Sedona is the epitome of desert beauty. It’s no wonder USA Weekend’s Annual Travel Report ranked it as one of the most beautiful places in America.
We have lived in Arizona for over 20 years and Sedona is one of our favorite weekend getaways. After visiting countless times, I have put together the perfect weekend itinerary with the best places to stay, eat, and play so that you can make the most of your time there!
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The Perfect Sedona Weekend Itinerary
Table of Contents
- Day 1: Hotel Check-in, Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, Javalina Cantina Dinner, and Sunset Vista
- Day 2: Hotel Breakfast, Birthing Cave Hike, Lunch at Pump House Station, and ATV Adventure
- Day 3: Cathedral Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Lunch at The Hudson, Afternoon Swimming Hole
Day 1: Hotel Check-in, Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, Javalina Cantina Dinner, and Sunset Vista
Check into your Hotel
There are quite a few different places to stay in Sedona, but Arabella Hotel is the prefect home base for your Sedona weekend adventures.
This cozy boutique hotel was built in the 1960s where the historic Sedona Lodge once stood. The hotel has undergone several renovations over the years, but still maintains its mid-century modern charm.
Our favorite part of the hotel is the surrounding jaw-dropping scenery.
We also love the ambiance with fire pits, complimentary s’mores, and live music in the evenings. They also have other activities like star gazing with telescopes, game nights, movie nights, and more.
The location is great an the price is reasonable. It’s within walking distance of great restaurants, a few shops, and even the popular Margs Draw Trail.
Another hotel that we have enjoyed staying at is Amara Resort and Spa. It is located in the heart of Uptown Sedona within walking distance of restaurants and shops, and only a few miles from several popular hikes and outdoor activities.
They also offer activities like complimentary yoga classes, lawn games, and free bike rentals. For more details, see our weekend review of Amara Resort and Spa.
A few more of the best places to stay in Sedona:
- Briar Patch Inn: Stay in one of the charming Bed & Breakfast cottages on the banks of Oak Creek.
- Orchard Canyon on Oak Creek: For a romantic getaway, stay at these cozy cabins. Full breakfast, afternoon tea, and an elegant four-course dinner for two are included.
- El Portal Sedona: You’ll fall in love with the rustic charm of this boutique hotel! It’s in a great location next to Tlaquepaque Village and is bursting with character and cozy vibes.
- Tiny Camp: The cutest tiny home glamping retreat.
- Matterhorn Inn: Great location in uptown Sedona within walking distance to shops and restaurants. Offers beautiful red rock views in all directions. The hotel is a little older but has been kept up well. It is very reasonably priced and a great value for the location.
- Hyatt Residence Club at Pinon Pointe: Great location and amenities, perfect for families.
- Red Agave Resort: For a unique stay, reserve a private chalet at this scenic resort.
- L’Auberge de Sedona: This luxury hotel has been featured in Forbes, Conde Nast Traveler, and countless other publications.
- Enchantment Resort: An upscale resort sprawled across 70 spectacular acres.
Ride Bikes to the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village
Arabella Hotel offers complimentary cruiser bikes to explore the town. The Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village is only about a half mile away from the hotel and it’s the perfect spot to ride bikes then wander around.
This beautiful shopping complex was built in the 1970s and is designed to look like a traditional old Mexican Village.
It is filled with little gems and picturesque corners, like a hidden staircase leading up to a bookshop,
a cute little chapel,
tiled steps and creeping ivy,
and a cobblestone courtyard complete with a fountain and a musician strumming on a guitar.
There are also numerous bake shops, restaurants, boutique stores, and beautiful details and vignettes everywhere you look. You’ll feel as if you’ve been transported across the border!
It truly is a unique shopping experience, and the best place to find that one-of-a-kind gift.
Dinner at Javalina Cantina
Javalina Cantina is within walking distance from Arabella Hotel, and since it had great Yelp reviews we decided to give it a try.
It has a fun and lively atmosphere, friendly service, and it was love at first bite when it came to their chips and salsa!
They have an extensive menu so it was hard to choose, but we went with the chicken fajitas and smothered burrito.
They were both delicious and we would definitely go back!
Sunset Vista
After dinner, there is a short trail by the Arabella Hotel parking lot that leads to the Sunset Vista point.
You’ll find red adirondack chairs overlooking the craggy spires of the surrounding mountains. It’s the perfect spot to relax and soak in the sunset views.
About halfway up the trail, there is a picture-perfect set up with a fire pit and panoramic views.
