Sedona to Phoenix Road Trip Itinerary

The Sedona to Phoenix drive is one of the prettiest road trips in the United States.

As you depart Sedona you’ll encounter even more stunning red rock formations as you make your way south along the Red Rock Scenic Byway.

Along the Sedona to Phoenix drive you’ll encounter several worthwhile attractions to make the drive a bit more interesting.

I’ll include information on each of those stops down below along with some of my favorite things to do in both Sedona and Phoenix.

You’ll probably notice by the amount of content on this blog about Sedona and Arizona in general, that I’m a huge fan of the Grand Canyon state.

I’ve visited Sedona close to 20 times and have spent countless hours road tripping around the beautiful state of Arizona. So I’m thrilled to share this Sedona to Phoenix itinerary with you.

I hope you enjoy this drive as much as I do.

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Distance From Phoenix to Sedona

Phoenix is located two hours south of Sedona. This will be the drive time if you drive straight from Sedona to Phoenix without stopping. The distance between Phoenix and Sedona is about 116 miles.

The Sky Harbor International Airport is located 10 minutes from downtown Phoenix if traveling by car.

While there is no train from Sedona to Phoenix, you can Uber from Sedona to Phoenix for about $200 each way.

Drive time Sedona to Phoenix

The drive time from Sedona to Phoenix is 2 hours without stops.

Best Stops from Sedona to Phoenix

In this Sedona AZ to Phoenix AZ road trip itinerary I’m sharing all my favorite spots along the way.

Having made this drive well over a dozen times myself, I’m confident you’ll enjoy the journey as well.

As with any travel guide you read on the internet, be sure to only make the stops that truly sound interesting to you. This is your trip, so make it your own.

If you’re short on time and only want to make one or two stops along the way, I recommend not skipping Montezuma Castle National Monument.

If you you want to make two stops, I would add in Jerome or Cottonwood.

For those of you with more time and ready to explore further, here are my recommended stops on the Sedona to Phoenix drive.

1. Sedona

There are so many great things to do in Sedona that I know you’ll have a great time there.

Some of my personal favorite things to do in Sedona include hiking Cathedral Rock, going wine tasting, and getting up early to catch an incredible Sedona sunrise.

I also recommend making the drive north to Flagstaff with stops along the way to Midgley Bridge, Slide Rock State Park, West Fork Oak Creek Trail and Griffiths Spring Trail.

When you get hungry I recommend Elote Cafe or Cucina Rustica. For Elote Cafe you’ll need to make reservations at least a few weeks ahead of time. Yes, it’s that good.

2. Cottonwood

Cottonwood is an up and coming destination located about 25 minutes from Sedona.

The town is known for its many local wine tasting rooms and great restaurants. The Verde Valley Wine Trail is located here, so the wines are known to be quite good.

Other things to do in Cottonwood include visiting the Clemenceau Heritage Museum and exploring Old Town Cottonwood.

3. Tuzigoot National Monument

Tuzigoot National Monument is a former Pueblo that was home to the Sinagua people.

At Tuzigoot National Monument you can view the remnants of the former Pueblo, walk along the Tavasci Marsh, and explore the Tuzigoot Museum.

Inside the Tuzigoot Museum you can learn about the lives of the Sinagua people including how the Pueblo was built. You can also learn about the lives of the Sinagua people during the time they lived at the Pueblo.

4. Verde Canyon Railroad

The Verde Canyon Railroad offers an incredible four hour journey through the Verde Valley. Be sure to plan ahead for this one if you’d like to ride the train as it will take up at least four hours of your day. You will also need to book your tickets in advance.

Once on board the train you can order food and drinks, including local Arizona wines and charcuterie boards. There is a full bar located in each car.

The train is climate controlled and has large panoramic windows and some open air cars so you can enjoy the views.

5. Jerome

Jerome is a former copper mining town turned famous ghost town located about 40 minutes outside Sedona.

This is a really fun place to explore as the city if rather small and very walkable. It’s also a great place to do some wine tasting as well as there are a few local wineries here.

I would also recommend visiting the Jerome Grand Hotel, rumored to be one of the most haunted hotels in the world.

6. Montezuma Castle National Monument

If you only have time for one stop while driving between Phoenix and Sedona, make it this one.

Montezuma Castle National Monument is a pre-Colombian cliffside dwelling built into a limestone cliff.

The dwellings date back to 1100 to 1425 AD. The main dwelling shown above was five stories with 45 to 60 rooms. Even more impressive is that it was constructed over the course of three centuries.

There is also a small museum on site here so you can learn more about the people who once lived here and how the cliff dwellings were constructed.

You can make this stop in 20 minutes or less if you’re pressed for time. Otherwise a visit takes about 30 minutes or so if you stop at all the exhibits.

7. Arcosanti

Arcosanti is a small community created by urban designer Paolo Soleri. He envisioned self-sustaining communities throughout the world by creating innovative architecture, sustainable practices, and efficient energy consumption.

It’s a unique place to visit and explore if you’re interested in architecture or urban design.

The Arcosanti visitor center is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Guided tours are offered from Thursdays to Sundays. If you’re interested in a guided tour be sure to book online in advance.

Be advised that in order to reach Arcosanti you’ll need to travel about 15 minutes down a gravel road. My tiny Fiat 500 made the journey just fine, but keep this in mind if you plan to visit.

8. Agua Fria National Monument

Agua Fria National Monument is another place that takes a bit of effort to get to. You’ll need travel on some gravel roads to explore here as well.

This 221,000-acre preserve is home to centuries-old Native American artifacts and historical structures, including dwellings that are over 1,000 years old.

You can also see over 450 Native American structures including large pueblos and petroglyphs.

Agua Fria is home to two mesas and the Agua Fria River and Agua Fria Canyon. This is also a great place to spot local wildlife, so be cautious as you’re driving around.

9. Lake Pleasant

Lake Pleasant is located about an hour north of downtown Phoenix near the Arizona Canal. The lake offers beautiful views and many miles of scenic hiking trails.

This can be a quick stop just to check out the lake or take a short hike.

Those looking to spend a bit more time here can enjoy a variety of water activities and even overnight camping.

10. Phoenix

Once you arrive at your final destination you’ll find no shortage of fun things to do in Phoenix.

The city itself is packed full of cultural attractions, museums, and great restaurants. Be sure not to miss the Phoenix Art museum, Heard Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, and Japanese Friendship Garden.

Phoenix is also surrounded by some incredible natural landscapes like Papago Park pictured above. You can also explore South Mountain Park and nearby Camelback Mountain.

If you have extra time I would also head over to Scottsdale. There you can check out Old Town Scottsdale and Taliesin West, designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Sedona to Phoenix road trip itinerary and that I’ve inspired you to plan a trip of your own. Thanks so much for reading.