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Is a Sedona Jeep Tour Worth It?

Is a Sedona jeep tour worth it? Yes for most first-time visitors who want the red rock viewpoints without a long hike, with our tours costing $107.33 to $150.41 per person for 2 to 3 hours. This guide covers who gets the most from a tour, who should skip it and what to do instead, the cost in money and time, which tour to pick and how to get the most from the ride.

Quick answer The short verdict

Yes for most visitors: our six tours cost $107.33 to $150.41 per person, last 2 to 3 hours and rate 4.7 to 5. Skip it if you hike well or have joint pain and only the roughest trail appeals. Book a few days ahead, because popular tours sell out.

Key takeaways

Are Jeep tours in Sedona worth it?

Yes for most travellers who want the big red rock scenery without hours of hiking, and no for strong hikers or anyone with joint pain set on the bumpiest trail.

The answer depends on the route you pick and what you would do instead.

What you get for the money

A 2 to 3-hour ride in a custom-built Jeep Wrangler with a guide who drives, so everyone in your group looks at the rocks instead of the road. Reviewers of the Broken Arrow tour call it spectacular and worth the time, bumpy as expected but fun, exciting and adventurous. Our six tours rate between 4.7 and 5 from 148 to 1,910 reviews each.

Every tour on our list has free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, so a bad forecast does not cost you the fare.

What it takes

Money, a couple of hours and a tolerance for bumps. Pink Jeep rates its trails for roughness: Broken Arrow is 3/5 and Scenic Rim is 5/5. One Sedona guide writer found the Scenic Rim road so bumpy that the tour was not worth it for her, so choose the route by roughness before you pay.

What you getWhat it takes
Red rock viewpoints without a long hike$107.33 to $150.41 per person on our list
A guide who drives the trail2 to 3 hours plus a half hour check-in
Rides rated 4.7 to 5 by past ridersA bumpy ride, up to 5/5 on Scenic Rim
Free cancellation up to 24 hours aheadBooking a few days ahead in busy periods
Two tall red sandstone spires of Cathedral Rock against a pale sky

The spires of Cathedral Rock above Sedona. Photo: Brady Smith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What does a Sedona Jeep tour cost in money and time?

Our tours cost $107.33 to $150.41 per person and last 2 to 3 hours, plus a half hour check-in.

Prices are per person, and the average tour runs about two hours.

Price, length and rating compared

The table lines up our six tours by price, with length and rating. Pick by budget first, then by the route and how rough you want it.

TourOperatorPriceLengthRating
Red Rock Backcountry Jeep TourArizona Safari Jeep Tours$107.332 hours4.8
Red Rock Range Pink Jeep TourPink Jeep Tours$1162 hours4.7
Outlaw Trail Off-Road Jeep TourArizona Safari Jeep Tours$134.813 hours4.9
Schnebly Hill Road Jeep TourArizona Safari Jeep Tours$134.812.5 hours5
Scenic Rim Pink Jeep TourPink Jeep Tours$1382.5 hours4.8
Sedona Vortex Jeep TourArizona Safari Jeep Tours$150.412.5 hours4.8

The time it takes

The average jeep tour lasts about two hours, and you arrive a half hour before departure. A 2-hour ride fits around a hike or lunch in Uptown Sedona. Grand Canyon tours take around 10 hours, so keep those for a separate day.

Who will love a Sedona Jeep tour?

First-time visitors, couples, families and anyone short on time get the most from a jeep tour.

A jeep tour pays off when it gives you something you could not easily do alone.

First-timers and short stays

In 2 to 3 hours a guide shows you red rock country you would need a long hike or a high-clearance vehicle to reach. If you have one day in Sedona, this is the fastest way to see it.

Couples

A rough ride shared is a good laugh, and a sunset slot in summer ends the day on the rocks in evening light. The 2.5-hour Scenic Rim Pink Jeep Tour suits couples who want the rugged 5/5 ride, and the Schnebly Hill Road Jeep Tour is the top-rated pick on our list.

Families

The 2-hour rides are the right length for children. The Red Rock Range Pink Jeep Tour is one of Pink Jeep's milder trails at 2/5, which suits younger riders.

Tours That Fit

The best value, the top rated and the mildest ride on our list.

Red Rock Backcountry Jeep Tour from $107.33

Red Rock Backcountry Jeep Tour

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.8(1,312 reviews)· 2 hours

A 2-hour western-canyon ride that the operator calls not too bumpy, the middle ground between scenic and rugged.

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Schnebly Hill Road Jeep Tour from $134.81 5.0 rated

Schnebly Hill Road Jeep Tour

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 5.0(928 reviews)· 2.5 hours

The Schnebly Hill climb in a Jeep Gladiator past Merry-Go-Round Rock, rated 5.0 from 928 reviews.

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Red Rock Range Pink Jeep Tour from $116 Smoothest Pink Jeep ride

Red Rock Range Pink Jeep Tour

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.7(148 reviews)· 2 hours

Pink Jeep on mild dirt roads, rated 2 of 5, for anyone who wants red rock views without the jolts.

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Who should skip a Sedona Jeep tour, and what should they do instead?

