Arizona is home to SO MANY unique landscapes, amazing hikes, and all the southwestern charm. Throughout this road trip, we found hidden caves, walked across natural rock bridges, marveled at the saguaros, and found super unique Airbnbs. And in true Homebody fashion, this road trip can be completed in a long 4-day weekend. So no need to miss your bed and routine for too long 🙂 I’m excited to share this complete Sedona to Tucson Road Trip itinerary!
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Table of Contents
Sedona to Tucson Road Trip Quick Itinerary
Arrival: Pheonix Airport
Day 1: (Drive to Sedona)
- Stop 1: Soldiers Pass Hike
- Stop 2: Downtown Sedona
- Stop 3: Cathedral Rock Hike
Day 2: (Sedona)
- Stop 1: Devils Bridge Hike
- Stop 2: Brunch
- Stop 3: Boyton Canyon Hike
- Stop 4: Wine tasting
Day 3: (Drive to Tucson)
- Stop 1: Seven Falls Hike
- Stop 2: Downtown Tucson
Day 4: (Departure)
- Stop 1: Saguaro National Park
- Stop 2: Desert Museum
Depart from Phoenix Airport
**Tip: Make sure to schedule an early arrival and a late departure to make the most of day 1 and 4. Full Details below! Or, extend your trip by spending the weekend exploring all Phoenix has to offer!
When is the best time to take an Arizona Road Trip?
We visited in the middle of March and were met with snow AND high 80’s. With this being said, make sure to check the forecast for both Sedona and Tucson before leaving. Below are the average temperatures for both locations by month.
Sedona average monthly temperatures:
- Summer (June-August): 98/65
- Fall (September-November): 80/51
- Winter (December-February): 61/35
- Spring (March-May): 77/46
Tucson average monthly temperatures:
- Summer (June-August): 100/75
- Fall (September-November): 85/60
- Winter (December-February): 67/43
- Spring (March-May): 82/54
Tip! Want to rent an RV or campervan for this road trip?! Check out Weelerz to rent the RV of your dreams!
Complete Sedona to Tucson Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Phoenix to Sedona
Starting Point: We started our road trip by flying into Phoenix. We did not have time to explore Phoenix on this trip, but if you have extra time, be sure to check out any of these 10 best hikes in Phoenix to extend your Arizona getaway!
Stop 1: Soldiers Pass Trail
Soldiers Pass was the perfect way to start out the trip. We arrived after 1 pm and were lucky to find a parking spot. The Parking lot is extremely small (about 14 cars), but according to Alltrails reviews you can sometimes park at the dog park about 1.3 miles away. The gate opens at 8 am, so you may have luck arriving early or later in the day (after the first group finishes).
The trail itself was easy, but a bit confusing. There were many well-groomed trails and we found ourselves lost a couple of times. It would have been helpful to download the map from AllTrails before leaving. Right away, you will pass the Devil’s Kitchen and the 7 Sacred Pools. If you keep hiking, you will come across a fork in the trail. If you stay right, you will come across some amazing hidden caves. They are easy to find but takes a bit of a rock scramble to reach them.
Soldiers Pass Details:
- Length: 4.7 + miles
- Elevation: 830 ft.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: About 14 spots (more parking available at dog park 1.3 miles away)
- Dogs Allowed?: Yes!
Stop 2: Downtown Sedona
We were a bit unprepared for the 30-degree snowy weather, so we made our way downtown to the gift shops to find a hat. There are free parking garages right near the shops!
We walked around for a bit, shopped, and found the coolest bar with a view. After sipping our Prickly Pear Margaritas, we grabbed some pasta from Sedona Pizza Company.
Stop 3: Cathedral Rock
Our intention was to hike Cathedral Rock at sunset, but we timed it a bit wrong and arrived a little late. We still had a bit of daylight left, so we hiked up as far as we could make it. It was busy, but we were still able to find a parking spot in the main lot.
The trail starts off easy, but gets steep quickly. Be sure to wear shoes with great traction! I would not recommend this trail if you are afraid of hikes or after rainfall.
Cathedral Rock Trail Details:
- Length: 1.2 miles
- Elevation: 652 ft.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: There are 2 designated parking lots and overflow parking at Yavapai Point Parking Lot (this will add 4 miles round trip to your hike).
- Dogs Allowed?: Yes!
Where we stayed: Diamond Gal Inn- Cornville, AZ—A unique western stay with 52 acres to explore! Check out more information about it here!
Day 2: Sedona
Stop 1: Devils Bridge
Perhaps the most popular trail in Sedona, BUT for good reason. A Sedona to Tucson road trip would not be complete without this hike! We arrived shortly after 7 am, and the parking lot was already full (we grabbed the last spot). On our way out, we saw overflow parking on the road for at least a mile!
The trail is easy to follow and pretty flat. We saw hot air balloons ascending over the red rocks as we were beginning the trail! There is a bit of elevation gain as you get closer to the bridge. Once at the bridge, you will likely be met with a long line waiting for pictures. We looked at this as the perfect opportunity for a snack.
Hint: On your way down, make sure to check out the bridge from underneath (take a right at the fork for a quick detour).
- Length: 4.2 miles
- Elevation: 564 ft.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: 1 designated parking lot + overflow parking on road. If you have a 4×4, you can get 1 mile closer to the bridge.
- Dogs Allowed?: Yes
Stop 2: Brunch
After our morning hike, we headed back towards the town to grab brunch. We ate at Creekside Sedona and it was DELICIOUS. After breakfast, we enjoyed the sunshine and views and a cup of coffee on the balcony at Creekside Coffee (right upstairs from the restaurant).
