Comparison · Palm Springs vs Sedona · United States
Palm Springs 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: Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Palm Springs for mid-century modern architecture, aerial tramway, nightlife and a milder winter; choose Sedona for red rock buttes and hiking. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 454 km (282 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 454 km (282 mi)
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Palm Springs
- February–April and November
- Best time for Sedona
- March–May and September–November
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Side by side
| Palm Springs | Sedona | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Mid-century modern architecture, Aerial tramway and Desert palm canyons | Red rock buttes, Hiking and Cathedral Rock |
| Best time to visit | February–April and November | March–May and September–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$250–400 | US$260–450 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 42°C (108°F) | July, 36°C (97°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 20°C (68°F) | December, 13°C (55°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | PSP, ONT | PHX, FLG |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Palm Springs in January–February, and Sedona in May and September–October. Both are at their best in March–April and November.
| Month | Palm Springs | Sedona | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21°C (70°F), 4 rainy days · shoulder season | 14°C (57°F), 5 rainy days | Palm Springs |
| February | 23°C (73°F), 4 rainy days · best time | 16°C (61°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | Palm Springs |
| March | 27°C (81°F), 2 rainy days · best time | 18°C (64°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| April | 31°C (88°F), 1 rainy day · best time | 23°C (73°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 36°C (97°F), 0 rainy days · shoulder season | 28°C (82°F), 2 rainy days · best time | Sedona |
| June | 41°C (106°F), 0 rainy days | 33°C (91°F), 1 rainy day | No clear pick |
| July | 42°C (108°F), 1 rainy day · best avoided | 36°C (97°F), 6 rainy days · best avoided | Neither: both best avoided |
| August | 42°C (108°F), 1 rainy day · best avoided | 34°C (93°F), 8 rainy days · best avoided | Neither: both best avoided |
| September | 39°C (102°F), 1 rainy day | 31°C (88°F), 4 rainy days · best time | Sedona |
| October | 33°C (91°F), 1 rainy day · shoulder season | 25°C (77°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Sedona |
| November | 25°C (77°F), 1 rainy day · best time | 18°C (64°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| December | 20°C (68°F), 3 rainy days · shoulder season | 13°C (55°F), 4 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Palm Springs for…
Mid-century modern architecture, aerial tramway, nightlife and a milder winter. Palm Springs sits on the floor of the Coachella Valley at the foot of the 3,302-metre San Jacinto Mountains, about 175 km east of Los Angeles. Its walkable downtown along Palm Canyon Drive is lined with mid-century modern banks, motels and shops, and the…
Choose Sedona for…
Red rock buttes and hiking. 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
| # | Palm Springs | Sedona |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Springs Aerial Tramway | Cathedral Rock |
| 2 | Mount San Jacinto State Park | Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte |
| 3 | Indian Canyons | Chapel of the Holy Cross |
| 4 | Tahquitz Canyon | Devil's Bridge |
| 5 | Agua Caliente Cultural Museum | Red Rock State Park |
Food compared
| Palm Springs | Sedona |
|---|---|
| Date shake | Prickly pear margarita |
| Medjool and Deglet Noor dates | Navajo taco |
| Tacos and Mexican plates | Elote |
| Tamales | Green chile |
Which is cheaper?
Palm Springs and Sedona cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly US$250–400 in Palm Springs and US$260–450 in Sedona (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Palm Springs on a budget.
Palm Springs or Sedona from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Palm Springs | 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) | 2,380 mi (3,820 km) | 2,100 mi (3,370 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 107 mi (172 km) | 384 mi (618 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Sedona is about 279 miles (449 km) closer than Palm Springs in a straight line. Sedona is also the smaller time change: 2 hours from New York in January, against 3 for Palm Springs.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Palm Springs and Sedona are about 454 km (282 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Palm Springs and 3 in Sedona.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Palm Springs or Sedona cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about US$250–400 in Palm Springs and US$260–450 in Sedona (estimates).
+Is Palm Springs or Sedona better for a first trip?
Pick Palm Springs for mid-century modern architecture, aerial tramway, nightlife and a milder winter, or Sedona for red rock buttes and hiking.
+How far is Palm Springs from Sedona?
About 454 km (282 mi) in a straight line.