Season guide · Sedona · United States
Sedona in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cool sunny days, freezing nights, occasional snow on the red rocks and the quietest trails of the year. Expect highs up to 16°C (61°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 14 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -1°C (30°F) to 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 14
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C (57°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 5 | 10.1 h | 2/5 |
| February | 16°C (61°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 5 | 10.9 h | 3/5 |
| December | 13°C (55°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 4 | 9.8 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 14°C (57°F) against a yearly 24°C (75°F), and 14 of the year's roughly 49 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Sedona Marathon (usually early February)
- February: Sedona International Film Festival (usually late February to early March)
- December: Tlaquepaque Festival of Lights — thousands of luminarias (usually early-to-mid December)
Good choices for winter
Market · Gallery District
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
Combine an afternoon browse with an early dinner on one of the courtyard patios.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Art
- Rainy day
- Free
- Couples
Museum · Uptown Sedona
Sedona Heritage Museum
Set in a pioneer family's farmhouse and apple-packing shed in Jordan Historical Park, the museum covers ranching, orchards and the many Western films shot among the red rocks.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Day trips in winter
- Flagstaff (About 45 minutes by car) — A mountain town at about 2,100 metres with a historic Route 66 downtown, breweries and Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930.
- Verde Canyon Railroad (About 40 minutes by car to Clarkdale) — A heritage train from Clarkdale runs through a remote canyon along the Verde River, past red cliffs, a tunnel and Sinagua ruins, on a round trip of about four hours with open-air viewing cars.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Sedona?
It is a trade-off: Cool sunny days, freezing nights, occasional snow on the red rocks and the quietest trails of the year. The best months overall are March–May and September–November.
+What is the weather like in Sedona in winter?
Highs of up to 16°C (61°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 14 rainy days over the season.