While we were planning our summer trip to California and Arizona, the consensus amongst friends in India was to drive from Las Vegas for a visit to the Grand Canyon. But a friend staying in the USA suggested an alternative which worked out beautifully for us. We got introduced to the red mountains and enjoyed the rugged landscape of Sedona in one day.
Sedona is located halfway between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. The easiest way to visit Sedona is via a road trip. Sedona is a great place to bring your kids.
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Best time to visit Sedona
Spring (March until May) and fall months (September until November) are considered the best time to visit Sedona. The temperature is comfortable for hiking and outdoor activities. Sedona makes for a great choice for a spring break destination in USA. But this is also busy season, so expect crowds and high hotel prices.
Summer is quite hot in Sedona. If you do visit, make sure you do hiking and outdoor activities only in early morning time. We visited in early June when the average high was 34 degree C (93 degree F) and the evenings were really pleasant. Winter months are very chilly.
How to reach Sedona
From Phoenix: We took a flight to Phoenix after a weekend in San Francisco. And then rented a car at the Phoenix airport and then drove to Sedona to enjoy it for a day. The distance from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Sedona is about 120 miles, a drive of about 2 hours. A Sedona day trip from Phoenix is quite popular.
The plan was to soak in the beauty of the red rocks that Sedona is famous for and then drive further to Grand Canyon. However, if you are considering a stopover in Las Vegas, check out this post on unique activities for families.
From Gand Canyon: 115 miles, 2.5 hours (we drove ahead to the national park after our 1 full day in Sedona)
Sedona is close to Flagstaff (just a 45 min drive) so many people stay there and come for a day trip to Phoenix. Sedona also makes for a good base for many day trips.
Is 1 day enough for Sedona?
If I had to do this trip all over again, what I would do differently is stay for 2 or 3 nights in Sedona instead of the one night that we could fit in our Arizona itinerary. There are enough activities to do for 2-3 days in Sedona. Hike, bike and see the red sandstone mountains that are visible from every spot in this small town. Even the 1.5 day we spent in this beautiful area was an unexpected bonus in our 2-weeks USA West Coast Itinerary.
One day in Sedona Overview
Many folks just pass through Sedona and spend a few hours here, which is a shame. Let me show you how to make the best of your Sedona one day itinerary –
Morning and early afternoon: Drive from Phoenix to Sedona, drive through the Red Rock Scenic Byway.
Alternative for morning if you are already in Sedona: Go hiking.
Lunch + Pink Jeep Tour in the afternoon.
Drive to Airport Mesa Viewpoint for the best views.
Relaxed dinner in Sedona to finish off the perfect day.
Sedona One Day Itinerary
Morning: Phoenix to Sedona drive
The drive from Phoenix airport for most of the route was on a standard highway. There were patches of enormous attention-grabbing cacti to break the monotony of the journey. But the last leg of this road trip when we got close to Sedona town was a different story altogether.
You go through the Red Rock Scenic Byway which is like a gateway to Sedona. The red rocks towering on both sides of the road and the sheer beauty of the landscape are delightful. This scenic drive is about 7.5 miles and cuts through stunning red rock formations.
Alternative scenario: Morning hike
If you do reach Sedona in the morning, you can opt for a easy hike. Cathedral Rock hike is about 1.2 miles long. This is a strenuous hike, so only appropriate for older kids. Or you can do the Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte Loop. This is an easy trail for about 4 miles. Devils Bridge is the most popular hike in Sedona. But fame brings crowds so go as early as possible in the morning.
Lunch + Pink Jeep Tour
We wanted a fun way to get up, close and personal with Sedona red rocks. The Pink Jeep Tours worked well for an afternoon family adventure.
If off-road adventure clubbed with some scenic spots of red mountains is what you are looking for, you should consider the Broken Arrow adventure tour offered by Pink Jeep Tours.
It was late afternoon by the time we checked in the Hyatt hotel at Pinon Pointe in Sedona. Pinon Pointe is a large marketplace with many cafes, restaurants, and shops. So it was easy to grab a quick bite before the tour began.
My 7-year daughter couldn’t contain her joy when she saw the Pink Jeep Wrangler that came to our hotel reception for a pick-up. A quick greeting to our guide/driver and co-passengers and we were off for the Broken Arrow Adventure we had booked with Sedona Pink Jeep Tours.
