Sedona Airport

Sedona Airport: Flying High Over the Red Rocks

Introduction

High on a mesa, Sedona Airport (IATA: SDX) is no ordinary place for taking off and landing. However, visitors to this midsized airport 2 miles southwest of the CBD are treated to stunning vistas outside -- notably Sedona's towering red rock formations. You will be mesmerized by the stark beauty surrounding this unusual airport from the time you approach and actually see a huge volcano.

Airlines and Destinations

No commercial airline offers passenger service to Sedona Airport. Instead, it is predominantly used by private and charter aircraft as well as scenic flights including helicopter tours. The airport's one runway (3/21) is ideal for such operations, especially as the seaplane flight allows guests a view of many local attractions without having to deal with bustling corridors around major commercial aviation facilities.

Flight Source (Count of Passengers, Count of Flights)

Sedona Airport is not a towered airport, so there isn't any readily available detailed passenger and flight information. Yet the airport has become a kind of mecca for general-aviation pilots and aviation fans, who are lured by both its tabletop-runway mystique as well as the chance to see what is now Boeing's fifth museum wherever it might go. In 2015, about 50 planes were based at the airport, which sits on roughly 220 acres.

How to Get Here

Take door-to-door shuttle service (fee). Sedona is located approximately 119 miles/192 kilometers or about a two-hour drive away from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Fly into Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, a 30-minute drive to Sedona. From there, you can choose from a range of transportation modes — rental cars or shuttle and taxi services to get you back home.

Parking

Sedona Airport offers parking on a first-come, first-served basis. The airport has a small lot next to the terminal building along with another overflow parking area in close proximity. The prices and availability of parking at the airport are subject to change, thus it is recommended you review online or contact them directly for more current details.

Transportation Prices

Accessibility in Sedona-Local transport: All the roads leading out of Winslow are great for your conventional rental car and should be clear. Most sources (including reliable ones) seem to believe that they need extreme environmental regulations. Shuttle and taxi fares can range from $20 to as much as $50, but repeated for location (number of shuttle passengers) are rental cars, which typically run about $adult per day.

Terminal Layout

The terminal building at Sedona Airport is a compact structure that provides the basic services and amenities for private and charter aviation operations. A pilot's lounge with restrooms and a limited concession area are located inside, but there is no major shopping or dining on the scale of larger commercial airports.

Navigate the Airport

Sedona Airport is relatively small but can be bewildering to new arrivals. The airport is apparently tricky to find atop a large mesa, so follow the signs and directions meticulously. After landing, the airport layout itself is quite simple: it consists of a terminal building and adjacent parking area.

Getting Between Terminals

Sedona Airport is a one-terminal facility, so switching between terminals or concourses isn't something to worry about. The actual newsworthy bit is that all arrivals and departures will use a central terminal facility.

Services and Amenities

While Sedona Airport does not have the wide variety of services and amenities found at a busier commercial airport, it is more than adequately equipped to support virtually all aspects of private charter aircraft operations. A pilot lounge, restroom, and limited concession area are available for the airport's pilots and passengers. The stunning airport scenes make Sedona popular for tourists and photographers.

Restaurants and Shops

There are no restaurants or stores at the Sedona Airport. But only 3 minutes away, the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village provides food and shopping options that visitors could be looking for.

Security and Customs

Sedona Airport, like all general aviation airports, does not have the same security and customs-like regulations that larger commercial airports require. Security checks are standard as with any private and charter operations, but there are no customs facilities. For international arrivals, passengers will need to clear customs at their point of entry before continuing on the connecting flight to Sedona.

Accessibility

Providing ADA facilities and services is a priority at Sedona Airport for all visiting pilots. The terminal building and several areas are equipped to serve people with disabilities, such as designated parking, ramps, and accessible restrooms. The airport staff is also available to better assist passengers with special needs.

Travel Tips

• Make the most of being at Sedona Airport for some great scenes to capture. Vortex Trail (near Airport Vortex), 1.8 miles
• The Gateway Loop, 3.4 miles
• Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point and Hog Wash Drive Lollipop, 5 miles
• Airport Mesa Loop (there are various distances before-, on-top-of-, and after-circuits you can do here); the hike itself is around a mile — backtrack now or continue for more of the view!
• Also, try to schedule your visit whenever short aircraft arrive or depart (where the planes "glide" over a tabletop runway), which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.