Sedona is one of Arizona’s most compelling destinations, but it also happens to sit within easy reach of some of the most extraordinary landscapes in the American Southwest. These are the day trips worth adding to your Arizona itinerary.
The red rock country around Sedona is spectacular enough in its own right, but once you start looking at what’s within a two or three-hour drive, the possibilities become genuinely impressive. Grand Canyon to the north, Monument Valley further northeast, Antelope Canyon’s slot canyons to the east, the wine country of the Verde Valley to the south, it’s a remarkable concentration of places that would each justify a trip in their own right.
The Best Day Trips from Sedona
Antelope Canyon
My favourite day trip from Sedona, and it isn’t close. Antelope Canyon is one of the most photographed places in the American Southwest, about 158 miles from Sedona, and it earns every bit of that reputation. The slot canyon’s swirling sandstone walls have been carved over centuries by wind and water into shapes that change colour and texture depending on the light. During the golden hours of the day, when shafts of light drop through the narrow openings above, the interior turns extraordinary shades of orange, amber and red.
Upper Antelope Canyon requires a guided Navajo Nation tour; Lower Antelope Canyon has more independent options. Both are worth it. Book well in advance in peak season.
Drive: US-89 N, about 3 hours.
Hopi Lands
The Hopi Lands sit about 142 miles from Sedona and are home to some of the oldest continuously inhabited villages in North America, with records of habitation going back over 2,000 years. This is a living, sovereign culture, not a museum exhibit, and visiting responsibly means going with a knowledgeable guide who can provide proper context and introduce you to community members who choose to share their culture with visitors.
The First, Second and Third Mesas each have distinct villages and traditions; the Hopi Cultural Center is the practical starting point. This is one of the more meaningful day trips you can do from Sedona.
Drive: 2 to 4 hours depending on route.
Grand Canyon National Park
No list of Sedona day trips skips the Grand Canyon. It shouldn’t; it’s the Grand Canyon. About two hours from Sedona via the Grand Canyon Junction, the South Rim gives you the most accessible entry point and the most dramatic viewpoints. Walk along the rim, take one of the rim or canyon hikes, or book a mule ride for a different perspective on the scale of the thing.
One honest note: the Grand Canyon is enormous and a day gives you only a taste of it. But even a few hours at the rim is an experience that stays with you.
Drive: About 2 hours via Grand Canyon Junction.
Book a Grand Canyon tour from Sedona
Montezuma Castle National Monument
One of the best-preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in North America, and one of the closest major sights to Sedona at just 40 minutes. Montezuma Castle was built by the Sinagua people around 800 years ago, carved directly into the face of a limestone cliff above Beaver Creek. The five-storey structure is impressively intact, and the setting, green riparian woodland against pale Arizona rock, is beautiful. A short, flat trail leads around the main site and includes a second, more ruined dwelling at Montezuma Well nearby.
Drive: About 40 minutes south on I-17.
Phoenix
Phoenix is about two hours south on the I-17, and it offers a useful change of pace from Sedona’s red rock scenery. The Heard Museum, which focuses on the art and culture of Native American peoples from the Southwest, is one of the finest of its kind in the country and worth several hours. Scottsdale is worth the detour for its gallery district and restaurant scene, while Scottsdale Fashion Square handles retail needs. The Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park is excellent.
Drive: About 2 hours via I-17 S.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
A cinder cone volcano that last erupted around 900 years ago, Sunset Crater sits just north of Flagstaff and makes a satisfying half-day trip, particularly combined with the nearby Wupatki National Monument. The volcanic landscape here is striking and genuinely alien-looking, black lava fields extending around the reddish cone, with a loop trail through the lava flow that gives you a sense of the eruption’s scale. Pairs naturally with Wupatki for a full day of Arizona geology and archaeology.
Drive: About 1 hour to Flagstaff, then a short drive to the monument.
Book a Ruins and Volcanoes tour
Cottonwood
Cottonwood is a proper small town rather than a tourist destination, which is precisely what makes it a good day trip when you want something lower-key. Just 30 minutes from Sedona, its Main Street has an appealing collection of galleries, independent shops and restaurants without feeling manufactured. The big draw nearby is Tuzigoot National Monument, a hilltop pueblo ruin overlooking the Verde Valley that dates back to around 1000 CE. The Verde Valley as a whole is wine country, and several tasting rooms are within easy reach.
Drive: About 30 minutes.
Flagstaff
Flagstaff is an hour north on the I-17 and is one of the more underrated cities in Arizona. It sits at 2,100 metres elevation in the shadow of the San Francisco Peaks, which means the climate and landscape are completely different from Sedona’s desert canyon country. The historic downtown around Heritage Square has a strong independent restaurant and bar culture. The Museum of Northern Arizona covers the natural and cultural history of the Colorado Plateau region and is excellent. In winter, the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort operates on the flanks of the Peaks above town.
Drive: About 1 hour north.
Winslow
Even if you’ve never listened to the Eagles, Winslow is a genuinely charming Route 66 town about 90 minutes east of Sedona. Standin’ on the Corner Park, inspired by the famous lyric from Take It Easy, is the main attraction for visitors, with a mural and statue of Glenn Frey that makes for an irresistible photo. But the historic downtown beyond it is worth exploring for its own sake: old brick storefronts, a Route 66 heritage that runs deep, and the RelicRoad Brewing Company for craft beer and food. A good choice if you want something lighter and more characterful than a national park day.
