Sedona to Grand Canyon: Full Day Tour & South Rim Vista

Red rocks fade as the canyon opens up: a full day from Sedona to the rim.

You leave Sedona at dawn, drive through Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff, spend the afternoon at Grand Canyon South Rim with multiple scenic stops including the Desert View Watchtower, visit the Navajo Nation at Cameron Trading Post on the return, and arrive back at your hotel by early evening. Hotel pickup and water are included. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each5 stops

1. Oak Creek Canyonpassing by
2. Grand Canyon South RimEntry included2h
3. Desert View WatchtowerEntry included15m
4. Cameron Trading Post30m
5. San Francisco Peakspassing by

Grand Canyon Deluxe Day Trip

• Scenic drive through Oak Creek Canyon
• Shopping and views at Grand Canyon Village
• Stroll along Grand Canyon South Rim
• Photo opportunity at Desert View Watchtower
• Visit Navajo Nation and Cameron Trading Post
• Enjoy views of Painted Desert Cliffs

The experience

The van picks you up between 7 and 7:30am from your Sedona hotel, and the drive itself is half the story. Oak Creek Canyon unspools for about an hour: red walls, switchbacks, the kind of road that makes you understand why people move here just to drive it. You climb through Flagstaff and the San Francisco Peaks come into view, then the landscape shifts again as you approach Grand Canyon National Park. When you arrive at the South Rim, the first thing you do is stop and look. No buildup, no ceremony. Just the canyon, and it does the work.

The guide gives you time to walk the rim or wander through Grand Canyon Village, where the historic stone buildings and gift shops sit right at the edge like they've always belonged there. You grab lunch on your own (the tour doesn't include it, so bring cash or plan ahead), and then you're back in the van for the scenic loop along the South and East Rim. The Desert View Watchtower is the photo stop everyone remembers. It's a stone tower built in the 1930s that sits out on a promontory, and the light hits it differently depending on the hour. Multiple vista points break up the drive, each one showing you a different angle of the same impossible thing.

On the way back to Sedona, you stop at the Cameron Trading Post along the Little Colorado River Gorge: a Navajo Nation site with history that goes back generations. It's a real place, not a tourist trap, and the gorge itself is worth the pause. The Painted Desert Cliffs show up on the drive home, and by the time you're dropped back at your hotel around 6 or 6:30pm, you've been out for eleven hours straight. Water is supplied on the tour, which matters because the rim is high and dry. If you're traveling with kids under eight, you need to bring your own car seat or booster: Arizona law, no exceptions.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Sedona or Village of Oak Creek within city limits.
• scenic drive through Oak Creek Canyon.
• entry to Grand Canyon National Park.
• multiple vista stops along the South and East Rim.
• Desert View Watchtower photo opportunity.
• Navajo Nation visit at Cameron Trading Post.
• water throughout the day. Lunch is not included.

Options for this experience

2 options

Base price for the Grand Canyon tourGuide in English · 07:00Grand Canyon base price, pickup is included

Upgrade to a private tour, minimum 4 peopleGuide in English · 07:00Upgrade to a Private Tour of the Grand Canyon (minimum 4 passengers): an additional $100 per person. A minimum of four (4) guests is needed for the tour to run. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 11h, runs every day at 07:00, from US$ 196.63 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 46 pickup points.

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (under 16)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcome

Operated by Great Venture Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Sedona without a car who want to see the Grand Canyon rim in one full day with all transport and park entry handled. Plan for an eleven-hour day starting at dawn. That's what fits the drive, the rim time, and the Navajo Nation stop into a single outing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 16).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon?

About two hours each way. The total tour is eleven hours from pickup to drop-off.

Is lunch included?

No. You have time to eat on your own at Grand Canyon Village. Bring cash or plan ahead.

Do I need to provide hotel information in advance?

Yes. You must give the tour company your hotel details at least 72 hours before the tour date so they can arrange pickup.

Are there extra fees for non-U.S. residents?

Yes. Non-U.S. residents aged 16 and older pay an additional $100 USD per person for national park access. Contact the tour company before your date to arrange payment.

What time does the tour depart?

Between 7 and 7:30am daily. Return is around 6 to 6:30pm.

What should I wear?

Smart casual. The rim is high elevation and can be cool even in warm months, so bring a layer.

Is water provided?

Yes, water is supplied on the tour.