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Do you want to experience the beauty of Sedona without hiking? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! There are plenty of things to do in Sedona without hiking!
1. Take A Scenic Drive Through Sedona
Upper Red Rock Loop
We really enjoyed the scenic drive through Upper Red Rock Loop, as the road is no where near as busy as other drives in Sedona, and the views are great.
You get a little loop into the way the locals live, while also having multiple stops along the way with views of Cathedral Rock and modern cliff dwellings.
Red Rock Scenic Byway (Highway 179)
If you’ve ever seen the movie Cars, this drive will make you feel like you’re actually in the movie. This is an extremely busy road, and the views are literally breathtaking, so make sure you can drive and pay attention at the same time ;).
I’ve read that there are often wrecks on this road, but we’ve never actually seen any, and we’ve driven it a lot of times!
Oak Creek Canyon
Be prepared for some serious elevation gain driving up the Oak Creek Canyon.
This drive goes by popular places like the West Fork Oak Creek Trail and Slide Rock State Park.
Continuing up the drive, you’ll be greeted with gnarly switchbacks, putting you up on top of the canyon at an epic viewpoint.
This drive is not recommended for RVs as the corners are tight and it’s super steep!
Boynton Canyon Road
Boynton Canyon Road leaves West Sedona right at the Famous Pizza and Beer restaurant, and goes straight up past Dry Creek Trailhead to a T. At the road junction, swing a left, and continue up into the Canyon.
The best views along this road are near Fay Canyon, and while you could make this a loop drive, the views are so incredible to see as an out and back, that I’d suggest turning around and going back to West Sedona the same way you came.
A good destination to try and reach is Aerie Trailhead; 34.885629, -111.869744. That’s a great place to have a quick snack, get out and stretch your legs, and then head right back into town.
2. Take A Jeep Tour
If the scenic drives above sound great, but you don’t actually want to drive them yourself consider taking a jeep tour!
While there are some intense off-roading jeep tours in Sedona, there are also slow and enjoyable open roof top van tours that don’t go so much on the extremely bumpy Sedona roads!
3. Soak In The Chapel Of The Holy Cross Views
Chapel of the Holy Cross is a vortex site in Sedona and a Catholic Chapel that is open to the public.
While the parking in this area could create a walk up the hill, there is sometimes a golf cart shuttle taking visitors from the parking lot to the chapel.
The views along the paved entrance to the chapel are great, and going inside the chapel is beautiful!
4. Rent An Off-Roading Vehicle
Renting an off-roading vehicle is the perfect thing to do in Sedona without hiking! You get to experience the beautiful of Sedona without extra effort of hiking.
There are loads of off-roading trails in Sedona, but some of the most popular are Schnebely Hill, Dry Creek Canyon, and Boynton Canyon/FR 525.
It can get extremely dusty while off-roading in Sedona, so make sure your 4×4 comes with goggles or is completely inclosed so you’re not breathing in dust all day.
5. Enjoy The Views From Airport Mesa
There’s a super popular spot in Sedona for sunset, the famed Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout. This viewpoint costs $3 to park at, and gets really busy around sunset.
In fact, while we were there at sunset, there was literally a line to get into the parking area! So be sure to plan for extra time if you choose to go here!
This spot isn’t just great for sunset, it also provides beautiful daytime views! Bring some quarters to pop into the binoculars for close up views of Thunder Mountain and west Sedona.
6. Have A Spa Day
While there are some hotels in Sedona that you can actually enjoy a spa day right where you stay, there are also loads of spas in Sedona open for walk-ins.
The energy and beauty of Sedona sets you up for a restful and relaxing day at the spa.. a perfect way to enjoy Sedona without hiking!
7. Take A Hot Air Balloon Ride
When the weather is right, hot air balloons float across the sky at sunrise in Sedona! We’ve seen hundreds of balloons float by on hikes and even from our dispersed camp spot near Sedona.
These hot air balloon rides come in at a super hefty price, but they’re seemingly worth it for many people, as they’re constantly floating about!
8. Do A Wine Tour in Sedona
There’s a really big wine scene in Sedona, and no better way to safely experience it than by doing a wine tour! This wine tour comes with lunch and has some incredible reviews!
9. Visit A Heritage Site
There are five different heritage sites relatively near to Sedona. And the ones that are a bit further away, offer great views while driving to and from the heritage sites!
Most of Sedona’s Heritage Sites offer a deep dive into the native culture of the area with very little hiking. Check out the heritage sites below.
- Palatki Heritage Site | reservations are a must
- Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site | over 1,000 petroglyphs on one wall
- Honanki Heritage Site | high clearance vehicle needed to access
- Montezuma Castle | a ancient castle built into a cliff, south of Sedona
- Tuzigoot National Monument | home to the largest collection of ancient artifacts in the Verde Valley
10. Go Shopping
In full honesty, we aren’t big shoppers. We have yet to go shopping in Sedona, however, the shopping is said to be great.
We did attempt to visit the Tlaquapaque Village to walk around and shop, however, we couldn’t find parking — even driving the parking lot three times!
If you go shopping in Sedona, plan to take one of the shuttles to the shopping village, or head to Uptown Sedona, where there is more shopping and loads more parking available!
Enjoy Your Trip To Sedona!
Even if you don’t step on a trail in Sedona, the beauty of Sedona is worth the visit. In case you do want to hit some trails, check out these 25 easy hikes in Sedona! Some of them are less than a mile long!
Where To Stay in Sedona
Sedona is home to some really incredible VRBO rentals. The views from these houses are truly amazing.. and honestly, you may just want to stay home all day!
If you’re up for camping, check out these free camping spots in Sedona! We’ve stayed at most of them, and can say while busy, they’re a great way to save money!
If you don’t have a tent and want to try out what it’s like to stay in an RV, check out these RV rentals from Phoenix!
More Travel Tips For Sedona
While we have an entire page dedicated to our Sedona travel guides, we think the ones below you’ll find particularly interesting!
