Getting to Embry Riddle Prescott and Where Parents Stay

Flying into Phoenix (PHX)

Sky Harbor is the big airport in the state, with far more flights than Prescott's. From there you have two choices.

Rent a car. The campus map page gives the drive as about 98 miles: north on I-17 to Highway 69, northwest on Highway 69 to Fain Road, then Fain Road to Highway 89A and Willow Creek Road. The same page estimates the drive at about two hours and 13 minutes.

Ride the Groome shuttle. Groome Transportation runs vans between Sky Harbor and Prescott many times a day. Its timetable shows about 2 hours 15 minutes between the airport and the downtown office, and about three hours from the campus stop to the airport. In Prescott it stops at the Groome office (740 N Montezuma St), at Haas Commons on campus for Embry Riddle students and faculty with a valid ID, and at hotels by reservation. Groome recommends at least 24 hours notice for a reservation, at (928) 350-8466. Its page lists a slightly higher fare for the campus stop than for the downtown office.

Flying into Prescott (PRC)

Prescott Regional Airport sits at 6600 Airport Ave in Prescott. The airport sends travelers to United for flight booking. Avis and Budget have counters in the terminal, open 8am to 5pm daily, so arrange a late evening rental ahead of time. Long term parking is free for up to 10 days. Compare the PRC fare against flying into Phoenix and driving.

Parking on campus

Visitors park in front of the Visitor Center. For a longer visit, the Campus Safety and Security Department in Building 14 can help with temporary parking permits, and it is staffed around the clock at (928) 777-3333. Students who bring a car buy a parking pass through Campus Safety on the ERNIE portal. The public pages we checked did not list visitor permit prices.

Where parents stay

The hotels on the university's discount list fall into a few areas.

1. Downtown historic district. Around Courthouse Square and Whiskey Row. The Hassayampa Inn (a restored 1927 hotel) and Hotel St. Michael on Gurley Street are here. Good if you want restaurants within walking distance after a campus visit.
2. Elsewhere in Prescott. SpringHill Suites is on East Sheldon Street and Residence Inn is on Lee Circle. Prescott Resort and Conference Center sits on a mountain top above town.
3. Prescott Valley. TownePlace Suites on East Florentine Road is in the same town as Findlay Toyota Center, where the December commencement is held.

The university's Prescott campus page lists these and several more hotels with Embry Riddle discounts, from 7% to 15% off or set seasonal rates. Ask for the Embry Riddle rate when you call, and ask whether it applies on your dates.

Busy weekends

OctoberWest and Family Weekend (Oct. 1 to 3 in 2026), the December commencement on Dec. 12 and the May commencement on May 8 are the weekends families plan around. Book once those dates are confirmed. If downtown rooms are gone, look at Prescott Valley, which is also where the December ceremony takes place.