What to Do in Sedona in 3 Days
Welcome to Sedona, Arizona! The land of red rocks, vortexes, epic hikes and viewpoints is just waiting for you to get out and explore. Wondering exactly what to do in Sedona? I’ve got you covered with my three day itinerary.
If you’ve never been to Sedona, driving in feels like you’ve entered another world. With towering red rocks all around you, you suddenly feel miles away from the flat lands and cacti that Arizona is typically known for. I remember staring out the window of our car wondering if this landscape was real!
There’s no doubt that Sedona is a stunning and popular place to visit. But it can be easy to get overwhelmed when planning a trip there. With so many things to see and do in Sedona, how can you make the most of your time?
My family and I visited Sedona as part of our October 2023 road trip through Arizona. While Sedona was new to us, if you’ve read any of my past blog posts, you know I love to do my research.
And this time I had a guy on the inside; Colin’s cousins live in Arizona and have a home in Sedona. They were able to give us the inside scoop, which I’m sharing with you in my itinerary below.
This three day itinerary is perfect for first time visitors to Sedona who want to get a taste of everything this part of Arizona offers. While Sedona is definitely a hiker’s paradise and foodies will have no problem spending lots of money on Sedona dining, you don’t have to be an experienced hiker or fine diner to enjoy Sedona or follow my itinerary. I’m neither of those things and had a great time!
Below I’m sharing my itinerary for three days in Sedona, plus how to get there, where to stay and what you can’t miss in Red Rock Country!
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My top 3 things to do in Sedona, AZ
My top three recommended things to do in Sedona are:
- Go on a hike amongst the red rocks. Even if you’re not a big hiker (like me!), there are lots of easy routes that still offer epic views.
- Browse, shop and eat at Tlaquepaque. This boutique outdoor shopping village is definitely worth a visit and the perfect place to buy authentic souvenirs.
- Explore the red rocks on a jeep tour. This is the perfect way to get up close to Sedona’s famous scenery and get that adrenaline pumping!
Summary: 3 days in Sedona itinerary
- Day 1: Go on a hike, explore the red rocks by jeep tour and end the day with pizza.
- Day 2: Shop in downtown Sedona, explore caves, castles and other natural wonders, and enjoy Mexican food for dinner.
- Day 3: Road trip through the small towns near Sedona visiting a National Monument, winery, museum and ghost town.
What to do in Sedona: Day 1
Morning: Go on a Sedona hike
The first thing you have to do in Red Rock Country is get out into the red rocks! There are lots of hiking opportunities in Sedona and even if you’re a non-hiker like me, there are plenty of easy routes.
After consulting with Colin’s cousin who has a home in Sedona and has hiked many of the local trails himself, we settled on Marg’s Draw Trail (4 mi or 6.4 km) for our first big Sedona hike. It turned out to be a great choice!
From where we started the hike, there was a pretty steep incline for the first few minutes. But after that, the trail plateaued and was much flatter. Still, it felt good to make it up that steep section and be rewarded with beautiful views.
We continued on the mostly flat path – there was the occasional up and down but nothing super steep – for about an hour. The trail wasn’t paved but it was an obviously marked trail with some rocky parts.
We were hiking around 10:00 am in October and the sun was bright, though parts of the trail were shaded (perfect for water breaks!). This is important to know if you plan to hike this trail in summer when the sun is scorching.
As we walked, it felt like we had views on all sides of us. In front of us was Sedona’s Snoopy Rock, which got bigger as we hiked closer (though I’m not sure I ever saw the resemblance to Snoopy). On the way back, we saw Bell Rock Sedona and Cathedral Rock in the distance.
I was really happy with our choice to hike Marg’s Draw Trail. The whole time we were hiking (apx two hours), we only saw four other people. The trail was easy enough for us non-hikers, but still felt like we got our blood pumping. Best of all, the views were incredible!
Other easy-ish trails I researched in Sedona (and that got the stamp of approval from Colin’s cousin!) include:
- Courthouse Butte Loop Trail: 4 miles (6.4 km), 1.5-2.5 hrs, loop and relatively flat, can add on Bell Rock Climb at the end
- Sedona Airport Loop Trail: 3 miles (4.8 km), 2 hours, nice views around the mesa, not much shade
- Red Rock Crossing Trail: 2 miles (3.2 km), along Oak Creek
Colin’s cousin also told us about two other popular hikes in Sedona that he actually recommends skipping: Devil’s Bridge (it’s always busy and steep) and Fay Canyon (apparently it’s boring).