The fire is lit every evening at dusk and it’s the perfect cozy spot to watch the sun go down as well.
Day 2: Hotel Breakfast, Birthing Cave Hike, Lunch at Pump House Station, and ATV Adventure
Hotel Breakfast
We were impressed with the complimentary hot breakfast at Arabella Hotel. They offer traditional continental breakfast dishes, but they are elevated with fresh high-quality ingredients.
My go-to was the avocado toast with scrambled eggs and yogurt parfait with fresh berries. My boys loved the breakfast burritos and we all couldn’t get enough of the muffins!
Our favorite was the cinnamon walnut muffin dusted with powdered sugar and filled with caramel. The lemon blueberry muffin filled with cream was also a favorite!
Morning Hike to the Birthing Cave
After breakfast, head out for one of the best short hikes in Sedona, the Birthing Cave. You’ll want to get an early start to beat the crowds and the heat (if you’re visiting in the summer).
The 1.9 mile out-and-back trail is relatively flat and easy, and leads to a really cool cave.
To reach the cave, park at the Long Canyon Trailhead. You’ll find a small lot on on the side of the road that only fits about 8-10 vehicles. You’ll want to arrive early to get a spot.
You’ll hike along the Long Canyon Trail for about 0.6 miles until you reach a fork in the trail. You’ll need to take the trail to the left to reach the cave.
The trail is pretty easy to follow, but the fork in the trail isn’t super obvious, so I recommend upgrading to AllTrails Pro so that you can download the map to use offline since there isn’t cell service.
The trail gets a little more steep once you reach the cave, and you’ll need to scramble up some rocks to get inside.
It’s not too difficult and is well worth the effort!
For more information and trail recommendations, see our guide 5 of the Best Hikes in Sedona.
Lunch at Pump House Station
After working up an appetite while hiking, head to Pump House Station where you’ll find fresh and delicious dishes served in a cozy little cabin.
This property was once a family home and has since been turned into an eclectic restaurant. The walls and shelves of the interior are lined with antiques collected from local vintage shops. It’s a feast for your eyes and your appetite.
Seating is available indoors around the hearth, or on the back porch overlooking the wooded lot.
Everything on the menu is delicious, but a few of our favorites include the Roasted Chicken Breast Sandwich, Roasted Mushroom Soup with Truffle Drizzle, Sage Roasted Turkey Club, and the Breakfast Chilaquiles.
And if you’re visiting in the winter, be sure to order a mug of hot cocoa!
Afternoon ATV Adventure
There are so many fun and scenic ATV trails around Sedona, so I recommend renting an ATV to get out and explore.
We did the half-day (4-hour) rental through Outback ATV Rentals and had a great experience. The vehicle comes equipped with a GPS screen with pre-downloaded trail maps. The map works off-line and shows where your vehicle is in real time so that you don’t get lost.
The rental company recommended the Outlaw and Vultee Trail and we had time to complete both trails with stops along the way. The trails are fun, but not too technical if you don’t have experience off-roading.
The Outlaw Trail leads to the Honanki Heritage Site where you can see cliff dwellings that are approximately 800 years old.
There is a small fee per vehicle to vist the site. At the time of our visit, it was $5 and you could pay with a credit card.
To reach the ruins, you will take a 3/4 mile loop trail. There are informational signs and volunteers on hand to answer questions.
These ruins can only be reached by 4WD, but I have put together a guide of 6 of the Most Accessible Indian Ruins in Arizona if you are interested.
The Vultee Trail is also a fun trail.
It follows along Dry Creek Road which is a shortcut to the popular Devil’s Bridge hike. Drive on the trail for about a mile until you see a parking area for Devil’s Bridge. From here, it’s about a 1.7 mile roundtrip hike to the bridge, otherwise it’s a 4 mile hike.
You should have time to do this hike within the 4 hour rental period, but you might not have time to get a photo on top of the bridge as the wait can often be around 45 minutes.
You can also make a quick stop to see the remains of the Van Deren cabin located along the OHV trail. It was built in 1924 with an addition built on in 1930.
The OHV trail ends at the trailhead for Vultee Arch, a mini Devil’s Bridge without the crowds. The sign at the beginning of the trail said it’s 3 miles round trip, but that’s just to a viewpoint where you can see the arch. If you want to actually climb up to the arch and walk across, it’s about 3.6 miles round trip.
If you haven’t done Devil’s Bridge before, then I would recommend doing that hike instead. However, if you’ve already been to Devil’s Bridge, then this is a beautiful hike without the crowds. This hike just takes longer, so make sure you get back in time before your rental expires. We had to trail run to get back in time!
