The Ultimate Road Trip Stop: Scenic Drives and Hidden Gems in Sedona, Arizona

An International Dark Sky Community, Sedona is one of the best places in the USA to stargaze. Professional astronomers can point out constellations, nebulae, galaxies and more in the night sky. Book a stargazing tour to enhance your experience at popular spots like Cathedral Rock, the Centennial Trail and the Aerie Trailhead. You'll find crystal-clear skies most of the year, especially in the cooler months. During the summer rainy season (roughly late June through August), there are fewer clear nights for stargazing so it's best to keep your plans flexible.

Sedona is also famous for its mystical vortexes – swirling energies thought to help with self-discovery, mental clarity and healing. These sites are sacred to the region’s Indigenous communities who incorporate them into rituals and ceremonies. Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon, Bell Rock and Airport Mesa are excellent sites to tap into a vortex, and each vortex is believed to have a unique energy. For an unforgettable experience, visit with an expert guide for a better connection to these spiritual energies. Guided yoga and meditation hikes amid Sedona’s vortexes are also available.

Tackle rugged terrain, cross canyons and see panoramic vistas of Sedona’s majestic scenery on an off-road vehicle tour. Knowledgeable guides provide insight about the geology, nature and history. Jeep tours are an ever-popular option for off-road excursions. To see Sedona’s incredible landscape from a completely new perspective, take a helicopter tour or hot air balloon ride. Glide above red rock formations, evergreen forests and wilderness not easily accessible by land on a journey through the clouds.

A quick trip can lead you to an array of hiking trails to appreciate Sedona’s incredible scenery. Coconino National Forest features a range of hiking opportunities. Devil’s Bridge Trail is a moderate, 3-kilometer hike to the area’s largest natural sandstone arch. Walk among otherworldly terrain to the Devils Kitchen Sinkhole, formed in the 1880s, on the moderate 7.2-kilometer Soldier Pass Trail. The more challenging, 12-kilometer Bell Trail leads hikers along Wet Beaver Creek to the “Crack” – a clear, cold natural swimming pool secluded in a canyon.

In Red Rock State Park, find 8 kilometers of family-friendly trails winding through burnt orange and scarlet landscapes. Look for wildlife and birds on trail portions near scenic Oak Creek. For a walk into history, the half-kilometer trail at Montezuma Castle National Monument leads to a stunning five-story, 20-room Sinagua dwelling. Built into the cliffside above a creek shaded with sycamore groves, the monument dates to the early 1100s and is one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in North America.

Pair your Sedona adventures with a stay in an award-winning luxury resort, where on-site spas offer treatments for the body, mind and soul. Pamper yourself at the Eforea Spa at Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock with a treatment inspired by the energy of the nearby vortex. L’Apothecary, the spa at L’Auberge de Sedona, uses organic products and includes unique holistic experiences like sound healing and vision workshops as treatment options.

Shopping is also top-notch in this artists’ haven. Browse galleries and artisan shops at Tlaquepaque Village, designed after a traditional Mexican village. Hillside Sedona showcases more art, shopping and entertainment with a red-rock view. Another hot spot for art galleries is State Route 179, also known as “Gallery Row.” Plan a walking tour using the Sedona Gallery Art Walk map.

For foodies, no Sedona visit is complete without sampling signature Southwestern cuisine. Menu offerings range from vegan and vegetarian dishes to steaks and seafood inspired by seasonal ingredients, regional produce and locally sourced proteins. Many Sedona restaurants also come with a view. For comfort food served all day, check out Mesa Grill, adjacent to the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout. Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill is a fine dining establishment with an elegant ambience and stunning desert vistas day and night. In Uptown Sedona, Open Range Grill and Tavern serves American and cantina favorites using fresh local ingredients in a laid-back atmosphere.

Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), the closest major airport to Sedona about two hours away by car, or catch a connecting flight into Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), about 40 minutes from Sedona. From either of these Arizona airports, rent a car and make the scenic drive to Sedona. Alternatively, there are shuttles and cars for hire in the area with options to and from both airports.