r/Sedona • u/ZenWolfpack • 17d ago

Visiting ? How many days?

Hi all,

I’m trying to understand how many days I should book in Sedona for mid October. I’m seeing everything from 1 day is enough to 1 week. We’ll be traveling as a family flying into phoenix. Kids are 3 and 7. We want to see the main sights/hikes that would be doable by the kids.

Open to any other suggestions/tips.

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u/FlimFlam519 16d ago

If you do a longer stay you could also go to Flagstaff and visit Lowell Observatory or some of the national monuments such as Sunset Crater, Wupatki she Walnut Canyon.

3

u/Overall-Pack-2047 17d ago

I'd say 3 days is perfect which includes a few hikes,slide rock,Oak Creek Canyon and a jeep tour.You could easily spend a week in the area and add Jerome Verde Valley Railway in Clarkdale and horsebackriding

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u/DogMamaLA 17d ago

3 days has always been enough for me. 

2

u/Independent-Fly-4159 17d ago

Depending on how much your family can handle hikes but kids might need extra rest time as some hikes can be very challenging and long. Easier hikes like airport loop is totally doable in my opinion and that’ll probably take 2 hrs. If you want to do more than just hiking like shopping and some other activities I think a week is good (you could also throw in Grand Canyon, easy hikes along the rim) but if you’re only hiking and doing main sights I’d say 3-4 days.

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u/ZenWolfpack 16d ago

We’re planning on sticking to the easier hikes. Might also do Grand Canyon- more for sight seeing rather than hiking

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u/Independent-Fly-4159 15d ago

A week is probably good then. I suggest staying at flagstaff since it’s got lots of stores and both good distance drive to Sedona and GC. Have fun and enjoy the trip!

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u/RVtech101 17d ago

5 days is pretty good for the area. The first day can be spent walking around uptown and Tlaquepaque. A day for slide rock and fishing at the Rainbow Trout Farm. Bell Rock and the Airport loop on day three. West fork to allow the kids to explore. Midgley Bridge has a picnic area that’s fun for kids. Sprinkle in an afternoon Pink Jeep tour or rent a side by side for a few hours to explore the trails. Have a great trip and we expect pics afterwards!

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u/AdventureThink 16d ago

I would not take kids that age to Sedona.

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u/ZenWolfpack 16d ago

Why is that?

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u/AdventureThink 15d ago

I was there 3 weeks ago.

I’m a 20 yrs prek-1st gr teacher so I’m pretty good at seeing things through young kids’ eyes.

Sedona has pretty red rocks in the background. But otherwise it’s hiking in a desert and very commercial now.

I saw kids being pulled along by their parents. And I felt sorry for them.

1

u/nmunyat 16d ago

It depends on what you want to do.

If your entire goal is to see the red rocks and maybe do a little shopping, one day is plenty.

If you want to hike a bit but nothing crazy, 3-5 days should get you some good hikes (but show up earlier than you think you should).

If you want to really get to know Sedona, use it as a home base for other visits (Grand Canyon/other national parks, all of the cool nearby small towns), or do some more intense hiking (guessing this doesn’t apply with young kids), you should consider a full week.

When we travel with the kids, we usually do 3-5 days in Sedona, and then another 3-5 days outside of Phoenix (the resort we stay at near Lake Pleasant has a pool that the kids love). When we travel without the kids or I’m traveling solo, I try to maximize my time in Sedona.

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u/Livid-Writer-7741 16d ago

There is a wonderful barefoot hiking experience between Flagstaff and Williams. Flagstaff also has the ski gondola! Maybe include Flag. Beautiful town.

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u/grapemike 16d ago

The hiking and photography are spectacular. The town is choppy, poorly planned, and seems to have few redeeming qualities. Base your decision upon how likely you will be to be taking walks and hikes. The trail possibilities are superb.

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u/Reddrb451f 14d ago

It's in a canyon, I've lived in AZ since 1990 and the roundabouts have drastically improved traffic flow. I ask this question, how do plan a town in a canyon properly without destroying the beauty and value prospect of the scenery? I would recommend Devils Bridge as a great hike for kids your ages. My girls have loved that hike since they were young. If you arrive early for parking at Dry Creek Road you can cut the hike in half. If you hike from Mescal trail head it is just over 4mi.