Day Trips From Sedona
If you’re spending 4-5 days in Sedona you’ll have time to take a day trip or two. Below are some towns and places I recommend for a day trip from Sedona. Scenic routes and tips for how to spend a day exploring nearby
What Kind of Adventure are You Looking For?
| Day Trip | Drive from Sedona | Best For | Time Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome | 45 min | History & small towns | Half day |
| Cottonwood & Clarkdale | 30-45 min | History & small towns | Half day |
| Tuzigoot | 30 min | History, Native American | Half day |
| Montezuma Castle | 45 min | History, Native American | Half day |
| Prescott | 1 hr 45 min | History & downtown | Full day |
| Grand Canyon | 2–2.5 hrs | Canyons & scenery | Full day/overnight |
| Flagstaff | 1 hr | Cooler weather & outdoors | Full day |
| Page | 3 hrs | Canyons & scenery | Full day/overnight |
My top Day Trips from Sedona
- Jerome is the easiest best day trip from Sedona.
- Tuzigoot + Montezuma Castle for nearby history
- Cottonwood + Clarkdale choose for a relaxed day of exploring small towns
- Flagstaff for cooler weather and change of scenery
- Prescott to experience an Old West town.
- Grand Canyon is the best major attraction.
- Page choose if Antelope Canyon is a priority. It’s pretty far from Sedona
Best Day Trips From Sedona
Jerome
A historic mining town set in the mountains, Jerome is a fun day trip from Sedona. Jerome is 24 miles from Sedona. Don’t forget to see the ghost town there.
About 45 minutes from Sedona, Jerome is a former mining town built into the side of Mingus Mountain. Jerome is 24 miles from Sedona. It’s a good choice if you want to trade red rocks for history, old buildings, and ghost towns. Plan on several hours, especially if you want to explore the historic downtown and visit the mining museum. I would recommend visiting in the morning and then having lunch in Jerome. I also recommend vising the ghost town there.
Best for: history, small towns, shopping, photography
Drive: about 45 minutes one way
Cottonwood & Clarkdale
Historic mining towns, Cottonwood and Clarkdale are just within a few miles of each other. Explore the downtown, take the Verde Valley train ride, visit wineries, and Tuzigoot. The two towns are 15-20 miles from Sedona.
Best for: history, small towns, wineries, train ride
Drive: about 45 minutes one way
Prescott
A historic old west town near the Bradshaw Mountains and pine tree forests. About 1.5 hours from Sedona, Prescott is a western, and former mining town at the base of the Bradshaw Mountains. Prescott is 68 miles from Sedona. It’s a good choice if you like old west history, historic streets and kayaking. Plan on several hours. I would recommend visiting in the morning and then having lunch in downtown Prescott.
Best for: history, small towns, shopping, photography, kayaking
Drive: about 1 hour and 45 minutes hours one way
Tuzigoot National Monument
An Ancient Native American Sinagua pueblo with Verde Valley views. Tuzigoot is 27 miles from Sedona and just 4.5 miles from Cottonwood.
Best for: history, Native American ruins, photography
Drive: about 30 min one way
Montezuma’s Castle
An ancient cliff dwelling that you can view with minimal walking. About 45 minutes from Sedona. Montezuma’s Castle
Best for: history, Native American ruins, cliff dwellings, photography
Drive: about 45 minutes one way
Sedona to the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon from Sedona will take you about 2.5 hours. Sedona is a halfway point between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon. If you don’t want to drive there you can also take a tour bus from Sedona to the Grand Canyon.
Best for: nature, national park, photography
Drive: about 2-2.5 hours one way
Flagstaff
A college mountain town, sits at 7,000 feet in elevation and surrounded by the Coconino forest. Flagstaff is an easy 33 miles from Sedona. There is a lot to do in Flagstaff and the surrounding areas, so you can easily spend the whole day here
Best for: history, small towns, shopping, photography,
Drive: about 1 hour one way
Page & Antelope Canyon
A scenic high desert town near the Utah border. Page is famous for their slot canyons of sand. The town is 161 miles from Sedona, making this a jam packed day trip. A day trip to Page is doable, but I wouldn’t choose it unless Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are a priority.
Six hours of driving is a lot to spend on one day. Ideally you would allow yourself 1-2 nights in Page to see the sights there. Alternatively, you can take a guided tour and let someone else do the driving. These tours are usually 10-12 hours long.
Best for: nature & photography
Drive: about 3 hours one way
Sedona Guides
See my complete Sedona Travel Guide for where to stay, things to do, hikes, scenic drives and how I’d plan your time.
Sedona Area Tours
- Book a Flight to Sedona: To Sedona the closest airport is Flagstaff Pulliam and Sky Harbor in Phoenix.
- Rent a Car to Sedona: You can rent a car in Flagstaff or Phoenix and drive to Sedona. Alternatively, you can leave the driving to someone else and take a bus tour from Phoenix to Sedona.
- Where to Stay in Sedona: Choose from hotels, motels, resorts, airbnb, vrbo, cabins, and camp sites in Sedona.
- Tours to Take in Sedona
Adventurer At Heart
Amber is the writer behind Adventurer At Heart, sharing practical travel advice based on firsthand experience exploring Arizona and beyond. She focuses on hiking, history, scenic drives, and finding places worth your limited vacation time. When she is not traveling, she is gardening.
