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Trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Sedona, AZ

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

57m

Distance

29.3 mi

47 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 53m ★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and county seat of Coconino County, Arizona, United States

Flagstaff, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Yavapai and Coconino counties in Arizona, United States

Sedona, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This relatively short 29.3-mile drive from Flagstaff, AZ, to Sedona, AZ, can be completed in about 57 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route primarily utilizes local roads with a highway share of only 3%, suggesting a more scenic and potentially winding journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, this trip is quite budget-friendly for a single day of exploration. Both your origin and destination are within the Desert Southwest region, so expect consistent arid landscapes. Given its brevity, you won't need an overnight stay; just pack for a day of adventure.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

14.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" on this route, rather than a long stretch of highway. While 77% of the drive is on local roads, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 22.6 miles on the Prescott–Flagstaff Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent cruising. You'll navigate through a mix of routes including Prescott–Flagstaff Highway, Arizona Veterans Highway, and South Milton Road. This suggests a drive that requires your attention, with frequent changes in direction and potentially varied road conditions as you transition between these designations.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Prescott–Flagstaff Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Milton Road.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Sedona, AZ is easy. At 57m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Milton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (AZ 89A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles (AZ 89A / State Highway 89A): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Milton Road

Turn slight left onto South Milton Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
4.2 mi into trip | ~7m in | AZ 89A

Take the exit onto AZ 89A toward Shamrell Boulevard, 89A, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Shamrell Boulevard, 89A, Flagstaff Pulli...
5
4.9 mi into trip | ~8m in | AZ 89A / State Highway 89A

Enter roundabout onto AZ 89A / State Highway 89A

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
28.9 mi into trip | ~56m in | AZ 89A / Prescott–Flagstaff Highway

Enter roundabout onto AZ 89A / Prescott–Flagstaff Highway

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
29.3 mi into trip | ~57m in | AZ 89A / North State Route 89A

Enter roundabout onto AZ 89A / North State Route 89A

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Flagstaff, AZ and Sedona, AZ, road signs point toward 89A and Flagstaff Pulliam Airport.

89A

4.2 mi in | ~7m | via AZ 89A

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport

4.2 mi in | ~7m | via AZ 89A

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Prescott–Flagstaff Highway 22.6 mi 45m
Arizona Veterans Highway 2.3 mi 2m
South Milton Road 1.8 mi 4m
Prescott-Flagstaff Highway 1.2 mi 2m
State Highway 89A 0.7 mi <1m
AZ 89A 0.6 mi 1m
West Historic Route 66 <0.1 mi <1m
John Wesley Powell Boulevard <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Prescott–Flagstaff Highway — 22.6 mi, about 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Flagstaff, AZ and Sedona, AZ.

1

Start on US 180; I 40 Bus; US 66 Hist

500 ft · 15 sec · West Historic Route 66
2

Turn slight left onto South Milton Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · South Milton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Continue on I 17; AZ 79

2.3 mi · 2 min · Arizona Veterans Highway
4

Take the exit onto AZ 89A

0.6 mi · 1 min · AZ 89A
Toward Shamrell Boulevard, 89A, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport
5

Continue on AZ 89A

342 ft · 5 sec · John Wesley Powell Boulevard
6

Enter roundabout onto AZ 89A

189 ft · 3 sec · State Highway 89A
7

Continue on AZ 89A

0.6 mi · 54 sec · State Highway 89A
8

Continue on AZ 89A

22 mi · 44 min · Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
9

Continue on AZ 89A

1.2 mi · 2 min · Prescott-Flagstaff Highway
10

Enter roundabout onto AZ 89A

83 ft · 1 sec · Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
11

Continue on AZ 89A

0.3 mi · 1 min · Prescott–Flagstaff Highway
12

Enter roundabout onto AZ 89A

90 ft · 1 sec · North State Route 89A
13

Arrive at destination

AZ 89A

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 57-minute drive covering just 29.3 miles, you have a lot of flexibility in planning your departure. Leaving Flagstaff in the morning allows you to arrive in Sedona with plenty of daylight for exploration. There are no specific stops recommended, so feel free to pause as needed. With a low fuel cost of $6, you likely won't need to worry about refueling during the drive itself, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. A good tip for this route is to pay close attention to your GPS or navigation system, especially during the segments designated as local roads, as they can be quite turn-heavy.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 14.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, or about 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.6 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 29.3 miles or 57m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 14.6 miles or 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sedona, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Flagstaff, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Flagstaff, AZ

This is one driving day of about 29.3 miles and 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Flagstaff, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Prescott–Flagstaff Highway for about 22.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 14.6 mi from Flagstaff, AZ · 27m into the drive

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Surprise, AZ

15 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Surprise, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Surprise, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 14.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sedona, AZ

The final approach into Sedona, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Sedona, AZ.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.84 one way

$11.67 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $6.18 $12.35
premium $5.59 $6.45 $12.90
diesel $5.61 $6.47 $12.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.8 0 $3.08 $1.41
Efficient EV 7.3 0 $2.56 $1.17
EV Truck/SUV 11.7 0 $4.10 $1.88

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

Flagstaff, AZ

Late night in Flagstaff on Wednesday

Local time

3:06 AM

MST

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sedona, AZ

Late night in Sedona on Wednesday

Local time

3:06 AM

MST

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

15 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

57m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Sedona, AZ covers 29.3 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Prescott–Flagstaff Highway, Arizona Veterans Highway, South Milton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.6 miles from Flagstaff, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.84 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Flagstaff, AZ to Sedona, AZ is easy. At 57m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Milton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (AZ 89A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles (AZ 89A / State Highway 89A): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Between Flagstaff, AZ and Sedona, AZ, road signs point toward 89A and Flagstaff Pulliam Airport.

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