Itinerary · Sedona · United States
One day in Sedona
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Sedona, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Terrydarc, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 3. Day 1: Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. Base yourself in Uptown Sedona.
Key facts
- Days
- 1
- Sights covered
- 5
- Day trips
- None
- Best base
- Uptown Sedona
- Book ahead
- Nothing essential
Day by day
Day 1: Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte
Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, Chapel of the Holy Cross and Devil's Bridge, then Airport Mesa in the evening.
Morning
Cathedral Rock
Use the free Sedona Shuttle to the trailhead rather than hunting for parking, and go early to avoid both heat and crowds. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
Late morning
Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte
Families with young children can stick to the pathway's lower ledges, which give views without exposure. Allow 1–2.5 hours.
Lunch
Lunch: Prickly pear margarita
Bars and restaurants across Uptown and the Gallery District, many with red-rock views from their terraces.
Afternoon
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Arrive early in the day; parking on the narrow access road is limited and fills quickly. Allow 30–45 minutes.
Late afternoon
Devil's Bridge
Start before sunrise or ride the free shuttle; by mid-morning the queue to stand on the arch for photos can last over an hour. Allow 2–3 hours.
Evening
Airport Mesa
Arrive at least 45 minutes before sunset to find space at the small overlook parking area.
If it rains
- Swap in Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village (Gallery District): Combine an afternoon browse with an early dinner on one of the courtyard patios.
- Swap in Sedona Heritage Museum (Uptown Sedona): Take a look at the restored apple-sorting machine in the packing shed, a reminder that Sedona was once orchard country.
Where to stay for this itinerary
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and shopping
Uptown Sedona
Souvenir shops, jeep-tour offices and red-rock views along SR 89A
Pace and daylight
The sights in this plan add up to roughly 6–9 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.8 hours in December to 14.5 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.
Getting between stops: Car. A car is essential for most trips, from trailheads to Oak Creek Canyon and day trips.
More or fewer days
Questions travellers ask
+Is one day enough in Sedona?
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 3. How many days Sedona needs.