Things to Do in Sedona with Kids
A trip your kids will beg to repeat, and one you can actually relax on.
A 4-day red-rock adventure for families with kids ages 5–12 and adults. Splash down Slide Rock’s natural water slide. Bounce over the rocks in a Safari Jeep. Hike easy, jaw-dropping trails that everyone can finish. Get a day-by-day plan, plus tips on where to stay.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
13 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Sedona: every stop pinned in order.
Sedona & Oak Creek Canyon · Northern Arizona
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
Sedona in photos: 4 of the stops.
Plan and book your 4 days in Sedona, one step at a time
How 4 days in Sedona split up
Plan 4 days for Sedona. Home base: Sedona. Best for: Ages 5–12. Difficulty: Easy. Looking for the best things to do in Sedona with kids? Sedona, Arizona wows kids without wearing parents out. We mapped the top family activities stop by stop. This is the plan we give every family.
Day 1: Easy Red-Rock Welcome · Bell Rock & Sunset
3 stops · Day one
Day 2: Slide Rock State Park · Nature’s Water Slide
3 stops · Day two
Day 3: Safari Jeep Adventure + Cathedral Rock & Tlaquepaque
4 stops · Day three
Day 4: Junior Rangers & an Easy Last Hike
3 stops · Day four
Easy Red-Rock Welcome · Bell Rock & Sunset
Ease everyone in with the gentlest, most jaw-dropping intro to Sedona: the Bell Rock Pathway. It’s wide, mostly flat, and stroller-friendly for the first stretch, with the giant red bell of Bell Rock and the spires of Courthouse Butte rising right in front of you. Let the kids scramble the lower red slabs (totally safe and totally thrilling for a 5-year-old), then turn back whenever little legs say so.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Bell Rock Pathway to Bell Rock
2.8 mi out & back · kid-friendly · HikeThe gentlest, most jaw-dropping intro to Sedona: a wide path under Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, 2.8 mi out & back with 488 ft of gain, but you can turn around whenever little legs are done. Kids can scramble the lower red slabs. Red Rock Pass to park.
See the trail → - Airport Mesa sunset
2-min walk · panoramic view · ViewpointThe classic Sedona sunset: a 2-minute walk from the car to a panoramic overlook as the rocks light up on fire. Arrive 45 minutes early for parking.
inkknife_2000 (7.5 mil / CC BY-SA 2.0Check in to your Sedona hotelYour Sedona home · all 3 nights · lodgeWith kids, staying in one place beats hotel-hopping, book the Super 8 by Wyndham Sedona for all three nights and unpack once. We like the affordable, pool-equipped Super 8 by Wyndham Sedona in West Sedona, minutes from the red rocks. Tap “Book a place to stay” below to grab it (or compare nearby family hotels) in one place. Book early; Sedona rooms sell out in spring and fall.
Slide Rock State Park · Nature’s Water Slide
Today is the one the kids will talk about for years: Slide Rock State Park, where Oak Creek has carved an 80-foot natural rock slide through smooth red sandstone. Kids (and brave grown-ups) slide down the chutes into the creek pools, splash in the shallows, and clamber over the rocks. Get there early, parking fills by mid-morning and the park closes when it’s full.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Slide Rock State Park
Natural rock water slide · activityThe day the kids will never forget: an 80-ft natural rock water slide in Oak Creek, with shallow pools for little ones. Arrive before 10am, the lot fills and the park closes when full. Water shoes essential.
Official info → - Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive
Easy · red-walled canyon · ViewpointThe drive up to Slide Rock through Oak Creek Canyon is half the fun, a winding ribbon of red walls and green trees with photo pullouts along Hwy 89A.
See the trail → 
Back to the Sedona hotel for pool timeDry off · splash · unwind · lodgeDry off over a picnic lunch, then head back to your Super 8 for an easy pool afternoon, the reset that keeps everyone happy for dinner. No packing up; you’re here all week.
Safari Jeep Adventure + Cathedral Rock & Tlaquepaque
Strap in for the highlight reel: a Safari Jeep Tour. The famous red-rock route bounces up, over, and down the red rocks on trails you’d never reach by car, kids shriek with delight the whole way, and the guides are brilliant with families (they’ll point out “dinosaur rocks” and let kids feel like explorers). It’s the single most kid-loved thing to do in Sedona.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Sedona Red-Rock Safari Jeep Tour
Arizona Safari Jeep Tours · min age 5 · activityThe kids’ #1 Sedona highlight: a bumpy, thrilling open-air 4x4 ride up and over the red rocks with family-friendly guides. Minimum age 5. Book a morning slot ahead, it sells out.
