5 day Sedona, AZ Itinerary

Written By Jessica Vanpoperinghe

Welcome to red rock heaven, where the trails are spicy, the energy is vortexy, and your hydration bladder will be the only thing working harder than your glutes.

Sedona is weird in the best way. It’s part spiritual hotspot, part Instagram thirst trap, and part "Did I just spend $45 on a crystal" kind of vibe. And if you're anything like me, you'll probably panic on a scramble, cry over a sunset, and then eat mashed-potato-burritos twice in a row (no regrets).

Whether you're here for healing, hiking, or just hot girl walks with extra elevation gain, this five-day itinerary has got you covered!

Here’s a breakdown of our daily activities:

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

DAY 4

DAY 5

———————————

Day 1: Planes, Fiddles & Patio Dinner Vibes

We flew Frontier, which, plot twist, wasn’t a disaster?? This was my first time flying with them, and I braced for emotional turbulence, but honestly? No complaints. We landed in Phoenix, grabbed our rental car, and drove the 2 scenic hours up to Sedona.

We stayed at the Aiden by Best Western, which was a solid win. Super cute, 15 minutes from literally everything, and we scored a room with an epic red rock view that made me gasp every time I opened the curtains. Another great option is Best Western Plus Arroyo Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas! It’s in the middle of Uptown but is a little pricier.

Sunset: Before we even unpacked, we raced over to Airport Loop Trail for sunset. We meant to do the full trail, but we got there a little late, so we parked at the overlook instead. Best $3 I’ve ever spent. There was a guy playing the fiddle as the sun dipped below the rocks, and the whole scene felt like the end of an emotional indie film.

Dinner: We ended the night at The Vault Uptown for dinner. Highly recommend making a reservation! The food was incredible and the patio has insane views. Go for lunch or sunset if you can.

Day 2: Red Rocks, Pink Jeeps & a Snake Named Creamsicle

Morning: We woke up a bit early (not sunrise-early) to hike the Broken Arrow, Chicken Point, and Submarine Rock Loop. We got to the trailhead around 8:30am and, of course, the parking lot was already full. We managed to find street parking a short walk away, but heads up: the dirt road leading there is riddled with potholes. If you’re driving a low-clearance rental car… may the suspension gods be with you.

The loop itself? Super cool. You’ll be sharing the trail with a lot of mountain bikers and a parade of Pink Jeep Tours, so if you’re looking for solitude, this ain’t it. Honestly, I kinda wished we’d booked the Jeep tour (they were totally sold out during our dates, so plan ahead if you want to ride instead of hike). That said, hiking gave us the freedom to take our sweet time and linger at every overlook.

Lunch: We hit up Creekside American Bistro, and you HAVE to try the Ahi Tuna Nachos. I’m still dreaming about them. The restaurant has two patio options: one in the front, one in the back. Both adorable, both view-approved. Also: the Prickly Pear Lemonade is sweet, but after a hot hike, it was exactly what my soul needed.

Afternoon: We spent the afternoon wandering around Uptown Sedona, the town’s touristy main strip filled with cute gift shops, art galleries, and more dreamcatchers than you knew existed. Also? We stumbled across a group of people letting strangers hold their pet snakes. Which was… odd. But also iconic? I love snakes. Creamsicle (yes, the snake) and I locked eyes, she complimented my hair, and I felt something shift spiritually.

Dinner: After all that excitement (and sun), I crashed. We headed back to the hotel for a quick nap before dinner at René at Tlaquepaque, an upscale spot inside a Spanish-style arts village that is stunning. Don’t worry, we come back here later in the trip, because Tlaquepaque deserves its own moment.

Day 3: Sunrise Scrambles, Sacred Caves & the Burrito of My Dreams

Morning: We woke up reeeeally early to hike Devil’s Bridge via the Mescal Trailhead. I’d read horror stories about people waiting 2 hours just to get a picture on the bridge, and I love a good photo, but I don’t love suffering. So we said ✨absolutely not✨ and hit the trail at 5:30am.

By the time we reached the bridge around 6:30, there were only five other people there. It filled up fast though. By 7am? Around 30 people. On our way down, we passed HUNDREDS more heading up. So yeah, start early or prepare for crowds and chaos.

