The Ultimate Sedona To Grand Canyon Day Trip Itinerary
Planning a day trip to the Grand Canyon from Sedona? If so, this article’s for you.
Sedona is only a 2 hour drive from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, which is the park’s main entrance. So, you have plenty of time to explore the beautiful red rocks of Sedona and visit one of the world’s seven natural wonders in a day!
I drove from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, and to Page Arizona to see even more natural wonders (Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon).
This article is going to cover how to visit the Grand Canyon from Sedona, including transportation options, where to stay, and a sample itinerary.
Ready to plan the perfect day trip from Sedona to the Grand Canyon? Let’s dive in!
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How To Get To The Grand Canyon
Sedona is just over a 2 hour drive from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, the park’s main entrance. It’s a very easy drive with minimal traffic. The first half of the drive passes through the forest, and then over the open desert as you get close to the Grand Canyon.
There’s no facilities for most of the drive, until you reach the Grand Canyon Junction, which is 30 minutes away from the park’s entrance. It has a few restaurants, hotels, and gas stations so it’s a good place to refuel.
Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, you’ll pass through an entrance station where you can buy tickets. Entrance is $35/vehicle for a 7 day pass.
Sedona to Grand Canyon Tours
If you don’t want to drive to the Grand Canyon yourself, you can join a group tour or get private transportation from Sedona.
There are group tours available from Sedona, and combination Sedona and Grand Canyon tours from Phoenix. Here are some of the best tour options available:
- Grand Canyon Tour From Sedona: Small group minibus tour that includes a stop at an ancient pueblo site (Wupatki national monument) and the Cameron Trading Post for a Navajo lunch.
- Private Grand Canyon Tour From Sedona: Private tour in a luxury SUV, with a hiking guide, and lunch included at the El Tovar lodge overlooking the rim.
- Combination Sedona and Grand Canyon Tour From Phoenix: Small group van tour from Phoenix to the South Rim, with a stop in Sedona to see the red rocks.
Beyond tours, you can drive an hour outside of Sedona to Williams, and take the Grand Canyon Railway train to the South Rim.
The train depot is located about midway between Sedona and the Grand Canyon, and they provide roundtrip transportation to the South Rim.
Sedona to Grand Canyon Day Trip Itinerary
Things to do in Sedona
Before heading to the Grand Canyon, explore Sedona’s beautiful red rock country on a morning hike. If it’s your first time visiting Sedona, you can hike to one of Sedona’s energy vortexes, or do an iconic hike like Devil’s Bridge.
One of my favorite hikes is Cathedral Rock, a 1.1 mile round trip hike (~1 hour) to a spectacular vista of the red rocks.
Devil’s Bridge is another popular hike, to a large natural rock arch you can walk over. It’s a 3.9 mile round trip hike (~2-3 hours) that’s moderately challenging.
For more beginner-friendly hikes, check out our list of the best easy Sedona hikes.
If you’re just stopping in Sedona from Phoenix and you’re limited on time, I recommend driving the Red Rock Scenic Byway, or visiting the Airport Mesa Vortex.
The Red Rock Scenic Byway is a short drive through Oak Creek Canyon where you’ll have an amazing view of the red rock mountains.
The Airport Mesa Vortex is a spectacular red rock viewpoint, overlooking downtown Sedona.
It’s located on top of a small mound, and easily accessible by hiking the “Summit Trail” (0.2 miles) to the top, where you’ll have a panoramic view of the red rock mountains.
If you want to go shopping, the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village has charming artisan shops and art galleries, and the Son Silver West Galleries sells a variety of kitschy and unique artwork.
