13 Best Hotels in Dinosaurland and Eastern Utah, Utah

Background Illustration for Hotels

Most hotels and motels in eastern Utah are chains, and you can expect clean, comfortable rooms and standard amenities. The area's lodges make for a nice change of pace, surrounding you with natural beauty and more individualized rooms and services. Though it goes against logic, many hotels here offer cheaper rates on weekends than weekdays, due to the high number of workers who stay during the week. On weekends, hotels and motels do their best to attract tourists.

Best Western Plus Landmark Hotel

$$ | 2477 E. U.S. 40, Ballard, UT, 84066, USA

Ample amenities, including one of the few indoor pools in the region, make this chain hotel a reliable choice. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, filled mostly with warm earth tones, and featuring convenient extras like a mini-refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, and desk. Suites and most king rooms have sofa beds, and there are kitchenette rooms available for only slightly more than a standard room.

Pros

  • Hot breakfast
  • Large rooms (with kitchenettes available for a small upcharge)
  • Indoor pool open year-round

Cons

  • Rates are high for the area
  • Rooms nearest the highway can be noisy
  • Few nearby attractions
2477 E. U.S. 40, Ballard, UT, 84066, USA
435-725–1800
hotel Details
96 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

Dinosaur Inn & Suites

$$ | 251 E. Main St., Vernal, UT, 84078, USA

Located blocks from all downtown attractions, this independent hotel is the best known lodging in Vernal and is perfect for families, with a pool to cool the kids down on hot days. The comfortable rooms are filled earth tones and shades of green and while most have two beds, family rooms can accommodate more sleepers. All rooms are also chock full of little extras, including a microwave, refrigerator, and Keurig coffeemaker, and a tiny dinosaur in the bathroom for little ones. A hot breakfast buffet is included in the room rate.

Pros

  • Pool makes it a good choice for families
  • Rooms have a microwave, refrigerator, and coffeemaker
  • Complimentary hot breakfast buffet

Cons

  • Traffic noise in some rooms
  • Higher priced than many other Vernal motels
  • Can book up quickly in the summer
251 E. Main St., Vernal, UT, 84078, USA
435-789–2660
hotel Details
60 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

  • $$

Flaming Gorge Resort

$$ | 1100 E. Flaming Gorge Resort Rd., off U.S. 191, Dutch John, UT, 84023, USA

With motel rooms and condo-style suites, a good American-cuisine restaurant, and a store just a short drive from the water, this is a practical home base for enjoying Flaming Gorge. Most important to visitors, it also rents out boats and provides guided fishing services. For groups, there are many different room options available, including two-bedroom suites that can accommodate up to nine people and include full kitchens.

Pros

  • Almost all rooms come with private porches or decks
  • Many lodging options for groups, including suites and trailers
  • Good on-site restaurant (important for a remote area)

Cons

  • Rooms are simple
  • Most room rates increase $10 a night for each additional adult beyond 1
  • Can be very busy in summer
1100 E. Flaming Gorge Resort Rd., off U.S. 191, Dutch John, UT, 84023, USA
435-889–3773
hotel Details
46 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $$

Recommended Fodor's Video

Frontier Grill & Motel

$ | 75 S. 200 E, UT, 84066, USA

This mom-and-pop motel is right in the heart of town and offers simple but updated rooms at a reasonable price. The location puts you close to eateries, shops, and the town's one-screen historic movie theater. The golf course is a short drive away too. The restaurant is one of the most popular in town and serves hearty American fare like steak, fried chicken, burgers, and homemade pies. The scones are also some of the best around.

Pros

  • Convenient downtown location
  • Great adjacent restaurant
  • Most rooms have been updated

Cons

  • Aging facilities and interior design
  • Breakfast is not included
  • Small bathrooms
75 S. 200 E, UT, 84066, USA
435-722–2201
hotel Details
54 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $

Ledgestone Hotel Vernal

$ | 679 W. Main St., Vernal, UT, 84078, USA

This central, newer hotel is one of the most comfortable and affordable places in Vernal to spend a night, with a fully furnished kitchen (small dining table included) in each room. Much more than a kitchenette, expect a ceramic cookstove, large fridge, microwave, and dishes. The interiors here are simple and inviting, and the rooms are large, featuring comfy beds, dark wood furniture, and lots of natural light. If you plan to be in town for a long spell, ask about the weekly and monthly rates.

