Is Sedona Worth Visiting? REAL Pros & Cons + 20 Things to do
So you’re planning a trip to Arizona, or maybe more destinations in the Southwest- and stuck wondering ‘Is Sedona Worth Visiting?’
In all of my posts I refer to Sedona as a red rock paradise, because that’s what it is to me. I lived an hour away from this small vacation town when I did a travel nurse assignment in Prescott, Arizona in 2020.
I’ve been to Sedona NUMEROUS times, all different months of the year. And I have to say I kinda have a personal love/hate relationship with it.
So if you’re looking for an unbiased view of if Sedona is worth visiting, listing pros and cons, AND 20 of the best things to do – keep reading below!
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Planning your trip? Use my favorite resources!
Accommodation – Booking.com to find the best deals on hotels.
Flights – Skyscanner to look for the best prices and deals on flights.
Rental cars – DiscoverCars to shop around at multiple car rental agencies.
Travel insurance – Safety Wing; keep your trips insured to protect yourself while traveling.
Tours/experiences – Viator or Get Your Guide for the best tours.
Sedona Frequently Asked Questions
What is so special about Sedona? 🌅
Sedona, located a 2 hour drive North from Phoenix, is an interesting town and easy to see why it is adored by all.
Since Sedona is so beautiful and unique, so it draws everyone. To me it feels like a retirement community turned tourist destination.. with new age hippies and vanlifers sprinkled in seeking spiritual getaways.. and spa like resorts at $400+ a night. Interesting right?
But.. I’ve been all throughout the Southwest, and have to say I always love coming back to Sedona.
What makes Sedona so special are those iconic towering red rocks. And you don’t have to hike in to them to get the fantastic views. You can admire them right from the center of town and simply driving around.
Even though there are a lot of Southwest destinations with red rocks and canyons, there really isn’t a place like Sedona.
How many days do I need in Sedona?
2-3 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Sedona.
You can even just take a day trip up to Sedona from Phoenix. The nice thing about a lot of Sedona’s hikes is that they are relatively short so you can easily hike 2-3 trails in a day.
However if you have the chance to spend 2-3 days you’ll get to experience even more. See more sunrises and sunsets, pack in more hikes, maybe do a 4×4 Jeep or ATV tour, see the spiritual vortices, and do some shopping.
What month is best to see Sedona? ☀️
For the best weather, most people tend to go during the spring months of March- May and fall months of September- November. But these months also see the most tourists. Hotels will be more expensive, trails will be busier, and there will be more traffic in town.
As I emphasize later in this post, I actually recommend going to Sedona in the winter months.
The months of January and February typically see the least tourists. For the most part, the weather is still very comfortable as well. January sees temperature highs of 60°F and lows of 34°F which makes for perfect hiking weather.
Summer in Sedona is hot! The month of July sees temperature high of 100°F and lows of 68°F. If you have to visit Sedona in the summer months, be sure to drink plenty of water, rehydrate with electrolytes, eat salty snacks, and plan your outdoor activities in the morning and evening to avoid the worst of the heat.
Sedona makes an great stop on a road trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon!
Reasons you will love Sedona
Stunning scenery and red rocks all around you, amazing sunrises and sunsets, beautiful weather.
As mentioned before, you don’t have to go far to admire the beauty of Sedona.
Most of the hikes are short, and the trailheads are all located close to town so squeezing in multiple hikes in one day is very doable. The hikes here are all so unique, taking you to arches, caves, and more!
If you’re on a road trip through Arizona, Sedona makes for a perfect stop. It is right on the way from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon, and if you’re on your way into Southern Utah.
Reasons you may not love Sedona 🌵
Sedona is quite small at only 18 square miles. Unfortunately the hype and draw of Sedona has increased a lot in recent years. The two main cons of visiting are the crowds and the cost.
If you happen to go during peak seasons (spring and fall months) you’ll find trailheads with cars overflowing. Like cars parking almost a mile down the road, it is pretty crazy! And people waiting in an hour long line to take a picture on Devil’s Bridge.
There are ‘No Parking’ signs all over local neighborhoods, with huge fines and towing threats. The town simply can’t handle the growth it has seen.
So if you’re like me and hate crowds- head to Sedona during the off season in the winter! When I went mid week in January I found the crowds much more bearable than the spring and fall months.
If the peak spring and fall months are the only time you can come- hit the trails early and find some alternative hikes or things to do if it’s too crowded.
