Attraction

Cottonwood Old Town

Twenty minutes south of Sedona on AZ-89A, the Cottonwood Old Town district occupies the original 1920s commercial strip along North Main Street. Once a sleepy mining-supply town, Old Town has reinvented itself in the last decade around the Verde Valley wine scene — five tasting rooms now operate inside the four-block historic district, alongside vintage shops, art galleries, and a half-dozen lunch spots.

Address: N Main St, Cottonwood, AZ 86326
Hours: Most shops 10am–6pm; tasting rooms until 8–9pm
Admission (USD): Free (tastings $10–$20)
Website: visitcottonwoodaz.org
Area: Verde Valley, 20 min south of Sedona
Drive time (min): 20

What it is

Cottonwood Old Town is the original 1920s commercial district of Cottonwood, a Verde Valley town founded as a supply hub for the Jerome copper mines. The four-block historic stretch along North Main Street fell into decline mid-century, was added to the National Register in 1986, and has since been gradually rehabilitated. The contemporary identity coalesced around 2010 when Verde Valley winemakers opened the first tasting rooms inside the district — today the strip houses five tasting rooms, a brewery, vintage and antique shops, a couple of galleries, and small-batch restaurants.

Why visit

Two reasons. First, the wine — the Verde Valley AVA is one of Arizona\'s two recognised wine regions, and the Cottonwood tasting rooms (Burning Tree Cellars, Pillsbury Wine Company, Arizona Stronghold, Merkin Vineyards, and Winery 101) let you sample a half-dozen producers without driving farther into the valley. Second, the walkability — unlike Sedona\'s spread-out commercial geography, Old Town is a true four-block stroll. Park once, taste-shop-eat-taste-walk back. The Verde River Greenway trailhead is a five-minute drive away if you want to walk off lunch along the river before driving back.

Practical tips

Plan for an afternoon: leave Sedona around 11am, arrive in Cottonwood at 11:20, lunch at Crema Craft Kitchen or Nic\'s Italian, then work through two or three tasting rooms over the afternoon. Tastings run $10–$20 for a 5-glass flight. Bring a designated driver — the strip is small enough that even moderate tasting adds up. Parking is on-street and free; the city lot at 6th and Main is the easy fallback. Most shops and tasting rooms close by 8pm.

Stay nearby

Cottonwood is a comfortable 20-minute drive from any of our Sedona properties — browse Sedona Haven Rentals rentals in the Village of Oak Creek for the shortest commute. For visitor info, see Visit Sedona or the Cottonwood visitor portal at visitcottonwoodaz.org.