Ultimate Phoenix To Sedona Day Trip: What To See, Do & Eat
Are you planning a Sedona retreat from Phoenix? If so, this article’s for you.
Sedona is my favorite city in Arizona, from the amazing hiking trails and restaurants, to the peaceful ambience. I’ve made the drive to Sedona over a dozen times to explore the red rock country, and I end up discovering something new on each trip!
This guide will cover how to get to Sedona, all of the best things to do on a day trip, interesting places to see on the drive, must-try restaurants, and more.
Ready to plan a memorable day trip to Sedona? Let’s dive in!
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Sedona Day Trip Overview
- Driving time: 2-2.5 hours (117 mi)
- Ideal amount of time to stay: 2 days
- Passes: Daily Red Rock Pass ($5/day) for parking at the main hiking trails
How To Get To Sedona
Sedona is around a 2-2.5 hour drive from the Phoenix airport depending on traffic. The drive is very scenic, winding through the mountains on highway 17, until you reach the Verde Valley.
It’s a relatively easy drive, but there can be a little traffic if you’re visiting on a holiday or busy weekend.
Things To See From Sedona To Phoenix
On the drive from Phoenix to Sedona, you’ll pass by Camp Verde, Cottonwood, and Jerome in the Verde Valley.
These are all charming small towns with interesting attractions, but I recommend only stopping by Montezuma’s Castle or Montezuma’s Well on the way to Sedona.
These are two short 10 minute detours off of the highway, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore Sedona.
Montezuma’s Castle
Montezuma’s Castle is one of the most well-preserved ancient pueblo sites in Arizona, and a must-see on the way to Sedona. It’s located in Camp Verde, and is just a short 10-15 minute detour off of I-17.
There’s a visitor center, and a short trail leading to a viewpoint of the ruins, surrounded by sycamore trees.
If you purchase a ticket to Montezuma’s Castle ($10/person), it’s also valid for the Tuzigoot National Monument in Cottonwood, which you can visit on the way back!
Montezuma’s Well
Montezuma’s Well is a fascinating natural sinkhole with ancient ruins, located right before you reach the turnoff for Sedona. It’s a short hike from the parking lot to see the well, and it’s completely free to visit.
If you have the time, you can also visit the Crane Petroglyph Site, a large collection of rock art made over 600 years ago by the Sinagua people! It requires a Daily Red Rock Pass ($5/day) to visit, and is a 20 minute drive from Montezuma’s Well.
Beyond ancient ruins, here are some cool places to check out on the road trip back from Sedona:
- Old Town Cottonwood: Charming downtown with antique shops, restaurants, and wineries (30 min. from Sedona)
- Clarkdale: Home to the Verde Canyon Railroad, Copper Art Museum, and Tuzigoot National Monument (30 min. from Sedona)
- Jerome: Historic mining town with quirky shops, restaurants, museums, and a ghost town for kids, 10 minutes from Clarkdale
- Cornville Wineries: A trail of four wineries that offer tours (Page Spring, Oak Creek, Merkin, Javelina Leap), 20 minutes from Sedona
Best Things To Do In Sedona In One Day
In a day, I recommend exploring the beautiful red rocks on a hike, trying new restaurants, and checking out a few interesting landmarks.
Here are some of the best things to do on a day trip.
Go Hiking
Hiking is one of the best things to do in town, and Sedona has trails for all experience levels. If you’re not a fan of hiking, you can also join a Jeep tour to enjoy scenic red rock vistas.
Here are some of the best day hikes.
Bell Rock
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 0.8 miles roundtrip
- Parking: Daily Red Rock Pass ($5/day)
Bell Rock is the first iconic mountain you’ll see as you drive through Sedona through the Village of Oak Creek.
It’s a short 0.8 mile hike that ends midway up the mountain, and you can continue to scramble up the mountain if you’re up for an adventure.
Parking is covered with a Daily Red Rock Pass (or $5), and the Courthouse Vista Lot is the best place to park next to the trailhead.
Cathedral Rock
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 1.2 miles roundtrip
- Parking: Daily Red Rock Pass ($5/day)
If you’re up for a more challenging hike, hike Cathedral Rock. This is a steep uphill hike to a spectacular view of the mountains. It’s my favorite Sedona hike by far, and it has one of the most amazing views in all of town.
There’s a portion where you’ll have to scramble up the rocks, so you’ll want to wear sturdy shoes and flexible clothing for this hike.
You can park at the trailhead, or take the free Sedona shuttle (Thurs-Sun) from the N SR-179 Park and Ride lot if the parking lot’s full. The shuttle’s super convenient to use, and goes back and forth to the trailhead all day.
Airport Mesa Vortex
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 0.3 miles roundtrip
- Parking: Free by the vortex or $3 at Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout
If you’re looking for a short and scenic hike, visit the Airport Mesa vortex. This is a short uphill hike to a panoramic viewpoint of West Sedona, and famous mountains like Chimney Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Bell Rock.
There’s a small parking lot at the bottom of the hill, and it’s a short 5 minute hike. This is a popular place to watch the sunset, so it’s best to visit in the morning or midday for easy parking.
If you can’t find parking, you can also park at the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout on top of the hill, and hike the Airport View Trail (~1 mile roundtrip) down to the lookout.
