10 Day Trips From Sedona With Kids You Don’t Want To Skip!

Exploring the red rocks of Sedona and looking for some good day trips in the area? You are in luck! Arizona has so many unique destinations that highlight its history and culture, from ancient dwellings to petroglyphs, and natural beauty from petrified wood to painted deserts, it won’t be hard to find options for day trips from Sedona!

Take a drive up to the Grand Canyon, explore Petrified Forest National Park, walk along the rim of a meteor Crater, or find some family friendly thrills in Flagstaff. When we visited Arizona, we made a road trip out of it and visited many of the top sites as well as lesser known sites.

I have combined my favorite stops into a list to help you plan your family vacation to Arizona!

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Day Trips From Sedona With Kids

Grand Canyon

Distance from Sedona: 118 miles (2 hours and 18 minutes)

The Grand Canyon is one of the best day trips from Sedona with kids. Located a little over 2 hours North of Sedona, the Grand Canyon is one of the most well known national parks in the US, and is definetly worth the visit.

You can spend the day exploring the Hermit’s Rest route on the park shuttle and take in the views without the effort, or you can explore the many hiking trails found throughout the park.

Aside from the trails and viewpoints, you can participate in the Junior ranger program, go for a bike ride, catch a sunset or go star gazing, go rafting on the Colorado River, go zip-lining, join a pink jeep tour, do the Grand Canyon sky walk, and look for wildlife.

Flagstaff

Distance from Sedona: 32.9 Miles (55 minutes)

Located along the historic Route 66, Flagstaff is both one of the best day trips from Sedona with kids, as well as a good base for exploring other areas of the state, including the Grand Canyon, Winslow, and Petrified Forest National Park. Flagstaff offers an abundance of family friendly activities.

Explore the area’s nature and native plant life at The Arbortum at Flagstaff. The Lava River Cave features a one mile long underground lava tube that you can explore with headlamps. The Walnut Canyon, located about 10 miles outside of Flagstaff, features a trail that takes you past ancient cliff dwellings.

Enjoy some family thrills at the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course, go mountain biking, or hike the Humphrey’s Peak trail (long but takes you to the highest point in Arizona). Visit Dinosaur Tracks to view fossilized footprints of dinosaurs. Head to downtown Flagstaff for some shopping at the Old Town Shops or take the Downtown Haunted History tour.

Meteor Crater National Landmark

Distance from Sedona: 75 miles (1 hour and 38 minutes)

Meteror Crater National Landmark was one of our favorite stops during our stay in Flagstaff, AZ. Meteor Crater (also known as the Barringer Crater) was created after impact with a meteor over 50,000 years ago. The meteor that struck the area was about 150 feet wide and created the crater that is 750 feet deep and about a mile wide.

You can easily view the crater from indoor and outdoor observation decks. The outside viewing platforms features several steps that give you different viewpoints of the crater. The viewpoints have telescopes so you can view different points inside the crater closer up.

If you want to learn more about the history of the area, you can take a guided rim tour. The tours last about an hour and you are led around the rim of the crater by a tour guide. These tours are included with admission.

There is also a museum on site that explores the history of the crater and space history. There is a short 15 minute film that highlights the creation and history of the crater. You will also find a cafe and gift shop on site. The unique views make this one of the best day trips from Sedona.

Day Trips From Sedona: Antelope Canyon

Distance from Sedona: 164 miles (2 hours and 58 minutes)

Antelope Canyon is a stunning slot canyon located in Northern Arizona and one of the best day trips from Sedona. It is a little farther than some of the other day trip spots from Sedona with kids, so it may be worth considering an overnight visit here. However, the sheer beauty of this location makes it well worth the visit!

Antelope Canyon sits on the Navajo Nation. Be aware that a permit and tour guide is required to explore this area, so you will definitely need to plan ahead. You can find many tour options for exploring the canyon, such as with Antelope Canyon Tours.

Upper Antelope Canyon is the better option for families with younger children, as it features ground-level entry with a wide, flat pathway to walk through. Visiting Upper Antelope Canyon allows you to view taller canyon walls and is a great way to see how the sunlight lights up the canyon walls during the day.

The Lower Antelope Canyon involves more work and steeper, narrower climbs. Exploring this area includes descending steep metal steps and ladders down into the canyon. Whether you choose to explore the Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, the views and experience are out of this world!

Phoenix

Distance from Sedona: 118 Miles (1 hour and 54 minutes)

Phoenix, Arizona was our starting point when we took a road trip through Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. It definitely has some bigger city vibes, but it also features lots of opportunities to get outdoors and explore nature.

You can go kayaking along the Salt River, providing a peaceful experience with the opportunity to see some of Arizona’s red rocks. Go hiking in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a nature preserve in nearby Scottsdale that features a large trail network that allow you to get up close to Phoenix’s large cacti.

Visit the Hole-in-the-Rock, located on Papago Park. There is a parking area near the rock and you can take a short, uphill walk to the Hole-in-the-Rock. The butte has a large hole you can stand in for views overlooking Phoenix. The Desert Botanical Gardens are a good place to see native plant life. The gardens are home to over 50,000 plants spread over 140 acres.

Aside from the outdoor activities, you can enjoy some indoor, rainy day activities including the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, the Arizona Science Center, the Legoland Discovery Center, and indoor playgrounds/action parks. The wide variety of options makes this one of the best day trips from Sedona.

Petrified Forest National Park

Distance from Sedona: 141 miles (2 hours and 25 minutes)

Located in Northeastern Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park is one of the most unique national parks in the US. The parks offers a unique combination of landscapes, including petrified wood in the Southern part of the park, ancient petroglyphs in the center, and the painted desert in the Northern part of the park.

