Cathedral Rock in Sedona seen from the loop trail
Day trip

Sedona from Flagstaff

SR-89A drops from the pines of Flagstaff through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona's red rocks in about 34 miles. Uptown parking is metered, and the trailheads need a Red Rock Pass.

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Plan the drive
Checked November 3, 2026About 34 milesWest Fork closed

Cathedral Rock, Sedona · Photo: Nikolai Gates Vetr / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits

The drive

Down Oak Creek Canyon

State Route 89A winding through Oak Creek Canyon
SR-89A winds down Oak Creek Canyon on the way to Sedona.SR 89A, Oak Creek Canyon · Photo: 7263255 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

From Heritage Square it's about 34 miles to the center of Sedona. The scenic route is SR-89A south through Oak Creek Canyon: down from the forest plateau, through a narrow, winding canyon and out among the red rocks.

In winter the top of the canyon can be snowy and icy. The two ADOT cameras in Oak Creek Canyon show the road, and az511.gov or 511 lists closures.

Two stops are worth planning in. Oak Creek Vista, the Forest Service viewpoint at the top of the canyon, looks straight down the switchbacks you're about to drive. Further down, Slide Rock State Park has the natural water slide in the creek; from October to April it's $20 per vehicle, and from late November to the end of January it closes at 5 pm.

A loop works well: down through Oak Creek Canyon in the morning and back to Flagstaff on I-17 in the evening.

Slide Rock hours and fees

Oak Creek Canyon cameras

Closed this winter

West Fork and Call of the Canyon

The West Fork of Oak Creek, one of Sedona's best-known canyon walks, is closed. The Forest Service order runs from November 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027, unless it's lifted sooner. After rain, the Pocket Fire burn area sends down rockfall and flood debris, and the Call of the Canyon site was badly damaged by flooding.

Entering the closed area isn't allowed. For updates, call the Red Rock Ranger District at 928-203-2900.

Parking and passes

Uptown meters and the Red Rock Pass

Uptown Sedona's Main Street (SR-89A) is metered from 9 am to 6 pm every day. Pay by credit card or with the pay-by-phone app, which adds 10 cents; no cash. The first 15 minutes are free, and after three hours the rate goes up. Disabled parking spaces in the metered zone need a placard and payment.

Out at the trailheads it's the Red Rock Pass: you need one at designated Forest Service fee sites.

Uptown Sedona parking, 9 am–6 pm
TimeRate
First 15 minutesFree
1st, 2nd and 3rd hour$2 each
4th hour$4
5th hour$6
Red Rock Pass, day
$5
Red Rock Pass, week
$15
Red Rock Pass, year
$20
Where it works
Designated Coconino National Forest fee sites around Sedona. Not national parks or state parks
Call of the Canyon and West Fork
Their own fee: $15 per car with up to 5 people, $4 per person on foot, by bike or by bus. The Red Rock Pass and America the Beautiful pass aren't accepted there
Bell Rock south of Sedona under a blue sky
Bell Rock, just south of Sedona.Bell Rock, Sedona · Photo: Ken Thomas / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Guided tour

Sedona without the driving

This tour picks you up at your Flagstaff hotel and spends the day among the red rocks with a local guide, so nobody has to drive the canyon curves or find parking.

Grand Canyon tours from Flagstaff All tours from Flagstaff

Sedona Red Rock Explorer from Flagstaff
Photo: Angels Gate Tours via Viator

Angels Gate Tours

4.6 (23 reviews on Viator)

Sedona Red Rock Explorer from Flagstaff

6.5 hours

A local guide picks you up at your Flagstaff hotel, drives the hairpins of Oak Creek Canyon and shows you Sedona's red rocks, with water on board.

You're back in Flagstaff by the evening, and nobody has to find parking at the trailheads.

  • Local guide
  • Hotel pickup in Flagstaff
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

From $141.71 on Viator

Check Prices & Availability
Good to know
  • Groups of up to 14
  • Children 8 and under need a car seat or booster (Arizona law)
  • Send your hotel details at least 72 hours before the tour
Where to stay

Stay in Flagstaff, spend the day in Sedona

Many people stay in Flagstaff and visit both Sedona and the Grand Canyon. The Woodlands Village hotels on the south side of town are the quickest start down SR-89A.

  1. Hampton Inn & Suites FlagstaffPhoto: Expedia

    1 / 7

    Photos: ExpediaCheck prices on Expedia

    Best for Sedona daysWoodlands Village and I-17 9.0/10 on Expedia

    Hampton Inn & Suites Flagstaff

    Free parkingNo petsBreakfast included

    By I-17 on the south side of town, with free breakfast before the drive and free parking.

    • Good for Families who want free breakfast and an indoor pool
    • Good for Road trips toward Sedona and Phoenix
    • Skip if You travel with a pet

    Check prices on Expedia Photos, rules and fees

Quick answers

How far is Flagstaff from Sedona?

About 34 miles by road from downtown Flagstaff to the center of Sedona, most of it down SR-89A through Oak Creek Canyon. Allow about 70 minutes without traffic: the canyon road is slow.

Is the drive from Flagstaff to Sedona safe?

SR-89A through Oak Creek Canyon is a winding mountain road, and in winter it can be snowy at the top. The Oak Creek cameras and az511.gov (or 511) show the road before you set off.

What is there to see on the drive from Flagstaff to Sedona?

Oak Creek Vista at the top of the canyon, then the drive down past the creek and red rock walls, with Slide Rock State Park on the way. The Oak Creek Canyon page has the stops, fees and closures.

Is Sedona on the way to the Grand Canyon from Flagstaff?

No. Sedona is about 34 miles south of Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon's South Rim is about 80 to 90 miles north. Most people stay in Flagstaff and visit each on its own day.

Is Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona?

It's between Flagstaff and Sedona: SR-89A follows the canyon down from the plateau into Sedona.

Should I stay in Flagstaff or Sedona?

Flagstaff puts you between Sedona and the Grand Canyon, with snow in winter and cooler summers. Sedona is a day trip from Flagstaff, so many people stay in Flagstaff and visit both. Where to stay in Flagstaff compares the areas.

Is West Fork open?

No. West Fork and the Call of the Canyon site are closed until February 28, 2027, unless the order is lifted sooner, because of rockfall and flood debris after rain in the Pocket Fire area. Red Rock Ranger District: 928-203-2900.

Do I need a Red Rock Pass?

At designated Forest Service fee sites around Sedona, yes: $5 a day or $15 a week. It doesn't cover Uptown parking, state parks or Call of the Canyon.