This is One of the Most Visually Striking Small Towns in America! Here’s How to See the Best in 24 Hours

Looking to make the most of your day trip to Arizona’s famous red rock mountain range and spiritual vortexes?

I’ll lay out an awesome one day in Sedona itinerary for exploring the outdoorsy side of the town. I made two detours here during my van life years. I’ve included all the top activities I visited that are worth checking out! 

Sedona took me by utter surprise. I had never even heard of this town until one of my mentors from my corporate job, who happens to live there, showed me a video of his backyard on Zoom. He literally has a giant red butte in his backyard. 

I spent a few days here on each road trip, so I managed to squeeze in a few hikes. But this town isn’t huge, so you can hit at least one short hike and check out the main things to do in just one day.

Let’s make the most of your time with an exciting day, starting with an early morning hike up the red rocks and ending with an epic sunset at Airport Mesa. I’ll also add some extra suggestions if you have some spare time and a quick travel guide.

Sample One Day in Sedona Itinerary

Here’s an all-in-one scroll for you! This is more catered to hikers and outdoorsy folk, but I will also include alternative options for non-hikers. 

If it’s your first time and you want to get a lay of the land on a guided tour, this sightseeing tour will eliminate the guesswork and take you directly to the best spots.

Morning:

• Start the day bright and early with a morning hike. I loved and would recommend Devil’s Bridge. 
• Go on an off-road adventure with a Jeep Tour.

Afternoon:

• Take a break and head to Downtown and Tlaquepaque Shopping Center.
• Take an afternoon hike to one of the buttes: Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, or Courthouse Butte.
• Alternative for Non-Hikers: Crescent Moon Recreation Area
• Get an excellent view from the Chapel of the Holy Cross
• End your day at one of the best sunset places in Sedona, Airport Mesa. 

Evening:

• Head to Downtown for dinner and check out the art galleries and shops.
• Join a stargazing tour under the night sky or relax at a rejuvenating spa.

Quick Facts to Visiting Sedona

The red rocks of Sedona are impressive all day, but the glow of an almost fiery orange during sunrise and sunset is beyond spectacular!

Aside from its natural beauty, this sleepy town has become an Arizona tourist powerhouse in recent years. Its fame stems from being recognized as a spiritual power hub due to its vortexes, swirling centers of energy that are conducive to healing, meditation, and self-exploration.

• Location: Northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States
• Best Time to Visit: Spring (March-May) and Fall (September-November) for mild weather and fewer crowds
• Where to Stay: Uptown Sedona for easy access to shops, dining, and tourist sites
• Population: Approximately 10,000
• Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST)
• How to Get Around: Car rental is the most convenient
• City Airports:
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (2 hours away)
  • Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (40 minutes away)
• Don’t Forget!: You must have an America the Beautiful National Park Annual Pass or the Red Rock Pass if you leave your vehicle while recreating at a fee site!

What to Do in Sedona in One Day

Take a Morning Hike

Get an early start to the day and head out for a morning hike to one of the red rock formations. And, you really have to wake up early! 

Finding parking can be challenging for most of the best hikes in Sedona since they’re primarily in residential areas with limited space. If you can’t find a parking spot, well, you’ll have to wait it out, which could take a while if it’s still super early.

Here are a few great, relatively short hikes I recommend:

Devil’s Bridge Trail

• Length/Duration: ~4.2 miles (2-3 hours )
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Off Dry Creek Road, the Devil’s Bridge trailhead can be reached by taking the Mescal to Chuckwagon trail if you don’t have a high-clearance vehicle. If you have a 4×4, the trail length is only 2 miles.

Devil’s Bridge is definitely one of the most popular Sedona hikes, and I highly recommend adding it to your Sedona day trip itinerary. We woke up at 6am to hit the trail and reach the amazing natural sandstone arch known as Devil’s Bridge. It’s the biggest one around here!

The hike to Devil’s Bridge is about 4.2 miles round trip and moderately challenging but nothing too crazy. There are some switchbacks, and it gets a bit steep, but once you’re past that, you’ll come to a fork in the hiking trail that leads to the bridge. When you reach the arch, go ahead and walk across it (if you dare) and snap some epic photos.

Travel Tip: Come as early as you can!

• Parking is severely limited.
• The line to snap a pic on the bridge could stretch for over an hour. We left at 6 am and still had to queue at the top for 10-15 mins. It only gets worse later in the day.
• Late afternoon is another good time to go.

