I recently had the chance to visit my sister in Arizona, and naturally I had to pair the visit with a quick photography excursion. I wanted to explore an area I hadn’t seen yet but had heard a lot about: Sedona. Brilliant red rocks, a myriad of hiking trails, and epic vistas?! Sign me up! 24 hours is not even close to enough time to really see the majesty of this area, but if you’re short on time like me, here’s how to spend 24 hours in Sedona and make the best the best of one of the most beautiful places in Arizona:

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Sedona is in Arizona, located an hour drive south of Flagstaff and a two hour drive north of Phoenix. To get there, fly into either Flagstaff or Phoenix, rent a car, and drive in.

The best time to visit Sedona is between March to May, or October to November for mild, warm weather. In the summer, temperatures can get dangerous hot, so you might want to avoid visiting then. From June to September it’s also monsoon season in Arizona so you doubly might want to avoid visiting in summer! 

Start your 24-hour trip by flying into Phoenix International Airport, and grab a rental car; it will be about a two-hour drive to Sedona. But don’t worry, because as you near Sedona, the car views become more and more scenic! When you arrive in Sedona, get checked into your lodging. There are a myriad of hotels, B&Bs, and Airbnb options in the area – or you can stay in Phoenix and drive up in the morning. Check out some of the hotels I list below for ideas on where to stay.

Grab some dinner in town, I recommend Elote Café or SaltRock Southwest Kitchen. Depending on how much time you have, you can also spend the evening checking out the local shops and art galleries downtown before heading to bed.

The best places to stay in Sedona for a quick trip is to be close to the city center, which is unfortunately more expensive. But if you don’t mind a short drive in, you can find more budget-friendly options in the nearby towns of Cottonwood, Camp Verde/Montezuma, and Village of Oak Creek. Here are my favorite options in Sedona:

• A Sunset Chateau:  bed and breakfast with an outdoor pool, free parking, and a garden, terrace, and waterfall with pond are available to guests. Check availability here.
• Casa Sedona Inn: 15 minutes’ drive from Red Rock State Park and has an outdoor hot tub, free parking, a restaurant and balcony or patio. More details here!
• Matterhorn Inn: featuring a terrace, offers a concierge service, luggage storage space, and outdoor pool, and free parking. See photos & book here.
• Amara Resort & Spa: a more luxury and absolutely STUNNING option, features a full-service spa, an infinity pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, concierge services, and a free ride into town. HIGHLY recommend checking it out here.
• Arabella Hotel Sedona: next to Hillside Shops & Galleries, features a pool, hot tub, free breakfast, fitness center, and a hiking trail. Book your stay here.

If you decided to overnight in Phoenix and then begin the drive up, start your day with an açaí bowl at Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade – my absolute favorite acai bowl place in Hawaii that just opened three new locations in Arizona (!). If you begin your day already in Sedona, you better believe you still need an açaí bowl! Stop at Berry Divine Açaí Bowls for the perfect sweet treat. Want a different option? Grab donuts and coffee at Sedonuts. Grab some snacks, extra water, and sunscreen in town before heading out, you’ll need some fuel and sun protection for the hikes ahead.

Sedona, like the rest of Arizona, gets very warm very quickly, so if you visit during a warmer season, make sure you get out on your hikes early in the morning or get a later start in the late afternoon/early evening. The parking lots of various Sedona hikes also tend to fill up quickly as they are not very large, so carpool as much as you can or be flexible with your potential hikes. I spent the first hike of the day on Soldier’s Pass– a popular 4.1 mile trail where there is plenty to photograph, and you don’t necessarily need to complete the entire trail to enjoy some epic vistas.

Refuel with the snacks you bought earlier, or grab a quick lunch in town. For lunch, try Red Rock Cafe, Outlaw Grill, or Hideaway House. Make sure you hydrate too!

In the later afternoon, hike another classic Sedona trail – Devil’s Bridge, which is 4 miles from the parking lot or 2 miles from the trailhead. If you opt for the shorter hike, make sure you have a high clearance, 4×4 car because the road to the trailhead is steep, dirt, and chalk-full of deep potholes. Jeeps are the car of choice, and I can’t stress enough that a small sedan CANNOT do this drive. Certain tour companies such as the iconic Pink jeep tours can take you down though, so don’t worry if your rental car is not up to snuff. Devil’s Bridge Trail finishes on a gorgeous high arch that you can walk on – it’s wider than it looks! This hike is also fantastic for sunset, so you could also begin it later in the day and just make sure you bring a flashlight for the way back up.

Naturally you can’t finish your day in Sedona without catching a sunset – the temperatures have begun to drop and the golden light from the sun will light up the red rocks in the most beautiful way. Head down to Crescent Moon Picnic area for a chance to get some desert reflections or re-visit Soldier’s Pass or Devil’s Bridge for the best views. If it’s a clear night, stay for star photography! If not, head back into town for some well-deserved dinner and rest up before leaving this gorgeous area. If you ate at Elote Cafe the night before, treat yourself to Tii Gavo tonight for stunning canyon views with your meal, or enjoy outdoor seating and eat at Tamaliza Cafe.

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