My suggestion is (if you plan the same and it's your first time there) to not stop at the first signage you come across. Amazing!! This is the crme de la crme of planning apps! . Parking lots are horrible ($8? Jerome is awesome. We had just visited and our only thing was it was bitterly cold. Photo You have about 3 hours at the canyon, enough to see the sights and a little walking. The stage show was fun and entertaining, and the Grand finale was super cool! $4 - $7. Lowell Observatory was founded in 1894 by an astronomer and a mathematician from Bostons Lowell Family known as Percival Lowell. During one of my recent visits to northern Arizona, I spent several days making all the stops I could along Arizonas State Route 89A, the road that connects Sedona to Flagstaff. I just took their word for it. So I guess, thanks for that rude dude. Vortex ATV sets you up with an indpendent tour to check out the amazing scenery that Cottonwood and the Sedona area has to offer. If you can, plan your visit around one of the four annual weekend-long Native American Festivals which includes the oldest Hopi show in the world. The drive through area combined with the walking area seems to be quite unique to me. The return ride wait was very long. The exhibits were very good and vast array of artifacts, art work and pottery was astounding. Sky Harbor International Airport is just about 10 minutes from downtown Phoenix by car. The workers at the front desk were very nice and brought up extra bedding immediately when we asked for more. During your day in Sedona, you can choose one of the many hikes or tours offered! If you arrive early in the morning youll find plenty of parking. Filled with American Indian artifacts, fine art, and natural science displays, the Museum of Northern Arizona is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Colorado Plateau. Once inside there is plenty of parking in the paved lot. I am not a Catholic but would still highly recommend fighting the crowds to see and experience the glory of the chapel. Awesome reconstruction of the original pueblo. Flagstaff, AZ. In 1894 Percival Lowell founded the Lowell Observatory. I love that they have an area with picnic tables and allow you to bring in food of your own. Built in 1894 and housing the Discovery Channel Telescope, the Lowell Observatory offers daytime guided tours as well as evening star gazing. In 2005, McCarran's . Just go. Parking Situation: There is free parking along the side of the road. Also a shout out to the guy at the desk (sorry, didn't catch you name but it was the morning of 4/27). As always, thanks for reading. Plus, the number one restaurant on the list is right here in the Grand Canyon State . (You can interact with others by paying extra). And the souvenir cups are great. Book with confidence with our Low Price Guarantee and 24/7 support. Further down the trail there may be some sections which require you to step into the water, so water shoes are recommended if you plan to hike the entire length of the trail. This was an unplanned trip- we saw the billboard while driving to the Grand Canyon and thought that sounds cool and it WAS. The petting zoo was very cute. Bring more water than you think (some refill areas available) and remember you are at 7000 ft elevation so not as fast as you think. Connected to the visitors centre you will find the working Amtrak ticket office, as the station is in fact in use. The trail was beautiful. The airport boasts as one of the busiest in the world, coming in as number 11 in the rankings. The lockers and restrooms required long waits and it all felt pretty dirty. 89A) is a 24-mile drive between Flagstaff and Sedona. Dogs are welcome if on leash. Make sure to stay for it. Attractions include hiking, biking and trout fishing. Stop #2: Montezuma's Castle. Day 3 was dedicated to hiking in Sedona. Best stops along Flagstaff to Sedona drive. In this post Im sharing all the best stops on the Flagstaff to Sedona scenic route along the 89A heading south towards Sedona out of Flagstaff. The iconic Chapel of the Holy Cross is perhaps the most recognized landmark within Sedona. What a wonderful place! Plan along with your friends with live syncing and collaborative editing. Check out our hotel recommendations: If you want to meet halfway between Flagstaff, AZ and Sedona, AZ or just make a stop in the middle of your trip, the exact coordinates of the halfway point of this route are 35.027569 and -111.740074, or 35 1' 39.2484" N, 111 44' 24.2664" W. This location is 14.67 miles away from Flagstaff, AZ and Sedona, AZ and it would