Stop 3: Boyton Canyon Trail
Our next hike was the Boyton Canyon Trail to search for the hidden Subway Cave. The trail starts off very easy, but in order to find the hidden caves, you have to go off the main trail. After about 2.5 miles, you will have to cross the dried riverbed to find the hidden trail. It is well-worn, but not well-marked.
Once you find the hidden caves, you will have to climb up. It was a bit scary, but nothing too dangerous. There is room to sit and eat a snack inside of the cave. Before leaving, make sure to look to the opposite side to see old ruins!
Boyton Canyon Trail Details:
- Length: 6.1 + miles
- Elevation: 810 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: Large parking lot with facilities
- Dogs Allowed?: Yes, but would not recommend on the way up to the cave.
Tip: If you look at the reviews on Alltrails, you will be able to find a recording of the path others took. I forgot to turn our recording on 🙁 🙁 🙁
Stop 4: Page Spring Cellars
We ended our night with wine tasting and appetizers at Page Spring Cellars. They also have tours, host weddings, and have Creekside massages and yoga!
Where we stayed: Diamond Gal Inn
Have more time in Sedona? Check out this ULTIMATE list of adventurous things to do in Sedona!
Day 3: Sedona to Tucson
Stop 1: Seven Falls Trail
This trail was such a great surprise! When I first started searching “things to do in Tucson”, I didn’t have much luck. We decided to try out Seven Falls Trail in the Sabino Canyon.
We were unable to get a parking spot but found additional parking on the road. The trail is well-worn and well-marked. There are several creek crossings (I recommend wearing keens for water and land!), quite the incline, and a seven-layered waterfall at the end. You can jump in the waterfall…it was freezing…but perfect after a sweaty desert hike.
Seven Falls Trail Details:
- Length: 8.3 miles
- Elevation: 1013 ft.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: There are several different parking lots. We parked at the Bear Canyon Lot
- Dogs Allowed?: No
Stop 2: Downtown Tucson
Where we stayed: Casa Tierra Adobe—The CUTEST desert retreat. Complete with a homemade breakfast, outdoor hot tub, and private patio fireplace. Read more about it here!
Day 4: Tucson to Phoenix
Stop 1: Saguaro National Park
We started our day by heading to the visitors center to grab a park map (it was less than 10 minutes from our Airbnb)! The National Park has over 91,000 acres to explore. We decided on a shorter, moderate hike (Sendero Esperanza Trail) and also checked out the Petroglyphs along the Signal Hill Trail. You can check out the trail details and hiking map on the National Park Service Website!
Stop 2: Desert Museum
We did not know what to expect with this Museum (we were thinking a small gift shop type deal), but it was SO MUCH more! There were aquarium exhibits, mountain lions, cafes, butterfly gardens, and more. We definitely could have spent more time exploring!
- Cost: Youth: 12.95, Adults: 24.95
- Hours: Winter: 8:30-5:30, Summer: 7:30-5:30
- Physical Address: 2021 N. Kinney Rd., Tucson AZ 85743
Stop 3: Phoenix Airport
After 30+ miles of trails, 600+ miles of driving, and so many memories we headed back to the Phoenix Airport. If you have extra time and want to extend your trip, be sure to check out the list of additional things to do below!
Have more time in Tucson? Check out this 3-day itinerary!
What to Pack for an Arizona Road Trip
In our short three-night road trip, the weather changed from 30 degrees to 85+. With this being said it is important to pack layers AND check the weather before boarding the plane.
Several of the hikes involved water crossings and/or required shoes with great grip. I always recommend keen sandals for water/summer hikes or keen boots for the colder days! I’ve had mine for years, and they are still holding strong!
Finally, do not forget your hiking day pack to pack all the layers and snacks of course! My favorite is the Rumpumsak with a water bladder. It is very affordable, comfy, and big enough to hold everything you need! I’m definitely more of a minimalist when it comes to packing, but if you are interested in a full packing checklist, check it out here (free printable list as well!)
More things to do in Sedona
- Hot air balloon ride: This one is definitely on my bucket list for next time. On our hike to Devils Bridge, we saw hot air balloons peacefully rising over the red rocks. It looked amazing! You can check out Red Rock Balloons or TripAdvisor for tours and pricing!
- Pink Jeep Tour: I can not even count how many jeeps we saw during our time in Sedona. It is definitely the top tourist attraction. The Pink Jeep tours are the most popular, but you can also check out Safari Jeep Tours for a variety of tours and times.
- Chapel of the Holy Cross: Just over 10 minutes from downtown, you can check out and tour this beautiful church built among the rocks.
- Wine Tours: We made it to one winery, but Sedona is also close to Camp Verde Wine Valley. Sedona Wine Tours offers complete tours so you do not have to worry about driving!
Keep reading this post for over 23 adventurous things to do in Sedona!
More Things to do in Tucson
- Old Town Tucson: Unfortunately we did not have time to visit, BUT Old Town Tucson features an art museum, historic homes, Old Town Artisans, and tasty authentic restaurants.
- Bike Tour: Tucson was definitely charming with a walkable downtown, so what a better way to explore more than on a bike?! There are several rental companies located downtown where you can rent a bike for an hour or the whole day! Some offer guided foodie tours as well…I mean what could be better than a taco bike tour?!
UPDATE!! I was lucky enough to visit Tucson again (for a bit longer) in 2023 and I created the ULTIMATE list of adventurous things to do in Tucson. Check it out!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram or in our private Facebook group for more itineraries, USA road trip stops, and to ask any questions you may have! Be sure to share the rest of your Sedona to Tucson Road Trip recommendations!
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