Sedona is a really fun place to explore. If you are looking to explore more of Arizona, then look no further than these fun day trips from Sedona for families.
These kid-friendly escapes are great for adults as well and can really bring some education, experience, and (most of all) FUN to your day. See a massive crater, the Grand Canyon, enjoy a scenic train ride, and more kid-approved outings.
Sedona has a lot on to do on its own, but if you find yourself looking to get out for a day or two there are some great options here. Here are some of the best day trips from Sedona for families that you should consider.
All Drive Times listed below are the time it takes from Sedona.
Best Day Trips From Sedona For Families
Day Trips To The North
1. Grand Canyon Family Day Trip From Sedona
Drive time: 2-1/2 hours to the South Rim
At 1 mile deep and 18 miles wide, this Canyon is something the whole family will love to witness firsthand.
The most popular area to view the Grand Canyon is by visiting at the South Rim. You’ll get the popular views of the canyon that you see in magazines, and there are plenty of viewpoints to stop by.
The South Rim is open 24 hours year-round, whereas the North Rim will close in the winter.
But it can still snow, so if you are heading on a winter adventure, make sure to bundle up and grab some shoes with good traction or grips as you explore the area.
The Grand Canyon is a classic childhood trip everyone should make the trek to once in their lives. It’s a great day trip from Sedona, or even a great extra stop if you are on a national parks road trip.
Want a more fun way to get to Grand Canyon? Take the Grand Canyon Railroad from Flagstaff.
See Grand Canyon’s official National Park Service webpage for updated info.
2. Walnut Canyon National Monument- Flagstaff
Drive Time: 55 minutes from Sedona
On your way to (or back from) the Grand Canyon, make sure to check out Walnut Canyon National Monument. This makes one of the perfect day trips from Sedona with kids and adults alike.
Kids will love exploring the ancient cliff dwellings in Walnut Canyon. Head to the Island Trail with them. At only 1 mile long, you’ll be able to see 25 different dwellings.
This National Monument is part of the National Park Service. As such, you can buy a ticket/pass for one time (good for 7 days), or consider purchasing the America The Beautiful Pass.
It will get you into all the national parks or lands run by the NPS for a year. If you have plans to visit multiple National Parks within the year, the America the Beautiful Pass will end up paying for itself.
Check here for updated info and closures at Walnut Canyon
3. Meteor Crater and Barringer Space Museum- Winslow
Drive Time: 1hr 23 min from Sedona
This isn’t any museum. Yes, the kids will love this day trip from Sedona to be able to learn about the meteor. But the main attraction here is the large crater.
Over 50,000 years ago, a large meteor came and met the Earth, leaving huge destruction to the land around it. Hitting at a force much greater than even an atomic bomb, the meteor left a crater nearly 1 mile wide and 550 feet deep.
Check out the crater from the comfort of indoor observation areas, or take a guided hike that will take you around the rim.
Check here for more info and current pricing.
4. Horseshoe Bend – Page
Drive Time: 2 hours 46 min from Sedona
Located in Glen Canyon, Horseshoe Bend is a popular viewpoint with incredible geological views. It’s one of the great day trips from Sedona with kids because the hike to take it in is only 1.5 round trip.
Millions of years ago the rock formations that make Horseshoe Bend were actually sand dunes.
Water and minerals eventually petrified the dunes into rock, and the added elements, minerals, and environmental pressures over the years turned it into what it is today.
However, the sandstone in the middle wouldn’t budge much, so the river goes around the protruding rock, giving us what we know as Horseshoe Bend.
See Also: Top Things To Do in St. George, Utah
5. Antelope Canyon- Page
2 hours 52 min from Sedona, 10 min from Horseshoe Bend
Antelope Canyon is one of the most beautiful slot canyons there is. It’s a bit surreal and incredible how the canyon has been carved and shaped. If you get the chance to make a day trip from Sedona, do not miss this!
Can kids hike Antelope Canyon? Yes. Antelope Canyon has rated the hike a 3 out of 10 in terms o difficulty. There are hills, you are in sand some of the time, and there are stairs. But they say anyone without major health or knee/hip issues should be able to do it.
