The Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179): An All-American Road

Most scenic drives ask you to earn the view with hours of windshield time. This one doesn’t. In about 15 to 25 minutes of easy driving — call it 7.5 miles of red rock from the freeway exit into town — State Route 179 hands you Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and a hundred smaller sandstone shapes that change color as the sun moves. It’s officially an All-American Road, which is the federal government’s highest scenic-byway rating, and for once the label fits. The catch is that everyone else knows it too, so the trick is less about finding the byway and more about timing your run through it.

What it is and why it’s worth your time

State Route 179 runs north–south, connecting Interstate 17 (the Phoenix–Flagstaff freeway) to State Route 89A in the heart of Sedona. The full highway is roughly 15 miles, but the stretch that earned national recognition is the 7.5-mile section through the Coconino National Forest, between the Village of Oak Creek and the edge of town. In 2006 the U.S. Department of Transportation gave it All-American Road status — the top tier of the National Scenic Byways program, reserved for roads that are destinations in their own right.

What makes it special isn’t a single overlook. It’s the density. Within those few miles you pass Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte (two of the most recognizable formations in the Southwest), the turnoff for the Chapel of the Holy Cross, the Spanish-colonial shopping village of Tlaquepaque, a string of art galleries, and a half-dozen pullouts where you can stop, stretch, and stare. You can drive the whole thing in 20 minutes if you don’t stop, or spend a full day if you do. Most people land somewhere in the middle.

A practical note up front: this is a paved, well-maintained two-lane highway. Any car can drive it — no Jeep, no high clearance, no dirt. The challenge isn’t the road; it’s the traffic and the parking, both of which get serious during peak season. More on that below.

How to drive it: which direction and where to start

The classic approach is to come up from the south. Take Interstate 17 to Exit 298 (the Sedona exit), then head north on SR 179. You’ll pass through the Village of Oak Creek — a small commercial cluster with gas, groceries, and a few restaurants — and then the road opens up into the forest and the formations start. Driving south-to-north means the red rocks reveal themselves gradually as you climb toward town, which is the more dramatic build.

If you’re already staying in Sedona, you can drive it the other way (north to south) and double back, or just dip down to the Village and turn around. There’s no wrong direction; the views work both ways.

The roundabouts — don’t panic

Here’s the thing that trips up first-time visitors more than anything else: the roundabouts. SR 179 was rebuilt years ago with a series of them — roughly a dozen between the Village of Oak Creek and the “Y” (the junction with 89A in town). They replaced traffic lights to keep cars moving, and once you get the rhythm they’re genuinely smooth. But people who aren’t used to them tend to either stop dead when they don’t need to or hesitate at the wrong moment.

The rules are simple:

1. Yield to traffic already in the circle. Cars in the roundabout have the right of way. If it’s clear, you don’t have to stop — just merge.
2. Go counter-clockwise. In the U.S., you always travel to the right around the center island.
3. Stay in your lane and signal your exit. Pick your lane before you enter, and use your right blinker as you approach the exit you want.
4. Slow down, don’t stop. The posted speed through the circles is low (around 15 mph). Roll through; don’t slam on the brakes.
5. If you miss your exit, just go around again. No drama. Loop the circle and try once more.

The speed limit on the open stretches is generally 35 mph, which is plenty slow to enjoy the scenery without holding up the line. If you want to gawk, pull into a designated viewpoint — don’t slow to a crawl in the travel lane, because the person behind you is probably a local trying to get to work.

Local tip: The single most common mistake is treating a roundabout like a four-way stop. You don’t have to come to a full stop if no one’s coming — that actually causes the rear-end fender-benders. Glance left, yield if needed, and flow through. After your second or third circle it’ll feel natural, I promise.

The stops, south to north

Here’s roughly the order you’ll hit the highlights coming up from I-17. You can’t do all of them well in one pass, so pick two or three.

Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte

These two are the stars. Bell Rock is the rounded, bell-shaped formation right beside the highway; Courthouse Butte is the larger, blockier mass just behind it. They’re often photographed together, and the best straight-on view of the pair is from the Courthouse Vista parking area.

You don’t have to hike to enjoy them — you can take in both from the pullouts and parking lots. But if you want to get closer, the Bell Rock Pathway is a gentle, mostly flat trail that links the trailheads, and the Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop circles both formations in about 3.9 miles with only modest elevation gain (a few hundred feet). It’s rated easy to moderate and takes most people around two to two and a half hours. Plenty of folks just walk out a half-mile, sit on a rock, and turn around. For a deeper rundown of the climb itself, see the Bell Rock guide.

