The Best Guide to Three Days in Sedona

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Spending three days in Sedona is the perfect amount of time to check out some of Sedona’s highlights. Whether you are an outdoor adventure lover or prefer to see the sights from your car, there is enough to keep you busy with this three-day itinerary.

In this guide to Sedona, you will get a detailed three-day Sedona itinerary jam-packed with fun things to do, like going for a hike, taking an off-roading adventure, and enjoying Sedona’s famous red rock views.

What Should I Do In Sedona For Three Days?

Day 1 of a 3-Day Sedona Itinerary

On your first day in Sedona, I suggest you start early to take advantage of the day ahead.  I have a fun-filled day planned for you!

Take One of the Best Hikes in Sedona – Sedona Airport Loop Trail

Start your morning early at one of the most popular Sedona hikes – Sedona Airport Loop Trail, a 3.2-mile single-track hike popular with hikers and mountain bikers. The Airport Loop hike is one of the top things to see in Sedona because hikers are treated to stunning views of iconic red rocks like Cathedral Rocks, Courthouse Butte, and Bell Rock. Plus, there is a vortex in the Airport Mesa area. The increased magnetic activity might make you feel relaxed or give you more energy!

If you can snag a parking spot at the trailhead, park and walk across the street to start your hike to take full advantage of the views. By hiking counterclockwise, you get some of the best panoramic views at the end of your hike.

If parking is unavailable at the trailhead, keep driving up to the top, where you can park at the Airport Mesa. A trailhead at the top of the Airport Mesa will take you down to the Airport Mesa Loop, adding about .6 miles each way to your hike.

Know Before You Go:  The Airport Loop meanders along the edge of a rocky cliff. I would rate the hike as easy to lightly moderate because of the rocky terrain. However, the Airport Loop hike is NOT for people afraid of heights. The hike will take about 2-2.5 hours.  if you are afraid of heights, head to the Airport Mesa Grill where you can see the views from the parking lot.

Pro Tip:  Start your morning early, like before the first light early, to see the sunrise.  

Brunch/Lunch at Airport Mesa Grill

After your hike, head to the Airport Mesa Grill for breakfast, where you can continue to enjoy the stunning red rock views. 

Drive the Scenic Byway – Route 179

After hiking this morning, it’s time to relax and get closer to some of the highlights you saw from the Airport Loop Trial. Take the 7.5-mile Red Rock Scenic Byway by taking exit 298 off Interstate 17. Known as the “museum without walls,” visitors can hike additional vortices at Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock in the Village of Oak Creek and the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The Red Rock Scenic Byway is one of the best ways to see Sedona’s highlights because you don’t have to get out of the car (although I suggest you do) to take in the glorious red rocks. The Red Rock Scenic Byway drive is one of the best free things to do in Sedona.

To make the most out of your drive, download the GyPSy Guide app, which provides an audio tour of the sites you see and suggestions of places to stop for better views. It is like having a tour guide in your car! I am a huge fan of the GyPSy guide app and have used it in Sedona, Canada, and Yosemite. 

The length of your visit will depend on whether you drive the 7.5 miles straight or stop to check out some of the sites. The drive is best done during the week when you can park at places like Cathedral Rock and get out and explore the area for yourself. Some parking lots are closed Thursday through Sunday, and visitors must use the Sedona Shuttle to access the sites. If you are driving the Byway and not planning on stopping, you can do the drive anytime.    

Watch the Sunset in Sedona

After an exciting and active day in Sedona, it is time to relax. There are several places where you might enjoy a drink before dinner. Places like Mariposa and the Enchantment Resort are great spots to unwind while enjoying epic Sedona red rock views.

Dinner at The Hudson

Tonight, enjoy dinner at The Hudson, a neighborhood restaurant serving delicious American fare.  The casual restaurant is known for great cocktails and simple yet hearty dishes.  The tasty dishes are rather large, so you might think about sharing them with your dinner companion. 

