Are you thinking about visiting Sedona in December? We spent a truly unforgettable week in Sedona just before Christmas in December 2021, and we think the winter months offer a perfect balance between cost, crowds and weather. In return for putting up with cold mornings and evenings, you’ll be rewarded with fewer people on trails and cheaper hotel rates. It’s a good trade off for us!
In this guide we answer 10 important questions you might have about planning a trip to Sedona in December, based entirely on our own experiences.
1. Is Sedona Busy In December?
Overcrowding is almost always one of the major problems any time you visit a popular tourist spot, and Sedona is one of the very best places to visit in the USA, so you should prepare yourself for heavy crowds. And to make matters worse, most touristy places generally have a peak season, a low season and shoulder seasons in between, whereas “low” season doesn’t really exist in Sedona.
The winter months of December, January and February certainly attract fewer people to Sedona but we can tell you from experience it isn’t as quiet as you might hope. In fact, Sedona was far busier than nearby Grand Canyon South Rim in winter, which stunned us.
We shared sunrise hikes in Sedona with more people than anywhere else in the US, and this was on weekdays in mid-December. Popular trailheads are always busy, cars are always parked on roadsides and downtown Sedona is a constant hive of activity.
How Many People Visit Sedona?
An estimated 3 million tourists visited Sedona annually before the coronavirus pandemic, and following international travel restrictions in 2020 that number increased by over 5% to 3.4 million. But since the end of the pandemic and the beginning of the subsequent economic crunch, tourism numbers have once again started to decline because Sedona is an expensive place to visit and people are more money conscious.
According to Sedona’s Chamber of Commerce, tourism is a $1 billion industry for the region and it accounts for over $240 million in wages. They’re huge numbers. And it goes to show just how popular Sedona is.
What does all this mean for you?
Well, it means that overcrowding might not be quite as bad as it has been in recent years. At least not until the economy recovers and people have more confidence in travel. Add in the fact that December is one of the quietest months of the year anyway, and you might just be able to enjoy Sedona without intolerable crowds on hiking trails!
Here’s why fewer crowds benefits you:
- More availability and better prices on hotels
- Restaurants won’t always be full or requiring reservations
- Jeep and ATV rentals may have discounted daily rates
- Hiking trails will be as quiet as they will be all year
- Parking lots will be the most accessible of the entire year
READ: Unmissable places to visit in Arizona
2. What Is Sedona Weather Like In December?
December brings a mixed bag of weather to Sedona and you need to be prepared for all eventualities. Typically, the mornings, evenings and nights will be cold but the days will be comfortable. So you’ll need to pack plenty of layers, including a heavy winter coat.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s this variable weather that allows you to create the perfect Sedona itinerary because the town is quieter when compared to spring or fall.
Just 2.2 inches of rainfall across approximately 4.4 days is expected in Sedona during December. If you’re lucky, you might get to see Sedona white over with snow. But snow is rare and almost impossible to plan for, unless you book last minute based on a current weather report.
Sedona December Temperatures
December is technically classed as the coldest month of the year in Sedona, which puts it at the top of the most chart for most uncomfortable time to visit based on temperature. But we would argue that those temperatures are mostly overnight and that the days are actually perfect for hiking.
Here are some of the most important weather and climate statistics for Sedona in December:
- High Temperature – 52 F
- Low Temperature – 31.9 F
- Freezing Days – 15.4 days
- Rainfall – 2.2 inches
- Rainy Days – 4.4 days
- Snowfall – 1.1 inches
- Snowy Days – 0.4 days
You can see that the lows are pretty chilly, but chances are slim you’ll be taking on night hikes anyway so it won’t affect you too much. Daytime temperatures of 52 F on average are surprisingly balmy, especially when you’re hiking. We actually spent most days in shorts and t-shirts, with heavy warm layers for morning and evening.
Does It Snow In Sedona In December?
Yes it does snow in Sedona in December, but expected snowfall for the month is just 1.1 inches, which is significantly less than January, February, March and even April.
That means December is not the best time to visit Sedona if you want to photograph the red rock landscape covered in a blanket of white snow. You’d be better off waiting for the later winter months or early spring to see snow falling.
Average monthly snowfall in Sedona:
- December – 1.1 inches
- January – 2.1 inches
- February – 2.7 inches
- March – 2.7 inches
- April – 1.8 inches
Remember, these numbers are just averages. It doesn’t mean you won’t strike it lucky in December! We didn’t see any snow falling in the 8 days we were in town, but most mornings there was a thin frosty layer which at least gave us a bit of white on the ground.