Afternoon: Go on a jeep tour in Sedona
My mother-in-law visited Sedona for the first time a few months before we did. And she swore up and down that the one thing we had to do in Sedona was go on a jeep tour. She even said she liked her Sedona jeep tour better than seeing the Grand Canyon!
While I personally would put the Grand Canyon above the jeep tour (in my MIL’s defence, she visited the Grand Canyon on a very cold March day), I would still totally recommend a jeep tour while you’re in Sedona.
A jeep tour is a great way to get out into the red rocks, especially if you’re not planning to go on super long hikes. It’s also just a really fun time! Part sight-seeing experience and part thrill ride, I don’t know anyone who has been on jeep ride in Sedona and regretted it.
We headed out on our tour with a great guide, Steve, who was super knowledgeable about the area and also a lot of fun. He was great at pointing out different plants and rock formations to us, as well as an awesome photographer.
The ride was BUMPY! They do warn you ahead of time that you’re in for a pretty rugged ride. All of the jeep tour companies have different routes that they drive, and some are more rugged than others, so you can choose the one you think you’ll be most comfortable with.
I’m someone who gets motion sick, so decided to take an anti-nausea tablet before the ride. I don’t know if that was what made the difference, but I didn’t feel sick at all.
During our tour we stopped at two points. At the first one, we were the only jeep there and got to walk up to Submarine Rock and take in the views. This was probably the most scenic place we saw in all of Sedona. We were all blown away!
As well as scenic viewpoints, you’re also paying for a thrilling ride. And do they ever deliver! We had a ton of fun (the kind where you’re not sure if you should laugh or scream in terror) going down the Stairway of No Return and “failing” a brake check.
It was incredible to see the huge rocks that our jeep was able to climb over. And it was horrifying to hear from our guide that many tourists rent jeeps and try to do these routes on their own. I would only ever want an experienced professional driving on that terrain!
After a full day of exploring the red rocks of Sedona, you deserve a pizza party! Pick up a pie or two from Pisa Lisa (a local favourite and also highly recommended by my mother-in-law) to celebrate the end of day one.
What to do in Sedona: Day 2
Morning: Shop and explore downtown Sedona, AZ
Start day two in downtown Sedona. This part of the city reminded me a lot of Whistler Village just outside of Vancouver. Yes, it’s a little touristy, but it’s also a lot of fun!
There are lots of souvenir shops, jewelry stores and stores that sell crystals or offer psychic readings, leaning into Sedona’s hippie vibes. For slightly more boutique shopping, you’ll want to visit Tlaquepaque.
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village is an outdoor shopping centre with a really cool vibe. While many of the stores were selling luxury items well out of my price range, I still really liked walking through the different courtyards and admiring the architecture.
You can also find some hidden gems and local products at Tlaquepaque – it’s not all high end shopping. There’s also a pretty good Mexican restaurant, El Rincon, where we had lunch. I recommend the steak tacos!
Your last must-see downtown is Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross, famous for the way the church is built into the red rock. Even if you’re not a church goer, it’s pretty cool to see the exterior of this building.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is actually the most popular tourist site in Sedona, so expect a crowd! I was mostly interested in seeing the view of the cross from the outside, so we decided to just drive up and snap a photo, meaning we got to avoid the crowds fighting for parking.
If you want to go into the church, I’d recommend first driving all the way up to see if there is any parking available at the chapel. Presumably, these spots fill up first and then people start parking farther and farther back down the road, meaning they have to walk uphill to enter the chapel.
But because a visit to the church is so quick, parking spots become available pretty often. So your best bet is to drive up and try for the best spot before you settle for parking down the road.
Or, avoid all of that and just snap a photo from your car window like I did!
Afternoon: Check out vortexes, slides, castles and caves
In the afternoon, it’s time to get back into Sedona’s great outdoors. There are lots of cool places to explore around Sedona. You can try to fit them all in or just pick the one or two that seem most appealing.
Sedona vortexes
Vortexes are energy centres and, it turns out, Sedona is very well known for them! Their tourism board states, “People travel from all across the globe to experience the mysterious cosmic forces that are said to emanate from the red rocks.”
