12 Best Hotels in Dinosaurland and Eastern Utah, Utah

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. 

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.