Sedona Itinerary

A friend and I recently decided to take a trip together, and after reviewing a few destinations, decided Sedona is the perfect place for a long weekend girl’s trip. It was an amazing trip and I highly recommend it, so I’m excited to share our Sedona itinerary below!

First things first, there are some criteria for why we chose Sedona and why it could be an excellent option for you as well:

• Easy to Get To – Since we were coming from different parts of the United States, the location needed to be easy to get to from most major U.S. cities. Sedona checks that mark as it’s about a two-hour drive from Phoneix.
• Climate – Especially during a Chicago winter, but really anytime, if you are able to change climates on vacation it adds to the energy of being in a different place. Trust there is no red rock on Michigan Avenue.
• Girls Trip – It might be repetitive to say that the criteria for a girl’s trip are that it’s good for a girl’s trip, but we wanted to pick a place that fit our needs. That is to say, not choosing a place where it’s primarily couples or the rooms are all one king-size bed. We had no problem finding a room with two queen beds, and our jeep tour was made up solely of groups of friends on girls’ trips. Similarly, during our pool day, we also made vacation friends with other girls on a girl’s trip.

Not planning a trip with your friends? Don’t worry! This Sedona itinerary is also perfect for a trip with your significant other, other couples, or family (although I have zero recommendations on a trip with kids).

It’s probably a good time to just clarify, Sedona in Arizona is not to be confused with Sonoma in California. They sound pretty similar and are both perfect for girls’ trips, but that’s a very different itinerary. Have a great trip!

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What is Sedona Know For?

Sedona is a city located in the U.S. state of Arizona. According to Wikipedia, it has a “temperate semi-arid climate”. What that means in layman’s terms is that it has four relatively mild seasons. You can visibly see the landscape and vegetation change as you drive from Phoneix in the Valley of the Sun, to Sedona which sits 4500 above sea level amongst red rocks.

In order to make the most out of your first visit to Sedona, you have to know what it’s known for. When in Rome…amiright?

• Hiking – When you think of Sedona you probably visualize gorgeous red rock formations. Sedona is home to Coconino National Forest, Red Rock State Park, and Slide Rock State Park. Rumor has it there are over 200 hiking trails in Sedona, so there are plenty of options depending on the length and difficulty of the hike you are looking for. I highly recommend downloading the AllTrails App on your phone to filter on different hikes and current conditions. We used it a ton to read current reviews to know if a hike was going to be icy, muddy, or in excellent condition.
• Vortex – Sedona is known for its energy vortexes, which many call spiritual vortexes. Many come to Sedona looking for spiritual healing or to find a sense of peace. Are the vortexes a naturally occurring phenomenon or just some wishful legend? I’ll let you be the judge since one is included in the itinerary below.
• Prickly Pear – Prickly Pear is a vibrant fruit from a cactus local to Sedona. If you visit May-July you’ll see the flowers bloom on the cactus that will eventually turn into fruit. All year long you’ll find this flavor all over the area, especially in beverages.

Can’t Miss Things To Do (we are Very Obsessed!)

Top three things from this Sedona Itinerary:

• Devil’s Bridge Hike
• Dinner at Mariposa
• Off-road Jeep Tour

Itinerary Overview

Where to Stay

We did a ton of research to find the perfect spot and I absolutely recommend the four-star Amara Resort & Spa. Check out my complete Amara Resort post for a full review!

You cannot beat the location of the hotel since it’s situated on the main street of Uptown Sedona. It makes it so easy to walk and explore the adorable town.

The hotel was recently renovated in 2021 and it shows! Every room has a patio or balcony, with some even facing red rocks. There is a pretty good-sized walk-in closet, enough for both of us to use. Like any good hotel, robes, and slippers are provided, and the mini bar got plenty of use.

The hotel has a ton of amenities! It’s located at the base of a short drive and is directly on Oak Creek. Once you arrive at the front door you are greeted by valet which is included in the stay.

Along with the heated outdoor infinity pool, there is a hot tub, access to Oak Creek, outdoor firepits, and cornhole boards. Across from the hotel is the spa, which I didn’t get a chance to use, but was planning on if the forecast called for rain. There is also a gym (which I didn’t go to because that’s not what I do on vacay) and a meditation room.

Saltrock Kitchen is located in the hotel, so it’s very convenient. One of the best perks was the wonderful concierge. Teah sent a long email with recommendations and was able to answer any and all questions we had. She even made dinner reservations for us and arranged the Jeep tour to pick us up at the hotel. From the moment we arrived (complimentary glass of champagne) to the moment we left (water for the car ride back) we truly felt like we were taken care of, and I absolutely cannot say that for every four star hotel.

