Visiting Sedona with Kids

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Sedona is one of the most beautiful places you will ever visit with your family. From the gorgeous red rocks you will see on your drive in, to the kid friendly Sedona hikes, it’s sure to become one of your best family vacation destinations in Arizona.

We visited Sedona for 3 days/2 nights after our trip to the Grand Canyon. Be sure to check out our Grand Canyon with kids post if you’ll be heading there on your trip! Here are some of our favorite things to do in Sedona with kids.

How to get to Sedona

Most tourists visiting Sedona fly into Phoenix and make the 2 hour drive from the airport. We opted to fly into Vegas, rent a car and drive to the Grand Canyon first. We stopped in Oatman, Arizona on the way to see the wild donkeys. After the Grand Canyon, we drove to Sedona (about 2 hours) and then Phoenix to fly home from there.

Best time to visit Sedona

The best time to visit Sedona will be from March to May. The temperatures are warm but not too hot yet, making it great for exploring the outdoors. September through November is also supposed to have mild weather, however we visited in October and one of the days was in the 30s and windy, making it feel frigid. So it’s hit or miss with the weather predictions! Summers here are typically in the 90s, however with the many creeks and swimming holes, you can easily find places to cool off.

Where to stay in Sedona with kids

There are many family friendly hotels in Sedona. We stayed at the Hyatt Residence Club Sedona which has lots of family friendly amenities. We had a ton of Hyatt points to use, which is why we opted for this property. They have a kids club, outdoor pool and are close to downtown, making it a great location for families traveling to Sedona. The rate for random weekdays in October were $429 a night, so this is definitely on the more expensive side. If we didn’t have points, we would definitely not pay those rates! This hotel doesn’t live up to the Hyatt standards and has more of a motel feel.

Another great place in a great location is the Best Western Plus Arroyo Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas. They have big rooms and villas, many that overlook the creek. While we didn’t stay here, it looked like an awesome place for families.

There is also a Hilton and several Marriott properties in town, so if you have points to use, there are quite a few options.

Things to do in Sedona with kids

Hiking-Best family hiking trails in Sedona

One of the most popular things to do in Sedona with kids will be hiking. There are many family friendly hiking trails in Sedona for all fitness levels. Here are some of the best kid and family friendly hiking trails in Sedona.

Sugarloaf Loop Trail

Sugarloaf is one of the best kid friendly hiking trails in Sedona. Milana loved seeing all of the plants and amazing red rock views along the way. It’s an easy loop trail, just 1.9 miles in length. The only downside here was the parking. There are only a few spots in the lot and you can’t park in the neighborhood. We got lucky and someone happened to be pulling out when we came, otherwise the lot was completely full on a weekday afternoon.

Brewer Trail

Another kid friendly Sedona hiking trail with some amazing views is the Brewer Trail. Drive up Airport Road and you will see a few parking spots on the left. Park there and head out for a hike! This trail is 1.5 miles, out and back. This is one of the best views in Sedona and we recommend you also drive up the road to the airport and watch the sunset. But be aware it’s super popular and very crowded around sunset time!

Crescent Moon State Park

Another kid friendly hike in Sedona is the hike along Oak Creek in Crescent Moon State Park. Since this is a state park, you will pay an entry fee to enter ($11 at the time of our visit). Once you park, head towards the creek and follow the trail along the creek. You will get an amazing up close view of Cathedral Rock from here. This is also the place to come if you want to visit the famous Buddha’s Beach.

Visit downtown Sedona

Another fun kid friendly thing to do in Sedona is walking around downtown. There are lots of shops and restaurants with amazing red rocks in the background. Grab an ice cream cone and enjoy the view!

Pink Jeep Tour

Looking for the best family friendly tour in Sedona? Then the famous Pink Jeep tour is for you! They have several tours to pick from, so you can select one that will work best for your family. They have tours that go off road and ones that stay on paved roads, the choice is yours.

Where to eat in Sedona with kids

Looking for kid-friendly restaurants in Sedona? You’re in luck, there are many family-friendly Sedona restaurants to choose from.

Wildflower

This was a hit with our entire family. They have soups, salads and sandwiches, very similar to Panera style if you’re familiar with them. Milana’s favorite soup is broccoli cheese so this was perfect on a chilly afternoon. Their sandwiches and salads are great too!

Fresh and Natural Thai Kitchen

This is a very casual restaurant, where you order at the counter. They have a big menu including a section where you can create your own bowls, picking out all of the ingredients. Milana loved this place including the coconut curry she chose for her sauce.

Mradaa-Cuisine of India

Indian food is a huge family favorite so we were happy to discover an Indian restaurant in Sedona. Milana and I shared the chicken tikka masala and Dave got the vegetarian sampler. Everything was delicious!

Creekside Sedona

If you only try one family friendly restaurant in Sedona, make Creekside be it! The food here is amazing and their patio seating offers nice views. We came here for breakfast one day and everyone loved their food. This is our top pick for kid friendly restaurants in Sedona. Dave loves breakfast burritos and said this is the best he’s ever had. I loved my lemon ricotta french toast and Milana loved her kids breakfast platter, which came with eggs, bacon, mini pancakes and fruit.

We hope this post helps you plan your trip to Sedona. We had a fun few days hiking, eating and just exploring the beautiful area. Want to save this to read later? Pin one of the images below!

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