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

Taking a day trip from Sedona to the Grand Canyon is one of the most worthwhile things to do when visiting this part of Arizona—it’s a National Park for a reason! These tours offer an unforgettable opportunity to witness one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Try one of many Grand Canyon helicopter tours from Sedona, AZ through the red rocks and over the Grand Canyon. Sedona AZ Grand Canyon tours by helicopter, van, or SUV get visitors up close to the grandeur of this natural marvel.

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 and navigation. Sit back, enjoy the experience, and let your guide take care of the rest.

One Day Trip Ideas from Sedona to Grand Canyon

Morning: Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim

Depart Sedona early (~7:00 AM) – 2 to 2.5 hr drive
Scenic views through Oak Creek Canyon, Flagstaff, and Kaibab National Forest

Recommended Routes:

AZ-89A North through Oak Creek Canyon
I-17 North to Flagstaff
I-40 West toward Williams
AZ-64 North to Grand Canyon South Rim

Late Morning: South Rim Visitor Center Area

Grand Canyon Visitor Center: Pick up maps, info, exhibits
Mather Point: Panoramic canyon views, perfect for photos

Midday: Scenic Rim Drive & Short Hikes

Yavapai Point & Geology Museum: Educational exhibits + views
Grand Canyon Village: Rim Trail walk, Bright Angel Trailhead
Lunch: El Tovar Dining Room, Arizona Room, or Market Café

Afternoon: Hermit Road Drive (Shuttle or Vehicle)

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

Scenic Viewpoints: Maricopa, Hopi, and Mohave Points
Hopi Point: Known for sweeping canyon views
Optional: Walk the Rim Trail for solitude and epic views

Late Afternoon: Return to Sedona

Begin drive back around 4:30–5:00 PM to ensure daylight
Optional dinner stop in Williams or Flagstaff

Highlights You Can See in One Day

Mather Point
Yavapai Point & Geology Museum
Rim Trail (easy walking)
Bright Angel Trailhead
El Tovar Hotel & Historic District
Multiple scenic overlooks on Hermit Road

Stay at a Hotel Near Grand Canyon National Park

While Sedona makes a great home base for your Grand Canyon adventure, with its upscale amenities and other attractions, staying closer to the park offers more time for exploration. Consider staying in Tusayan, AZ, just outside the South Rim gates, for convenient access to Grand Canyon National Park.

If visiting the Grand Canyon is a highlight of your trip, consider spending the night near the park. There are plenty of Grand Canyon hotels and tours to choose from. For more information, visit www.TheCanyon.com.

RECOMMENDED GRAND CANYON TOURS

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 … More

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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Self-Guided | Family-Friendly

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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 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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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 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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Private Tours Available | Professionally Guided | Lunch Included | Pickup from Hotel

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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 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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Professionally Guided | Lunch Included | Private Tours Available | Family-Friendly

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9.9

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. 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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Family-Friendly | Native Culture & Tours | Professionally Guided

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9.5

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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Family-Friendly

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9.9

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 … More

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Professionally Guided | Private Tours Available | Family-Friendly

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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 … More

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Family-Friendly

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9.6

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 … More

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Family-Friendly | Private Tours Available | Custom Options Available

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9.8

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 … More