Best time to visit Sedona
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Sedona
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Sedona).
- 1
PRIVATE Sedona Jeep Tour 2-hour Lil' Rattler Off-Road - 2
Private 3-Hour Spiritual Vortex Tour of Sedona - 3
PRIVATE Sedona Vortex Jeep Tour 2-hour - Infinite Connection - 4
PRIVATE Sedona Vortex Jeep Tour 2-hour - Ride the Vortex - 5
PRIVATE Sedona Jeep Tour 2-Hour experience - Colorado Plateau - 6
Bliss - Sedona’s Most Luxurious Wine Tour - Lunch Included! - 7
3 Hour Sedona Sightseeing Tour - 8
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Sedona - 9
Sedona Jeep Tour in 4X4 Hummer - Red Rock West - 10
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour from Sedona - 11
Best Vortex and Chakra Tour of Sedona - 12
Sedona Jeep Tour in 4X4 Hummer On-Road - Sedona Highlights - 13
Sedona to Petrified Forest/Painted Desert Adventure PRIVATE TOUR! - 14
Sedona Vortex Odyssey - A Spiritual & Scientific Adventure - 15
Small-Group Grand Canyon Complete Tour from Sedona or Flagstaff - 16
Kayak Tour on the Verde River - 17
The Ultimate Ebike Tour of Sedona.The best of Sedona EZRider. - 18
Guided ATV Tour of Western Sedona - 19
Sedona Magical Sightseeing Highlight Tour- 5 Stars - 20
Sedona Outlaw Trail: 3-Hr 4x4 Tour of Western Canyons & Wildlife - 21
Sedona Red Rocks Outback Tour: Scenic with mild off-roading - 22
Explore Sedona's Vortexes: 2.5 Hour Jeep Tour of Mysticism - 23
Grand Canyon Deluxe Day Trip from Sedona - 24
Sedona Schnebly Hill 4x4 Red Rock Adventure - 25
Grand Canyon Complete Day Tour from Sedona or Flagstaff - 26
Half-day Sedona Sightseeing Tour - 27
PRIVATE Sedona Jeep Tour 4X4 Excursion - Red Rock West Trail - 28
Vortex to Vineyards by ABC wildlife host Rachel Reenstra - 29
Introduction to Glassblowing Workshop in Sedona - 30
PRIVATE Sedona Jeep Tour 4X4 Climb - Colorado Plateau
Last refreshed 2026-05-25.
Similar climatesPetra90% · Napa87% · Las Vegas87%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Sedona (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Sedona's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -1–10 | 6 | 6 | 87 | 14.5 | 46% | 17 | 191 | 3 | Busy | 6 |
| Feb | 0–12 | 8 | 5 | 67 | 13.4 | 37% | 20 | 205 | 5 | Moderate | 7 |
| Mar | 2–14 | 10 | 10 | 112 | 11.2 | 39% | 21 | 231 | 7 | Moderate | 6 |
| Apr | 7–22 | 17 | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 20% | 23 | 280 | 8 | Quiet | 8 |
| May | 13–27 | 22 | 0 | 5 | — | 13% | 24 | 306 | 9 | Quiet | 8 |
| Jun | 18–33 | 28 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 14% | 23 | 306 | 11 | Quiet | 8 |
| Jul | 21–35 | 33 | 5 | 46 | 9.2 | 25% | 21 | 290 | 11 | Quiet | 5 |
| Aug | 19–33 | 31 | 8 | 54 | 6.8 | 31% | 18 | 283 | 10 | Moderate | 6 |
| Sep | 16–30 | 28 | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 24% | 19 | 259 | 8 | Moderate | 9 |
| Oct | 10–24 | 20 | 3 | 26 | 8.7 | 27% | 18 | 248 | 6 | Moderate | 9 |
| Nov | 4–16 | 12 | 2 | 23 | 11.5 | 31% | 18 | 212 | 4 | Busy | 8 |
| Dec | 1–12 | 8 | 6 | 61 | 10.2 | 38% | 16 | 182 | 3 | Peak | 7 |
UV Index in Sedona by Month
UV index in Sedona peaks at 11 (very high) in July, dropping to 3 (low) in December. April, May, June, July, August, September reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
October
9/1010–24°C (feels 20°C) · 3 rain days (26h) · 248 sun hours · 27% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 6 (high)
September
9/1016–30°C (feels 28°C) · 3 rain days (28h) · 259 sun hours · 24% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 8 (very high)
May
8/1013–27°C (feels 22°C) · 0 rain days (5h) · 306 sun hours · 13% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 9 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 11 (very high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
6/10-1–10°C (feels 6°C) · 6 rain days (87h) · 191 sun hours · 46% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
February
7/100–12°C (feels 8°C) · 5 rain days (67h) · 205 sun hours · 37% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
March
6/102–14°C (feels 10°C) · 10 rain days (112h) · 231 sun hours · 39% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
April
8/107–22°C (feels 17°C) · 2 rain days (25h) · 280 sun hours · 20% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 8 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 10 (very high)
June
8/1018–33°C (feels 28°C) · 1 rain days (9h) · 306 sun hours · 14% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
July
5/1021–35°C (feels 33°C) · 5 rain days (46h) · 290 sun hours · 25% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 13 (extreme)
August
6/1019–33°C (feels 31°C) · 8 rain days (54h) · 283 sun hours · 31% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 11 (extreme)
November
8/104–16°C (feels 12°C) · 2 rain days (23h) · 212 sun hours · 31% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
December
7/101–12°C (feels 8°C) · 6 rain days (61h) · 182 sun hours · 38% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Sedona
When is the best time to visit Sedona?
October is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 10–24°C (3 rainy days). The top three months by score are October, September, May.
What is the worst time to visit Sedona?
July is the lowest-scoring month (5/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 21–35°C (5 rainy days).
Is Sedona too hot in summer?
2 months (July, August) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Sedona?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in May and peaks in December. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Sedona have good weather but fewer tourists?
October (climate 9/10, crowd index 49) and April (climate 8/10, crowd index 17) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Sedona by month?
UV peaks at 11 (very high) in July and is lowest in December at 3 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 3, Feb 5, Mar 7, Apr 8, May 9, Jun 11, Jul 11, Aug 10, Sep 8, Oct 6, Nov 4, Dec 3. April, May, June, July, August, September reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in Sedona in July?
July is the peak UV month in Sedona, with a daily-peak UV index of 11 (very high). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in Sedona on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. July is the worst case: typical days average UV 11 (very high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 13 (extreme) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, December. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.