Sedona is one of those places where costs can sneak up on you fast. Jeep tours, Red Rock Passes, and resort pricing add up before you've even eaten lunch. Here's a transparent breakdown of what families actually pay at the top activities — organized from free to splurge, so you can build a budget before you go rather than do the math on your hotel room.
Free Activities in Sedona
Several of Sedona's best experiences cost nothing beyond getting there.
Snoopy Rock (4.8 stars) — The rock formation that looks exactly like Snoopy lying on his doghouse is visible from a roadside pullout on AZ-179 near the Village of Oak Creek. $0. No pass required.
Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park (4.8 stars) — A giant white stupa rising against the red rock backdrop, with walking trails and meditation gardens. Entirely free; donations welcome.
Posse Grounds Park (4.7 stars) — Sedona's best local park for kids: big playground, climbing structures, swings. $0. Bring sunscreen and water.
Sedona Bike Skills Park (4.8 stars) — Purpose-built pump tracks, berms, and features for all skill levels. $0 admission — bring your own bikes and helmets. If you don't have bikes, local shops rent them for $25–$40/bike for a half-day.
Birthing Cave (4.7 stars) — One of Sedona's few free hiking destinations. No pass required. Round trip 1.5–2.5 hours.
Sedona Wetlands Preserve — A rare riparian habitat with wildlife viewing. $0.
Bootlegger Picnic Area (4.8 stars) — Creek access along Oak Creek for wading and splashing. $0 day use; pack your own food and water.
Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout (4.7 stars) — 300 feet above Sedona on the mesa, 360-degree views of every major red rock formation. $0.
Budget Picks (Under $50 for a Family of Four)
Airport Mesa (4.8 stars) — $5–$10 Red Rock Pass for parking. One of Sedona's four energy vortex sites, under 3.5 miles round trip with serious views. Best value hike in Sedona.
Devil's Bridge Trailhead (4.8 stars) — $10–$15 Red Rock Pass. The most famous natural arch hike in Sedona. 2–4 hours round trip. Book the shuttle from Dry Creek trailhead to avoid parking chaos on weekends.
West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead (4.8 stars) — $10–$15 Red Rock Pass. The slot canyon trail with 13 creek crossings on stepping stones. Bring water shoes.
Crescent Moon Picnic Site (4.7 stars) — $10–$15 Red Rock Pass. Oak Creek swimming right underneath Cathedral Rock. Get there before 9am on summer weekends.
Sedona Heritage Museum (4.6 stars) — $20–$30 for a family of four (adults ~$7, children under 12 often free or discounted). 1930s homestead with orchard, farm equipment, and old Hollywood filming history.
Zclaw Arcade (5.0 stars) — $20–$50 for a family of four depending on game play and prizes. West Sedona's boutique arcade, open Thursday–Sunday noon to 7pm.
Arizona Botanical Gardens (5.0 stars) in Clarkdale — $20–$40 for a family of four. Native desert plants, perfect 5.0 rating, about 20 minutes from Sedona.
Mid-Range Activities ($50–$100 for a Family of Four)
Sedona Wolf Sanctuary (4.9 stars) — $60–$100 for a family of four. By-appointment guided wolf encounter. Book at sedonawolfsanctuary.org. The tour fee goes directly to wolf rescue and rehabilitation.
Highlands Center for Natural History (4.8 stars) — $30–$50 for a family of four. Interactive exhibits on native wildlife and geology, plus nature trails designed for young explorers.
Superplay (5.0 stars) — $70–$120 for a family of four depending on activities. Bowling, laser tag, go-karts, mini golf, arcade. Plan 2–4 hours.
Slick City Action Park (4.9 stars) — $80–$130 for a family of four. Indoor slide park with multi-story slides and foam obstacle courses.
Levitate Adventure Park (4.6 stars) — $60–$100 for a family of four for 1-hour sessions. Trampolines, foam pits, dodgeball, ninja warrior obstacles.
Verde Canyon Railroad (4.7 stars) — $100–$200 depending on car class. A 4-hour round-trip train ride through a remote canyon with no road access. Children's tickets are discounted. Book in advance; bring your own snacks.
Splurge-Worthy Experiences (Over $100)
These cost real money. They're also the things families remember most.
Arizona Safari Jeep Tours (5.0 stars, 5,700+ reviews) — $120–$250 depending on tour type. Open-air jeeps on red rock terrain inaccessible by regular vehicle. That 5.0 rating from 5,700 people means something. Book this first.
Predator Zip Lines (4.9 stars) — $200–$280 for a family of four. Zip lines through Verde Valley canyon at up to 50 mph. Book online for 10–15% off.
Arizona ATV Adventures Rental and Tours (4.9 stars) — $300–$500+ for a family depending on tour length. A 1-hour guided UTV tour runs $200–$350 for the vehicle plus a standard guide tip of $40–$70. Self-drive rental saves the guide fee.
Money-Saving Tips in Sedona
- Buy the $20 Red Rock Annual Pass if you're hiking more than four days total. It covers all Coconino National Forest sites and pays for itself fast.
- America the Beautiful Pass ($80/year) covers day-use fees at USFS sites like Call of the Canyon and Grasshopper Point — pays for itself in about 8 visits across all federal lands.
- Book jeep tours and zip lines directly on operator websites rather than through third-party booking platforms. Direct bookings are almost always cheaper.
- Bring your own food and water everywhere. There are no vendors at most trailheads or picnic sites. Cooler with packed lunches saves $40–$60 per day compared to resort-adjacent restaurant pricing.
- Under-4s are often free. Bearizona, Grand Canyon Deer Farm, and Children's Museum Tucson all have free admission for young children — check each venue's age cutoffs before purchasing.
- Weekday pricing at entertainment venues like Levitate and Slick City typically runs 10–20% lower than weekend rates.
What a Typical Family Spends
Budget Day (family of four): - 2 hikes with Red Rock Pass: $10 - Posse Grounds Park: $0 - Packed lunch + snacks: $20 - Total: ~$30
Mid-Range Day: - Red Rock Pass hiking + Crescent Moon swimming: $15 - Sedona Wolf Sanctuary tour: $80 - Lunch + dinner out: $60 - Total: ~$155
Splurge Day: - Arizona Safari Jeep Tour: $185 (midrange) - Predator Zip Lines: $240 - Dinner at a restaurant: $60 - Total: ~$485
A two-day Sedona trip mixing one outdoor/free day with one paid experience day typically runs $200–$350 for a family of four, not counting lodging or meals. Stack a splurge day and costs climb to $500–$700. You control this mostly by whether you book guided tours — the landscape itself is largely free.