13 Best Hotels in Moab and Southeastern Utah, Utah

Built right up next to the red-rock cliffs, this boutique hotel makes you feel like you're in the wilderness, even though you're on the edge of town and surrounded by luxurious amenities. The exterior was inspired by the cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloans thousands of years ago, and the rooms are similarly earthy with textures and finishes reminiscent of the surrounding desert. Each room also features a private patio and art showcasing the local beauty, and well as other nice touches, from the large showers to refrigerators with freezers. The HozHo spa offers a full range of services. A pool and hot tub are also on the resort's 16 acres, as are glamping teepees, a disc-golf course, a few hiking trails, and fire pits where you can enjoy a quick bite from the outdoor café.

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.

At the Bullfrog Marina, this cliff-top lodge has comfortable and clean rooms anyone can appreciate, but the real draw is the view of the lake. Surround yourself with the beauty of nature while in the comfort of the lodge. All rooms have a coffeemaker, mini-refrigerator, and microwave. Hungry? An on-site restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

This eclectic inn stands out for its fun design, brightly colored walls, desert-inspired art, and varnished adobe construction. The furnishings and decoration are all decidedly contemporary, combining wood, stone, metal, and tile, and some rooms have fireplaces. The pool, hot tub, and courtyard overlook a shady pathway that winds for several miles along Mill Creek. Though you wouldn't know it, all the rooms are time-shares (units available for purchase).

One of the largest properties in Monticello, which is just under an hour from the Needles District Visitor Center, this is also one of the comfiest, with a heated indoor pool and a hot tub that's just what the doctor ordered for soaking adventure-weary bodies, and the rates are significantly cheaper than almost anything in Moab. Rooms are modestly appointed but clean.

One of the best bargains in town, this timber-frame motel offers small, clean rooms at the south end of the Moab strip near restaurants and shops. Knotty-pine walls, western furnishings, and old movie posters from the many flicks filmed in the area, give it a little more character than most motels in this price range. Ask for a room at the back of the property to avoid noise from Main Street traffic.

One of the best values amid Moab's increasingly pricey lodging landscape, this homey downtown property is, as the name suggests, rustic—but the 35 rooms are clean and comfortable and provide space for families or friends traveling together. Standard amenities include 50-inch flat-screen TVs and kitchenettes. Within a short walk of downtown restaurants and shops, the inn also has a heated pool with a good-size picnic and barbecue area.

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. 

Maybe the best deal in all southeastern Utah, this family-operated inn sits right on the river, with clean, basic rooms and a pool that's a godsend on blisteringly hot days. There's tons of delectable shade and walking trails to meander on, and most amenities are just a short walk away. If you're lucky, you'll get to catch one of the occasional slide shows by the friendly owners on local geology, art, and history. The Recapture also rents out fully furnished vacation homes, available by the day, week, and month.

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.

This peaceful spot is a well-known launching point for white-water runners on the San Juan, a river that's famed as the setting of many of Tony Hillerman's Jim Chee mystery novels. The motel's Southwestern-style rustic rooms overlooking the river at Mexican Hat are clean and well maintained. Diners can watch the river flow by at The Juan restaurant, which serves delicious grilled steaks and juicy hamburgers. Fresh trout and inexpensive Navajo dishes add variety to the menu. Call the motel directly for the cheapest rates.

This rustic yet classy spot stands out from Blanding's mix of chain hotels and motor lodges with its serene garden area and individually decorated rooms, all with local art on the walls and Navajo-style rugs on the hardwood floors. Built in 1947, this was Blanding's first hotel and has maintained its historic feel while adding modern touches, including high-speed Internet and flat-screen smart TVs. Each room has its own unique flavor but all exude a sophisticated Southwestern vibe. Large groups can book the Family Suite, with three bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a living room.