Sedona & Northern Arizona: A Long-Weekend Itinerary

An hour or two north of the Phoenix metro, Arizona changes completely. The saguaro desert gives way to red-rock canyons, ponderosa pine forests, and mile-high mountain towns. A long weekend is just enough to sample the best of it: Sedona's red rocks, the high-country college town of Flagstaff, the cliffside former mining town of Jerome, and the leafy historic square of Prescott. Here is a suggested long-weekend itinerary through Sedona and northern Arizona.

Day 1: Sedona and the red rocks

Sedona is the headline, and it lives up to it. The town is wrapped in towering formations of red sandstone that glow at sunrise and sunset. Start with an easy hike to get oriented, then build up to something more ambitious.

• Easy: The trails around Bell Rock and the Chapel of the Holy Cross area give you classic red-rock views without a major climb.
• Moderate: Devils Bridge is the most photographed natural arch in Sedona; arrive early, as parking and the trail fill up fast.
• Scenic drive: Oak Creek Canyon, the winding road between Sedona and Flagstaff, is one of the prettiest drives in the state, especially when the leaves turn in fall.

Sedona is also known for its galleries, spas, and the uptown shopping district, as well as its reputation as a wellness and spiritual destination, the famous energy vortexes draw visitors looking for quiet and reflection in the red rocks. Tlaquepaque, an arts-and-crafts village built in the style of a traditional Mexican town, is a pleasant place to wander among shops and courtyards. For what is on while you are there, check the Sedona hub.

Day 2: Up to Flagstaff and the high country

Drive up Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff, which sits at about 7,000 feet and feels like a different state entirely: pine forests, four real seasons, and snow in winter. Flagstaff is a college town with a walkable, historic downtown built along the old Route 66 and the railroad.

• Downtown: Browse the independent shops, breweries, and restaurants in the compact historic core.
• Stargazing: Flagstaff is the world's first International Dark Sky City, and Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered, offers public programs.
• Nearby nature: The San Francisco Peaks tower above town, with hiking in summer and skiing in winter, and Walnut Canyon and Sunset Crater are short drives away.

See the latest in Flagstaff before you go.

Day 3: Jerome and Prescott

On your way back south, swing through two of Arizona's most characterful towns.

Jerome is a former copper-mining boomtown clinging to the side of Cleopatra Hill. Once nearly abandoned, it reinvented itself as an artist colony and is now famous for its hillside galleries, wine-tasting rooms, historic buildings, and reputation as one of the most haunted towns in the country. The views over the Verde Valley from its switchback streets are spectacular. Check what is happening in Jerome.

A short drive farther brings you to Prescott, a mile-high town built around a classic courthouse square shaded by big trees. Prescott leans into its frontier history, the old Whiskey Row saloons line one side of the square, and it has a relaxed, small-town feel with antique shops, restaurants, and nearby lakes and granite-boulder hiking at the Granite Dells. See the Prescott page for events and seasonal happenings.

The Verde Valley below Jerome has also become Arizona wine country, with tasting rooms scattered through small towns like Cottonwood, an easy add-on if you have time and a designated driver. The whole corridor, from Sedona down through Jerome and the Verde Valley to Prescott, can be looped in a single relaxed day on the way back to the Valley.

Practical tips for northern Arizona

• Pack layers. Northern Arizona is much cooler than Phoenix year-round, and temperatures swing widely between day and night. Winter brings real snow to Flagstaff.
• Mind the elevation. Flagstaff and the surrounding high country sit near 7,000 feet; take it easy on strenuous hikes if you are coming up from sea level or the desert.
• Go early in Sedona. The famous trailheads fill up by mid-morning, especially on weekends and in fall.
• Fall is magic. Oak Creek Canyon and the Flagstaff area put on a genuine autumn color show, usually peaking in October.

Plan your northern Arizona weekend

This loop, Sedona to Flagstaff to Jerome to Prescott, is one of the great long weekends in the Southwest, and it is easy to reach from the Valley. For events, festivals, and seasonal happenings across the region, start with the Sedona and northern Arizona hub and adjust the route to fit your dates.