Best time to visit Sedona
Sedona, Arizona, is a popular tourist destination known for its stunning red rock formations, vibrant arts scene, and outdoor recreational activities. The best time to visit Sedona depends on your preferences for weather, outdoor activities, and crowd levels. Here’s a breakdown of the seasons in Sedona:
- Spring (March to May):
- Weather: Spring is a pleasant time to visit with daytime temperatures ranging from the 60s to 80s Fahrenheit (15-27°C). Nights can be cooler, especially in March.
- Activities: Spring is ideal for hiking and enjoying outdoor activities. Wildflowers may bloom, enhancing the scenic beauty of the landscape.
- Crowds: It’s a popular time, so expect moderate crowds, especially during weekends.
- Summer (June to August):
- Weather: Summer brings warmer temperatures, with daytime highs often reaching the 90s Fahrenheit (32°C) or higher. Nights remain warm.
- Activities: Summer is a good time for activities like swimming, river rafting, and exploring the area’s natural beauty. However, it’s essential to stay hydrated and mindful of the heat.
- Crowds: While it’s a popular time for tourists, crowds can vary. Some visitors may prefer the cooler seasons.
- Fall (September to November):
- Weather: Fall offers mild to warm temperatures, with daytime highs ranging from the 60s to 80s Fahrenheit (15-27°C). Nights become cooler as the season progresses.
- Activities: Fall is an excellent time for hiking, and the changing foliage adds to the scenic beauty. It’s also a popular time for outdoor festivals.
- Crowds: Fall tends to be less crowded than the summer months.
- Winter (December to February):
- Weather: Winter is cooler, with daytime temperatures ranging from the 40s to 60s Fahrenheit (4-21°C). Nights can be chilly, occasionally dropping below freezing.
- Activities: While winter is quieter, it’s still a good time for hiking, and the red rocks against a backdrop of snow can be picturesque. It’s also a time for holiday events and festivals.
- Crowds: Winter generally sees fewer tourists compared to the spring and summer months.
Best time to visit Sedona
The best time to visit Sedona depends on your preferences. Spring and fall are popular choices due to milder temperatures, outdoor activities, and the scenic beauty of the landscape. If you prefer warmer weather and don’t mind the crowds, summer can also be enjoyable. Winter is a quieter time, and while some outdoor activities are still possible, it may not be ideal for those seeking warmer weather.
The Best time to visit Sedona in Arizona is May through October when you have pleasant weather or warm weather and barely even little precipitation. The average high temperature in Sedona is 29 ° C in June and 8° C in January. At least half a day for a bit of tour of the city and take in the various points of view. 1 to 2 days are necessary if you wish to hike (2 or 3 nights on-site) or even more because the region is extremely rich in hikes and walks.
Sedona, Arizona, is world-renowned for its stunning red rocks, verdant forests (the contrast is stark!), Artistic community, and New Age vortices. The small town enjoys breathtaking natural beauty. Its mild climate and clean air make it the 2 nd tourist destination in Arizona after the Grand Canyon just considered its “big brother.” Sedona is so diverse and culturally rich that it attracts many artists and authors.
Sedona has a semi-arid climate. We present all the information about Sedona’s average temperature and precipitation or the periods when more rain or snowfalls. So you can be well prepared! Our monthly weather statistics averages are based on data from the last ten years.
Climate Sedona per month
| Jan | Feb | Be | Apr | may | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature (° C) | 8 | 9 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 25 | twenty | 14 | 8 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 22 | 28 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 62 | 47 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 19 |
Sedona has a semi-arid climate. It hardly rains here. The mean annual temperature in Sedona is 18 °, and the mean annual rainfall is 255 mm. It does not rain for 254 days per year, the average humidity is 45%, and the UV Index is 4.
Sedona weather per month
What is the average weather like in a given month for Sedona? Let’s find out! Click on a month to view all monthly averages for sunshine, maximum and minimum temperatures, percent probability of rain per day, snowfall accumulation, and several days of rain.
