Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout

The Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout is one of the best free viewpoints in the entire American Southwest, offering a paved, accessible overlook with 360-degree views of Sedona's iconic red rock landscape from an elevation that puts you level with the formation tops rather than looking up at them.

The lookout sits on Airport Mesa, the flat-topped sandstone plateau that Sedona's small general aviation airport is built on. From the rim of the mesa, visitors can see every major Sedona landmark simultaneously — Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte, Bell Rock, Munds Mountain, the red and white layers of Schnebly Hill Road, and the winding green corridor of Oak Creek Canyon stretching north. The perspective is dramatically different from ground-level viewpoints, and children who have spent the day looking UP at the red rocks suddenly get to see the whole picture laid out below them.

The overlook is also a working airport, and kids are often as captivated by the small planes landing and taking off on the runway 100 feet away as by the geological spectacle. Watching a Cessna land with Cathedral Rock in the background is a genuine Sedona-only moment.

The access road and parking area are paved, and the short walk to the overlook railing is suitable for strollers and mobility aids. The area is open 24 hours, which opens up two exceptional time windows beyond the obvious sunset visit: sunrise, when the east-facing cliffs of Cathedral Rock light up first in orange and pink, and after dark, when Airport Mesa is one of the most accessible dark-sky stargazing locations in the region.

There is no fee to visit. Parking is free but limited, especially at sunset when it fills completely. Arrive at least 30-45 minutes before sunset for a guaranteed spot.