It was a fun way to spend an afternoon! If you aren’t comfortable renting an ATV, you can also take a jeep tour.
Dinner at Hideaway House
For dinner, I recommend Hideaway House. They were ranked #19 on Yelp’s list of the top 100 pizza places in the US in 2024.
They have amazing pizza, pasta, and sandwiches that really hit the spot after a day of adventuring. Enjoy your meal in the cozy indoor dining room or on the outdoor patio when the weather is nice. We chose to get carry-out and enjoy it back at the hotel.
S’mores and Hot Tubbing
In the evenings, the Arabella Hotel offers complimentary s’mores kits to roast at the fire pits while listening to live music. Afterwards, soak in the hot tub for the perfect way to unwind at the end of the day!
Day 3: Cathedral Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Lunch at The Hudson, Afternoon Swimming Hole
Breakfast
The next morning grab breakfast either at the hotel or at one of these recommended spots in town:
- The Coffee Pot: The place to go for a good old-fashioned home-cooked meal. Their pancakes are perfectly fluffy, but it is their 101 different types of omelets that steal the show!
- Red Rock Cafe: A local’s favorite for amazing food and reasonable prices. Try the Banana Blueberry Walnut French Toast!
- Desert Flower Bakery and Bistro: Grab some fresh baked goods to-go, or stay and try one of their breakfast plates. Their grilled cinnamon roll is to die for!
- Local Juicery: For something light and fresh to kick start your day, stop at this cute juice bar for organic cold-pressed juice, smoothies, or acai bowls. Check their menu for other delicious organic and locally sourced options for breakfast or lunch.
Cathedral Rock Hike
The Cathedral Rock Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona, and for good reason!
It is a short but steep 1.2-mile out-and-back trail. The trail climbs 740 feet in 0.6 miles, so your going to work up a sweat! The trail is beautiful with panoramic views and picturesque photo ops.
This is one of the best spots in Sedona to catch the sunset, if you want to make some changes in the itinerary and do this hike in the evening.
If you are visiting Thursday thru Sunday anytime during the year, you will need to take the free Sedona Shuttle bus to reach the trailhead. It’s easy to use and eliminates the headache of trying to find parking at the trail.
If you are planning to do a sunset hike, you can park at the Cathedral Trail parking lot anytime outside of shuttle hours. Check the Sedona Shuttle website for the schedule.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is such a beautiful and unique Roman Catholic church. It was constructed in 1956 and built right into the red rock.
There is a small parking area below the chapel with more spots available at the top. There is usually a lot of traffic and it can be a bit of a headache trying to find a spot, but it’s worth parking and walking up to the chapel.
The views from the top are stunning and the small chapel is simple but beautiful. There is also a gift shop in the basement as well.
Lunch at The Hudson
The Hudson has stellar Yelp reviews and lives up to the hype. It’s within walking distance of Arabella Hotel and offers sophisticated comfort food with beautiful mountain views from their outdoor patio.
We tried the Ahi Tuna sandwich and Kale salad and they were both delicious.
I’m already anxious to go back and try more dishes, everything looked amazing!
Afternoon Swimming Hole
If you are visiting in the warmer months, spend the afternoon at one of Sedona’s popular swimming holes.
Our favorite is Red Rock Crossing at Crescent Moon Ranch. There are plenty of spots to swim in the river, or have a picnic by the water’s edge. The best part is that you’ll have unparalleled views of Cathedral Rock while you swim!
We also love Grasshopper Point. This is our kids’ favorite spot for cliff jumping. The water is freezing cold, but it’s an idyllic spot to spend an afternoon.
For more information and recommendations, see our guide 15 Fun things to Do in Sedona With Kids for more information.
Slide Rock is also fun, but it is extremely busy and you’ll need to arrive early if you want a parking spot.
If you’re up for a hike, the Crack at Wet Beaver Creek is a 7 mile roundtrip hike that leads to a fun swimming hole with cliff jumping.
After another full day of outdoor adventures, it’s time to head home!
Final Thoughts
Sedona is such a special place. The unworldly beauty, fantastic food scene, countless hiking trails, cultural experiences, and fun outdoor activities make it one of the best weekend getaways!
I hope this guide will help you discover the best things to do for an unforgettable weekend in Sedona.
While you’re in the area, I recommend visiting the nearby towns of Cottonwood, Jerome, and Prescott. They are some of the most charming small towns in Arizona!ย Click the links for our travel guides.
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