Where to Stay in Sedona: Uptown vs West Sedona, Village of Oak Creek & Boynton Canyon Resorts

Sedona's hotels, resorts and inns are grouped into four zones radiating from the central 'Y' roundabout. Because late-afternoon traffic heading into the 'Y' can slow down before sunset, choosing the right side of town for your itinerary saves time every day.

1. Uptown Sedona & Creekside (Best for Walkability, First-Timers & East-Facing Views)

If you want to park your car at your hotel in the afternoon and walk to dinner, shops, Tlaquepaque Arts Village and morning Jeep tours, stay in Uptown Sedona or right below it on Oak Creek:

• Top Uptown & Creekside Picks: for five-star creekside romance under giant sycamores, book L'Auberge de Sedona or Amara Resort and Spa; for panoramic red-rock balcony views in Uptown, look at Matterhorn Inn, Arroyo Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas, Cedars Resort or Orchards Inn.

2. West Sedona (Highway 89A West, Best Overall for Hikers, Foodies & Smooth Traffic)

Frequent Sedona visitors often prefer West Sedona, stretching three miles west of the 'Y' on four-lane Highway 89A:

• Why West Sedona Works Well: you skip the single-lane 'Y' roundabout bottleneck and sit within five minutes of Airport Mesa, Red Rock Crossing, Whole Foods Market, Mariposa and the Posse Grounds Park & Ride Shuttle Hub (for Devil's Bridge, Soldier Pass and Boynton Canyon). Top stays include Sky Rock Sedona, Wilde Resort and Spa, Arabella Hotel Sedona and boutique Sunset Chateau.

3. Village of Oak Creek (6 Miles South on Hwy 179) vs Boynton Canyon Luxury

• The Village of Oak Creek (Better Rates, Golf & Bell Rock Views): located 10 minutes south of the 'Y', sitting directly beneath Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte and the SR-179 Cathedral Rock Shuttle Hub. Look at Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock, Element Sedona or Las Posadas of Sedona.
• Boynton Canyon Five-Star Splurge: Enchantment Resort and destination spa Mii amo, tucked inside the red-rock box canyon of Boynton Canyon.