Book this → 
Cathedral Rock TrailIconic photo · no hike · ViewpointDrive Back O’ Beyond Road to the Cathedral Rock Trail for the iconic photo, no hiking needed. The summit trail itself is too steep/exposed for under-10s.
See the trail →
Tlaquepaque Arts VillageShady courtyards & ice cream · ViewpointA shady, Spanish-style courtyard with fountains, sculptures, ice cream, and easy stroller-friendly strolling, the perfect low-energy afternoon after the jeep.
Tony Webster / CC BY 2.0Back to the Sedona hotel · your last nightSame hotel · night 3 · lodgeHome to the same Super 8 for night three, dinner nearby and an early night before the last day. Staying put all week means no packing and tired, happy kids straight to bed.
Junior Rangers & an Easy Last Hike
Finish gently at Red Rock State Park, the most family-friendly park in the area: flat, shaded nature trails along Oak Creek and a visitor center with hands-on exhibits. The highlight for kids is the free Junior Ranger program (ages 6–12): grab the activity booklet at the Visitor Center, complete the activities as you walk the trails, then bring it to a Park Ranger, take the Junior Ranger Pledge, and get sworn in with your very own Junior Ranger button, a guaranteed highlight and the best free souvenir of the trip.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
InSapphoWeTrust from L / CC BY-SA 2.0Red Rock State Park · Junior RangerAges 6–12 · free badge program · activityThe most family-friendly park around: flat, shaded creek trails and a hands-on visitor center. Kids ages 6–12 can become a Junior Ranger for free, pick up the activity booklet at the Visitor Center, complete it as you walk, then take the pledge with a ranger to get sworn in and earn a Junior Ranger button.
Official info →
Fay Canyon Trail~2 mi · flat & easy · HikeIf everyone’s still got energy, the short, flat Fay Canyon trail (~2 miles round trip) gives big red walls with an easy turnaround for little legs. Red Rock Pass to park.
See the trail →
Tony Webster / CC BY-SA 2.0Getting home: Phoenix (PHX)~2.25 hr down I-17 · or Flagstaff ~45 min · DriveCheck out in the morning, do the Junior Ranger program and Fay Canyon, then head for Phoenix Sky Harbor, about two and a quarter hours down I-17. One hotel booking covered the whole trip, so there was never a morning spent moving hotels with kids.
Book the 3 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Sedona
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
Specific to Sedona
What we actually learned in Sedona with kids.
Rent a car & get a Red Rock Pass
You’ll drive between trailheads and parks, and almost every red-rock parking area needs a Red Rock Pass ($5/day, $15/week). Buy it online or at the visitor center and keep it on the dash.
Stay in one hotel for all 3 nights
With kids, staying in one place beats hotel-hopping, unpack once and make it home. We base at the affordable, pool-equipped Super 8 by Wyndham Sedona in West Sedona, minutes from the red rocks, so every night you return to the same beds. Book early; family rooms sell out in spring and fall.
Mornings out, afternoons easy
Hike and play in the cooler morning, then do pool/shade/ice cream in the afternoon. It keeps little ones happy and beats the midday heat and crowds.
Slide Rock: go early, and brace for cold water
The lot fills by mid-morning and the park closes when full, so arrive by 9 to 9:30am. The creek is ice-cold mountain runoff year-round, in the 50s to 60s by late September. Most kids love wading anyway, but warn them it’s a cold splash, and bring a wetsuit or rash guard if they want to fully slide. Pack water shoes, towels, and sunscreen.
Book the Safari Jeep ahead
The red-rock jeep tour is the kids’ #1 highlight and sells out. Book a morning slot in advance, cooler, calmer, and great light.
Right-size the hikes
Stick to flat, short trails (Bell Rock Pathway, Fay Canyon, Red Rock State Park). Skip steep/exposed routes like the Cathedral Rock summit and Devil’s Bridge with under-10s, enjoy those from the viewpoints.
Check the jeep tour age limits
Open-air 4x4 tours are a core Sedona highlight, and your 5 to 12 crew is perfectly positioned. Just check each operator’s age rules first: some rugged trails are off-limits to kids under 3 or 4. Arizona Safari Jeep Tours is a highly rated, family-friendly pick.
The early-bird rule
Popular trailheads and Slide Rock parking fill completely by 8 to 9am. To keep this itinerary running smoothly with kids, hit the trails first thing in the morning, or save them for late afternoon when the lots clear out.
Beat the heat with shade, water, and a car cooler
The red sandstone bakes families fast, so aim your trail goals at short, shaded water walks like the West Fork of Oak Creek, where the canyon stays cool and kids can dip their feet. Keep an insulated cooler of iced, kid-friendly drinks in the car for every stop. And mind the creek at Slide Rock: the current through the chutes can move quickly, so keep a hand on younger sliders.
