Planning a trip to Flagstaff or Sedona?

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

If you plan to fly into Phoenix airport, you might want to know that it is about a 2 hour drive to Sedona, and about a 2 3/4 drive to Flagstaff...

Some folks flying from the East (with connecting times) are flying 7 hours plus (if you include the pre-flight arrival it is probably more time).

If you arrive later in the day, you might prefer to find an airport hotel near SkyHarbor and drive up the next morning.

Why? Two things, you will get to see some beautiful countryside in the daylight, and 2nd, you will be refreshed and ready to drive at speeds on a highway that can average 75 mph.

Highway 17 to Flagstaff or to Sedona is a 2 lane road each way (North and South) once you get outside the PHX city limits, and it climbs and twists, and has some beautiful vistas!

If you can swing an extra night on your trip...consider flying in a day early and staying near the airport the first night, pick up your rental car the next day....some hotels have rental car desks right there...most airport hotels provide free shuttles to/from the hotel.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

Katiemack,

I'm heading to Fairfield Flagstaff AND Fairfield Sedona for Christmas week 2006, arriving on 12/22/06 in Phoenix.

We're flying from Houston about 2.5 to 3 hrs arriving around 1:30 p.m. We will go to Flagstaff first.

Thanks for your information.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

You are most welcome, and Happy Birthday! belatedly

by the way, if anyone wants some recommendations for airport hotels, just let us know.

[Jaybee Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaybee]

Another Sedona Christmas

Hi, Mike! We'll be at Villas of Sedona Christmas week, 12/22 - 12/29/06. Maybe we could get together at some point...ya' think? Jean

Katiemack,

I'm heading to Fairfield Flagstaff AND Fairfield Sedona for Christmas week 2006, arriving on 12/22/06 in Phoenix.

We're flying from Houston about 2.5 to 3 hrs arriving around 1:30 p.m. We will go to Flagstaff first.

Thanks for your information.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

Hi, Mike! We'll be at Villas of Sedona Christmas week, 12/22 - 12/29/06. Maybe we could get together at some point...ya' think? Jean

I would like to do that. It sounds like a lot of fun being able to meet someone from TS4MS.

We will be arriving in Sedona on 12/26 late afternoon. We're doing Flagstaff from 12/22 and leave on 12/26 for Sedona.

As the time grows closer, we can check our iteniaries.

[Jaybee Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaybee]

Sounds good, Mike. Let's do it!

I would like to do that. It sounds like a lot of fun being able to meet someone from TS4MS.

We will be arriving in Sedona on 12/26 late afternoon. We're doing Flagstaff from 12/22 and leave on 12/26 for Sedona.

As the time grows closer, we can check our iteniaries.

[talkamotta Member Find all posts View Profile Close talkamotta]

When driving from Sedona to Flagstaff, I would drive 89A. That is one of the most scenic drives I have ever been on.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Absolutely, the drive to Flagstaff along 89A can be beautiful...and if your resort is located in Uptown area (like the Arroyo Roble) it might save time....just know that it is a mountain road, climbing with switchbacks one lane each direction...so don't expect to do top speeds, and if an RV is ahead of you, plan on watching those pretty sights to keep you amused while you creep along! If you are at the Sedona Ridge in the Village of Oak Creek, you might prefer to take I-17 to the Flagstaff area. That too is a pretty drive...and has two lanes each way, with speeds up to 75.

[starlifter Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close starlifter]

Hi-

We are going to Sedona the last weekend in September. Flying into Phoenix and driving up. We were contemplating go for a trip on the Verde Canyon Railroad. Any thoughts or comments about it would be appreciated. Neither of us have been to Sedona before. We are going Friday through Monday.

Thanks,
David

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

David,
The Verde Canyon RR has gone a bit commercialized for our tastes...we enjoyed it more when it was a bit more personal...that said, it still can be a nice way to enjoy the AZ countryside, and just have a different type of experience. The RR drives along the Verde River in the Verde Canyon area, and at the end of Sept. you might enjoy some changing colors on the trees.

Their prices have also increased quite a bit, but if you have AAA membership, I think you can get a bit of a discount.

If you will only be in Sedona for the weekend, you might want to just enjoy Sedona, and maybe take a quick jaunt over to Jerome....when you get to Sedona, you will feel you will want to drive from one end to the other, up and down, and discover secret nooks and crannies, and three days can be a short time in which to do that.

Let me know if you have more questions!