Eden Fite

Sedona in winter is pure magic. The city is quiet, peaceful, and if you’re lucky it’s covered in a blanket of fresh white snow.

Sure, winter in Sedona might come with some rainy days or gray skies, but don’t let that stop you. Like many places, I think a winter visit is best for really getting to know a place.

Since winter is off season in Sedona, you’ll often find yourself alone at even the most popular attractions around town.

So if you’re ready for a beautiful adventure, grab your raincoat and hiking boots and let’s hit the road for Sedona.

1. No crowds

As I mentioned above, Sedona attractions in winter are often empty or at least with minimal crowds.

While visiting Sedona in January I found myself mostly alone at Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross and Red Rock Crossing.

Those into the outdoors will find hiking in Sedona in January especially peaceful. Even if you do come across other hikers, you’ll have most of the trails to yourself.

You will likely encounter other travelers when visiting Oak Creek Canyon or Red Rock State Park, but not many. Even these normally crowded destinations will be rather quiet this of year.

Trust me, you can do a lot in Sedona in one day without the crowds. Definitely take advantage of this during your trip.

2. Cooler temperatures

You’ll definitely be blessed with cooler weather during your Sedona winter getaway.

Sedona Arizona winter temperatures generally range from the mid 30s to the mid 60s. You’ll have some rainy days and cloud cover during this time as well, but don’t be surprised if you get blue skies on occasion also.

3. Tours are not sold out

You’ll be happy to know that tours in Sedona during winter don’t usually sell out. Since crowds are small this time of year you’ll have plenty of options for tours, even the always popular Pink Jeep Tours.

Of course, some weekends may be busier than others so I would book ahead if you plan to join a tour, but you should have a good selection and plenty of availability during a winter in Sedona visit.

4. Attractions are open year round

For the most part, Sedona is an outdoor destination and it’s beauty lies in its stunning natural landscape.

That being said, there are always things to do in Sedona in winter. Popular Sedona winter activities include hiking the area’s many trails, mountain biking, photography and stargazing just to name a few.

Just don’t forget all the great restaurants and wineries in the area too.

5. Day trips are easy

Since crowds are so light in Sedona during winter you’ll encounter virtually no traffic around town. This makes for the perfect opportunity to enjoy a few day trips outside the city.

Some of my favorite day trips are below

• Sedona to Grand Canyon: This one goes without saying, but you’re only 2 hours south of the Grand Canyon. There is also a train from Sedona to Grand Canyon if you prefer not to drive.
• Jerome: A former mining town now thought to be haunted. This is a very cool hillside town known for its many artists and musicians. Jermone is about 40 minutes from Sedona.
• Verde Valley Wine Trail: You’ll find the Verde Valley Wine Trail about 25 minutes outside of Sedona.
• Horseshoe Bend: This is a popular destination for photographers about 3 hours north of Sedona.

6. Hotel prices are much lower

Since you made the wise decision to visit Sedona in winter you’ll also be rewarded with very low hotel rates.

In fact, you’ll find most hotels with plenty of availability between December and February along with room rates well below those of spring and fall.

The exception to this rule is that you will see price hikes on and around major holidays. Watch out for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s Day if you’re looking for a hotel deal.

7. Dinner reservations are easier to get

Besides all the great room rates in winter, you’ll also be happy to know that dining reservations are much easier to get between December and February as well. The same exception to holidays is in play here as mentioned above.

In general you should be able to get a table at most restaurants in the city during your visit. I would stil book these before you arrive if possible, but you should have no trouble if making a reasonable effort to plan ahead.

8. You can play in the snow

Another benefit of a Sedona winter visit is the possibility of snowfall during your trip. As you can imagine, the Sedona landscape is absolutely beautiful under fresh snowfall.

I was lucky enough to get to experience this during my winter Sedona visit as well. I can confirm, it’s amazing.

