USA West · road trip
Phoenix to Sedona by car: where to stop on the way
≈ 186 km / 116 mi · ~2 h driving · 4 stops
Phoenix to Sedona is ≈ 186 km (116 miles), about 2 hours of driving direct. The best places to stop on the way: Montezuma Castle and Jerome — with them it makes a relaxed 3-day road trip.
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Two hours up I-17 from the desert to Sedona's red rocks — or a half day with a cliff dwelling and a hillside ghost town on the way.
Where to stop between Phoenix and Sedona
- 1
Phoenix
North on I-17, climbing out of the Sonoran Desert past saguaros.
- 2
Montezuma Castle
A five-storey Sinagua cliff dwelling set into a limestone wall, a minute off the interstate.
- 3
Jerome
A former copper-mining town clinging to Cleopatra Hill — galleries, a ghost-town feel and huge views.
- 4
Sedona
Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and a red-rock sunset from Airport Mesa.
Good to know
Summer in Phoenix is extremely hot — carry water and start early. Sedona's trailheads fill up early and parking is limited; the free Sedona Shuttle serves the busiest trails.
Phoenix to Sedona — FAQ
- Where should I stop between Phoenix and Sedona?
- The best stops are Montezuma Castle and Jerome. Any of them makes a good break on the drive. Open the drive on the map to see each stop and the drive time between them.
- How far is Sedona from Phoenix?
- Phoenix to Sedona is about 186 km (116 miles) by road.
- How long does it take to drive from Phoenix to Sedona?
- Roughly 2 hours of driving direct, before any stops.
- Is Phoenix to Sedona a good road trip?
- Yes — with the stops above it makes a 3-day trip. Stopful maps the whole route, drive times, where to stay, and what the trip will cost before you book.
More drives
Or start from a blank map and plan any drive — Stopful shows drive times and distance for every leg, finds hotels and EV chargers along the route, and estimates what the trip will cost — stays, food, fuel and tolls — before you book any of it.