Day Trip: Sedona, Arizona
- Location
- Northern Arizona, in Coconino and Yavapai counties; elevation 4,500 feet
- From Las Vegas
- 278 miles, about 5 hours via US-93, I-40 and Flagstaff (Sedona Chamber)
- Red Rock Pass
- $5 daily, $15 weekly, $20 annual for Forest Service trailhead parking
- Visitor center
- 331 Forest Rd, Uptown; daily 8:30 am-5 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas
- Trailhead shuttle
- Free, year-round Thursday-Sunday, from two Park & Ride lots
- Closures
- West Fork Trail and parts of Oak Creek closed after the 2026 Pocket Fire
About
Sedona is a city in northern Arizona, split between Coconino and Yavapai counties. The Sedona Chamber of Commerce lists its elevation at 4,500 feet and its population at about 11,000. It was founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1988.
Much of the red-rock land around the city is part of the Coconino National Forest. The Forest Service lists dozens of fee sites in the area, including the Bell Rock Pathway, the Cathedral Rock and Boynton Canyon trailheads, Midgley Bridge, and the Palatki and Honanki heritage sites.
State Route 89A runs north from Sedona through Oak Creek Canyon toward Flagstaff, and the Chamber notes it is a designated scenic road. State Route 179, the southern approach from Interstate 17, is an All-American Road. Sedona is also about 114 miles from the Grand Canyon's South Rim.
What to expect
Shops, galleries and restaurants in town need no parking pass. Hiking does. Parking at a Forest Service fee site and leaving your car calls for a Red Rock Pass or an America the Beautiful pass. Some sites, such as Crescent Moon and Grasshopper Point, take a separate concessionaire fee instead.
The city-run Sedona Shuttle offers free parking and free rides from Park & Ride lots to trailheads, including Cathedral Rock, Little Horse, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek Vista and Mescal. It needs no reservation. Two state parks are close by. Slide Rock, in Oak Creek Canyon, has a natural creek slide. Red Rock State Park has 5 miles of trails along Oak Creek, with no swimming allowed.
Plan the trip
Good to know
- After the 2026 Pocket Fire, the Forest Service still has the West Fork Trail, Call of the Canyon, Grasshopper Point and a stretch of Oak Creek closed. Check Coconino National Forest alerts before you go.
- Slide Rock State Park charges $20 per vehicle (1-4 people) from August 22, 2026 to April 2027, plus $5 per extra person. It is open 8 am-6 pm until November 20, with last entry at 5 pm. Entry is by vehicle only.
- Slide Rock is not offering apple picking in fall 2026. After heavy rain, it does not recommend swimming even though the swim area has reopened.
- Red Rock State Park is open 8 am-5 pm, with last entry at 4:30 pm. It costs $10 per adult and $5 for ages 7-13. Pets are not allowed.
- Red Rock Passes bought on Recreation.gov are tied to your license plate, and no printed pass is issued. The pass is not valid at national parks or Arizona state parks.
- The Chamber says fall color usually reaches Sedona and lower Oak Creek Canyon in early November.
Questions about Sedona, Arizona
How far is Sedona from Las Vegas?
The Sedona Chamber of Commerce lists the drive as 278 miles and about 5 hours. Its route follows US-93 southeast into Arizona, then I-40 east to Flagstaff, I-17 briefly, and State Route 89A south through Oak Creek Canyon into Sedona. Check ADOT's road conditions before you go, and note the West Fork area closures in the canyon.
Do I need a Red Rock Pass in Sedona?
Only to park and leave your car at a Forest Service fee site, such as Bell Rock Pathway, Cathedral Rock or Boynton Canyon trailheads. A daily pass is $5, a weekly pass $15 and an annual pass $20. An America the Beautiful pass also works. Shopping and dining in town need no pass, and a quick photo stop within sight of your car does not either.
Is the Sedona Shuttle free?
Yes. The Sedona Shuttle, run by the City of Sedona, offers free parking at its Park & Ride lots and free rides to popular trailheads. Trailhead routes run year-round, Thursday through Sunday, with daily service during spring break and some holidays. No reservation is needed. Routes include Cathedral Rock and Little Horse, Soldier Pass, and Dry Creek Vista and Mescal.
How much does Slide Rock State Park cost?
Arizona State Parks lists $20 per vehicle for one to four people from August 22, 2026 through April 2027, and $30 from May to August 21, 2026. Each extra person is $5 and children under 6 are free. Cards are strongly preferred. Reservations are not available, and walk-ins, drop-offs and bicycles are not admitted. Pets are never allowed in the creek area.
Where is the Sedona visitor center?
The Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau runs a visitor center at 331 Forest Road in Uptown Sedona. It is open seven days a week, 8:30 am to 5 pm, and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Staff give out maps and trail advice, and sell Red Rock Passes and annual national park passes. The phone number is 928-282-7890.