Load up the minivan and head to Sedona for your next family vacation. We know what it's like traveling with kids, especially by car, but unlike many road trips, locals will tell you not to worry about making a long drive to get to Sedona, or trying to sightsee along the way. Just power through the time spent driving and get to Sedona as soon as you can; this is where you'll relax, especially if you arrive at least an hour before the evening's sure-to-be-glorious sunset. There is a host of family-friendly hotels and accommodations awaiting your family's arrival in Sedona, each meeting most parents' and kids' top criteria: budget, location, elbow room and amenities.
Budgets are subjective, of course, but we're willing to bet that a family on vacation will always appreciate getting a good value no matter how much or little they spend. Consider whether the hotel or motel includes breakfast, or offers free wireless internet access; value-added amenities like that can save a family around $25 per day.
There are budget and family-friendly hotels throughout Sedona, but two good places to start are the Village of Oak Creek (not to be confused with Oak Creek Canyon) and West Sedona. In general, you'll find that familiar pocket-friendly hotel and motel chains as well as lower-priced singular hotels are located in both West Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek. Our Sedona hotel guide offers a quick look at each hotel's price range and displays them on a map, or you can use our Sedona hotel finder to sort by location and real-time rates for your particular vacation dates.
If you're traveling with tweens, teens or with another family, you may want to find accommodations with some extra elbow room. There are several hotels with suites available, but Sedona is fortunate to be able to offer visitors vacation rental homes as well as several timeshare or vacation ownership resort options as a spacious alternative. Particularly attractive for a 3+ night stay or longer, a vacation home rental or timeshare resort rental is a great solution for families on vacation, even if you're not a timeshare owner. Search the web for vacation rentals by owner to find vacation rentals, and familiarize yourself with Diamond Resorts, Sedona Pines, Poco Diablo, Los Abrigados, Arroyo Roble, Wyndham, Hyatt and Hilton resorts for accommodations ranging from one to three-bedroom condos or suites.
Let's face it: the kids will be tickled "red" if you choose a hotel with a swimming pool—either a heated outdoor pool you can use pretty much February through November, or an indoor pool like the one at Villas of Sedona. Particularly refreshing upon your first afternoon's arrival, especially after a long(ish) drive, the hotel's pool is the perfect place to head immediately after you drop your bags in the guestroom. Let the kids swim and tucker themselves out while you enjoy poolside refreshments and towering red rock views; the crimson color gets cranked up to the max in the setting sunlight. Enjoy a good night's sleep in your budget-friendly, perfectly located, spacious accommodations because there's a whole lotta family-friendly activities to explore on your Sedona vacation!
Today, on average, young people are spending 4 minutes a day in the outdoors, and, it is said, 6 hours a day in front of a television or a computer. Sedona is a phenomenal place to reverse that trend and get young people – in fact, all people – into the Great Outdoors, as part of a healthy vacation itinerary. While it's not the most obviously family friendly destination - in fact, part of Sedona's appeal may just be that there are no theme parks, arcades or sprawling malls - Sedona is a great place for families traveling with kids, IF you know where to look.
First, there are plenty of tour operators that will expertly help you get into the surrounding canyons by jeep, horseback, all-terrain vehicles or even a train or a hot air balloon, and the guides will gladly tailor their narrative to fascinate kids and pique their natural curiosity.
Second, venture out on your own; independent activities such as hiking, golf, fishing along Oak Creek, or swimming in the creek at Slide Rock or Grasshopper Point are the stuff that childhood memories are made of. In fact, kids aged 6 - 12 can complete the Junior Ranger program at Arizona State Parks like Red Rock and Slide Rock State Parks. If you need further specifics on where to go, look here or ask a local; most of Sedona's residents are open-air enthusiasts and will happily point you toward quiet locations where your kids can explore nature.
Third, if you can't separate your tween or teen from her smartphone, make it work for you! Put your kiddo in charge of taking photos with the cell phone camera during your vacation. He can even try to complete our Sedona Photography Challenge and share your pics with us on Instagram!
One thing parents often hear when traveling with kids is the whine of "I'm huuuuunnnnggrryyyyy!" Faced with the challenge of finding kid-friendly places to eat at least three, and sometimes more, times a day on your vacation, you are wise to look in advance for restaurants and eateries that cater to families.
While it's certainly true that most places in Sedona will welcome you and your progeny, why not check out these especially kid-friendly joints that offer a decent array of choices on their children's menus, won't break your budget (probably), and will keep the kidlets entertained long enough for you to actually take a rest, maybe have a cocktail, and enjoy a meal yourself.
Insider tip: If you're staying a couple of days and your lodging has a fridge and/or microwave in the guestroom, make an early stop at one of the local grocers like Safeway or New Frontiers Natural Marketplace to stock up on some kid-friendly snacks and maybe even a simple ready-to-eat meal or two. You'll be happy to have fresh goodies and drinks on hand to not only keep up your sightseeing energy, but also avoid having to eat every single meal in a restaurant.