Parking at Bell Rock Vista, Yavapai Vista, and Courthouse Vista all require a Red Rock Pass (or a valid federal Interagency / “America the Beautiful” pass). As of this writing the Red Rock Pass runs about $5 for a day, $15 for a week, and $20 for the year — but always confirm current rates, since fees change. You can buy the daily and weekly versions at the kiosk machines right at the trailheads, or at the Red Rock Visitor Center and the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. Note that the pass is for parking on Forest Service land — you don’t need it just to drive the byway, only to leave your car in a fee lot.

Yavapai Vista — the easy win

If you only have ten minutes and don’t want a real hike, Yavapai Vista is the move. It’s a short, gentle loop (roughly half a mile round trip) on a well-graded path, and it opens up wide views of Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and the red rock running all the way toward the Chapel. It’s family-friendly and one of the more accessible short walks along the corridor. You’ll still need a Red Rock Pass to park.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross

About four miles north of I-17, watch for the turnoff onto Chapel Road (it’s at one of the roundabouts). The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a small modernist church built directly into a red rock spur, finished in the 1950s. It’s free to enter — donations are welcomed and help maintain it — and it’s open daily, generally from morning until late afternoon (commonly listed as around 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but confirm before you go, and note it closes on a few major holidays).

The honest warning: parking is the bottleneck. There are only around 45 spaces, the access road is narrow, and during busy hours cars back up. Go early or late, be patient, and don’t try to muscle a spot. The view from the chapel terrace back over the valley is worth the hassle, and the interior is quiet and genuinely moving even if you’re not religious. There’s a full write-up on the Chapel of the Holy Cross page.

Tlaquepaque and the galleries

As you get close to town, you’ll reach Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village (336 SR 179), a cluster of shops, galleries, and restaurants built in the style of a Mexican colonial village, set under big sycamores along Oak Creek. It’s been here since 1973 and holds dozens of shops and galleries plus several restaurants. It’s free to wander, has its own parking, and is a pleasant place to stretch your legs, grab a coffee, and browse art without committing to a hike. The Tlaquepaque guide goes deeper, and if galleries are your thing, the corridor along SR 179 is one of Sedona’s densest concentrations — the art galleries page maps the rest.

Pullouts, viewpoints, and short walks

You don’t have to commit to a trailhead to enjoy the byway. There are designated pullouts and vista parking areas where you can stop legally and take in the formations. The big three for views are Bell Rock Vista, Yavapai Vista, and Courthouse Vista — all on the forest stretch. A few things to keep in mind:

• Only stop where there’s a real pullout. Stopping on the shoulder of a 35 mph highway to take a photo is both illegal in places and genuinely dangerous. Use the lots.
• The Red Rock Pass applies to the fee lots, not to the roadside. If you’re just pausing briefly at a non-fee pullout you’re fine, but the developed trailhead lots need a pass.
• Short walks beat long hikes for most byway visitors. Yavapai Vista (about half a mile) and the first stretch of the Bell Rock Pathway give you 80% of the payoff for 20% of the effort.

If you want more easy options off this corridor and elsewhere in town, the easy hikes roundup is a good companion to this drive.

Best time of day and season

Light

Red rock is all about light, and SR 179 faces the formations in a way that rewards the ends of the day.

• Early morning is the best all-around window. The light is warm, the rocks glow, the lots aren’t full yet, and the temperature is bearable in summer. If you can get to Bell Rock Vista or Courthouse Vista by sunrise or shortly after, you’ll have the place to yourself.
• Late afternoon into sunset is the other golden window. The low sun lights the west-facing rock faces and turns everything that deep orange-red that Sedona is famous for. The tradeoff is that everyone else has the same idea, so parking is tightest then.
• Midday is the worst of both worlds: harsh flat light and the most crowds. If midday is all you’ve got, it’s still beautiful — just temper expectations.

Season

• Fall (October–November) and spring (March–May) are the sweet spot: mild temperatures, clear skies, comfortable hiking. These are also the busiest months, so plan around the crowds.
• Winter (December–February) is underrated. Days are cool but often sunny, crowds thin out, and a dusting of snow on red rock is one of the great sights in Arizona. Bring layers.
• Summer (June–August) is hot — daytime highs regularly hit the 90s and beyond. The drive itself is fine with the AC on, but any walking should be done at dawn or after the late-afternoon thunderstorms (the monsoon season) roll through. Watch the sky in summer afternoons; storms build fast.

What to bring

Even though this is “just a drive,” the smart packing list overlaps with a short hike, because you’ll probably get out of the car at least once:

• Water — more than you think, especially in warm months. There’s no shade in the open lots.
• A Red Rock Pass (or your Interagency pass) if you plan to park at a trailhead. Have a way to pay at the kiosk, or buy ahead.
• Sun protection — hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. The high desert sun is intense year-round.
• Decent shoes if you’ll walk any of the pathways; the surfaces are uneven sandstone and gravel.
• A camera or a charged phone — obviously, but mornings and evenings are when it matters.
• Cash or card for parking and shops; Tlaquepaque and the galleries take cards.
• Layers in winter, and a light rain shell in monsoon season.