Cathedral Rock Trail

• Length/Duration: ~1.5 miles (2-3 hours)
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
• Trailhead: Off Back O’ Beyond Road

Cathedral Rock has got to be one of the most iconic sights and was one of my favorite places to explore! 

Although shorter than Devil’s Bridge at around 1.5 miles round trip, this hike is a bit more challenging due to its steep ascent. It is worth every bit of huffing and puffing when you reach the top and take in the panoramic views. 

This hike starts from the Cathedral Rock Trailhead and follows a well-marked trail up the east side of the rock formation. The trail quickly climbs towards the ‘saddle’ between two of Cathedral Rock’s spires. The final part of the trail involves a bit of rock scrambling, but handrails and footholds are carved into the rock to help you. 

Travel Tip! Given the trail’s popularity, try to start this hike early or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds and the heat.

Bell Rock Climb

• Length/Duration: Approximately 1.5 miles (1-2 hours)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Just south of the Village of Oak Creek on Highway 179

Bell Rock is a distinct rock formation that looks uncannily like a giant bell. This hike is a bit of an adrenaline rush if you decide to tackle the final ascent to the formation’s peak.

The trail starts out fairly easy on the Bell Rock Pathway. You’ll know when you have reached the base of Bell Rock as the trail starts to steepen. This is where the fun begins. The climb up the rock isn’t technically difficult, but it’s a bit of a scramble.

To extend your hike: This hike can be extended to include the neighboring Courthouse Butte Loop Trail for a total of 3.5 miles if you want a longer adventure. However, with only one day in Sedona, I suggest sticking to just Bell Rock.

The Birthing Cave

• Length/Duration: Approximately 2 miles (1-2 hours)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: Off Long Canyon Road

The Birthing Cave is more off the beaten path. Compared to other famous spots, this hike is usually less crowded. However, considering the size of the cave, even a dozen people can make it feel crowded inside.

You’ll be walking a relatively flat, generally more laid-back trail. The final few feet to enter the cave can be slippery from being worn by lots of other hiking boots over the years. Still, it is absolutely doable and incredibly fun.

The Birthing Cave isn’t really a cave; think of it as a huge, round opening in the rocks high up on the mountainside. The circular formation of the cave is believed to symbolize a womb, hence the name ‘Birthing Cave.’

Camera Tip! You’ll have to have a wide-angle lens to get the entire cave. 

Off-Road Adventure with a Jeep Tour

For an adrenaline-packed experience, take on one of the highest-rated Sedona Jeep tours here. Go bumping and bouncing across the rugged desert terrain through rocky trails and steep drop-offs to places you couldn’t access otherwise.

A Pink Jeep tour is the most popular, but there are so many options to choose from that I created a whole post here on the best Jeep tours in Sedona. There are many different trails to pick, or you can go with a sunset outing or a vortex tour to feel the mystical energy centers.

Afternoon: Explore Downtown Sedona

After a nature-filled morning, see the busy shops of downtown. There’s such an amalgamation of art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and souvenir shops; it’s one of my favorite small-town American feels.

Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village

One particular place you can’t miss in downtown is Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. It closes at 5 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on weekends, so you’ll want to go earlier in the afternoon. I learned that the hard way.

This authentically fashioned traditional Mexican village is filled with art galleries, unique boutiques, and eateries. Even if you’re not interested in shopping, the architecture and fountains are just so Instagrammable. 

Go for an Afternoon Hike

I would pick another of the hikes listed above. If you haven’t seen Cathedral Rock yet, I would say that is the one to do. Or, if you went there in the morning, try going to Devil’s Bridge in the afternoon when there will be fewer crowds.

Crescent Moon Picnic Area

If you’re not a hiker or just had enough for the day, I also spend some time at Crescent Moon Picnic Area, aka Red Rock Crossing. 

It’s just a short drive away from the town of Sedona and has great views of Cathedral Rock. You can also have some quiet time by the river. This attraction is a lesser-known gem, and at least the day I went, it wasn’t very crowded at all.

I went in the autumn, and there was terrific colored fall foliage. You can also take a dip in the water if it’s warm enough, but it’s not very deep. 

Chapel of the Holy Cross

People don’t come to the Chapel of the Holy Cross for religious reasons (although you can visit for that too). Constructed in the 1950s, this architectural marvel features an innovative and modern design, with a towering cross embedded into its structure. Aside from the church itself, the red rock bird’s eye view from the chapel is what makes it so special.

Inside, the chapel is surprisingly simple. You can also go to the gift shop at the chapel’s base. 

Parking Tip! The chapel tends to get busy, so you may have to wait to park at the base and walk up the hill to get there. 