Boynton Canyon
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 6.1 miles roundtrip
- Parking: Daily Red Rock Pass ($5/day)
Boynton Canyon is a famous Sedona hike that leads to the secret Subway cave. It’s a very long hike (6.1 miles roundtrip) to reach the cave, but you’ll have a beautiful view of the pine forests and red rocks throughout.
From the Boynton Canyon Trail, you can also hike the Boynton Canyon Vista trail (1.1 miles) to the Kachina Woman Vortex.
This is a unique rock formation, and beautiful panoramic vista, that’s typically not as crowded as other Sedona hikes.
Devil’s Bridge
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 3.9 miles roundtrip
- Parking: Free (Mescal or Dry Creek Vista)
Devil’s Bridge is one of Sedona’s most famous and photographed landmarks. It’s a long, 3.9 mile hike to a natural rock arch that you can walk over.
Keep in mind that it’s incredibly popular, so you may have to wait in line to take a photo in front of it.
For this hike, you’ll park at either the Mescal or Dry Creek Vista lots, as the main trailhead is only accessible by 4×4. If you can’t find parking, the Sedona shuttle offers free transportation from the Posse Grounds Park & Ride Lot to Dry Creek Vista.
This is a fun hike to cross off your bucket list. It’s long, but there’s a gradual incline leading up to the bridge so it’s suitable for beginners.
Go Shopping
Sedona has many interesting New Age gift shops, so it’s an especially fun place to go shopping.
If it’s your first time visiting, you can stroll around the shops in Uptown or Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village.
Uptown is the main downtown strip that’s lined with gift shops, boutiques, restaurants, and the famous Pink Jeep tours.
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village is a beautiful outdoor shopping plaza with craft shops, art galleries, restaurants, and fountains.
Another amazing place to shop for souvenirs is the Son Silver West Art Gallery. This is an outdoor shop that sells everything from artwork to pottery and kitschy souvenirs, so it feels like you’re walking around a museum!
Visit Landmarks
A must-see landmark while in Sedona is the Chapel of the Holy Cross. This is a beautiful Roman Catholic chapel built directly into the red rocks.
It has a gift store on the lower floor, and an amazing view of the red rocks from the entrance. It’s completely free to visit, and has one of the best views in town.
Here are some other interesting landmarks and tourist spots to check out if you have time.
- Teal Mcdonalds Arches: Sedona’s home to the only teal Mcdonalds arches in the world!
- Slide Rock State Park: A beautiful state park with an 80 ft natural rock slide in Oak Creek Canyon.
- Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park: A peaceful park for meditation with a consecrated buddha shrine and statues at the base of Thunder Mountain.
- Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout: Popular sunset viewpoint at the top of a hill overlooking West Sedona
- Crescent Moon Picnic Site: Picnic area with a creek and gorgeous view of Cathedral Rock during sunset
Try New Restaurants
If you’re a foodie, Sedona has many amazing restaurants. For breakfast, stop by Sedonuts to try their fresh donuts and famous vortex cinnamon rolls.
For the best sunset view in town, dine at Mesa Grill. This restaurant’s located on top of Sedona’s airport hill, so you’ll have an unbeatable view of the red rocks, and planes taking off!
Here are some more restaurants worth trying out in town:
- Coffee Pot: Breakfast spot known for their huevos rancheros & Belgian waffles
- Elote Cafe: Amazing Mexican restaurant known for their brisket enchiladas and spicy margaritas.
- Cowboy Club Grille: Family–friendly Cowboy themed restaurant known for their cactus fries and prickly pear margaritas
- The Hudson: American restaurant known for their bruschetta and gorgeous red rock view
- Mariposa Latin Grill: Fine-dining Latin American restaurant with a beautiful red rock view, perfect for special occasions
How Much Time Do You Need In Sedona?
The ideal amount of time to spend in Sedona is 2-3 days, if you want time to relax, try different hikes, and go stargazing in town.
However, if you only have one day in town, you’ll still have time to hike, shop, and enjoy a great meal. I recommend arriving as early as possible in town, so you have plenty of daylight for hiking and visiting scenic vistas.
Where To Stay In Sedona
Everything in Sedona is within a 10-15 minute drive, but the 3 main areas to stay are Uptown, West Sedona, or the Village of Oak Creek.
Uptown and West Sedona have a variety of spa resorts, and some of the more popular hotels.
The Village of Oak Creek is quieter than downtown, and you’ll have a view of Bell Rock from your hotel.
- Best hotels in Uptown: Los Abrigados Resort, Arabella Hotel, L’Auberge de Sedona
- Best hotels in West Sedona: Sky Ranch Lodge, Enchantment Resort, Hilton Vacation Club
- Best hotel in the Village of Oak Creek: Bell Rock Inn, Hilton Sedona Resort, Element Sedona
Best Time To Visit Sedona
The best time to visit Sedona is in the spring or fall for the best weather, and in the summer for the least amount of crowds.
Sedona has moderate weather year round so it’s comfortable during the summer, but it can be quite chilly during the winter.
If you plan on visiting during the winter, you can still ride the Verde Canyon Railroad, go shopping, or stay at a hotel/Airbnb with a hot tub!
Sedona Attractions Map
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