One of the best things to do in the park is go for a scenic drive. A 28 mile paved drive connects I40 to Highway 180 with many opportunities to pull over and take in the canyon and badlands views.

There are also family friendly hiking trails in the park. The Giant Logs Trail is 0.4 mile unpaved loop trail that takes you past some of the largest petrified logs in the park. The Blue Mesa Trail is a 1 mile loop trail that goes down into the park’s colorful badlands. The Agate House trail is a little longer at 2 miles but takes you to the remains of an 8 room pueblo.

Newspaper Rock features hundreds of ancient rock petroglyphs to view. You will also want to stop at the Rainbow Forest Museum to learn about the park and its history. The Giant Logs Trail is located behind this museum. The park offers so much to see and explore, you could easily spend a day trip from Sedona just exploring this park!

Sunset Crater Volcano National Landmark

Distance from Sedona: 51.7 miles (1 hour and 23 minutes)

Sunset Crater Volcano National Landmark is one of the most unique day trips from Sedona with kids.The area is centered around the Sunset Crater Volcano, which was created around the year 1085 after volcanic activity in the area, changing the natural landscape of the area and impacting human and animal life.

The area offers easy hiking trails for families to get up close and see the unique features of the park. The trails take you along the remnants of lava flows from the Sunset Crater Volcano. Other trails in the park also take you through Ponderosa Pine forests and offer views of the surrounding San Francisco Mountains.

The Lava Flow Trail is one of the best trails options in the park and takes you on a 1 mile loop near the base of the volcano. The Bonito Vista Trail and the A’a Trail are other good options for family hikes.

For a different way to explore the area, consider an off-roading trip through the Cinder Hills OHV Area. The area features a 14 mile loop South of Sunset Crater and takes you to volcanic cinder cones.

Your admission to Sunset Crater includes entrance to the nearby Wupatki National Monument. There is a 34 mile Sunset Crater-Wupatki Scenic Loop Drive connecting the two parks (We will talk more about Wupatki below).

Day Trips From Sedona: Wupatki National Monument

Distance from Sedona: 62.9 miles (1 hour and 20 minutes)

Wupatki National Monument is an excellent destination for exploring the history of the Native people while enjoying stunning views and short walks. The Wupatki National Monument contains the remnants of ancient pueblos built over 900 years ago by the Puebloans.

The sites contain multi-room dwellings, ball courts, and ancient petroglyphs. The main dwellings you can still view today include the Wupatki Pueblo, Lomaki Pueblo, Wukoki Pueblo, along with several smaller dwellings.

The Blowhole is another unique feature found at the Wupatki National Monument. The Blowhole is a natural vent in the ground that releases air from an underground cave system. It is believed to have been used for religious or ceremonial purposes.

Aside from viewing and learning about the history of the area, you can also enjoy some hikes. The Wupatki Pueblo Trail is a 0.7 mile trail that takes you to the Wuptaki Pueblo. The Doney Mountain trail is 1.6 miles, but is considered moderate due to loose cinder rocks along the trail and a steady incline.

Because of its close proximity to Sunset Crater Volcano National Landmark, I recommend combining the two on the same day trip. Wuptaki National Monument and Sunset Crater are connected by a 34 mile scenic drive.

Winslow

Distance from Sedona: 89 miles (1 hour and 40 minutes)

Winslow, Arizona is a small city located along the historic route 66, made famous by its reference in the Eagles’ hit song “Take It Easy.” Winslow offers a combination of small town charm, history and culture, and outdoor adventure, making it one of the best day trips from Sedona with kids.

When visiting the city, be sure to stop at the Standin’ on the Corner park, which features a tribute to the song, including statues and a flatbed Ford. Near the park you will find local shops and dining options, so spend some time exploring downtown Winslow.

The Sipp Shoppe is located downtown near the Standin’ on the Corner park and was one of our favorite stops in Winslow. The shop has a retro diner feeling and offers soda, shakes, and ice cream cones.

About 15 minutes outside of Winslow you will find Homolovi State Park, which features historical sites and the remnants of villages built by the Hopi people. There is also a visitor center and museum on site.

The Clear Creek Reservoir offers opportunities for kayaking, swimming, and cliff jumping. There are no lifeguards, so you will want to use extra caution. Clear Creek Rentals offers stand up paddle boards and kayaks for rent if you don’t have your own.

The Remembrance Garden is a tribute to the lives lost in the 9/11 attacks, featuring beams recovered from the towers. Winslow is about 20 miles from Meteor Crater National, so it makes for a good combination day trip.

Little Painted Desert County Park

Distance from Sedona: 107 miles (1 hour and 56 minutes)

Little Painted Desert County Park is one of the most underrated destinations and was one of our favorite stops when visiting Sedona, Arizona. Little Painted Desert County Park gives you views of Arizona’s Northeastern badlands and eroded colorful hills. The formations in this area have a stunning combination of red, orange, yellow, purple, and gray.

While there are no official trails, walking around the rim gives you plenty of opportunity to take in the views of the colorful hills. If you are able, visiting at sunset will give you some of the best views. The light of the setting sun reflects off the colors of the painted desert, giving it a unique glow.

Little Painted Desert sees much less traffic than nearby national parks and sites, and there is a good chance you will have the park mostly to yourself. Unfortunately the park is no longer maintained and some sections are not in the best shape, but we still think it is worth a visit!

Little Painted Desert County Park is located about a 20 minute drive outside of Winslow, AZ. I would recommend combining a visit to Little Painted Desert with a visit to either Winslow or Meteor Crater National Landmark.