Sedona, Arizona: Your All-In-One Travel Guide
Sedona was one of the most beautiful towns in the United States I have visited – I could not recommend it enough for your next destination! The landscape is breathtaking all around, the hiking is spectacular, and to my surprise it has some of the best dining in the country. No matter where you are in Sedona, you’ll have beautiful views and the peaceful energy that takes over Sedona is unmatched from anything I’ve experienced before. If you’re wondering what to do in Sedona, where to stay in Sedona, how to use the Sedona Shuttle, or just general tips, keep on reading.
When to Visit Sedona
The weather is a big factor you need to take into consideration when visiting Sedona. Since it’s a desert, it can get up to 100s Fahrenheit in the summer months (June, July, August). The best times to visit Sedona are the Spring and Fall so you can get more moderate temperatures especially if you plan to do any hiking. In my personal experience, the desert heat also feels significantly hotter than it does where I live in San Francisco i.e. 70 degree weather felt much more like 85 degrees with the high UV levels and little wind.
Getting to Sedona
Sedona is about a 2, 2.5 hour drive from Phoenix International Airport. You will need to get a rental car at the airport and drive to Sedona if you are flying in. There are no commercial flights into a closer airport or any train options from downtown Phoenix. You will also want a car while you are there to get around – there are Ubers and taxis in Sedona but it may really limit your freedom of getting around. The drive in is beautiful as you get closer!
Where to Stay in Sedona
Sedona is famous for many of it’s 4 and 5 star spa resorts, such as the Enchantment Resort and L’Auberge de Sedona. We opted to stay in the L’auberge de Sedona which was one of the most relaxing stays I’ve had while traveling. Instead of a traditional hotel, we got to stay in a garden cottage which had it’s own fireplace, porch, and walkway to the creek the resort sits alongside. I would give the stay 5/5 stars – it was the perfect central location, beautiful + relaxing spa experience, and great service. Every evening, the resort would lay out slippers/robes/chocolate for us on the bed and even fold all of our clothes thrown from the day (as far as tying the shoelaces on our sneakers).
I recommend staying for 3-4 days to have enough time to see everything, especially since some of the hikes can take a full afternoon.
Sedona Parking to Trailhead Shuttles (Required Weekly Thurs-Sun & Spring Months)
An important thing to note if you are heading to Sedona between Thursday to Sunday, or are coming during the Spring Break season (March and April), the parking lots at key hiking trails are closed. Instead, there are larger parking lots located 1-2 miles away from each of the trailheads that have closer to 30 parking spots. The Sedona Shuttle runs between these parking lots to the hiking trail entrance, and back, each hour.
Bus schedules are posted at each parking lot, but they typically run once an hour and around a ~5 minute shuttle ride to the trailhead. They are completely free , but plan accordingly so you don’t need to wait 45 min+ for the shuttle time. You can also always walk to the trailhead from these lots which ranges from 15 to 45 minutes additional hiking time each direction.
The Best Things to Do in Sedona
1. Hiking in Sedona
There are so many incredible trails in Sedona – ranging from all levels of easy to difficult. The mountains surround Sedona by 360 degrees, so you can imagine just how many trails there are you could go on. We opted for one at each level (easy, medium, and challenging) to pace our hikes out across the few days we had.
One key tip – make sure to input the trailhead for these hikes instead of inserting these names (i.e. “Seven Sacred Pools”) into Maps. We found the trailheads using the app ‘All Trails.’ When on the trails, All Trails can also help make sure you’re on the right trail, and there are also rock structures wrapped in metal coil to guide you at seeming forks in the path.
Cathedral rock
Cathedral rock was the most challenging for the hikes we did. It involves a lot of scrambling, or climbing on all 4s up the rocks. The hike itself is only 2 miles up but over 500ft in elevation gain as you steeply climb. It’s unique from any hike I’ve done before which has a paved trail – you need to find good footholds and use your hands to help balance or pull you up at times.
If you are a bit more adventurous and not scared of heights, this hike is so worth it! The top of the hike is right between these massive red rock pillars, with ariel views of viewpoints on both sides. Just be sure to wear sneakers with good grip; I wore Asic Gels 1130 sneakers which worked great.
Devil’s Bridge
Devil’s Bridge is a trailhead that brings you to this narrow bridge in the valley that you can walk out on. The hike itself is so beautiful – there are stunning views the whole way up. It’s a 4 mile trail with a 500 foot elevation that happens gradually until the final 0.5 miles where it is steeper rock scrambling.
You can walk onto the bridge itself one at-a-time given how narrow it is so there may be a small queue you’ll have to wait in at the top depending on how busy the trail is. When we arrived, the energy was great with everyone celebrating making it to the top and getting some cool photos. Be sure to go out on the bridge! It is much wider and less scary when you are standing on it than it seems from the main trailhead.
