A weekend in Sedona
- Length
- 2 days
- Base
- Sedona
- Best time
- Mar–May · Oct–Nov
- Stops
- 11
Sedona packs its red buttes, creeks and canyon trails into a small area, which makes it the ideal weekend: two hours from Phoenix, two from the Grand Canyon. The secret is timing — the best trailheads fill by mid-morning, and the light on the rocks is at its best in the first and last hours of the day.
Hour by hour
Friday · Arrive for sunset
15:00
Phoenix to Sedona
About two hours up I-17; stop at Montezuma Castle’s cliff dwelling if you leave early.
Sunset
Airport Mesa
The 360° viewpoint over West Sedona; the small lot fills, so arrive 45 minutes before sunset or walk up.
20:00
Dinner in Uptown
Southwestern food along 89A, and a sky full of stars — Sedona is an International Dark Sky Community.
Sleep: Sedona
Saturday · Red rocks
6:30
Devil’s Bridge or Cathedral Rock
Devil’s Bridge: the largest natural arch around, about 4 miles return from the Dry Creek trailhead. Cathedral Rock: short but steep, a scramble to a saddle between spires. Either way, start at first light.
11:00
Chapel of the Holy Cross
A modernist chapel built into the red rock, with views over the Bell Rock area.
13:00
Lunch at Tlaquepaque
Arts village of courtyards and galleries by Oak Creek.
15:30
Oak Creek Canyon
North on 89A between the canyon walls; dip your feet at Grasshopper Point or the creek-side picnic areas.
Sunset
Red Rock Crossing
Cathedral Rock reflected in Oak Creek: the most photographed view in Arizona.
Sleep: Sedona
Sunday · Creek and ghost town
8:00
West Fork of Oak Creek
A shaded trail crossing the creek again and again between high walls — glorious in fall color. Or Slide Rock State Park for the natural water slide in summer.
12:30
Jerome
A former copper-mining town clinging to Cleopatra Hill, now galleries, wine bars and wide views over the Verde Valley.
16:00
Back to Phoenix
About 2 h 15 via Cottonwood and I-17.
If you only have one day
Sunrise at Cathedral Rock, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, lunch at Tlaquepaque, a drive up Oak Creek Canyon, and sunset at Airport Mesa. Coming from the Grand Canyon, enter via Oak Creek Canyon from Flagstaff — the most beautiful approach.
The stops on a map
Where to sleep
Uptown Sedona
Walkable shops and restaurants, close to Oak Creek Canyon. Busiest part of town.
Hotels in Uptown Sedona partner linkWest Sedona
More hotels and better value, close to Airport Mesa and the western trailheads.
Hotels in West Sedona partner linkVillage of Oak Creek
South of town by Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock, quieter and often cheaper.
Hotels in Village of Oak Creek partner link
Budget, roughly
No made-up totals: prices move with the season and the day. Here is what costs what, from $ (cheap) to $$$$ (splurge), and where you can save. Our USA budget guide has typical ranges.
Lodging
$$$$
Sedona is pricey, especially at weekends and in spring and fall; Cottonwood, 30 minutes away, is cheaper.
Trailhead parking
$$$$
A Red Rock Pass (or an America the Beautiful pass) is required at many Forest Service trailheads.
Jeep tours
$$$$
Optional, and the way to reach rough backroads without a 4x4.
Food
$$$$
From taco shops to resort dining rooms.
Beating the trailhead parking
The most popular trailheads (Cathedral Rock, Devil’s Bridge, Soldier Pass) have small lots that fill early. Arrive before 7:30 am, or use the free Sedona Shuttle, which serves several of them on its operating days — check the schedule before you go. See our Sedona guide.
Sedona weekend: your questions
Is a weekend enough for Sedona?
Yes for the highlights: two sunrises, two sunsets and three or four hikes. Add a day for a jeep tour or the Grand Canyon.
What is the best time to visit Sedona?
March to May and October to November. Summer is hot and stormy; winter is mild with occasional snow.
Do you need a pass to hike in Sedona?
A Red Rock Pass is required to park at many Forest Service trailheads; the America the Beautiful pass also counts.
Sedona or the Grand Canyon?
Both: they are two hours apart. Our Arizona road trip links them.
Written by Kylian Dev · Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Times are indicative; opening hours change with the season.