Scottsdale to Sedona Day Trip Itinerary

The drive from Scottsdale to Sedona is one of the prettiest drives in Arizona.

In fact, I love Arizona. Its red rock meets desert landscape gets me every time. If you’ll be spending any time in Scottsdale during your trip to Arizona, then you must make room in your schedule for a Scottsdale to Sedona day trip.

To be honest, just the drive alone is worth the effort, but there are also plenty of incredible things to see in Sedona, not to mention a few fun stops along the way.

In my opinion, a Scottsdale to Sedona day trip is the perfect addition to your Scottsdale itinerary. It will give you a chance to see more of the state and allow you to enjoy some time away from the city and out in nature.

If you like hiking and outdoor activities, stargazing, wine tasting, or just enjoying incredible scenery, Sedona will not disappoint.

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Scottsdale to Sedona Day Trip Itinerary

For the purposes of this post, I’ll assume you’ve already spent a few exciting days enjoying all that Scottsdale has to offer.

If not, my favorite things to do in Scottsdale are to hike Camelback Mountain, have cocktails poolside at your resort, shop the local boutiques, and have dinner and drinks in Old Town Scottsdale.

Once you’ve thoroughly explored Scottsdale, you’ll be ready for the impressive change of scenery in Sedona.

How long is the drive from Scottsdale to Sedona?

The drive time from Scottsdale to Sedona is 2 hours (125 miles). This is the drive time without stops along the way.

However, if you’ve never made the drive from Scottsdale to Sedona before, I recommend making a few stops along the way.

There are some interesting things to see along the way that I discuss in more detail below.

How to get from Scottsdale to Sedona

Sedona is located about 2 hours north of Phoenix. The Scottsdale to Sedona drive time is also about 2 hours. From Scottsdale, you’ll make your way to Interstate 17 and head north.

From Interstate 17 North you’ll merge onto Highway 260 for a bit. You’ll exit Highway 260 just before Cottonwood and make a right onto Route 89, which will take you into Sedona.

For planning purposes, here are estimated drive times between popular destinations in Arizona:

Phoenix to Sedona: 2 hours
Scottsdale to Flagstaff: 2 hours 14 minutes
Scottsdale to Phoenix: 26 minutes
Flagstaff to Sedona: 55 minutes
Sedona to Grand Canyon National Park: 2 hours 12 minutes
Scottsdale to Grand Canyon National Park: 3 hours 32 minutes
Sedona to Scottsdale: 2 hours

Is Sedona worth the drive from Scottsdale?

Short answer, heck yes it is!

Now I may be a little biased since I love Sedona so much I’ve been there over a dozen times.

That being said, I think Sedona will bring something really different to the trip for you. Scottsdale is great for upscale shopping and dining, upscale resorts, a visit to a museum or two, a round on the golf course, and hopefully a hike up Camelback Mountain.

In Sedona, you’ll get to see a completely different landscape and the city itself is a whole different vibe from the rest of Arizona.

Besides its iconic landscapes, Sedona is great for enjoying time outdoors, wine tasting, adventure tours, and learning about area history, and sampling some of the best Southwestern cuisine in the country.

In short, I think Scottsdale and Sedona are different enough that you’ll feel like you’re getting two trips in one. So yes, it’s worth the drive.

Best Stops Between Scottsdale and Sedona

If you’re wondering what to see from Scottsdale to Sedona, I’ve included a few interesting stops below. Remember the drive is only two hours, so you may not want to (or need to) make too many stops.

Montezuma Castle National Monument: Visitors can view pre-Colombian cliffside dwellings built into a limestone cliff (pictured above). Montezuma Castle is located off Interstate 17 about 90 minutes north of Scottsdale.
Agua Fria National Monument: Visitors can see over 450 Native American structures including large pueblos and petroglyphs. Agua Fria is located off Interstate 17 one hour north of Scottsdale. (Quick note: You’ll need a four wheel drive for this one due the many unpaved roads.)
Jerome, Arizona: Jerome is considered the largest ghost town in America, and it’s a really unique and fun place to visit. You’ll need a couple hours to see the town, but it’s a good time. There’s even a few wineries here if you’d like to try local Arizona wine.
Cottonwood, Arizona: Cottonwood is located just 30 minutes from Sedona and is an up and coming travel destination in the area. Cottonwood is best known for its many wineries and upscale restaurants.

Best Sedona Arizona Attractions

Best AirBnBs in Sedona — Photo by Christiane Wilden at Pixabay

Now that you’ve finished the drive it’s time to enjoy all the cool things to do in Sedona. Even if you’re just in town for a few hours, you’ll still have time to see plenty of Sedona in one day.

The Sedona Arizona attractions and sights listed below are in order as you would encounter them when driving into the city from the west based on the directions above. I listed them this way to make the best use of your time and prevent you from having to drive back and forth.

As always, make your trip your own. Move things around, skip what doesn’t interest you, and add in unique experiences that will make the trip special for you.

