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Sedona to Grand Canyon Day Trip: A Must-Do Experience

Taking a day trip from Sedona to Grand Canyon National Park is one of the one of the most worthwhile things to do when visiting this part of Arizona, It’s one of the Seven Natural National Wonders of the World for a reason! Grand Canyon tours offer an unforgettable opportunity to witness one of the world’s greatest natural in ways photographs could never do it justice. Try one of several Grand Canyon helicopter tours from Sedona, AZ through the red rocks then over the Grand Canyon. Or travel from Sedona to Grand Canyon in a van, SUV, or private, luxury vehicle in order to get up close to the grandeur of it all.

Many Grand Canyon tours from Sedona include convenient hotel pickup and a delicious lunch, making your adventure as comfortable as it is memorable. Traveling with an experienced guide eliminates the hassle of planning, navigation, or researching the most spectacular points to visit. Sit back and get the most out of your experience, and let your Grand Canyon guide take care of the rest.

Should You Stay in Sedona or Near Grand Canyon National Park?

Sedona is a great city to make your home base for your Grand Canyon adventure, especially if you're looking for more upscale amenities and other things to do while you're visiting. But if visiting the Grand Canyon is a major highlight of your trip and think you might want to spend more time than a day there, you want to stay a bit closer the Canyon, consider staying n Tusayan, AZ, Williams, or Flagstaff. There are plenty of hotels and Grand Canyon tours to choose from that depart of these other locations closer to the Canyon than Sedona.

How far is Sedona from Grand Canyon National Park?

The distance is approximately 110 miles (177km), which takes about 2 hours to drive

Which rim of the Grand Canyon is the closest to Sedona?

The South Rim is the closest rim to Sedona. There are several ways to get to Grand Canyon from Sedona, all of which are well traveled roads or highways that are maintained regularly year-round. Snow may affect the accessibility and road conditions of these roads after bigger winter storms.

Morning: Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim

Depart Sedona early (around 7:00 AM) to maximize your time. The drive takes about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Enjoy scenic views through Oak Creek Canyon, Flagstaff, and Kaibab National Forest.

Recommended Routes:

Late Morning: South Rim Visitor Center Area

  • Grand Canyon Visitor Center
  • Stop for maps, information, and short exhibits about geology and history.
  • Park nearby and walk to Mather Point, one of the most iconic canyon overlooks.
  • Free Hop-On / Hop-Off Shuttle Bus
    Experience views of Grand Canyon National Park by taking advantage of the regularly scheduled shuttle bus that drops off and picks visitors up at all the popular (as well as the less visited) parts of the Canyon rim.

Midday: Scenic Rim Drive & Short Hikes

  • Yavapai Point & Geology Museum
  • Excellent views and exhibits explaining the canyon's formation.
  • Grand Canyon Village
  • Walk along the Rim Trail between Verkamp’s Visitor Center and El Tovar Hotel.
  • Check out Bright Angel Trailhead — even a short descent gives a sense of the canyon’s depth.

Lunch

Options:
  • El Tovar Dining Room (sit-down)
  • Arizona Room (sit-down)
  • Canyon Village Market (quick bites)

Afternoon: Hermit Road Drive (Seasonal Shuttle or Personal Vehicle)

Note: Hermit Road is shuttle-only March–November, unless you’re biking or walking.

Scenic Viewpoints

  • Shuttle or drive west to points like Maricopa Point, Hopi Point, and Mohave Point.
  • Hopi Point is excellent for sweeping canyon views and photo ops.
Optional Short Hike
  • Walk a stretch of the Rim Trail between shuttle stops for peaceful, uncrowded views.

Late Afternoon: Begin Return to Sedona

  • Begin heading back by 4:30 to 5:00 PM to ensure daylight driving.
  • Optional quick stop in Williams or Flagstaff for dinner on the way back.
Highlights You Can See in One Day
  • Mather Point
  • Yavapai Point and Museum
  • Rim Trail (easy walking)
  • Bright Angel Trailhead
  • South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Ah Point
  • El Tovar Hotel and Grand Canyon Village Historic District
  • Several scenic overlooks along Hermit Road

RECOMMENDED GRAND CANYON TOURS

Grand Canyon South Rim Tour from Phoenix & Scottsdale with Sedona

Take in unforgettable views of classic southwestern landscapes. Explore the Grand Canyon South Rim in this incredible tour from Phoenix & Scottsdale that covers the deepest and widest parts of the Grand Canyon. This day tour of the South Rim spends approximately three hours in Grand Canyon
Take in unforgettable views of classic southwestern landscapes. Explore the Grand Canyon South Rim in this incredible tour from Phoenix & Scottsdale that covers the deepest and widest parts of the Grand Canyon. This day tour of the South Rim spends approximately three hours in Grand Canyon National Park and some time in Sedona.
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Grand Canyon Railway

Visit the official website for Grand Canyon Railway. Book your reservation online for a train tour on one of five classes of service on our vintage train to the Grand Canyon. Or,select a vacation package that includes lodging at our own Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and in Grand Canyon Nation
Visit the official website for Grand Canyon Railway. Book your reservation online for a train tour on one of five classes of service on our vintage train to the Grand Canyon. Or,select a vacation package that includes lodging at our own Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and in Grand Canyon National Park.
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Wildland Trekking

Go on an epic journey in Sedona or to the Grand Canyon! Services include 1 to 8 day hiking adventures, tasty backcountry cuisine, and quality gear served up by America's most experienced and knowledgeable Grand Canyon guides. 25+ years experience in adventure travel.
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Private Grand Canyon Hiking Tours

