So I'm thinking of taking a vacation in Arizona staying in Sedona. I'd be arriving at the airport and driving to my lodging. I'm wondering how the the traffic is between Phoenix and Sedona and around Sedona itself. Besides driving from the airport I'd be driving to places to hike. I'm from central Illinois and while I'll drive in the suburbs of Chicago (as long as it isn't rush hour) I will not drive in the city. Do you think I'd be comfortable driving around Sedona?

Thanks.

I don't recall any problem driving in Sedona the several times we visited there--its population is about 10,000!

HTTY

The bigger issue is driving around Phoenix - that's big city driving and LOTS of it on the expressways. As far as Sedona, if you are going during prime season - the main drag can have a lot of traffic that is oh so slow going, but not hectic like big city, no interstates etc just local roads that often get clogged with tourists.

You won't have any problems. Here is a rundown:

From PHX to Sedona is an easy 2 hour drive. Here is the hitch -- if you are going during rush hour, roughly 3PM to 6PM, you could be in stop and go traffic on I-10 and I-17. If it is a Friday, particularly at the beginning of a long weekend, the traffic jam will start around 2PM.

Approaching Sedona, be advised that they have taken out all of the traffic signals in the Village of Oak Creek and to the "Y" in Sedona and replace them with roundabouts. If you know how to navigate a roundabout, you won't have any problem. They actually make traffic flow much smoother than before.

Getting around in Sedona, the only "heavy" traffic will be in uptown, northeast of the "Y", and that is really just slow (lots of pedestrians), and not really what you would consider heavy traffic. Everyplace else,traffic flows smoothly, although it can be a bit heavy at certain times of the day.

So how bad is it to get out of Phoenix from the airport to head over to Sedona? Do you think that would be like Chicago driving? I'm planning on going myself and figure I should take a GPS with me, but don't want to get myself into something I'm going to regret. Thanks.

Not bad at all.

We arrived at PHX around 1pm on a Sat. I think we made it to the rental car by 2pm maybe earlier because we were on the rode to Sedona by 2:30. Stopped at the closest Walmart to pick up a few items before heading on 17. There was no traffic at all and none on the way to Sedona.

There was no traffic in Sedona and I stayed for 3 nights. They were still putting in the roundabouts but a few were already being used. I found them fun because it reminded me of England.

I never drove while I was in Chicago, but I can say driving in Phoenix is a breath of fresh air compared to driving in So.Cal.

If you are REAL nervous you could take the streets until you're out of town; that's not practical but you could. Compared to California; Arizona infrastructure is amazing. Smooth paved roads, reflectors, nice VISIBLE white lines etc. It looks brand spanking new just about anywhere. You should not have any problems.

Sedona does slow down a bit but it's not a major traffic jam. I found it challenging to drive at night in the pitch black though, since I'm not used to that. The pay off- stars stars stars!

On a whole, it's a smooth ride.



And who allowed that obscene building below The Chapel to be built? I love compounds but they destroyed that site.

So how bad is it to get out of Phoenix from the airport to head over to Sedona?

Freeway all the way to the Sedona turnoff @ highway 179, beginning a couple hundred yards and 3 traffic lights from the airport rental car center.

Unless you are traveling alone you can use the car pool lane until out of Phoenix, so even during the afternoon rush hour you should be able to do 45-50 mph unless there has been a wreck somewhere on I-17. Other than the PM rush hour (3-6 PM or so) I wouldn't expect any delays, you can typically drive 55 - 65 mph thru town.

This is the real-time traffic link ... http://www.azcentral.com/news/traffic/ ... to get a feel for things just check this on a couple of days around the time you are planning on driving. If there's a lot of red figure there is heavy traffic, but still faster in the car pool lane.

You can scroll on this all the way to Sedona if you like. Click the + icon twice to see the airport clearly on the right-center. The normal route would be I-10 to I-17. If you have internet access on your mobile you might be able to connect to this when you arrive and if it's one of those rare days the I-17 freeway is closed you can plot an alternate, like 51 N to 101 W to I-17 N, or whatever.

You'll find it easy. The drivers are decent in terms of courtesy. Even if there is heavy traffic, you won't have a problem. And the drive to Sedona is simple as well.

The traffic is polite and sedate, but be prepared for roundabouts

I also found the traffic in Phoenix - from the airport heading toward Sedona - to be a breeze. Drivers are courteous and no one seems to be in a hurry.

Once you're out of the city limits, driving is a real pleasure, and the road to Sedona is very scenic.

I live in Phoenix and have been to Sedona many times. Driving is not an issue. Trust me.