Pros

  • Full kitchens make this perfect for long stays
  • Large rooms
  • Right downtown

Cons

  • No pool
  • No breakfast
  • More geared toward work trips than family stays
679 W. Main St., Vernal, UT, 84078, USA
435-789–4200
hotel Details
78 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

Legacy Inn

$ | 145 N. Carbonville Rd., Price, UT, 84501, USA

If you want to save a bit of cash, but not scrimp on amenities, this simple but updated motel is one of the best bets in town. Rooms have been remodeled and designed to satisfy most travelers' needs (with a refrigerator, free Wi-Fi, hair dryer, microwave, and coffeemaker), and a continental breakfast provides fuel for your next day of hiking, biking, and dino-hunting.

Pros

  • Great value
  • Easy access to freeway
  • Free continental breakfast

Cons

  • Simple roadside motel
  • Rooms are a little small and dark
  • Not in walking distance to downtown Price
145 N. Carbonville Rd., Price, UT, 84501, USA
435-637–2424
hotel Details
33 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

  • $

Nine Mile Ranch

$$ | Nine Mile Canyon Rd., Mile Post 24, UT, 84542, USA

Ben Mead grew up in beautiful Nine Mile Canyon and started this "bunk and breakfast" establishment years ago on his working cattle ranch, where guests can stay in the comfy house or rent one of the rustic cabins. While Ben's daughter, Carla, now runs the place, Ben still makes appearances for big groups (reunions, weddings, and the like). Play your cards right, and Ben may recite some of his cowboy poetry—he's the real deal. Guided tours of the canyon are also available through this authentic lodging option.

Pros

  • A true cowboy experience
  • Beautiful setting with dark-as-can-be nighttime skies
  • Perfect for large gatherings, with Dutch oven dinners available for groups of 14 or more

Cons

  • Breakfast is only for B&B guests and not included with a cabin rental
  • Cabins are rustic, with solar lights and bathrooms located behind the buildings
  • Bedding not included with cabin rental
Nine Mile Canyon Rd., Mile Post 24, UT, 84542, USA
435-637–2572
hotel Details
4 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

  • $$

Ramada by Wyndham Price

$ | 838 Westwood Blvd., Price, UT, 84501, USA

A bright, lovely atrium is the stunning centerpiece of this reliable chain option, featuring comfy rooms with a long list of standard amenities (mini-refrigerator, microwave, desk, and more). Families will enjoy the indoor pool, and suites with kitchenettes are a great option for longer stays. Ask if one of the suites with a skylight is available. This is also a favorite stop for large groups and conventions, so make sure to book ahead. Both a steak house and a separate bar are on-site.

Pros

  • Many amenities, including a restaurant and separate bar
  • Pleasant and well-lit interiors
  • Large pool

Cons

  • Not in walking distance of downtown Price
  • More expensive than many nearby properties
  • Books up quickly (especially when conventions are in town)
838 Westwood Blvd., Price, UT, 84501, USA
435-637–8880
hotel Details
151 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

Red Canyon Lodge

$$ | 2450 W. Red Canyon Lodge, Dutch John, UT, 84023, USA Fodor's Choice

A pleasant surprise in the woods, this lodge is surrounded by well-built, handcrafted log cabins with kitchenettes (some with wood-burning stoves) that face a private trout-stocked lake. The great restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from April to September; dinner might include buffalo, elk medallions, or wild trout with pasta. The lodge provides recreation services like boat and standup paddleboard rentals for the lake, bike and snowshoe rentals for the land, and horseback riding in the summer. Kids will enjoy their own private fishing pond. It's a pleasant spot for bird-watching, too.