Pet-Friendly | Fitness Center | Outdoor Pool | Free Hot Breakfast | Located on Oak Creek
Activities
Native American Culture & Tours | Professionally Guided
Private Tours Available | Custom Options Available
"Voted BEST 1 day experience in Sedona. Let me show you the true POWER of SEDONA! Sedona is not a city it is a consciousness. The Vortex energy here is the most powerful any where on the plane … More
"Voted BEST 1 day experience in Sedona. Let me show you the true POWER of SEDONA! Sedona is not a city it is a consciousness. The Vortex energy here is the most powerful any where on the planet. I will take you to the most miraculous healing vortex for a guided meditation to meet your Spirit Guides. Sedona NIGHTS are pure magic! Not only will you see a million more stars in our sky. My UFO tour will forever change the way you think of the world around you. I GUARANTEE SIGHTINGS! This 1 day experience can truly be a game changer. Your consciousness will open to coming into more contact with your Star Family. MAKE THIS PART OF YOUR SEDONA JOURNEY
Private Tours Available | Vortex Experience | Nightlife
The FIRST and only Food Tour in Sedona, Old Town Cottonwood, and Jerome is Vortex Food Tours!
A food tour is the best way to not only get to know our town intimately, but to know where you want to go for ALL your dining while here. If you're only here for one day, then you wi … More
The FIRST and only Food Tour in Sedona, Old Town Cottonwood, and Jerome is Vortex Food Tours!
A food tour is the best way to not only get to know our town intimately, but to know where you want to go for ALL your dining while here. If you're only here for one day, then you will enjoy being able to dine in many locations, all with spectacular views of our red rock wonderland!
Vortex Experience | Activities
Wedding Venue
Western Experience | Activities | Native American Culture & Tours | Professionally Guided
Take a Hike! The Sedona Hiking App currently has over 110 trails, over four hundred miles of trail documented and available in the App. You can follow your location in real time and always know where you are on the trail. Visit and explore www.SedonaHikingApp.com for trail listings and … More
Take a Hike! The Sedona Hiking App currently has over 110 trails, over four hundred miles of trail documented and available in the App. You can follow your location in real time and always know where you are on the trail. Visit and explore www.SedonaHikingApp.com for trail listings and hike highlights with pictures from the trails.
Here's how it works: After you decide on the trails you'd like to experience, download the trails onto your device (with a network connection) and 'select' them as you do the hike. Click 'Take a Hike' to see the map. Everything you need is in each hike package, including driving directions This really is hiking for everyone. Easy, moderate, and hard day hikes to enjoy the grandeur of Sedona!
Check out our new Discovering Sedona Landmarks app!
Self-Guided | Activities | Native American Culture & Tours
Spend a day visiting two of the most iconic landscapes in the American Southwest- Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend! Our Lower Antelope Canyon Tours take you into the heart of one of the most spectacular slot canyons in the world. Afterwards, we visit the famous Horseshoe Bend, where y … More
Spend a day visiting two of the most iconic landscapes in the American Southwest- Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend! Our Lower Antelope Canyon Tours take you into the heart of one of the most spectacular slot canyons in the world. Afterwards, we visit the famous Horseshoe Bend, where you can peer off the edge at the mighty Colorado River! Tours leaves from Flagstaff.
Professionally Guided
Experience the wind ripping through your hair on a thrill ride over nature's wildest predators. Enjoy the adventure of a lifetime on a world-class zip line over Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde Arizona! We are conveniently located less than 20 miles from Sedona, in the heart of … More
Experience the wind ripping through your hair on a thrill ride over nature's wildest predators. Enjoy the adventure of a lifetime on a world-class zip line over Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde Arizona! We are conveniently located less than 20 miles from Sedona, in the heart of Northern Arizona's wine country, just minutes from tasting rooms and vineyards. From the top of the towers, you can see majestic red rocks, the San Francisco peaks, and the whole breathtaking Verde Valley including Cottonwood, Clarkdale and Jerome. Come join us for a Zip Line adventure that you'll never forget! Ride the most exciting zip line ever devised, over Out of Africa and soar over Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Hyenas, Bears, Jaguars and other natural predators!
Professionally Guided
Western Experience | Activities
Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course is an elevated obstacle course set in the tall Ponderosa Pines. It is securely suspended between the trees at 15 to 60 feet off the ground. At Flagstaff Extreme, we believe the best family memories are usually ones that take place outdoors, so bring th … More
Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course is an elevated obstacle course set in the tall Ponderosa Pines. It is securely suspended between the trees at 15 to 60 feet off the ground. At Flagstaff Extreme, we believe the best family memories are usually ones that take place outdoors, so bring the entire family! There are 5 adult courses and 1 junior course with obstacles ranging from tarzan ropes, to wobbly bridges, swinging logs, cargo nets, ziplines, and even an aerial surf board!
Come Play in the Trees and explore the outdoors like you never have before!
To see our availability or book a reservation, check out www.flagstaffextreme.com or give us a call at 888-259-0125!
(See our website for age and height restrictions)
Activities | Activities
Voted on Trip Advisor as the most popular Grand Canyon day tour. This is the best way to enjoy the Grand Canyon without doing any strenuous hiking. Nearly five millions people come to see the Canyon each year and many spend much of their time trying to figure out what to do. Our profess … More
Voted on Trip Advisor as the most popular Grand Canyon day tour. This is the best way to enjoy the Grand Canyon without doing any strenuous hiking. Nearly five millions people come to see the Canyon each year and many spend much of their time trying to figure out what to do. Our professional guides will make sure you get the most out of your trip. While touring in comfort you will learn about the geology and history of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The day tour includes short walks to some incredible "less-used" outlooks, a looking into some of the areas most impressive historic buildings, and time to browse resident art galleries and gift shops.
Professionally Guided | Lunch Included | Private Tours Available
Vortex Experience | Professionally Guided
Pet-Friendly | Located on Oak Creek | Kitchenette or Full Kitchen | Fireplace(s)
Professionally Guided | Pickup from Hotel
Family Vacation