9. Holiday activities

If you’re looking for a cozy and fun place to spend the holidays, consider a Sedona holiday getaway. The city is super fun during Christmas and New Year’s.

You definitely need to make those accomodation reservations very early though, as hotels will sell out over the holiday season. The same goes for dinner reservations. Make your plans early to secure a table at the city’s most popular restaurants.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about my favorite reasons to visit Sedona in Winter. If you’d like to support this blog please consider sharing this post. As always, thanks for reading.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to supporting this site.

Let me start off with the obvious, the best time to visit Sedona truly depends on what you’re looking for.

In all honesty, I don’t think there is a bad time to visit Sedona. It’s such a stunningly beautiful destination with year round things to do, how could you go wrong?

So for the purposes of this post, I’ll give you the pros and cons of each season. This way, you can choose the best time to visit Sedona Arizona for you.

Best Time to Visit Sedona

This post on the best time to go to Sedona is organized by season. I’ll give you my pros and cons for each season including the best things to do in Sedona, weather in Sedona, and crowd sizes.

At the end, you can decide which season sounds the most fun to you.

Ultimately, I just hope you give Sedona a chance. I think its one of the most unique and beautiful cities in the United States, and its definitely worth the extra time to visit.

If you’re looking for the best places to stay in Sedona, I like to stay at the Element Sedona. It’s affordable and located right by Bell Rock.

If you have a larger group or prefer not to stay in Sedona hotels, you can also stay in a Sedona AirBnB. You’ll find many affordable and stylish options conveniently located around the city.

Sedona in Winter

Having just returned from a Sedona in Winter getaway myself in January, I can definitively say that winter is a perfectly lovely time to visit.

I was able to secure a very reasonably priced hotel room and encountered very few people out on the trails, even in the middle of the day.

While the weather was a bit cloudy and rainy, I was still able to enjoy visits to Bell Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross, and Oak Creek Canyon. I even came across a little snow while visiting Slide Rock State Park.

On the down side, the rain made the temperatures a bit cooler than I would have liked. Also, I really wanted to enjoy stargazing in the nighttime, but was unable to do so due to all the clouds.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Sedona in Winter and would visit again. While I missed out on the stargazing and outdoor dining, I liked having many of the city’s biggest attractions all to myself.

Sedona in Spring

Spring is the most popular time of year to visit Sedona. Average temperatures during the daytime hover around 65 to 75. You’ll also have mostly blue skies and sunny days.

Spring is the best time of year to visit Sedona if you’re looking for the best weather and conditions for enjoying the area’s many outdoor activities.

The spring months are perfect for getting out on Sedona’s many hiking and mountain biking trails. Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock are my favorites.

If you’re just looking for the best that Sedona has to offer and you don’t mind the crowds and higher hotel prices, then Spring is the best time of year to go to Sedona.

Just be sure to make those hotel, dining, and tour reservations in advance. If you want to escape the crowds a bit, early March may be the best month to visit Sedona.

Sedona in Summer

If you can take the heat, summer can also be the best time to travel to Sedona. Summer temperatures during the daytime will average in the 90s, with July being the hottest month.

That being said, you’ll have optimal weather for stargazing, photographing the beautiful red rocks, and enjoying the rivers and swimming holes like Slide Rock and Grasshopper Point.

If you’re looking to avoid the midday heat you can visit the art galleries at Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village or go wine tasting in Verde Valley.

If you don’t mind the high temperatures, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of spring but with lighter crowds and reduced hotel prices.

Just be sure to get strenuous activities in during the morning hours before it gets too hot and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Sedona in the Fall

Fall in Sedona is the second busiest time of year, second only to spring time. Sedona weather in the fall comes with average daytime temperatures between 70 to 80 degrees.

You’ll experience a mix of sunny and cloudy days, with rainy days increasing towards October and November.

Fall is a great time to visit when you want to go hiking and mountain biking as you’ll have fairly moderate temperatures from late September to November.

