Sedona Itinerary With A Scenic Road Trip To The Grand Canyon
Sedona, Arizona is one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever experience. The glow of the red rocks at sunset, the easy accessibility of fantastic hiking and biking trails, petroglyphs, ancient Indian cliff dwellings, and the nice weather make this a great family destination.
You’ll be surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest land, yet you’re never far from the town’s shops, art galleries, and terrific restaurants.
Too busy to plan a trip to Sedona? We’ve done it for you with this detailed itinerary. Recommendations for lodging and dining, easy hiking trails, and a scenic drive with amazing stops on the way to Grand Canyon National Park. Let’s go!
This is a one week itinerary with 3-4 nights in Sedona and 1-2 nights at the Grand Canyon National Park.
If you are feeling adventurous, we’ve detailed how you can easily combine a trip to Sedona with 1-2 nights at the Grand Canyon National Park.
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Best Time of Year To Visit Sedona, AZ
The best time to visit Sedona is from March to May before it gets too blazing hot or in the fall. The hottest month of the year in Sedona is July, with an average high of 93°F and low of 69°F.
The coldest month of the year in Sedona is December, with an average low of 36°F and high of 55°F. September to November is also mild and great months to visit.
During the warm season, be sure to set out in the morning before it gets too hot.
Getting To Sedona
Fly into Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, AZ and drive 1:45 minutes north to Sedona.
You can also fly into Flagstaff, AZ and drive 48 minutes south. In general, flying into Phoenix offers better schedules and fare prices.
If you have a late arrival time in Phoenix and plan to drive to Sedona the next day, consider staying overnight at the Scott Resort and Spa in Scottsdale. The kids will love the pool, and the rooms are nice as well.
Sedona is within a 2 hour drive of Phoenix and roughly two hours from the South Entrance of the Grand Canyon National Park.
Where to Stay In Sedona
Although Sedona is known for its colorful red rock formations, it is also known for its traffic during weekends and peak season (March-May).
You can avoid much of this congestion by staying in the Village of Oak Creek which is located just 15 minutes south of Sedona proper. This area provides excellent access to trails, shops, and restaurants.
This is our personal list of places that we have stayed in previously, have been recommended by friends we trust, or we have bookmarked as possibilities for future visits. Determine your budget and you’ll find plenty of options in this area.
Best Hotels in Sedona For Families
We stayed at the Hilton Sedona Resort which is located in Oak Creek Village just 15 south of Sedona. We loved the one bedroom suite with a pullout sofa for the kiddos.
Rooms come with a refrigerator, and the setting is beautiful. We would return in a heartbeat. It has beautiful views, a fantastic swimming pool, and a restaurant if you’re too tired to go out.
Vacation Rentals
If you need more room, you’ll find plenty of AirBnb and VRBO vacation properties nearby. Here is a sampling of offerings in the Village of Oak Creek. All have a great location and have received excellent reviews.
Nice 2 bedroom townhouse, 1 King, 2 twins, sofa bed, sleeps 6. No pool access. Averaged $200 a night.
3 bedroom townhome, brick patio with a fire pit. Walk to restaurants, hikes, theaters, and grocery stores. Also a seasonal community pool. Averaged $300 night.
2 bedroom townhome in Canyon Mesa Country Club near Bell Rock. On-premise golf, tennis, hot tub, seasonal pool and more. Averaged $261 night. This additional 2 bedroom townhome is also available in Canyon Mesa Country Club.
3 bedroom 2 bath condo in DreamWest Sedona. Tennis, pool, patio and walking distance to shops and restaurants. $269 average nightly rate.
Day 1- You’ve Arrived! Visit Montezuma Castle On Your Way to Sedona
Simply Awesome Tip– If you fly into Phoenix, make sure to visit Montezuma Castle on your way to Sedona.
Admission is free with the America the Beautiful National Park Pass, which we recommend purchasing for this trip. Also available at REI stores. P.S. I will talk more about this below…)
If you don’t have time on your way up to Sedona, Montezuma Castle National Monument is close enough to be a worthwhile place to visit during your stay. (It’s about 30 minutes away from Sedona.)
