Budget · Sedona · United States
Sedona on a budget
What a trip to Sedona really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Terrydarc, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Sedona is expensive for most international visitors. Budget roughly $110–$180 per person per day on a tight budget, $260–$450 mid-range and $650–$1,600 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $110–$180 a day
- Mid-range
- $260–$450 a day
- Luxury
- $650–$1,600 a day
- Local currency
- USD
- Free sights
- 6
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $110–$180 | $330–$540 | $550–$900 | $770–$1,260 |
| Mid-range | $260–$450 | $780–$1,350 | $1,300–$2,250 | $1,820–$3,150 |
| Luxury | $650–$1,600 | $1,950–$4,800 | $3,250–$8,000 | $4,550–$11,200 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Sedona, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Red Rock Pass (daily) | about $5 |
| Slide Rock State Park entry | about $20–$30 per vehicle |
| Jeep tour | about $100–$200 per person |
| Prickly pear margarita | about $12–$16 |
| Casual Mexican dinner | about $20–$35 per person |
| Mid-range hotel in high season | about $220–$380 per night |
Money-saving tips
- Stay in Cottonwood or the Village of Oak Creek for noticeably lower hotel rates than Uptown.
- An America the Beautiful annual pass covers Red Rock Pass trailheads and national monuments such as Montezuma Castle.
- Most of the best experiences are free hikes; jeep tours are worth it but not essential.
- Visit in January, February or early December for the lowest prices and quietest trails.
- Buy picnic food in West Sedona's supermarkets rather than eating every meal in Uptown restaurants.
Free things to do
- Cathedral Rock — Sedona's most photographed butte has a short but very steep trail of about 1 km each way, climbing slickrock with a final scramble to a saddle between its spires.
- Chapel of the Holy Cross — A Catholic chapel built in 1956 into a red-rock ridge, with a giant cross forming its façade and a window looking out across the valley.
- Devil's Bridge — The largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area is reached by a trail of about 6.5 km round trip from the Dry Creek Vista trailhead, finishing with a steep stone staircase.
- Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte — Bell Rock's rounded shape rises beside SR 179, with the Bell Rock Pathway an easy, wide trail suitable for families.
- Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village — Built in the 1970s in the style of a Mexican village under old sycamores by Oak Creek, Tlaquepaque holds galleries, craft shops and restaurants around tiled courtyards and fountains.
- Soldier Pass Trail — A moderate trail past the Devil's Kitchen, a large sinkhole, and the Seven Sacred Pools, a chain of rock basins that hold water after rain, continuing to a small arch and cave high on the cliffs.
Where to stay on a budget
$$$ · Best for families, budget and first-timers
West Sedona
Local shops, supermarkets and trailheads along the main road west
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and families
Cottonwood
Old Town tasting rooms and lower prices 25 km south-west
Eating well for less
- Elote — Elote Cafe and Mexican restaurants around town; expect a queue at Elote Cafe.
- Huevos rancheros — Breakfast cafés in West Sedona and Uptown, many of which open early for hikers.
Getting around for less
Red Rock Pass
A daily, weekly or annual pass for parking at many Coconino National Forest trailheads; America the Beautiful passes are also accepted.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Sedona cost?
About $1,300–$2,250 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $550–$900 on a tight budget.
+Is Sedona expensive?
It is expensive for international visitors. Stay in Cottonwood or the Village of Oak Creek for noticeably lower hotel rates than Uptown.
+How much money do I need per day in Sedona?
Roughly $110–$180 on a budget and $260–$450 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Sedona?
Usually in January.