Sedona Day Trip from Phoenix
Red sandstone buttes, creekside trails and the drive up Oak Creek Canyon
A one-day drive from Phoenix to Sedona — 244 mi round trip, about 4h 22m behind the wheel, with stops, timings and where to eat already worked out.
Red sandstone buttes, creekside trails and the drive up Oak Creek Canyon. It's a day out of Phoenix: 244 mi of driving in total, about 4h 22m behind the wheel, and the rest of the day on your feet.
The plan below is paced so the driving doesn't eat the day — leave after breakfast, be back for the evening. Every stop can be swapped for one of three alternatives if it isn't your kind of thing.
Bell Rock
Iconic red-rock formation right off AZ-179, an easy pull-off photo stop as you enter Sedona.
💡 Small pullout parking fills fast — arrive before 10am or park at the Bell Rock Pathway lot.
Bell Rock
Cathedral Rock
Sedona's most photographed formation and a classic short, steep hike to a stunning viewpoint.
💡 Buy a Red Rock Pass ($5) at the trailhead kiosk — required for parking.
Cathedral Rock
Tortas de Fuego
Popular local spot for hearty Mexican-inspired tortas, great mid-day refuel in the Village of Oak Creek.
1075 AZ-260, Cottonwood
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Striking mid-century chapel built into red rock cliffs with sweeping valley views.
💡 Free to enter; go late morning for the best light on the rock face.
780 Chapel Rd, Sedona
Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout
Famous vortex site and one of the best sunset viewpoints over Sedona's red rocks.
💡 Arrive 30-45 min before sunset — the small lot overflows quickly.
538 Airport Rd, Sedona
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
Charming Spanish colonial-style arts village with galleries, courtyards, and local crafts.
336 AZ-179, Sedona
Elote Cafe
Beloved Sedona restaurant serving creative Southwestern cuisine, a top local dinner destination.
💡 No reservations taken — arrive right at opening (5pm) or expect a long wait.
350 Jordan Rd, Sedona
- Red Rock Pass ($5/day) required for parking at most trailheads — buy at kiosks or visitor center
- AZ-179 through the Village of Oak Creek is the most scenic entry — avoid rushing it
- Sedona has no low-emission zone but parking is very limited in Uptown — arrive early
- Fill up on gas in Sedona before the drive home, stations are pricier past Camp Verde
- Slide Rock State Park+9 mi
Natural water slide and swimming holes in Oak Creek Canyon, a beloved family/nature stop just north of town.
- Devil's Bridge Trailhead+7 mi
Sedona's largest natural sandstone arch, a popular moderately strenuous hike with epic photo payoff.
- Montezuma Castle National Monument+6 mi
Well-preserved 12th-century cliff dwelling right off I-17, an easy detour on the way back to Phoenix.
- Out of Africa Wildlife Park+5 mi
Popular wildlife park near Camp Verde, a fun stop if traveling with time to spare on the return leg.
Make this trip your own
Plan your own road trip →This route was drafted with AI. Please double-check roads, opening hours and local conditions before you go.
Made with Roadanza
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Work it out for this route →Questions, answered
- How far is Sedona from Phoenix?
- About two hours by car, roughly 190 km up I-17 and then east. It is the single most popular day trip from the city, which means the trailhead car parks fill by mid-morning at weekends — arriving before eight makes the difference between parking and circling.
- Can you visit the Grand Canyon in a day from Phoenix?
- The South Rim is about three and a half hours each way, so it is a long day — eleven or twelve hours door to door with only two or three hours at the rim. It works if the drive is part of the plan; it is far better as an overnight in Flagstaff or Tusayan.
- When is the best time for day trips from Phoenix?
- October to April. Winter is the region's high season for a reason: clear, dry days in the low twenties. From June to September, restrict yourself to the high country — Flagstaff, the Mogollon Rim — or to water, and start at dawn.
- Which of these works in summer?
- The high-elevation ones: Flagstaff at 2,100 m and the Mogollon Rim are usually fifteen to twenty degrees cooler than the valley. Canyon Lake works too if you're on the water rather than beside it. Saguaro country and the low desert are for the cooler months.
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