There are places in this world where waiting until the last minute to plan a vacation getaway is something that is sure to doom the success of your trip, but Sedona is not one of those places. Our red rock town is known for its casual vibe, for its laidback approach to life and all its adventures, offering a welcoming warmth to all who find their way to our doorstep, no matter when you started planning to escape to our gorgeous town. Even better, we at Sedona.Org often offer special deals on last minute bookings, ensuring that not only will you have fun and excitement during your vacation in Arizona you will also enjoy lower rates and all the comforts of home; this guide to some of our best tips, hints, and tricks for enjoying the best last minute vacation in Sedona ever will help you do just that!
Packing for All Seasons
We can’t know when your last-minute vacation is going to occur, so we thought we would start this guide with a few tips on packing throughout the seasons, ensuring that whenever you visit your outfits of the day will make sure you are comfortably dressed no matter what the temperature.
Winters Can Be Cold
Winter in the red rocks can be cold, with temperatures rising to the high 50s during the day and dropping down to freezing in the coldest times of the night. Most sunny, occasionally rainy, and rarely snowy, winters are still mild up this far north and packing layers will ensure you stay comfortable. A coat may be recommended and because this is the best time of the year to hike, good hiking shoes or boots will make it easier to cross the Devil’s Bridge red rock formation or hike through Boynton Canyon.
Spring Weather Can Be Different
There is a wide range of temperatures in the spring and Sedona has even been known to offer late season snowstorms, especially in March when it begins to rain more than normal. The lowest lows may dip into the 30s and the highest highs may reach the low 80s, so just as in winter, layers are important, and you may want to add a weatherproof jacket to the mix.
Hello Summer!
If your last-minute journey brings you to our stunning countryside in the summer, be prepared to fall in love, and be prepared to sweat. Average temperatures creep up to the mid to the high 90s and it is not uncommon to break the triple digit barrier, but nights are going to be cool, so you can look forward to sitting out on the patio of your Sedona.Org seasonal sanctuary and feeling quite comfortable. Shorts, tee shirts, sun dresses, and flip flops are the uniform of the season, but a light jacket and hiking shoes may be in order too, depending on how early in summer you arrive. Most important of all, however, will be sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats of any kind. The sun is bright and you will burn if you spend any time out in it at all.
Plan to Experience Less in the Off Season
Obviously, we don’t know what time of year your last-minute trip is going to take place, but if you happen to find yourself with some extra time on your hands in the summer months, it might be the perfect time to plan a last-minute vacation to Sedona. It will be warm, and we just spent a few paragraphs discussing what you should pack for your summer adventures, but experiencing less can be a good thing. Especially when you realize that the less we are referring to are crowds, costs, and traffic, as we explain below.
Less Crowds
Summer is a popular time to take vacation, but the crowds tend to stay away from Sedona as our temperatures can reach triple digits. (Although on average, 93 to 97 degrees is more common) This lack of crowds will give you the chance to really get to know this area so much better than when lines are long, and attractions are overcrowded. The popular hiking trails can cause “traffic jams” during season and with as many people visiting the iconic red rock formations and vortexes that dot the area, you may not be able to do fun things like climb to the top of Devil’s Bridge or take family photographs from the base of Cathedral Rock. Remember, however, that the temperatures do creep up there and it is best to conduct any hiking adventures in the earlier morning hours and stay hydrated.
Less Costs
Our local businesses need to make money too and summers can be very tight financially for shops and restaurants, something that benefits all that do decide to visit in the summer months. The best sales take place in the summer months allowing visitors to purchase the artwork they may not have been able to afford at the height of tourist season and to splurge for dessert while dining out, because summer menus have lower prices. Additionally, and maybe most importantly, your stay in our luxurious Sedona.Org seasonal sanctuaries may cost less or, because yours is a last-minute visit, you may have noticed a tab on our page titled “save big on last minute travel” and if you click on that it reveals all manner of deals. These last-minute deals change on a regular basis so be sure to check back any time you think to yourself, “Hmm. A visit to Sedona would be pretty nice right about now!”
Less Traffic
This one is pretty obvious, of course, but we can assure you that you will appreciate having the roads to yourself, especially when you choose to take a road trip to any of our surrounding towns. Driving to Clarksdale for a Verde Canyon Railroad adventure, to Cottonwood to sample wines, or to Jerome to explore an old mining town that is experiencing a transformation into an artist’s colony (There will be some great sales here too!) are all road trips we highly recommend, offering an even greater understanding of all that makes our part of the world wonderful.
