Prescott to Sedona road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops

The distance from Prescott AZ to Sedona AZ by car is 70 miles, with a 1h19m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Prescott to Sedona drive are Camp Verde, the Montezuma Castle National Monument and Courthouse Butte.

Planning a Prescott to Sedona road trip itinerary

The Prescott to Sedona drive connects two of the most attractive towns in Arizona.

Prescott is an enjoyably lively city in central Arizona, where the bars of Whiskey Row have a notorious good time vibe. There are also a couple of solid cultural attractions here. The Sharlot Hall Museum looks at pioneer-era history and the Museum of Indigenous People concentrates on Native American heritage.

You can also explore the spectacular surrounding landscapes. Try an off-road adventure, horseback-riding or taking an e-bike ride down the Peavine Trail.

Browse plenty more Prescott activities here, or fix up great rates on Prescott accommodation here.

Desert town Sedona sits in an inspirational setting amid red rock buttes, canyons and forest. It’s no wonder so many artists choose to live there. Fantastic spots around Sedona include Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte and Red Rock Crossing.

The surrounding desert trails and state parks are magnificent for hiking and biking. You can also explore on a scenic helicopter flight, outback Jeep tour, guided ATV adventure or e-biking at Cathedral Rock.

Other Sedona experiences include Verde Valley wine tours, Jeep tours of the mystical Sedona vortexes, glassblowing workshops and nighttime stargazing sessions.

For great Sedona accommodation that makes the most of the views, try the Sky Ranch Lodge or Amara Resort.

Prescott to Sedona distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Prescott to Sedona is 70 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 19 minutes.

The quickest route goes along the AZ-69, AZ-169, I-17 and AZ-179.

The best stops to add to a Prescott to Sedona road trip itinerary are Camp Verde, the Montezuma Castle National Monument and Courthouse Butte.

Best stops between Prescott and Sedona: Camp Verde

Camp Verde is an all-action kind of place. Great Camp Verde activities include tackling the Verde River in an inflatable kayak, horseback-riding through the mountains and off-road Jeep tours.

Top attractions include the Out of Africa Wildlife Park – where you can also take on a zipline course – and the Verde Valley Archaeology Center. The latter looks at the life of the Native Sinagua people.

Great Camp Verde accommodation options include the Cliff Castle Casino Hotel and the Fort Verde Suites.

Prescott to Sedona drive: Montezuma Castle National Monument

Montezuma Castle is a pueblo-style building built high into a cliff face. It is a remnant of the ancient Sinagua culture, and it’s no longer possible to go inside. However, this vertigo-inducing dwelling is still an impressive sight.

There are more cliff dwellings at Montezuma Well, 11 miles to the north. It is treated as a sub-unit of the Montezuma Castle National Monument.

Prescott to Sedona road trip attractions: Courthouse Butte

The Courthouse Butte Loop Trail is one of Arizona’s most enjoyable walks if you like your red rock scenery. Near the village of Oak Creek, this 3.6 mile walking circuit takes in both Courthouse Butte – a strikingly stratified and prominent butte – and Bell Rock. Budget around two-and-a-half hours for the walk if you want to take the scenery in properly.