You’re 20 minutes south on I-17, windows down, finally seeing red rock on the horizon. You know you need the shuttle. You know there’s a park-and-ride somewhere. What you don’t know — and what no sign on the interstate will tell you — is which lot you need, because the wrong one puts you on the wrong shuttle route and sends you to a trailhead on the opposite side of town from where you wanted to hike.
In This Guide
10 min read
Sedona has three park-and-ride lots, and each one serves exactly one trailhead route. Park at the West SR-89A lot on Upper Red Rock Loop Road and Route 11 takes you to Dry Creek Vista and Mescal, the two trailheads for Devil's Bridge. Park at Posse Grounds and Route 14 takes you to Soldier Pass. Park at North SR 179 and Route 15 takes you to Cathedral Rock and Little Horse. There's no crossover at the lot level — pick the wrong one and you're back in traffic trying to correct the mistake.
This guide gives you the lot-to-trail map, the capacity numbers nobody else publishes, the fill times that determine how early you need to arrive, and the amenities (or lack thereof) that matter when you're standing around with kids waiting for the next bus.
Which Lot Do You Need? The Trail-to-Lot Decision Table
Before you drive anywhere, answer one question: what trail do you want to hike today? The answer determines your lot.
| Trail Target | Park at This Lot | Shuttle Route | Drive Time from I-17 Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devil's Bridge (from Mescal or Dry Creek Vista) | West SR-89A Park & Ride (905 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd) | Route 11 | ~30 min via 89A |
| Dry Creek Vista / Mescal / Chuckwagon trails | West SR-89A Park & Ride (905 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd) | Route 11 | ~30 min via 89A |
| Boynton Canyon / Fay Canyon | Not shuttle-served — drive to the trailhead | — | — |
| Soldier Pass / Devil's Kitchen / Cave | Posse Grounds (20 Carruth Dr) | Route 14 | ~25 min via 89A |
| Cathedral Rock | North SR 179 (1294 SR 179) | Route 15 | ~15 min via SR 179 |
| Little Horse / Bell Rock Pathway | North SR 179 (1294 SR 179) | Route 15 | ~15 min via SR 179 |
Print this table or screenshot it before you leave your hotel. Getting it right the first time saves 20 to 30 minutes of peak-hour rerouting through town.
Posse Grounds — Soldier Pass (Route 14)
Posse Grounds is the Soldier Pass lot. Route 14 leaves from here for the Soldier Pass trailhead, which is closed to private vehicles whenever the shuttle runs. It does not serve Devil's Bridge: Route 11 to Dry Creek Vista and Mescal leaves from the West SR-89A lot instead, and Route 12, which once linked Posse Grounds to Dry Creek Vista, was suspended in July 2025 and the City said in September 2025 it would not be reinstated. If you're planning a two-hike day — say, Devil's Bridge in the morning and Soldier Pass after lunch — expect to move your car between the two West Sedona lots, about five minutes apart. Only have time for one of them? We compare Soldier Pass and Devil's Bridge side by side so you can pick in a couple of minutes.
Located at 20 Carruth Drive in West Sedona, about one mile west of Uptown on 89A. Coming from I-17, take exit 298 and follow 89A north through the roundabouts into West Sedona. The lot is on the south side of 89A at the Posse Grounds Park complex — look for the covered picnic structures and the shuttle stop signs.
North SR 179 — Cathedral Rock and Little Horse (Route 15)
This is the 179 corridor lot. Route 15 runs south from here along Highway 179 to the Cathedral Rock and Little Horse trailheads, about every 15 minutes. If Cathedral Rock is on your list — and for most first-time visitors it is — this is where your car goes.
Located at 1294 SR 179, just south of the Y roundabout. Coming from I-17, take exit 298 and follow SR 179 north. The lot appears on your left about a half-mile before the Y. Some older maps and Google listings reference "Bowerman" for this area — ignore that. The official city designation is North SR 179 Park & Ride and the address is 1294 SR 179. Plug the address into your GPS directly rather than searching "Bowerman" and ending up in the wrong parking area.
West SR-89A Park & Ride on Upper Red Rock Loop Road — Dry Creek Vista and Mescal (Route 11)
This is the Devil's Bridge lot. Route 11 leaves from here every 30 minutes from 7:00 AM, Thursday through Sunday, and stops at Dry Creek Vista first, then Mescal, which between them cover every walking route to Devil's Bridge. No other route serves this lot, and no other lot serves Route 11.
Located at 905 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, west of 89A. The turnoff from 89A is easy to miss — it's a residential-looking road with no prominent signage announcing a park-and-ride. Look for the shuttle stop signs once you're on the loop road. Not useful if Soldier Pass or Cathedral Rock is your target: neither Route 14 nor Route 15 stops here.