If you have time, we really enjoyed our stop at Montezuma Castle National Monument, one of the best preserved ancient cliff dwellings in North America.
An easy walking tour provides the history while you gaze upon the ruins. Allow about 1 hour to tour.
Costs $10 per person; kids 15 and under are free.
For more interesting stops on the way, see The Travel’s What To See Between Phoenix & Sedona On This Short Trip.
Days 2, 3, 4- Hit The Trails! Our Favorite Easy Hikes In Sedona
The best way to experience the scenery of Sedona’s red rock formations is to explore this fantastic landscape on its trails. Sedona offers 100’s of trails for any hiking level, and all of the hikes in this itinerary are suitable for a fun family outing.
The trails described here are short and relatively easy with amazing scenic views with just a small investment of time and effort.
A typical day might include at least one hike in the morning before it gets too hot, and afternoon time relaxing at the hotel pool.
Our last visit to Sedona took place at the end of May, and we were ready for the pool by noon every day. It gets hot in a hurry!
Bonus! If you’d like a longer hike, these hikes have both short and longer options. Something for everyone!
Remember to bring your Red Rock Pass, plenty of water, and hike in the cooler part of the day if at all possible.
I’ve given a short summary of each of the trails in this itinerary, but you can find more details for each hike in our “Easy Hikes In Sedona.” Happy hiking!
Purchase A Sedona Red Rock Pass (Parking Pass)
This was a bit confusing to us at first, but it’s actually pretty straight forward. Many of the hikes in the national forest surrounding Sedona require a “Red Rock Pass” to be displayed in your car when you park at the trailheads.
Red Rock Passes are available for sale online as well as at most of the Visitor Centers, many grocery stores, gas stations, retail stores, and resorts. They are also offered at many of the trailheads.
Simply Awesome Tip: Consider buying the America the Beautiful National Park Pass ($80). If you have this pass, you can display it instead of a Red Rock Pass. Not only will it grant you admission to other sites we’ve mentioned on this trip (Montezuma Castle, Sunset Crater National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and the Grand Canyon National Park) but you’ll have admission to other national parks throughout the country for one year from date of purchase.
At A Glance Summary of Easy Hikes In Sedona
If you only have time for a few hikes, Bell Rock, Baldwin Trail, and Fay Canyon would be considered our “must do” hikes of the ones mentioned here. Because of the short length of these hikes, you could hike more than one in a day.
Remember to bring your Red Rock Pass, plenty of water, and hike in the cooler part of the day if at all possible.
Note: Fay Canyon and Boynton Canyon trailheads are closest to Sedona and furthest from the Village of Oak Creek- each about a 35 minute drive from the Hilton Sedona in the Village of Oak Creek.=
See our blog “Easy Hikes In Sedona” for more detailed info about each of the hikes listed here.
Bell Rock Trail
Bell Rock, one of the most prominent Sedona vortex sites, is an iconic red rock formation located just north of the Village of Oak Creek and is an easy one to spot.
Bell Rock is a favorite hike for kids who will love hiking and climbing about half way up Bell Rock to the “meditation perch.”
You’ll often hear the term “vortexes” while visiting Sedona. Many people have reported feeling inspired by spiritual energy sources at various spots throughout Sedona. The Bell Rock vortex is best known for serenity and solving problems from a higher (spiritual) perspective. See if you feel it!
Bell Rock is a moderate hike and will require supervision. It’s roughly 1.5 miles round trip depending on how much “bouldering” you do and how high you decide to climb up Bell Rock. The views are beautiful, and it’s a fun scramble.
You’ll find well marked trail signs to the base of Bell Rock and then it’s a general scramble to find a path up.
Bell Rock Pathway
If you don’t want to scramble up Bell Rock, the Bell Rock Pathway is an easy, wide and flat trail totaling 3.6 miles roundtrip.
The Bell Rock Trail intersects the Bell Rock Pathway so it’s easy to combine these two.
