Red rocks & desert wonders
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Grand Canyon & Arizona
Phoenix to Sedona
Phoenix and Sedona sit about 161 km (100 mi) apart in a straight line, with Sedona to the north. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Grand Canyon & Arizona itinerary, a 5-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 161 km · 100 mi
- Est. road distance
- 193–225 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h – 3 h 30 min
- Direction
- Heading north
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Grand Canyon & Arizona itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 193–225 km (120–140 mi) of road and 2 h – 3 h 30 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Most groups fly into Phoenix and rent a car for the whole trip. The drive north is straightforward and passes through changing landscapes. Parking at popular trailheads and viewpoints can fill up, so shared cars and early starts help. Shuttles operate in some park areas.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Sedona
Give it two days: one for the big hikes, one for the creek, galleries and a winery.
Devil's Bridge Trail
Popular hike to a natural sandstone arch you can walk across.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Chapel built into red-rock buttes in 1956, with wide valley views.
Slide Rock State Park
Natural sandstone water slide in Oak Creek Canyon on an old apple farm.
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village
Mexican-style courtyards with galleries and craft shops under sycamores.
Elote Cafe
Chef Jeff Smedstad's modern Mexican cooking; the roasted-corn elote is a staple.
Page Springs Cellars
Creekside winery pouring Arizona Rhône-style wines 20 minutes from town.
Before you leave Phoenix
Spend a full day: hike at dawn, then the desert garden and museums, then dinner in Old Town Scottsdale.
On this curated route
Where Phoenix → Sedona sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Sedona to Phoenix is the same 161 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in January, when Sedona averages highs 9°C cooler than Phoenix. Over a year, Sedona gets about 200 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix high | 20° | 21° | 26° | 30° | 36° | 42° | 42° | 41° | 38° | 32° | 25° | 19° |
| Sedona high | 11° | 13° | 18° | 22° | 27° | 34° | 35° | 33° | 30° | 23° | 17° | 10° |
| Phoenix rain | 33 | 32 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 33 | 33 | 22 | 14 | 19 | 31 |
| Sedona rain | 47 | 48 | 33 | 18 | 15 | 6 | 69 | 68 | 37 | 31 | 33 | 51 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Sedona month guides.
Phoenix to Sedona: questions travelers ask
How far is Phoenix from Sedona?
Phoenix is about 161 km (100 mi) from Sedona in a straight line, with Sedona to the north. By road, we estimate 193–225 km (120–140 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Phoenix to Sedona?
An estimated 2 h – 3 h 30 min, assuming 193–225 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Phoenix to Sedona?
Our Grand Canyon & Arizona itinerary includes this leg. Grand Canyon & Arizona runs about 5 days across 3 stops, best in Mar – May.
Onward from Sedona
- Sedona to Grand Canyon 141 km
Guides for both ends
- Phoenix travel guide
- Phoenix weather best time to visit
- Sedona travel guide
- Sedona weather best time to visit
Sedona by month
Plan Phoenix → Sedona with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.