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Day One | Wander and Chill

Day

If you are familiar with a Very Obsessed itinerary you know that most coffee shops I recommend serve local coffee, but sometimes location wins. Before and After Java Cafe is located at the end of the main strip in Uptown, route 89A, so it’s the perfect spot to grab breakfast. They serve Starbucks, and there’s something comforting about a familiar menu, right? You can also grab a view of red rocks, and that just won’t get old.

Take this time to walk up and down the strip, popping into the boutiques. Some are more touristy than others, that’s to be expected, but there are some real gems. I particularly love Red Rock Apothecary (a great place for gifts) and Sedona Crystal Vortex has about every crystal you can imagine. This would be a good time to buy some crystals, if you believe in that sort of thing, to charge them at the vortex tomorrow.

Chapel of the Holy Cross is about a ten-minute drive from the hotel and is next on the itinerary. It’s very unique because the chapel is built right into the red rocks, so even if churches aren’t your thing, it’s really cool to see. The chapel is open from 9-5 every day so keep that in mind if you want to go inside. Otherwise, you should definitely at least drive past to see it.

Night

The Vault Uptown is tonight’s dinner and is a ten-minute walk from Amara. Remember how I mentioned that Amara is down a short drive? It’s short but steep so it’s great that the hotel will take you up to the main strip via golf cart. We definitely used that feature!

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Day Two | Take a Hike!

Day

Cuptown Coffee is a seven-minute walk from the hotel, but I suggest getting in your car and driving and then you can head hiking afterward. They have a decent-sized parking lot so that shouldn’t be an issue depending on what time you get there and they brew coffee locally roasted in Flagstaff. While they don’t have warm breakfasts available, the pastry offering includes regular, gluten-free, and vegan. I have to say the blueberry muffin is pretty tasty.

Post coffee, drive to Posse Grounds Park & Ride to catch the Sedona Shuttle which will take you to the Dry Creek Vista trailhead to hike Devil’s Bridge. The shuttle is amazing! It runs Thursday-Sunday year-round and is 100% free. Parking is pretty limited at the trailhead so it’s nice not to have to waste time driving around looking for parking at the most popular hiking spots.

There are a ton of blog posts that go into more detail about Devil’s Bridge, so I won’t do that, but I’ll note a few things:

• You can absolutely wear sneakers, but they should be high-quality with lots of traction.
• The official hike is 2 miles but with a high clearance off-road vehicle allowing you to park at the trailhead. Otherwise, you’ll start at the Chuck Wagon trail which makes the hike 3.9 miles.
• Devil’s Bridge is Moderate Difficulty, but the majority of it is pretty easy. There are a few steep spots and some rock scrambling which is what makes it a little moderate.
• Dress in layers, cooler than you think you’ll need. It was in the 50s and my lightest layer was a long sleeve top. I was sweating.
• Take all the pictures!!!

After Devil’s Bridge, take the shuttle back to the car and drive to Boynton Vista so you can experience a Vortex. You might be tired after Devil’s Bridge so it’s great that it’s only about a 15-minute hike to get to Boynton Vortex and then you can sit, charge your crystals, and soak in the energy. Be careful not to confuse this with Boynton Canyon. They have the same trailhead, but if you make a left at the fork you’ll be on the path to hike the 6.1-mile hike (which I’ve heard is also great, but won’t take you to the Vortex).

Night

Time to go back to the hotel and clean up for dinner at Mariposa! This Latin-inspired grill, steakhouse to be more exact, has a beautiful view of the red rocks and the food and drinks are exceptional! Don’t miss the lobster mashed potatoes (featured on The Food Network) or Lisa’s Chopped Goddess salad. This was by far our favorite meal, but it can be a little tricky to get reservations. I suggest setting up a notification on Open Table and watching that like a hawk, it will be worth it!

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Day Three | Off-Roading Time

Day

Start the day off with breakfast at Saltrock Kitchen in the hotel. Truth be told, we had dinner here and we had breakfast here and breakfast was much better. Next, it’s time to go off-roading Have the hotel book your Safari Jeep Tour and the Jeep will pick you up at the hotel! We did the Outlaw Trail, which takes about 3 hours and goes off-roading near the Honanki and Palatki Ruins. I learned a ton from the guide. Note, it’s a moderate trail and can get pretty bumpy. My advice is to make sure your seatbelt is tight and lean into being thrown around like a ragdoll. If you have any sort of back issue, I might sit this one out.

Once the Jeep drops you off back at the hotel you can explore more of the town (last chance for souvenir shopping), or grab a cocktail at the bar and make your way to the pool for some well-earned vitamin D time. We didn’t get a chance to do an Aura reading, but if you’re interested, now would be a great time! Sedona Crystal Vortex offers them at their second location, which is where my plan was to go if we had time. Coming from Chicago, I enjoyed the hot tub a little too much.