There are many vortexes around Sedona with the most popular being Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon. You can visit on your own or with a guide, and many groups offer yoga, meditation or other rituals at the vortexes.
I’ll be honest: I don’t really buy into all of this vortex, energy healing, cosmic force stuff. But if you’re into it, Sedona has got you covered! And if you’re not, just think of each vortex as a hiking spot for hippies (kidding!).
Slide Rock State Park
Kids bugging you to bring them to a water park but you don’t want to shell out the big bucks for Six Flags? You’re in luck! At Slide Rock State Park you and your family can experience a natural water park for a fraction of the cost.
While not exactly a water park, Slide Rock does boast a natural slide down rocks into the water and looks like a ton of fun. Plus, for just $10-30/car (prices vary depending on the time of year), it’s much cheaper than visiting a real theme park.
Colin’s Sedona cousin does warn that the red rocks stain, so don’t wear your favourite swimsuit for this activity. It’s also worth checking water levels before you go; we were advised to skip it for our October trip since it had been quite dry.
Montezuma Castle
Montezuma Castle is a National Monument just outside of Sedona. Dating back to 1050 CE, Montezuma Castle is comprised of a 20-room Sinagua dwelling built into the limestone cliff. You can learn more about the Sinagua people here.
It was incredible to see what was basically an ancient apartment building high up in a cliff. I thought it would have been impressive to build a structure that large and detailed on the ground in 1050 CE, let alone a few stories up and in a cliff face!
Montezuma Castle is very easy to visit. It’s a short walk on a paved loop from the parking lot to see the castle and a few other structures. You can learn more about the history of the site and pick up a souvenir at the Visitor Center.
Entrance to Montezuma Castle also includes entrance to Montezuma Well, which is just 15-20 minutes away.
Birthing Cave Sedona
Birthing Cave is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona and rated moderately challenging. The trail itself is quite short (3.1 km or 1.9 mi) but involves a steep scramble up a small, slippery cave. Those who are up for the challenge will be rewarded with some epic views!
Another cave option in Sedona is Soldier Pass Trail. This 4.5 mile (7.2 km) route is rated moderately challenging and will take you past some scenic sinkholes, pools, arches and caves as you hike.
After an adventurous afternoon outdoors, end your day with dinner at Elote, a highly rated Mexican restaurant in Sedona. Because it’s so beloved, advance reservations are essential. I tried to book a few weeks in advance for our trip and they were already completely full.
If Elote is full, we found Mole to be a great back up. My family and I especially enjoyed their Snapper Filet Zarandeado, Seared Pollo Borracho and guacamole!
What to do in Sedona: Day 3
All day: Small town road trip from Sedona
On your third and final day in Sedona, it’s time to explore some of the small towns to the southeast of the city. We’ll stop in the charming city of Cottonwood and taste wine, see a National Monument, visit an art museum and check out a ghost town.
Cottonwood & Sedona wineries (25 mins from Sedona)
Up first is the small city of Cottonwood. Colin’s cousin from Arizona recommended we stop here to stroll through Old Town Cottonwood and grab a bite. Cottonwood is also a great place to taste some local wine.
Check out the Verde Valley Wine Trail on this winery tasting and jeep tour. Or if beer is more your thing, check out this craft beer tasting tour which includes a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad.
Tuzigoot (15 mins from Cottonwood)
Next up is Tuzigoot, a National Monument and Sinagua dwelling dating back to the 1100s. After seeing Montezuma earlier in our trip, it was cool to check out another Sinagua structure and see how it differed.
Unlike Montezuma where you just take in the apartment dwelling from a distance, you can actually walk in and around Tuzigoot. The best part was getting to the top of the structure and seeing views over the valley. There was also a Park Ranger stationed there who gave us a mini history lesson.
The Tuzigoot Visitor Center has a mini museum where you can learn more about the Sinagua people and excavation of the site. There’s also a marsh out back where you can walk along a path and check out local wildlife.
Clarkdale (5 mins from Tuzigoot)
Just five minutes from Tuzigoot is the very small town of Clarkdale where we visited the Arizona Copper Art Museum. Like the town, this museum is quite small and quirky, but I think it’s worth a stop.
The building used to be a high school but was converted into a copper museum to show off one of Arizona’s main exports. There was a lot of information on the science behind copper and all of its various uses.
