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Field Notes / Getting here
Sedona to the Grand Canyon: Day Trip, Drive and Tour Options
The short version
- Sedona to Grand Canyon Village: about 115 miles / 185 km, 2 to 2.5 hours each way via SR-89A up Oak Creek Canyon, Flagstaff and US-180.
- A day trip is very doable: leave by 7:30 am and you have 5 to 6 hours at the rim.
- The drive up Oak Creek Canyon is one of the best in Arizona. Do it in daylight at least once.
- Flagstaff is on the way. Our small-group tours leave from there; ask us about a Sedona pickup for private tours.
The route from Sedona
Take SR-89A north out of Uptown Sedona. The road follows Oak Creek for 14 miles, then climbs the switchbacks to the rim of the Mogollon Plateau (stop at the Oak Creek Vista pull-out at the top; the Navajo and Hopi vendors there are worth your time). You arrive in Flagstaff after about 45 minutes to an hour. From Flagstaff, US-180 north-west runs 80 miles through ponderosa pine and open grassland to the South Entrance of the park. Total: 2 to 2.5 hours depending on how long you linger in the canyon.
In winter, if 89A through Oak Creek is icy, take SR-179 south to I-17 and go up the interstate instead. It adds about 20 minutes.
Sedona to Grand Canyon day trip: a realistic timeline
- 7:30 am leave Sedona. 8:30 coffee in Flagstaff. 10:00 at the South Rim.
- 10:00 to 3:30 Mather Point, the Rim Trail to the Village, lunch, then the drive east along Desert View Drive to the Watchtower (25 miles, with the best overlooks in the park).
- 3:30 leave from Desert View. You can return via Cameron and US-89 south to Flagstaff, which makes a loop and passes the Little Colorado River Gorge. Back in Sedona by 6:30 pm.
If you want sunset at the canyon (and you should, here is why), accept a late night, or stay in Flagstaff or Tusayan instead.
Your options for getting there
| Self-drive | Large bus tour from Sedona | TrekWest small-group tour (from Flagstaff) | TrekWest private tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours in the vehicle | 4.5 to 5 | 5 to 6 | 3 to 3.5 from Flagstaff | Depends on pickup; we can plan around Sedona |
| Group size | You | Often 25 to 50 | Maximum 10 | Your group only |
| Park fee, lunch | You pay ($35 per vehicle) | Usually included | Included: park fee, Route 66 café picnic | Included |
| Guide | Audio app, if you download one | Driver-guide on a microphone | Local guide, walks with you at every stop | Your own guide, your pace |
| Best for | Confident drivers who want flexibility | Lowest price per seat | Couples, small families, friends | Families, special occasions, hikers |
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.
Two days are better than one
Our favourite version: drive up Oak Creek Canyon mid-morning, hike Old Caves Crater or wander downtown Flagstaff, sleep in Flagstaff, and take the canyon tour the next day rested and early. Then, if you have a third day, Sycamore Canyon gives you Sedona-style red rock without the Sedona crowds on your way back south.
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Quick tips, hidden overlooks, road-trip tricks and the places we love around the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff and Sedona. New ones every week, straight from our guides.
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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.
