Historic Tour of Jerome from Sedona: Mining Town & Verde Valley

Ride up Mingus Mountain into a town that once shipped a billion dollars in copper.

This 4½-hour guided tour departs from your Sedona hotel and travels through the Verde Valley to Jerome, a National Historic Landmark and former mining town, with stops in Cottonwood and Clarkdale along the way. Your guide drives you from the base of Jerome to the top, pointing out the Sliding Jail, the Audrey Headframe, former brothel sites and other historic locations most visitors miss. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, and 90 minutes of free time for lunch or shopping with discount coupons. You arrange and pay for food separately.

The experience

What makes Jerome worth the drive from Sedona? The town sits 1,800 feet up Mingus Mountain and once shipped more copper than almost anywhere else in the country: enough to earn it the nickname "The Wickedest Town in the West." Your guide picks you up at your hotel in Sedona, Cottonwood or Jerome in a climate-controlled van and narrates the Verde Valley's history as you travel. The route passes through Cottonwood, which was called the "Bootleg Capital of Arizona" during Prohibition, and Clarkdale, a company town built by Senator William A. Clark, who owned the largest copper mine in Jerome. Both towns sit lower in the valley. Jerome itself crowns the mountain.

Once in Jerome, your guide drives you through the whole town (top to bottom and back alleys included), stopping at sites most visitors never find: the Sliding Jail, the Audrey Headframe, the Little Daisy Mine (owned by Jimmy "Rawhide" Douglas), and the former brothel district. The guide narrates the stories and legends tied to each place. You get 90 minutes on your own to walk around, eat lunch (discount coupons come with the tour), or browse the shops. Sturdy shoes help because the streets are uneven, and a jacket is worth bringing since the elevation is high.

The van is air-conditioned and the pace is set by the guide, so you listen and look rather than navigate or read plaques yourself. Bottled water is included. The whole tour runs 4½ hours from pickup to drop-off at your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Sedona, Cottonwood or Jerome.
• transport in an air-conditioned minivan.
• live guide commentary in English throughout the Verde Valley and Jerome.
• bottled water.
• 90 minutes of free time in Jerome for lunch or shopping.
• discount lunch coupons.
• local taxes.

Information

Lasts 4h 30m, runs Tuesday to Saturday at 10:00, from US$ 90.13 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 timesTuesday to SaturdayDeparts at 10:00Another day? ›

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 49 pickup points.

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tours of Jerome

Is this one for you?At 4½ hours, this tour fits into a morning or early afternoon without consuming your whole day, leaving time for other Sedona activities before or after. The fixed schedule and included pickup mean you don't arrange transport or timing yourself. The guide handles the narration and the route, so you listen and absorb rather than navigate.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

How much time do I actually spend walking around Jerome on this tour?

You get 90 minutes of free time in Jerome to explore on your own, shop or eat lunch. The rest of the 4½-hour tour is spent in the van traveling through the Verde Valley and being driven around Jerome's sites by your guide.

What is the Sliding Jail and why is it famous?

The Sliding Jail is one of Jerome's most recognizable historic landmarks. Your guide will point it out and explain its history as part of the tour's narration of the town's past.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You spend most of the time in the van. The 90 minutes on your own in Jerome is at your own pace. Wear sturdy shoes because the town's streets and alleys have uneven surfaces.

Is lunch included, or do I have to pay for it?

Lunch is not included, but you have 90 minutes of free time in Jerome to eat on your own. The tour provides discount coupons for local restaurants to help reduce the cost.

Where does the tour pick me up?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you're staying in Sedona, Cottonwood or Jerome. Your guide will collect you from your hotel, resort or timeshare at the start and return you at the end.

What should I bring for this tour?

Bring sturdy shoes for walking on uneven surfaces in Jerome. Since the elevation is high, bring a jacket and warmer clothes, especially in winter. Sunscreen and a hat are useful for the outdoor time in town.