safford
If you want a guaranteed tub: old-school private mineral soaking rooms, ~106°F source, by appointment (4.8★). The reliable Safford soak beyond Essence + Hot Well Dunes.
Gila Box Riparian NCA Safford
BLM river canyon — Gila River paddling, a kayaker's bonus right near base.
Lake Roberts NM-35
Small mountain lake, easy paddling, on the alternate scenic loop to/from the Gila.

Ruins & Ghost Towns

Besh-Ba-Gowah Globe · 9/9
700-year-old Salado pueblo ruin + museum right in Globe — climb ladders into reconstructed rooms; largest Salado pottery collection anywhere. Daily 9–4:30 (open Wed). A perfect warm-up for the Gila dwellings.
Tonto National Monument Roosevelt · 9/9
Salado cliff dwelling via US-60 + SR-188 from Globe — a short paved climb if you're running early.
WNMU Museum Silver City · 9/13
The largest Mimbres pottery collection anywhere, and free — pairs with the cliff-dwellings theme.
Pinos Altos above Silver City
Tiny gold-rush ghost town + the historic Buckhorn Saloon for dinner.

Dark Sky

City of Rocks "Orion" Observatory Faywood · 9/11–12
Dark-sky stargazing right beside your Faywood soak — check the park for public viewing nights.
07Reservations & contactstap when you’re ready to book

Two quirks before you start: your Drury and Essence stays fall on non-consecutive nights — book each as separate reservations.

Make these reservations

Faywood Hot Springs9/11 + 9/12
(575) 342-8181 · faywoodhotsprings.com
Book first — no walk-ins. Private casita, 2 nights, 2 people. Confirm the gate code + check-in window (you arrive after dinner), soak access, cancellation policy, and the bring-your-own drinking-water advisory.
Essence of Tranquility9/9–10 + 9/15–16
(928) 428-9312 · azhotmineralspring.com
Lodging for both blocks + a private tub — ask what they have (casita / teepee / RV-tent). Confirm an evening check-in for your 9/9 arrival. Closed Sun/Mon, but your nights all land Tue–Thu.
Murray Hotel — Silver City9/13
(575) 956-9400 · themurrayhotel.com
Room for 2 on 9/13. Confirm free parking + breakfast and a later arrival off the Catwalk/Mogollon spur.
Drury Inn — Phoenix Airport9/8 + 9/17
(602) 437-8400 · druryhotels.com
Both single nights, refundable rate. Critical: confirm the airport shuttle covers your ~10–11pm arrival on 9/8 and how to summon it. Free hot breakfast + 5:30 Kickback.
Gila Hot Springs Campground9/14 · tent
gilahotspringscampground.com · reserve by email
Tent site (riverside if available), 1 night. Confirm $12/person, cash or check only, pool access, and the gate/check-in. Only if you’re tenting.
↳ Silver City instead: Copper Manor (575) 538-5392 — room for 2 on 9/14.

Confirm the rental

Budget — PHX Sky Harborcall ~9/6
(602) 261-5950 · 1805 E Sky Harbor Circle South
Reserve the intermediate / Corolla class refundable online, then call 2–3 days out to confirm: a Corolla-class car on the lot, unlimited mileage, New Mexico travel OK round-trip, add your partner as a 2nd driver (ask the cost), return-full fuel policy, and the 8-day window (pickup 9/9 AM → return 9/17 AM).

Status calls — no booking

Gila Cliff Dwellings NM
(575) 536-9461
Confirm trail hours (closes 4pm) and any closures before 9/14.
Hot Well Dunes — BLM Safford
(928) 348-4400
Ask the graded-dirt access road condition before 9/10.
Kachina Mineral Springs — Safford
by appointment
Optional private soak; call ahead if you want a slot as an Essence-day backup.