The last stop on our family road trip was Sedona, AZ. This place was actually not even on my radar but after visiting Zion National Park we randomly decided to head south and check it out. I’m so glad I did because it was my favorite spot along our road trip! I even got a few DM’s from you girls asking about this stop, more then any other place we stopped at. We had fun as a family here, but I am already planning a trip to come back after this baby is born with just Jeff and I. There was so many things I wanted to do (like rent off road vehicles) that just wasn’t practical for us right now. But either way, we still had a great time and there were a ton of family friendly activities to do in Sedona with kids.
Sedona Viewpoint
538 Airport Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
This viewpoint was one of my favorite locations in Sedona! It is definitely a must for amazing family photos. You can get to the viewpoint by driving up the hill to the airport. You will see some parking along the road (and people waiting for spots), but if you go all the way to the top there is a giant parking lot. It does cost $3 to park here. Take in the views and then from there you can hike a quick trail called Airport View Trail. The trail head is at the entrance of the parking lot.
Sedona Trails with Kids
Fay Canyon Trail – This was our favorite trail we hiked with the kids! It is roughly 1.3 miles each way along a flat and shaded pathway. There were even a few deer along here! At the end of the trail is the heart of the red rocks (seen above). We didn’t climb all the way up it, but if you do it has some spectacular views of the entire valley. Definitely get to this trail early (like before 9am) because the parking lot is fairly small. Also, the Fay Canyon trail head is across the street from the parking lot.
Sedona View Trail – aka the Airport View Trail. With flat paths and a roundtrip length of 1.2 miles, Sedona View Trail is one of the top and most popular hikes to do in Sedona with kids. There are great views of Chimney Rock, Coffee Pot Rock and Thunder Mountain. Park at the airport lot (cost $3) and take in the views before you start hiking. Great for kids of all ages!
Here are more Sedona trails filtered by “easy”.
More Things To Do In Sedona With Kids
Sedona’s Rainbow Trout Farm – This local fish hatchery supplies all the local restaurants with their trout in addition to a stocked pond on their property where kids can fish. They have all the gear you could need there and you only pay for what you catch. The girls had a blast! There are also BBQ’s on site if you want to grill up the fish you catch right there for lunch or dinner, they sell grill kits with lemon, etc for just a few dollars. We took our fish home, but before we left they cleaned them and put them on ice.
Downtown Sedona – There is a super cute downtown area with shops, restaurants, etc. We didn’t end up walking around here because our lack of time, but we drove through it and it looked so cute! Tons of cute cafes, ice cream shops, knick knack and souvenir shops… I think it would be fun for the whole family to spend a few hours browsing and grab some lunch.
Canyon Breeze Restaurant – Views, views, more views, and pizza! Sit on the patio for dinner with kids and enjoy a few drinks. They also offer kids meals. Highly recommend this restaurant!
Camping In Sedona
Since our trip was planned so last minute, we weren’t able to get a reservation at a campgrounds. Lucky for us, Arizona has lots of federally owned land which is free to camp on! We found a popular spot just a few miles outside of Sedona, close to the red rocks and canyons. There are multiple campsites along Loy Butte Road (aka FSR 525). A few things to keep in mind… these campsites are first come, first serve. So, don’t wait until the last minute or dark to find a campsite. We made this mistake and had to drive two miles down the dirt road in the dark until we found one. Also, many of the campsites are for groups and can easily fit 3+ RVs or campers so don’t be surprised if someone pulls in to share your spot. Even with the added campers, we all still had our own fire ring and plenty of space. This area is great for RVs, tents, or camping in your car.
A highlight of this camping spot was all the stars at night! It was amazing!!!
We spent less than a full day in Sedona with kids, but there is so much I want to come back and do! Definitely worth the stop!