National parks near Sedona, Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park is the closest national park to Sedona, Arizona — 84.3 mi (136 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 27 min behind the wheel.
A deep canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona. South Rim is the busy, easy-access side.
Grand Canyon National Park makes a full day trip — leave early. Petrified Forest National Park, Zion National Park, Saguaro National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Sedona gates the entrance itself, but 7 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Sedona has a population of about 10,388.
Grand Canyon National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Zion National Park
Saguaro National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Best time to visit Grand Canyon National Park. Getting to Grand Canyon National Park. Camping at Grand Canyon National Park. Permits for Grand Canyon National Park. Timed entry and tours at Grand Canyon National Park.
National parks near Sedona
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon National Park | 84.3 mi (136 km) | 2 hr 27 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Petrified Forest National Park | 111 mi (179 km) | 3 hr 5 min | Best as a weekend |
| Zion National Park | 183 mi (294 km) | 4 hr 46 min | Best as a weekend |
| Saguaro National Park | 184 mi (296 km) | 4 hr 48 min | Best as a weekend |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | 188 mi (303 km) | 4 hr 54 min | Best as a weekend |
| Capitol Reef National Park | 232 mi (374 km) | 5 hr 57 min | Best as a weekend |
| Chiricahua National Park | 242 mi (389 km) | 6 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mesa Verde National Park | 243 mi (390 km) | 6 hr 12 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Joshua Tree National Park | 248 mi (399 km) | 6 hr 19 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Canyonlands National Park | 252 mi (405 km) | 6 hr 24 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Sedona
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon National Park | Tuweep Area Day Use Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Petrified Forest National Park | Wilderness backpacking permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Zion National Park | Angels Landing: Fall (Hikes on September 1 – November 30) | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Bryce Canyon National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Capitol Reef National Park | Backcountry camping permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Joshua Tree National Park | Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness Backpacking Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Canyonlands National Park | Canyonlands National Park Day Use Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Sedona
Within reach of Sedona, 24 campgrounds across 9 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Joshua Tree National Park, 3 at Grand Canyon National Park, 3 at Zion National Park, and 2 at Bryce Canyon National Park, plus 5 more parks with fewer sites.
Morefield at Mesa Verde National Park does not take reservations, so it never shows up as bookable inventory — in busy season that means arriving before mid-morning rather than planning around a confirmation.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Grand Canyon National Park is generally best March through May, then October through November, with February and early December as the quieter shoulder either side.
Summer highs regularly clear 100 °F / 38 °C. Winter is pleasant by day but nights drop below freezing at elevation.
Summer heat is the real hazard, not the crowds. Hike at dawn, skip exposed trails after mid-morning, and never rely on finding water.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Sedona are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Zion → Bryce Canyon | 51.2 mi (82.5 km) | 1 hr 40 min |
| Grand Canyon → Zion | 100 mi (161 km) | 2 hr 49 min |
| Grand Canyon → Bryce Canyon | 105 mi (169 km) | 2 hr 56 min |
| Grand Canyon → Petrified Forest | 153 mi (247 km) | 4 hr 5 min |
Planning a trip from Sedona
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Coconino County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Sedona?
Grand Canyon National Park. It is about 84.3 mi (136 km) from Sedona, roughly 2 hr 27 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Sedona?
Yes — Grand Canyon National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Sedona?
10 parks are within reach of Sedona, and 1 of them is close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Sedona?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 7 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Tuweep Area Day Use Tickets at Grand Canyon National Park, Wilderness backpacking permit at Petrified Forest National Park, and Angels Landing: Fall (Hikes on September 1 – November 30) at Zion National Park. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Sedona?
Recreation.gov lists 24 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Sedona. They are spread across 9 of those parks. One of them is first-come, first-served, so it never appears as bookable inventory.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Sedona?
For Grand Canyon National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then October through November. Either side of that, February and early December stays quieter.