Sedona: questions before you go
Sedona with kids: the questions people ask most.
The kid favorites are Slide Rock State Park (a natural rock water slide), a Safari Jeep tour on the red-rock trail, the flat Bell Rock Pathway, and the Junior Ranger program at Red Rock State Park. Add easy viewpoints (Airport Mesa sunset, Cathedral Rock), ice cream in uptown Sedona, and pool time, and you’ve got a perfect family trip. This 4-day itinerary covers them all.
Yes, it’s one of the most kid-friendly outdoor destinations in the US. There are flat, short trails little legs can finish, a natural water slide, jeep tours kids adore, and easy viewpoints that need no hiking. Just right-size the activities (skip steep, exposed hikes) and build in pool and snack breaks.
Three to four days is ideal. Four lets you spread it out at a relaxed family pace: an easy intro hike, a full Slide Rock day, a Safari Jeep adventure, and a gentle Junior Ranger morning, with pool afternoons in between so nobody melts down.
Spring (March–May) and fall (September–October) are ideal: warm days, cool evenings, and thinner crowds than summer. Late September and early October are especially good, the creek at Slide Rock is still swimmable and the light is golden. Summer is hot (plan early mornings and water); winter is cool and quiet.
Yes, for parking at most red-rock trailheads (Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Fay Canyon, etc.). It’s $5/day or $15/week, available online or at the Sedona visitor center. State parks like Slide Rock and Red Rock State Park charge their own separate entry fee instead.
Yes, with normal water precautions. Younger kids splash in the shallow creek pools while older ones slide the chutes. Water shoes are essential (the rock is slippery), watch footing, and supervise closely near moving water. Arrive before 10am, the park closes its lot when full.
Stay in Sedona itself (closest to everything) or the Village of Oak Creek just south (often a bit cheaper, 10 minutes away). Pick a hotel with a pool, it’s the key to happy afternoons with kids. Family rooms book up in spring and fall, so reserve early.
Yes, it’s the most kid-loved activity in Sedona. The red-rock route is bumpy and thrilling but safe, with belts and family-friendly guides. Most tours take kids (check the minimum age for the specific route), and a morning slot is cooler and calmer for little ones.
Sedona is one of the best family vacation spots in Arizona. It packs a natural water slide, kid-loved jeep tours, easy red-rock hikes, and a free Junior Ranger program into a small, walkable area, so a Sedona Arizona family vacation stays fun for kids without wearing parents out. Base in one hotel with a pool, build in afternoon breaks, and plan a spring or fall trip for the most comfortable weather.
The most family-friendly hikes in Sedona are flat, short, and full of red-rock payoff: Bell Rock Pathway (wide and stroller-friendly with a turnaround whenever little legs are done), Fay Canyon (about 2 miles round trip with towering walls), and the shaded creek trails at Red Rock State Park. For the famous Cathedral Rock view, drive to the Back O' Beyond viewpoint instead of hiking the steep summit. Save bigger trails like Devil's Bridge for when kids are older.
For younger kids and toddlers, the gentlest Sedona activities work best: wading in the shallow creek pools at Slide Rock, scrambling the lower red slabs along the flat Bell Rock Pathway, splashing at the fountains and getting ice cream at Tlaquepaque Arts Village, and the 2-minute walk to the Airport Mesa sunset viewpoint. Add pool time back at the hotel, and check jeep-tour age limits (some routes set a minimum age of 5).
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 4-day route. Same 9 stops.
- 3 nights, a campsite near Sedona
- $90
- Sedona Red-Rock Safari Jeep Tour
- Priced when you book
- Verde Canyon Railroad
- $372
- Rental car, 4 days
- $240
- Gas, about 179 miles
- $25
- 3 nights, a room in Sedona
- from $735
- Sedona Red-Rock Safari Jeep Tour
- Priced when you book
- Verde Canyon Railroad
- $372
- Rental car, 4 days
- $240
- Gas, about 179 miles
- $25
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
The train through Verde Canyon
Four days of red rock is a lot of walking for small legs. The depot is in Clarkdale, about forty minutes from Sedona, and the run goes up a stretch of the Verde River that no road reaches, in open-air cars. It takes most of an afternoon and asks nothing of anyone.
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What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
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You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
The WaveCoyote Buttes North · Arizona / UtahPermitLotterybrutal odds
Half Dome CablesYosemite NP · CaliforniaPermitOpens Mar 1fair odds
Mt. WhitneyInyo NF · CaliforniaPermitOpens Feb 1tough odds
Angels LandingZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
The SubwayZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
Mount St. Helens Summit ClimbGifford Pinchot NF · WashingtonPermitReservationtough odds
How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.