Sedona Pink Jeep Tours
You have to hold on tight once you veer off from the main road and the jeep starts crawling over rocky paths. At first, you may be skeptical whether the jeep could drive over the big boulders that make up most of this off-beat path. But this jeep has been designed for exactly this purpose and the driver’s skills match the vehicle abilities beautifully!
We took a stop shortly to stretch our legs. The panoramic vistas that opened up begged for a wide-angle lens to be captured perfectly.
Our guide spoke a bit about Sedona red mountains, where the red color comes from, history of the town including how it got its name from.
The next stop with its towering rock spires and the Coconino national forest spread across was even more stunning. The guide also pointed to a white line that cuts across the rocks. I was amazed to know that the white line in the far distance was a mountain biking trail. It seemed quite challenging to bike on that narrow a trail. And then we were off again to conquer the next boulder!
There was a lot of off-road action in between the stops, which had some passengers flying off their seats, and others shrieking with joy. Finally, we reached the aptly-named tour’s grand finale – The Road of No Return. The steep descent started from a huge boulder. It was surreal to see the driver handle the vehicle expertly over large boulders, rocks, and roots all the way down.
Definitely a fun adventure for the whole family! If you want to experience the best of Sedona red rocks or are doing just a day trip to Sedona, I would recommend taking a tour with Pink Jeep Sedona.
Evening drive + relaxed dinner
If everyone still has energy after the Pink Jeep Tour, a drive to Airport Mesa Viewpoint for some great views of Sedona is an option. The light reflects brilliantly off the multi-coloured rocks and creates an unforgettable spectacle. Airport Mesa has unbeatable views overlooking Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, Bell Rock, and Chimney Rock.
You should finish off your Sedona one day itinerary with a relaxed dinner. It was a pleasant surprise for us that Sedona has many fine dining options – Cress on Oak Creek and Mariposa Grill to name the top two.
We had to make a choice between the two for our only evening in Sedona and we chose Cress on Oak Creek simply because of proximity to the hotel. The setting is certainly romantic and perfect for couples, less so for families with young kids. The food is fresh and tasty but that is to be expected for the price charged.
You should budget for even more time if you want a spend a day or two exploring the Oak Creek Canyon nearby. Follow the many trails in this densely forested Canyon. Sedona offers many stunning moderate to difficult hikes, both on mountain bikes and on foot. Go to Slide Rock, a popular water recreation spot in the summer and one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids.
If you have more time in Sedona, there are many fun and adventure activities to do. Browse through some of these options:
Stay options in Sedona
We stayed at an apartment at Hyatt Residence Club at Pinon Pointe. Though we didn’t use many of the amenities during our short stay, the suite comes equipped with a kitchen, washing machine and an outdoor sit-out area. It is perfect for families.
The location offers scenic views of Sedona red mountains but that’s pretty much any location in this lovely town. What is a huge benefit is the Pinon Pointe marketplace with its many eateries, cafes, grocery store, and a few boutique stores. Our breakfast at Wildflower Bread Company at Pinion Pointe was very good. The variety, taste all on point.
In Sedona, you have many hotel options with a view as well.
Sedona to Grand Canyon South Rim
The next day turned out to be equally fun. The drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon was everything that our friend had promised it to be. There are many more scenic road trips in Arizona, and I am glad that we could do one in the limited time we had. And if you want to spend more time in Arizona and Utah, check out this Southwest road trip itinerary.
This drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon South Rim is considered as one of the top 10 scenic drives in America.
With clear detailed instructions from the hotel concierge, we took the 89A route via the beautiful Oak Creek Canyon. The red rocks give way to a thick, lush forest and you can smell the fragrance of pine and juniper trees on the way. There are watering holes to dip your toes and have a picnic. Alas, we didn’t have time for a picnic stop.
And then, we took a winding road that climbs 4,500 feet from Sedona to the top of the Mogollon Rim. The road is fraught with a few hairpins turns that required my husband’s full attention. But I was free to take in the many scenic vistas that open up with each twist and turn. Definitely worthy of being one of the top 10 scenic drives in America.
Check out these easy day tours from Sedona:
Where are you going next in Arizona? Check out:
All the warm colours at Lower Antelope Canyon
[This post was originally published in 2018, and last updated in June 2025.]
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I love visiting Sedona, I need to visit again soon and drive up to Grand Canyon South Rim. Ive only seen it from the West end. Great Blog
I agree how surprising and lovely Sedona is. I really would like to visit again. Thanks for the tips.
Same here, I hope I can go back someday.