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Field Notes / Sedona
Phoenix or Scottsdale to Sedona: The Drive, the Stops, and Whether to Keep Going to Flagstaff
The short version
- Phoenix (Sky Harbor) to Sedona: about 115 miles / 185 km, 2 hours via I-17 north and SR-179 (exit 298). Scottsdale: 2 hours 15 minutes.
- Worth stopping: Montezuma Castle (exit 289), Camp Verde, and the Red Rock Scenic Byway entry into Sedona itself.
- Sedona needs a day. The Grand Canyon needs another. Flagstaff, 45 minutes beyond Sedona, is the base that makes both easy.
- We pick up in Flagstaff for small-group Grand Canyon days; private days can include Sedona or Oak Creek Canyon.
The route
I-17 north out of Phoenix climbs from 1,100 ft to over 3,000 ft at Camp Verde in about 90 minutes. Take exit 298 for SR-179, which becomes the Red Rock Scenic Byway: 15 miles past Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte into Sedona. It is the best possible way to arrive. (SR-260 via Cottonwood and SR-89A is an alternative that adds Jerome and the Verde Valley wineries.)
Arrive before 9 am or after 3 pm if you can. Weekend and spring-break traffic on SR-179 and the Uptown roundabouts is Sedona's one real flaw.
Stops on the way
- Montezuma Castle National Monument (exit 289): a five-storey cliff dwelling, 30 minutes to see, worth every one of them.
- Camp Verde: pecan orchards, Fort Verde, a good lunch stop.
- Rock Springs Café (exit 242): the pie place. Everyone stops; you should too.
- Sunset Point rest area (mile 252): the view down into the Agua Fria canyon and the first sign the desert is changing.
How long does Sedona need?
One day covers the headline sights (our short list); two lets you hike properly and swim in Oak Creek. If you are coming up from Phoenix for a single day, the honest version is: byway at sunrise, a short hike, lunch at Tlaquepaque, Oak Creek in the afternoon, sunset at Airport Mesa, dinner, and a late drive back down I-17 (2 hours, mostly downhill, deer on the road after dark).
Why keep going to Flagstaff
From Sedona, SR-89A climbs Oak Creek Canyon for 14 miles of creek, sycamores and sandstone walls, then switchbacks up to the plateau and reaches Flagstaff in 45 minutes to an hour. At 7,000 ft it is cool in summer and has a real downtown. More to the point, the Grand Canyon South Rim is 80 miles from Flagstaff against 115 from Sedona and 230 from Phoenix. A base in Flagstaff turns Sedona and the canyon into two unhurried days instead of two long ones.
| Plan | Driving | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix day trip to Sedona | 4 to 4.5 h | Sedona, briefly |
| Phoenix day trip to the Grand Canyon | 7 to 8 h | The canyon at midday, briefly |
| Two nights in Flagstaff | 2.25 h up, 2.25 h back, plus short hops | Oak Creek Canyon on the way; a full Sedona day; a full Grand Canyon day with a guide, sunset included if you want it |
Our Grand Canyon day tour picks up in Flagstaff at 8 am and returns around 5:30 pm with park fees and a picnic lunch included; the Phoenix-to-Grand-Canyon guide has the full comparison.
Pickup: hotel and vacation-rental pickup is included within Flagstaff city limits (and the Williams area on our Williams tour). We can often arrange other pickup points for an extra fee. Ask us before you book.
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Want to see it with a local guide?
Small groups, no more than 10 guests, park fees and lunch included on our day tours. Book online or ask us anything.
