Planning a Trip

Getting There

Sedona is on Arizona 179 at the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon. From Phoenix, take I-17 to Arizona 179 N. From Flagstaff, head south on I-17 until you see the turnoff for Arizona 89A and Sedona. Arizona 89A also connects Sedona with Prescott.

Sedona Phoenix Shuttle (tel. 800/448-7988 in Arizona, or 928/282-2066; www.sedona-phoenix-shuttle.com) operates several trips daily between Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport and Sedona. The fare is $45 one-way, $85 round-trip.

Visitor Information

The Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center/Uptown Gateway Visitor Center, 331 Forest Rd. (tel. 800/288-7336 or 928/282-7722; www.visitsedona.com), operates a visitor center at the corner of Arizona 89A and Forest Road near uptown Sedona. The visitor center is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 5pm, and Sunday and holidays from 9am to 3pm.

You can also get information, as well as a Red Rock Pass for parking at area trail heads, at the South Gateway Visitor Center, Tequa Shopping Plaza, 7000 Ariz. 179, Village of Oak Creek (tel. 928/284-5324), which is open daily from 8:30am to 5pm; or the North Gateway Visitor Center, Oak Creek Vista Overlook, Arizona 89A (tel. 928/282-4119), which is open March 1 through November 1, weather permitting, daily from 9am to 4:30pm.

Getting Around

Whether traveling by car or on foot, you'll need to cultivate patience when trying to cross major roads in Sedona. Traffic here, especially on weekends, is some of the worst in the state. Also be prepared for slow traffic on roads that have good views; drivers are often distracted by the red rocks. You may hear or see references to the "Y," which refers to the intersection of Arizona 179 and Arizona 89A between the Tlaquepaque shopping plaza and uptown Sedona.

Rental cars are available through Enterprise (tel. 800/261-7331). You can also rent a jeep from Farabee Jeep Rentals of Sedona (tel. 928/282-8700; www.farabeejeeprentals.com), which charges $125 for 4 hours and $185 for 8 hours. Or you can get around Sedona on the Sedona Roadrunner, a free shuttle bus that operates every 8 to 15 minutes between uptown, Tlaquepaque, and the Hillside Shops.

Special Events

The Sedona International Film Festival (tel. 928/282-1177; www.sedonafilmfestival.com), held in late February or early March, always books plenty of interesting films. In late September, Sedona Jazz on the Rocks (tel. 928/282-1985; www.sedonajazz.com) brings world-class jazz to the area. In early December, Sedona celebrates the Festival of Lights (tel. 928/282-4838; www.tlaq.com) at Tlaquepaque by lighting thousands of luminarias (paper bags partially filled with sand and containing a single candle). From mid-November until early January, more than a million lights illuminate Los Abrigados Resort (tel. 800/521-3131 or 928/282-1777; www.redrockfantasy.com) in a Red-Rock Fantasy.