Groovy Getaways

🚗✨ The Ultimate Sedona Day Trip Itinerary ✨🏜️

From cowboy charm in Cave Creek to ancient cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle, lunch and wine in Cottonwood, the breathtaking drive through Oak Creek Canyon, and finally arriving in beautiful Sedona — this is the Arizona road trip we recommend to everyone.

Whether you’re looking for adventure, incredible views, great food, or a relaxing getaway, this route has a little bit of everything. Save this itinerary for your next Arizona trip and let us know what stop you’d add! ❤️

📍Cave Creek
📍Montezuma Castle National Monument
📍Cottonwood
📍Oak Creek Canyon
📍Sedona

Which stop would be first on your list?

☀️ Best Day Trips from Scottsdale, Arizona 🌵

Looking to explore beyond Scottsdale? Here are some of our favorite day trip ideas:

🏜️ Sedona (2 hrs) – A must-do! Red rocks, scenic hikes, jeep tours, local art, and unforgettable sunsets.

🍷 Jerome & Cottonwood (2–2.5 hrs) – Historic mountain town vibes, wine tasting, galleries, and incredible views.

🤠 Apache Trail & Tortilla Flat (1–2 hrs) – One of Arizona’s most scenic drives with canyon lakes, desert overlooks, and Old West charm.

🌲 Prescott (2 hrs) – Escape the heat with pine trees, lakes, Whiskey Row, and small-town Arizona character.

🏔️ Flagstaff (2.5 hrs) – Forests, Route 66 nostalgia, mountain weather, and a completely different side of Arizona.

🌵 Boyce Thompson Arboretum (1 hr) – A hidden gem filled with giant cacti, desert gardens, and beautiful scenery.

🏞️ Grand Canyon South Rim (3.5–4 hrs) – A bucket-list experience that can be done in a day, though we recommend making it part of a longer Arizona adventure.

🚤 Lake Pleasant & Saguaro Lake (45–60 min) – Perfect for paddleboarding, kayaking, boating, or simply relaxing by the water.

🐎 Cave Creek & Carefree (30–45 min) – Cowboy bars, live music, unique shops, and authentic Old Arizona charm.

Arizona has so much more to offer than just Scottsdale. Which one would you visit first?

A hot air balloon ride over the desert at sunrise is cool for several reasons:

Stunning Views: As the sun rises, the desert landscape is bathed in beautiful golden and pink hues, creating a breathtaking and peaceful scene. The contrast of the colorful sky with the vast desert and mountain ranges is unforgettable. WE EVEN SAW A COYOTE!

Perfect Weather: Sunrise temperatures in the desert are usually cooler and more comfortable, making the ride more pleasant than later in the day.

Affordable bucket item : Use groupon and/or call the outfitter directly and see if they can beat the GROUPON PRICE - and get it for under $300 a couple.

MORE FUN THINGS TO DO IN SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX
Spa and pool days at top resorts like Camelback, Biltmore, Four Seasons, The Sanctuary etc. We use Resort Pass to avoid $$$ over nite stays but still get the luxury experiences.

Hike the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.One of the top outdoor experiences in Arizona with hundreds of miles of scenic desert trails. Popular hikes include Pinnacle Peak and Tom’s Thumb. Sunrise hikes here are incredible.

ATV rides in the Sonoran desert, we loved this at sunset!

Quick Hikes on Camelback mountain, with or without a guide.

The Arizona Botanical garden - wow!

Food tours and shopping in Old Town Scottsdale.

Day trips to several places including beautiful (and cooler) Sedona and more! We will do a post on this later !

Plenty of shopping and unique food.

Visit Taliesin West. Tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s legendary desert home and architecture school. It’s one of Scottsdale’s most unique cultural attractions.

Contact us at [email protected] to plan a great vacation in Scottsdale! We can save you time and money!

Weekend escape to the mountains 🏔️✨
From scenic hikes and peaceful chapel views to amazing food and cozy moments, Hot Springs was the perfect little reset. Sometimes the best memories are the simple ones shared together. 🤍

Kinda creepy but very cool!