There is so much to see in Arizona and often very little time to see it! Sedona is a fantastic destination on it’s own, with tons of activities for nature lovers. But it’s also completely doable as day trip from Phoenix if you’re hoping to fit both into a short stay. Here’s our perfect itinerary for an easy day trip in Sedona.
7:00 AM – Depart
We were staying in the Scottsdale area, and woke up to a beautiful sunrise. But no time to waste, we got ready and hit the road early to try and beat the crowds!
If you’re looking for where to stay in Phoenix, check out the hotel review of our stay here.
9:00 AM – Arrive at Devil’s Bridge Trailhead
Devil’s Bridge is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona. It’s not too difficult, and of course, offers the iconic bridge view as you reach the top of the hike. In fact, parking here may be the the more challenging aspect of your visit.
Unless you have a 4×4 that you can take directly to Devil’s Bridge Trailhead, you’ll actually want to park a little further away and hike in. We parked at the Dry Creek Trailhead location on Google Maps, and it is definitely limited parking. We had to circle a couple times to find a spot, though there were sunrise hikers who were leaving around this time.
You can also park at Mescal Car Park and hike in, or take the Sedona Shuttle and not deal with trailhead parking altogether.
From there, we took a combination of the trail and 4×4 road (which can get dusty) to the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead. And then up we went!
The views are beautiful from the top and we stopped a couple times to admire the scenery. Depending on the time of day, if you want to take a photo on the iconic bridge, you may have to wait 30+ minutes for a turn! Sometimes there are photographers posted up there to take photos (for a fee), but many just ask the next person in line to help snap a photo.
12:00 PM – Lunch Time
Now that the big hike of the day is behind you, it’s time to grab some food downtown! There are plenty of options from casual cafes to sit down restaurants. Some spots that we had starred for the trip include:
- Local Juicery: Organic cafe and juice bar
- Tortas de Fuego West Sedona: For a range of Mexican eats
- Wildflower: For simple healthy bites with a view
1:00 PM – Drive the Scenic Loop
After fueling up, take in more of Sedona’s iconic red rocks via a scenic drive filled with viewpoints and mini excursions.
Search for Red Rock Loop on the map, and make sure to take it counterclockwise from West to East for the best views along the drive (look for the turnoff onto the loop here).
From there, keep driving the first couple of miles until you pass the turnoffs for the visitor center. Beyond this point, the rest of the drive is littered with notable stops. Here are the ones we enjoyed in order of when you’ll encounter them on the drive:
1. Cliff House:
Drive by only, this iconic red house is an architectural feat and impressively built into the cliffside. Its owner accesses the property via gondola, and the futuristic design makes it a standout among the cliffs of Sedona.
2. Cathedral Rock View:
At the intersections for Via Monte Bello and Jones Lane, you’ll see the first impressive views of this iconic butte. When the season is right, the fields are abloom with wildflowers, making for a magical sight.
3. Secret Slickrock Trailhead:
This short hike requires a venue off the loop, but I promise the views are worth it. You’ll drive out and back on Chavez Ranch Road, then hike about 15 minutes on relatively flat trails. There is a final descent, about 2 flights of rock stairs, that leads to a beautiful plateau with a Cathedral Rock view. If you stay for sunset, it’s bound to be a beautiful one.
4. Lover’s Knoll:
Back on the main loop, you’ll find this overlook that offers a higher vantage point and sweeping views of the valley. If you have difficulty parking, just a half mile up the road is another pullout with similar views. Make sure to drive carefully as the parking can be tricky (but not impossible) for cars with low clearance!
3:00 PM – Head back to Phoenix
We had dinner plans back in Phoenix, so once we finished up the loop, we headed straight back (and grabbed some In-N-Out on the way). This gave us more than enough time to get ready for the evening, while avoiding any traffic which can increase the commute time.
For us, this was the perfect day trip to Sedona that gave us a taste of the buttes without being exhausted. If you find yourself on a faster paced day, it’s definitely doable to fit in two hikes as well.
Additional hikes you may want to check out (and we’ll be saving for our next visit!):
- Cathedral Rock Trail: Moderate difficulty with some rock scramble
- Long Canyon Trail: Moderate difficulty that leads up to the Birthing Cave view
- Airport Mesa Vortex Hike: No elevation but rocky hike with a view
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