What to Wear in Sedona
United States · 6 monthly packing guides
Sedona runs Red Rock Country high-desert — the heritage 1902 town in Yavapai County named after Theodore Schnebly's wife Sedona (elevation 4,350 ft / 1,326 m), set against the Cathedral Rock + Bell Rock + Courthouse Butte + Snoopy Rock formations of the heritage Coconino National Forest. Per NOAA Sedona Ranger Station data, March–May afternoons sit at 20–29°C / 68–84°F with cool 4–12°C / 40–54°F mornings perfect for the heritage Cathedral Rock + Devil's Bridge + West Fork of Oak Creek hikes; August monsoon afternoons hit 35°C / 95°F with afternoon thunderstorms (9 rain days, the heritage North American Monsoon pattern); November returns to crisp 19°C / 67°F afternoons + 5°C / 41°F nights for peak fall leaf at the heritage Oak Creek Canyon. Local register: Garland's Navajo Rugs (the heritage 1976 State Route 89A authority on heritage Two Grey Hills + Teec Nos Pos + Burntwater weavings), Hoel's Indian Shop (the heritage Oak Creek Canyon Native-American silver and turquoise), James Ratliff Gallery + Sedona Pottery (the heritage Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village 1973 Spanish-Colonial-arcade gallery cluster). Outdoor specialists: Canyon Outfitters + Sedona Outfitters (the heritage Uptown Sedona hiking-store cluster), Sedona Hat Company. Heritage anchors: the heritage 1956 Chapel of the Holy Cross (Marguerite Brunswig Staude's modernist Frank-Lloyd-Wright-influenced cliff chapel), the heritage Sedona Heritage Museum (Jordan family homestead, since 1930), the heritage Tlaquepaque village (since 1973). Festivals: Sedona International Film Festival (late February), Sedona Arts Festival (mid-October — the recognized Plein Air Sedona painters' weekend). Skip white sneakers — red rock dust stains permanent within one hike; pack hiking boots in dark sole, lightweight long sleeves for sun + scrub-oak protection, broad-brim hat (UV index 11 by mid-morning), 3L hydration vest minimum.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach 4°C / 39°F in March; average highs reach 36°C / 97°F in July.
Compare Sedona by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March packing guide | 4°C / 39°F | 20°C / 68°F | 6 | 12h |
| May packing guide | 12°C / 54°F | 29°C / 84°F | 3 | 13h 50m |
| June packing guide | 16°C / 61°F | 35°C / 95°F | 1 | 14h 25m |
| July packing guide | 20°C / 68°F | 36°C / 97°F | 6 | 14h 5m |
| August packing guide | 19°C / 66°F | 35°C / 95°F | 9 | 13h 25m |
| November packing guide | 5°C / 41°F | 19°C / 66°F | 3 | 10h 30m |
Choose your Sedona packing list
Sedona in March is peak spring-wildflower hike — 20°C / 68°F afternoons, 4°C / 40°F mornings, 6 rain days. Sedona Yoga Festival mid-month.
In this capsule: Lightweight long-sleeve cotton or linen tunic + cotton legging; Hoka Speedgoat 5 or Salomon Sense Ride 5 trail shoe; Sedona Hat Company straw cowboy hat or wide-brim sun hat.
Sedona in May is peak pre-monsoon hike + Memorial Day — 29°C / 84°F afternoons, 12°C / 54°F mornings, 3 rain days (driest month).
In this capsule: Lightweight long-sleeve cotton or linen tunic + cotton legging; Hoka Speedgoat 5 or Salomon Sense Ride 5 trail shoe; Sedona Hat Company Stetson Open Road straw cowboy hat.
Sedona in June is peak pre-monsoon hike + Cathedral Rock dawn — 35°C / 95°F afternoons, 16°C / 61°F mornings, 1 rain day (driest month).
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton tunic + UPF 50 long-sleeve sun-shirt; Hoka Speedgoat 5 or Salomon Sense Ride 5 trail shoe; Sedona Hat Company Stetson Open Road silver-belly straw cowboy hat + UPF 50 buff.
Sedona in July: average high 36°C / 97°F, low 20°C / 68°F, and 6 rain days.
In this capsule: Light long-sleeve top for sun coverage; Trail shoes and comfortable socks; Sun hat and optional neck layer.
Sedona in August: average high 35°C / 95°F, low 19°C / 66°F, and 9 rain days.
In this capsule: Light long-sleeve top for sun coverage; Trail shoes and comfortable socks; Sun hat and optional neck layer.
Sedona in November: a 19°C / 66°F daytime baseline and 5°C / 41°F nights call for layers you can add and remove.
In this capsule: Lightweight long-sleeve cotton or linen tunic + cotton legging or hiking-pant; Hoka Speedgoat 5 or Salomon Sense Ride 5 trail shoe; Sedona Hat Company Stetson Open Road straw cowboy hat.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- March: NOAA · Sedona Ranger Station, AZ · 1991–2020 normalsHigh desert at 1,326 m / 4,350 ft; the monsoon peaks in August.
- May: NOAA · Sedona Ranger Station, AZ · 1991–2020 normalsHigh desert at 1,326 m / 4,350 ft; the monsoon peaks in August.
- June: NOAA · Sedona Ranger Station, AZ · 1991–2020 normalsHigh desert at 1,326 m / 4,350 ft; the monsoon peaks in August.
- July: NOAA · Sedona Ranger Station, AZ · 1991–2020 normalsHigh desert at 1,326 m / 4,350 ft; the monsoon peaks in August.
- August: NOAA · Sedona Ranger Station, AZ · 1991–2020 normalsHigh desert at 1,326 m / 4,350 ft; the monsoon peaks in August.
- November: NOAA · Sedona Ranger Station, AZ · 1991–2020 normalsHigh desert at 1,326 m / 4,350 ft; the monsoon peaks in August.
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 6 published guides cover March, May, June, July, August, November. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, March has the lowest average low at 4°C / 39°F, while July has the highest average high at 36°C / 97°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.