Comparison · Napa Valley vs Sedona · United States
Napa Valley vs Sedona
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California Republic, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon and winery tastings; choose Sedona for red rock buttes, hiking, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Sedona is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,013 km (630 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,013 km (630 mi)
- Less expensive
- Sedona
- Best time for Napa Valley
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Sedona
- March–May and September–November
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Napa Valley | Sedona | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Cabernet Sauvignon, Winery tastings and Fine dining | Red rock buttes, Hiking and Cathedral Rock |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | March–May and September–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$350–600 | US$260–450 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | July, 36°C (97°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 14°C (57°F) | December, 13°C (55°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 3 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | SFO, OAK, STS | PHX, FLG |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Napa Valley in June–August, and Sedona in February–March and November–December. Both are at their best in April–May and September–October.
| Month | Napa Valley | Sedona | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C (57°F), 10 rainy days | 14°C (57°F), 5 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 17°C (63°F), 9 rainy days | 16°C (61°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | Sedona |
| March | 19°C (66°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | 18°C (64°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Sedona |
| April | 22°C (72°F), 5 rainy days · best time | 23°C (73°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 26°C (79°F), 2 rainy days · best time | 28°C (82°F), 2 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 29°C (84°F), 1 rainy day · best time | 33°C (91°F), 1 rainy day | Napa Valley |
| July | 31°C (88°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | 36°C (97°F), 6 rainy days · best avoided | Napa Valley |
| August | 31°C (88°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | 34°C (93°F), 8 rainy days · best avoided | Napa Valley |
| September | 30°C (86°F), 1 rainy day · best time | 31°C (88°F), 4 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| October | 26°C (79°F), 3 rainy days · best time | 25°C (77°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 19°C (66°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 18°C (64°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Sedona |
| December | 14°C (57°F), 9 rainy days | 13°C (55°F), 4 rainy days · shoulder season | Sedona |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Napa Valley for…
Cabernet Sauvignon and winery tastings. Napa Valley is a narrow valley about 50 km long, running from the Carneros wetlands at the top of San Francisco Bay north to Calistoga at the foot of Mount St Helena. Highway 29 and the parallel Silverado Trail link the towns of Napa, Yountville, Oakville…
Choose Sedona for…
Red rock buttes, hiking, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Sedona is a small town of about 10,000 people at roughly 1,300 metres, surrounded by towering red sandstone buttes such as Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte in the Coconino National Forest. Most visits revolve around hiking, jeep tours and…
Top sights compared
| # | Napa Valley | Sedona |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa Valley Wine Train | Cathedral Rock |
| 2 | Oxbow Public Market | Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte |
| 3 | Downtown Napa tasting rooms | Chapel of the Holy Cross |
| 4 | Castello di Amorosa | Devil's Bridge |
| 5 | Beringer Vineyards | Red Rock State Park |
Food compared
| Napa Valley | Sedona |
|---|---|
| Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon | Prickly pear margarita |
| Carneros sparkling wine and Chardonnay | Navajo taco |
| Tasting menus | Elote |
| Oysters | Green chile |
Which is cheaper?
Sedona is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$260–450 per person there, against US$350–600 in Napa Valley (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Sedona on a budget.
Napa Valley or Sedona from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Napa Valley | Sedona | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | −3 h | −2 h Jan, −3 h Jul |
| Time vs Los Angeles | Same time | +1 h Jan, Same Jul |
| From New York (JFK) | 2,560 mi (4,120 km) | 2,100 mi (3,370 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 371 mi (596 km) | 384 mi (618 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Sedona is about 463 miles (746 km) closer than Napa Valley in a straight line. Sedona is also the smaller time change: 2 hours from New York in January, against 3 for Napa Valley.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,013 km (630 mi) apart, so combining them means a flight. With 7 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Napa Valley or Sedona cheaper?
Sedona is usually less expensive: about US$260–450 a day mid-range against US$350–600 (estimates).
+Is Napa Valley or Sedona better for a first trip?
Pick Napa Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon and winery tastings, or Sedona for red rock buttes, hiking, lower day-to-day costs and free sights.
+How far is Napa Valley from Sedona?
About 1,013 km (630 mi) in a straight line.