Sedona is an absolute bucket list location that should be on everyone’s list! The Southwest has some unbelievably beautiful and unique places to visit that are not that well known outside of the Southwest. Sure everyone knows about the Grand Canyon…it’s one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and definitely worth seeing, but in my opinion, there are other areas much more beautiful to explore and spend more time. I’ve visited Sedona in each season, but I recommend visiting in Spring or Fall for the best experience. Summers are still quite hot, and in winter there is often snow. And just when you think it can’t get any more beautiful, Sedona also has a fall color season that starts in October and runs well into November. I’ve structured this itinerary as a two-day trip, but will also make suggestions if you have more or less time. You can hit all of the highlights in one day if it’s all you have. So get your hiking shoes and your camera ready, and start planning your trip to Sedona today!
Here is a sample 2-day itinerary for a spring or fall trip to Sedona, Arizona:
DAY 1: BREATHTAKING HIKE, PINK JEEP TOUR, AND MEXICAN FOOD
Sedona is a city of about 10,000 residents that is located between Phoenix, AZ and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It takes approximately 2 hours to drive to Sedona from the airport in Phoenix (PHX), and it sits at over 4,300 ft of elevation so the weather is generally much cooler than Phoenix. The vegetation is a cool mix of desert plants and evergreen forest (which contrasts so beautifully against the orange soil and rocks)! Sedona is known for its red-orange sandstone formations, as well as its art scene and vortex sites, which are said to be places where the Earth’s energy is concentrated and are considered to be areas of healing and good energy.
If you’re staying in Phoenix and/or making a trip to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix, please be sure to plan on spending at least a day in Sedona; you won’t regret it! There’s enough to do here to spend a long weekend and make Sedona your destination too. Be sure to check the weather before heading to Sedona, as most of the activities are outdoors.
If you only have one day, be sure to start your journey to Sedona early so you can fit everything in. Assuming you’re beginning your day with a 2 hour car ride, I’d suggest starting your visit with one of the many breathtaking hikes in and around Sedona. As you’re coming in to Sedona, you’ll see a full view of the various rock formations from miles away…don’t sleep through this, and wake up the kids! Make sure you have some snacks or pack some sandwiches and lots of water before hitting the trails. There are so many trails to choose from, with varying levels of difficulty. One of the most well-known is Devil’s Bridge, which is about 4 miles (from the closest trailhead) and is moderate difficulty. Be sure to wait your turn to go out on the bridge and get your picture taken from the other side! Another of my favorite hikes is Subway Cave, which you can access from the Boynton Canyon Trail. Boynton Canyon Trail is more flat, but is over 7 miles if you do the full trail. There are also vortices on this trail, and sometimes there are musicians playing instruments nearby…quite an experience and worth checking out!
Back to Subway Cave…this is the one pictured at the beginning of this post. It is a must-do if you are up for the physical challenge. The hike itself isn’t too challenging, but once you get to the “cave” you have to climb up a fairly slippery crevice to get up in to the cave…and then get back down…you pretty much have to slide down on your bottom! It is definitely worth it though. It’s also pretty hard to find from the Boynton Canyon Trail, and All Trails will not be any help for this one. Follow the instructions in the link I’ve provided above to find your way…it’s a necessity!
By the time you finish your hike, you will probably be ready to refuel! I happen to love Mexican food, so I’d recommend trying out Elote Cafe (only open for dinner, super popular so must make reservation in advance) or Javelina Cantina (also takes reservations, more kid-friendly, and has a great patio). Another great option if you’re not in to Mexican food is the Oak Creek Brewery located in the historic Tlaquepaque area, which is a fun place to shop and look around. Finally, my favorite spot for pizza in Sedona is Pisa Lisa (there are locations in Oak Creek and right in Sedona); and if you’re in the area, check out the McDonalds nearby…you might miss it, because it’s the only McDonalds that does not have golden arches. The arches on the Sedona McDonalds are turquoise to fit the color scheme of this beautiful area.
