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Southwestern Utah is steeped in pioneer heritage, and you'll find many older homes that have been refurbished as bed-and-breakfasts. Green Gate Village in St. George, a collection of pioneer homes gathered from around the state, is an excellent example. The area also has its share of older independent motels in some of the smaller towns. Most major hotel and motel chains have at least one facility in the region. With the exception of Brian Head, high season is summer, and logic dictates that the closer you want to be to a major attraction, the earlier you have to make reservations. If you are willing to stay upward of an hour from your destination, perhaps with fewer amenities, you may get same-day reservations and much lower room rates. Panguitch has a number of no-frills motels for budget and last-minute travelers. The Utah Office of Tourism website has information on lodging and amenities in the southwestern part of the state.
Offering rooms of 650 square feet or larger with vaulted ceilings, oversize windows, sitting areas, small kitchens with wet bars and dishwashers, and pleasing contemporary decor, this riverside lodge is special. With views of the surrounding peaks, the beautiful grounds and expansive pool area feel almost cradled by the canyon, and behind the hotel the Virgin River edges a grassy bank that is perfect for stargazing or evening picnics.
Each of the 15 individually appointed rooms at this elegant but unpretentious 2,200-acre ranch hideaway has a wood-burning fireplace, efficient climate control and Wi-Fi, and either a patio or a balcony with grand views of orchards, the Fremont River, and the surrounding red-rock cliffs. The gourmet breakfasts (for an extra fee) showcase local ingredients, such as buffalo sausage and eggs raised right on the property. A few larger rooms have extra twin beds and can accommodate kids.
If you appreciate creature comforts but can do without much in the way of local personality, this four-story hotel just outside the park fits the bill—rooms are quite comfortable, with plush bedding, spacious bathrooms, and modern appliances, and there's an outdoor pool and pleasant patio. Across the street you'll find Western-theme gift shops and attractions, such as the Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo.
The canyon views, acres of lush lawns and flowers, and pool and two-tier waterfall hot tubs at this stylish riverside hotel make it more than a place to rest your head, and you could throw a rock across the river and hit Zion National Park. The many room types include swanky three-bedroom villas with kitchens and modern suites with large soaking tubs and vaulted ceilings, and accommodations either access the gardens or have balconies overlooking the river.
This beautifully situated outpost of the popular Under Canvas luxury glamping brand in a juniper forest outside Widtsoe, a hiccup of a village about 15 miles north of the national park entrance, offers safari-chic canvas tents decked out with tasteful West Elm furnishings, private baths with eco-friendly products, and USB battery packs to keep your toys charged, plus a restaurant serving locally sourced breakfast and dinner fare. The tents sleep from two to six guests, and each has a wood-burning stove.
This high-end, Insta-worthy glamping compound enjoys an eye-popping setting just west of the minimally trafficked Kolob Terrace Entrance to Zion National Park. The swanky, eco-friendly canvas tents are spacious and have private bathrooms, and amenities include a restaurant with firepits serving tasty breakfast and dinner fare (and free s'mores kits), live music some evenings, yoga classes, and games for kids. And although there's no electricity, USB battery packs are provided for you to charge your phones.
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