Looking for the perfect Arizona destination for a family getaway? Look no further than Sedona! From stunning red rocks, thrilling family adventures, swimming holes, and historic sites, there are so many things to do in Sedona with kids you cannot go wrong!
Aside from the many family friendly attractions located right in Sedona, the surrounding areas also offer plenty of Arizona day trip options, making it a no fail destination. We have rounded up our favorite things to do in Sedona with kids that should be added to your itinerary!
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Things to Do in Sedona With Kids
Slide Rock State Park
Slide Rock State Park is the perfect spot to cool off on a hot summer day and one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids. Located in Oak Creek Canyon, Slide Rock State Park was formally known as the Pendley Homestead, a 43-acre apple farm. Today, the park is most known for the natural water slide.
The park’s swimming area is the main draw of the park, reachable via the 0.3 mile Slide Rock Route. The trail will take you down steps, across the creek on a footbridge, and over sandstone shelves. Once you reach the swimming area you will find the 80-ft. long natural waterslide that the park is famous for. There are also many smaller “pools” to wade and relax in.
The park also offers access to hiking trails both in the park and access to nearby Coconino National Forest trails. The Pendley Homestead Trail is one of the best options for families. At just 0.25-miles it is rated as easy and is a paved trail that takes you through a section of the historic homestead. You will be treated to stunning views of the Oak Creek Canyon along with the historic homestead house, tourist cabins, original and newer apple orchards, and an apple packing barn.
The Clifftop Nature Trail is another great option. The 0.25-mile trail will bring you to beautiful views of the swimming area. While enjoying the trails be on the lookout for some of Slide Creek State Park’s native wildlife, like the Coues Whitetail Deer, black bears, Javelina, and a wide range of birds.
Slide Rock State Park is open year-round, but hours will vary based on the time of year you are visiting (Be sure to check before visiting). The park does get quite busy and when we were visiting the line was backed up along the highway, so arriving earlier in the day is best.
Take a Pink Jeep Tour
A pink jeep tour is one of the best ways to see the red rocks of Sedona with kids. The ride itself makes the trip well worth it and brought many smiles and lots of laughter, but the true highlight of the tour were the views of Sedona’s red rocks.
Pink Jeep Tours of Sedona offer a number of different tours to choose from. Some of them are better suited for younger children, like the Diamondback Gulch tour, while others will be better with older children, like the Hiking Tour. We choose the Scenic Rim 2.0 tour, a 2-hour tour that takes you on a very bumpy ride along the cliffs and rock formations of Sedona with opportunities to stop along the way and explore the landscape.
If you are a history lover, the Ancient Ruins tour may be a good fit, or you can combine an Ancient Ruins and Diamondback Gulch tour. The Ancient Ruins tours bring you to the Honanki Heritage Site where you can explore 700-year-old cliff dwellings and view the Petroglyphs left behind by the Sinagua people.
The tours depart from the office building located among the shops and restaurants of uptown Sedona. You can find plenty of free public parking lots in Uptown Sedona within walking distance of the office, or paid parking along State Route 89A.
Red Rock State Park
Red Rock State Park is a 286-acre nature preserve with a range of natural landscapes, including the famous red rocks, green meadows, and native plant life Juniper and Manzanita. The park offers many opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking, and experiencing the natural beauty of Sedona.
Hiking in Red Rock State Park is one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids. The park contains 5 miles of hiking trails through Oak Creek and along the red rocks. Eagle’s Nest Loop, Coyote Ridge Trail, and the Apache Fire Loop are good options. The Eagle’s Nest Loop takes you to the highest point in the park at an elevation 300 feet with views overlooking Sedona.
Bike riding is another popular activity in the park. While the trails inside the park are limited, you will find access to Forest Service Trails. The Lime Kiln Trail near the entrance or the Turkey Creek Trail near the east gate of the park are good options.
When visiting Red Rock State Park, you will also want to stop at the visitor center. Here you will find interactive exhibits and a theater to learn about the history and geology of the park. You can also enjoy daily guided nature tours and bird tours.
Ride the Verde Canyon Railroad
The Verde Canyon Railroad is one of the best ways to view the natural beauty surrounding Sedona. The railroad offers 4 hour tours that take you from Clarkdale, through the Verde Canyon, and to the Perkinsville Ghost Ranch. Along the way, you will get views of the Verde River, red rock pinnacles, and ancient Indian ruins. You will also go through a man-made tunnel carved through solid rock.
The train features comfortable seating in climate controlled cars. You will also find panoramic windows, giving you lots of sunshine and great views of the surrounding scenery. The railroad also features open air cars, so you can enjoy 360 degree views of Verde Canyon.
