2 Days in Sedona: Between Budget and Luxury
It’s hard to decide what to do in Sedona. The reason? There is so much to do. I’ve been exploring for a decade and still have plenty to explore. In this post, I’m reviewing 2 days in Sedona- a trip between budget and luxury. You can complete it any time of year, but I designed it to be from October-May! Keep reading for more AND a free download.
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Where Is Sedona within Arizona?
Sedona is located in Northern Arizona, about 2 hours north of Phoenix, Arizona. There are likely two groups of people reading this post- those who live in Phoenix and are wanting to plan a weekend getaway OR those who live out of state and are planning to visit. Either way, this post is for you! I grew up in Wisconsin and lived there until I turned 18 and moved to Arizona for college- and never came back- sorry mom! I have visited Sedona 20 some times since then. It NEVER gets old, and there are always new things to do.
If you’re visiting from out of state, you’re likely flying into Sky Harbor Airport. You will need a rental car to go to Sedona. On the map below, I listed other popular cities to visit, so if you’re not from here, you have an idea of where Sedona is in reference to other cities.
What Time of the Year to Visit Sedona?
The great thing about Sedona is that it is a year-round desination- that’s the beauty of Arizona. The best, most moderate, times to spend 2 days in Sedona is September-April. Sedona does actually get cold in the winter, and snows a few times a year. If you’re here during that time, count yourself lucky- it’s beautiful. For the summer season (May-August), be aware that Sedona gets hot (95+). I did this specific itinerary in April- the temperature was amazing! Please note, Sedona gets soooo busy for Spring break season in March. Any time of the year, weekends are more busy than weekdays.
Please be careful when visiting Sedona in the summer.
I’ve Created a FREE Summer hiking guide for you!
Wanting to upgrade your hiking gear/outfits? I’ve been working on creating COLORFUL, functional, and minimal weight outfits to maximize my comfort! Download my free guide with links!
Is Two Days in Sedona Enough?
Yes, absolutely! I’ve never spen more than 2-3 days in a row in Sedona, actually. You can definitely stay longer- there is so much to see. Whether you’re in or out of state, a weekend is plenty of time. Most of my trips are 2 days long, so that’s what I’m going over today!!
2 Days In Sedona- Day 1
It’s up to you how early you choose to leave. If it were up to me, I’d leave well before sunrise to get up for a sunrise hike, but I can’t drag my husband out of bed that early, haha. We usually leave by 10 and get to Sedona at noon and start hiking right away!
Hike 1- Birthing Cave
There are so many cool caves in Sedona- I’m still trying to see them all. The Birthing Cave is a great short and easy hike to start your day. Especially great for beginners or for visitors. To see the view in the photo above, you need to go in the cave, turn around, and use 0.5 zoom to take a photo.
Birthing Cave Trail Stats
Hike 2- Fay Canyon
Since the Birthing Cave is a short and easy hike, we went right onto the next hike- Fay Canyon- another short hike. They’re only a few minutes apart, wihch makes this really convienent. I would say most Sedona hikes, at least the common ones, are only a few miles. Most people get in multiple small hikes in Sedona becuase of this- I like it that way!
Fay Canyon Arch Trail
This short trail is fantastic. I liked it even better than the birthing cave. A must do if you’re spending 2 days in Sedona. There are two different trails on AllTrails for Fay Canyon- general Fay Canyon and Fay Canyon Arch. The arch is a little side trail. If you do just Fay Canyon to the end, there’s a lookout. Or you can do both. It is steep up to the arch, but it’s so pretty. We went in the afternoon and we were the only ones there.
Want to Check Out a Few Other Hikes in Area?
This area is full of beautiful hikes.
