941
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
{{IsIn|United States of America}}
'''Arizona''' is a geologically diverse state of mountains, canyons, river valleys and mesas. As most interstate [[highway]]s span desert regions, road travellers sometimes wrongly assume the whole state is one vast, arid wasteland. Overall, Arizona has a ton of wide open land, amazing vistas and fairly friendly people. To see the best of Arizona, though, you will need to travel the smaller, scenic highways.
About 50% of the state is covered with Indian reservation and the other 50% covered in senior citizens.
== Law ==
It is legal to hitchhike in Arizona while off the travelled portion of a roadway. Stay on the berm of the highway, and you should be fine.
28-796. Pedestrian on roadways
C. A person shall not stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride from the driver of a vehicle.
22. "Roadway" means that portion of a highway that is improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.
In city areas (Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe) and some regions patrolled by the Sheriffs office (most small towns) you may be hassled. Always have identification at the ready and be respectful if you expect to keep moving.
=== Federal Districts ===
'''Note''':All land regulated by the National Park service prohibits hitchhiking under the Code of Federal Regulations
Title 36 section 4.31: Hitchhiking or soliciting transportation is prohibited
''except in designated areas and under conditions established by the superintendent.''
*Grand Canyon National Park
4.31 has not been amended here, so hitchhiking is prohibited.
Arizona has not made public the compendiums for any other NP administrative land, so we might assume it is prohibited on all of them.
== Cities ==
== Major Highways ==
'''Interstate Highway 10 (I-10)''' through Arizona begins at the Colorado River bordering [[California]] and passes through [[Phoenix (Arizona)|Phoenix]], the state's largest city, before veering south into [[Tucson]] and then eastward to the New Mexico border. When hitchhiking this route between April through October, be prepared with sun cover (hat and long-sleeved, lightweight cotton clothes) and plenty of water. The temperatures can potentially reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during any day of these months. In late July through August, temperatures can soar over 120 degrees in some regions.
'''Interstate Highway 40 (I-40)''' begins at the Colorado River west of [[Kingman]] and climbs to 7000 feet elevation to the mountain towns of [[Williams]] and [[Flagstaff]]. I-40 then descends through [[Winslow]] and [[Holbrook]] before entering Navajo Nation en route to the New Mexico border. Sites and detours along the way include Grand Canyon National Park (exit 165 to Route 64 North), downtown Flagstaff for friendly locals and kindred travellers (exit 195 and head north along Milton Rd to Route 66) and Petrified Forest National Park (Exit 311, be prepared to hike in). Meteor Crater in Winslow is not worth the visit. It is privately owned and you must pay $15 to see the crater, as it is surrounded by a fence set back from the rim. Keep in mind that it is illegal to hitchhike within national parks, so thumb a ride before the toll booths.
== Lesser and Scenic Highways ==
[[File:Winding_up_the_Arizona_Mountains.jpg|right|300px]]
To see the best of Arizona, get off the main highways! Routes include:
'''State Route 260''' connects with 87 at Payson, heading east into pine tree-filled mountains, hills and valleys, with small towns like Heber and Show Low along the route. Winter skiing is further east at Pinetop resort near Springerville.
'''State Route 80''', heading south from Benson goes through the historic town of Tombstone, where gunslingers with blanks entertain tourists along the main drag. Worth the stop for a free visit to Boot Hill cemetary cemetery and a swig at the saloon. South from Tombstone is Bisbee, along Route 90. Once a mining town, Bisbee now has a thriving artists community and growing music scene. Check out the Blues festival in September and a very happening celebration at New Year's.
== Culture Shift ==
Over the last 10 years there has been a huge influx of new residents from big California cities to the small (and once super-affordable) towns of Arizona. As a result you will find many of these new residents to be more suspicious and less friendly than the true Arizona local. You may wait a little longer for a ride in the state than some neighboring regions like [[Utah]], [[Colorado]] and [[New Mexico]], but hang in there-- keep your thumb up and a smile on your face and the ride will come!
== Legal Issues Experiences ==Note that Arizona has somewhat vague laws related to hitchhiking. There is no state-wide ban on hitchhiking, but some law enforcement may interpret the law differently. In city areas (Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe) and some regions patrolled by the Sheriffs office (most small towns) you may be hassled. Always have identification at the ready and be respectful if you expect to keep moving. Check [http://www.digihitch.com/usa320.html State Laws on Hitchhiking in Arizona at digihitch.com] for more information on this. See also [[:digi:world/USA/Arizona|digihitch World Arizona]] for hitchhiking/ backpacking info and a list of Arizona truckstops on the map.
''Arizonans are used to seeing transients and are entirely unamused by you. Businesses are intolerant of hitchhiker activities, such as asking for a marker to make a sign, or asking for rides at gas stations. Many libraries charge a fee to use the computer. A subway restaurant in [[Phoenix]] would not let me use more than 2 napkins with my meal!! I assure you the locals are absolutely the stingiest and most unfriendly in the entire country. Catching rides is not prohibitively difficult here (although I was trapped at a truck stop for 3 days once) and there are many beautiful places in the backcountry to explore; it is a bummer the people are so spiteful. I cannot recommend going out of your way to visit '''Arizona'''.'' [[User:Thewindandrain|Thewindandrain]] ([[User talk:Thewindandrain|talk]]) 23:22, 1 June 2013 (CEST)
{{Template:States USA}}
[[wikipedia:Arizona]]
[[trash:Arizona]]
[[Category:Arizona]]
[[Category:United States]]
