If you a planning to spend one day in Sedona, Arizona, make it a good one.
Sedona is a magical place. The scenery is indescribably beautiful, a technicolor alien landscape. The Sedona area is famously littered with energy vortexes. Visit Sedona says that vortexes are “swirling centers of energy that are conducive to healing, meditation and self-exploration. These are places where the earth seems especially alive with energy.”
Whether or not you believe there is energy emanating from the red rocks, Sedona does buzz with a kind of mystical feeling. You can lean all the way into the energy or you can just allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the beauty all around you.
Even without leaning all the way into the Arizona new age lifestyle, you can see and do a lot over the course of one day in Sedona.
Here’s how to see the best of Sedona, Arizona in one day.
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One Day in Sedona: Fuel Up and Get Ready to Go
The Red Rock Scenic Byway is a highway that runs a direct path through most of the high points that visitors to Sedona want to see. You can start at either end of the byway, depending on what area you’re coming from. If you’re driving in from Phoenix, you can begin your day in the Village of Oak Creek.
The Village of Oak Creek has a couple of coffee shops, some restaurants and convenience stores. Stop into Oak Creek Espresso for a cup of coffee made with small batch beans that are roasted on site. Maybe pick up a scone or a cookie while you’re at it.
You can grab ice and snacks at the Shell or Giant stations and sandwiches for your cooler at Subway.
One Day in Sedona: Your First Stop is Bell Rock Pathway
The parking lot and trailhead for the Bell Rock Pathway is less than a mile past the espresso shops and sandwich places in the Village of Oak Creek. Look for the parking entrance on your right.
This is probably the number one attraction for people visiting Sedona. Be aware that the parking lot fills up early and parking spots become tough to snag as the day progresses. And though the pathway is walking distance from the village, every parking lot in town has a sign warning hikers not to leave cars parked at the risk of being towed. As with any popular tourist destination your best bet is to go on a weekday, early in the day. That being said, you came to Sedona to see magnificent red rock formations – do not miss this trail.
The trailhead is very easy to find from the parking lot. The pathway is wide and nicely packed and should be easy to navigate, even for small kids. The entire loop is around 3.5 miles. This is the best way to take in the stunning view of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte rising up from the earth.
Bell Rock is the site of one of Sedona’s major vortexes. There are directions here for finding the exact location of the strongest energy near the Bell Rock Pathway.
Watch for bikes on the trail, wear sunscreen and take water.
One Day in Sedona: Next Up is the Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Chapel of the Holy Cross attracts seekers of every variety. Whether you’re here for the mystical buzz, to worship as a Roman Catholic adherent or to fill your heart with the joy of a beautiful landscape, this stunning landmark will touch every visitor in some way.
It is an easy next stop on your day tour of Sedona. From the Bell Rock Pathway parking lot continue on AZ-179 N for less than three miles. Turn on Chapel Road – you can’t miss it, the road ends at the chapel.
The chapel was commissioned by Marguerite Brunswick Staude, a wealthy artist and Arizona rancher who wanted to build a chapel in the shape of a cross. Construction was completed in 1956 and Staude donated the chapel to the Roman Catholic Church “but requested that no services be held there [as] she wanted to chapel to be a place to pray, reflect and find God through the beauty of art.”
Indeed, there is plenty of grace to be found within the building but the parking situation will test the most patient of souls.
The church is situated at the top of a hill – which is what makes it such a stunning feature of the surrounding desert landscape – but also makes visiting a challenge on a busy day. There is parking along the road at the base of the hill and there is parking at the top of the hill if you are lucky enough to drive through as someone else is leaving. If not you will drive in a loop and then down the hill, checking for parking as you go and you might have to do this more than once before you find a spot. There are incredibly patient parking attendants on hand directing traffic and also a few golf carts being driven about to pick up people making their way up the hill from the street parking.
If you end up parked at the base of the hill, don’t worry! Walking up that hill gives you a fantastic wide open view of the stunning church facade.
The inside of the chapel is quite lovely, dominated by huge, gorgeous windows, stone walls and simple benches. Most visitors maintain a quiet, respectful atmosphere for those who do want to use their time at the Chapel of the Holy Cross for prayer and reflection.
There is a small gift shop below the chapel and plenty of views and scenery from the exterior grounds.
One Day in Sedona: Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village
After you visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, you may want to take some down time and do a little art shopping in some of Sedona’s many galleries. Turn left about three miles up the scenic bypass as you head toward Sedona proper and you’ll find yourself at Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village, a place of abundant wind sculptures and charming architecture.
Named after a colorful pottery town near Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque was developed by a Sedona eccentric who envisioned creating an arts village reminiscent of old Mexico. Click here for more on the history and unusual construction of Tlaquepaque.
It is certainly a beautiful place to see art and buy jewelry and have a bite to eat. Tlaquepaque is a nice stop if you are looking for a bathroom, a cool drink and time out from hiking.
One Day in Sedona: Stop For a Drink and Metaphysical Exploration
Just across the street from Tlaquepaque is the Pump House Station, a hybrid mix of restaurant, coffee shop, bakery and bar. Grab a table on the back patio, let your kids play on the lawn and enjoy a glass of wine, a mixed drink or even a scone and cappuccino.
Next door is the Center for New Age where you can stock up on crystals, have a psychic reading, schedule a vortex tour and even have your aura photographed.
One Day in Sedona: From Here You’ll Head Uptown
After you leave Tlaquepaque or the Pump House or the Center for New Age, head north on AZ-179 and then turn onto Route 89A N. This takes you through the Main Street or Uptown area of Sedona. Uptown is a highly walkable shopping and restaurant district overflowing with eclectic sculptures and cowboy themed bars and shops. Walk around, grab some dinner, have another drink. There are several free parking lots around Uptown – click here for more parking info.
If you’ve scheduled a Pink Jeep tour your check in point will be here also.
One Day in Sedona: End Your Day With Sunsets and Mysterious Cosmic Forces
Finish your day of exploration among the magical red rocks of Sedona by watching the sunset from atop Airport Mesa.
Turn onto Airport Road from Route 89A and follow it a little ways to the overlook parking lot. Pay $3 to park at the overlook, find a spot and check out the view. There are several hiking loops at Airport Mesa and one of the most well known of the Sedona’s famous vortexes is located here. Check out Gateway to Sedona for great information about hiking the loop and finding the Airport Mesa vortex. Info and hiking maps for Airport Mesa are here.
Getting Here and Where to Stay
Sedona is two hours from Phoenix, two hours from the Grand Canyon, and less than an hour from Flagstaff. If you fly into Phoenix early enough you can be in the spiritual center of Arizona before lunch. It’s easy to make a day trip or an overnighter out of a stop in Sedona.
If you do want to spend a night or two in Sedona there are plenty of hotels, motels, campgrounds and yurts to book. Do your research and plan ahead as lodging in Sedona does fill up during peak times and hotel rooms can be pricey. We highly recommend staying in Sedona to take advantage of sunrises and star gazing opportunities in this internationally designated dark sky community but if you can’t find something within your price range Sedona is an easy drive from Flagstaff and reasonably priced accommodations there are easier to come by.
Here are a few of our top picks for hotel rooms in Sedona:
Sky Ranch Lodge – consistently rated as a top property by guests. Low key atmosphere, rates can be great depending on your travel dates and prime location.
For spa retreats or if you enjoy more upscale accommodations book L’Auberge, Sedona Rouge or the Kimpton Amara.
For budget rooms try La Petite Sedona. For basic mid-range chain hotels check out The Hampton Inn and The Best Western Plus.
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