The 6 Best Day Trips from Sedona (Times & Local Tips)

The Grand Canyon's South Rim is about a 2-hour drive from Sedona — and it's only one of six genuinely great day trips within easy reach. Ghost towns, wine country, a creekside swimming park, and a drive-through wildlife preserve are all closer still. Here's each one with real drive times and the local tip that makes it work.

Can you do the Grand Canyon as a day trip from Sedona? (2 hours each way)

Yes — comfortably, if you start early. The South Rim is about 110 miles via Flagstaff, and the single most important tip is to leave Sedona by 7am: you'll beat the entrance-gate line, get parking near the Visitor Center, and walk the Rim Trail in morning light before the tour buses land. Pack layers — the rim sits at 7,000 feet and runs much cooler than Sedona.

Jerome ghost town (45 minutes)

A copper-mining boomtown built improbably into the side of Cleopatra Hill, Jerome went from 15,000 residents to near-ghost status and has been reborn as a funky artists' town — galleries, saloons, mining-history museums, and huge views over the Verde Valley. Local tip: the switchback streets are steep and parking is tight, so park in the first lot you see and walk. Pair it with Page Springs wine country on the drive back for a perfect loop.

Oak Creek Canyon scenic drive (starts 10 minutes from town)

You don't have to go far for the best drive in the region: the Oak Creek Canyon stretch of SR-89A climbs from Uptown Sedona to the canyon rim through sycamore shade, creek crossings, and towering walls. Drive it to the overlook at the top, browse the Native American arts vendors there, and roll back down with the windows open. Local tip: go on a weekday morning — summer weekends bring slow traffic and full pullouts.

Page Springs wine country (30 minutes)

Arizona wine is real, and the closest cluster of tasting rooms sits along Oak Creek in Page Springs, half an hour southwest of Sedona. Three or four wineries sit within a couple of miles of each other, most with creekside patios. Local tip: designate a driver or book a wine-tour shuttle, and aim for a late-morning start — patio tables go fast on weekend afternoons.

Slide Rock State Park (15 minutes)

Seven miles up Oak Creek Canyon, Slide Rock is a natural sandstone waterslide in a historic apple orchard — the classic Sedona summer outing. Local tip: in summer the parking lot can fill by mid-morning and cars queue on 89A; arrive at opening or go after 3pm. Water shoes and shorts you don't mind wearing thin are the uniform.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park (40 minutes)

Down in Camp Verde, Out of Africa is a sprawling wildlife preserve where a safari-style tram carries you through free-roaming herds, and big-cat exhibits get you remarkably close to lions and tigers. It's the best half-day with kids in the Verde Valley. Local tip: check the feeding and show schedule when you arrive and plan your loop around Tiger Splash.

Which day trip should you pick?

With one free day: the Grand Canyon — it's the Grand Canyon. With a relaxed half day: Slide Rock in summer, Jerome plus Page Springs in spring and fall. With kids: Out of Africa, then ice cream in Old Town Cottonwood on the way home. The luxury of a Sedona vacation-rental base is that you can come home to a full kitchen and a hot tub after any of them.

FAQs

Is Sedona or the Grand Canyon better to stay in?

Most travelers are happier basing in Sedona: far more restaurants, homes with kitchens and hot tubs, and the canyon works as a day trip. Rim lodging makes sense mainly for sunrise photographers.

How many days do you need in Sedona to add day trips?

Three nights covers Sedona's own trails; five lets you add the Grand Canyon and a Jerome-and-wine-country loop without rushing anything.