Source for all weather statistics: Best Places
3. Are Sedona Hotels Available And Affordable In December?
Hotels in Sedona charge a small fortune for accommodation no matter when you visit, as we found out for ourselves during our visit to Arizona in December. It’s just the nature of the tourist beast that is Sedona!
But we have since looked at prices of hotels in spring, summer and fall, which led us to the conclusion that hotel prices in summer and winter are cheaper when compared with spring and fall. Sometimes by a few hundred dollars, so there are some real savings to be had in winter.
The other bonus to visiting Sedona in December is hotel room occupancy rates being much lower. So even if the price isn’t as low as you might expect, at least you stand a better chance of actually getting a room if you book last minute.
Where To Stay In Sedona
We very highly recommend shopping around and pricing several places up to see what best suits your needs and budget. Consider the location of hotels within Sedona. Are they close to restaurants? Do you have easy access to the popular hiking trails?
The good news is Sedona is very small and it doesn’t take long to access any of the major tourist sites. Here are a few of the top rated places you can stay in Sedona to get you started:
We stayed at a relatively low budget place called Hilton Vacation Club Sedona Summit because we wanted to stay in West Sedona, we were booking last minute and we were right at the end of a 3 month road trip so our budget was almost on zero! Next time we’re in town we’ll stay in Uptown or West Sedona, hopefully in a mid range or luxury hotel.
READ: Where to stay in Sedona
4. What Are Sedona’s Hiking Trails Like In Winter?
Sedona is one of our favorite hiking destinations in the US. The small city is surrounded by diverse and exciting trails leading to stunning vistas and summits. You can even hike to various secret caves in Sedona. But the trails are incredibly busy.
Visiting Sedona in December at the beginning of the winter season means trails are less overcrowded. But maybe even more important is the fact that parking at trailheads will be easier with fewer people in town. We still had some issues getting parked, but we managed well enough for the most part.
Here are the most popular trailheads you’ll have a better chance of parking at in December:
Note: You can take a park and ride shuttle bus to trailheads if you visit Sedona between Thursday and Sunday year round.
Trail Conditions
Once you finally get on the trails, you shouldn’t have much to worry about unless there’s heavy rainfall or a rare day of snowfall. We noticed many of the hikes in Sedona are on slick rock and they were bordering on dangerous when wet or icy. At Bell Rock for instance, we waited until mid-morning before attempting to climb up high.
Shaded parts of certain trails still had frost from freezing overnight temperatures but by late morning the temperatures were much warmer and we ended end up in lighter layers as the frosts thawed.
Read: 20 amazing hikes in Sedona
5. Can You Drive Sedona’s Best Jeep Trails In December?
Sedona is a year round destination with favorable weather conditions for all activities. That means you can rent a Jeep and drive Sedona’s best off road trails no matter the month you visit. With that said, a December trip gives you a shot at benefiting from two of our favorite perks; saving money and crowd-free off road trails.
Unlike hiking trails which remain busy all year with little respite, there must be a decrease in the amount of interest in renting Jeeps during the month of December because we were able to save $300 with a special deal. It meant we had 3 days of driving awesome Jeep trails like Broken Arrow Trail, Diamondback Gulch and Schnebly Hill Road with very few others around.
Why Rent A Jeep?
Renting a Jeep will give you independent access to the most remote areas such as Sedona’s ancient ruins and the highest vistas such as Merry Go Round. But the best part is being able to park at Devils Bridge Trailhead proper and drive Soldier Pass Road, which guarantees you can hike the trails.
We were very lucky to be in Sedona when the price of a multi-day Jeep rental was discounted at Barlow Adventures. Visit Sedona in mid-December and you might be able to pick up the same deal.
6. What Can You Expect With Photography?
Sedona isn’t just about hiking and off roading, it’s also a spectacular arena for capturing stunning photos. Rugged red rocks, lush green desert vegetation and a big open sky create endless photo opportunities around town.
Soft light and colorful skies at dawn and dusk make sunrises and sunsets in Sedona unmissable for hobbyist and pro photographers visiting Arizona. We’ve been to a lot of places in the US and around the world, and Sedona is one of our favorite places for photography to date. The whole place is incredibly photogenic.
We think December might just be the very best time of year for photographers to visit Sedona and here’s why:
- Sunrise is later in the morning so we could avoid setting that agonizing early alarm
- Sunset is earlier in the evening so we could get our photos and be back in town for dinner
- There’s a small chance of snow falling (we didn’t get it but it’s possible)
- Chances of textured cloudy skies were much higher vs summer and we did benefit from this
- All of the most popular photo spots were quieter than peak seasons
One of the only downsides to photography in Sedona during December and winter in general is having to put up with the cold. Just remember your big fur coat and camera gloves. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.