Also! We were super confused about parking because most websites say parking at the trailhead is closed and you have to take a shuttle. FALSE. At least when we went (in April), we were able to park at Mescal Trailhead before 7am, no shuttle needed. Consider this your official permission slip to beat the system.

Birthing Cave Trail is literally across the street from Mescal, so after Devil’s Bridge, we walked the short 1.9 miles to the aptly named sandstone cave that produces drama, not children. Bring good grip shoes. The last bit is steep and dusty, but totally worth it for the “womb with a view.”

Lunch: We swung by Chipotle (sometimes you just need the comfort of a chain), and then headed to Crescent Moon Ranch for a picnic with a view of Cathedral Rock. This spot is STUNNING. Parking is $12, and I recommend bringing water sandals if you want to wade into the creek to get to the perfect lounging rocks in the middle.

Sunset: We chilled at the hotel for a bit (bless the midday nap), then made our way to Bell Rock for sunset. Heads up: the Bell Rock Trailhead lot was already full by 5pm. BUT there’s a backup! Park at the Yavapai Trailhead, which is about a 10-minute walk away (you will have to walk along the road)

Climbing up Bell Rock is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of deal. No clear path, just vibes and scrambling. We found a perfect little ledge and watched the sun melt over the red rocks. 10/10 would recommend.

Dinner: ChocolaTree, 3 minutes from our hotel and home of the BEST vegan bean burrito of my life. Even if you’re not vegetarian… go. It’s wrapped in dosa, filled with mashed potatoes, and tastes like a warm hug from the universe.

Day 4: Caves, Sinkholes & The Double Nap Deluxe

Morning: We got up suuuuuper early again (I swear Sedona turns you into a sunrise person whether you like it or not) and hit the trail for Seven Sacred Pools via Soldier Pass to Brins Mesa Loop. Our goal? Beat the crowds to Soldier Pass Cave. Our reality? We got to the cave at 7:45am and… yeah. Already a few people there. Not too bad, but if you want solo cave pics, you’ll need to be on that trail by like 6am sharp.

That said, we definitely did this to ourselves. We got gloriously distracted by Devil’s Kitchen, a giant sinkhole, and the Seven Sacred Pools, which are stunning even when they're half full. So yes, we dilly-dallied. Worth it.

Once we finally made it to the cave, we scrambled up the entrance, which honestly wasn’t hard at all (and I say that as someone scared of, well, most things) Just wear grippy shoes. I had my Merrell Moab Speed 2 hiking boots and they were MVPs on the angled rocks. (and they’re currently on sale!!! Click here!)

Pro Tip: There’s another cool cave formation just to the left of the main one.

After the hike, we swung by Local Juicery and grabbed some refreshing juices while we waited for it to be a socially acceptable time to eat lunch. Because guess what we had again?

Lunch: ChocolaTree. Yes. Again. Because that burrito literally called to me in a dream and I am not one to ignore divine guidance. We sat on the back patio, which is tucked away like a hidden garden and absolutely worth the extra walk.

Afternoon: By this point, I was DONE. Like, soul-left-body level tired. So we headed back to the hotel and I took a hard nap. Woke up, showered, took another nap. Honestly? No regrets.

Dinner: Whole Foods sushi. In bed. In pajamas. Perfection.

Day 5: Shaky Knees, Cliffy Cliffs, and a Whole Lotta Feelings

Morning: Surprise, surprise. We woke up at 5am again. By this point, the early mornings were less of a choice and more of a personality trait. We hit the trail by 5:45am to tackle Boynton Canyon and see the not-so-secret cave (if you know you know). This was the morning we were determined to beat the crowds, and we actually did it! We got to the cave around 6:45am and there were only three other people there. Victory!

BUT… the real challenge was still ahead.

There’s a rock chute you have to scramble up to reach the cave, and I made the fatal mistake of going up the left side instead of the right. About halfway up, I couldn’t find a solid foothold and suddenly my brain was like, “Hi, I’d like to ruin everything now.” Cue full nervous system override. It wasn’t even that high or technical, but my anxiety said “nope,” and I had to climb back down.

