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.
Sedona has three park-and-ride lots. Each one connects to different shuttle routes, which connect to different trailheads. Park at Posse Grounds and you can reach Soldier Pass, Devil’s Bridge, and the Dry Creek trails. Park at North SR 179 and you can reach Cathedral Rock and Little Horse. Park at Upper Red Rock Loop and you get the Dry Creek corridor only. 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 | Posse Grounds (20 Carruth Dr) | Route 11 | ~25 min via 89A |
| Boynton Canyon / Fay Canyon | Posse Grounds or Upper Red Rock Loop | Route 11 | ~25 min / ~30 min |
| Dry Creek Vista / Mescal / Brins Mesa | Posse Grounds or Upper Red Rock Loop | Route 11 | ~25 min / ~30 min |
| 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 68 | ~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, Dry Creek Vista, and Mescal (Routes 11 and 14)
Posse Grounds is the hub lot. It connects to Route 11 (Dry Creek Vista, Mescal) and Route 14 (Soldier Pass), making it the only lot that serves both the western Dry Creek corridor and the northern Soldier Pass trailhead. If you’re planning a two-hike day — say, Devil’s Bridge in the morning and Soldier Pass after lunch — Posse Grounds is the only lot where both shuttle routes depart from the same parking spot.
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 (Routes 15 and 68)
This is the 179 corridor lot. Routes 15 and 68 run south from here along Highway 179 to Cathedral Rock and Little Horse trailheads. 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.
Upper Red Rock Loop Road — Dry Creek Vista and Mescal (Route 11 Only)
The newest and smallest lot, added in March 2023 as overflow for the Dry Creek corridor. Route 11 stops here on its way to Dry Creek Vista and Mescal, but no other routes serve this lot. It’s a one-corridor option.
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. Useful if Posse Grounds is full and you need Dry Creek access. Not useful if Soldier Pass or Cathedral Rock is your target — neither Route 14 nor Routes 15/68 stop here.
Lot-by-Lot Breakdown — Addresses, Capacity, and What to Expect
Posse Grounds Park and Ride (20 Carruth Dr) — 150 Spaces, Restrooms, Shade
The largest lot and the only one with real amenities. Roughly 150 spaces across 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.
Upper Red Rock Loop Park and Ride (905 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd) — 60 Spaces, No Restrooms, Added March 2023
The smallest lot — roughly 60 spaces on a gravel surface. No restrooms, no shade structures, no water. Functional but bare.
This lot exists as overflow for the Dry Creek corridor shuttle. It rarely fills because most visitors don’t know about it yet. On days when Posse Grounds hits capacity, this lot still has space. That makes it a reliable backup for Route 11 access, but only Route 11.
Skip the Parking — Explore by E-Bike from $59
Self-guided e-bike rentals let you cover more ground, skip trailhead traffic, and ride at your own pace.
Fall dates are filling fast — popular times sell out 2+ weeks ahead.
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 Posse Grounds is full and you were planning a Dry Creek hike, drive to Upper Red Rock Loop. It’s about 5 minutes away and Route 11 stops there too.
If North SR 179 is full, you have a harder problem. No other lot serves Routes 15 or 68. Your options: 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 Posse Grounds and shuttle to a Dry Creek trail instead of Cathedral Rock.
What you should not do: abandon the park-and-ride and drive to the trailhead directly. On shuttle days, trailhead lots are either gated shut or full. On non-shuttle days, they fill earlier than the park-and-ride lots. Driving to the 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 Lynx 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 Lynx 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 Lynx → 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, Upper Red Rock Loop 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. |
| Upper Red Rock Loop | 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. Upper Red Rock Loop 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.
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.