Tip: Hiking the Bell Rock Pathway in a clockwise direction is recommended. Park in the Courthouse Vista Parking Area.
Baldwin Trail
The Baldwin Trail is another easy hike that you can make shorter or longer.
You can hike the 3.3 mile Baldwin Loop Trail or simply take a short hike (roughly 1 mile) to the banks of Oak Creek with views of Cathedral Rock.
It is simply a gorgeous setting. Cathedral Rock reflected in the waters of Oak Creek at Red Rock Crossing is one of the most photographed scenes in the southwest.
We hiked the loop trail with its magnificent red rock views and picnicked at Oak Creek. This trail has so much variety with forest, creek, mountain and desert vibes throughout.
During our trip, we returned several times to the cool water of Oak Creek via the Templeton/Red Rock Crossing Trail to picnic, enjoy the views, take off our shoes and cool off in the creek. (Hike the Baldwin Trail clockwise to reach this intersection in 1/2 mile.
Park at Baldwin Trailhead off of Verde Valley School Road. Remember to display your Red Rock Pass.
Tip: Photos of Cathedral Rock are best taken during the afternoon, but you’ll have to consider the heat of the day for the best time for your hike.
Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site
Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site is the largest known and best preserved petroglyph site in the Verde Valley. The rock art has been defined as Beaver Creek Style, which is diagnostic of the Southern Sinagua between A.D. 1150 and 1400.
Although not really considered a hike, it does require a short 0.5 mile walk from the parking lot on the flat, maintained trail from the Visitor Center to the petroglyph area.
Remember to display your Red Rock Pass.
Important: Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site is only open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 9:30 to 3pm.
Boynton Vista Trail
The Boynton Canyon Trail is a 6 mile roundtrip hike. However, it is also the trailhead for a shorter (roughly 1.2 miles roundtrip), easier hike on the Boynton Vista Trail.
From the Boynton Canyon Trailhead, walk about 0.5 miles to its intersection with Boynton Vista Trail on the right.
Follow it uphill to its two rock formations, both of which are considered vortex points. You’ll find beautiful views, and everyone will love scrambling up the rocks.
Tip: This hike is located in the same area of Sedona as the Fay Canyon hike (described below) if you want to combine the two.
Fay Canyon Trail
Fay Canyon Trail is another good hike with options for a short out and back or a longer 3.5 roundtrip hike.
This easy hike through a canyon has wonderful views and intersects with a spur trail that leads to a natural stone arch and a narrow slot where the rocks have separated.
The kids will have fun “disappearing” into the opening and enjoying the shade under the rock arch.
Arch Spur Trail: At about the 1/2 mile mark from the trailhead, look for a side trail up to the arch–it’s easy to miss. Those who don’t know about it usually walk right past. You will have to scramble up this steep but short spur trail to see the arch (it’s not visible from the main trail).
We returned to the trailhead from the arch for an out and back hike of roughly 1.5 miles.
Additional Hikes in Sedona
If you have time (unfortunately we did not), the hikes below were also on our list although you should note that they are rated “moderate” rather than “easy.”
Apparently, everyone loves Devil’s Bridge, and the Little Horse Trail/Chapel of the Holy Cross looks like it would be a terrific destination hike.
See our blog “Easy Hikes In Sedona” for more detailed info about each of the hikes listed here.
Hiking Resources
Great Sedona Hikes by William Bohan is an excellent source for hiking in the Sedona area.
Day 5- Scenic Driving From Sedona to Grand Canyon National Park
Distance From Sedona To Grand Canyon
Get an early start to take a road trip to from Sedona to visit the Grand Canyon. Some people take a “day trip” from Sedona to visit the Grand Canyon National Park by way of its South Entrance.
The South Entrance is the closest to Sedona and takes about 2 hours.
If you can swing it though, we highly recommend trying to stay at least one or two nights inside Grand Canyon National Park entering through its East Entrance.
Staying inside the park is such a special experience and the drive from Sedona to the Grand Canyon’s East Entrance is the most scenic route.
