Home to beautiful desert cities, geological wonderments, and the breathtaking Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona is the state to be if you live someplace colder and need a little change of pace. Of all the places to see and things to do, a Sedona day trip is up there as one of the best travel decisions you could make.
This place flies under a lot of people’s radar, but those who know, know. After all, there are enough activities in Sedona and its general area to keep you occupied for weeks. At the same time, even a single day in this red rock paradise is a day well spent.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the best things to do in Sedona!
Sedona Day Trip Checklist
Check out the Sedona Heritage Museum
The seeds of modern-day Sedona were planted in 1876, courtesy of the first settlers. A lot of things have happened since then, and the Sedona Heritage Museum is a great place to get acquainted with the place’s history.
The museum is located on a beautiful farmstead, flanked from multiple sides by the red beds that make Sedona so special. We couldn’t think of a better way to get into the spirit of things than spending the afternoon here!
Discover the countless hiking trails
The best Sedona hikes can knock the wind out of you if you’re not prepared, but the beautiful scenery makes everything worth it.
For starters, the menacingly named Devil’s Bridge Trailhead is actually one of the breezier hikes you can take in the Sedona area. The two-mile trail is quite beginner-friendly, and the mix of green desert flora and red rock formations at Devil’s Bridge is the ultimate payoff.
If you’re after something more challenging, the Boynton Canyon Trail amps things up with a six-mile trek. For our more zen-minded readers, this is where a lot of people like to go to get in touch with their spiritual side. And with an atmosphere like that, who can blame them?
Alternatively, you can dip southward and hit the Mesa Airport Vortex, Bell Rock Trailhead, or Broken Arrow Trail. There are lots of unforgettable vistas you’ll encounter along the way, but the highlight has to be The Chapel of the Holy Cross. There’s just something magical about a jaw-dropping manmade structure blending in with the wall of red rocks!
Visit Red Rock State Park
Of all the beautiful spots in the area, Red Rock State Park arguably captures Sedona’s spirit the best. Once a part of the Smoke Trail Ranch, the park has evolved into a haven for cyclists and horseback riders who live for Arizona’s irresistible desert landscapes.
If you have a few hours to spend, consider taking a guided tour of Sedona that covers Red Rock State Park. There are some challenging treks over at the park, but people of all fitness levels are welcome - the tour’s route is flexible depending on your capabilities, so you can arrange an easy hike if that’s more your speed!
Marvel at the Montezuma Castle National Monument
There are lots of things to do in Sedona without hiking, and paying a visit to the gorgeous Lake Montezuma is one of them. It’s hard not to be mesmerized by the sight of swimming ducks with that beautiful Arizona backdrop as the cherry on top!
At any rate, your Sedona trip wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Montezuma Castle National Monument. These dwellings have an incredibly rich history, having housed the Sinagua people around a millennium ago. If you’re in the Sedona area, do yourself a favor and explore this place to the last inch!
Stop by the Village of Oak Creek, AZ
This is only a fifteen-minute Sedona itinerary (there are quite a few quality day trips from Sedona that are like this), so there’s no excuse not to show The Village of Oak Creek some love.
The place is sandwiched between Red Rock State Park and a lot of the trails we mentioned above - for our money, that gives it one of the best panoramic views in all of the States!
Besides its charming locales and inviting hotels (more on that later), the area’s highlight is probably Bell Rock. Unsurprisingly, the hiking trails here are off the charts, but that’s just one piece of the puzzle. We recommend doing a meditation tour here to get connected to nature like never before!
Explore Coconino National Forest
The Sedona area is pretty green when you consider where it’s located, but for a taste of some more “conventional” greenery, Coconino National Forest is the place to be.
You can think of this forest as Sedona’s backyard - a near-two-million-acre backyard housing hundreds of lovable animal species, not to mention Humphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona!
Drive up to Flagstaff
One thing people love about Sedona is how close it is to everything while still feeling quaint and remote. If you want to spend an evening living it up, you can take the short drive up to Flagstaff and see how the other half lives!
