I had no idea what to expect from Bisbee, Arizona. I thought we’d make a long day trip to Bisbee then head home. But I quickly realized there were lots of fun things to do in Bisbee, Arizona and I kind of fell in love with it and couldn’t leave for 2 more days.
Chris and I learned of Bisbee while we were in Phoenix midway into our first extended “van life” trip visiting friends for a few days. They were overwhelming us with suggestions for good day trips from Phoenix and Bisbee was a definite must, they said. I would now have to agree.
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Where is Bisbee, Arizona?
Bisbee is in southeastern Arizona in the Mule Mountains about an hour and a half from Tucson and a little over 3 hours from Phoenix. The Mexican border is only about 11 miles south. You might expect the town to be scorching hot being so far south, but at 5,500 feet in elevation, it’s refreshingly cool in comparison to nearby Tucson or Phoenix.
The History of Bisbee (in a nutshell)
Copper, silver, and other minerals were discovered at the site of Bisbee in 1877. Miners flocked looking to make a living. In the late 1800’s, Bisbee was little more than a camp, described as dirty with zero infrustructure.
As copper demand grew, miners and their families moved in for the long haul and Bisbee quickly upgraded and conditions improved. At its height in the early 1900’s, Bisbee was the largest town from St. Louis to San Francisco and the Copper Queen Mine was the biggest producer in Arizona. It was bustling with saloons and brothels and was one of the liveliest towns in the west.
Bisbee introduced open-pit mining to meet the copper needs for WW1. By 1975, the mines were depleted and closed down after delivering 8 billion pounds of copper, and plenty of gold, silver, lead, zinc, and manganese. After the mines shut, miners and their families left to find other work. A massive drop in population occurred and the real estate market plummeted.
Cheap housing drew an influx of creative hippies and artists into the area. They began the work of revitalizing the town and giving Bisbee a new direction. After the mine shut down, the mayor and volunteers reopened it for tours in 1976. Now, Bisbee is a small culturally rich town of just under 5,000 people. How the community pays homage to its mining history is one of the many ways it has become a successful tourist town today.
Things to do in Bisbee, Arizona
You don’t have to do all of these things I’ve listed, of course. Leave some time for just strolling down main street. What better way to experience the history of what made Bisbee than a visit to where it all began: the mine.
Copper Queen Mine Tour
I really feel like this is a must when visiting Bisbee. Yes you can experience the charm of the town without seeing the mine, but it’s just plain fun. Currently mine tours are by reservation only. We were able to get a next day booking but the day we arrived was fully booked. I recommend trying to plan ahead a bit. Keep in mind closed toed shoes with no heels are required. They will provide flashlights and hardhats. You don’t have to do a lot of walking, just climbing one flight of stairs. The cost per person is $16.
Book the Copper Queen Mine Tour Here
Old Bisbee Ghost Tour
We were able to snag a spot on the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour on the first night of our time in Bisbee. I would try to book ahead though, as I imagine during high season or on the weekends, it’s harder to book last minute. The Old Bisbee Ghost Tour is the only one of its kind and the only company offering such a thing. They have a handful of guides. We had Lee who dresses the part very well and made the tour a lot of fun.
They tell stories about Bisbee’s haunted past and numerous occurrences throughout the history of Bisbee. It’s a great way to learn about the town and see different areas. You get to visit a couple old historic hotels as well. They also offer a haunted pub crawl which will definitely be on my list next time!
Book the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour Here
Visit Lowell
Lowell used to be considered its own town but it was incorporated into Bisbee in the early 1900’s and now is considered a neighborhood of Bisbee. Much of it used to be where the open Lavender Pit mine is today so it had to be demolished to expand the mine in the 1950’s (you’ll see the pit when you drive to Lowell from Bisbee). Prior to the 1950’s, Lowell was quite a busy community with around 6,000 people in the 1920’s. After 1957 however, very few people were left living in Lowell. In 1959, all the local towns where people relocated were annexed to be part of Bisbee.
As you may have picked up on from some of my blog posts, I am forever enamored by places stuck in a time warp. Either I’ve lived multiple lives in different places and times or I’m just a major history nerd who wishes I could time travel more than anything.
Erie Street, Lowell
Lowell is a fairly normal residential part of the town of Bisbee a few minutes from the downtown, but it’s Erie Street that you can’t miss. It’s as if a small town street in the 1950’s was abandoned and frozen in time. I knew about this street and drove around the Lowell neighborhood looking for it until we almost gave up and left to go back to Bisbee. But then we saw something that looked like an old car and decided to turn around. There was Erie Street. It was all that survived of the Lowell downtown when the pit was expanded in the 1950’s.