From Sedona, this incredibly scenic drive takes less than 3 hours of driving time but add on a few hours to visit four fascinating side stops along the way. So worth it!
Stops On The Way From Sedona To The Grand Canyon
- Oak Creek Canyon to purchase Native American-made souvenirs and take in the views
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument to witness evidence of an extinct volcano
- The Wupatki National Monument where you can walk through the pueblos that were occupied 900 years ago
- The Desert View Watch Tower in Grand Canyon National Park for your first views of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon
Note: To return to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport from Grand Canyon Village in Grand Canyon National Park would take about 3.5 hours.
For a full description of the drive and each of the stops on the way to the Grand Canyon East Entrance, see our blog post “Driving From Sedona To The Grand Canyon.“
To get the most of your experience at the Grand Canyon, see our “Grand Canyon With Kids” for fun activities for the whole family.
Grand Canyon Lodging Advice
If at all possible, stay inside the national park at one of their lodges or hotels. The lodging in the national park books quickly, so make your reservations well in advance.
Take what you can get, but if you have a choice, book either the Kachina Lodge (best price point) or El Tovar Hotel (a beautiful historic hotel).
Both are well located to trails and restaurants and the rim of the canyon is right out the front door.
Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Sedona
Oak Creek Brewery offers pub food including fresh-made tamales and tasty beer. It’s roughly 15 minutes north of Hilton Sedona, near the junction of 179/89. It’s a good place to stop after hiking the trails in that area (Fay Canyon, Boynton Canyon, Devil’s Bridge).
Cowboy Club is another good choice in uptown Sedona. It has a fun western decor and a nice outdoor patio. They serve a broad selection of appetizers, burgers, salads, etc. It’s open for lunch and dinner and located a 15 minute drive from Hilton Sedona.
Elote Cafe appears on several “best of Sedona” lists. Serving award-winning modern Mexican and Southwestern cuisine. Reservations are required. Dinner only.
And if you want to dine with the locals, check out The Travel’s “This Is Where the Locals Eat In Sedona.”
Restaurants in Oak Creek Village
If you are staying in Oak Creek Village, you’ll find plenty of restaurants nearby. Which is a good thing, because you may want to consider avoiding uptown Sedona in the evenings.
Because it’s more touristy, the traffic can be overwhelming and parking can be a challenge too.
Red Rock Cafe was our hands down favorite place to eat. Home of the giant cinnamon roll, it prides itself in serving a wonderful breakfast. They serve it all day along with lunch offerings, and it opens early at 7am and closes at 2pm.
We generally ate a light breakfast at home, packed snacks for a hike, and then stopped here on the way home for a hearty meal. Make sure to order the giant cinnamon roll (which feeds the entire family) at least once.
The Blue Corn Huervos Rancheros was also a hit, but everything we tried here was terrific. It’s located a 12 minute drive from Hilton Sedona, which made it very convenient. 100 Verde Valley School Road.
Miley’s Cafe is also conveniently located near the Hilton Sedona (within a 10 minute walk). Miley’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tacos are the specialty, but they offer a wide selection on their menu including burgers and salads. Kids menu as well.
Famous Pizza is within a 5 minute drive of the Hilton Sedona and is located at 10 Bell Rock Plaza. Really good pizza! It has historically been voted Sedona’s best pizza. Take out available is probably preferable as it is a small place. Another location can be found at 3190 West Highway 89A.
Shadowrock Tap and Table (Hilton Sedona’s Restaurant) was average and a bit overpriced, but it offers lovely patio dining. Plus, at the time we were there, they offered a kids eat free with adult entree purchase. It would be worth a try for sure.
Grocery Store
Clark’s Market is a full service grocery store within a 12 minute drive of the Hilton Sedona and located next to our favorite restaurant, Red Rock Cafe. It also has a terrific beer selection. 100 Verde Valley School Road.
Happy Trails!
Combining a trip to the Grand Canyon with a visit to Sedona makes for a simply awesome trip. Hope this helps you plan your trip in sunny Sedona!
