If Jerome is Prescott’s quirky, haunted day trip, Sedona is its jaw-dropping one. About an hour and a half away sits one of the most photographed landscapes in the world, a valley of towering red rock formations that glow orange at sunrise and sunset and draw visitors from every corner of the globe. Between the hiking, the art, the famous energy vortexes, the spas, and simply the views, you could spend a week in Sedona and not run out of things to do. But it makes a spectacular day trip from Prescott, and this is our guide to doing it right.

Getting to Sedona from Prescott

You have two good ways to reach Sedona from Prescott, and both take somewhere around an hour and a half. The scenic route runs over Mingus Mountain on State Route 89A, down through Jerome and Cottonwood and up through the gorgeous Oak Creek Canyon, and it is genuinely one of the prettiest drives in Arizona. The faster, easier route drops down to Interstate 17 and comes in on State Route 179, the Red Rock Scenic Byway, which delivers you straight into the best red rock views. If you have the time, take the scenic way at least one direction. Whichever you choose, know that Sedona is extremely popular, so parking at the trailheads and in town fills up fast, and an early start pays off.

The red rocks

The whole reason Sedona exists on the tourist map is the rock. Great sandstone formations rise straight out of the valley in deep reds and oranges, each with its own name and personality: Cathedral Rock with its soaring spires, the rounded dome of Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Coffee Pot Rock, Snoopy Rock, and the flat perch of Airport Mesa. The best introduction is simply to drive the Red Rock Scenic Byway along Route 179, a roughly seven-and-a-half-mile stretch lined with pullouts and views that will have you stopping every few minutes for photos. Even if you do nothing else, that drive alone is worth the trip.

A little Sedona history

Sedona is younger than you might guess. The town was named in 1902 after Sedona Schnebly, the wife of one of the area’s first postmasters and settlers, and for its early decades it was a quiet community of ranchers and orchard growers along Oak Creek. What put it on the map was Hollywood: from the 1920s through the 1950s, the dramatic red rock scenery served as the backdrop for dozens of Western films, drawing the world’s attention to the landscape. In the decades since, Sedona transformed from a sleepy settlement into a globally known destination for art, tourism, and wellness, all while the rocks that made it famous stayed exactly the same. Knowing a little of that story adds depth to what can otherwise feel like a pure scenery stop.

Easy viewpoints if you would rather not hike

You do not have to be a hiker to soak up Sedona. The Airport Mesa overlook offers one of the best panoramic views in town and is a legendary sunset spot, so arrive early to get a place. The pullouts along the Scenic Byway give you postcard views with barely any walking, and the area around Bell Rock has flat, easy paths that get you right up to the formations. For a lot of visitors, a few well-chosen viewpoints and a good camera are all the Sedona they need.

Hiking in Sedona

For those who want to get out on foot, Sedona has more than two hundred trails, and the red rock scenery makes even a short walk feel epic. The most famous hikes are Cathedral Rock, a short but steep climb to a saddle with panoramic views, and Devil’s Bridge, which leads to Arizona’s largest natural sandstone arch and that iconic photo everyone wants. Bell Rock has easy loops around its base, Boynton Canyon combines red rock with ancient cliff dwellings, and the West Fork trail up in Oak Creek Canyon is a shaded creekside favorite. One practical note: you will need a Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass to park at most trailheads, and the popular lots fill early, so some trails are best reached by the town shuttle.

The vortexes

Sedona is as famous for its spiritual side as its scenery. The town is known worldwide for its vortexes, four main sites, at Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, and Boynton Canyon, that many people believe are centers of natural energy said to support healing, meditation, and reflection. You will find guided vortex tours, meditation sessions, and sound healing all over town. You do not have to hold any particular belief to enjoy them, since the vortex sites are simply beautiful places to sit quietly and take in the landscape. Whether you feel an energy or just a great view, they are worth seeking out.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross

One of Sedona’s most striking sights is the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a modernist church built directly into the red rocks in the 1950s. It seems to grow right out of the stone, and the views from its perch over the valley are spectacular. It is free to visit, takes only a short stop, and is genuinely moving whether or not you are religious. It ranks among the most photographed buildings in Arizona for good reason, and it is an easy addition to any Sedona day.

Slide Rock State Park

In the warmer months, Slide Rock State Park is one of the most fun things you can do in the area. Up in Oak Creek Canyon, the creek runs over a stretch of smooth red sandstone that forms a series of natural water slides and swimming holes, and on a hot day it is pure joy. It gets busy and the water is cold even in summer, so go early and bring water shoes. It is a wonderful way to cool off after a morning of hiking, and a Sedona experience unlike any other.

Oak Creek Canyon

The drive up State Route 89A from Sedona toward Flagstaff through Oak Creek Canyon is one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the state. The canyon walls close in, the creek runs alongside, and the whole scene shifts from red rock to green forest as you climb. It is a destination in itself, with swimming holes, picnic spots, and the excellent West Fork trail, and in autumn the changing leaves make it one of the best fall-color drives in Arizona. If you have extra time, a run up the canyon and back is well spent.

Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village

When you are ready to slow down, Tlaquepaque is the place to do it. Built to feel like a traditional Mexican village, with cobbled walkways, arched passages, fountains, and shady sycamores, it is home to a collection of art galleries, artisan shops, and restaurants. It is a lovely spot to wander, browse for local art and crafts, and sit down for a meal, and it gives Sedona a cultural depth beyond the trails and viewpoints. Even if you are not buying, it is a beautiful place to stroll.

Uptown Sedona and shopping

The walkable heart of town, known as Uptown, is packed with shops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants, most with red rock views right out the window. It is the easiest place to park once and explore on foot, grab a bite, shop for souvenirs or Southwestern art, and book a tour. For higher-end galleries, fine dining, and wine tasting rooms, the Hillside area is worth a look too. Between them, Sedona offers plenty to do even when you are not out among the rocks.

Jeep tours and adventures

If you want to get off the paved roads and deep into the backcountry, a guided off-road jeep tour is the classic Sedona adventure. The bright pink jeeps are a local icon, bouncing visitors up rugged red rock trails to viewpoints most people never reach, with guides sharing the geology and lore along the way. For an even bigger perspective, helicopter and small-plane tours show off the red rock country from the air. These popular tours book up, so reserve ahead if one is on your list.

Spas and wellness

Sedona has long been a wellness destination, and its spas are among the best in the Southwest. Many offer treatments inspired by Native traditions and set against those unbeatable red rock views, and the town is full of yoga studios, meditation guides, and healing practitioners drawn by the vortex energy. If your idea of a perfect day trip includes a massage with a view or a quiet meditation session, Sedona delivers that as readily as it delivers a hard hike.

Sedona after dark

Sedona’s beauty does not clock out at sunset. The town is a certified International Dark Sky Community, meaning it follows lighting rules designed to protect the night sky, and the result on a clear night is spectacular. Away from city glow, the stars come out in staggering numbers over the silhouetted red rocks, and the Milky Way is often visible to the naked eye. If you can stretch your day trip into the evening, it is worth lingering for the stars, whether you simply pull over at a dark overlook or join one of the guided stargazing and astronomy tours that make the most of Sedona’s famous skies. It is a side of the town a lot of day-trippers miss.

Pair it with the Verde Valley and Jerome

Because the scenic route runs right through it, Sedona pairs naturally with the rest of the Verde Valley. On the way over or back, you can stop in Cottonwood for wine tasting, ride the Verde Canyon Railroad from Clarkdale, or climb up to the copper ghost town of Jerome. In fact, Sedona and Jerome make a fantastic pairing for a big day out, one all red rock beauty and the other all haunted mining history. See our guide to a day trip to Jerome to build the two into one loop.

A suggested plan for the day

If you want a simple framework, a great Sedona day might look like this. Leave Prescott early and take the scenic drive over Mingus Mountain so you arrive before the crowds. Start with the Red Rock Scenic Byway and a stop at the Chapel of the Holy Cross to get your bearings and your first big views. Mid-morning, tackle one hike suited to your group, Cathedral Rock or Bell Rock for the classic red rock experience, or cool off at Slide Rock if it is warm. Break for lunch and browsing in Uptown or at Tlaquepaque, spend the afternoon on a jeep tour, a spa treatment, or more viewpoints, and finish by staking out a spot at the Airport Mesa overlook for sunset before you head home. It is an easy plan, and it shows you the very best of Sedona in a single day.

Tips for visiting Sedona

A little planning goes a long way here. Buy a Red Rock Pass if you plan to park at trailheads, and arrive early, since the popular lots fill by mid-morning and Sedona’s crowds are real. Bring far more water than you think you need, especially in summer, when the red rock radiates heat and the sun is intense. Wear good shoes with grip for the slick rock, book any jeep, helicopter, or spa reservations ahead, and consider using the town shuttle for the busiest trailheads. Above all, do not try to cram in everything, since Sedona rewards slowing down.

When to go

Spring and fall are the ideal times to visit Sedona, with comfortable temperatures perfect for hiking and clear light on the rocks. Summer is hot, often over a hundred degrees, and brings afternoon monsoon storms, so save the strenuous hikes for early morning and cool off at Slide Rock. Winter is quieter and mild, and on the rare day the red rocks get a dusting of snow, the contrast of white on red is absolutely unforgettable. There is really no bad time, just different versions of a beautiful place.

A day trip worth repeating

Sedona is the kind of place that lives up to the hype, a landscape so striking it stops you in your tracks no matter how many photos you have seen. An hour and a half from Prescott, it makes one of the great day trips in Arizona, whether you spend it hiking, shopping, chasing sunsets, or simply driving from one red rock view to the next. For more ways to explore the region, see our things to do in Prescott guide and our day trip to Jerome, and join our free newsletter for more local trips and tips.