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Day 2 of a 3-Day Sedona Itinerary

Off-Roading Adventure

Your second day in Sedona is all about off-roading. Sedona offers multiple off-roading adventures that range from easy to difficult roads. Off-roaders have several options when choosing how to go off-roading in Sedona.  Off-roading adventure options include driving yourself or joining one of the many off-roading outfitters in Sedona, like Pink Jeep Tours.  If you are driving yourself, you can rent a Polaris or a 4×4.

We rented a Polaris from Red Rock ATV Adventures for four hours. We headed out to the Broken Arrow Trail, considered the black diamond of off-roading adventures, where Gary conquered Submarine Rock and the Devil’s Staircase with no problems. 

After Broken Arrow, we headed over the Schnebly Hill, where I got behind the wheel. Schnebly road, although bumpy, is much easier to drive than Broken Arrow. It’s more like a fire road that goes all the way to Flagstaff. 

Devil’s Bridge and Vultee Arch

If you have more bandwidth for off-roading, your next stop is across town to Devil’s Bridge and Vultee Arch. By taking Dry Creek Road, the off-road path to Devil’s Bridge, you cut out most of the hiking and can park at the base of the Devil’s Bridge turnoff.  The short hike to Devil’s Bridge offers beautiful views. 

After visiting Devil’s Bridge, you can turn around or head to Vultee Arch. If you plan to take these adventures, I recommend a full-day rental.

Alternatively, you can return your off-road adventure vehicle and drive to Devil’s Bridge for the 4.2-mile hike. The hike is relatively easy if you take Dry Creek Road. However, Dry Creek Road is also a 4×4 trail and can be loud and dusty. If you have the time, opt for the slightly longer hike on the single-track Chuckwagon Trail, which is easy and more peaceful. 

Pro Tip:  If you plan to hike to Devil’s Bridge for the famed picture without an off-road vehicle, reverse the order of activities today. Start with the hike to Devil’s Bridge, bright and early – before first light. The parking lot fills up quickly, and there will likely be a line of people waiting to have their picture taken at Devil’s Bridge if you arrive after sunrise. 

We hiked to Devil’s Bridge in the morning, went off-roading in the afternoon, and had an incredible day filled with picturesque views and adventures. 

Dinner at Elote

Tonight for dinner, I recommend Elote.  Consistently ranked as one of the best restaurants in Sedona, Elote stands on its own. The upscale Southwestern and Mexican restaurant serves mouthwatering and elevated cuisine. The delicious dishes are paired with excellent cocktails options and high-end service.

Pro Tip: Whether you are dining in Sedona in the winter or the summer, you need a reservation. Make a reservation sixty days out to ensure you can eat at Elote.

Stargazing

Sedona is a sleepy town and not known for its nightlife. However, stargazing is a popular activity to do in Sedona at night. Due to minimal light pollution, stargazing is incredible in Sedona.

As part of our stay at the Enchantment Resort, we took advantage of the free stargazing tour. Through high-powered telescopes at the back of Boynton Canyon, we could see the rings of Saturn, the moons of Jupiter, Mars, and several constellations. The views of the solar system were out of this world! If you are not staying at the Enchantment Resort (although you should), there are several stargazing tours in Sedona. 

Day 3 of a 3-Day Guide to Sedona

Visit Upper Sedona

Start your day with breakfast in Upper Sedona. Panoramic red rock views surround the pedestrian-friendly area. Stroll through town to find a breakfast joint that fits your needs. We opted for a quick-service breakfast at Wildflower, and the pancakes were delicious. 

After breakfast, spend some time meandering down the quaint street, checking out the shops. A visit to Upper Sedona is free (except for parking). Upper Sedona is home to several boutiques selling souvenirs, crystals, jewelry, and art. You can even have an aura photo taken while in town.

After wandering around Upper Sedona and buying your souvenirs, it’s time to get a little exercise to work off breakfast. An afternoon hike (depending on the weather) might be just what you need.

Soldier’s Pass or Subway Cave

Sedona offers unlimited hiking options. Two popular hikes are Soldier’s Pass (easier) or Boynton Canyon to Subway Cave. 