During the ride you can enjoy complimentary appetizers, or purchase lunch at the Copper Spike Cafe before boarding. There is also a drink menu you can purchase some adult beverages from on the train.
Train rides are offered year round, so you can choose from festive holiday trains in the winter, fall foliage trains in the fall, and colorful plant life on spring rides. The Verde Canyon Railroad is one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids.
Things to Do in Sedona With Kids: Go For a Hike
With Sedona being one of Arizona’s best outdoor destinations, it is only natural that going for a hike should be on your bucket list of things to do when visiting Sedona with kids. The options for hikes are plentiful, with difficulty ranging from easy, family friendly hikes to more challenging and adventurous hikes.
For some easy family hikes in Sedona, check out Fay Canyon or Devil’s Bridge. Fay Canyon is a 2 mile long, easy trail along a flat, sandy trail. The trail is shaded on both sides by trees and surrounded by the red rocks of Sedona. When you reach the end of the trail you will have the option to add on taking the short trail to Fay Canyon Arch.
Devil’s Bridge is one of Sedona’s most popular hikes. The trail has an elevation gain of 400-500 ft. with a length of 2-4 miles. The trail takes you to Devil’s Bridge, a popular spot for stunning views and photo ops. The biggest challenge with this trail lies in getting to the trail head. It is located on a road only accessible by 4WD vehicles, so you may have to start at the Mescal Trailhead or walk from Dry Creek Road.
For some moderately rated hikes in Sedona, check out Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock. The Bell Rock Climb is rated as moderate but is still doable for families. The hike is 1 mile long uphill, with 400 ft. of elevation gain. You can climb partly up Bell Rock, and the views are well worth it!
Cathedral Rock is another moderately rated trail and is one of the most iconic hikes in Sedona. The trail is 1.2 miles with an elevation gain of 700 ft. and involves a little bit of climbing and rock scrambling. Whether you are looking for a short and easy hikes, or something more challenging, you will be able to find it in Sedona!
Visit Jerome
A visit to Jerome, one of Arizona’s historic mining towns, is one of the most unique things to do in Sedona with kids. Jerome was originally built in the late 1800’s along the hillside of Cleopatra Hill in Central Arizona because of the rich copper deposits in the area.
In 1953, the mines closed and the town almost became a ghost town. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, artists, musicians, and craftspeople revitalized the city. To this day, Jerome remains an active city with modern day amenities mixed with a lot of history.
When visiting Jerome today, you can visit Jerome State Historic Park, which preserves the history of the area. At the Jerome State Historic Park you can view large scale mining equipment, artifacts in the Douglas Mansion museum, or take a ghost tour of the village.
View the Sliding Jail, a historic jail that slid more than 200 ft. down the hillside due to shifting ground. You can also spend some time strolling the modern day Jerome, visiting galleries, gift shops, and cafes. Jerome is located about 28 miles outside of Sedona, and a 45 minute drive.
Take in the Views from the Airport Overlook
The Airport Overlook is another one of the best ways to take in views the red rocks and one of the most easily accessible, making it one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids. The Airport Mesa is a shrub-covered mesa found just South of Sedona. When visiting the Mesa, you can choose to simply drive up to the Airport Overlook or combine it with a hike along the Airport Loop Trail.
The drive to the Airport Overlook is only about 6 minutes from Sedona. There is a small fee to enter and park ($3 at the time of this writing), with a kiosk and parking attendant on site. Because of its easy accessibility, it is recommended to visit the Overlook both during daylight hours and then again at sunset for out of this world views.
A hike along the Airport Loop Trail is a great addition to an Overlook visit and will treat you to views of some of Sedona’s most iconic sites, including Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Thunder Mountain, and views of Sedona itself. The Airport Loop Trail is 3.2 miles with an elevation gain of 416 ft. The trail itself is relatively easy, but has many rocky sections, so be cautious if visiting with young children.
Take the Short Drive to Camp Verde
Camp Verde is a 40-minute drive outside of Sedona but makes for the perfect day trip from Sedona with kids. Here you will find more opportunities to enjoy nature, explore history, and enjoy some family fun, making it one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids.
Fort Verde State Historic Park is a fun and educational spot to take the kids. The park contains the remains of Fort Verde, a historic fort that played a role in the Central Arizona Indian Wars. With a visit to the fort you can enjoy seeing the remains, artifacts, see reenactors, and learn about the way of life during the time period.