7. Are All Of Sedona’s Top Tourist Sites Open?
You’ll be happy to know you can tick off all of Sedona’s top attractions if you visit in December, just without the heavy crowds you would get in spring and fall. We didn’t have any problems getting into any of the national monuments, ruins, wineries, restaurants or other popular tourist attractions.
Being a year round tourist destination might sound tiring for the locals, but it’s fantastic for Sedona’s economy and it’s great news for us, the tourists. There’s not much you can do in summer that you can’t also do in December or winter in Sedona.
What To Do In Sedona In December
Here are some of the top activities you should consider doing when you visit:
- Hike as many amazing trails as you can
- Rent a Jeep and drive exciting off road trails
- Visit the best wineries in Sedona on the famous Verde Valley Wine Trail
- Sunrise and sunset photography
- Ride the Verde Canyon Railroad train
- Visit ancient ruins and National Monuments
- Feel the energy at the various Sedona Vortexes
All of the major tourist sites will be quieter and more relaxing. Plus, you have a better chance of booking tours last minute. In peak season you would have to be very organized by booking way in advance for guided tours at Palatki Heritage Site or the Verde Canyon train ride.
And here’s one more fantastic thing you can only do on a December visit to Sedona; walk around the Christmas lights at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village (see #10 below). This was one of our favorite evenings of the trip.
READ: 20 awesome things to do in Sedona
8. How Is The Sedona Food Scene In Winter?
If there’s one thing you don’t want to see closed in winter, it’s the best restaurants and eateries in town. This happens in some tourist heavy destinations like Zion National Park, but fortunately everything stays open and ready to go in Sedona throughout December and the winter season.
The local population is big enough and tourism demand stays high enough through the winter to allow all businesses to remain open even during the quietest season of the year. We enjoyed eating out around Sedona and there’s lots of great restaurants in town, but our favorite was actually Up the Creek Bistro in Page Springs.
Here are some of the best places we found, as well as other top rated spots we’ll visit next time we’re in town:
- Elote Cafe – Mexican
- Outlaw Grille – Hamburger
- Pisa Lisa – Pizza
- Gerardo’s Italian Kitchen – Italian
- Rene at Tlaquepaque – Continental (upscale)
- Senor Bob’s Hot Dogs – Amazing fast food for lunch
- Up the Creek Bistro – Quality pub grub (in Page Springs)
- Red Rock Cafe – Breakfast and brunch (in Village of Oak Creek)
9. What Do You Need To Pack For A Winter Visit?
Packing for a December visit to Sedona is more challenging than if you were to visit in summer for instance. And you’re probably going to overpack, but that’s fine, it’s better to be safe than sorry. We hiked almost every morning to see sunrises and we stayed out past sunset most evenings, so for us it was crucial we had lots of layers. We’d start out cold, warm up and then get cold again.
If you’re a hiker, you’re also going to need plenty of moisture wicking layers that you can easily put on and take off throughout the day. Even if you don’t plan to hike, you’ll need heavy coats, sweaters and long pants for mornings and evenings.
Don’t forget sunglasses. Despite it being winter, the sun will more than likely be out most of time during the day. And our top tip is to pack a pair of robust trail runners or hiking shoes. You’ll need quality tread to help with accessing caves and most hiking trails on slick rock. We wouldn’t have been able to do half the hikes or caves without proper footwear.
10. Are There Any Christmas Lights In Sedona?
What would a December trip be without Christmas lights and decorations?! Well, you can relax and tell the kids that there will be Christmas lights in abundance scattered throughout Sedona in the build up to the big day.
The one place you simply can’t miss is Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, which goes above and beyond all expectations with a wonderful display of Christmas trees, bright lights and elaborate decorations. We really enjoyed the Christmassy festive feel at the village and we highly recommend you try it. Just make sure you walk around both sides of the shopping center (the main road splits it in two).
If you plan your trip to be in Sedona around December 10th you can also head down to Tlaquepaque for the annual Festival of Lights, at which 6,000 luminarias are lit. A word of warning, the line of cars waiting to get into the festival went the entire way through Sedona along highway 89a when we visited, so plan to arrive early!
More From Sedona
- The hikes you can’t miss in Sedona
- Awesome off-roading 4×4 trails in Sedona
- The 5 Sedona ancient ruins to visit
- Stunning Sedona sunrises and sunsets
- How to find Sedona’s secret caves
- The top rated hotels around Sedona
- How to spend 1-5 days in Sedona
Want more Arizona content? Head over to our Arizona travel guides to explore the best of Grand Canyon, Sedona and beyond.
We hope our guide on visiting Sedona in December helps with planning your visit to Arizona!
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us.