The best way into Sedona on the busy fall weekends

Snoopy Rock - photo by Sarah McLean

Okay, here’s something that some people don’t want you to know: It's a shortcut into Sedona. Based on this writer’s experiences  of 1. being stuck for one hour  trying to get home through the flooding on 179 yesterday, and 2. completely stopped forever with the toursit traffic backed all way up to the Village to Oak Creek today,  it would be unkind not to let you know a great alternative to coming to Sedona.

If you’d like to visit Sedona from Phoenix, it will take approximately two to two and a half hours to reach this jewel of the desert, depending on your starting location. And if there's traffic like there is this weekend, and most weekends, it can take substantially longer.  The Sedona locals know to take this alternative route. And yes, it is as beautiful coming into Sedona going this way. I’ve added a few of the local’s favorite restaurants too. And you can thank me later.

ALTERNATIVE DIRECTIONS to Sedona  (this helps you to avoid extensive and frustrating construction and weekend traffic):

Begin by taking I-17 North. After traveling about an hour to an hour and a half, you’ll take a long descent into the Verde Valley after you will come to the exit for HWY 260 (to Cottonwood and Camp Verde). Take this exit.

At the bottom of the exit turn left onto HWY 260 toward Cottonwood. (If you want a Starbucks take a right and you’ll see it right there on your left, then when you come out of the driveway, take a right to get back to 260 heading toward Cottonwood.)

In about 10 minutes you will pass the Out of Africa Wild Animal Park on the Left. You might want to check that out.

In about 10 more minutes, you’ll come into Cottonwood and a very large intersection with a stop light. This is the intersection between 260 & 89A. There will be directing you to turn right onto State Route 89A north toward Sedona. Take that right.

Once you turn right, you will travel about 20-25 minutes to reach west end of Sedona. There’s a lot to do on the west side of Sedona too.

Here's one thing you won't want to miss. As you are traveling through to Sedona on 89A, you can take a right at Upper Red Rock Loop Road, the high school is on the corner there. See where Cathedral Rock reflects in the Oak Creek**. It is spectacular and is one of the most photographed spots in Sedona.

**Here are the directions to that spot called Crescent Moon Ranch: Once on Upper Red Rock Loop Road, follow it for nearly two miles. Follow the signs to Crescent Moon Recreation Area. This is a great spot to have a picnic too. Take a left at Chavez Ranch Rd. Follow it around a sharp curve for .8 mile, to Crescent Moon Ranch on the left. There is a $6 fee per vehicle to park at the park. There are restrooms right there. Crescent Moon Ranch (928) 204-1398. The road is a dead end, so if you are coming from 179, you can take Verde Valley School Road to get there, but you’ll need completely different directions. 

Let’s say you don’t take that detour, though it is beautiful. Continue on 89A all the way through the Sedona.

There are a lot of great restaurants along 89A:

Here are two world class vegetarian restaurants: D’Lish on your left. D'lish's salads are a big hit, expecially the Hip Hip Hoorah. And ChocolaTree on your right further down. The owner of Chocolatree, David Warr, is a raw vegan chocolate-maker who make excellent entrees too.

There’s a GREAT authentic pizza place called aPizza Heaven, about a half a mile after you pass Dry Creek Road on the right – it's a hidden haven with an outdoor patio, perfect for those looking for real NY pizza. Dave the owner has been in the pizza business for years: read a review here.

For those who are looking for a fancy, intimate Italian place for dinner, try Dahl & DiLuca immediately after Safeway on the right. Lisa Dahl, the owner/chef sometimes can be found singing there, and she is famous here in Sedona. For the next two weeks she's in Italy working on her new cookbook!  She also runs the Cucina Rustica restaurant in the Village of Oak Creek.

On the left is the Sedona Rouge, a newer hotel with a great, luxurious spa featuring Ayurvedic treatments, and a hip (for Sedona) lounge called Reds. Their chef has been made famous working with Dr. Deepak Chopra catering to his and the Chopra Center's every whim (they rent the whole place out for the pricey SynchroDestiny Retreat). Their guest rooms rock too. 

If you're looking for the local coffee scene, try Java Love on your right before the Harkins movie theaters. You'll see the whole gang there. Great bites. Nice art.

And if you’re in the mood for Indian Food, Indian Palace is on the left in the Basha’s parking lot. They've got a delicious North Indian lunch buffet and undoubtedly, you'll see Lawrence, the artist with the white lion-like mane who painted the murals throughout. He's a fixture here in Sedona.

If you keep on heading east, you’ll go through two roundabouts. The second one has an exit to the Hyatt - there’s a fantastic view of Sedona from the Starbucks up there,. If you go through the roundabout to uptown, you check out the view from the new coffee shop on your right. I don’t event know the name of it, it’s so new.

Uptown is the tourist area and can be busy and fun.  Lots of T-Shirts. You can stop, or, drive straight through toward Oak Creek Canyon - a lush and welcoming woody canyon, perfect if you’ve been spending way too long in the hot, dry desert.

Oak Creek Canyon is an oasis, a completely different bio-region. Passing uptown in about 1.5 miles you will reach a bridge (Midgley Bridge). Keep going and you’ll be in Oak Creek Canyon. You can park along any of the pullouts to hike or check out the creek. There are great places to stay too. And fish too.

Or, If you take a right at that second roundabout - instead of going to Uptown or the Hyatt - you’ll be on Rt. 179 heading south. It will eventually take you to Rt 17 in about 15 miles. Follow it for less than 1 mile  and you’ll see the Spanish Village Tlaquepaque on your right. It’s a fun place to walk around and look at art, though beware of timeshare sales people (They’re everywhere in Sedona).

If you keep going on 179, you might see a sign for the Mexican restaurant called Elote on your right, it  shares a space with the King’s Ransom Hotel, one of the original hotels of Sedona. The owner of Elote, Jeff Smedstad, is originally from the Valley’s Los Sombreros, has created a favorite-for-locals Mexican restaurant.It’s totally worth the trip. The margaritas are great and so is the menu. Definitely try the Elote too.

There's so much more to tell you about Sedona that the travel maps and hotel concierges might not..... so it will be revealed.... later.

Don’t forget to pack your hiking shoes bring plenty of water, your camera, and go for a hike. That is the BEST way to see Sedona. And this weekend it isn’t even too hot!! Check out the link on the right to find the best hikes on your route...