For Scottsdale in January, wear light layers with long trousers, comfortable closed shoes and a warm outer layer for early mornings and evenings. You can remove a jumper or cardigan as the day warms up, then put it back on when you move into shade or head out after dark.
Build your packing around clothes you can combine rather than separate outfits for every activity. Paved sightseeing and desert hiking call for different footwear, while dinner clothes can reuse much of your daytime wardrobe. Swimwear earns its place only if your accommodation has suitable pool or spa facilities and you intend to use them.
January temperatures and everyday layers
- January average daily maximum
- 66.5°F
- January average daily minimum
- 43.4°F
- Weather station
- Scottsdale Municipal Airport
- Climate-normal reference period
- 1991–2020
January can feel cold at the cooler ends of the day, even when the afternoon is comfortable in lighter clothes. These averages describe the season, not the weather of an individual visit. The average minimum represents the cooler part of the daily cycle, usually towards morning, rather than a temperature to expect throughout the evening.
Pack a small set of clothes that work together:
- Lightweight tops for wearing alone in warmer sunshine or beneath another layer.
- Long trousers or jeans for everyday wear, with comfortable trousers if you plan to hike.
- A removable jumper or cardigan that fits beneath your outer layer.
- A warm jacket for early starts and evenings outdoors.
- Comfortable closed shoes and socks for sightseeing.
- Shorts and sandals only as extras for warmer spells or suitable pool use, not as your main January outfit.
- A compact rain layer that packs away easily.
Keep your removable layer with you rather than leaving it in the room. Sunshine may make a light top comfortable, while shade or a stop outdoors can make the extra layer useful again. Choose an outer layer you can wear over both your everyday tops and your dinner outfit, without making the clothes underneath feel tight.
Adapt quantities to the length of your stay and access to laundry. Repeating trousers and outer layers saves space, while fresh tops and socks make the same combinations useful across several days. If you can wash clothes during the trip, pack fewer changes rather than sacrificing the warm layer.
Shoes and layers for desert walks
Comfortable walking shoes suit paved sightseeing, but the McDowell Sonoran Preserve calls for sturdy footwear with good grip. Its trails can be rocky, uneven and sometimes steep, with loose footing on some stretches. Hiking shoes are a useful choice for these conditions, and the right pair depends on the trail you intend to walk rather than on a need to pack boots for every outdoor outing.
For hiking, wear socks and trousers that let you step up and bend comfortably. Use footwear you already know fits well, particularly if your plans involve more than a short stroll. A pair that works on pavements does not necessarily offer the grip you want on loose gravel, so let the walking you plan to do decide which shoes take up luggage space.
For an early start, wear your warm layer and take a small bag to carry it once you remove it. That leaves your hands free and makes it easy to put the layer back on during a pause.
Take a sun hat, sunglasses and a refillable water bottle for outdoor plans. Cooler air is not a reason to leave sun protection behind. If your trip is limited to paved sightseeing, dedicated hiking footwear can stay at home, leaving room for the clothes you will actually wear.
Dinner outfits and resort swimwear
Your dinner and pool plans determine the extras beyond your everyday January clothes. Add pieces for activities you intend to do, rather than a separate resort wardrobe. A smarter top can work with trousers already in your bag, while pool clothing is useful only when swimming or spa use is part of your stay.
Dinner and going-out clothes
For dinner or going out in Scottsdale, a smarter top with trousers or a skirt is a useful starting point. Choose pieces that also work with your January outer layer, so you do not need a separate coat for the evening. A skirt with tights is another way to make an outfit more comfortable in cooler air.
Dressier shoes are an optional extra if your evenings warrant them. Keep your comfortable walking shoes for daytime sightseeing rather than relying on a pair chosen mainly for appearance. If the evening includes a walk or time outdoors, choose shoes you can comfortably wear for that as well as at the table.
This is a packing suggestion, not a venue dress code. An individual restaurant or club’s clothing policy takes precedence over a general outfit recommendation.
Pool and spa clothing
Pack a swimsuit, cover-up and pool footwear if your accommodation has suitable facilities and you plan to swim or use the spa. A pool on the property does not by itself make swimming part of your January trip. Let your intended use determine whether these extras deserve space.
For the trip between your room and an outdoor pool, put your warm layer over dry clothing and use closed shoes when the air feels cool. Keep dry clothes available for afterwards rather than relying on a swimsuit and cover-up for the return. If neither swimming nor spa use is planned, leave swimwear and pool-only footwear at home.
Sources & fact-checking
Checks against the sources below cover: key figures.