Lot-by-Lot Breakdown — Addresses, Capacity, and What to Expect
Posse Grounds Park and Ride (20 Carruth Dr) — Largest Lot, Restrooms, Shade
The largest of the three park-and-ride lots and the only one with real amenities, with paved and overflow gravel sections. Public restrooms in the adjacent Posse Grounds Park — clean, maintained, open during park hours. Covered shade structures near the shuttle stop where you can sit while waiting for the bus. Water fountain at the park facilities.
On spring-break weekends (mid-March), this lot can fill by 9 to 9:30 AM. Regular peak-season Saturdays in April and October usually hold until 10 AM. Weekday shuttle days (Thursdays and Fridays) rarely fill before noon.
The lot surface is mostly paved with some gravel overflow on the edges. Easy to navigate in any vehicle.
North SR 179 Park and Ride (1294 SR 179) — 80 Spaces, No Restrooms, The "Bowerman" Name Confusion
About 80 spaces on a paved surface. No restrooms at the lot itself — the nearest public restrooms are at the Sedona Visitor Center about a half-mile north, which adds a detour you don't want to make after you've parked and are trying to catch a bus.
Use the restroom at your hotel before you leave. This is not a small consideration for families with young children on a 20-minute shuttle ride followed by a two-hour hike.
Fill times mirror Posse Grounds: full by 9:30 AM on spring-break weekends, holding until mid-morning on normal peak Saturdays. The lot is smaller, so it fills faster on the busiest days.
The "Bowerman" confusion: some older GPS results, printed maps, and Google My Business listings reference "Bowerman" for this general area. The City of Sedona does not use that name. Search for "1294 SR 179 Sedona" or "North SR 179 Park and Ride" to reach the correct lot.
West SR-89A Park and Ride (905 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd) — Gravel Lot, No Restrooms
A gravel lot with no restrooms, no shade structures and no water. Functional but bare, and the only park-and-ride for Devil's Bridge.
Because it is a single-route lot, demand tracks Devil's Bridge demand: busiest on spring and fall weekend mornings, quieter on weekday shuttle days. Remember that Dry Creek Vista and Mescal stay open to private vehicles on shuttle days, so riding from here is a choice, not an obligation; its value is skipping the early-morning parking race at the trailheads.
Skip the Parking — Explore by E-Bike
Self-guided e-bike rentals let you cover more ground, skip trailhead traffic, and ride at your own pace.
Most tours listed offer free cancellation — check each listing.
Timing Your Arrival — When Lots Fill and What to Do When They're Full
Spring Break Fill Times (Lots Full by 9–9:30 AM on Peak Weekends)
The crunch window is mid-March through mid-April, concentrated on Friday through Sunday. During this period, both Posse Grounds and North SR 179 can fill by 9:30 AM. Upper Red Rock Loop typically holds longer.
Outside spring break, the fill pressure shifts to October weekends when fall colors draw visitors to West Fork and Oak Creek Canyon. The lots still fill, just 30 to 45 minutes later — closer to 10 or 10:30 AM.
Summer (June through August) and winter (December through February) rarely cause lot-full situations except during holiday weekends like the 4th of July and Christmas week.
Arrival targets by season:
| Season | Lot-Full Risk | Arrive By |
|---|---|---|
| Spring break (mid-Mar to mid-Apr) | High | 8:30 AM |
| Peak fall (Oct weekends) | High | 9:00 AM |
| Normal peak (Apr–May, Sep) | Moderate | 9:30 AM |
| Summer | Low | No rush |
| Winter | Low | No rush |
What Happens If Your Lot Is Full (Drive to Another Lot, Not to the Trailhead)
If the West SR-89A lot is full and you were planning a Dry Creek hike, you don't have another park-and-ride for Route 11. Your options: wait for a space as early hikers return, drive to Dry Creek Vista or Mescal and try the trailhead lots directly (they stay open to cars on shuttle days but fill early), or pivot to another hike.
If North SR 179 is full, you have a similar problem: no other lot serves Route 15. Circle the lot for 10 to 15 minutes and wait for a space to open as early hikers return, or pivot your plan entirely — drive to the West SR-89A lot and shuttle to a Dry Creek trail instead of Cathedral Rock.
What you should not do for Cathedral Rock or Soldier Pass: abandon the park-and-ride and drive to the trailhead. On shuttle days those two lots are closed to private vehicles, and on non-shuttle days they fill earlier than the park-and-ride lots. Driving to a gated trailhead when the park-and-ride is full is chasing a parking spot that doesn't exist. You'll burn 30 minutes in traffic and end up making a three-point turn on a narrow residential street while locals watch from their front porches.