Next (something you should reserve ahead of your trip to Sedona) take a Pink Jeep Tour! These are very popular in the area, so please book in advance. There are many different options depending on your preferences; you can even travel with them to the Grand Canyon. I’ve done three Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona, and all were great; a nice mix of history, geology, and adventure! I recommend doing one of the 2-3 hour tours, and try one that has at least a little bit of off-roading to it (bumpy or rough) for the full experience. The guides are very informative, usually funny, know all the best spots for pictures, and will take some photos of your group for you. You can also attempt off-roading in Sedona with your own vehicle, but only if it’s fully capable of doing so…I’ve seen sedans stuck on the trails more than once, and that’s not a good situation to be in! If your Pink Jeep Tour is in the morning, then just reverse this itinerary and hike in the afternoon instead.
If you want to catch one of the gorgeous sunsets in Sedona, a great place for viewing is on Airport Mesa Road. Just pull off to the side of the road and there are spots for viewing and taking pictures. If you’re just in Sedona for the day, grab dinner before calling it a day.
If you’re staying overnight, there are lots of good options for hotels, resorts, and Air BnB’s. I generally stay at the Element by Marriott in Oak Creek. It’s just South of Sedona, and is near a little plaza with several options for food, ice cream, etc. Hotels can be really expensive in Sedona, so this Marriott tends to be a fairly good value for the price. Note that Sedona is a very sleepy town…everything closes early and there’s not much to do at night. There is a small movie theater, but otherwise you’ll have to come up with your own entertainment if you’re not too tired from your adventurous day!
DAY 2: BUILD YOUR OWN DAY…GOLFING, MORE HIKING, WINE TASTING, AND MORE
For Day 2, there are lots of options to consider depending on what you’re in the mood for. You could also choose to do your Pink Jeep Tour on Day 2 to make for a less-busy Day 1.
If you like to golf, there are several public golf courses in the area with amazing views…I’ve played Oak Creek Country Club (a regulation 18-hole course), and Canyon Mesa Country Club (a 9-hole Executive course, that also has foot golf and tennis / pickle ball courts available too). Canyon Mesa is a nice option since you can finish your round in under two hours in the morning, and then have the rest of the day to check out something else.
Other outdoor options for Day 2 would be to do another hike, or to visit Slide Rock State Park, which would be great on a hot afternoon. I haven’t visited Slide Rock, but I do know it’s very popular and a lot of fun for kids and teens. If the weather isn’t the best, some indoor options are to visit the art galleries, do some souvenir shopping in historic downtown Sedona, or take a little tour of Chapel of the Holy Cross, which has a unique, glass-walled chapel that sits on top of a hill. Pretty cool views from there too, including the House of the Seven Arches, which has a very ornate yard and has been rumored to have been owned by various celebrities over time.
One other option that’s about 30 minutes outside of Sedona in Clarkdale, is to take a trip on the Verde Canyon Railroad. This would be a great activity for the whole family. Their trips generally run at 1PM and 5PM each day, and there are options for the basic train ride, a ride in the Caboose (for private parties), a ride in the locomotive (for 18+ only), and a Rails and Ales trip that includes beer tasting. In the fall, they also offer a haunted train experience (separate from the ride) in the evenings on weekends. I haven’t done this yet, but have a ticket booked for their Rails and Ales Train and Beer Tasting in a couple of weeks, so I will update this post with my review on that soon!
Finally, another option if this is an adults trip, is to check out one of the many wineries in the areas around Sedona. One of my favorites is Page Springs Cellars, which is just 15 miles outside Sedona. It’s a super cute farm-like property along Oak Creek that has tours, tastings, live music and a great little bistro for charcuterie and a variety of other food options. They are open every day of the year…be sure to check out their website for special events as well.
These suggestions are so great. So much to do right in our own backyard (country).
Totally agree Vicky, we have such a variety of landscapes and experiences right here! Thank you for the feedback!