The Ultimate 2 Day Sedona Itinerary (2024)
Are you wondering how to spend a weekend in Sedona? If so, this article’s for you.
Sedona is a charming town around 2 hours north of Phoenix, with incredible hiking trails, delicious restaurants, and unique little shops and attractions. I’ve visited Sedona over a dozen times now, and it still hasn’t lost its charm!
To help you plan the perfect weekend getaway, I’ve put together this sample 2 day Sedona itinerary.
Whether you’re into hiking, wine-tasting, or relaxing in nature, this itinerary is here to point you to all the best spots.
Here is my sample 2 day Sedona itinerary.
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Day 1 – West Sedona
Explore The Red Rocks (Jeep Tour/Hike)
Explore the beautiful red rocks on your first day in Sedona by hiking or joining a Jeep tour.
Jeep tours are incredibly popular in Sedona because you’ll get to go offroading to see spectacular vistas, famous rock formations, and learn about the area from a local.
But if you prefer hiking, there’s no shortage of amazing hikes available. On your first day, I recommend hiking either Devil’s Bridge, Chicken Point Overlook, or the West Fork of Oak Creek Trail.
- Devil’s Bridge: 3.9 mile round trip from Dry Creek/Mescal Trailhead, free parking
- Chicken Point Overlook: 3.4 mile round trip hike from Broken Arrow trailhead, $5/parking or Daily Red Rock Pass requires
- West Fork Trail: 6 mile round trip hike from Call O’ Canyon Lot, $12/parking per day
Devil’s Bridge is a 3.9 mile round trip hike to a large natural rock arch that you can walk over. The trail is long but easy, and there’s a small set of stairs you’ll need to hike right as you get to the arch.
Chicken Point Overlook is another excellent beginner-friendly hike (3.4 miles round trip), with stunning views of Bell Rock and the valley. This overlook is popular for Jeep tours, but you can hike there yourself to enjoy the beautiful views.
West Fork Trail is an easy, flat trail at the base of Oak Creek Canyon, with 13 different river crossings. If you want to feel like you’re far out in the wilderness or enjoy being by the water, this is the hike for you.
It’s a popular hike for the summer, but it’s especially beautiful in autumn to see the foliage.
Shop At Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
After exploring the red rocks, head to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. This is a beautiful outdoor shopping center with water fountains, small boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants.
It’s just down the street from Uptown plaza, so it’s the perfect place to stroll around after lunch or dinner.
Visit Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park
If you have the time, head to the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park in West Sedona. This is a peaceful park at the base of Thunder Mountain with a 36-foot Buddha stupa, benches, and statues.
This park was designed as a place for people to meditate, so it’s one of the quietest and most relaxing areas of Sedona. It’s open daily from dusk till dawn, and there’s no entrance fees.
Watch The Sunset From Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout
As the sun begins to set, head to Sedona’s Airport Scenic Lookout to get a panoramic view of the red rocks. This is a scenic overlook located right by Sedona’s airport, and the most popular place to watch the sunset in town.
You have to pay a $3/day parking fee to park at the large parking lot by the lookout, but the views make it worth it. If you want to get to the Airport Mesa Vortex (one of Sedona’s energy vortexes), it’s just down the street from this scenic lookout.
To get to it, you can either park at the small parking lot by the vortex (only 10 spaces), or hike the Sedona View Trail (1.1 miles roundtrip) from the scenic lookout, down to the vortex’s parking lot.
This is the perfect hike for sunset. Just plan on arriving 45-60 minutes early, so you have plenty of daylight before the sun goes down.
Then, it’s just a short (0.25 mile roundtrip) hike on the “Summit Trail” to the top of a small mound which is considered the Airport Mesa vortex.
If you visit around sunset, parking is especially difficult at the vortex, so you’ll likely have to hike the Sedona View Trail to get to it.
And if you want to enjoy sunset views while having dinner, dine out at Mesa Grill or Mariposa Latin Grill. Both restaurants have outdoor seating areas and gorgeous red rock views.
Go Stargazing
To end your first day in Sedona, go stargazing at night. Sedona was designated as the world’s eighth International Dark Sky Community, and the view of the stars and constellations in the night sky is stellar.
For some of the best stargazing opportunities, I recommend driving down Dry Creek Road to the Boynton Canyon or Fay Canyon trailhead. They’re located near the mountains of West Sedona, so you won’t experience as much light interference as you would from the center of town.
Note: Keep in mind that there’s no service in this area (Dry Creek Road), so make sure to download the offline maps if you plan on visiting.
If you’re interested in astronomy, you can also go on a stargazing tour in Sedona. On a tour, you’ll get to use a professional telescope and binoculars to view the stars, while learning about the galaxy from an astronomer guide.
Restaurant Recommendations
There’s a variety of amazing cafes, restaurants, and bars scattered around Sedona. Here are some of the best restaurants worth trying out on your trip.
