The map in one paragraph
Old Town Scottsdale is the city’s downtown, bounded roughly by Chaparral Road on the north, Earll Drive on the south, 68th Street on the west and Miller Road on the east. Scottsdale Road runs north to south through the middle; Indian School Road and Camelback Road cross it east to west. Hideaway sits one block east of Miller, between Indian School and Camelback, which puts the whole district within a 15 to 25 minute walk and a three-minute drive.
The Entertainment District (14 minutes on foot)
Centered on Saddlebag Trail, Indian Plaza and Stetson Drive just south of Camelback, this is the compact grid of rooftop bars, dance clubs, live-music rooms and late-night taco counters that gives Scottsdale its reputation. It is at full volume Thursday through Saturday nights and during spring training, and it is the closest part of Old Town to the house: walk west on Indian School, north on 75th Street or Saddlebag, and you are there in 14 minutes. Details in the nightlife guide.
Fifth Avenue (17 minutes)
West of Scottsdale Road, Fifth Avenue is the boutique street: jewelry, Western wear, galleries, the bronze horse fountain, and a cluster of neighborhood restaurants on the side streets, including the gastropubs on East Fifth Avenue and the Craftsman Court patios. It is the calmer, daytime side of Old Town and a good first evening walk.
The Waterfront (20 minutes)
Where the Arizona Canal crosses Scottsdale Road at Camelback, the Scottsdale Waterfront lines both banks with restaurants, a coffee roaster, public art and the canal path, which continues for miles in each direction and is the flattest run or dog walk in the city. Canal Convergence turns the whole stretch into a free light-art festival for ten nights each November. Scottsdale Fashion Square is directly across Camelback Road.
The Arts District and Main Street (19 to 24 minutes)
Main Street west of Scottsdale Road and Marshall Way hold the gallery district, anchored by Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. On Thursday evenings the galleries stay open for the ArtWalk, one of the oldest of its kind in the country. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts sit on the Civic Center campus a few blocks east, 18 to 20 minutes from Hideaway, next to the Saturday farmers market.
Historic Old Town (19 minutes)
Brown Avenue and Main Street east of Scottsdale Road keep the wood-sidewalk Western storefronts from the town’s early years: the Rusty Spur Saloon, souvenir and Native American jewelry shops, the Little Red Schoolhouse museum, and a cluster of Mexican and Southwestern restaurants. It is the part tourists photograph and the part that turns into a street festival during Western Week and Parada del Sol each winter.
Walking and driving times from Hideaway
| Destination | Drive | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town Entertainment District (Saddlebag Trail & Indian Plaza) | 2 min (0.8 mi) | 14 min |
| Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market (Saturdays, 3939 N Drinkwater Blvd) October through May; moved to the Civic Center area in October 2026. | 2 min (0.7 mi) | 14 min |
| Scottsdale Civic Center & Center for the Performing Arts | 3 min (0.9 mi) | 18 min |
| Historic Old Town (Brown Ave & Main St) | 3 min (0.9 mi) | 19 min |
| Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art | 3 min (1 mi) | 20 min |
| Arizona Canal & Scottsdale Waterfront | 3 min (1.2 mi) | 20 min |
| Main Street Arts District (Marshall Way) | 3 min (1.1 mi) | 24 min |
Measured on foot from the front door via the community paths to Miller Road; drive times without traffic.
When to walk and when to ride
From October through April, walking is the default: the route down Indian School Road is flat, lit and lined with sidewalks. From late May through September, afternoon temperatures push past 100, so most guests walk in the morning and after sunset and take a two-minute rideshare in between. The free city trolleys stop on Miller Road five minutes from the house on weekdays; see the getting-around guide.
Questions people ask about Old Town
Is Old Town Scottsdale the same as downtown Scottsdale?
Yes. Old Town is the name the City of Scottsdale uses for its downtown, roughly the area between Chaparral Road to the north, Earll Drive to the south, 68th Street to the west and Miller Road to the east, about one square mile. Downtown Scottsdale and Old Town Scottsdale refer to the same place.
Is Old Town Scottsdale walkable?
Very. The core is about a square mile of flat, continuous sidewalks with more than a hundred restaurants and bars and hundreds of shops and galleries. From Hideaway, on the eastern edge, the Entertainment District is a 14-minute walk and Historic Old Town on Main Street is 19 minutes.
Is Old Town Scottsdale safe at night?
Old Town is busy and well lit into the early hours, with a visible police presence around the Entertainment District on weekend nights. As in any nightlife district, keep an eye on your belongings and your group. The walk to Hideaway along Indian School and Miller is a residential route with sidewalks and streetlights, and a rideshare takes about two minutes.
What is the best way to get around Old Town?
On foot. Parking in Old Town is free in city garages and lots but fills on weekend nights and during events, so staying within walking distance, or using the free weekday trolley and rideshares, saves real time.