And to fuel up before driving to the Grand Canyon, there’s no better place to stop than one of the breakfast restaurants in town. Here are some of the best breakfast restaurants in Sedona:
- Sedonuts: Donut shop with amazing fresh donuts and coffee
- Red Rock Cafe: Homestyle breakfast spot known for their huevos rancheros, and cinnabon style cinnamon rolls
- Wildflower: Brunch spot with a view that makes great frittatas, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries
- Coffee Pot: Hearty southwestern breakfast spot known for their huevos rancheros & Belgian waffles
Visiting The Grand Canyon South Rim
The Grand Canyon South Rim is very easily accessible, and only a 2 hour drive from Sedona. The fastest route passes through Williams Arizona, and there’s not many facilities along the drive until you reach the Grand Canyon Junction (Valle).
Once you arrive at the South Rim, I recommend stopping by the visitor center to pick up a park map, and find out which hikes are open.
From the visitor center, you can walk to the Mather Point Overlook. This is the most popular overlook in the park so it can be crowded, but it has an incredibly expansive view of the canyon.
To get to the other viewpoints, you can walk along the South Rim Trail or take the Grand Canyon Shuttle from the visitor center.
I recommend using the shuttle to get to the other viewpoints, as the South Rim Trail will require you to walk for a few hours.
If you want to hike in the park, the South Rim Trail is perfect for a day trip. It’s a 13 mile trail that stretches along the rim, from the South Kaibab trailhead to Hermit’s Rest on the east.
You can begin hiking it from the visitor center, east towards Grand Canyon Village. It has several excellent viewpoints and rock outcroppings where you can get a different perspective of the canyon.
The other popular trails are the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail, both of which descend into the canyon. These are more challenging routes for experienced hikers, so most people only hike a portion of the trail.
If you want to hike either of these, make sure to stop by the Grand Canyon Visitor Center to ensure they’re open, and then you can take the shuttle bus to the trailheads.
Here are some of the best things to do on a day trip at the Grand Canyon:
- Visit the Visitor Center and Mather Point Overlook
- Take the shuttle to other viewpoints (Hopi Point, Mohave Point)
- Hike South Rim, South Kaibab, or Bright Angel Trail
- Dine by the rim in Grand Canyon Village
- Drive the scenic 23 mile Desert View Drive
Sedona And Grand Canyon Day Trip Itinerary
For a day trip, I recommend hiking the South Rim Trail, dining by the rim at Grand Canyon Village, and driving along Desert View Drive.
Desert View Drive is a scenic, 23 mile road that starts at the South Entrance and extends to the East Entrance.
It has multiple incredible viewpoints off the side of the road, and a 70 ft stone watchtower you can climb up to watch the sunset!
Here is my suggested itinerary for a day in Sedona and the Grand Canyon:
Sample Sedona And Grand Canyon Itinerary
- Morning Sedona Hike
- Breakfast in Sedona
- Grand Canyon Visitor Center
- Mather Point Overlook
- South Rim Trail Hike
- Dine by the Rim in Grand Canyon Village
- Desert View Drive (Desert View Watchtower At Sunset)
Sedona to Grand Canyon and Page
If you want to explore even more of Arizona’s natural wonders, Sedona is also only a 3 hour drive from Page Arizona.
This small town straddles the border between northwestern Arizona and Utah, and is home to the famous Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Glen Canyon Dam.
Antelope Canyon is a gorgeous red-orange slot canyon that’s only accessible by guided hiking tour because it’s located on Navajo land.
You can choose to visit either upper or lower Antelope Canyon, and the tours last around 1-2 hours.
After touring Antelope Canyon, you can visit Horseshoe Bend and the Glen Canyon Dam, both of which are within a 15 minute drive!
Page is also only a 3 hour drive from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, so it’s possible to visit all three natural wonders in two days.
I highly recommend spending a night in Page if you plan on visiting both Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon from Sedona.
This will allow you plenty of time to see all of the attractions within Page, and then have a full day at the Grand Canyon the following day.
The town of Page is very small, but there’s many good hotel options, and a few grocery stores and restaurants.
Sedona to Antelope Canyon Tours
Antelope Canyon is a 3 hour drive from Sedona.
