Las Vegas to Sedona — Complete Drive Guide

~275 miles via US-93 south / I-40 east / AZ-89A south. Budget 4.5–5 hours of driving. Leave by 8 AM with a Hoover Dam stop and arrive in time for a Sedona sunset hike.

~275 mi

Distance

~5h

Drive Time

US-93/I-40

Route

Hoover

Best Stop (45 min)

The Route — Step by Step

0–30 mi

Las Vegas → Hoover Dam (US-93 S)

Head south from Las Vegas on US-93. The Hoover Dam is 30 miles from the Strip — exit at the Hoover Dam Access Road. Visitor center costs $10/vehicle to cross, free to park on the Nevada side overlook. Allow 45–60 minutes. Re-cross the dam and continue south on US-93.

30–103 mi

Hoover Dam → Kingman (US-93 S)

About 73 miles of desert highway through the Black Mountains. Kingman is the natural gas/food stop — Historic Route 66 Museum (30 min, worth it if you're a Route 66 fan). The Historic Beale Hotel coffee shop is a solid lunch option in Kingman.

103–210 mi

Kingman → Williams (I-40 E)

About 107 miles east on I-40 from Kingman through Seligman and Ash Fork to Williams — the longest single leg of the drive. Williams is a compact Route 66 town with one main street of restaurants and shops. Stop here if you're not stopping in Flagstaff. Grand Canyon Railway depot is also here if anyone wants a later add-on.

210–242 mi

Williams → Flagstaff (I-40 E)

About 32 miles east on I-40 to Flagstaff (7,000 ft elevation, Ponderosa pines). Exit onto US-89A south. Downtown Flagstaff is worth a coffee stop — Firecreek Coffee on Route 66 is 2 minutes off the highway.

242–275 mi

Flagstaff → Sedona (US-89A S — Oak Creek Canyon)

The last ~29 miles on US-89A through Oak Creek Canyon are the scenic payoff of the drive. The road descends 2,000 feet through red-walled canyon, past Slide Rock State Park, into the red rock Sedona basin. Allow 45 minutes — not because it's slow, but because you'll stop.

Timing — When to Leave Las Vegas

Leave 7–8 AM

Arrive Sedona 1–2 PM with a Hoover Dam stop. Full afternoon for a hike. Time for a sunset dinner reservation at Mariposa (book before you leave).

Leave 9–10 AM

Arrive Sedona 3–4 PM. Bell Rock or Airport Mesa sunset walk. Works well if you have a late Vegas checkout.

Leave After Noon

Arrive after 5 PM. Oak Creek Canyon drive is in evening light (beautiful). Uptown Sedona restaurants are open late. First full day starts fresh tomorrow.

Book First

Sedona Hotels on Expedia

Sedona hotels book out 4–8 weeks ahead in peak season (March–November). Book before you leave Las Vegas. Enchantment Resort, L'Auberge, and Amara are the top-tier options.

Browse Sedona Hotels on Expedia →

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On Arrival

Vortex Circuit Audio Tour

Hit all 4 vortex sites on your first full day. GPS-guided, works offline. Perfect warm-up to Sedona before the bigger hikes.

See Sedona Audio Tours →

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Sedona from Las Vegas? +
Sedona is approximately 275 miles from Las Vegas via US-93 south / I-40 east / AZ-89A south — noticeably farther than the 250-260 miles some sites quote. Without stops, budget 4.5 to 5 hours of driving (the route mixes 75-mph desert highway with slow small-town and canyon sections); add time for Hoover Dam, gas, and food stops, which most travelers do.
What is the best route from Las Vegas to Sedona? +
US-93 south from Las Vegas → I-40 east at Kingman → exit at Flagstaff → US-89A south through Oak Creek Canyon into Sedona. The Oak Creek Canyon stretch (last 28 miles) is the scenic highlight of the drive and is worth the extra 15 minutes over the Williams bypass route.
What are the best stops between Las Vegas and Sedona? +
Hoover Dam (30 miles from Las Vegas, 45–60 min) is the most worthwhile stop. Kingman (about 103 miles) is the gas/food stop roughly a third of the way in. Williams (about 210 miles) or Flagstaff (about 242 miles) work for a lunch stop. Slide Rock State Park on US-89A, near the end of the Oak Creek Canyon stretch, is the last tempting stop before Sedona.
Can you drive Las Vegas to Sedona in one day? +
Yes — 275 miles is comfortable in one day. Leave by 8 AM to arrive in Sedona by 2–3 PM with a Hoover Dam stop. That leaves the afternoon for a hike and time for a sunset dinner reservation.

Plan Your Sedona Trip

Sedona Travel Planning →

Best time to visit, parking, budget, comparison tables

Sedona Hotels →

Enchantment, L'Auberge, Amara — book early

3-Day Sedona Itinerary →

Day-by-day guide for first-time visitors