When Is the Best Time for a Jeep Tour in Sedona?

The two ideal windows

April to May and September to October are the ideal windows, with daytime highs of 75 to 89°F, low humidity and minimal monsoon risk. These are also the months when the best slots sell out first.

Sunset comes at roughly 7:29 PM in late June and 5:16 PM in late December. Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so the clock does not jump in spring or fall. Plan a late afternoon ride around the sunset time of the month you pick.

December to March is a quiet favorite with repeat visitors. Snow is rare and melts fast, so it rarely disrupts tours, and most companies hand out blankets or ponchos.

How hot does it get?

Sedona averages roughly 10 to 15 days a year above 100°F, almost all in June and July. It gets about 19 inches of rain and 4 to 8 inches of snow a year. The town is usually 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Phoenix, so a summer ride stays pleasant if you go early in the morning or around sunset.

Summer: go early

From June to August temperatures top out around 100 degrees, so summer tours are best early in the morning or around sunset. Most operators run a first tour around 8 AM that gets you back before storms develop. Check-in at Pink Jeep is 30 minutes before departure, so an 8 AM ride means arriving around 7:30 AM.

Winter: go at mid-day

Travellers who have ridden in both seasons say mid-day is more comfortable in winter, even with blankets, while in summer it is hot at either end of the day. Mornings and evenings are colder at any time of year. Departure times for the Broken Arrow tour change with the season, so confirm your hour when you book.

The 2 PM to 6 PM storm window

The monsoon runs from early July through mid-September, and storms build between roughly 2 PM and 6 PM. The fix is simple: book the earliest slot of the day. Mid-July to late August mid-day slots are the ones to avoid, because storm risk and direct sun in an open vehicle come together.

Ordinary rain does not stop a tour. Pink Jeep runs rain or shine, carries ponchos in the vehicles and, with the Coconino National Forest Service, keeps the right to modify, shorten or cancel a tour in extreme weather.

All six tours on this site offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. If the forecast for your afternoon looks bad a day out, move to a morning slot without losing the fare.

Slots to skip

Mid-July to late August mid-day slots carry both the monsoon storm risk and the strongest sun of the year in a vehicle with no roof. Sedona's 10 to 15 days a year above 100°F fall almost all in June and July, so a mid-day ride then puts you in the hottest hours of the year.

No month makes a jeep tour impossible. Pick the first slot in summer and mid-day in winter, and almost every month gives you a good ride.

The windchill factor

In an open jeep, windchill at 45 mph feels colder than the thermometer says, so winter riders need insulated jackets, gloves and thermal layers. Most companies also hand out blankets or ponchos. Temperatures are colder early and at night in every season, so a layer you can take off is never wasted.

Season and slot for each tour

The table pairs each of our tours with the season it suits. Prices are per person. In summer, the 2-hour rides are the easiest to fit between an 8 AM start and the afternoon storms.

In spring and fall, the 3-hour Outlaw Trail Off-Road Jeep Tour gets the most time on the trail out of the good weather.

What the price buys

Four main operators run jeep tours in Sedona: Pink Jeep Tours, A Day in the West, Safari Jeep Tours and Red Rock Western Jeep Tours. Trail permits are limited, and Pink Adventure Tours is the only outfitter the U.S. Forest Service permits on the Broken Arrow trail. That is why the best slots sell out.

The six routes on our sedona jeep tours list rate between 4.7 and 5.0 across 148 to 1,910 reviews, and each has free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, so a stormy afternoon does not cost you the fare. Budget a 15% tip on top, the suggested standard in Sedona, which Pink Jeep adds automatically for groups of 8 or more.

Why the best slots go first

Tours have limited permits and often sell out, so advance reservations are recommended. The pressure is highest in the two ideal windows, when highs of 75 to 89°F bring the most visitors. Departure times also change with the season, so booking early lets you pick the exact hour rather than take what is left.

For a June to August trip, book the first tour of the day before anything else. The 8 AM start is the one that beats the 2 to 6 PM storms.

Night options

Night touring exists through the Red Rock Western Jeep Tours stargazing tour, run by one of the four main operators in town. Temperatures are colder at night in every season, and windchill at 45 mph in an open jeep feels colder than the air, so bring an insulated jacket, gloves and thermal layers even in spring and fall.

For red rock in the last light of the day, book a late afternoon slot on the Scenic Rim Pink Jeep Tour in spring or fall, when sunset falls between the late June and late December times of 7:29 PM and 5:16 PM.

December to March on the trails

December to March is a favorite season for repeat visitors. Snow is rare and melts fast, so it rarely disrupts tours, and Sedona averages only 4 to 8 inches a year. Mid-day is the comfortable winter slot, even with blankets.

Sunset comes around 5:16 PM in late December, so a late afternoon ride ends near dark and gets cold fast. Dress in full winter layers, because windchill at 45 mph feels colder than the thermometer says.

Check-in and timing

Pink Jeep check-in is 30 minutes before departure, at 204 N. State Route 89A in Uptown Sedona. The office opens at 7 a.m. and stays open until 6 p.m. year-round and until 8 p.m. in summer, so someone is there for a 7:30 AM check-in on an early summer ride. Your booking confirmation gives the meeting point for tours run by other operators.

A 15% tip is the suggested standard, added automatically for groups of 8 or more.