This spiritual, hippy town is a place you could get lost in for days. But if you only have 1 day in Sedona, Arizona, here’s how to make the most of it by visiting the top trails, shops, and cafes in the area.
PRO TIP: Create a detailed travel plan in advance. Use Notion.io to make a digital and paper copy.
Short on money? Short on time? Do a single-day trip is ideal.
A one-day-trip to Sedona, Arizona is a great way to capture the essence of the town, enjoy beautiful nature, and bask in its subtle energies without paying a hefty price once you return home – a month-long austere meal prep plan of ramen noodles and canned beans.
NO THANKS!
Here’s what I did to make the most of my SHORT time in Sedona.
The Easiest Hiking Trails in Sedona, AZ
It’s located right off the main road, features an easy hiking path, and stunning views of vermillion-colored sand during sunset.
Bell Rock Trail
As long as you’re not climbing ON the rocks and decide to trek around the base of the cliff, it’s BY FAR the easiest major trail to walk in Sedona.
Drawback? – PARKING!!! Get there early and grab your parking spot. There’s not much room, sadly. Plan accordingly.
Devil’s Bridge via Dry Creek Road
It’s moderately difficult, but not too bad.
Cathedral Rock Trial
This trail is HARD. The way you make it easy is by not hiking the entire thing. I stopped short early on due to time constraints.
Stop once you get to the first sign post as it makes a hard ascension up and turn around.
You will have seen great nature and saved some time too!
Sedona Sunsets
Sunset brings out the true beauty of this town. The best spot would be at higher elevation where you can get a panoramic view of cascading lights beaming into valleys and hills, great for photography.
How I Got There
Cheap Allegiant flight from Missouri to Phoenix. Rent a car and drive the rest of the way.
Phoenix Az to Sedona Drive
116 mile-trip (2 hours) – This drive isn’t as pleasant, comparatively.
Prepare for long, winding roads and crazy drivers obsessed with their Ford F150’s ability to consistently go 90 mph and above on two-lane roads. That aside, I kept my mind engaged as I made this drive.
Sedona AZ to Grand Canyon Drive
109.2 mile-trip (2 hours) – It seems long, but it’s actually not that bad.
You can spot beautiful nature as you make the drive from Sedona to Flagstaff, and then to the Grand Canyon.