Getting to Sedona: Drive Times from Phoenix, Flagstaff & Beyond

Sedona is about 115 miles north of Phoenix — roughly a 2-hour drive via I-17 and State Route 179. Every major starting point works out to a comfortable drive: 45 minutes from Flagstaff, 2 hours from Scottsdale, about 2 hours from the Grand Canyon's South Rim, and around 4.5 hours from Las Vegas. Here are the real numbers, the scenic-route choices, and which airport to fly into.

How far is Sedona from Phoenix?

About 115 miles, or 2 hours, from Phoenix Sky Harbor. Take I-17 North out of the Valley, climb out of the desert past Black Canyon City, and exit onto SR-179 at the Village of Oak Creek. Those last 15 minutes on SR-179 are the payoff: the red rocks appear suddenly and grow until Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte are filling the windshield. It's one of the great highway arrivals anywhere — have the passenger's camera ready. Leave Phoenix outside of weekday rush hour and the drive is easy and entirely on well-maintained divided highway.

How far is Sedona from Flagstaff?

About 30 miles, or 45 minutes — and it might be the most scenic 45 minutes in Arizona. SR-89A drops off the Colorado Plateau through a series of switchbacks and then runs the length of Oak Creek Canyon, with the creek alongside and canyon walls overhead. It's regularly ranked among America's most scenic drives. Take it slowly, and if you're coming down in the morning, stop at the Oak Creek Vista overlook at the top of the switchbacks.

How far is Sedona from Scottsdale?

About 2 hours. Take Loop 101 to I-17 North and follow the Phoenix directions above. Scottsdale-to-Sedona is a classic pairing — a few resort days in the Valley, then a few red-rock days up here where summer temperatures run meaningfully cooler.

How far is Sedona from Las Vegas?

About 280 miles, or 4.5 hours: US-93 south over the Hoover Dam bypass bridge to Kingman, then I-40 east to Flagstaff (or the Ash Fork cutoff), finishing down Oak Creek Canyon. It's a long but very doable drive, and ending a Vegas road trip with the 89A canyon descent is a fine trade.

How far is Sedona from the Grand Canyon?

The South Rim is about 110 miles, or 2 hours, north of Sedona via 89A and US-180 through Flagstaff. That's close enough that many guests do the canyon as a day trip from their Sedona home rather than moving hotels — details in our Sedona day trips guide.

Which airport should you fly into?

Sedona has a small airport up on Airport Mesa, but it serves private and general aviation — no commercial airline flights land in Sedona. Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) for the widest flight selection and rental-car inventory, or Flagstaff (FLG), a small regional airport 45 minutes away with limited connections. Most of our guests fly into PHX and drive up. If you'd rather not rent a car, scheduled shuttle vans run from PHX — and our guide to whether you need a car in Sedona covers how to make a car-free stay work.

Arrive, unpack once, and settle in

However you get here, the best part of a vacation-rental stay is what happens after the drive: groceries in a full kitchen, a private patio with red-rock views, and no hotel lobby between you and the trails. Browse our Sedona homes and book direct — same homes as the big platforms, without the service fees.

FAQs

Is the drive from Phoenix to Sedona scenic?

The first 90 minutes on I-17 are pleasant high-desert highway; the final stretch on SR-179 is spectacular. If you want maximum scenery, return via 89A through Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff, then take I-17 south — you get both approaches in one trip.

Do you need a 4x4 to get to Sedona?

No — every route here is paved highway, and any car makes the trip. The famous rough roads (like the one to Devil's Bridge trailhead) are optional side adventures, and jeep tours cover those better anyway.