📷 Photo by Nils Huenerfuerst on UnsplashRed rock Arizona
Sedona’s red buttes, the hillside ghost town of Jerome and Whiskey Row in Prescott.
- Distance
- approx. 283 km (176 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 08 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 4
- States
- AZ
- Best time to go
- April and October–November
- Tolls and vignettes
- None expected
- Updated
- August 26, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 283 km (176 mi) with 4 stops, from Phoenix to Prescott. About 3 h 08 min of driving in total. Best time to go: April and October–November. No toll roads expected for a car.
More road trips in Arizona · More road trips from Phoenix
Photos along the route
Route description
From Phoenix, I-17 climbs north out of the saguaro desert onto the high country. Leave it for AZ-179, which runs past Bell Rock and through the Village of Oak Creek into Sedona, surrounded by red sandstone buttes.
Sedona is a base for walks among the buttes, and the drive north through Oak Creek Canyon on AZ-89A is one of the most scenic in the state. Many trailheads need a Red Rock Pass for parking and fill early, so start at dawn or use the local shuttle where it runs.
Southwest of Sedona, AZ-89A runs through Cottonwood and climbs steep switchbacks to Jerome, a former copper-mining town clinging to the hillside with galleries in its old buildings. Beyond Jerome, 89A crosses Mingus Mountain on narrow hairpins, so long motorhomes and trailers are better routed around it.
The road descends to Prescott, where Whiskey Row’s old saloons face the courthouse square. Return to Phoenix via AZ-69 and I-17. Spring and fall are the best seasons, as summer is very hot in the desert around Phoenix.
Which stops are on Red rock Arizona?
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Phoenix
AZ - 2193 km
Sedona
AZ - 342 km
Jerome
AZ - 448 km
Prescott
AZ
How do you drive Red rock Arizona in 3 days?
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Phoenix → Sedona · 120 mi · 2 h 08 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camp Avalon (5 mi); Rancho Sedona RV Park (< 1 km).
- Day 2: Sedona → Jerome · 26 mi · 0 h 28 minOvernight nearby, for example: Potato Patch Campground (4 mi); Camp Avalon (17 mi).
- Day 3: Jerome → Prescott · 30 mi · 0 h 32 minOvernight nearby, for example: Lower Wolf Creek Forest Camp (6 mi); Lynx Campground (5 mi).
When is the best time for Red rock Arizona?
The most pleasant months are usually April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, May and September. Hot in June–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
More routes for the best months
Practical guides for this route
Photo by Malivez on UnsplashDriving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel
Photo by Aleksandr Dalakian on UnsplashFuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers
Photo by Tracy Zhang on UnsplashUS national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms
Themes
Plan this route for your vehicle
Scout adapts this route to your vehicle, your days and your budget.
FAQs
How long is Red rock Arizona?
3-day road trip of about 283 km (176 mi) with 4 stops, from Phoenix to Prescott. About 3 h 08 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Red rock Arizona?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 08 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Red rock Arizona start and end?
It starts in Phoenix and ends in Prescott.
Which states does Red rock Arizona pass through?
Arizona.
Where can you camp along Red rock Arizona?
OpenStreetMap lists 73 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Camp Avalon, Lower Wolf Creek Forest Camp and Cockscomb Dispersed Camping Area.