The Montezuma Castle and Well, a site of preserved Native America cliff dwellings, is another great option in Camp Verde. You are not able to enter the dwellings at this site, but you can view them from a distance. The Montezuma Well is also interesting to see. It is about 11 miles south of the castle. It is a large sinkhole filled with water and plant and animal life unique to the area. The well can be reached on a 1/3-mile trail.
The Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum is another option and features exhibits on native Indian life in the area. The museum also offers different courses and events throughout the year you can join.
Visit the Ruins of Palatki and Honanki
If you have even the slightest interest in history, the Palatki and Honanki Heritage Sites are a must when visiting Sedona. The sites were once the largest cliff dwellings in the Red Rock Country in the years 1150 A.D. to 1350 A.D.
When visiting the Palatki Heritage Site you will find three trails taking you to the ruins. One trail will take you to the dwellings, the second will bring you to great views of the dwellings, and the last will bring you to alcoves containing pictographs left behind by the Sinagua people. Advanced reservations are required for guided tours of this area.
The Honanki Site features the remains of a dwelling that is believed to have contained 6 dozen rooms at one point. With a visit to the Honanki site you will find some of the stone walls still standing and many pictographs near the dwellings. People of three different cultures are believed to have lived at the site over a period of 700 years, including the Sinagua, Yavapai, and Apache people. The dwellings of Honanki can be viewed on a three-quarter mile trail that loops around the ruins.
The sites are open to visitors daily. Visitors to the sites must have a Red Rock Pass or America the Beautiful Pass. There is a small visitor center and gift shop near the parking area of the Palatki Heritage Site.
Things to Do in Sedona With Kids: Catch a Stunning Arizona Sunset
Catching a sunset is one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids. Sedona’s red rocks are stunning any time of day, but the way the light from the sunset reflects off of them gives you a unique perspective and view of the rocks.
One of the best places in Sedona to catch the sunset is from the Airport Mesa. From here you can take in stunning views overlooking Sedona’s red rocks, lit up from the light of the sunset, giving the cliffs a unique look.
Cathedral Rock is another good spot to catch the sunset from, but requires some hiking to reach it. Red Rock Crossing and Doe Mountain are also good options. Airport Mesa can be busy, so viewing the sunset from one of the trails will allow you to capture the great views with fewer crowds.
Go Stargazing
As a certified Dark Sky Community and one of the best stargazing destinations in the U.S., you won’t want to skip this when visiting Sedona with kids! You will find many areas in and around Sedona that are excellent options for stargazing on your own, or you can take a guided tour with Sedona Jeep Tours.
Stargazing can be done almost year round in Arizona, but July and August may be challenging. The area is usually affected by monsoon season, making rain and clouds more likely.
Some of the best spots for Stargazing in and around Sedona include Beaverhead Flat Scenic overlook, Aerie Trailhead, Fay Canyon Trail, and Two Trees Observing Area. This relaxing activity is one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids.
Get Out on the Verde River
The Verde River, known as Arizona’s “wild and scenic” River flows through a canyon with scenic views. The river is a popular spot for scenic views, wildlife watching, and water sports. There are many companies that offer guided day tours on the river, one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids.
Mild To Wild Rafting offers rafting and kayaking trips on the Verde River. The company offers rafts, inflatable kayaks, and adventure boat tours. Due to varying water levels on the Verde River throughout the year and from year to year, rafting tours may not always be available.
Verde Adventures offers tubing, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding tours on the Verde River. Kayak tours include spuddies (good for younger children and beginners), single kayaks, and tandem kayaks. 3 hour tubing tours are available and good for ages 5 and up. Wine and kayaking tours are also available for the adults. Whichever way you choose to get out on the river, it is sure to be a blast for the whole family!
Take a Guided ATV Tour
An off-roading adventure is a great way to explore Sedona’s wilderness and experience some family thrills. Arizona ATV Adventure Tours offers ATV tours, jeep tours, and UTV rentals. ATV tours take you through the West Sedona Canyon, about 8 miles outside of Sedona.
The tour is 3 hours long and gives you views of the Verde Valley from the top of Skeleton Bone Mountain. Drivers must be 15.5 years old and passengers can be as young as 5. Drivers must have a valid license or permit and pass a test before driving the ATV.
The jeep tours are more family friendly, with mild, moderate, and wild adventures. You can choose from a number of different tours, including wildlife safari tour, vortex experience tour, Sedona highlights tour, Diamondback Gulch tour, and more. Most tours allow children 5 and older to join.
You can also rent a UTV and drive through a number of trails in Sedona’s wilderness. UTV rentals include exploring on your own, they are not guided tours. The primary driver must be 21 and riders must be 5 years old.