take approximately 22 minutes to reach the halfway point from both locations. Share with fellow travellers any question or tips about the route from Flagstaff, AZ to Sedona, AZ: A car with a fuel efficiency of MPG will need 1.18 gallons of gas to cover the route between Flagstaff, AZ and Sedona, AZ. The Temps were down in the mid 30's. They're fantastic!! Flagstaff is popular to locals . Hiked many trails, this being my favorite. The Museum has permanent and changing exhibits. We have already decided we will go back when we are in the area next year!! Unless you come in August or September, dont expect to see fun things at night through the telescopes. Find day trips to take today, this coming weekend, or later in April. A recorded message said to email them, so I did. ***Please book online or call 928-350-8466 for Home Pick-up / Drop Off service. During the route, an average car will release 23.08 pounds of CO2 to the atmosphere. Amazing landscape views As Im sure youre already aware, Sedona is best known for its towering red rock formations. You must go!! Other popular things to do in Sedona include hiking Cathedral Rock, visiting the Sedona wineries, watching the sunset from the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout, and visiting Chapel of the Holy Cross, a beautiful Roman Catholic Chapel built into the surrounding red rocks. Really cute place! The slopes were good although with the fresh snow many were not groomed. Generally open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This chapel is built into a hillside which is quite unique and a cool thing to see and photograph. You can also plan a visit to nearby Williams, Arizona located about 35 minutes west of Flagstaff. The trail was so good especially because we made it after a snowy day. Our family of five stayed three nights while visiting the Grand Canyon and we highly recommend the hotel as a great option while in the area. This is the fastest route from Flagstaff, AZ to Sedona, AZ.. Flagstaff, AZ and Sedona, AZ are in the same time zone (MST). The Griffiths Spring Trail is an easy and flat one mile hike located in the Coconino National Forest. As the name of the park suggests, there is a natural water slide that was formed in Oak Creek, which is very popular with local kids. Since I can't choose 0 starts the one star was for that. Historical architectural ruins along the path. Parking Situation: There are about a dozen parking spots on a packed dirt parking area on the right hand side of the road. Gift shop and rest rooms. The Native American Cliff Dweller was responsible for building the Walnut Canyon from 1100-1250 AD. The park you can walk through has additional animals that are not shy. 6769 Deer Farm Rd, Williams, AZ 86046, USA. The drive from Flagstaff to Sedona takes under an hour, so you go from one beautiful place to the next!. We really enjoyed our visit to this site because it's amazing to see how the Native American people used to build their homes on the southern side of the cliffs. You get that beautiful golden light on the rock itself, then if you look east you also get gorgeous views of across the valley below. Day 5: Departure Day. The horses were so friendly and gentle. Would recommend 2-3 tickets person. Old-fashioned shopping district lined with charming, historic art galleries, shops & cafes. Phoenix to Sedona Drive. Meeting Location: Tour Office (400 S Malpais Lane, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001) Meeting Time: 7:45am. The water winds through canyons framed by Sedonas famed red rock vistas. At first my husband wasn't thrilled with the family style seating, but we met some great people and had a blast visiting! I almost bought a lift ticket for my birthday for $54, but ended up paying $72. Here's the quick answer if you make this quick drive without any stops. Its quiet, peaceful, and a pleasant way to start your day. The people of Flagstaff were saddened when Pluto was demoted as a planet, however the observatory remains a great place to come and learn about the universe, discovery, and peer into space. prehistoric bones. It is very steep, and it has a 700-foot elevation. 