An open-air jeep tour is the most fun you can have on four wheels in Sedona. Guides take you bouncing up and over the red rocks on rugged routes you cannot reach in a regular car, and the views are unforgettable. It is consistently a top highlight for both kids and adults. Here is how the jeep tours Sedona operators run actually work, what they cost, and which one is best for families.
What a Sedona Jeep Tour Is Like
You ride in an open 4x4 with a small group and a local guide. The vehicle climbs and tilts over slickrock and rough trails while the guide shares geology, history, and the best photo stops. It feels like a theme-park ride with real red-rock scenery all around you. Most tours last one to three hours. The guides do the hard driving while you hold on, snap photos, and take in the scenery, so you do not need any off-road experience yourself.
Pink Jeep vs Safari Jeep Tours
Pink Jeep Tours is the most famous operator in Sedona, known for the iconic Broken Arrow trail. Safari Jeep Tours (Arizona Safari Jeep Tours) is another highly rated operator with family-friendly red-rock routes. Both run professional, guided trips. The biggest differences come down to the specific trail, group size, and availability, so book whichever has the route and time slot that fit your trip.
A few practical distinctions help you decide:
- Trail access: Pink Jeep holds an exclusive permit for Broken Arrow, so if that specific route is your goal, you must book with them.
- Group size: Safari and other smaller operators often run more intimate groups, which can mean a more personal, conversational tour.
- Price: Smaller operators sometimes undercut the big-name brand for a comparable red-rock experience.
- Availability: In peak weeks the most popular slots vanish first, so flexibility on operator gives you more morning-tour options.
The Broken Arrow Trail
Broken Arrow is the most famous jeep route in Sedona, a rugged trail past Submarine Rock, Chicken Point, and the white-knuckle Devil's Staircase. It is the classic Sedona jeep experience and a favorite for first-timers who want the full bouncy adventure. The Devil's Staircase is the signature moment, a steep, stair-stepped descent down bare sandstone that looks impossible until your guide crawls the jeep right down it. Chicken Point opens up to a wide red-rock viewpoint that is one of the best photo stops in town.
Other Popular Sedona Routes
Broken Arrow gets the headlines, but Sedona has several other guided routes worth knowing about when you compare tours:
- Diamondback Gulch: A west-side trail with dramatic ledges, water crossings after rain, and the widest views on any Sedona route, out across open desert to the Mogollon Rim. A Diamondback Gulch jeep tour is the one to pick if you want distance and scale rather than the steep slickrock steps of Broken Arrow.
- Soldier Pass: A scenic route that passes the Seven Sacred Pools and the Devil's Kitchen sinkhole, lighter on the bouncing and heavy on the scenery.
- Outlaw Trail: A longer, more rugged backcountry option for groups that want maximum off-road thrills and fewer crowds.
- Coyote Canyon / Old Field: Gentler red-rock routes that suit families with younger kids or anyone who wants the views without the steepest drops.
Ask each operator which trail a given tour actually runs, since the same price can buy very different rides. Trail access is the reason: Pink Jeep holds the permit for Broken Arrow, Red Rock Western Jeep Tours and the other west-side operators run Diamondback Gulch and Soldier Pass, and no amount of paying more moves an operator onto a trail it is not permitted for.
One more thing worth knowing before you pick. Every route sells the same rock formations from a different angle: Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte and Coffee Pot are visible from most of the west-side trails, while Broken Arrow puts you inside the formations rather than looking at them, and the Schnebly Hill routes climb toward the Mogollon Rim for the long view back down over town. If this is your only tour, choose the one that matches which of those you want.
Prices and What to Expect
Most Sedona jeep tours run roughly $90 to $200 per adult depending on length and route, with discounts for children. Tours sell out in peak weeks, so book a morning slot in advance, mornings are cooler, calmer, and have the best light. Tipping your guide 15 to 20 percent is customary if you enjoyed the ride. Plan to arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to check in, sign waivers, and use the restroom, because there are no facilities out on the trails.
Best Time of Year to Go
Sedona runs jeep tours year-round, but each season feels different. Spring (March to May) brings mild temperatures, wildflowers, and the most comfortable riding weather, though it is also the busiest, so book early. Summer (June to August) is hot, so stick to the first morning departures and bring extra water. Fall (September to November) is arguably the sweet spot, with warm days, cool mornings, smaller crowds, and golden light on the rocks. Winter (December to February) is quiet and cool, and a dusting of snow on the red rocks is a stunning, less-crowded experience, though some high routes may close after storms.
What to Wear and Bring
The open vehicles mean sun, wind, and dust, so pack accordingly. Bring these essentials:
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, since there is no shade on the trail.
- Layers: mornings and winter rides start cold, then warm up fast.
- Closed-toe shoes: useful if you hop out at viewpoints onto loose rock.
- Water: Sedona is high desert and dry, so stay hydrated.
- A secured camera or phone strap: the ride is bumpy, and you do not want to drop a phone between the rocks.
Avoid loose hats or scarves that can blow off, and leave anything fragile in the car.
Are Jeep Tours Good for Kids?
Yes, jeep tours are one of the most kid-loved activities in Sedona. The bumpy ride and big rocks are pure giggles. Just check each operator's age rules: some rugged trails are off-limits to very young children. Arizona Safari Jeep Tours, for example, has a minimum age of 5, which makes the 5-to-12 age group perfectly positioned. You can book the Sedona Red-Rock Safari Jeep Tour here.
How to Fit a Jeep Tour Into Your Trip
A jeep tour pairs perfectly with an easy morning hike and an afternoon at Slide Rock. For a complete, day-by-day plan that builds the jeep tour into a kid-friendly Sedona trip, with where to stay and a drag-and-drop planner, see our things to do in Sedona with kids itinerary. For everything else to see and do, browse the full things to do in Sedona, Arizona guide.
Jeep Tours Sedona: Pink Jeep vs Safari FAQs
Look for a highly rated operator with a clear minimum age that fits your kids. Arizona Safari Jeep Tours has a minimum age of 5 and family-friendly red-rock routes, which works well for the 5-to-12 age group. Pink Jeep Tours is also a strong, well-known choice. Book a morning slot in advance.
Most tours run roughly $90 to $200 per adult depending on length and route, with discounts for children. Longer and more rugged trails cost more.
It depends on the operator and trail. Some rugged routes restrict very young children. Arizona Safari Jeep Tours has a minimum age of 5. Always check the specific tour's age policy before booking.
Yes. Jeep tours sell out in peak weeks, especially spring and fall. Book a morning slot ahead of time for cooler temperatures, smaller crowds, and the best light.
