Sedona to Scottsdale, the drive and where to stop.

The route

• •SR-179: about 14 miles from Sedona to I-17, scenic and often slow.
• •I-17 south: the fast part, dropping down through high desert toward Phoenix.
• •Into Scottsdale: Loop 101 for most addresses. For North Scottsdale, check whether Carefree Highway is quicker on your map.
• •Conditions: check for traffic on I-17 and for winter weather at higher elevations.

Worth a stop

• •Montezuma Castle: just off I-17. See Montezuma Castle.
• •Out of Africa: in Camp Verde. See Out of Africa Wildlife Park.
• •Cave Creek: if you come in via Carefree Highway. See Cave Creek and Carefree.

Choosing between them? See Sedona or Scottsdale, a Sedona day trip and the best hikes in Sedona.

Where to stay

After a long day out, Paradise Reserve is an easy place to come back to, with a pool and spa, a fire pit lounge and a covered patio. It has six bedrooms for up to 16 guests, five of them king suites with their own bathroom, plus a golf simulator, a putting green and a pickleball court for the days you stay in. Events and parties are not permitted at the house, and quiet hours apply.