No Reservations Necessary
When dining out in places that are more laidback reservations must be made for most restaurants and those reservations are often needed to be made at least a week or more in advance. This can be difficult to do if you only decided to visit at the very last minute, but for your Sedona journey, it won’t be a problem. We’ve put together this list of wonderful and delicious restaurants that don’t require reservations and with a few exceptions will not have that long of wait lists, especially if you visit in the off season.
Colt Grill Barbecue & Spirits, 6101 AZ-179 in the Village of Oak Creek (Still Sedona)
Barbecue is America’s thing, and Colt Grill Barbecue & Spirits is one of our favorite places to visit, not even offering the chance to make reservations. We almost don’t know which we love more, the oversized wonderfully cushioned cow print chairs and bar stools that are so incredibly comfortable or the food they serve. (Ok, you got us, it’s the food!) Their barbecue will change your life and their casual vibe will make you wish you could put this wonderful place in your pocket and carry it home with you.
Hideaway House, 231 AZ-179 in Sedona
The Hideaway House has offered an essential Sedona dining experience for more than 50 years, offering an extensive international menu with a distinct Italian flair. They do accept reservations, but only for parties of five or more and that is just to ensure that they can ensure they have the space for your large dining group. They do, however, allow you to put your name on their waitlist, something that comes in handy during busy days (weekends) or busy seasons (winter.) Portions are big here, so count on taking leftovers back to your Sedona.Org sanctuary, especially because you want to make sure you save room for dessert. The dessert menu at Hideaway House is a bestseller, offering sweet treats that include a Ghiradelli Flourless Chocolate Cake and Limoncello Berry Mascarpone Cake.
Cowboy Club Grille & Spirits, 241 N State Route 89A in Sedona
If you have followed our blogs, you have probably heard us mention the Cowboy Club many times over the years, since it may be even more iconic than the Hideaway House. Offering a history that goes back to the days when Sedona was a prime Western movie filming location, in its former renditions it was where the stars dined. Today, however, it is a casual Western style steakhouse serving wild game dishes and a S’mores Skillet Brownie you will never be able to forget.
Explore These Exciting Events and Fantastic Festivals
The events and festivals of Sedona are a vital part of what makes us unique and with few exceptions, you won’t need to plan in advance to attend, you can just drop by whichever festival is on the calendar during your last minute vacation in Sedona. Below, we have provided a sampling of some of our favorite events and festivals, all of which are held in Sedona.
Celebration of Spring, April, Posse Grounds Park
Celebrating everything that makes spring fun-derful this Celebration of Spring event practically offers everything that makes a festival exciting, including in 2025, a Ninja Nations Skills Course. Also paying homage to Easter, our favorite spring holiday, there is usually an Easter Egg Hunt that your littles will be thrilled to be a part of, there are also rides, games, kid’s activities, and the opportunity to meet and greet the BBOC (Big Bunny on Campus) himself! The Free to Be Me Drumming activity held in the Gazebo during the lunch hour is always a fun interactive experience.
National Day of the Cowboy, July, Mary D Fisher Theater
For a while there in the 40s and 50s Sedona was often considered East Hollywood, as it was the site of many Western movies being made. On the National Day of the Cowboy, held every July, Sedona celebrates with a screening of one of those classic movies, offering a panel discussion with party favors and prizes. If you are a Western movie buff, why not play the game of what movie did I see that red rock in? In most cases it will be Cathedral Rock playing parts in movies such as “Comes a Horseman” and “Tall in the Saddle.” Just don’t tell anyone we gave away the answer.
Sedona Arts Festival, October, Sedona Red Rock High School
For two days in October the most talented artists and craftspeople in Sedona come together at the Sedona Red Rock High School, giving you the opportunity to purchase the best of the best. Offering food, drink, music, and stunning works of art, you will up your souvenir game when you purchase something from this iconic festival held every fall in Sedona.
The Deal You Have Been Waiting For
As you scroll through our Sedona.Org page, you may have discovered the tab titled Lodging Deals, and when you click there, your next tab will be the one titled Save big on Last Minute Travel. Now, do we really need to tell you to click on that tab? We don’t think so, but we do want to tell you that this is where you should look the moment you decide that Sedona is going to be your last-minute vacation destination. Offering an ever changing selection of bargains on our luxurious and comfortable Arizona escapes, you are about to find out that in this case, procrastination is something you will be rewarded for!
Reserve your Favorite Last-Minute Sedona.Org Arizona Retreat Today!
Waiting till the last minute to plan your Arizona vacation should be rewarded and our Sedona.Org retreats offer a luxurious example of everything you deserve. Reserve your favorite today.