Grasshopper Point Swimming Hole
The Grasshopper Point Swimming Hole is located at the base of Oak Creek Canyon, just 2 miles north of Sedona. The main feature of Grasshopper Point is the large, deep natural swimming hole.The swimming hole is shaded and only a 5 minute walk from the parking area.
You can also do some hiking in the area. Allen’s Trail off of the Grasshopper Point parking lot is a 1-mile-long round trip hike along the base of red rocks and parallel to the creek. The trail connects with Casner Canyon Trailhead, a strenuous 5.7-mile round trip hike. Other popular activities in the area include picnicking and and wildlife viewing.
Grasshopper Point is open daily from 9am to dusk. There is a small entry fee per vehicle or per person if walking in. The bottom of the swimming area is known to have rocks and varying depth, so it is important to use caution when swimming, and water shoes are recommended.
Things to Do in Sedona with Kids: Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is one of the best locations in Sedona for amazing views of the red rock formations. It was built in 1956 by Marguerite Brunswig Staude after her dream to build a similar structure in Budapest failed. The Chapel itself is tucked between two red rock formations. Even for the non-religious, the chapel is said to be located in a “vortex” bringing gratitude to those who visit.
The views from the Chapel are one of the top reasons people visit. You can stand inside or outside the chapel and take in stunning views of Sedona and the surrounding natural landscape and red rocks. If you are looking to visit for a religious service, you can attend a Taizé Prayer or a Mass any day of the week (visit their site for current times).
You can also enjoy a family friendly hiking trail off of the parking lot for the chapel. The Chapel Trail is a 1.3-mile-long total trail that goes along the red rocks of Sedona before meeting up with Little Horse Trail and taking you to the Chicken Point Overlook.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is open daily from 9am to 5pm. There is no fee to visit and you can find free parking (although limited) onsite. You will also find a gift shop on the ground floor open daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm that features many items created by local artists.
Dive Into History at the Sedona Heritage Museum
The Sedona Heritage Museum is a great rainy day activity when visiting Sedona with kids. The museum is located in Jordan Historical Park in uptown Sedona. It features exhibits on the early settlers in the area, cowboys in the area, and movies made in the area.
The museum also features different programs throughout the year, including musical programs, historical programs, quilting programs, and holiday programs. The museum is open daily except for major holidays.
Shop Til You Drop at the Tlaquepaque Arts and Craft Village
The Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village is a Mexican themed shopping area that is a must when visiting Sedona, Arizona with kids. The shopping village has over 50 unique and local specialty shops, galleries, restaurants, jewelry stores, and even a toy store.
The village is also well known for its art and galleries. You can walk through and admire unique artwork, sculptures, paintings, pottery, and jewelry. Throughout the year you might venture into one of them and find an artist at work, if you’re lucky.
One of the top reasons to visit the village is the events that are offered throughout the year. You can find art shows, plays, poetry readings, animal encounters, live music, celebrations (like Cinco de Mayo), and a weekly farmers’ market from early Spring to Fall.
After you’ve done your exploring and are ready for a bite to eat check out El Rincon Mexican Restaurante for authentic Mexican food or Oak Creek Brewery and Grill for American dishes, followed by a stop at Cream Handmade Ice Cream. Free parking is available at the village.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time of year to visit Sedona with kids?
Spring and fall are generally excellent times to visit Sedona with kids because temperatures are often more comfortable for outdoor activities. Summer can be very hot, so plan outdoor adventures early in the morning and save indoor activities for the afternoon.
Can you swim in Sedona with kids?
Yes! Slide Rock State Park is one of the most popular places for families to enjoy natural water slides and swimming in Oak Creek. Grasshopper Point State Park is another great option. Water levels, currents, and temperatures can change, so always follow posted safety guidance and supervise children closely.
Where can you watch the sunset in Sedona with kids?
Airport Mesa, Red Rock Crossing, and viewpoints along Red Rock Scenic Byway are popular places to watch the sunset. Airport Mesa offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, while Red Rock Crossing is known for its picturesque views of Cathedral Rock.
How many days do you need in Sedona with kids?
Two to three days is a good starting point for a family trip to Sedona. This gives you time to explore a few family-friendly hikes, visit a swimming area or park, take a scenic drive, and enjoy the town. Families who want to include jeep tours, longer hikes, or nearby day trips may want to stay four or five days.
Are jeep tours in Sedona appropriate for children?
Yes, many jeep tour companies offer family-friendly excursions, but minimum age requirements, ride intensity, and safety restrictions vary. Some tours travel over very rough terrain, so check the operator’s policies and ask whether the tour is appropriate for your child’s age and comfort level before booking.
***The Navigating Mom (and this post) may contain affiliate links. If you purchase from one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.****
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