Sedona has some of the most spectacularly dramatic scenery in the U.S.. Arguably the best way to arrive in Sedona is along Highway 179, the Red Rock Scenic Byway. Major natural landmarks pass by your windows, introducing you to the scale of the landscape around Sedona. If you come this way you’ll enter the city via Oak Creek Village, where you’ll find the green of golf courses dramatically contrasting against the red rock and sand. The scenery is one of Sedona’s big appeals, with hiking and biking amongst the scenery a big reason to visit. Because of this Sedona has plenty of accommodation to suit hikers and bikers, but it’s also got some wonderfully luxurious spas and hotels, and lodges to escape to to relax. Many of the best neighbourhoods in Sedona to stay in offer peace and scenery, but if you want nightlife, history, or to explore local culture, Sedona has neighbourhoods for that too.
Our Guide to Sedona’s Neighbourhoods
Map by MissTourist.com
Uptown
Detlef Weiss - Photography
Uptown Sedona is a nice, easy choice for visitors, and a popular one because of it. This is a city centre neighbourhood, and where you’ll find most of Sedona’s non-hiking-trail attractions, plus the shops and cafes of Main Street. Lots of desert excursions leave from here too. Uptown is well connected to Sedona’s other neighbourhoods by public transport too.
Uptown also offers Sedona’s liveliest evenings out: restaurants, bars and clubs.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: the centre of everything! major local attractions; lively nightlife; transport links; good range of accommodation; great places to eat and drink
- Cons: pockets are touristy; can be too lively
- Ideal For: first time visitors; sightseers; families; city breaks; night owls; party people
Click here to see some of our recommendations in Uptown Sedona
Tlaquepaque
Kirt Edblom
Tlaquepaque is a small neighbourhood within Sedona’s city centre, but offering a quieter atmosphere than Uptown. Tlaquepaque is fairly central, with good transport links to Chapel and Oak Creek, and is known for its cultural attractions, including a collection of art galleries and concert venues, and a regular market and craft market. This isn’t a bad base for hikers, either, there are a couple of trails that start in the neighbourhood, before heading towards Oak Creek River or Snoopy Rock. Primarily it’s known for the Tlaquepaque Art & Shopping Village, which is a centre of around 40 speciality shops, galleries and restaurants.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: great for shopping, eating and drinking; plenty of charm; central
- Cons: small neighbourhood
- Ideal For: first time visitors; shoppers; foodies
West Sedona
Kirt Edblom
West Sedona is a cool kids haunt, just five kilometres outside of the centre of Sedona, but, possibly more importantly, it’s the closest neighbourhood to the start of several big name hiking trails. Before you hike out of West Sedona, make sure you make use of the cool cafes, bars, restaurants and boutiques. West Sedona also has its own theatre and farmer’s market. For an outdoors fix, West Sedona dwellers have Posse Grounds Park and Sunset Park, which isn’t just beautiful for a picnic, it’s also got walking trails, and a pretty spectacular look out point. Once you do hike out of West Sedona you can easily hike into the Red Rock State Park
Pros and Cons
- Pros: hip places to eat, drink and shop; easy access to incredible trails; magical views
- Cons: off centre
- Ideal For: cool kids; foodies; romantics; hikers; canyoneers; photographers
Click here to see some of our recommendations in West Sedona
Chapel
Image by qstudio2 from Pixabay
Chapel is named for the Chapel of the Holy Cross, an impossible looking piece of modern architecture, built right into, and out of, the red rock of the region - with a huge cross as part of the design. Even if you opt not to stay in this neighbourhood you may well visit the chapel itself, which was designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1956. It’s an incredible celebration of our incredible natural world, whether you believe it was created by God or not. Despite having one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city this is a pretty under the radar neighbourhood for visitors. There are still plenty of places to eat and drink, and, because their clients are largely local, the prices aren’t inflated. The same can be said for the hiking and biking trails here - they’re spectacular, but mostly traversed by locals. The Mystic Trail is one of the best known, and the Boynton Canyon Trail starts here too.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: only just off centre; spectacular views; local sights; great hiking trails
- Cons: off centre
- Ideal For: living like a local; value seekers; hikers; architecture lovers
Oak Creek Village
KatieThebeau
Oak Creek is a peaceful village that has now partly been absorbed by Sedona’s gentle expansion. You’re about ten kilometres from the centre of Sedona. Which means the public transport options have improved, and it’s now very well connected to the rest of Sedona, and especially Uptown. Oak Creek does still have a village-y atmosphere, though, with more parks, more space and less bustle, and its own restaurants and attractions. And its own hiking trails - a lot of them along the river that runs through the villages and gives it its name, or towards the spectacular Oak Creek Canyon, or the Bell Rock scenic area. There are just as many mountain bike trails Oak Creek Village has accommodation options with outdoor space - even golf courses in some cases.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: green space; incredible views; great hiking trails; village-y atmosphere
- Cons: off centre; too peaceful
- Ideal For: families; hikers; escape-to-nature-ers; value seekers
Oak Creek Canyon
inkknife_2000 (13.5 million vi
Oak Creek Canyon is one of the most popular hiking destinations around Sedona, located between Sedona and Flagstaff. There are a myriad of routes, and a fantastic array of red-rock views, and hiking trails ranging from easy to challenging and multiple day. It’s not just hiking of offer, this is an incredible are for wild swimming and fishing. The canyon itself is 12miles long, with walls that are in some places sheer and 2000feet high. The micros-climate of the area means it’s one of the best places in Arizona to see the season change of leaf colours. The town part of Oak Creek Canyon is small, with just a few shops and boutiques, but there is a market for B&Bs and boutique lodges, campsite accommodation, and guesthouses.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: quiet, remote; spectacular scenery; great hikes
- Cons: limited accommodation types; remote; limited places to eat and drink
- Ideal For: hikers; families; outdoor explorers; escaping to the outdoors, peace and relaxation
Cottonwood
larrywkoester
Cottonwood is a 30minutes drive from Sedona, so it’s quite off centre, but very affordable! and you’re close to many of the hiking trails that make Sedona such a desirable destination. As well as hiking, Cottonwood is also known for its wineries. If you’re looking for restaurants and bars you won’t be disappointed in Cottonwood, the Main Street has a good offering, with art galleries and wine caves thrown into the mix too.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: great value; great hiking trails; scenic; peaceful; many local wineries
- Cons: quite off centre; limited accommodation
- Ideal For: value seekers; foodies; hikers; wine-lovers
Image by Guy Pendlebury from P