Bryce Canyon
 

Does anyone have a good suggestion as to a place to stay overnight at Bryce Canyon. There are 5 of us and we need two rooms and like something comfortable and clean. We'll be driving from Las Vegas after a long flight from D. C.

There aren't a whole lot of options, and undoubtedly the best bet are the cabins right in the park.
Otherwise Ruby's is probably your best bet.

I suggest you take a look at the motel called Bryce Canyon Pines. It is near the turnoff that leads to the park entrance. When I was there last, it was ok. Nothing really great, but clean and comfortable. I would describe it as a very high end two star or a three star establishment.

It has mini suites, deluxe rooms, and units with small kitchens.

There are motel units in the park itself that are cheaper than the cabins. The units are fairly spacious and I found them comfortable.

The cabins sell quickly, so now would not be too early at all to book what you need. June is already heavily booked but not sold out as of right now.

I suggest you decide what you want and call right away. There is also a website.

As National Park accommodations go, these are fairly nice, although I think they are overpriced for what you get.
But that is one man's opinion.

the motel I described above has added a swimming pool. So it has a few more amenities than when I was last there.
The added pool would upgrade it to a 3-star place.

Are you driving Las Vegas to Bryce the same day as your flight from Washington? If you can reconsider, I would recommend it. The drive requires more attention than many roads and can be very tiring - not your usual straight interstate highway - safety would be a real issue. (Not even mentioning the incredible views you will miss due to darkness and fatigue)

I would recommend instead driving to Springdale from LV - only a 2 1/2 hr drive - and there are lots of lodging and dining options there. Plus its only 80+ miles to Bryce from there and you'll enjoy the drive a lot more when you're more alert.

Thanks for the help. I will look into Springdale. I'd rather not drive all that way in one day to Bryce. Actually my son will be driving so I'll tell him.

If time allows, you could also stay in St. George, UT on your way to Bryce which has more overnight options. Springdale is the gateway to Zion and has fewer and more expensive accomodations. St. George is about 120 miles (fast ones) from Vegas.

If you must get to Bryce then I would stay in the park if at all possible. Ruby's would be my second choice.

Depending on how much travel time you have, you may consider driving the Vegas to Bryce in one shot--it is only about 260 miles, and IMHO, not worth stopping for an overnight inbetween.

Also meant to add; if you do stay in Springdale,be sure to check out Flanigans Inn. I would highly recommend it--even the cheaper rooms are worth it.

I agree with schulz completely. We had a fantastic second floor room that was so large it was almost a suite and the bed was very comfortable. That was in early October and our senior rate was $79.00. It is a short magnificent drive from Springdale to Bryce

In comparison, we stayed at Bryce View Lodge across from Ruby's and it was a disaster. Ruby's restaurant has a pretty good buffet, and if you get in before 5:00 p.m. it is available at the lunch rate which I think was six dollars less than the dinner menu.

You did not mention what time of year you are going. In the winter, many of the lodging and dining options are closed for the season. The buffet at Ruby's someone else mentioned is also not available. They are open but with a limited menu (when I was there last week, at 6:30 pm there were only about 20 people eating dinner).

I would avoid Foster's Restaurant on Hwy 12 about 2-3 miles west of the Bryce Junction. It may be the worst place I have ever eaten in this country.

Starting in late spring and running well into fall, you have many more choices. The town of Tropic has a variety of motels and B&B's at a more reasonable price than right at the canyon. It's about 7 miles east of the junction on Hwy 12 (and a beautiful drive back to the park). There are also more motels and dining options open closer to the canyon.

Another 8 miles east, there is a motel (The Grand Staircase Inn)open in winter and a KOA, closed in winter, with cabins in the town of Cannonville.

I don't remember it's name but there is a pretty good restaurant right at the Hwy 12/Park junction. It's behind the ATV/Snowmobile rental place in a single level wood building. I'll check out the name next time I'm there. It should open mid to late spring.

You can also see an example of the rare Western Jackelope at that place.

Watch out for those jackelopes. The adult males are pretty bad. They have these horns and they jump high. You cannot out run them because they have the speed of a regular jackrabbit.

One friend of mine tapes his hiking poles together so he can either use them as a two-pronged spear or as a semi shield to ward them off.

Don't bother them during the social time of the year. They defend their sagebrush against intruders.

Bob_Brown: I'm surprised at you, being an educator and all. I thought everyone know it is not the sagebrush they're protecting, it's the breeding stock of pronghorns.

Sagebrush as in territory.
Jakelopes life in sagebrush.

make that live. they have a life there too. Very enviable. No bosses to fret with.