Seven Sacred Pools
Seven Sacred Pools is a very family-friendly hike, which is only ~40 minutes out-and-back with mostly flat terrain. The pools have water nearly year round, with the exception of August some years according to the locals. You will access these via the Soldier Head Trail, which continues on past the pools to a few different longer trails.
These are other amazing hikes that we didn’t have a chance to do – Birthing Cave Trail, Boynton Canyon Trail, and Bell Rock Trail to name a few.
2. Take a Pink Jeep Tour or Book an ATV/Buggy
You’ll see Pink Jeeps and Buggies all around Sedona. It’s one of the cities only big tourist activities and a popular way to go off roading on many of the trails through the red rock mountain scape.
You can book Pink Jeeps from this company, PINK, or Buggies from so many local businesses. The Pink Jeep Tour ranges from $60 to $229 per adult depending on which trail you choose to ride on. It’s a group setting and comes with a driver/guide explaining on the way. In my opinion, this seemed a bit like a tourist trap. I highly recommend renting an ATV or Buggy instead which you actually drive yourself! This cost about $339 for a half-day/4 hours.
3. Get Dinner at Mariposa
Mariposa is a Latin Grill right in the heart of Sedona that is widely considered one of the top 10 restaurants in the entire country. It can be really difficult to get a table so I recommend making a reservation via Seven Rooms in advance. They do have open seating at the bar both indoor and outdoor which they take walk-ins for but this option was already very packed when we came at 5pm.
Upon parking, you’ll quickly realize why this restaurant is so highly rated. The views are honestly outstanding, with floor to ceiling glass windows highlighting the red rock landscape. Good views meet even better food here – the cocktails and food were all delicious. It does lean more towards seafood and meat heavy, but there are various vegetarian options.
Be sure to try the empanadas on the starters menu! It’s what they are most famous for – and I can confirm were phenomenal. They have their two classics – the beef and mushroom – and then a chef’s special that changes each day. When we came, the special for the day was al pastor.
4. Watch the Sunset at Mesa Airport Vortex
Funnily enough, the best spot to watch the sunset in Sedona is at the Mesa Airport. This is also one of the vortex locations in Sedona, which means it’s an energy hotspot in the world. It’s a quick 5 minute drive from the main downtown, with parking available for $3.
You have three options here for viewing: you can either watch the sunset from the parking lot at the top of the hill, park at the top and hike 1 mile down to the vortex, or get lucky and grab one of the 8 spots by the vortex itself and walk 100 ft up the hill.
5. Visit Crystal Magic
Crystals and healing have a big presence in Sedona. You’ll find crystal shops, psychic readers, and healers throughout Sedona. I’m not personally into crystals much, but there is a store in town called Crystal Magic which is known for being one of the best crystal shops in the country.
As someone who is not into crystals, I can attest this store really changed my opinion. They have hundreds of different kinds of healing stones from around the world, and they have cards next to each so you can understand the healing purposes of each one. I ended up getting three – Sunstone, Orange Calcite, and Flower Agate in a bracelet which all have beautiful meanings.
6. Grab Lunch at Indian Cafe & Market
The Indian Cafe & Market was our favorite lunch spot in Sedona – it was recommended to us by everyone who had been and we actually loved it so much we went back twice! Their sandwiches are some of the best I’ve had – I personally got the Bacon and Brie one which I 10/10 recommend. They also have a lovely outdoor patio outside you can sit at.
It’s very casual spot we found to be the perfect lunch post-hike! I also recommend grabbing some of their pastries which I’ve heard are all great. We got the vegan chocolate donut which was amazing.
7. Visit the Tlaquepaque Village
The Tlaquepaque Village is a historic shopping center in Sedona, which hosts a lot of cultural events, has some cool classic Native American art and clothing stores to explore.
One of the most famous spots in the village is “The Chai Spot” which serves authentic chai. As a chai lover, I can attest this was the most authentic chai I’ve had. I spoke with the business owner and found out it’s a recipe passed down from generations. They only have a few options to choose from with no alternatives allowed (milk, sugar) etc. given the sacred recipe.
8. Walk Main Street
The main street in Sedona stretches across a few blocks, with various restaurants and shops lining the street. The views from here are stunning as well – I recommend doing some window shopping or grabbing ice cream here! There are some fun speciality shops as well for soaps, honey, and more. You don’t really need more than an hour here though!
9. See the Famous Blue Arches
The McDonald’s in Sedona is the only location in the world with blue arches, which was required to fit with the cities red rock aesthetic. You’ll see it alongside the main road that takes you through Sedona!
10. Book a Spa Treatment
If you are traveling with a larger budget, Sedona is famous for it’s various spa resorts. The prices on a lot of the treatments are typically in $200s range, with huge variety from spas offering body treatments, massages, and facials.
If you don’t book a spa treatment, I would also recommend finding some time to enjoy a pool or downtime in Sedona. The city itself is so peaceful – you feel so at peace as you walk around. The energy here is incredible.
