We will drive from Phoenix to Sedona on Highway 87, and on April 16, 2017, we will drive from Sedona back to Phoenix.

Is it more scenic to drive from Sedona to Phoenix on Highway 17 or on the roads that go through Jerome, Prescott, and Wickenburg? We are not in a rush. We are looking for a scenic route.

HTtY

With this year's heavy rains the drive on 17 should be lovely with an abundance of wild flowers.
I drove it several years ago at the same time of year and found it very pleasant, until you hit the outskirts of Phoenix.

Thank you. Do you know anything about the other route I mention?

HTtY

We've driven from Wickenburg through Prescott and Jerome to Sedona and it's a very scenic drive. We stopped at Granite Dells in Prescott, wandered around and had lunch in Jerome and visited Tuzigoot National Monument along the way. It's been too long since I was last on 17 to remember much about it.

I drove the 17 yesterday. I have driven this route over 100 times and have never seen the wildflowers so abundant; the pinks, golds, yellows and oranges were beautiful. However, since it will be almost 2 weeks before you will be driving through, the flowers will have faded if not disappeared. Without the wildflowers, it is simply the main north/south highway in AZ and not really that scenic. The other route will take you through Jerome which is an old mining town on a hillside that is now a quaint artsy town. Prescott also is of interest historically. It has a nice town square and authentic Whiskey Row with saloons and restaurants. While I haven't driven this route since the wildflowers have bloomed, if any are remaining, there's a chance you will see them on this route as well since you will be crossing desert plains en route from Sedona to Jerome.