Best Sunrise Spot: Doe Mountain
Cave Hikes: 6 Caves in Sedona
Soldier’s Pass Trail: An Epic Loop Trail with Multiple Features
Check Out The Shops in Uptown
You need to make some time to visit some of the Uptown Shops. I always love going in the crystal shops- how can you not when you’re visiting Sedona??? We brought lunch (sandwhiches) on our hike, so we didn’t need to eat, but there are plenty of restaurants there if you need a post-hike snack. I have a few favorite shops in Uptown including Sedona Crystal Vortex, Cheers of Sedona (High Quality T-Shirts), and Western Trading Post (All Souviners).
Check Into Your Hotel
If you’re spending 2 days in Sedona, you’ll need to stay somewhere. There are so many amazing options. You can camp dispersed, camp developed, stay in cheap hotels, luxury hotels and resorts, or airbnbs. I prefer hotels for most of my Sedona trips. I have camped too, but when it’s hot and you hike a lot, I like a good shower haha.
I absolutely LOVED staying at EL PORTAL SEDONA (not sponsored). A couple built it in 2003 from the ground up with a beautiful mission old-world style. There are only 12 rooms, so it’s very cozy. The owners are around all the time. People are so friendly. Will definitely stay again.
There are so many amazing hotels at Sedona, too. I also recently stayed at SkyRock Sedona and loved it- it’s a bit more expensive. For a real splurge (like we did for our anniversary)- Amara Resort is 10/10. All 3 of the hotels mentioned are dog-friendly.
Grab Dinner
El Portal Sedona had all the local Sedona menus in their lobby, and even marked which are dog-friendly and which are within walkable distance. It was so sweet. We chose to go to Hideaway House in Sedona. I LOVED IT. Drinks and pizza were 10/10. The patio is dog friendly too. Highly recommend. This was a busy day, but an amazing one. Best way to spend 2 days in Sedona.
2 Days In Sedona- Day 2
Sunrise Hike- Devils Bridge
I highly suggest a sunrise hike while you’re in Sedona. The two most popular hikes in Sedona are Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock. Read more about Cathedral Rock in my post HERE. For this itinerary, we chose to hike Devil’s Bridge. It is an incredible arch feature in Red Rock Wilderness. There are a few things that you need to know before hiking!
TRAIL OPTIONS– You can hike via Mescal Trailhead or Dry Creek Trail. I’m going over Mescal Trailhead in this post.
PARKING- You can park at Dry Creek Trail or Mescal Trail ($5 Red Rock Pass). You can also take the Sedona Shuttle there- this trail is super busy.
TIME- Budget 2-2.5 hrs for this excursion
CROWDS- This trail is VERYYYYY BUSYYYYYYY. That is why I suggest going at sunrise. For example, when I went to the bridge in the middle of the day, there was a line of 30+ people waiting to take photos on the bridge. Takes away from the fun.
Devils Bridge Via Mescal Trailhead
What to Bring to Hike in Sedona
Below I’ve created a locker that has all of the packs, shoes, and outfits both my husband and I packed for Sedona. Enjoy!
Post-Hike Breakfast/ coffee
After you finish your hike, you deserve a little treat! We headed to Indian Gardens Cafe in Oak Creek (north of Uptown Sedona). They do breakfast, lunch, coffee, and even have fresh cider grown in Oak Creek (I tried it, it was so good!!).
Want to Read More? HERE the is my post on the best coffee shops in Sedona.
Want to Camp for your Trip to Sedona??
I’ve created a FORTY PAGE GUIDE outlining all the best free and paid campsites in Northern Arizona, including Sedona.
It can be hard to spend hours researching campsites, trying to figure out were they’re located, what they look like, the price, and the amenities. With my guide, those days are over! I give you everything you need to know, with links to my Google Maps AND it’s in a PDF so you can access it any time!
2 Days In Sedona- A Summary
You can MOST DEFINITELY do just 2 days in Sedona. This is NOT the only itinerary out there. I could make 20 more, and I’m working on it- haha. Always reach out to me if you have further questions or want advice. I want you to have an amazing time! All mentioned locations are in the map below. Happy hiking!
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