Soldier’s Pass

Soldier’s Pass is an easy hike offering magnificent views. Along the way, stop at the Devil’s Kitchen. Devil’s Kitchen is the site of two sinkhole collapses in the 1880s and again in 1989. As a result, one massive sinkhole formed that is surprisingly deep.

A short distance later, you will see the seven sacred pools. The pools are naturally created divots in the sandstone that collect water when it rains. The distance from the parking lot, past the sinkhole, to the seven sacred pools is about 1.1 miles along an easy path.    

For those looking for more adventure, head to the Soldier’s Pass Caves. There are multiple caves just off the main trail. It’s a little confusing to find the caves, but Earth Trekkers has a great blog post about everything you need to know when visiting Soldier’s Pass and how to find the caves. 

Once at the caves, you can climb in and around the caves with a bit of scrambling. Sedona is known for its red rock caves, and hikers cannot wait to get out and explore them. 

Pro Tip: Soldier’s Pass is a popular hike, partly because visitors can see the Devil’s Kitchen (sinkhole) and the seven sacred pools and be back at their car in less than an hour. So, parking is limited and restricted. Visitors need to use the Sedona Shuttle to access the trailhead from Thursday-Sunday.   Alternatively, drivers with a 4×4 can drive the dirt road to check out some of the sites.

Subway Cave

Known as one of the most Instagramable spots in Sedona, Subway Cave is a very popular place to visit. The hike through Boynton Canyon to Subway Cave is pretty and relatively easy until you reach the cave.

Take the Boynton Canyon hike, and about 20 minutes after you pass Enchantment Resort, you will see a tree to your right that looks like an island on a path. Turn right. It’s easy to miss the turn-off, so I recommend using Alltrails to help you stay on the right track. 

Once you reach Subway Cave, you have two options:  1) head up the slippery rocks directly into the cave or 2) look to your left for a path up to a cliffside trail. From there, head right around the cliff, yes, around the cliff, to get into the cave. While this is a super popular hike (i.e., lots of crowds), I don’t recommend this hike unless you enjoy an adventure.

I took the side path up and walked around the cliff. As you can see, I did not enjoy myself. On the other hand, Gary went straight up into the cave, around the cliff, and back several times without thinking twice about it. 

Pro Tip: The hike tends to be less crowded at sunrise and before sunset. Also, if you are staying at the Enchantment Resort, a gate at the back of the property leads directly to the Boynton Canyon trial.  

Relax in Sedona

After three adventure-filled days in Sedona, it’s time to relax. Whether that means soaking in the sun at your hotel or heading to the spa, now is an excellent time to feel the positive energy from the vortex you just visited.

Sedona is known for its mysticism, and you might enjoy a yoga session, meditation, tarot card reading, or a healing massage. Your options are limitless! I left the rest of the day for you to appreciate the tranquility that exists in Sedona. 

If you plan on visiting a spa, Mii Amo Spa at Enchantment Resort is rated as one of the best in the world. For a day spa, you might check out the Sedona New Day Spa.

Pro Tip:  If you plan to visit a spa in Sedona, make a reservation ahead of time. Appointments can be hard to come by, even in the winter. 

Dinner in Sedona

On day three of your Sedona itinerary, you have several options for dinner. For a casual Italian meal, head to Gerardo’s Italian Kitchen. If you prefer an upscale meal, you might like Mariposa or Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante.

Pro Tip: Make your dinner reservations for your Sedona vacation in advance. Otherwise, expect long waits, or you might be shut out entirely. If you didn’t make reservations and are already in Sedona, try eating at the bar, which is often first come, first serve. 

I hope you had a chance to see many of Sedona’s highlights with my 36-hour guide to Sedona.  

For more ideas of things to do in Sedona, check out my guide to the best things to do in Sedona in the winter. All of these Sedona activities can be done year-round! If you enjoy hiking trips, you might also like my guide to Banff and Lake Louise and my 2-Day Yosemite Valley Itinerary. 

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