We’d read about a back entrance, so we veered left and started scrambling up the backside. It was easier… but we accidentally went way too far up. By the time we realized we’d overshot the path, my legs were shaking, my brain was still spiraling, and it took us 20 sweaty minutes to get back down to level ground.

Eventually, we found the actual back route into the cave. But it involved scooting around a very exposed ledge. Like, "cliffy cliff" levels of exposure. With shaky knees and a fried nervous system? That was a no for me.

Instead, we veered right (main cave on our left) and explored two other small caves, which turned out to be ancient Native American cliff dwellings. These were beautiful, quiet, and full of history. PLEASE be respectful here — this is a sacred and very over-visited area. Don’t climb on fragile rocks or touch anything you shouldn’t. Several parts of the structure have already collapsed because of careless visitors. Be a good human.

Bonus Moment: As we were getting ready to leave, my fearless friend Amanda conquered the chute up to the main cave and snapped some pics on my behalf (icon behavior). To be honest, I felt really down on myself for not being able to complete the climb. It didn’t even look that hard. But something about it just completely threw me. I got in my head, and my body followed. I know I’ll come back and try again. Hiking can be beautiful and empowering, and a little traumatic sometimes. That’s okay.

Lunch: We headed to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village and ate at the Secret Garden Café. I had the vegan Reuben and WOW. I was a new person.

Afternoon: Do yourself a favor and give Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village at least two hours to explore — it’s one of Sedona’s absolute gems. If that means switching around this itinerary a bit, DO it! I recommend coming here instead of shopping at Uptown on Day 2. Think winding paths, tucked-away courtyards, dreamy art galleries, and jewelry stores that will make you briefly consider selling your car for earrings.

Evening: After wandering Tlaquepaque and filling our bellies one last time, we made the scenic two-hour drive back to the Phoenix airport for our late-night flight home. I was equal parts sun-drenched, sleep-deprived, and emotionally cracked wide open in the best way.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Sedona gave me golden sunrises, soul-checking scrambles, magical moments (and mashed potato burritos), and a reminder that you don’t have to conquer every climb to have an unforgettable adventure.

Until next time, red rock wonderland. 🫶✨

What I Packed for Sedona 

Here’s everything I brought with me to Sedona. Trail-tested, fiddle-approved, and anxiety-hike-certified:

👕 Tops:

🥾 Bottoms:

👟 Footwear:

🎒 Misc:

How much did we spend in total?

This was a 4-day trip with 2 people, flying from Denver in April

✈️ Flights: $130 round trip per person (Denver → Phoenix)

🚗 Car Rental: $311 total (5 days)

🛏️ Accommodations: Free (partnership) but would have been around $680 total (4 nights)

🍽️ Food & Drink: ~$300 per person (We ate out for every meal)

🎟️ Entrance Fees + Parking Passes:

  • Red Rock Pass: $15 (covers 7 days of parking at most trailheads)

  • Crescent Moon Ranch park: $12

🧘‍♀️ Extras:

  • A crystal I fully believe chose me: $28

💰 Total: ~$640 per person (for a 2-person trip)

Best time to visit Sedona

The best time to visit is March - May or late September - November perfect hiking weather and fewer tourists than the summer months. We went in mid-April and it was chef’s kiss: 70s and sunny during the day and jacket weather at night.

Avoid June–August unless you enjoy hiking in a toaster oven.

Things you should know

🚘 Parking at trailheads is a bloodsport.
Get there before 7am if you want a spot. Otherwise, you’ll be circling like a stressed-out hawk.

🧭 Trails aren’t always well marked.
Some of the best hikes involve secret turnoffs. Download your trail maps offline before you go. Don’t trust the service gods.

🧼 There are very few bathrooms.
And by “few,” I mean sometimes zero. Plan accordingly. Bring wipes. Be respectful.

☀️ It’s dry AF.
Hydrate or perish. Also pack chapstick, sunscreen, and saline spray if your sinuses shrivel in the desert like mine do.

🧙‍♀️ Yes, the vortex energy is real.
Or at least it feels real when you’re standing on a cliff at golden hour with live violin music playing. Let yourself believe. Let yourself buy the overpriced candle. This is the time.

hope this helped plan your Sedona trip!

Chasing views, dodging panic attacks, and thriving anyway - Jessy

Jessica Vanpoperinghe
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