The best time to visit Sedona

One of Arizona’s most alluring desert cities, Sedona has long attracted adventurers, artists, mystics and those seeking to connect with the authentic American West. Now, wine aficionados, vortex seekers, culinarians and film festival goers add to its eclectic vibe, creating a place where natural and cultural worlds come together. 

400 miles of trails lead hikers through a meandering desert landscape of spiky cacti to vermillion peaks with names like Snoopy and Coffee Pot Rock. The city is also the epicenter of sacred Indigenous sites, energy vortexes, UFO sightings and a booming spiritual scene. 

Situated in the Verde Valley’s high desert at 4350ft, Sedona has four distinct seasons, with mostly moderate temperatures year-round. Whether you come for hiking and biking adventures, wine-tasting excursions or luxury spa indulgences, here’s a guide to the best times to visit Sedona.

High season: March to May and September to mid-October 

Best time for outdoor activities and desert flowers 

Evenings are still chilly in March, and even the days are usually sweater weather, but it all turns sublime in Sedona in April and May when highs climb to the 70s and 80s. That’s when cactus flowers burst into bloom, and crowds, escaping the savage summer heat of Southern Arizona, head to Sedona. Because it’s the busiest time, hotel prices get pricey, and reservations are often needed at the most popular restaurants. The desert's beauty and pleasant temperatures make it worthwhile.

From September to mid-October, temperatures cool down, dropping from the 80s to the 70s, and the hillsides are ablaze with the jewel colors of autumn. 

Travel the winding roads through the surrounding countryside, mountain bike in the red-dirt terrain, hike to soak up vortex energy, or enjoy a prickly pear margarita at one of the city’s many wonderful restaurants.

Winter: December to February

Best for budget travelers

Snow in the desert? It happens, so take advantage of these picturesque scenes of red rocks frosted with white. Winters are mild, but nights can drop to just around freezing, so pack accordingly. Hotel rooms are more affordable, and the traffic is much more manageable. It’s like having the city all to yourself.

Low season: June to August and Mid-October to November

Best months to avoid crowds

In summer, expect short-lived but heavy afternoon downpours (along with thunder and lightning), typically in July and August. And it can be hot, with temperatures in the mid-90s.  In autumn, the leaves of Sedona’s oaks and bigtooth maples explode into reds and yellows, creating a kaleidoscope of color in the vast desert landscape. Explore this beauty when hiking the forests at West Fork Trail or driving the scenic State Route 89A through Oak Creek Canyon. Keep a lookout for elk that wander the woods along this road.

Visiting Sedona: a month-by-month guide

January 

January, when there are fewer visitors and cooler weather, is a great time to tee off on Sedona’s championship golf courses. Fairways, framed by fragrant junipers and surrounded by Sedona’s iconic sculpted sandstone, are open year-round.

Key event: Winter Play Day

February 

Crisp February days are perfect for attending the year’s first festivals and events. During the Sedona Half Marathon, athletes test their endurance running among the ponderosa pines in Coconino National Forest. At the same time, silver-screen devotees can choose from more than 140 documentaries and indie films to watch during the nine-day annual international festival.

Key events: Sedona Half Marathon, Sedona International Film Festival 

March 

Spring heralds the start of Sedona’s busy season, with hotel prices starting their upward climb in March. Don’t tarry when booking a place to stay and make restaurant reservations, as spaces fill up fast. The same goes for those planning to participate in Sedona’s signature mountain bike and yoga festivals. 

Even the 200 trails can jam up quickly during the busy season. So whether you're yearning for an adrenaline rush or a slice of solitude, set your alarm and get an early start.

Key events: Sedona Yoga Festival, Sedona Mountain Bike Festival, Sedona Stumble

April

With sunny days, flawless skies, and pleasant weather with highs around the mid-70s, April is the optimum month to explore Sedona’s thriving art scene. Stroll among its 80-plus art galleries and shops, and listen to classical and contemporary piano performances. 

But pack a sweater or lightweight jacket because nights are still chilly.

Key events: Sedona Open Studios Tour, Piano on the Rocks International Festival, Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival 

May  

It’s beautiful in Sedona when the temperatures rise, and even more desert flowers begin blooming. Look for purple and yellow flowers on the many cholla and prickly pear cactus scattered throughout the desert landscape.

This is the city’s busy season, buzzing with numerous events such as its biannual concert series, held every Friday in May (and later in September). The downside? Hotel prices spike and the streets are more crowded.

Key events: Verde Valley Wine Festival, Red Dirt Concert Series

June 

Average temperatures are in the mid-90s in June, so plan on hiking early in the morning or late afternoon. If heading out during the day, take plenty of water and wear sun-protective gear. Less busy than springtime, room rates are not as expensive, so use those savings to splurge on a stellar stay or extra time at the spa. Enjoy the starlit nights by watching free movies under the stars. 

Key events: Oak Creek Arts and Crafts Show, Summer Cinema Series

July

Expect weekend day-trippers escaping “the Valley” (greater Phoenix), where temperatures soar in summer. You won’t have to compete for hotels, but prepare to retreat indoors when sudden monsoons soak Sedona, sometimes bringing dangerous flash floods. Weather doesn’t deter nature, though – July is peak season for spotting seven species of hummingbirds.

Key events: Fourth of July Wet Fest, Oak Creek Arts and Crafts Show, Sedona Hummingbird Festival

August 

Sedona is still hot in August, with temperatures in the 90s, but lodging is less expensive than spring’s peak tourist season. The same goes for guided excursions making it among the best months to curate your own desert adventure.

Key event: Fool Me Twice! 

September

Activities ramp up again in early fall, with September heralding the harvest season in the Verde Valley’s vineyards. Join in honoring the harvest during Sedona’s annual WineFest. Book accommodations and restaurants well ahead of time. Need some chill time after all the partying? Seek solitude during an outdoor yoga session or rise with the sun to explore one of Sedona’s four energy vortexes.

Key events: Sedona WineFest, Earth Medicine Festival, Vortifest, Red Dirt Concert Series

October

Hotel prices and temperatures start to cool, but fall festivals – music, painting, crafts – celebrating Sedona’s flourishing arts scene heat up, making October one of the best times to visit.

Key events: Sedona Plein Air Festival, Red Rocks Oktoberfest, Sedona Arts Festival, Fall Arts & Crafts Fair, Red Rocks Music Festival

November

Sedona is still gorgeous in November, with daytime temperatures in the mid-60s. Visitors can soak up the last warm days while touring the backcountry, joining a 5k Thanksgiving run, sampling food truck eats, taking a jeep tour or drifting above the otherworldly landscape on a hot air balloon ride.

Key events: Sedona Food Truck Festival, Sedona Turkey Trot

December

Aside from the usual holiday season revelry, December is one of the quietest times to visit Sedona. Coveted restaurant reservations are more easily available and the price of hotels with cozy fireplaces goes down. Busy trails such as Cathedral Rock and Devil’s Bridge are no longer swarming with crowds.

Key events: Festival of Lights, Art at Anthem, Merry Music at the Museum, 

Keep planning your trip to Sedona

There’s so much to do both in town and outdoors in the stunning surrounding countryside. Plan on at least three days to see it all, but if you can make it four or five, be sure to do so. You won’t be disappointed.

• Don’t miss Sedona’s best neighborhoods

• Whether you’re walking, biking, or taking a bus, here’s an easy primer on navigating the city.

• Discover the best day trips from Sedona

• Check out the best things to do in Sedona.