Although the vital stages of our route by car along the west coast of the United States have been left behind, visiting many of those natural parks that appear on the covers of travel magazines. We still have a few days left until we return the car to San Francisco. And, after visiting Monument Valley, we spent a quiet day in Sedona, and we were amazed!
Weather in Sedona, Arizona, United States of America
The weather in Sedona, Arizona, United States of America varies from period to period. The graph below shows the monthly averages, in degrees Celsius, to help you choose the perfect weather for your stay in Sedona, Arizona.
January is very cool; the climate is freezing, the minimum temperatures being 0.3 ° C and the maximum of 14.3 ° C. Travelers will then benefit from an average temperature of 7.3 ° C and five days of precipitation during the month (52.6 mm).
February: Sedona, Arizona, has a very calm and cold climate with an average temperature of 8.9 ° C, low temperatures of 1.6 ° C and a high of 16.1 ° C. In February, there is an average of 5 years of precipitation with 51.6 mm.
March: The weather is excellent cold during March in Sedona, Arizona, with an average temperature of 11.4 ° C. You will have lows of 3.6 ° C during the night and highs of 19.1 ° C during the day. The data indicates 56.6 mm of precipitation recorded with an average of 5.9 days of rain.
April: The month of April in Sedona, Arizona is characterized mainly by cool chilly weather, with an average temperature of 14.9 ° C. Low temperatures can drop to 6.5 ° C, while highs are around 23.3 ° C. ° C. In April, it averages 3.6 rainy days with 27.7mm of precipitation.
Best time to Visit Sedona
May: sees travelers disembark in Sedona, Arizona, in May with a mild, mild climate where highs reach 28.7 ° C and lows are at 10.9 ° C. The average temperature is 19.8 ° C. On average, there are 2.7 days of precipitation with 14.7 mm of rain.
June: warm and pleasant the weather is nice in Sedona, Arizona, June. The minimum temperatures are around 15.7 ° C, and the maximum is up to 34 ° C, 27.7 ° C, and the average temperature for the month is 24.9 ° C. The average number of rainy days is 1.6, with 6.9 mm of precipitation.
July: The climate in Sedona, Arizona, throughout July is pleasantly warm. The average temperature is 27.5 ° C. It is characterized by a maximum temperature of 35.8 ° C and a minimum of 19.1 ° C during the night. 7 With rainfall, the average for the city is 38.9 mm days of precipitation.
August: During August, visitors can expect a hot one. The maximum temperatures rise to 34.3 ° C, while the minimum temperature will be 18.6 ° C. The average temperature is 26.5 ° C. A recorded total of 54.1mm of precipitation is brought by an average of 9.4 rainy days during the month.
September: The month of September brings a warm and pleasant climate to Sedona, Arizona, with temperatures varying around 31.2 ° C and lows at 15.3 ° C. The average temperature is 23.3 ° C. With an average of 5.1 rainy days. , the city receives 51.1 mm mm of precipitation.
Best time to Visit Sedona
October: The weather for October is mild in Sedona, Arizona. The minimum temperatures drop to 9.8 ° C, and the maximum to around 25.3 ° C, for an average temperature of 17.6 ° C. On average, there are 3.7 days of rain during this month, with an average of 38.6 mm of precipitation.
November: Cool Sedona, Arizona weather in November. The average temperature drops to 11.3 ° C. The minimum temperatures are 3.9 ° C, and the maximum is 18.7 ° C. On average, there are 3.5 rainy days, with 33.8 mm of precipitation.
December: The very terrific weather in December in Sedona, Arizona contributes to an average temperature of 6.9 ° C, determined by high temperatures around 13.9 ° C and low values at -0.1 ° C. The rainfall average of 43.4 mm results from the 4.1 rainy days visitors will experience during that month.
Rainfall in Sedona, Arizona, United States of America
Each season in Sedona, Arizona, is characterized by different rainfall. The graph below shows you what to expect from month to month with precipitation, shown in mm.
Overall, the climate in the United States of America: is predominantly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semi-arid in the Great Plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin from the southwest; Cold winter temperatures in the northwest are sometimes ameliorated in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
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For all those who want to stop by, here are the top 10 things to see and do in Sedona:
What to see around Sedona?