The other issue I have with Sedona is that it is expensive.
The average hotel room in Sedona costs about $200 a night. For some that is perfectly reasonable, but for others that may be a little steep. However, there are ways to make your stay more affordable if you’re on a budget (like me!).
I most recently had a great stay at the affordable Oak Creek Terrace Resort, just a 10 minute drive from downtown Sedona. Airbnb has a few affordable options as well. And you can always camp for free on BLM land close to Sedona on Loy Butte Rd or Schnebly Hill Rd (4×4).
Eating out is also pricey at practically every restaurant in town. The place I frequent on a budget in Sedona is the Wildflower Cafe. It is a chain but the prices are more affordable and they serve healthier options as well. Another way to save money is to head to the grocery store and pick up premade meals and snacks.
20 of The Best Things to do in Sedona
7 Popular hikes in Sedona 🏜
1. Devil’s Bridge
Maybe one of the most popular trails in Sedona is Devil’s Bridge. I have to confess I have done it myself, and I did find it beautiful! We went for sunrise one morning, and by the time we were getting ready to hike back there was a line forming to take a picture on the bridge.
Some may find this annoying and too touristy, or you can just welcome it as a part of the experience I guess!
The hike is 4 miles round trip with 520 feet of elevation gain.
2. Cathedral Rock
Another Sedona staple. If you hike Cathedral Rock for sunset expect to share the view with many other visitors. It is beautiful, but sunrise is also a great time to go!
The hike is quite steep up slick rock, so wear hiking shoes with good grip. It is just 1.2 miles round trip with 740 feet of elevation gain and rated as moderate- hard.
Psst.. find the secret trail to the left at the top of the trail for even more epic views!
Most trailheads in Sedona require visitors to display a Red Rocks Pass. Alternatively, you can use your America the Beautiful Annual National Park Pass. Read more here to learn how to purchase a Red Rocks Pass.
3. Soldier’s Pass
This trail will lead you to both a cave and a spot called ‘The Seven Sacred Pools’. These are large holes in the rock that fill up with rain water.
The hardest part about this hike is the parking situation. The main trailhead parking lot does not open until 8AM and is very limited with only 10 spots available. And like I said earlier, Sedona has very strict ‘No Street Parking’ rules.
So you have two options: sit and wait for a parking spot to become available, or park down the street at the dog park. This adds about 2 miles roundtrip to the hike. Sometimes there is a woman that runs a van back and forth that will shuttle you for a small fee.
Personally I don’t think this hike would be worth the 6.5 mile effort if you can’t find parking- there are plenty of other great hikes in the area!
The hike from the original trailhead is 4.5 miles round trip with 840 feet of elevation gain.
4. Subway Cave
The Subway Cave is located off of the Boynton Canyon trail. A few years ago this trail was under wraps, but in the recent year or two it has grown in popularity, and for good reason!
The Subway Cave is maybe one of my favorite viewpoints in Sedona. Get an early head start to try and beat the crowds, since there isn’t much space in the cave.
The hike to the cave starts at the Boynton Canyon trailhead and is 7 miles roundtrip with 1,100 feet of elevation gain with the extension to the cave. You will need to do some climbing up slick rock and route finding to access the cave.
5. Birthing Cave
The Birthing Cave is a short and sweet hike up to a cave that will be larger than you expected!
Like all other cave hikes in Sedona, you will have to do some slick rock climbing to get up into it.
The hike is just 2 miles round trip with 242 feet of elevation gain.
6. West Fork Trail
The West Fork Trail is a very popular trail in Oak Creek Canyon, located about 15 minutes from downtown Sedona. It is especially crowded during the autumn months since the trail comes alive with bright yellow fall foliage.
This hike is likened to The Subway hike in Zion National Park, a coveted trail that is difficult to win permits for. You walk through water for a lot of the hike towards the end, so its recommended to bring water shoes or sandals to swap out for your hiking boots.
The hike is 6.5 miles round trip with 565 feet of elevation gain.
7. Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop
This is one of those staple Sedona hikes. Bell Rock also makes for a great sunset spot. You can scramble up a bit the rock itself to get your own spot.
The loop around Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte is 3.6 miles round trip with 340 feet of elevation gain.
5 Underrated hikes in Sedona 🥾
8. Merry Go Round Rock
Merry Go Round Rock is one of my favorite viewpoints in Sedona. We did this hike for sunset in January and shared the view with only two other people.
