Sedona & Red Rock State Park Tour: Self-Guided Drive

Absolutely! Sedona has all the natural beauty of a national park, combined with the charm of a quirky, one-of-a-kind desert town. Seeing it in person is well worth the trip.

A car is actually the best way to see Sedona! While there are some tour buses available, these won’t be able to show you the whole town. Having a car gives you much more freedom to explore on your own and escape the crowds.

April and May are among the best months to visit Sedona. You’ll beat the heat, beat the majority of the crowds, but still have plenty of opportunity to enjoy the sun.

While you can see a lot of Sedona’s attractions in a single day, we recommend spending at least two or three days there for the full experience. This will give you the opportunity to hike, linger at the coolest spots, and explore West Sedona as well.

Sedona is about 115 miles from Phoenix and takes around two hours to reach by car. During the busy summer months, however, you should anticipate quite a bit of traffic going into the city, which can add an extra 30-60 minutes to your travel time.

The Grand Canyon takes a little over two hours to reach from Sedona, so you can definitely make a day trip if you’re feeling ambitious. With that said, if you plan on doing any hiking at the Grand Canyon (rather than just walking along the South Rim), you’ll probably want at least two days there.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is much closer to Sedona. This is also the much more popular and accessible rim of the canyon, with lots more trails, park services, and food and lodging options.

Spiritual folks consider Sedona to be a place of intense energy thanks to its breathtaking landscape. The “vortexes” are places where this energy coalesces and is directed upward (by rock formations) or downward (by chasms).

Sedona has several different vortexes (7 or 8 depending on who you ask), but the best known are the Airport Mesa Vortex, the Bell Rock Vortex, the Cathedral Rock Vortex, and the Boynton Canyon Vortex. Of these, the first three are said to direct energy upward, while the last directs it downward.

If you’re just parking for under 15 minutes to snap a few photos, no pass is needed. But if you plan to spend longer at the major attractions like Cathedral Rock, you’ll need a Red Rock Pass. If you have an America the Beautiful pass, however, you can use this instead of the Red Rock Pass!

Sedona’s rocks get their red color from iron oxide. This is a key part of the geological layer known as the Schnebly Hill Formation, which makes up Sedona’s most striking formations.

This depends on what time of year you’re visiting, but you’ll want to bring layers no matter what! If you’re visiting in the summer, short sleeves, shorts, and a light jacket just in case should be sufficient. But during the cooler months, you’ll want to make sure you bring heavier layers for those cold nights. And don’t forget a good pair of hiking shoes!

Start by paying a visit to some of the most iconic rock formations, like Chapel Rock and Courthouse Butte. On the way, stop by the awe-inspiring Chapel of the Holy Cross as well. As the day winds down, head into town and check out the shops and galleries in the Tlaquepaque Arts Village. Then grab a bite to eat at any of the fabulous spots in Uptown! For indepth details read our blog. 

There’s no “best” part of Sedona, but there are a few spots you simply can’t miss. First is Cathedral Rock, one of the most-photographed spots in the country. Another is the Chapel of the Holy Cross. And if you’re into New Age spirituality, you cannot leave without visiting one of Sedona’s incredible vortexes.

From luxurious 5-star resorts to cozy inns perfect for a romantic getaway to affordable motels, Sedona has it all.

The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is where you should land. It is a two-hour trip from Phoenix to Sedona.

Sedona is 4500 feet above sea level, which is higher than Phoenix and Scottsdale. Spring and autumn have very agreeable temperatures, with highs in the 70s and 80s. Summertime temperatures average between the upper 90s and low 100s (about 10 degrees cooler than Phoenix). Evening temperatures in the summer range from the upper 60s to the low 70s. During the winter, daytime highs can range from 30 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Nighttime temperatures can range from the mid-teens to the thirties.

From Phoenix: Total Distance: 115 Miles; Estimated Travel Time: 2 Hours
Option A: Take I-17 north to Flagstaff (98 miles), exit onto State Route 179 (exit 298), turn left (west) onto State Route 179, and continue on State Route 179 to Sedona (14 miles).
Option B: Take I-17 north toward Flagstaff (98 miles), exit at AZ 260 (exit 289), turn left onto AZ 260, proceed west toward Hwy 89A (16 miles), turn right onto Hwy 89A, and proceed to Sedona (19 miles).

From Las Vegas: Total Distance: 280 Miles; Estimated Travel Time: 5 Hours
Take I-515/US-93 towards Hoover Dam/ Arizona (20 miles), Continue on US-93 towards Kingman, AZ (6 miles), Turn left onto US-93/I-40 (78 miles), Continue east on I-40 towards Flagstaff, AZ (145 miles), Take I-17 south (exit 195) (3 miles), Take Hwy 89A (exit 337), Continue south on Hwy-89A towards Sedona (23 miles).

From Los Angeles: Total Distance: 480 Miles; Estimated Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
Option A: Take I-10 east to Hwy-101 north, then Hwy-101 north to I-17 north. From Phoenix, follow either option A or B.
Option B: Take I-40 east towards Flagstaff, then I-17 south (exit 195) (3 miles), then Hwy 89A (exit 337), then Hwy-89A south (23 miles) to Sedona.