Airport Mesa is a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise over the gorgeous red rocks of Sedona (and it’s close to town!) Located directly off Airport Rd, on the west side of town, Airport Mesa’s incredible panoramic view and convenient location is simply unmatched. Standing high up on a hill, Airport Mesa overlooks the valley below and it’s towering, dramatic red rock backdrop. And when the first rays of light in the morning begin to dance, this magnificent red rock landscape completely comes to life, bursting with color as the new day begins.
How to Get to the Airport Mesa Vortex Viewpoint
- From 89A/ 179 “Y”, take 89A west for 1.1 mile.
- Then turn left onto Airport Rd for 0.5 miles.
- The parking lot is on your left. (This is a small, free parking lot that holds only 10-15 cars.)
- If you miss this parking lot or it is full, then continue on to the large parking lot 0.6 miles further up the hill. This 2nd parking lot has a $3 charge to park there.
Where We Stayed
(And why it’s perfect for catching a Sedona Sunrise at Airport Mesa.)
We stayed at the Sky Rock Inn of Sedona which was not only a great hotel with amazing views and family friendly, but it is also less than 1 mile from Airport Mesa! This convenient location made it so much easier to get everyone out the door in time for a magical sunrise at Airport Mesa. (Sunset from our hotel balcony was incredible too!)
Walking to the Airport Mesa Viewpoint
If you are lucky enough to park in the first parking lot, then it is only a short (uphill) walk up to the vortex, sunrise site. This is the top spot to go. From the parking lot, simply walk left ~200 feet from the parking lot sign and follow the trail to the “Overlook.” It’s only a short (5 min walk) but please note that this path is slightly steep and rocky.
If you are unable to walk uphill or parked in the 2nd parking lot, then you can simply watch the sunrise from this site or you can walk approximately 15 mins (0.6 mile) back up to the main vortex, sunrise spot. Fortunately there is a trail that parallels the road to take you to this vortex site and you won’t have to walk on the road to get there.
Airport Mesa – A Sedona Vortex Site
Sedona is well-known for its believed vortex energy. And Airport Mesa is one of its famous vortex sites. Here, Airport Mesa is believed to exhibit a masculine energy, an up-flow of energy from out of the earth. This energy is said to bring feelings of reflection, joy and stress reduction. Aside from the gorgeous sunrises & sunsets, this vortex energy also makes Airport Mesa an extremely popular site.
Why Sunrise, Over Sunset?
Our family chose to visit Airport Mesa to watch the sunrise verses sunset for a couple of reasons. First, Airport Mesa is known for it’s beautiful sunrises and I couldn’t wait to see one! Second, with traveling with three kids, I wanted to find a place that was close to town and easy to get to (because I knew that it was going to be hard getting everyone out the door before the sun rose.) And third, I had read in several places that sunsets here can get extremely crowded, whereas sunrises were much quieter and with less people. We did not want to battle the sunset crowds (and we had other sunset hikes we wanted to try) so we all agreed to get up early to see the sunrise here at Airport Mesa.
And What a Beautiful Sunrise it Was!
Sunrise Tips for Airport Mesa Viewpoint
Family Tip #1:
Have a picnic sunrise breakfast! The night before our Airport Mesa sunrise, we grabbed some bagels, muffins and drinks to bring with us for breakfast at the Airport Mesa Viewpoint while we watched the sun rise. This helped entertain the kids while we waited for the colorful magic to begin and it allowed us to just roll out of bed and get out the door quicker in the morning. It also made sure that we didn’t have grumpy, hungry kids that would want to leave before my husband and I wanted to.
Fun Picnic Gear We Love:
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Family Tip #2:
Mornings can be quite cool, even in the summer so make sure you check the temperature before heading out. It was in the low 50s when we visited in June! So you’ll probably want a light jacket or a travel blanket to keep you warm while you wait.
Sunrise Tip #1:
Make sure you arrive early enough before sunrise to not only have a better chance at getting a parking spot in the first lot, but also in case you have to park in the second parking lot and make the 15-20 min walk back up to the sunrise/vortex site.
Sunrise Tip #2:
At Airport Mesa, it is good to know that the sun rises up from behind the rocks here. This means that the sun doesn’t actually rise over the rocks at the exact posted sunrise time, it’s slightly later. And when the sun does emerge over the rocks, this whole area becomes beautifully painted with a gorgeous pink glow. This is the show that you won’t want to miss! Our family stayed for a good 40 minutes after the official sunrise time and it was spectacular!
Our Favorite Quiet Sunrise Activities for Kids:
Brainteaser PuzzleOur Favorite Pocket Travel Toy
The Best Brain Teaser for Kids
Our Favorite Art Travel Set
Know Before You Go
Where is Sedona Located?
The city of Sedona is located in central Arizona. It is 2 hours north of Phoenix and 50 minutes south of Flagstaff, Arizona. If you are flying, we recommend flying into Phoenix. The rates will be cheaper and the drive to Sedona on the Red Rock Highway SR179 is spectacular!
How Long to Stay in Sedona?
That depends on how much you want to hike. We think 2-3 days is great if you are wanting to hike several trails and possibly take the Pink Jeep tour. You could easily spend more time here though or simply just visit for one day. Either way, make sure you see a sunset or sunrise over these gorgeous red rocks. This is when the colors really come alive.
When is the Best Time to Hike in Sedona?
We hiked in the summer in Sedona and by 10am it was really hot. So, if you plan on hiking in the summer we recommend timing your hike to end by 10am, rest mid-day (or take Pink Jeep Tours) and then hike again after 5pm to see the sunset. Please note that in the summer it gets quite cool in the mornings so make sure you bring a light jacket.
From October to March Sedona is much cooler and so mid-day hikes would be possible. In December and January, you might even get lucky enough to even see snow!
To avoid crowds, we recommend hiking early in the morning or in the late afternoon. Not only will you have a better chance at easily finding parking but you will also have more of the trail to yourself! This is another benefit to going on sunset hikes! You’ll find less crowds and the Red Rocks look spectacular!
POPULAR TOURS NEAR SEDONA
Enjoy an Incredible Sunrise at Airport Mesa in Sedona!
Please let me know in the comments sections below if you have any questions or helpful information to add about Airport Mesa at sunrise? I’d love to hear about it!
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