We stayed off the beaten path a little bit. Depending on what else you will do; we stayed East of Flagstaff at Twin Arrows Casino Resort at the edge of the Navajo Nation. This was good for us because we also went to the Painted Desert and The Meteor Crater. A nice central location.

If you want the BEST views/experience DON'T enter Sedona for the first time by coming down Oak Creek Canyon....start south and work up. (All estimated times are based upon traffic, which can get INSANE on holiday weekends!) Take exit 298 off I-17, then head northwest on Hwy 179 to Sedona (14 miles). You will see the red rock views begin about the time you see the Forest Service Ranger Station (5.8 miles from the I-17 exit). One mile later you will enter the Village of Oak Creek and see Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte and other rock formations. (There are upper and lower parking lots for the Bell Rock trailheads where you could turn in and get some picks). From the upper trailhead Bell Rock is about a 45-60 minute hike, from your car, back to your car (but I'd save that for sunset). Continue north on Hwy 179 and the red rock views will expand and grow in size. Cathedral Rock is on the left on the drive into Sedona (about 10 miles into your trip after leaving the I-17) and hard to miss if you know what it looks like. You can't drive to Cathedral Rock, but can get some awesome pics by pulling into one of the adjacent church parking lots. When you reach Sedona (about 25-45 minutes from the I-17 exit) head north on Hwy 89a (Uptown Sedona). That's the highway that takes you through Oak Creek Canyon. It's about a 45-90 minute drive. There are several scenic places to stop, the purest, fresh spring water piped up next to the road to drink and views that are...WOW! Especially at the top of the switchbacks (you'll know when you're there). Your total trip time (no stops) from the I-17 to Flagstaff (at the top of Oak Creek Canyon) will be about 1.5 - 4 hours (traffic makes a HUGE difference). Regarding sunsets, You want to be sitting on a rock somewhere in the Village of Oak Creek or Sedona. Lots of people climb Bell Rock and watch from there. It's a HUGE view and a beautiful sight. I would drive the above route, have lunch in Flagstaff, drive back down Oak Creek Canyon (very different sights when driving in the opposite direction) and back down Hwy 179 to Bell Rock. Then I'd climb Bell Rock and watch the sunset from there. Yes, I'm a Sedona local. :-)