Airport Mesa Sedona Arizona
Airport Mesa

Day Trip To Sedona Arizona: Sacred Red Rock Country

Last updated:

Sedona Arizona Sacred Red Rock Country

If you are planning a day trip to Sedona Arizona and looking for the best things to do, see and eat while visiting, you are in the right place.  Sedona Arizona is well known for its gorgeous red rock formations and energy vortexes. You will find red sandstone cliffs, 400+ hiking trails, swimming holes, a natural waterslide, healing vortexes, crystal shops, amazing artwork, spas, turquoise jewelry, and prickly pear margaritas. Browse the list of must-see attractions, off-the-beaten-path experiences, outdoor activities, and museums to create your personal Sedona bucket list. Then, plan the itinerary for your Sedona day trip with these top things to do, see, and eat. Red Rock Country is sacred to Native Americans, loved by photographers, revered by artists, and adored by the new age culture. Be sure to add a day trip to Sedona during your Arizona road trip to see why and enjoy your time out of the office!

READ 13 Incredible Day Trips from Flagstaff Arizona

Highway 89A Sedona Arizona day trip
Highway 89A

How to Have a Perfect Day in Sedona Arizona

How to Get to Sedona Arizona

Sedona is located between Phoenix and Flagstaff. Fly into the Phoenix airport and rent a car to easily explore all the area has to offer. Take Interstate 17 North to Highway 179 and exit to Sedona. The drive from Phoenix to Sedona is 2 hours through desert landscapes.

Sedona is an easy 45-minute drive from Flagstaff. Take Highway 89A through Oak Creek Canyon. This was Arizona’s first scenic route and is gorgeous. Be sure to stop at the Oak Creek Overlook in Coconino National Forest.

When to Visit Sedona Arizona

Sedona enjoys 300+ days of sunshine annually. Summer temperatures can reach 100+ degrees and winters can be cold at 30 degrees. The best time to visit is in March or April when the temperature is mild and the desert is in bloom.

Chapel of the Holy Cross day trip to Sedona Arizona
Chapel of the Holy Cross

Things to Do in and Around Sedona Arizona

Photograph Chapel of the Holy Cross at sunrise

Take a scenic Sedona trolley ride

Browse Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Center

Watch the sunset from Airport Mesa

Go for a swim at Grasshopper Point

Browse the art galleries on Main Street

Enjoy a spa day

Take a backcountry jeep tour

Visit the Metaphysical Center and get a photo taken of your aura

Photograph the rock stacks at Buddha Beach

Enjoy a picnic at the Crescent Moon Picnic Site

Go mountain biking

Drink a prickly pear margarita

Get an energy recharge on a Sherpa led vortex tour

Photograph the valley from Lover’s Knoll or Rachel’s Knoll

Join a stargazing or UFO sighting tour

Learn about Sedona’s history at the Sedona Heritage Museum

Go fishing in Oak Creek Canyon

Glide above the red rock formations in a hot air balloon

Take a few minutes to reflect at Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park

Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park Sedona Arizona day trip
Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park

Go horseback riding at Dead Horse Ranch State Park

Enjoy a cowboy cookout at M Diamond Ranch

Drive the Red Rock Scenic Byway (State Route 179)

Cool off on the natural waterslide at Slide Rock State Park

Go wine tasting in the Verde Valley

Visit Montezuma Castle National Monument

See the petroglyphs at V-Bar-V Heritage Site

Check out the ruins and cave paintings at the Palatki Heritage Site

Explore the Tuzigoot National Monument

Enjoy dinner and a show at Blazin M Ranch

Feed a lion at Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Explore the old town of Cottonwood

Take a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad

Spend a day in the Grand Canyon

Drive a portion of Route 66

Check out Oatman or Jerome’s ghost town

Be sure to check the Sedona Office of Tourism website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

Best Hiking Trails in Sedona Arizona

Cathedral Rock Trail 1.2-mile hike for panoramic views

Devil’s Bridge 4.2 miles hike to the natural arch

The 3.6-mile Bell Rock Pathway to the base of Bell Rock

Fay Canyon 2.4-mile hike for a panoramic view

Broken Arrow Trail 3.2-mile loop hike to Submarine Rock

4-mile Soldier’s Pass Trail to the Seven Sacred Pools

Boynton Canyon Trail 6.1-mile hike past cliffs to a box canyon overlook

Tip: parking lots trailheads charge, save money by purchasing a Red Rock Pass

Steamboat Rock day trip to Sedona Arizona
Steamboat Rock

Sedona Arizona Most Popular Red Rock Formations

Coffee Pot Rock

Steamboat Rock

Chimney Rock

Snoopy Rock

Cathedral Rock

Bell Rock

Courthouse Rock

Sedona Arizona Famous Vortexes

Cathedral Rock

Bell Rock

Boynton Canyon

Airport Mesa

Restaurants with a View in Sedona Arizona

Elote, Mexican food, and prickly pear margaritas

Javelina Cantina, Southwestern food, happy hour 3-6

Creekside American Bistro, overlooks Oak Creek Canyon

Hideaway House, Italian food, a great spot for sunset

Mariposa, fine dining on a scenic cliff

Bookmark and Pin Sedona Arizona Day Trip

Plan your Day Trip to Sedona Arizona

Sedona Arizona Travel Guide

Pick up an Arizona Travel Guide from Amazon.com to browse on the plane.

Book Your Accommodation in Sedona Arizona Now

Spending the night? Search Booking.com and VRBO in one place to find the perfect property!

Sedona Arizona Attractions and Day Tours

The best attractions sell out! Don’t chance it, get your tickets now and relax when you arrive.

Travel Essentials

Need a universal travel adaptor, power bank charger, or packing cubes? Save time at my Amazon shop and have travel essentials delivered to your home.

Have a great vacation!