Beer drinkers will get a kick out of the Flagstaff Brewery Trail, the ultimate guide to Arizona’s finest brews. Beyond that, there are enough shopping places and parks here to keep you busy for a while!
Also, the views of the Milky Way here are out of this world, pun slightly intended. The Giovale Open Deck Observatory really puts the scale of our lives into perspective, and it’s something you can’t afford to miss out on.
Spend the day at Grand Canyon National Park
If you’re spending a day in Sedona, it’s hard to ignore the elephant in the room - Grand Canyon National Park is just a couple of hours up the road. Needless to say, it’s a hiker’s dream come true, but that’s only scratching the surface.
What can we say about this place that hasn’t already been said? Whether it’s the staggering size, the awe-inspiring sunsets, or the one-of-a-kind ambiance, there’s a little something for everyone here.
The only downside is that it’ll eat up an entire day if you want to explore thoroughly… Actually, when we say it out loud, a Sedona to Grand Canyon day trip is starting to sound pretty good!
Where to stay in Sedona
Thinking of turning your day trip to Sedona into a week-long adventure? After all, spending one day in Sedona is already a sensory overload in the best possible way, so imagine what you could do if you stayed a little longer!
Luckily, the city is teeming with amazing places to spend the night.
Sedona Pines Resort
Whether you’re in Sedona or anywhere else in the world, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cottage resort that ticks so many boxes. Between the gorgeous architecture, decent-sized swimming pool, and top-tier restaurant, it’s hard to imagine this place could get any better.
If you’re staying here, you may want to consider the guided tour of Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. It’s definitely on the pricy side, but you can get picked up from the hotel for free and immerse yourself in Arizona’s natural wonders for around twelve hours!
Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock
If you want a swankier pick, this place is the perfect embodiment of what the city is all about. It’s technically more accurate to call this a Village of Oak Creek resort, but for all intents and purposes, the two places are practically joined at the hip anyway.
The design pays homage to the region’s rock formations, and the rooms are some of the best you can find in all of Arizona. It also makes exploring Sedona really easy, since it’s close to everything you’d like to see, including the titular Bell Rock!
Sedona Day Trip FAQs
How far is Sedona from Phoenix?
There are about 115 miles between Sedona and Phoenix, and you’re in for a pretty straightforward two-hour drive along Interstate 17. For those who have the time to do a full tour of Arizona, the capital is obviously something you won’t want to pass on.
If you’re traveling there from Sedona, you’re in for a pretty scenic drive. We’ve already covered The Village of Oak Creek and Montezuma, but there’s also Black Canyon City and Lake Pleasant Regional Park, among others.
Why are the rocks in Sedona red?
Simply put, the red color of Sedona’s rocks comes down to iron oxide and millions of years of exposure to the elements. The region’s sandstones have spent thousands of millennia in contact with water of various kinds. In turn, the iron inside them has oxidized, giving the rocks their unique reddish hue.
As a bonus side fact, Sedona and the nearby Schebly Hill Formation (one of the most famous red bed formations in Arizona) both got their names from Sedona Schnebly, an early settler of the region!
Can I visit a Sedona vortex if I’m scared?
Yes - in fact, if you’re scared of Sedona’s vortexes, that’s all the more reason to visit one! A lot of people believe that Sedona’s red rocks are imbued with cleansing energy, making them a favorite spot for yoga and meditation among visitors.
Whether or not there’s truth to the spirituality claims, it’s hard to deny there’s something enchanting about Sedona’s landscapes. Even if you think about it as just a scenic spot with spectacular views, it’s likely the environment will do you good in one way or another.
At the end of the day, if there’s one thing psychology teaches us, it’s that exposure therapy works when done properly. If the prospect of visiting a vortex site makes you squeamish, it’s something you may want to face head-on - you can even bring a buddy if it gives you more peace of mind!