Although it is not a popular place for most of us who plan a route along the west coast of the United States, Sedona has a lot of things to see and do in its surroundings. Here we tell you the top 10:
1. Slide Rock State Park
It is one of the main attractions in Sedona. Visiting this state park is worth it, especially in summer, when you can take the opportunity to take a dip or go tubing down the stream falls. It is located in Oak Creek Canyon, 7 km north of Sedona, and is a state park. It is not included in the annual passes such as “America the Beautiful,” the entrance price varies depending on the calendar: between $20 and $ 30 $ per vehicle (up to 4 people) between May and September and $ 10 between October and April.
2. Chapel of the Holy Cross
This impressive church rises in the middle of the rocks, defying gravity (and aesthetics). Although its construction was highly controversial, there is no denying that it has its point. It is open every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, free.
3. Red Rock State Park
Many Americans flock to Sedona for a few days because of this state park. Suppose you’ve already visited Monument Vally, Arches, Canyonlands. It probably won’t impress you, but give it a try; it might surprise you. Its name suggests an area of red rock mountains and whimsical formations (such as the imposing Cathedral Rock), crossed by multiple trails for all types of people. Entry is $ 7 per person.
An excellent place to enjoy the park and take a quiet break on the way is the Crescent Moon Picnic Site, although spending the day here costs $ 10 per car (up to 5 people).
4. Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village
It is a commercial area, but it has been built on the model of a Mexican town, with its cobbled streets, patios, vines hanging from the ceilings, and arches. There are several art galleries and artists’ workshops here, so it is an excellent place to disconnect from the routes through nature.
5. V-Bar-V Heritage Site
In this place, there are 1,032 petroglyphs engraved in Rock, which are related to the pre-Columbian Sinagua culture and date from the years 1150-1400 of our era. The shapes primarily represent animals and humans, although there are also geometric shapes (but nothing of aliens or giant birds, too bad). To enter, you will need the Red Rock Pass (from $ 5 per day) or the America the Beautiful.
6. Montezuma Castle
If you have not yet opened your mouth in amazement, indeed in front of this castle, you will not be able to resist anymore. Because it is not just any castle, one of those we are used to in Spain or France, this is an adobe building built on a cliff 30 meters above the ground, in a kind of natural cave.
Its construction dates from the year 1,100 and, although it bears the name of the last Aztec ruler, it has nothing to do with him as a curiosity to tell you that it was the third-place considered a national monument of the United States, in 1906. It is included in the annual pass of America The Beautiful, and if you don’t have it, the price of admission is $ 10, and it gives you the right to enter the Tuzigoot National Monuments.
7. Honanki Ruins Heritage Site
They are Indian ruins belonging to the Hopi tribe, which inhabited between 1,100 and 1,300. Here they established their homes, from where they went hunting to cultivate small fields and gather fruits, here they worked leather and cooked. In the Hopi language, Honanki means “bear house.”
8. Palatki Heritage Site
It is other ruins from the same period. Both these and the above are some of the best-preserved ruins from that era in the entire United States and the most significant buildings in this whole area. To enter this space and the previous one, you need the Red Rock Pass ($ 5 per day) or the America the Beautiful.
9. Sedona Mago Retreat
It is a yoga center and a place for spiritual retreats. Its operation has been quite controversial throughout these years and has been the subject of many criticisms, although its principles are as admirable as peace in the universe. Its founder is Ilchi Lee, a Korean who settled in Sedona at the end of the 20th century and where he teaches his training methods. Besides all this, the site is pretty cool!
10. Verde Canyon Railroad
An old railway runs along the scenic route from Clarkdale to Perkinsville for 20 miles, passing through beautiful landscapes, bridges, and tunnels. A 4-hour round trip, but it could well be a 100-year trip back in time. The price is not low; it starts from $65 and goes up to $350 if you want to ride the locomotive!
We had just come from visiting Monument Valley, north of Sedona, so we passed through Flagstaff, crossed Route 66, and continued on Highway 89A to Sedona. It is a small road that crosses a forest; when we passed, it was under construction, and it took us a long time, but under normal conditions, this section does not take long.