I’m not usually someone who cares to learn about metal, but I was pretty impressed by this museum. I liked seeing the beautiful displays of copper items (the kitchen room really blew me away) and the trench art that soldiers made by carving into copper casings.
For a museum dedicated to copper art, I would’ve liked to see more large-scale copper art pieces. I think an outdoor sculpture garden would be a really cool addition to this place!
Clarkdale is also home to the Verde Canyon Railroad. This four hour luxurious train tour takes you through the red rock valley with open-air cars. This is definitely on my Sedona bucket list for a future trip – the views look incredible!
Jerome (10 mins from Clarkdale)
The last stop on your mini road trip around Sedona is Jerome, an old ghost town. Just the drive up to Jerome is pretty special. There are lots of switchbacks and a stunning view all the way up.
We found Jerome to be a really quirky town! Being a ghost town, and it being October, the whole place was decked out for Halloween. Sadly, we visited on a weekday and it seems like many stores are only open on the weekends. But having that many stores closed only added to the eerie, ghostly vibe.
There were a few places opened, like pubs, art galleries, jewelry stores and restaurants. It was fun to walk around and browse through the shops, plus see the old town jail. But I think Jerome would be more interesting to visit when it’s more lively (ghost pun?) and busy with people.
From Jerome it’s about a 40 minute drive back to Sedona.
More exploring around Sedona
If you finish your mini road trip early or want to swap out some of the stops, here are a few more places you can visit around Sedona:
- Oak Creek Canyon (15 mins from Sedona)
- V Bar V Heritage Site (30 mins from Sedona)
- Palatki Heritage Site (40 mins from Sedona)
- Two Guns ghost town & Apache Death Cave (75 mins from Sedona)
- Meteor Crater Natural Landmark (90 mins from Sedona)
- Petrified Forest National Park (2 hrs from Sedona)
Bonus: Sedona to Grand Canyon day trip
Besides all the awesome things to do in Sedona, Sedona also makes a great base for a trip to the Grand Canyon. The South Rim is only two hours from Sedona, making a Sedona to Grand Canyon day trip the perfect addition to your itinerary!
My family and I did a Grand Canyon day trip from Sedona during our October 2023 travels and it was one of the highlights of our trip. None of us had ever been to the Grand Canyon before and it completely blew us away. I’ll be sharing more of the tips and tricks from our day trip in an upcoming post!
You can self-drive or, if you’d prefer not to drive 4+ hours, you can join a day tour from Sedona to the Grand Canyon. Many of the tours also include guides who will enhance your trip and make sure you’re seeing the best parts of the Grand Canyon.
How many days is enough for Sedona?
I think three days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Sedona. Three days allows you to get a taste of everything Sedona has to offer – hiking, shopping, vortexes, small towns – plus it means you can follow my itinerary above exactly!
If you want to do a day trip from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, I’d recommend adding an extra day to your itinerary. We had four days during our October 2023 trip, which allowed us to spend a day at the Grand Canyon without sacrificing too much time in Sedona.
I’d also recommend an extra day in Sedona if you’re a big hiker. My itinerary above only fits in 1-2 hikes but there are so many more in the area. There are also other small towns and national and state parks nearby you can visit.
If you’re short on time and only have two days in Sedona, I’d stick to the city and not bother visiting the nearby towns. Instead, spend your time hiking, enjoying downtown Sedona and taking in the incredible scenery (i.e. follow day one and two of my itinerary above, but skip day three).
No matter how long you have in Sedona, you’ll want to stay connected while you’re there. I used an eSIM during our trip and highly recommend setting one up whenever you travel internationally.
Check out my Sim Local eSIM review and save 5% on your next eSIM with my code TEASPOON.
How to get to Sedona, AZ
Most visitors to Sedona fly to a nearby city and then drive to Sedona, as Sedona itself doesn’t have an airport. The closest airports to Sedona are Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport or Flagstaff Pulliam (regional, smaller airport).
You could also include Sedona as part of a road trip from the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas or Utah’s National Parks.
Flying into Phoenix Sky Harbor and then renting a car to drive to Sedona? That’s what we did and I’d recommend it. It was nice to have our own set of wheels to explore Arizona. Book your rental car here!
