Here Are 12 Things People from Arizona Do That Seem Insane To Everyone Else

Spend enough time in Arizona and you’ll quickly realize that desert life comes with its own quirks. To locals, these behaviors are totally normal, but to outsiders, they can look like heat-induced madness. From monsoon hobbies to cactus-related pride, Arizonans have perfected the art of being wonderfully weird.

1. Bake Cookies on the Dashboard

Why turn on the oven when your car can hit 160°F in July? Arizonans have been known to bake actual food on dashboards and sidewalks.

2. Use the Oven as Storage in Summer

When it’s 115° outside, the last thing you want is more heat. The oven doubles as a cabinet until at least November.

3. Complain About “Cold” at 70 Degrees

Outsiders call it perfect weather. Arizonans call it hoodie season.

4. Brag About Monsoon Season

Only in Arizona do people stand outside filming haboobs—giant dust storms that look like the apocalypse—like it’s entertainment.

5. Keep a Collection of Sunscreen Bottles

Every car, every purse, every drawer—Arizonans treat SPF like oxygen.

6. Fry an Egg on the Sidewalk for Fun

It’s the go-to science experiment every summer. Outsiders think it’s a joke; Arizonans call it “Tuesday.”

7. Take Pride in Cactus Ownership

Having a towering saguaro in the yard is basically a status symbol. Outsiders think it’s a plant; Arizonans think it’s family.

8. Talk Trash About California but Vacation There Constantly

It’s a love-hate relationship. Gas prices? Hate. The beach? Love.

9. Run Across Parking Lots Like Olympic Sprinters

Summer asphalt in Arizona can melt flip-flops. Locals know the dash-and-dodge routine well.

10. Put Ice in Their Beer

Keeping a drink cold outside in August is a battle most outsiders underestimate. Arizonans do what they have to do.

11. Debate “Dry Heat” Like It’s Science

Arizonans will passionately argue that 115° “isn’t that bad” because it’s a dry heat. Outsiders remain unconvinced.

12. Claim Their City Has the Best Mexican Food

Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa—every town swears their taco joint is the most authentic. The arguments can last longer than a road trip to Nogales.

To outsiders, life in Arizona might look like a survival challenge mixed with a science experiment. But to Arizonans, these “insane” habits are just the secret sauce that makes desert living special. Stick around long enough and you might just start sprinting across parking lots and praising the “dry heat” yourself.