Overnight Parking Is Prohibited
All three lots prohibit overnight parking. The shuttle stops running around 5 PM (5:30 PM during spring break). Vehicles remaining in the lot after shuttle hours risk a City of Sedona parking citation and possible tow.
This is a real scenario, not a theoretical warning. Hikers who miss the last shuttle sometimes decide to leave their car at the lot overnight and retrieve it the next morning. The city enforces the restriction, and towing from Posse Grounds happens regularly during peak season. If you miss the last bus, your better option is walking back from the trailhead (unpleasant but doable), calling a rideshare, or getting a ride from another hiker.
Getting to the Park-and-Ride Without a Car
Sedona Shuttle Connect ($2 From Your Hotel to Any Lot)
The Shuttle Connect service runs a separate loop from hotels and resorts to the three park-and-ride lots. It costs $2 per person per ride. You don't need a car at all — walk out of your hotel lobby, board the Shuttle Connect, ride to the park-and-ride of your choice, and transfer to the free trailhead shuttle.
Availability is limited to shuttle operating days (Thursday through Sunday, with expanded service during peak periods). Check current Shuttle Connect schedules before relying on it for your morning plan.
For visitors staying at resorts in the Village of Oak Creek or along SR 179 south of the Y, the Shuttle Connect is the only way to reach a park-and-ride without driving through the Y roundabout during peak hours.
Verde Shuttle Stops Within Walking Distance (Connection Points and Walk Times)
The Verde Shuttle regional bus connects Cottonwood and Camp Verde to Sedona. Two stops are within walking distance of park-and-ride lots:
- West Sedona stop → Posse Grounds park-and-ride: approximately 0.4 miles, 8-minute walk
- Uptown Sedona stop → Posse Grounds park-and-ride: approximately 0.6 miles, 12-minute walk
The Verde Shuttle runs daily (not just shuttle days) and costs $2. For visitors staying in Cottonwood or arriving by Greyhound in Camp Verde, this creates a fully carless path to Sedona's trail system: Verde Shuttle → walk to Posse Grounds → trailhead shuttle.
For the complete no-car strategy, see getting around Sedona without a car.
RVs, Trailers, and Oversized Vehicles
Which Lots Can Handle Large Vehicles (Posse Grounds Yes, North SR 179 Tight, West SR-89A No)
| Lot | RV/Trailer Friendly? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Posse Grounds | Yes | Large lot with easy maneuverability. Overflow gravel area accommodates RVs and vehicles with trailers. |
| North SR 179 | Tight | Paved lot with standard-size spaces. Smaller RVs (under 25 feet) can usually find a spot, but larger rigs and anything towing a trailer will struggle with turning radius. |
| West SR-89A (Upper Red Rock Loop Rd) | No | Small gravel lot with tight spacing. Not suitable for any oversized vehicle. |
RV Overflow — Where to Park an RV When Lots Won't Fit It
If you're driving a Class A or towing a trailer and Posse Grounds is full, you don't have a good park-and-ride option. The West SR-89A lot on Upper Red Rock Loop Road won't accommodate your rig and North SR 179 is a squeeze.
Alternatives: park at your RV campsite or hotel, take the Shuttle Connect ($2) to a park-and-ride, and transfer to the trailhead shuttle. If you're staying at an RV park in the Village of Oak Creek, check whether the Shuttle Connect serves your park's area — some stops are within walking distance of VOC campgrounds.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I leave my car overnight at a Sedona park-and-ride?
No. All three lots prohibit overnight parking. Vehicles left after the shuttle stops running (approximately 5 PM, 5:30 PM spring break) risk a city parking citation and possible tow. Peak-season enforcement is active — don't assume a quiet Tuesday night is safe. If you miss the last bus, walk back from the trailhead, call a rideshare, or flag down a fellow hiker heading your direction.
Are the Sedona park-and-ride lots safe?
Yes. They're city-managed lots with steady shuttle traffic and other hikers around throughout the day. No reported safety incidents specific to these lots. Standard precautions apply: don't leave valuables visible in your car, lock your doors, take your electronics with you.
Do I need a Red Rock Pass to park at a park-and-ride lot?
No. The lots are free city-operated parking. The Red Rock Pass is only required at national forest trailhead parking areas — which you skip entirely by riding the shuttle. This is one of the underappreciated benefits of the shuttle system: the pass fee disappears.
Which park-and-ride lot is closest to Uptown Sedona?
Posse Grounds at 20 Carruth Drive. It's about one mile west of Uptown on 89A — a 3-minute drive or a 20-minute walk. If you're staying at an Uptown hotel, you could walk to Posse Grounds and skip driving entirely.