Stop 1: Red Rock State Park

Red Rock State Park is a popular place for hiking and enjoying the surrounding red rock formations. There are several miles of hiking trails within the park that are considered easy to moderate difficulty making them suitable for just about any ability.

While mountain biking is prohibited on most of the park’s trails, there are some Forest Service trails running through the park that are bike friendly. Ask at the Ranger Station where to access these if you’ve got your bike with you.

Stop 2: Sedona Airport Scenic Overlook

The Sedona Airport Scenic Overlook is a popular spot to watch a Sedona sunrise or sunset, but honestly it’s perfect anytime of day. This overlook is where you’ll find some of the best views of Sedona, so don’t skip this one.

There are several trails in the area for those that want to go hiking, but you can also just drive to the overlook as well. You’ll find a large parking lot at the top of the hill. The cost to park is about $3.

Stop 3: Pink Jeep Tours

The Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona are really popular and they have all different tours to choose from.

The Pink Jeep Tours will take you off roading in the desert where you can learn about the red rock formations, desert wildlife and plantlife. There are also tours that will take you up to Grand Canyon National Park or out to the desert in the evening for stargazing.

I think these are a great option if you want a break from driving, or you just want to learn more about the area.

Stop 4: Oak Creek Canyon

Oak Creek Canyon is a river gorge located a short drive north of Sedona. It’s often described as a mini Grand Canyon. I’m not sure I’d go quite that far, but it is beautiful and worth a visit if you’re in Sedona.

Popular activities in Oak Creek Canyon are hiking, swimming, and fishing. Apparently there is a natural water slide near the swimming hole as well. I haven’t seen this yet but will be visiting again soon and plan to try it out.

Stop 5: Tlaquepaque Arts Village

Arts and Crafts Village Sedona — Photo by Autumn Sky Photography

Tlaquepaque is an arts and crafts village in the heart of Sedona. Here you’ll find local boutiques and art galleries. You can find everything from clothing and jewelry to paintings by local artists.

This is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs or a special item to bring back home with you. There are also a few restaurants, a brewery and a winery if you’re so inclined.

Stop 5: Chapel of the Holy Cross

Chapel of the Holy Cross is a small Roman Catholic church built into the Sedona red rocks. The chapel is a popular location for weddings but is open to the public during the day time.

You’ll find Chapel of the Holy Cross in a residential neighborhood just off Highway 179. This neighborhood is absolutely beautiful. If you have a few minutes, take a quick drive around to see what I mean.

Stop 7: Cathedral Rock

If you only have time for one hike during your Scottsdale to Sedona day trip, make it Cathedral Rock. This is such a fun hike and Cathedral Rock is just gorgeous. It’s even better up close as you hike up to the base.

The Cathedral Rock Trail is just .7 miles and will take you about an hour to reach the top. There are some steep sections, so you’ll want to be in good shape to tackle this one. It should take you under an hour to get down, so leave about 2 hours for the full hike.

Be sure to have your cell phone or camera on you for the hike. The views up top are just stunning. So is Cathedral Rock itself actually, so you’ll want to take lots of pictures.

Also, bring lots of water. The Arizona desert can get HOT. I recommend starting this hike in the morning or early evening so you’re not hiking up during the hottest part of the day.

Stop 8: Bell Rock

One of the last stops I recommend making on your Scottsdale to Sedona road trip is to Bell Rock. No hiking or climbing necessary for this one. You’ll have an incredible view just steps from the parking area.

Those wanting a closer look can hike the Bell Rock Trail. This is a very easy 1.5 mile round trip hike that will take you up near the north face of Bell Rock.

In my opinion, this is one of the easiest and best hikes in Sedona. You get incredible views for very little effort. I stop here every single time I’m in the area.

If you end up staying overnight in Sedona, the Bell Rock parking lot is also perfect for stargazing. Sedona is a Dark Sky Community, so the stargazing here is truly next level.

Be sure to dress warm though, the nights can get quite chilly, even in Sedona.

Stop 9: Elote Cafe

Before you head back home from your Scottsdale to Sedona day trip, I recommend having an early dinner while in Sedona.

Elote Cafe is one of Sedona’s most famous restaurants. They serve Southwestern cuisine and their food is incredible.

You’ll need to book a reservation in advance if you’d like to eat here, but you’ll be happy you did.

Besides the food, they also have an assortment of unique margarita flavors. I always get the prickly pear, which is the perfect mix of sweet and sour.

Elote Cafe is located in the downtown area of Sedona, which is usually very busy. However, Elote Cafe has their own parking lot, so finding a spot should be relatively easy.

If you have extra time, I recommend walking around this area of Sedona. It has a bit of an eclectic meets old west vibe, with lots of local shops, wine tasting rooms, and cafes.

I hope you’ve found this Scottsdale to Sedona Day Trip Itinerary useful in planning a trip of your own. If you’d like to support this blog please consider sharing this post. As always, thanks for reading.