3101 N Fort Valley Rd, Flagstaff 86001 Wow. Invest in some churro & pretzel carts and I think you will see a positive cash flow very quickly!!! The canyon itself is gorgeous and you can see the walls are ringed by countless ruins. I'm not sure about other seasons but autumn is an excellent time to visit. Others walk down to the promontory below the bridge for a much better view. Flagstaff to Sedona Highway 89A. Jerome State Historic Park is home to Douglas Mansion, built in 1916 by a mining magnate. With that said, you . The North Wilson Trail is a 9.5 mile out and back hike that leads to a beautiful lookout point. Park featuring up-close safarilike encounters with wild animals & daily presentations with keepers. I will be back. Drive 42 min. A portion of this hike runs adjacent to the airport fence, so you sort of lose that "nature" aspect for that part. Current time in both locations is 10:30 pm. Robert was a great guide. Robert1979 Parking Situation: There are several parking spaces located down a packed dirt road. Built to a dual pinnacled spur, about 250 feet high, and extending out a thousand foot rock wall, the chapel is said to be as solid as the rock of Peter, and this unique Catholic Church will put its visitors close to the heavens. Built in 1956, it is also considered a vortex site and the visuals created by this church rising out of the Sedona red rocks never fails to amaze. You can reach Flagstaff Pulliam Airport near Sedona and get a taxi. Here we took a photo on the Route 66 mural and became astronauts in the astronaut selfie booth. The view from the top of the monument extends miles in all directions in the Sedona valleys. The Chapel was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Take airport road up the hill and theres a parking lot and an excellent visa for taking photographs. I parked down the road a bit and had to walk back about 0.25 mile. From Flagstaff and Bus-40, head south on S. Milton Road and turn right (west). Really more of a scramble but such pretty views and fun scrambling. by Wikimedia Commons user He explained the real reason for wearing face masks. It's the hypocrisy of it that continues to astonish me. This allows people to see how they native Americans used to build their rooms and how thick the ceilings are. You may just see a lot of white stars or star clusters that dont look much different from what you see in the sky, so adjust your expectations. Another popular thing to do in the area is visit the Arizona Meteor Crater located about 45 minutes east of Flagstaff. (Flagstaff/Sedona) * State Farm is currently seeking an outgoing and highly motivated professional to join our . The drive itself is on a paved road suitable for all types of vehicles, although RVs will find the going difficult through the switchbacks as the road rises out of the canyon heading north to Flagstaff. Don't wear your mask fine, nothing I can do about that. This is our second time here and we just love it. My husband would've too, but he can't eat gluten. Locates in Clarkdale, AZ and priced very reasonable! Went here for the sunset. Hours / Access: The park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to dusk. The top cities between Flagstaff and Sedona are Williams, Cottonwood, and Jerome. 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff 86001 The 24-mile-long closure (mileposts 375-397) affects most of the highway between Sedona and Flagstaff as crews battle the Slide Fire in Oak Creek Canyon. More. Planning on renting a car to go from Flagstaff, AZ to Sedona, AZ? The gift shop had some nice caps marked down on clearance which made me very happy. Distance from West Fork Oak Creek Trail to Slide Rock State Park: 7 minutes / 3.7 miles. She had originally planned to build the church in Budapest, Hungary but the outbreak of World War II put the kibosh on that. 25.3 miles; 40 minutes drive from Flagstaff to Sedona. Duration: 40 minutes To beat the heat of the summer jump in your best ride and head north to a roller coaster ride filled with views of breathtaking rock formations and a kaleidoscope of wildlife and foliage along Highway 89A from Sedona to Flagstaff. One of the most ethereal sights in Sedona, the Cathedral Rock is hard to miss. Loved the tiger statue and the seating arrangements in this area. Williams is the most popular city on the route it's less than an hour from Flagstaff and 1 hour from Sedona. Day use area only but they do have camping paid areas operating in the summer.was just here yesterday cause its warming up outside around 60 degrees and had a picnic . Pleasantly surprised at all that was there. Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-17 towards I-17 / Flagstaff 98.7 Miles. A tour that takes you to see the 125-year old Clark Refractor is a must. Cathedral Rock has emerged as one of the most famous natural landmarks in Red Rock Country. Bathrooms are clean and well maintained, most staff are very friendly and helpful. The casino was clean and had the main area on smoking. It's known as a gateway to Grand Canyon National Park via the Grand Canyon Railway. I would definitely recommend having a pair of gloves and hat. The chapel is a triumph of architecture in its simplicity and beauty. Limited to 14 people, it has an exclusive feel. The wildfire was discovered on Friday, June 18, after dry thunderstorms and lightning moved through the area. Summer: 70-80 highs, 40-50 lows. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Cars were going 15mph. The staff was very sweet and helpful. Source: View details, map and photos of this single family property with 3 bedrooms and 2 total baths. Christopher Fox Graham is the managing editor of the Sedona Rock Rocks News, The Camp Verde Journal and the Cottonwood Journal Extra. This must have been an impressive settlement in its heyday. Or maybe a stop on way .. Get Directions. This is a dog friendly trail (on leash only) and is considered a challenging hike. I hope this Flagstaff to Sedona road trip itinerary has helped inspire you to plan a road trip of your own. Sing along with the wandering musicians, participate in an enactment of an old west train robbery, and enjoy the wonderful antics of western characters as they recreate the early 1900s train travel. This will ensure you get into the park and are able to find a good spot to sit along the water. kids alike. 1875 Mabery Ranch Rd, Cottonwood, AZ 86326, USA. You can feel the effects of being a college town innate energy and authenticity. Turn right on AZ-89A and continue into Sedona, Arizona. Driving time: 49 minutes. Take Highway 89A South from Flagstaff. SEDONA SHUTTLE STOPS PLEASE NOTE: All locations except for the Groome Transportation Office in Cottonwood are by Reservation Only. Grasshopper Point is a popular picnic and swimming area with access to several local hiking trails. There is a Ranger Station where you will have to pay $9 per vehicle. Not gonna lie, Sterling Pass Trail is quite the adventure right from the start. Just to the East of Flagstaff lies Walnut Canyon, so called due to its populations of Arizona walnut trees, among other walnut species. The animals are VERY well taken care of. Three restaurants: one very inexpensive ($8) for 1/2 chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie and roll. While the area offers many strenuous hiking options to beautiful overlooks, there are also many easy Sedona hikes to take advantage of with equally impressive views. A trip to Sedona wouldnt be complete without hiking Airport Mesa. As for this owner in particular. Your plane flies much faster than a car, so the flight time is about 1/2th of the time it would take to drive. Be sure to stop at the Slide Rock State Park, where swimmers enjoy the 30-foot-long natural water slide. Grand Canyon Discovery Air Tour. If youd like to get this blog post in video form you can watch my YouTube video linked above. Doesn't feel like a downtown that's dying like Flagstaff. These hikes are more like walks and will be the perfect way to get into the Sedona spirit!. Pullman only car you can open windows and was a beautiful morning. 167 likes, 34 comments - Tina (@tee.explores) on Instagram: "Arizona Fall leaf peeping guide! Other popular stops include Walnut Canyon National Monument, Montezuma Castle National Monument, and Bearizona Wildlife Park. Tuzigoot is a well preserved ruins of the Native American people. Cross the bridge into Sedona. Historic hotel options to stay downtown and walk about. 29 minutes off the main route, 29% of way to Sedona. There were a lot of people given that COVID is still an issue, so make sure to bring a mask. Our group road in the Desert View rail car. To clarify, by early I mean just before or just after sunrise. (928) 282-7545. Your trip begins in Sedona, Arizona. According to past hikers it takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes to complete the hike. 1. For more information on travel between Flagstaff and Sedona - Please visit our Flagstaff Location Page HERE. The best things to do in Petrified Forest National Park are going to surprise you. 1.8-mi. We were content to walk away peacefully but he kept going on and on about how we were the idiots who believed in something that "wasn't true." The road trip from Los Angeles to Sedona is between 480 and 490 miles, depending on the route you choose. Follow herblogand join on her journey. Whether its checking out a new restaurant, taking a day trip or planning the vacation of a lifetime, we all need to get away. Cottonwood's downtown has lots of personality, great coffee shops and bars, and gifts shops, and restaurants.