5 Best Hotels in Moab and Southeastern Utah, Utah

Moab's only four-star hotel is right downtown, though also standing next to the area's famed red rocks, giving you the best of both worlds, surrounded by the kind of luxury that's hard to find in rural Utah. The interiors are spotless and chic, inspired by the surrounding natural beauty and the area's mining history, with touches of gold, orange, yellow, and earth tones. You'll find locally informed art and petrified wood tables in each room. There's a good restaurant on-site, as well as the only spa in town. The beautiful pool is one of Moab's best.

One of the premier luxury resorts in the Southwest, this swanky wellness retreat on the banks of the Colorado River is the place to be when you need to escape the modern world—so long as money is no object. It's 17 miles from Moab, and that remote setting is a big part of the draw. People come for the stunning landscape studded with towering red cliffs, buttes, and spires. The connected cabins have tall ceilings and are furnished with hefty log beds, tables, and chairs, along with western art and rugs. Some even have bathtubs with sweeping views of the beauty just out your door. In addition to a full slate of spa services, optional activities include river rafting, mountain biking, and even taking a UTV out for a spin. Kids can shadow the ranch's wranglers and watch as they feed the many animals that call the ranch home. The Sorrel River Grill offers upscale meals with seasonal ingredients, which you can eat on a pleasant porch overlooking the river. For a real treat, reserve one of the Homestake Dinners, multicourse meals made with ingredients sourced from the ranch and local farms, served family-style to small groups alfresco in the summer and early fall. 

This lavish ranch resort is the biggest splurge around—and it's worth absolutely every penny. The rooms are opulent, with a cowboy charm that permeates the private decks, picture windows, and custom-made, bright wooden furniture. Every room here offers a spectacular 360-degree view of mesas, mountains, and the Colorado River. Here, you can take advantage of horseback rides, guided hikes, spa services, and yoga classes at some additional cost. At the Sorrel River Grill, the most scenic dining experience in the Moab area, the seasonal menu changes regularly to incorporate the freshest ingredients, many of which come from the resort's own gardens.

In addition to bungalows and town homes, this 18-acre historic property offers an expansive, private, shaded meadow, where guests can rest on lounge chairs and hammocks, wade in a cold-water spring, and even barbecue their dinner on an outdoor grill. First developed by William Grandstaff in the late 19th century, the ranch house is on the National Register of Historic Places, while the spacious, studio-style bungalows and townhouses are tidy and modern, with high ceilings, private balconies, and tons of natural light. Bungalows come with kitchenettes, while townhouses have full kitchens, a washer and dryer, and other amenities. 

Director John Ford discovered this working cattle ranch in the late 1940s and used it as the setting for several of his westerns, and you can feel transported into one as you gaze onto the Colorado River and high canyon walls from your simple but elegant room. The River Queen cabins are especially nice, with private decks overlooking the rapids below. All rooms have western-style decor, including log furniture and Saltillo-tiled bathrooms. Attractions include an on-site winery, a movie memorabilia museum, and plenty of space to walk and enjoy the location. The helpful staff are happy to arrange guided rafting, hiking, biking, and off-road tours throughout your stay. Although it's not a traditional guest ranch, horseback riding, guided by real-life cowboys and cowgirls, is also offered. With all the adventure here, you'll probably work up an appetite, and The Cowboy Grill at Red Cliffs serves excellent meals. It's a good thing, too, because town is about 14 miles away.