You might as well park and walk up and down the street. There’s old cars, an old police car, a Greyhound bus, old gas stations, and a Harley Davidson shop…it’s really quite a fascinating outdoor museum of sorts! Lowell Americana Project is a committee of local people who are dedicated to the preservation and upkeep of Erie Street. They volunteer their time and resources to repair and maintain the store facades and old vehicles. For obvious reasons, Erie Street is one of the most photographed streets in the West.
The Lavender Pit
Driving to Lowell from Bisbee you will see the Lavender Pit. It’s so massive, you can’t miss it. That’s the only reason it’s on this list of Things to do in Bisbee. Because you can’t miss it. Get it? Hahaha.
But the Lavender Pit is such a big part of Bisbee’s history, and a reminder of what destructive mining practices were once used. The hole is 300 acres and 900 feet deep. Mining operations there came to an end in 1974.
Eat at the Bisbee Breakfast Club
Why do I think eating at the Bisbee Breakfast Club is important enough to put on the list? The breakfast burrito was just THAT good. Plus it’s the only operating business on Erie Street and a perfect spot to go when you walk the street. There can be a wait to get in, so get your name on the list and stroll around looking at the old cars and facades.
The Bisbee Breakfast Club opened in 2005 and is located inside the old Rexall Drug Company building. Since, other locations in Southern Arizona have opened as well.
Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum
An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute, the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum is centrally located in the heart of downtown. The museum celebrating Bisbee’s mining heritage has won national awards. They have interactive displays and Admission costs $8. The museum also offers historical walking tours for $10 on Saturdays at 2pm. Check their website for details.
Bisbee Mining Museum Website
Lavender Jeep Tours
I didn’t know about this tour when I was in Bisbee, so I can’t comment on the experience, however the reviews on Trip Advisor are very good!
Book the Lavender Jeep Tour Here
Bisbee Nightlife
The era of the mining saloon may be gone, but Bisbee still retains a vibrant nightlife. Live music and karaoke are regular evening entertainment.
Event Calendar
Where to Stay in Bisbee, Arizona
Letson Loft Hotel
The Lesson Loft Hotel is full of character and directly on the quaint main street of Bisbee. It would probably be my first choice if I didn’t travel in a van.
Hotel San Ramon
Cute little hotel with good reviews right in the downtown of Bisbee.
The Carrick
This is a very beautiful historic building with modern interior and an outdoor terrace. The reviews are great.
Bisbee Brownstone Suites
These are very modern and some of the rooms have full kitchens. Gauging by the reviews, people absolutely love them. They have a 2 night minimum stay requirement.
Hotel La More at The Bisbee Inn
This is a super cute little budget friendly inn with quirky decor in a historical setting.
Eldorado Suites Hotel
These are more like apartments with private terraces with little kitchens. Some are two bedrooms so they’d be perfect for a family.
Bisbee Grand Hotel
Maybe the reviews aren’t that great, but what the Bisbee Grand Hotel lacks in reviews, it makes up for in…ghosts. Yeah, it’s haunted, so there’s that. If you take the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour, you’ll hear some of the stories. There is also a saloon and it’s right on main street in the action and they also include breakfast. Kind of an icon for the town, really.
I wanted to be able to recommend the Copper Queen Hotel because we visited it on our Bisbee Ghost Tour and it was pretty neat inside. Very historic old west, plus apparently Johnny Depp got kicked out of it years ago. If you want to chance it, go for, but the reviews are just too bad for me.
This is certainly not an exhaustive list of all the hotels in Bisbee, but I think it encompasses the most unique, well located, historical, and or best reviewed.
If you’re looking for tasty treats, stop by Patisserie Jacqui and the Bisbee Coffee Company.
I hope this helped you plan your visit to the quirky little town of Bisbee, Arizona. It really was one of my favorite stops on our southwest adventures. Let me know in the comments if you have any other suggestions!
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I would have never even guessed that Bisbee existed! Now I want to go there more than ever. The drive from Southern California to Bisbee, Arizona doesn’t look very long. Also, I like the fact that Bisbee is up around a 5,000 foot elevation, providing a better climate than some of the lower elevations in Arizona. The pictures of old cars and gas pumps remind me of some of the scenes I saw in Williams Arizona too. Overall, Bisbee looks like a fun trip for a couple of days or more!
Yeah, you should go! It’s such a neat little town. Quirky. The temperature is great too!
Thanks so much for reading! Bisbee was one of my favorite, most quirky stops in the last couple years. I definitely recommend a couple days there. Like you said, the elevation is a nice retreat from the heat of much of Arizona too.