The short answer
No. Are you mad?
The long answer
The Grand Canyon and Sedona are almost undoubtedly the two most spectacular destinations in Arizona. It is also possible to do a day tour from Sedona to the Grand Canyon. The short-of-time may be tempted by this.
However, before booking such a Grand Canyon day tour, you should be aware of how far away Sedona is from the Grand Canyon South Rim. It’s a 114 mile drive, that takes around two hours and ten minutes. The section of the route from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon is a spectacular drive, and the AZ89a from Sedona to Flagstaff is one of the most extraordinary roads in the US.
But both are better tackled as a treat on the way to staying near the Canyon – either in Tusayan or Grand Canyon Village. After a day of exploring the Grand Canyon South Rim, you are not going to appreciate the scenic drive back to Sedona.
It’s best to treat Sedona and the Grand Canyon as twin destinations, rather than one as a hub and the other as a day trip.
Sedona has loads going for it. I recommend taking the time to see Cathedral Rock from Red Rock Crossing, doing the hike around Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock and discovering the mysterious Sinagua people at Montezuma Castle National Monument.
What to do in Sedona
Other ways to discover Sedona’s highlights and quirks include spiritually-inclined vortex tours, nighttime stargazing tours and Jeep tours through the canyons.
5 great Sedona experiences to book
- 🚙 Get to red rock views others cannot reach on an off-road Jeep tour.
- 🚆 Ride the Verde Canyon Railroad, passing cliff dwellings, desert scenery and wildlife.
- 🌀 Discover the science and spirituality of Sedona’s vortexes on a specialist tour.
- 🚲 See Sedona’s highlights the easy way on an e-bike tour.
- 🌌 Take a Sedona night sky tour and hear the stories of the constellations.
More Arizona travel
For more things to do in Arizona, head here.
Other articles about Arizona on Planet Whitley include:
- Driving across London Bridge in… Lake Havasu City.
- Where to see bears in Arizona.
- How scary is the Grand Canyon Skywalk?
- The best route from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon.
- How to drive Hermit Road at the Grand Canyon without taking the shuttle bus.
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