Night

The final night will be low key and dinner is at Sedona Pizza and Pasta Company. It’s a 5-minute walk from the hotel, or they can drive you in the golf cart basically to the front door. You can either stay and enjoy your pizza with a view of the red rocks or decide to carry out and have a girl’s night in for your last night as we did.

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Transportation

How to Get There

Phoenix is the closest major city to fly into, which is pretty accessible from most major U.S. cities. In no traffic, it takes about 2 hours to drive the 120 miles between the two destinations. I recommend renting a car at the airport and driving since it will be most convenient to drive yourself around Sedona as well.

How to Get Around

Since Amara on right off the main street of Uptown Sedona, there is plenty of walking around you can do to explore the town, but you’ll need to drive to the hikes or the Sedona Shuttle Park and Ride. This is why I suggest renting a car at the Phoenix Airport to use for the duration of your trip. We rented a car at the airport, drove to Sedona, around the area hiking and back, and used about half a tank of gas.

I never suggest drinking and driving and Mariposa has excellent cocktails and is a 30-minute walk so you may want to get an Uber/Lyft/Taxi. While Sedona has Uber and Lyft (like most of the U.S.) we were told by the hotel that they were not always so reliable and they gave us a list of local taxis. We called the first one on the list and he was able to pick us up with 45 minutes’ notice and picked us up after dinner to take us back to the hotel. Note he did not have a card reader so make sure you have cash if you go this route. Since it was a flat $10 fee luckily we had enough on us between the two of us (because who carries cash anymore?)

What to Pack

I cannot stress this enough, bring layers, layers, and more layers. As I mentioned, 50 degrees in Sedona is not the same as 50 degrees in Chicago. You just never know exactly how you are going to feel.

Overall Sedona is pretty casual and even dining at Mariposa I felt completely comfortable in a pair of black jeans and a nice sweater. With that being said, I’m not going to get into a full packing list (although let me know in the comments if you’d like one) with x amount of t-shirts, leggings, etc. but below are just a few things to keep in mind:

Unless you will be hiking on difficult paths, you should be fine hiking in high-quality sneakers with lots of traction.

You will want to bring water with you on your hikes. If you are not a backpack girlie, like I’m not a backpack girlie, I loved this water bottle sling. It’s an adjustable cross-body strap, so it’s comfortable, and it has an extra pocket for your phone, lip gloss, hand sanitizer, etc.

It might still be “cold” when you visit but bring a swimsuit to experience Amara’s heated pool and hot tub. The resort provides slippers if you don’t have enough room in your bag for slides.

Tips for Visiting

• If you have crystals already, remember to bring them with you to Sedona to charge them at a Vortex!
• There isn’t a convenience store or bodega on the main street, so if you have a late-night chocolate craving you are at the mercy of the minibar. I suggest bringing something with you or stopping at a store before checking into the hotel.

FAQ

• How many days in Sedona do you need?
  • Entirely depends because in 3 days you get a good feel for the town, hiking, and relaxing. If you want to do multiple days of hiking then you’ll need more days, and there are so many hikes you can do. You’ll want to be honest with yourself about the types of hikes you want to do and your physical fitness level. For instance, if you aren’t in the best shape, and do a moderately difficult hike, you may be too sore to go hiking the next day. If you are in moderate shape and want to stick to a lot of easy hikes then you would definitely be able to do multiple days. There are also many day trips you can go on, like to Flagstaff or the Grand Canyon.
• Are 3 days in Sedona enough?
  • It is, we had two full days and two travel days, so let’s call those two travel days one full day, hence equaling 3 days. Just be mindful of the times when you are traveling. For instance, if you are going to consider your travel day a visiting day, but don’t land in Phoneix until 7 pm, that won’t give you any exploring time. Remember you’ll need to pick up the rental car and drive the two hours to Sedona.
• How Do I spend 4 Days in Sedona?
  • Either go on another hike (I really wanted to do Cathedral Rock) or take a day trip to Flagstaff or the Grand Canyon. You could also plan for a Spa if there is one day that will be rainy.
• What is the best month to visit Sedona?
  • The end of February for President’s Day weekend was ideal. It’s not peak season, which is March-May, and not sweltering. There is somewhat of a risk during this time though because we had perfect weather in the high 50s and it was sunny, but the day after we left they were forecasting snow.

Book a Trip to Sedona!

I almost always book directly with the airline or hotel I’m using, but sites like skyscanner.com and booking.com are great for comparing options. Click the links below to book now!

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