Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater is a cinder cone located north of Flagstaff in the U.S. state of Arizona, the youngest in a string of volcanoes (the San Francisco volcanic field) close to the nearby San Francisco Peaks. This one stands 4 mi north of Timberline-Fernwood. Last counted in 2025, visitors numbered 108K.
A national monument, 4 mi north of Timberline-Fernwood
Visits rose 48% in 2025
The National Park Service counted 108,348 visitors in 2025, up from 73,260 the year before. Visitors ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 17°, with about 49" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Fort Valley is the nearest base
Fort Valley is 12 miles west, with 7 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best month: Sep
September is mild and quieter than average, with a high of 76°. When to go ↓
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Visits and weather by month
The months below show crowds and weather at Sunset Crater Volcano.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater is a cinder cone located north of Flagstaff in the U.S. state of Arizona, the youngest in a string of volcanoes (the San Francisco volcanic field) close to the nearby San Francisco Peaks. The crater is within the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.
- Type
- National Monument
- Elevation
- 8,042 ft
- Wikipedia readers
- 18K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/sucr
Plan your visit
- Private Vehicle$25
- Motorcycle$20
- Per Person$15
- Non-commercial Groups$15
Where to stay near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Hotels, motels or campgrounds are closest in Flagstaff (100) and Timberline-Fernwood (4).
Flagstaff
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
77,260 people
13 mi south of Sunset Crater Volcano Visitor Center · 13 mi to the park
Timberline-Fernwood
1,973 people
4 mi south of Sunset Crater Volcano Visitor Center · 3 mi to the park
Fort Valley
1,761 people · 23% vacation homes
12 mi west of Sunset Crater Volcano Visitor Center · 11 mi to the park
Doney Park
6,253 people
7 mi south of Sunset Crater Volcano Visitor Center · 6 mi to the park
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | 13 mi south | 20 min | 100 64 hotels · 18 motels · 6 inns & B&Bs · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel · 4 campgrounds · 5 RV parks | 77,260 | $553K | C− |
| Timberline-Fernwood | 4 mi south | 5 min | 4 1 lodge or cabins · 3 campgrounds | 1,973 | $621K | — |
| Fort Valley 23% vacation homes | 12 mi west | 15 min | 7 4 hotels · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 1,761 | $905K | — |
| Doney Park | 7 mi south | 10 min | 3 1 lodge or cabins · 2 RV parks | 6,253 | $613K | — |
| Bellemont | 18 mi southwest | 25 min | 5 2 hotels · 2 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 1,701 | $534K | — |
| Kachina Village | 21 mi southwest | 30 min | 4 1 hotel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 3,212 | $414K | — |
| Oak Creek Canyon 54% vacation homes | 31 mi south | 45 min | 12 1 inn or B&B · 8 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 356 | $411K | — |
| Munds Park 85% vacation homes | 30 mi south | 45 min | 8 2 hotels · 1 motel · 4 lodges & cabins · 1 RV park | 608 | $780K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Close to Sunset Crater Volcano
These lie within 60 miles as the crow flies.
110 mi MountainHumphreys Peak
Big draw59 mi National ParkGrand Canyon National Park4.4M visitors a year
214 mi MountainRoden Crater
311 mi Ski areaArizona Snowbowl53 runs · 2,368 ft vertical
51 mi City parkStandin' on the Corner Park
55 mi National MonumentMontezuma Castle National Monument320K visitors a year
415 mi National MonumentWupatki National Monument130K visitors a year
514 mi National MonumentWalnut Canyon National Monument153K visitors a yearPhoto credits
Humphreys Peak: Bob Blasi; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Grand Canyon National Park: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, CC BY 3.0 · Roden Crater: Unknown, Public domain · Arizona Snowbowl: Frederick Dennstedt from los angeles, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Standin' on the Corner Park: Tpaairman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Montezuma Castle National Monument: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wupatki National Monument: SeanMD80 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Walnut Canyon National Monument: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Visitor numbers: 108,348 in 2025
The record starts in 2016 and runs to 2025.
Before visiting Sunset Crater Volcano
What town is Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument near?
Timberline-Fernwood, AZ, about 4 miles south.
When is the best time to visit Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument?
September, with a high of 76°. March is the busiest month (about 10,804 visitors).
How many people visit Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument each year?
108,348 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 125,653, set in 2021.
What is the closest airport to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument?
Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG), about 17 miles away. The nearest big hub is Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), about 136 miles.
Where should I stay near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument?
Flagstaff (13 mi, 100 places to stay), Timberline-Fernwood (4 mi, 4 places to stay) and Fort Valley (12 mi, 7 places to stay).
Word from Timberline-Fernwood
Be the first to share a tip in Timberline-Fernwood’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.