If you don’t want to drive to Page, there are small group and private tours available from Sedona to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
Things To See Between Sedona and Page
The drive from Sedona to Page is long but beautiful, and has scenic views of the painted desert.
On the way from Sedona to Page, you can stop by the Wupatki National Monument, one of the largest preserved ancient pueblo sites in Arizona.
It’s located right off of highway 89, and it has a visitor center with a museum, and a short trail that leads to the largest pueblo site.
There’s several other ruins within the monument so it’s definitely worth checking out.
Another place worth stopping by for souvenirs or a meal is the historic Cameron Trading Post. This is a large trading post and restaurant, where you can shop for Native American Artwork, and try Navajo fry bread and other traditional dishes.
It’s located midway between Sedona and Page, and is the last place to refuel on the route from Page to the Grand Canyon.
Sedona to Grand Canyon and Page Sample Itinerary
Here’s a sample 3 day itinerary for seeing the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the beautiful red rocks of Sedona.
Day 1: Sedona: ~2 hour from Phoenix, ~4.5 hour from Vegas
- Go on a morning hike/Jeep tour: Cathedral Rock or Devil’s Bridge
- Go shopping: Tlaquepaque Village or Son Silver West Galleries
- Watch the sunset at Airport Mesa: Best sunset viewpoint in town
- Enjoy dinner with a view: Mariposa Latin Grill or The Hudson
Day 2: Sedona to Page: ~3 hour drive
- Visit the Wupatki National Monument: Largest ancient pueblo site in northern Arizona
- Stop at the Cameron Trading Post: Historic trading post and restaurant to stop for souvenirs and a traditional Navajo meal
- Tour Antelope Canyon: Beautiful red-orange slot canyon only accessible by guided hiking tour
- Visit Horseshoe Bend: Famous horseshoe shaped meander of the Colorado River
Day 3: Page to Grand Canyon: ~3 hour drive
- Visit the Glen Canyon Dam: Towering 710 foot dam with a visitor center and bridge you can walk over to view the dam and Lake Powell
- Enter the Grand Canyon from the East Entrance: Drive the scenic Desert View Drive to the South Rim (main entrance)
- South Rim: See the popular viewpoints and hike along the South Rim
- Grand Canyon Village: Dine by the rim at El Tovar
Sedona & Grand Canyon Day Trip Map
Sedona to Grand Canyon FAQs
How much time do you need at the Grand Canyon?
It’s best to spend a full day at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim if you want to hike, dine in at Grand Canyon Village, and see all of the popular viewpoints.
However, if you just want to see a few viewpoints, you only need around 2-3 hours.
I visited in the evening, and had around 3 hours before the sun went down. I was only able to visit the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Mather Point Overlook, and hike part of South Rim Trail.
Is there a train from Sedona to the Grand Canyon?
There’s no direct train from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, but the Grand Canyon railway runs from Williams, Arizona to the South Rim.
The train depot in Williams is an hour from Sedona, or around midway from Sedona to the Grand Canyon.
What’s the closest city to the Grand Canyon?
The closest city to the Grand Canyon is Williams, which is just under an hour drive, followed by Flagstaff which is just over an hour (70-80 minutes)
Should you visit the Grand Canyon or Antelope Canyon?
The Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon are two incredible natural wonders that are worth visiting.
The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s seven natural wonders, and has several hiking trails and lookouts where you can see its vast and colorful landscape.
Antelope Canyon is a stunning red-orange slot canyon located in Page, that’s only accessible by guided hiking tour.
You can hike to either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, and both hikes are around 1-1.5 hours.
If you visit Antelope Canyon, you can also visit the famous Horseshoe Bend and Glen Canyon Dam, which are all within a 15 minute drive.
Can you visit the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon in a day?
Yes, you can visit the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon in a day.
But, you’ll need a full day to see both. If you’re driving from Sedona or Phoenix, I recommend staying in Page for one night.
Then, you’ll have plenty of time to see Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the popular viewpoints at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim the following day.
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