Fall is a great time to visit if you want moderate temperatures and don’t mind a few rainy days.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the best time to visit Sedona. If you’d like to support this blog please consider sharing this post. As always, thanks for reading.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to supporting this site.

A Sedona to Grand Canyon road trip is the perfect way to add a little adventure into your Sedona vacation.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is located 3 hours north of Sedona making it a relatively easy day trip or road trip opportunity. Believe me, if you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon before, it’s totally worth it.

Once you arrive at Grand Canyon National Park, you’ll have plenty to see and do, even if you only plan to visit for the day. I’ll include my favorite things to do at the Grand Canyon down below, but once you’re there, I’m sure you’ll have no problem filling up your day.

So if you’re ready, gas up your car and let’s get this Sedona to Grand Canyon road trip under way.

Sedona to Grand Canyon Road Trip Itinerary

A few quick notes on this Sedona to Grand Canyon itinerary. This post assumes you’ve already spent at least one day in Sedona (hopefully more) enjoying all the sights.

If not, I encourage you not to miss Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock, Red Rock Crossing, Red Rock State Park, Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout, or stargazing at night.

You’ll want to get an early start on the day of your road trip to the Grand Canyon. I would leave by 7:00 a.m. at the latest to ensure you have a full day to visit the park and enjoy a few stops along the way.

The drive north on State Route 89 is absolutely beautiful, so I’m including a few stops between Sedona and Flagstaff in case you want to get a closer look.

In the event that you don’t have a car or don’t want to drive, you can also take a one way Grand Canyon Railroad tour from Sedona. It’s a little pricey, but its definitly a unque experience.

Stop 1: Oak Creek Canyon

Oak Creek Canyon has been described as a sort of “mini Grand Canyon” and is located about 12 minutes north of Sedona. If you haven’t already visited Oak Creek Canyon while you were exploring Sedona, now is the perfect time to stop for a quick look.

As you’re driving north out of Sedona you’ll cross the Midgley Bridge pictured above. Just past the bridge on the left you’ll find a small parking lot. Try and find a spot and walk down the stairs to the overlook.

It’s absolutely beautiful and definitely worth the quick stop.

• Next Stop: Slide Rock State Park
• Distance: 10 minutes (5.2 miles)

Stop 2: Slide Rock State Park

Slide Rock State Park is another easy stop that’s totally worth the extra effort. The park is home to a famous swimming hole in Oak Creek. Even better, there’s an 80 foot long sandstone water slide, which is of course where the park gets its name.

Even if you don’t have time to swim or enjoy the water slide, this section of Oak Creek is worth seeing.

Park your car in the park’s main lot and head over to the paved walkway to the right of the ranger station. You’ll take this paved walkway about 10 minutes or so until you see the stairs for Slide Rock on your right.

At the bottom of the stairs you’ll be able to continue on the rocks towards the swimming hole and slide rock.

Bring good shoes for this one, the rocks can get slippery.

I estimate this stop at Slide Rock State Park will take about 30 to 40 minutes. If you’re in a hurry to get to the Grand Canyon, you could easily make this stop about half that time if you move at a brisk pace and don’t linger too long at the swimming hole.

• Next Stop: Grand Canyon South Rim Visitor Center
• Distance: 2 hours 45 minutes (107 miles)

Stop 3: Grand Canyon South Rim Visitor Center

Once you’ve made it into Grand Canyon National Park, make your way over the Visitor Center and find a parking spot.

At the Visitor Center you can get information about the park, Grand Canyon tours, and use the restroom after your long drive. This stop will also put you near one of the park’s best lookouts over the canyon. That stop is next.

• Next Stop: Mather Point Lookout
• Distance: 5 minute walk

Stop 4: Mather Point Lookout

The views from Mather Point Lookout are incredible and this is one of my favorite lookouts at the Grand Canyon.

The downside is that it’s also one of the busiest due to its proximity to the Visitor Center and Grand Canyon Village. You’ll have the opportunit to escape the crowds a bit later. For now, just enjoy the view.