Strong hikers, drivers with a capable vehicle and anyone with significant joint pain can skip the rough tours and reach the same red rock on their own terms.

A jeep tour is not the only way to the viewpoints. Here is who can skip it and what to do instead.

Hikers

You can hike the Broken Arrow Trail to Chicken Point and see the jeeps at the viewpoints without paying for a tour. If you enjoy a few hours on your feet, the hike is the better use of your money.

Drivers

You can drive Schnebly Hill Road in your own vehicle, or rent a RZR and take the wheel yourself. Visit Sedona lists Sedona Jeep Rentals at 3009 W SR 89A, phone 928.282.8700, under ground transportation.

Older travellers and anyone with joint pain

The Broken Arrow trail is bumpy and not suggested for older people or those with significant joint pain. A milder trail such as the Red Rock Range Pink Jeep Tour, rated 2/5, gives the red rock views with far fewer jolts.

Worth it by traveller

Match the traveller to a tour, or to the do-it-yourself option.

TravellerWorth it?Best pickDo it yourself
First-timersYesSchnebly Hill Road Jeep TourNone as quick
FamiliesYesRed Rock Range Pink Jeep TourShort hikes
Joint painMild trails onlyRed Rock Range Pink Jeep TourSkip Broken Arrow
HikersOften noOutlaw Trail Off-Road Jeep TourHike to Chicken Point
Self-driversOften noRed Rock Backcountry Jeep TourDrive Schnebly Hill Road or rent a RZR

Which Jeep tour is best in Sedona?

U.S.

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.

Best by category

U.S. News picks Pink Adventure Tours' Broken Arrow as best overall, Arizona Safari Jeep Tours' Vortex Experience as best vortex tour and Red Rock Western Jeep Tours' Stargazing Tour as best at night. On our list, the vortex pick is the 2.5-hour Sedona Vortex Jeep Tour at $150.41, and the best value is the Red Rock Backcountry Jeep Tour at $107.33.

Which Sedona Pink Jeep tour is best?

Pink Jeep Tours started in Sedona in 1960 and is the best-known operator, based in Uptown Sedona at 204 N State Rte 89A. It lists 16 Sedona tours. Of the two on our list, the Scenic Rim Pink Jeep Tour costs $138 for 2.5 hours on a rugged 5/5 trail, and the Red Rock Range Pink Jeep Tour costs $116 for 2 hours with a 4.7 rating.

What is the best time of day to take a Pink Jeep tour in Sedona?

In summer go early in the morning or around sunset, and the rest of the year any slot works.

Sedona can be visited year round, but summer heat changes the best hour.

Season and hour

From June to August temperatures top out around 100 degrees, so summer tours are best early in the morning or around sunset. The rest of the year the heat is not the deciding factor, so pick the slot that fits your day.

How do you get the most from your Sedona Jeep tour?

Pick the route by roughness, book a few days ahead, arrive half an hour early and carry only a small bag.

A few choices before and on the day make the ride worth more.

Before you book

Read the roughness rating first. Scenic Rim rates 5/5, so it is a poor first choice for anyone unsure about bumps. Popular tours sell out in advance, so book online or by phone a few days ahead.

Booking in town gives you more room to work around the weather, but the slot you want may be gone.

On the day

Arrive a half hour before your tour. Carry a small bag, because the rides are bumpy and loose items bounce around.

What is the best tour in Sedona?

For most first visits a 2 to 3-hour jeep tour is the best tour in Sedona, and a Sprinter van day trip or a night tour suits other plans.

Jeeps are not the only format on offer.

Other formats

Pink Jeep runs custom-built Jeep Wranglers on the trails and luxury Mercedes Sprinter vans for day trips. Red Rock Western Jeep Tours runs a Stargazing Tour after dark. Sedona Offroad Adventures runs Hummer tours that it says reach areas many Jeep companies cannot.

For a first day in Sedona, start with a jeep route from our sedona jeep tours list, such as the 3-hour Outlaw Trail Off-Road Jeep Tour, and keep the longer trips for another day.

Is a Sedona Jeep Tour Worth It? FAQ

Is a Sedona jeep tour worth it for couples?

Yes, a shared rough ride and a sunset slot make a good evening. The Scenic Rim Pink Jeep Tour suits couples who want a rugged trail.

Best Sedona Jeep tour for kids?

A mild 2-hour route such as the Red Rock Range Pink Jeep Tour, rated 2/5 for roughness, keeps the bumps low and the ride short.

Is a jeep tour worth it if I have back or joint pain?

Only on a mild trail. Broken Arrow is not suggested for those with significant joint pain, so compare milder routes on our sedona jeep tours list.

Can I see the same views without a tour?

Some of them. You can hike the Broken Arrow Trail to Chicken Point for free, or drive Schnebly Hill Road in your own vehicle. For a guided ride, see the Schnebly Hill Road Jeep Tour.

How far ahead should I book?

A few days ahead, because popular tours sell out. Every tour on our sedona jeep tours list has free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

What should I bring on a jeep tour?

A small bag only, since the rides are bumpy. Arrive a half hour early for the Red Rock Backcountry Jeep Tour or any other route.

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