The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel built into the red rock buttes of Sedona, Arizona, completed in 1956. This guide covers opening hours, admission, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
It was checked against the official chapel website in August 2026.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily, 9am–5pm; last entry to the chapel is 4.45pm |
| Ticket prices | Free; no admission fee, donations welcome |
| Address | 780 Chapel Road, Sedona, AZ 86336 |
| Nearest transport/parking | On-site parking, limited to 45 spaces; no RVs or trailers |
| Typical time needed | 30 minutes to 1 hour |
Opening hours at the Chapel of the Holy Cross
The chapel is open daily from 9am to 5pm, with the last entry at 4.45pm. This schedule runs year-round with no seasonal variation.
The gift shop, on the lower floor, keeps slightly shorter hours of 9.30am to 4.30pm daily and is closed on Christmas and Easter. Religious services follow their own separate schedule: Taizé Prayer on Mondays at 5pm, and on Wednesdays and Fridays, Adoration from 12pm to 2.30pm and Mass at 3pm, though this Wednesday/Friday schedule is sometimes paused, as it was for summer 2026 until 7 August, so checking the official site before planning around a service is worthwhile.
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.
Admission and donations at the Chapel of the Holy Cross
There’s no admission fee to visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It has always been free to enter, and donations are welcomed to help with its upkeep, either in person or through the chapel’s website.
Because it’s a place of worship rather than a ticketed attraction, it isn’t part of any city pass or multi-attraction scheme.
How to get to the Chapel of the Holy Cross
The chapel is reached via Chapel Road, off State Route 179 (the Red Rock Scenic Byway) at the Chapel Road traffic circle, a few miles south of central Sedona and close to the Village of Oak Creek. From the traffic circle, Chapel Road climbs about 0.9 miles to the parking area.
There’s no public transit service to the chapel, so visitors typically arrive by car, taxi, or rideshare.
Parking at the Chapel of the Holy Cross
Parking is on-site but limited to 45 spaces, all to the right of the roadway as you arrive. There’s a turnaround at the top of the hill for dropping passengers off, and RVs and trailers aren’t permitted in the lot.
Volunteers sometimes run a golf cart up and down the hill to assist visitors reaching the chapel; tips are appreciated but not required.
How long to spend at the Chapel of the Holy Cross
Most visitors spend 30 minutes to an hour here, enough time to view the chapel’s interior, take in the views from the plaza outside, and browse the gift shop.
Because it’s a small, single-room chapel with limited facilities, it’s easy to combine with other stops in the Village of Oak Creek or along State Route 179 in the same outing.
Accessibility at the Chapel of the Holy Cross
Wheelchairs are available for families to use as needed, and volunteers running the golf cart can assist visitors up the ramp to the chapel entrance. Given the site’s position partway up a hillside, the approach involves a slope rather than being fully level.
Restroom facilities at the chapel itself are limited; portable toilets are provided at the base of the hill instead.
What to see at the Chapel of the Holy Cross
The chapel was built into a roughly 250-foot twin-pinnacled spur jutting from a 1,000-foot rock wall, with a 90-foot cross forming part of the facade’s structural support. It was designed by architect August K. Strotz of the firm Anshen & Allen, with Richard Hein as project architect, commissioned by rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, and completed in 1956 after 18 months of construction at a cost of around $300,000. Staude had originally hoped to build the chapel in Budapest, Hungary, but the outbreak of the Second World War led her to build it in Sedona instead, on Coconino National Forest land.
The interior is simple, with seating for about 50 in the pews and a capacity of around 150, focused on the large cross-shaped window framing the red rock views beyond the altar. The chapel holds relics of the Twelve Apostles, and visitors can light a candle inside.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 and was voted one of Arizona’s “Seven Man-Made Wonders” in a 2007 statewide poll. Architectural Digest has also named it among its list of the world’s most beautiful churches, and the Diocese of Phoenix designated it an official Jubilee Site for the 2025 Jubilee Year.
Practical visitor tips for the Chapel of the Holy Cross
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit early morning or later in the afternoon, since midday tends to bring the largest crowds. |
| Crowds | Parking is the main constraint; if the small lot is full, be prepared to wait or return later. |
| Layout | The chapel itself is a single small room, so most of the visit is spent on the outdoor plaza and views. |
| Entry process | No tickets or bookings are needed; simply walk in during opening hours. |
| On-site logistics | Photography is generally allowed, but visitors are asked to keep silent and leave pets outside. |
Frequently asked questions about the Chapel of the Holy Cross
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Chapel of the Holy Cross free to visit? | Yes, there’s no admission fee, though donations are welcomed. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Chapel of the Holy Cross? | No, there’s no booking system; visitors can walk in anytime during opening hours. |
| Is the Chapel of the Holy Cross open on Sundays? | Yes, it’s open daily, including Sundays, from 9am to 5pm. |
| Is the Chapel of the Holy Cross suitable for children? | Yes, though the chapel asks for quiet and there are no dedicated children’s facilities on site. |
| Can you get married at the Chapel of the Holy Cross? | Yes, weddings are held after 5pm on Tuesdays through Fridays, arranged directly with the chapel. |
Things to do near the Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Bell Rock — a well-known red rock formation and trailhead, a short drive north on SR 179.
- Courthouse Butte Loop — a hiking trail encircling Bell Rock’s neighbouring butte.
- Village of Oak Creek — the small community near the chapel, with restaurants, cafés, and shops.
- Airport Mesa and the Airport Scenic Overlook — a viewpoint over West Sedona, about a 15-minute drive away.
- Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village — a shopping and gallery district closer to central Sedona.
What to visit tomorrow
- Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park — a Buddhist meditation garden in Sedona, a short drive from the chapel.
- St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Sedona — the parish that runs the Chapel of the Holy Cross, holding its own weekend Masses.
- Franciscan Renewal Center (Casa de Paz y Bien), Scottsdale — a Franciscan retreat and church, about a two-hour drive south.
- Immaculate Conception Church, Cottonwood — a Catholic parish in the Verde Valley, about a 30-minute drive from Sedona.
More Arizona travel
Other Arizona travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Sedona attraction guides: Red Rock Crossing, Cathedral Rock, Airport Scenic Overlook, Devil’s Bridge, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.
- Should I do a Grand Canyon day tour from Sedona?
- Why visit Montezuma Castle National Monument?
- What to expect at the Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde.
- Practical guides to visiting the Museum of Northern Arizona, Lowell Observatory and Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff.