The hike starts from the Mund’s Wagon trailhead and is 6.5 miles round trip with 1,100 feet of elevation gain.
✍️ Read more about getting to Merry Go Round Rock in my post about it!
9. Keyhole Cave
The Keyhole Cave is EPIC to say the least. When in the cave you can really appreciate the size of it. However, to get up to the cave you have to do some real rock climbing/scrambling.
Those fearful of heights may want to avoid this hike. Definitely go with at least one other person so you can have another set of eyes to plan your route up the rock into the cave.
The hike starts at the Sugarloaf trailhead and is 2.2 miles round trip with 475 feet of elevation gain.
📖 Read more about getting to the Keyhole Cave in my post about it!
10. Robber’s Roost
Robber’s Roost is a unique destination and much less known due to the trailhead being a 45 minute drive from Sedona.
The cave at the end features a circular arch that makes for a great photo op. You do have to walk along a ledge to get into the cave
The hike is 3 miles round trip with 465 feet of elevation gain.
11. Fay Canyon
The hike in Fay Canyon is relatively easy and you get great views of the red rocks surrounding and towering above you. This is one of the hikes where you feel like you really get to go into the red rock wilderness.
There is also a side trail to Fay Canyon Arch which is just a short detour up to an incredible arch.
The hike is 2.3 miles round trip with 195 feet of elevation gain.
12. Bear Mountain
This is one of the hardest hikes in Sedona- but the pay off at the end is surreal! You get a birds eye view of all of Sedona.
The hike is 5 miles round trip with 2,000 feet of elevation gain.
8 Other things to do in Sedona
13. Take a Jeep tour
Take a break from the hiking trails to give your legs a rest and join an off roading Jeep tour! You’ll be able to visit parts of Sedona other vehicles or trails can you get you to. Plus, it’s just a bunch of fun!
Join this highly rated tour from Viator, or the ever popular Pink Jeep tours.
14. Wine tasting
Sedona is located in the Verde Valley, the best wine region in Arizona. You can easily make a day trip from Sedona to visit a few wineries in the area.
Join this tour to visit 4 wineries, enjoy a gourmet lunch, and most importantly- not having to worry about driving to and from all of your destinations!
15. Go shopping
In Uptown Sedona you’ll find quite a few great places to go shopping. 🛍
You’ll find art galleries, antiques, collectibles, gems & minerals shops, as well as Native American decor and handmade jewelry.
16. Watch the sunset at Red Rock Crossing
There are plenty of great places to watch the sunset, but one of my favorites is from Red Rock Crossing. It is such a large area it’s easy to find your own spot to connect with nature and enjoy the views.
17. Kayak on the Verde River
Kayaking on the Verde River makes for a unique day trip from Sedona. You’ll trade the red rocks of Sedona for a river lines with lush green trees.
The kayak trip down the river is generally a gentle paddle with a few rapids to challenge you! It is also a great way to spend a hot Arizona day.
18. Go stargazing
Sedona is an ‘International Dark Sky Community’ and they make active efforts to decrease light pollution so the stargazing here is amazing!
For the best stargazing opportunities, you need a clear, cloud- free sky and a new moon. Dense clouds can obstruct your view of the stars and the light of a fuller moon will drown out the stars.
If you want to see the milky way, the best months are March- September.
19. Head off on an ATV Adventure
If you’re seeking some adventure and adrenaline on your trip to Sedona, don’t miss a chance to join an ATV tour!
The ATV adventure is a bit hair raising at times but it will lead you to places you wouldn’t see otherwise. Plus you get the freedom to explore at your own pace compared to an organized tour in a vehicle.
20. Go to Slide Rock State Park on a hot day
The perfect place to be on a hot Arizona day is at Slide Rock State Park.
Be sure to wear your bathing suit and pack a towel. There are plenty of swimming and cliff jumping spots, and natural water slides on the red rock!
In the summer months, entrance to the park is 20$ per vehicle. All other times of the year it is 10$.
You can visit Sedona apart of an epic road trip from Las Vegas to Monument Valley!
Wrap up: Is Sedona worth visiting in 2023?
So.. Is Sedona worth the trip? I say absolutely, but is much more enjoyable and affordable if you go in the tourist off season.
If you can’t go during the off season, then hit the trails early and have a back up plan if your hike or activity is too crowded.
Seek out less crowded trails so you can properly enjoy the scenery and not worry about finding parking. If you do this, you’ll be much more likely to enjoy your time in this stunning and unique place and find Sedona worth the visit!