How to get from Phoenix to Sedona
The drive from Phoenix to Sedona is about two hours. We drove from just outside Phoenix, Scottsdale to Sedona, on our road trip and it was one of my favourite drives of the trip. It was fascinating to see how the scenery changed from cacti forests to rolling hills to giant red rocks.
Don’t want to self-drive from Phoenix to Sedona? Join a tour! There are lots of day tours from Phoenix to explore Sedona, allowing you to see the highlights without having to worry about the directions. Plus, many tours include the Grand Canyon, so you can get a two for one!
How to get from Flagstaff to Sedona
The drive from Flagstaff to Sedona is about one hour. Note that if you take State Route 89A, it’s a pretty windy road. We drove this route a few times during our Arizona road trip and every single time I was very glad I had my anti-nausea tablets with me!
Don’t want to drive from Flagstaff to Sedona? Join this guided day tour of Sedona from Flagstaff where you’ll explore Oak Creek Canyon, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Airport Vortex and have time to head out on your own hiking or shopping adventures.
When is the best time to visit Sedona?
The best time to visit Sedona depends on if you prefer better weather or smaller crowds. The best time to visit weather-wise is spring or fall when temperatures are comfortable.
Of course, this is also when Sedona is busiest. Spring break in particular can be very busy with kids out of school and people flocking to Arizona for spring training games.
For smaller crowds and cheaper prices, the best time to visit Sedona would be summer or winter, though the weather won’t be ideal. Summer is going to be hot and is also Sedona’s rainy season while winter can get down to freezing temperatures.
We visited Sedona in mid-October and I thought it was a pretty good time to go. The weather was perfect with sunny, warm days where we could wear shorts and t-shirts.
The city did feel a bit crowded in October but it didn’t impact us much. I’d just recommend booking any restaurant reservations ahead of time and accounting for some traffic on your way in or out of town.
PS: Sedona also makes a great babymoon destination!
Where to stay: The best Airbnb in Sedona, AZ
We stayed at an incredible Airbnb in Sedona (it was actually on VRBO, but I know “Airbnb” is more familiar to some). It was the perfect space for a group travelling together and so central to everything we wanted to do in Sedona.
I am a little bit biased in recommending this place – Colin’s cousins actually own the home – but they have no idea I’m writing this and I really do recommend it for your stay in Sedona.
This Sedona accommodation has three bedrooms, all with their own ensuite bathrooms, allowing for lots of privacy. There was also a huge room with couches and the laundry, which easily could have been converted into a fourth bedroom.
The kitchen, dining and living room are all open to each other and have tons of room for a family. The six of us ate meals together at the dining table, had family movie night and games night in the living room, and didn’t get in each other’s way cooking in the kitchen. The home also has a fire pit, back porch with barbeque and plenty of space for parking.
Best of all, the home is located just a few minutes’ walk from downtown Sedona. While we had a car for our trip, we didn’t need it to walk into town to shop or eat. You could even walk to some of the best hiking trails in Sedona.
Book your stay at my recommended Sedona VRBO here!
Not a VRBO/Airbnb person? Check out Sedona hotels here.
Final thoughts on what to do in Sedona: Is Sedona worth the trip?
When we first started planning our Arizona road trip, I was a little bit worried that Sedona wouldn’t live up to the hype. My mother in law had visited earlier in the year and raved about it so much, so my expectations were high.
And to be honest, Sedona totally surpassed them!
Yes, Sedona is touristy, but it never felt too crowded. We were able to get off the beaten path by choosing less popular hiking routes and towns to visit. And sure, Sedona can be pricey. But we saved money by opting for free outdoor activities and cooking some meals at our Sedona vacation home.
Even with the other tourists and higher prices, I still really enjoyed my time in Sedona, AZ. The red rock scenery completely blew my mind and it was so fun to have a few days as a family to explore it together.
I’d highly recommend Sedona for your travel bucket list. It’s a really fun city with lots to do and not a bad view in sight. I think it’s the kind of place that visitors of all ages will love, with something to do for everyone. I could see revisiting with young kids, a group of friends and as retirees!
What are you most excited to do or see in Sedona, Arizona? Let me know in the comments below and stay tuned for more posts from my Arizona family road trip!
Thank you for your suggestions. Looks like you had a wonderful time. I look forward to doing some hiking, having dinner at Elote cafe and spending time visiting the Grand Canyon. Your recommendations were very helpful!
Thanks, Vicki. Hope you enjoy your trip!