Join us on one of our private Grand Canyon hiking tours and experience the canyon up close and personal! We offer guided hiking tours of the Grand Canyon on several of the best trails along the South Rim, departing from Flagstaff or Grand Canyon in the early morning. Our expert guides will
Join us on one of our private Grand Canyon hiking tours and experience the canyon up close and personal! We offer guided hiking tours of the Grand Canyon on several of the best trails along the South Rim, departing from Flagstaff or Grand Canyon in the early morning. Our expert guides will discuss with you your experience and skill level in order to decide which hiking trails would be the best fit for you. Is there a specific trail you have been dying to hike? Great! Our professional guides are here to make sure you have the best experience possible. Because our hiking tours are completely private, your hiking experience is personalized and can be as long or as short as you want. On our Grand Canyon hiking tours, you can opt for a full day of hiking, or we can split the day between hiking and sightseeing. You’ll experience the canyon like never before. When you walk down the canyon, you are walking through geologic time. See the rock layers, and learn about the canyon’s millions of years of geologic history. Enjoy picture-perfect viewpoints along the trail and capture every breathtaking moment.
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Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters

World's Largest and Most Experienced Helicopter Sightseeing Company! Daily multilingual tours of Grand Canyon departing from Sedona, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon West and Las Vegas. Choose from a variety of Air Tours, River Rafting, Weddings venus, IMAX attractions, or e
World's Largest and Most Experienced Helicopter Sightseeing Company! Daily multilingual tours of Grand Canyon departing from Sedona, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon West and Las Vegas. Choose from a variety of Air Tours, River Rafting, Weddings venus, IMAX attractions, or even fly the Vegas strip by night.
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Pink Jeep Adventures

Hang on tight for a fun-filled adventure that leads you on and over the red rocks in a cutting edge Jeep Wrangler, while the magnificent canyon walls surround you. You'll be awestruck by the natural splendor and thrilled as your guide expertly navigates you down iconic red rock trails. Cho
Hang on tight for a fun-filled adventure that leads you on and over the red rocks in a cutting edge Jeep Wrangler, while the magnificent canyon walls surround you. You'll be awestruck by the natural splendor and thrilled as your guide expertly navigates you down iconic red rock trails. Choose from over 15 adventure tours or go with Sedona's most popular tour for nearly 60 years, The Broken Arrow Tour, exclusively offered by Pink Jeep Tours.
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Grand Canyon South Rim Self-Guided Driving Tour

Witness one of the natural wonders of the world in all its glory. The Grand Canyon is so massive, and awe-inspiring that you simply must see it with your own two eyes to truly understand its scale. This value-for-money self-guided tour takes you to all the best vistas and hiking trails. Ex
Witness one of the natural wonders of the world in all its glory. The Grand Canyon is so massive, and awe-inspiring that you simply must see it with your own two eyes to truly understand its scale. This value-for-money self-guided tour takes you to all the best vistas and hiking trails. Explore Grand Canyon at your own pace with over 60 stories laid out on a 45-mile route.
  • Fully Guided Personal Tours
  • Professionally Narrated Stories
  • Works Offline
  • Fun Facts
  • Tour At Your Own Pace
  • Location Aware, Plays Automatically
  • Don’t Miss Any Sightseeing Points
  • No Groups. No Tips
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    Arizona Private Tours

    Arizona Private Tours is the leading private tour agency in Northern Arizona. We specialize in safe & sanitary custom tours. We pick up guests in Flagstaff and spend our day exploring scenic Arizona in an intimate setting with an expert guide in comfort. Our luxury SUV's will take you and
    Arizona Private Tours is the leading private tour agency in Northern Arizona. We specialize in safe & sanitary custom tours. We pick up guests in Flagstaff and spend our day exploring scenic Arizona in an intimate setting with an expert guide in comfort. Our luxury SUV's will take you and up to 6 guests on a completely customizable tour of Northern Arizona. For majestic private Grand Canyon tours to Verde Valley Wine tours & ghost towns in the Sedona area, we cover it all. Let us create the custom tour of your dreams and know that we want to make this a day that you will remember for the rest of your life.
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    Maverick Helicopter Tours

    Maverick Helicopters offers tours of the Grand Canyon West Rim and South Rim. Maverick brings VIP service to the canyon with climate-controlled helicopters and unobstructed views perfect for sightseeing. They give you an adventure of a lifetime and not just another tour of the Grand Canyon
    Maverick Helicopters offers tours of the Grand Canyon West Rim and South Rim. Maverick brings VIP service to the canyon with climate-controlled helicopters and unobstructed views perfect for sightseeing. They give you an adventure of a lifetime and not just another tour of the Grand Canyon.
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    9.8

    Best Grand Canyon Day Tours

    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

    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.

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    Grand Canyon South Rim Tour from Phoenix & Scottsdale

    Marvel at the beauty that is the South Rim during this Grand Canyon Tour from Phoenix & Scottsdale. Highlights include a day trip to visit Arizona’s breathtaking Grand Canyon National Park, a scenic drive with views of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, and several viewpoints at the

    Marvel at the beauty that is the South Rim during this Grand Canyon Tour from Phoenix & Scottsdale. Highlights include a day trip to visit Arizona’s breathtaking Grand Canyon National Park, a scenic drive with views of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, and several viewpoints at the spectacular Grand Canyon South Rim. Optional "Colors & Canyons" 45-minute helicopter upgrade available.

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