Breakfast
- Sedonuts: Cheap donut shop with fresh donuts & coffee
- Red Rock Cafe: Amazing homestyle breakfast spot known for their huevos rancheros & huge Cinnabon-style cinnamon rolls
- Layla’s Bakery: The place to go for pastries, smoothies or coffee
- Coffee Pot: Hearty southwestern breakfast spot known for their huevos rancheros & Belgian waffles
Lunch/Dinner
- Elote Cafe: Must-try Mexican restaurant with creative dishes like brisket enchiladas and spicy margaritas
- Mariposa Latin Grill: Fine-dining restaurant with an unbeatable view, perfect for special occasions
- Pisa Lisa: Wood fired pizzeria with Italian desserts and gelato
- The Hudson: American restaurant known for their bruschetta with a gorgeous view of the red rocks
- 🌱Vegan-friendly: Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen – Pizza & pasta shop with a full plant-based menu
Dessert
- Rocky Rd Ice Cream Co: Best ice cream shop in Sedona
- The Sedona Fudge Company: Fresh fudge and candy shop in Uptown
Day 2 – Village of Oak Creek/Verde Valley
Go On A Morning Hike (Cathedral Rock)
Head down to the Village of Oak Creek to hike one of Sedona’s energy vortexes, Cathedral Rock or Bell Rock.
Sedona’s energy vortexes are sites thought to have increased levels of energy, with Cathedral Rock being considered the most powerful in town. This idea originated around 1980, and there’s no science to back up the vortex energy.
That being said, the Cathedral Rock hike has unbeatable views of the nearby mountains. It’s a 1.4 mile round trip hike to the summit of the mountain, where you’ll be at an elevation of nearly 5,000 feet!
I’ve hiked it twice, and seen people of all ages do it, so I’d definitely recommend it for beginners.
But if you prefer an easier hike, you can hike Bell Rock, also located in the Village of Oak Creek.
You can hike up the mountain on the Bell Rock trail, or hike around this area for views of Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and other beautiful mountains.
There’s many trails connected to the Bell Rock Trail, so this is the perfect place to hike around for a few hours.
After hiking, stop in the Village of Oak Creek for breakfast. You can enjoy a hearty homestyle breakfast at Miley’s or Red Rock Cafe, or stop for a coffee and muffin at Oak Creek espresso.
Visit The Chapel of the Holy Cross
If you have the time, stop by the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a popular Sedona landmark located just off of the Red Rock Scenic Byway. This is a beautiful Catholic chapel built directly into the red rocks that’s completely free to visit.
You can tour the inside of the chapel, and shop for souvenirs and candles on the first floor. Beyond the chapel, this is a great area to walk around and take in views of the red rocks.
Take A Day Trip To Jerome, Clarkdale, Or Cottonwood
If you’re looking for more interesting places to visit, I highly recommend driving 30-45 minutes outside of Sedona to the nearby cities in the Verde Valley.
Jerome is a small ghost town perched on top of Cleopatra Hill, just a 45 minute drive from Sedona. The main street of Jerome is lined with unique gift shops, haunted hotels, wineries, and restaurants.
In Jerome, you can visit Jerome’s State Historic Park to learn about the city’s rich copper mining history, stroll around main street, go on a ghost tour, and more.
If haunted places aren’t your thing, head to the nearby towns Clarkdale and Cottonwood. These small towns are only a 30 minute drive from Sedona, and they offer everything from wine tours to train rides, and river kayaking.
In Clarkdale, you can ride the famous Verde Canyon railroad, a narrated 4-hr train ride with views of the Verde River, old mining sites, and more. They also offer evening stargazing tours with complimentary wine, so it’s the perfect nighttime activity.
Also in Clarkdale, you can check out the Copper Art Museum or Tuzigoot National Monument.
The Copper Art Museum is a neat museum with the largest collection of copper artifacts in the US, and the Tuzigoot National Monument is a preserved 3 story ancient pueblo site with a visitor center. Admission to each is around $10/adult.
Cottonwood is just a 10 minute drive from Clarkdale. In Cottonwood, you can go kayaking over the Verde River, or stroll around Old Town.
Old Town Cottonwood is lined with antique shops, art galleries, wine-tasting rooms, restaurants, and breweries. It has a charming small town vibe and is one of the best places to dine out other than Sedona.
Sedona 2 Day Itinerary Map
Summary
Sedona is one of the best places to visit on a weekend getaway or day trip. With its abundance of hiking trails, shopping centers, and charming nearby small towns, you won’t struggle finding something to do.
For the full Sedona experience, I highly recommend hiking Cathedral Rock, trying out new restaurants, and stargazing at night. And before you leave town, make sure to stop by Uptown Plaza or the Son Silver West Art Gallery to shop for souvenirs to bring home!
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