Uptown Sedona occupies the northern commercial spine of Sedona, Arizona, running along State Route 89A between the Y intersection and the main roundabout near Coffee Pot Road. It serves as the city’s primary visitor hub, concentrating galleries, outfitters, restaurants, and trailheads within comfortable walking distance of one another. The neighborhood’s defining feature is the immediate, unobstructed panorama of red sandstone formations—Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and the Schnebly Hill formation visible from the sidewalk.
What is Uptown Sedona known for?
Uptown Sedona is best known as the gateway to Sedona’s red-rock landscape, offering direct trailhead access, a dense corridor of Native American jewelry and southwestern art galleries along AZ-89A, and the landmark Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village—a Spanish colonial–style complex on Hwy 179 at the bridge over Oak Creek that houses more than 40 galleries and studios. The district is also the departure point for the majority of Sedona’s commercial jeep and pink jeep tour operations.
Best things to do in Uptown Sedona
- Book a Pink Jeep Tour departing from the Pink Jeep Tours headquarters on AZ-89A for off-road red-rock access.
- Browse the galleries and ceramics studios inside Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village on Hwy 179.
- Walk or drive up Airport Road to Airport Mesa for a 360-degree vortex-site panorama.
- Hike the Airport Loop Trail, a 3.5-mile loop accessible from Airport Road with sweeping butte views.
- Visit Uptown’s numerous crystal and vortex-themed shops along AZ-89A for locally sourced minerals and spiritual reading sessions.
Where to eat in Uptown Sedona
Uptown Sedona’s restaurant concentration along AZ-89A and the adjoining Tlaquepaque complex covers everything from casual southwestern lunch spots to sit-down adobe-style dining, with several patios offering uninterrupted red-rock sightlines. The Heartline Café on AZ-89A is a long-standing local favorite known for herb-garden-sourced dishes and pecan-crusted trout. Tlaquepaque’s El Rincon Restaurante Mexicano serves traditional Navajo and Mexican plates inside a courtyard setting. Coffeepot Restaurant near Coffee Pot Road is a Sedona institution open for breakfast and lunch, serving more than 100 omelette varieties.
Where to walk in Uptown Sedona
The most accessible walking corridor in Uptown Sedona is the AZ-89A sidewalk stretch between the Y roundabout and Brewer Road, roughly half a mile of continuous storefronts, galleries, and open red-rock vistas requiring no trail permit. For a more structured nature walk, the Jordan Road area leads to the Jordan Trail and Coyote Trail network, connecting pedestrians from residential Uptown streets directly into undeveloped red-rock terrain within minutes.
How to get to Uptown Sedona
Uptown Sedona is reached primarily by private vehicle via AZ-89A from the north (through Oak Creek Canyon from Flagstaff, approximately 28 miles) or via AZ-179 from the south (from I-17 Exit 298). The Verde Lynx bus service operated by VVTA (Verde Valley Transportation Authority) runs scheduled routes connecting Sedona with Cottonwood and the Verde Valley, with stops along AZ-89A. The Sedona Shuttle also operates shared-ride service from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport directly into Uptown. A Red Rock Pass is required for parking at most trailheads; the Uptown parking garage on Forest Road off AZ-89A provides a central paid-parking alternative.
Best time to visit Uptown Sedona
Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are the most comfortable and visually rewarding times to visit Uptown Sedona, with daytime temperatures between 60°F and 80°F, clear skies, and peak wildflower or autumn-cottonwood color along Oak Creek. Summer brings monsoon storms in July and August that produce dramatic cloud formations over the buttes—a prized photography window—though midday heat regularly exceeds 100°F. Winter weekdays offer the thinnest crowds and occasional dusting of snow on the red rocks, particularly visible from the AZ-89A corridor.
