Red rock day · Arizona

Phoenix to Montezuma Castle, Bell Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Uptown Sedona & Airport Mesa day trip

Sedona's red rocks from Phoenix

A full red-rock day from Phoenix: the Montezuma Castle cliff dwelling on the way up I-17, an easy walk around Bell Rock on the Red Rock Scenic Byway, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, lunch in Uptown Sedona and sunset from Airport Mesa, with the parking, pass and shuttle rules that trip up first-timers.

Time: 12–14 hour day
Driving: About 4½–5 hours of driving in total
Best time: October to May
Updated: October 14, 2026 at 11:32 PM Pacific

$4 USD

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Bell Rock and the tall red cliffs of Courthouse Butte rising above green juniper and scrub under a blue sky with scattered clouds — Tomascastelazo · CC BY-SA 4.0. April 2010 photograph; resized and displayed with crop.

Suggested times, not bookings

Your day at a glance

7:30 amLeave Phoenix on I-17
9:00 amMontezuma Castle National Monument
10:30 amBell Rock and Courthouse Butte
12:45 pmChapel of the Holy Cross
1:45 pmUptown Sedona
1 hour before sunsetAirport Mesa Scenic Overlook
After sunsetDrive back to Phoenix

Highlights

Worth the trip

A five-story cliff dwelling above Beaver Creek
Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte up close on foot
Sunset over West Sedona from Airport Mesa

What’s in the guide

Detailed stop guidance, rules, practical pitfalls, a route map, Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps links and weather alternatives. Read it online any time, or keep it offline in the Greg’s Guides app for iPhone and iPad. See an example guide →

Plan for the conditions

Expected seasonal weather

From October to May, Sedona days are usually sunny and pleasant for walking, warm in October and May, mild in March and April, and cool from December to February, when nights drop close to freezing and an occasional storm brings rain or a dusting of snow to the red rocks. Phoenix is noticeably warmer than Sedona, which sits roughly 3,000 feet higher, so dress in layers: the morning can feel cool at the castle, the Bell Rock walk warm in full sun, and Airport Mesa chilly and breezy once the sun goes down. Spring can bring strong winds. From June to September, Phoenix is regularly above 100°F and Sedona in the 90s, and monsoon storms bring lightning and flash floods from July. These are seasonal expectations, not a forecast for your travel date; check the NWS forecast.

Admission and parking are separate. Check current conditions before departure.

Another good day

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Best: Spring and fall (March–May, October–November)

$4 USD

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$4 USD