Route
There are two options from Sedona to Phoenix: follow 89A to Cottonwood, head south, or take 179 which runs through some of the most incredible formations in this area.
A vortex is a point where the Earth releases energy, and they say that in the Sedona region, there are several points of convergence of energies. Suppose we add its long cinematographic tradition with more than fifty western films recorded there, with filming locations easily recognizable today. In that case, Sedona becomes an essential destination on any road trip along the west coast of the United States.
The scenes in Sedona were not to have their own identity but rather were filmed to supplant the landscapes of Texas, Arizona, or Nevada, which is why Sedona always remained in the background. But some movies were shot entirely in Sedona, such as Broken Arrow starring James Stewart (1950), Revenge Fever (1953) with Rock Hudson, Apache (1954) with Burt Lancaster, Johnny Guitar (1954), The Law of Talion (1956) by Richard Widmark and Stay Away Joe (1968), which was one of Elvis Presley’s last films.
John Farrow, Nicholas Ray, and especially Delmer Daves, chased away from the Monument Valley monopoly, found in Sedona a landscape that rivaled in beauty the Olympus of John Ford, who made more than three decades of film work there. The only permanent production center was built, known as “Little Hollywood of Arizona“. The bad thing is that there is nothing left of the props of little houses with wooden porches and moorings for horses.
Frequent Questions About Best time to Visit Sedona
Located at the base of Oak Creek Canyon and in the shadow of the Grand Canyon, we find Sedona. This small town emerges between red and orange mountain ranges, sheltered by the green mantle that sows the Coconino forests. Its beauty has inspired bohemians and artists who seek tranquillity and good energy in a beautiful environment where they can develop their artistic qualities.
Sedona is the second most popular tourist attraction in Arizona, behind only the Grand Canyon of Colorado. So, on our trip through the Great Circle of National Parks in the American West, we wanted to try, thinking we wouldn’t be impressed, but we soon discovered a treasure trove of opportunities that Sedona hid.
We could have been in Sedona for a week, hiking, quad excursions, taking a dip in bathing areas with privileged surroundings, visiting art galleries, or shopping in Tlaquepaque, a beautiful shopping center with shops spread over colonial-style houses. Spanish. But also practicing yoga, meditating, and recharging energy in one of its vortices.
Where is Sedona?
Sedona is located in Arizona. It is situated in a straight line 537 km from Santa Fe. Sedona is located in the heart of Arizona, 119 miles / 190 km north of Phoenix, 30 miles / 48 km south of Flagstaff, and 100 miles / 160 km south of the Grand Canyon.
- From Phoenix, take exit #298 on the I17. From there, follow the AZ179. Allow around 2 hours for the drive.
More panoramic alternative route: if you have a little time in front of you, we recommend that you take the 87 in Phoenix. This road crosses the Tonto National Forest (176 miles / 280 km, approximately 3 hours 15 minutes drive without counting breaks and tours).
- From Flagstaff, take exit #337 of the I17, then follow the AZ89A, a beautiful scenic road where you can take many photo breaks, tours, or hikes.
Note that from the west (Cottonwood, Prescott), the AZ89A joins Sedona. The Sedona coordinates are:
- Latitude: 34.8697395
- Longitude: -111.7609896
GPS coordinates are 34 ° 52 ‘N, 111 ° 45’ W
How long is the flight to Sedona?
Flight time from Santa Fe Municipal Airport to Sedona is approximately 1 hour. 50 less.
What are the closest airports to Sedona?
These are the airports near Sedona:
- Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (31 km) – Flagstaff
- Prescott Regional Airport – Ernest A. Love Field (65 km) – Prescott Valley
- Grand Canyon National Park Airport (125 km) – Grand Canyon
How many inhabitants are there in Sedona?
Sedona has approximately 10,031 residents.
How big is Sedona?
Sedona’s area is about 530 km².
What is the currency of Sedona?
In Sedona, the United States Dollar (USD) is used to pay.
What is the Sedona area code?
The area code to call Sedona is +1.
Best time to Visit Sedona