Now, in order to hike through Antelope Canyon, you have to be on an approved tour. Antelope Canyon is protected by the Navajo Parks and Recreation, so there are no self-guided hikes.
Reservations are strongly encouraged, as hikes sell out.
6. Bearizona Wildlife Park – Williams
Drive Time: 1 hour 7 min from Sedona
For the perfect day trip from Sedona, check out Bearizona. This spacious take on a zoo allows ample room for animals to roam as you drive through the park.
Drive through 160 acres of animals along a 3-mile road. Since the animals have so much space, you’ll really have to keep your eyes open.
If you’d like to get out and walk, you can roam paths through the 20 acres (zoo-style) of Fort Bearizona. The kids can try to spot bears, wolves, otters, reindeer, bison, and more.
Enjoy driving, walking, or seeing a more up-close encounter with the animals. Then stop by the Canyonland Restaurant to refuel.
Check out their webpage for more info and current pricing.
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Day Trips Near Sedona and To The South
7. Verde Canyon Railroad- Clarkdale
Drive Time: about 40 minutes to Clarkdale Train departure
The Verde Canyon is full of scenery. And what better way to take it all in than on a train ride?
Verde Canyon is considered Arizona’s “other grand canyon”. Except that this canyon is lush with foliage and colors, as well as a river that flows at the bottom.
Ride among ancient Indian ruins, across bridges, and through a 734-foot tunnel. Gaze at the cliff dwellings and old mining towns.
And of course, there is plenty of wildlife in the area, giving you good chances of seeing something soaring high above of running below.
The train serves up sites as well as food and enjoyment on board.
This excursion allows you to choose from indoor viewing with A/C or open-air seating.
See your options and pricing for Verde Canyon Railroad.
See Also: Best Things To Do in Colorado Springs
8. Phoenix – Day Trips from Sedona
Drive Time: 2 Hours
The capital of Arizona is also the largest city. As such, it hosts all the typical, fun, family-friendly attractions of most major cities. Visit the Phoenix Zoo, Children’s Museum, art museum, or firefighter’s museum (the Hall of Flame).
For a more unique experience, visit the Desert Botanical garden, filled with cactus and desert species of plants.
The Japanese Friendship Garden is beautiful as well. Landscaped over 3.5 acres, kids will love the fresh air, waterfall, and visiting the tea house.
Looking for thrills? Head to the Hurricane Harbor Waterpark and Amusement Park at Six Flags.
Kids with paleontology aspirations will love Pangea, Land of Dinosaurs. Build, excavate, and explore at this attraction that’s all about dinosaurs!
Plus, there is plenty of hiking that will take you to spectacular sites and viewpoints. For even young kids, check out the Hole in the Rock (not to be confused with the popular destination with the same name in Moab, Utah). It’s an easy and short hike/walk exhibiting cool geological formations.
See Also: Top Places To Visit in Aurora, Colorado
9. Montezuma Castle National Monument – Camp Verde
Drive Time: 45 minutes from Sedona
This isn’t your typical architecture! This day trip from Sedona will take you and the kids back in time to Native American culture.
Similar to (and a little smaller than) what you may see at Mesa Verde National Park, Montezuma is an apartment-style dwelling carved into the wall of the mountain. Montezuma Castle features 20 rooms built from limestone walls.
While you’re there, be sure to make the short drive up to Montezuma well, another important part of the history and culture.
When you get there, the sinkhole is less than a mile to get to this geological formation.
Day Trips from Sedona with Kids
While there is plenty to do in Sedona with kids, if you are wanting to expand, there is also plenty to do just a short drive away. Explore amazing National Parks, monuments, history, and cool craters. And don’t forget that train ride. (Kids always love trains!)
Inspiration for day trips from Sedona abounds in this post. There is enough to really fill in a week of vacation, or just pick one or two to expand your Sedona trip.
Author Bio: Megan is a mom of 4 kids and they all love traveling! They’ve been traveling since they got married and figured out how to keep going once kids came into the picture. They try to travel as much as they can, which means keeping to a lower budget. Megan loves writing about family-friendly places and experiences to keep those bonds strong, discover the world, and learn about places far and near.