Sunset at Airport Mesa

If there’s one thing you absolutely can’t miss, it’s the sunsets at Airport Mesa. This sunset spot left me so speechless that I actually came back to see it three times. 

It’s one of the best places in Sedona to get a 360 degree view of the city and the full range of the red rock formations. The vistas from here are simply mind-blowing, to say the least. During the day, it’s impressive, sure. But come sunset, it is really something else. 

Parking Tip! As is the trend, Airport Mesa is another crazy crowded place. Think of hundreds of people every sunset. Thankfully, the old airport has a giant parking lot you can park in for a small fee.

Where to Stay in Sedona

Uptown Sedona is a prime location with many shops, restaurants, and galleries within walking distance. Alternatively, West Sedona has a more relaxed, residential feel while still providing quick access to incredible hiking trails and the downtown area. 

Places to Visit with More Time

Other Things to Do in Sedona

• Hot air balloon ride over the red rocks
• Trying out different vortex site tours and spiritual healing activities 
• Slide Rock State Park: A natural water slide formed by the slippery bed of Oak Creek to cool off in the Arizona heat. 
• Verde Valley Wine Trail: Tour the local wineries with tastings of the region’s award-winning wines. 
• Sedona Heritage Museum: Learn about the town’s history and culture

Day Trips from Sedona

• Grand Canyon National Park (2 hours): An iconic national park with a striking canyon landscape or you can join a trip here
• Flagstaff (1 hour): Gateway to Grand Canyon with trendy coffeeshops and some cultural attractions, like the Lowell Observatory and the Museum of Northern Arizona
• Prescott (2 hours): Has a charming historic district, beautiful nature trails, and the Sharlot Hall Museum.
• Jerome (1 hour): A quirky old mining town perched on a hill.
• Phoenix (2 hours): Arizona’s capital city, with many indoor and outdoor activities, like the Desert Botanical Garden, Taliesin West, and great hiking trails.
• Petrified Forest National Park (3 hours): A mesmerizing landscape of fossilized trees and colorful painted desert hills.
• Page, Arizona (4 hours): One of my favorite towns in America, home to the famous Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon.

Is 1 Day Enough for Sedona

While most key sites in Sedona can be visited in a day, the best hiking trails may require more time. A day trip may suit non-hikers better, but a single day may feel rushed if you like hiking, biking, or photography. I recommended two to three days for the best experience.

When to Visit

The best time to visit Sedona is from March to May, when the temperatures are warm but not scorchingly hot, and the area is in full bloom. Remember to book hotels early as it is also the peak tourist season. I went both times in the fall, and the cooler temperatures and fall colors made for a beautiful visit.

It gets quite hot in the summer, and in the winter, though chilly, you may be lucky to witness a snow-covered red rock landscape. Plus, there are way fewer people. 

How to Get Here

By Air: The closest airport is Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, which is only around 40 minutes away by car. It has limited service, connecting to Phoenix and Denver. For more flight options, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is approximately a two-hour drive. Use Expedia to find the best flight prices.

By Car: A road trip is the best option if you’re already in Arizona. The scenic drive is beautiful, and you’ll want a car anyway.

By Shuttle: If you’re flying into Phoenix and prefer not to drive, the Arizona Shuttle regularly serves between Phoenix Sky Harbor and Sedona, with nine scheduled trips daily.

Once you’re here, getting around is best done by car, whether rented or your own, given the city’s spread-out nature. Use DiscoverCars to find rental car deals.

Final Thoughts: 24 Hours in Sedona

Sedona is a town you can go back to over and over again. There are so many trails, and the city is filled with the new age wellness and spiritual vibe, all set against dazzling landscapes. It’s really a place to add to your American bucket list. 

If you plan to explore more of Arizona, don’t rush off just yet; check out our other Arizona guides below for more insider tips and must-visit spots.

Don’t close that tab just yet…Where to Next in Arizona?

Arizona is amongst my top favorite places in the world. I’ve vanlifed around and through this great state back and forth, north and south, multiple times on my road trips. If you’re looking for more itineraries on Arizona, check out these other destinations.

• Perfect One Day In Petrified Forest National Park Itinerary
• One Day in Saguaro National Park Itinerary for First-Timers
• One Day in Grand Canyon South Rim: First-Timers Itinerary

MY FAVORITE TRAVEL RESOURCES

✈️ Find amazing guided tours and experiences with Viator to maximize your time! 🏘️ Plan ahead and secure your accommodation with Booking.com in advance. 🧾 Rent a car with Discovercars in advance and get the best prices for your day trip adventures.