Last Updated: May 2, 2026
Fort McDowell is an unincorporated community about half an hour northeast of Phoenix on the Yavapai Nation — a place most travelers bypass entirely on their way between Scottsdale and the high country. We came from New River, about an hour’s drive south, and used Fort McDowell as a base for day trips to Fountain Hills, Mesa, and the scenic mountain drive to Payson. It turned out to be one of our more enjoyable Phoenix-area stops — relaxed, well-located, and full of good food. From here we continued on to Cave Creek.
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