Drive: About 1.5 hours east via I-17 and I-40.
Verde Valley Loop
The Verde Valley scenic loop is a 90-mile drive that takes you through some of Arizona’s most varied landscape in a single day: vineyard country, the historic mining town of Jerome perched dramatically on the side of Mingus Mountain, the Verde Canyon Railroad depot at Clarkdale, and the small towns of Cottonwood and Camp Verde. Jerome alone is worth the detour, a former copper mining town that has reinvented itself as an arts and craft community, with galleries, independent restaurants and views across the valley that are hard to beat.
Drive: A loop, start and end in Sedona. Total drive around 35 minutes of actual travel, but plan for a full day of stops.
Tempe
Tempe is over two hours by car and therefore better suited to an overnight rather than a strict day trip, but if you’re committed, it rewards the effort. It has a strong craft beer scene (Four Peaks Brewing is the standout), excellent waterfront dining around Tempe Town Lake and the full amenities of a proper university city. Top of the Rock restaurant at the Marriott at McDowell Mountain has views of the Sonoran Desert and city lights that are worth the drive on their own. Factor in the return journey and this is a long day.
Drive: About 2 hours south.
Walnut Canyon National Monument
About an hour from Sedona, just east of Flagstaff, Walnut Canyon contains a series of cliff dwellings built by Sinagua people around 700 years ago, similar in culture to the builders of Montezuma Castle, but set in a completely different landscape. The Island Trail descends 185 steps into the canyon and passes directly by the cliff rooms, which are remarkably well-preserved. The Rim Trail above offers views down into the canyon and across the surrounding ponderosa pine forest. Good value, not crowded.
Drive: About 1 hour, east of Flagstaff on I-40.
Mogollon Rim
The Mogollon Rim is a 200-mile escarpment marking the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, think a dramatic cliff edge with vast views over the forested country below. Driving Arizona Route 260 along the rim gives you consistently good views, and there are hiking trails, fishing spots in nearby streams and picnic areas throughout. There is very little infrastructure out here, so go prepared with food, water and a full tank of fuel. The drive itself is genuinely scenic.
Drive: 2 to 3 hours southeast via Highway 260.
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is a 3 to 3.5-hour drive from Sedona, which makes it a long day, but the turquoise water against the red sandstone canyon walls is one of the American Southwest’s great sights. The Wahweap Recreation Area near Page is the main access point, with boat rentals and kayak hire available. The hiking along the sandstone cliffs is excellent, and there are numerous side canyons to explore by water. If you make the journey, stop at Horseshoe Bend on the way, it is 15 minutes from Page and one of the most dramatic natural viewpoints in Arizona.
Drive: About 3 to 3.5 hours northeast.
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is a full-day trip, roughly 4.5 hours each way from Sedona, and I would strongly recommend booking a guided tour rather than attempting it independently. The valley sits on Navajo Nation land, and a Navajo guide is required for most of the backcountry areas. That requirement is not a logistical inconvenience; it is what makes the visit meaningful. The guides are knowledgeable and the access they provide to areas of the valley you cannot reach on your own is worth every minute of the long drive.
Drive: About 4.5 hours.
Wupatki National Monument
Wupatki is one of the better-kept secrets near Flagstaff: a series of well-preserved red-rock pueblo ruins built by the Sinagua people around 800 years ago, spread across a dramatic open landscape north of Flagstaff in the shadow of the San Francisco Peaks. The Wupatki Pueblo itself is the largest of the ruins and the most impressive, with a community room and a rare ball court. The drive to get here passes Sunset Crater, which makes the two natural attractions a logical pairing for a full day.
Drive: About 1.5 to 2 hours via Flagstaff.
Book a Ruins and Volcanoes tour
Seligman
Seligman has a genuine claim to being the birthplace of Route 66 nostalgia as a concept, it was local barber Angel Delgadillo who campaigned in the 1980s to have Route 66 designated a historic highway, and who helped spark the preservation movement. The town now leans hard into its 1950s identity, with classic cars, retro diners, wall-to-wall Americana and the Roadkill Café for characterful food. It is unapologetically kitsch and completely enjoyable for it. Plan 2 to 3 hours here, not a full day.
Drive: About 2 to 3 hours west via I-40.
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is the wettest desert in the world, which sounds like a contradiction but is absolutely true, with two rainy seasons producing a surprisingly lush and diverse ecosystem. The signature species is the saguaro cactus, the tall columnar cacti with arms that define the classic Southwest skyline, but the desert also supports bighorn sheep, coyotes, roadrunners, Gila woodpeckers and an extraordinary range of plant life. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve outside Scottsdale is one of the best access points, with well-marked trails and interpretive information throughout.
Drive: About 3.5 hours to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.
Practical Tips
You need a car for virtually all of these, public transport between these destinations is limited to non-existent. Book national park entry passes and guided tours, especially for Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley, well in advance in peak season (March to May, September to November). The national parks have a standard entrance fee; the America the Beautiful annual pass pays for itself quickly if you are doing several in one trip.
Map of Day Tours from Sedona
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