Pros

  • Beautiful setting
  • Cabins are comfortable for families or groups (up to six people per cabin)
  • Excellent restaurant

Cons

  • Must book a year in advance for summer months
  • Wi-Fi only in restaurant
  • No air-conditioning
2450 W. Red Canyon Lodge, Dutch John, UT, 84023, USA
435-889–3759
hotel Details
18 cabins
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $$

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Vernal

$$$ | Utah, Vernal, UT, USA

One of the most stylish places to stay in Vernal, this all-suites hotel features large rooms decorated in neutral colors, all with a sofa bed in an attached lounging area. Microwaves, mini-refrigerators, and desks come standard, and larger rooms feature a separate lounging area. A year-round indoor pool and hot breakfast are nice perks.

Pros

  • Microwaves and mini-refrigerators in all rooms
  • Indoor pool and hot tub
  • Hot complimentary breakfast

Cons

  • More expensive than most nearby properties
  • Not in walking distance of town
  • No pets
Utah, Vernal, UT, USA
435-781–9000
hotel Details
97 suites
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

The Cabins at Bear River Lodge

$$$ | Mirror Lake Hwy., mile marker 49, UT, 84036, USA

Log cabins in the forest let you reconnect with nature via a range of on-site activities without giving up creature comforts. Simply appointed with log and wood furniture, the cabins are near the lodge, where you can outfit yourself for a variety of outdoor adventures, including even cutting down a Christmas tree in the winter. The seasonal Bear's Grill serves reasonably priced take-out American fare for breakfast and lunch, plus ice cream and shakes. For dinner, you're on your own, but luckily each room features a full-service kitchen. There's a heated pool for summertime dips, and two hot tubs are open year-round. Autumn rates (October to December) are often deeply discounted. From October to May, the route from Kamas (49 miles) on Route 150 is closed, so access is from Evanston, Wyoming (30 miles).

Pros

  • Peaceful getaway in beautiful setting
  • Plenty of activities
  • Comfortable cabins

Cons

  • Prices seem high for the level of amenities
  • No other restaurants within 30 miles
  • Lower-level floors can be noisy
Mirror Lake Hwy., mile marker 49, UT, 84036, USA
435-642–6289
hotel Details
14 cabins
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

The Greenwell Inn & Convention Center

$ | 655 E. Main St., Price, UT, 84501, USA

With more amenities than most of the area's hotels but still reasonably priced, the Greenwell is a great choice for most travelers, especially families. The rooms are spacious, with hardwood floors, a mini-refrigerator, and coffeemaker (with microwaves provided on request). The large luxury suites have whirlpool tubs, big-screen TVs, kitchenettes, and remote-control fireplaces. While no meals are provided, each stay comes with a 15% discount to the adjoining restaurant. 

Pros

  • Convenient downtown location
  • Beautiful indoor pool and hot tub
  • Great value

Cons

  • Older property with simple rooms
  • On a busy road
  • Motel-style room entrances are a downside in inclement weather
655 E. Main St., Price, UT, 84501, USA
435-637–3520
hotel Details
136 rooms
Rate Includes: No Meals

Quick Facts

  • $

The Lodge at Falcon's Ledge

$$$ | Hwy. 87, Altamont, UT, 84001, USA Fodor's Choice

With an emphasis on escaping the workaday world, this small and comfortable lodge is found on a 600-acre private ranch, catering to fly-fishers and hunters. Guests can choose from nine rooms, each uniquely decorated, some with vaulted ceilings, and two with jetted tubs. The lodge also offers luxury sporting packages, including fly-fishing and wing-shooting. There are no TVs in the rooms, but you can visit the rec room with a big-screen TV room for a fix, or to play a game of pool or ping-pong instead. The five- to seven-course meals are the best in the area, and you can bring your own wine or spirits the private restaurant. Specialties include whiskey-grilled glazed filet mignon, bacon-wrapped ahi tuna, and fresh home-baked bread. 

Pros

  • Gorgeous setting with dark skies
  • Exquisite food
  • Great fishing

Cons

  • No children under 12 allowed
  • No TVs in rooms
  • Breakfast is continental
Hwy. 87, Altamont, UT, 84001, USA
435-253–7336
hotel Details
9 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

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