• Next stop: Grand Canyon Village
• Distance: 5 minute drive / 20 minute walk

Stop 5: Grand Canyon Village

Grand Canyon Village is where you’ll find most of the park’s lodging and restaurants. If you’ll be staying the night inside the park you can get checked into your room. If not, you may want to get lunch at one of the park’s restaurants.

You can also walk around the village and see the historic buildings and the old Grand Canyon Railroad Depot. The Grand Canyon Railway is actually still in operation with trains running between the Grand Canyon and Williams, Arizona.

You can also find gift shops, ice cream, and a variety of other services.

Once you’ve settled into your room or had grabbed some lunch, make your way back to the car so you can drive along the rim of the canyon to the other lookout points.

• Next stop: Desert View Watchtower
• Distance: 44 minutes (23 miles)

Stop 6: Desert View Watchtower

The Desert View Watchtower is the easternmost lookout inside Grand Canyon National Park and my favorite place to go when I visit.

I find the crowds are usually fairly light on this side of the park, and you can’t beat that view.

Once you find a parking spot, walk over to the left of the watchtower and find a place to sit along the edge of the canyon. Don’t worry, it’s not a steep drop right here, but do be careful.

It’s actually quite peaceful in this spot, I could sit here for hours. If you’re looking for a good sunrise spot, this would be my choice.

Once you’re done taking in the view, make your way back over to the watchtower.

You can get some good photos in and around the watchtower. To the right of this picture you will find stairs to climb to the top of the watchtower.

Take your time to explore a bit, then head back to the car.

• Next Stop: Tusayan Museum and Ruins
• Distance: 8 minutes (3.6 miles)

Stop 7: Tusayan Musuem and Ruins

Tusayan is one of over 4,000 archaeological sites located within Grand Canyon National Park.

The Tusayan Museum and Ruins is a former Pueblo Indian site. Visitors can tour the musuem and ruins and learn about the history of the area which dates back to around AD 1185.

• Next stop: Grandview Point
• Distance: 17 minutes (11 miles)

Stop 8: Grandview Point

Grandview Point is where you can see vast sections of both the eastern and western portions of the Grand Canyon. You’ll also get to see the Colorado River down below.

If you’re looking for an extremely challenging hike, the notoriously difficult Grandview Trail can be accessed from this lookout.

• Next stop: The Abyss
• Distance: 39 minutes (17 miles) – **See below for details.

Stop 9: The Abyss

The Abyss lookout is located west of Grand Canyon Village along Hermit Road. This road requires taking a shuttle if you’re visiting the park between March and November. You will take the Red Shuttle from Grand Canyon Village.

Here is a map of the Red Shuttle stops along Hermit Road. The Abyss will be the 6th shuttle stop.

If you’re visiting the park from December to February, you may drive your personal vehicle on Hermit Road.

The Abyss is known for its stunning red rocks and steep canyon views.

• Next stop: Hermit’s Rest
• Distance: 9 minutes on shuttle (3.1 miles)

Stop 10: Sunset at Hermit’s Rest Viewpoint

If you can time it right, try to catch sunset at Hermit’s Rest. This is the lookout closest to the west rim and looks westward over the canyon. For the best photos, arrive in time for golden hour.

Final Thoughts

If you have extra time, consider taking a Grand Canyon day tour organized by the park. The tours are incredibly interesting and you’ll learn a lot about the Grand Canyon.

If you have even more time to spare, consider taking a trip up to the North Rim, the Little Colorado River Gorge, or nearby Horseshoe Bend. All are worth a visit if you’ve never been.

Be sure to stop at Cameron Trading Post on your way out of the eastern section of the park if you still want souvenirs.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Sedona to Grand Canyon Road Trip Ininerary and that I’ve helped inspire your next trip. If you’d like to support this blog please consider sharing this post. As always, thanks for reading.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to supporting this site.