Accessibility

The byway is more accessible than most Sedona attractions, which lean rugged.

• The drive itself is fully paved and easy; the formations are visible right from the car for anyone who can’t or doesn’t want to walk far.
• Yavapai Vista has a relatively gentle, graded path and is among the easier short walks, though it’s not a flat sidewalk — surfaces are natural and there are mild grades.
• Vault toilets are available at the main trailhead lots (Bell Rock, Courthouse, Yavapai), but they’re basic — no running water at the trailheads.
• The Chapel of the Holy Cross has a steep approach walkway from its parking lot; the grade is significant, so factor that in.
• Tlaquepaque is mostly walkable with paved courtyards, though it has steps and uneven historic surfaces in places.

If accessibility is a priority, the strongest plan is to drive the corridor, use the vista parking lots for views from near the car, and keep walking to the gentlest options. Always confirm specific accommodations with the individual venues, since conditions change.

How to avoid the crowds

This is the part that actually makes or breaks your visit. SR 179 is one of the most-traveled corridors in Sedona, and the parking lots are the choke point.

1. Go early. I keep saying it because it’s the single biggest lever. Arrive at the trailhead lots by 8 a.m. (earlier in peak season) and you’ll usually find a spot and have the views to yourself.
2. Or go late. The hour or two before sunset clears out some of the day-trippers, though sunset itself draws a crowd at the viewpoints.
3. Avoid weekends and holidays if you can. Saturday and Sunday in spring and fall are the worst for parking. A weekday is dramatically easier.
4. Have a backup lot in mind. If Courthouse Vista is full, Yavapai or Bell Rock Vista may have space, and they’re close together. Don’t circle one lot for 20 minutes — move on.
5. Don’t create your own parking. Parking outside marked spaces or on the shoulder gets ticketed and tows happen. It also wrecks the experience for everyone.
6. Consider the shuttle for the busiest trailheads. Sedona runs a seasonal park-and-ride shuttle to some high-demand trailheads to relieve parking pressure; check current routes and schedules before you go, since they change by season.

For a broader strategy on beating the crowds and moving around town, the getting around guide covers shuttles, parking, and timing in more detail.

Safety

Nothing here is dangerous if you use common sense, but a few real-world cautions:

• Heat is the real hazard. Summer kills more visitors’ plans than anything else. Hydrate, avoid midday walking, and know the signs of heat exhaustion.
• Monsoon storms (roughly July through September) bring sudden downpours, lightning, and flash-flood risk in drainages. Don’t be on exposed rock in a storm.
• Drive the byway, don’t film it. It’s tempting to shoot video while you roll past the formations. Don’t. Use the pullouts.
• Watch for pedestrians and cyclists at the roundabouts and crossings — there are dedicated crossings along SR 179, and people use them.
• Wildlife — javelina, deer, and the occasional snake live here. Give them room and never feed anything.
• Footing on the rock — sandstone can be slick and crumbly. If you scramble up Bell Rock at all, take it slow and know that going down is harder than going up.

What to pair it with nearby

The beauty of SR 179 is that it’s the connective tissue for a big chunk of Sedona’s south side. A few natural pairings:

• Cathedral Rock. One of the most iconic formations in Sedona sits just off the corridor (via Back O’ Beyond Road). It’s a short but steep, rewarding hike — see the Cathedral Rock guide.
• A drive up Oak Creek Canyon. If you want a totally different kind of scenic drive — shady, forested, along a creek — pair the byway with the Oak Creek Canyon drive on the north side of town. Together they’re a great full-day loop of contrasting landscapes.
• Lunch or dinner in town. The byway dumps you right into Sedona’s restaurant scene; the restaurants with views page points you to the patios that look out over exactly the rocks you just drove past.
• A Jeep tour if you want to get off the pavement and onto the back roads that the byway only hints at.

A realistic half-day plan: drive up SR 179 from the Village in the morning, stop at Courthouse Vista for the Bell Rock view, take the short Yavapai Vista walk, swing by the Chapel of the Holy Cross before the lot fills, then end at Tlaquepaque for lunch and a browse through the galleries. That’s a relaxed, low-effort day that shows off the best of the corridor.

And when the afternoon heat or the parking lottery wears you down, there’s a good case for heading back early, getting out of the sun, and settling a few points on the indoor court before dinner — the climate-controlled court is the one thing in Sedona that doesn’t care what the thermometer says. If that sounds like your kind of base camp, you can stay at Pickler House and make the byway a five-minute drive instead of a day trip.

The Red Rock Scenic Byway earns its All-American Road badge not because any single thing on it is the greatest in the world, but because so much good stuff is packed into so few miles, all of it visible from a paved road that anyone can drive. Get there early, drive the roundabouts with confidence, pull over where it’s safe, and let the rocks do the rest.