Phoenix to Sedona road trip: 16 stops worth the detour

A classic parkland course threading the junipers with red-rock views in every direction. Semi-private but happy to give visitors a tee time.

Gary Panks framed this one against Sedona's red-rock cathedrals, and the par-3 10th may be the most photographed hole in the Southwest. Bring a wide-angle lens and play slow.

Chef Lisa Dahl's playful 'couture burger lounge' in the Village of Oak Creek, with a marble bar, 40-plus bourbons and boozy milkshakes — the most fun, low-key stop in her Sedona family.

A Mexico City-style torta legend on North 7th Street, featured on Man v. Food and beloved for enormous, overstuffed sandwiches.

A cozy, wood-and-fire smokehouse on 16th Street with pecan-grilled steaks, a fireside cellar-like bar, and a deep wine list.

A wedding-cake "castle" on a cactus hill in Phoenix, ringed by one of the oldest saguaro gardens in the country.

a relentless red-rock climb to a panoramic summit — exposed, strenuous, and worth it

Sanctuary Camelback Mountain's signature room — farm-fresh American with Asian accents and floor-to-ceiling views across Paradise Valley. Refreshed menus under a new 2026 culinary team; book a sunset table.

A 1937 landmark under Camelback and Mummy Mountain with firepits, lawn seating, and sticky buns that arrive warm at every table. Old Arizona glamour that still delivers.

The JW Marriott Camelback Inn's prime-cuts room, trading on eight decades of resort heritage with a modern steak-and-seafood menu. The expense-account dinner of the PV resort corridor.

A 27-hole resort club in the heart of North Scottsdale at the Westin Kierland, with mountain views and easy access. Polished, central, and reliable.

The upscale counterweight to Cave Creek's saloons — Southwestern-inspired dining on adobe patios at Rancho Mañana with sunset desert views. Worth timing your reservation to golden hour.

This is the course with the famous stadium-enclosed par-3 16th where the Phoenix Open crowds roar. Even on a quiet Tuesday you can stand in that coliseum and feel the echo of 20,000 fans.

Jay Morrish routed this through surreal piles of ancient granite at a Hilton Curio resort. The two courses rotate which is open to guests each day, so book ahead and savor whichever you draw.