38 Best Hotels in North-Central Arizona, Arizona

This elegant resort consists of private hillside units with spectacular views and cozy cottages in the woods along Oak Creek. The original creekside rooms, with wood-burning fireplaces, are decorated in lush country-European style, and the contemporary units on the hill have large decks and private open-air showers. Phoenix couples flock to this hideaway and dine in the hotel's French restaurant, one of the most romantic eateries in Arizona. The creekside patio bar is a great place for a cocktail or light meal.

This 1894 Craftsman-style historic property has nine luxuriously decorated rooms, some with fireplaces. Breakfast is not offered, but the inn is within walking distance of downtown's restaurants and coffeehouses. 

This stunning hacienda, one of the most beautifully designed boutique hotels in the Southwest, has decor accents including authentic Tiffany and Roycroft pieces, French doors leading to balconies or a grassy central courtyard, stained-glass windows and ceiling panels, river-rock or tile fireplaces, and huge custom-designed beds. Wine and hors d'oeuvres like cheese and lavosh crackers are served in the afternoon.

A few miles outside town, gorgeous Boynton Canyon is the setting for this luxurious resort and its world-class destination spa, Mii amo. The rooms and suites are tucked into small, pueblo-style buildings, and accommodations come in many configurations: multiple bedrooms can be joined to create large, elaborate suites. All have beehive gas fireplaces, private decks, and superb views. Mii amo Spa offers all-inclusive packages with separate rooms and suites in the spa complex, as well as myriad treatments and innovative spa cuisine.

One of the great railroad hotels, La Posada ("resting place") exudes the charm of an 18th-century Spanish hacienda, and its restoration has been a labor of love. Architect Mary Jane Colter, famous for her work at the Grand Canyon, designed and decorated the 68,000-square-foot hotel. Individually finished rooms are restored to 1930s style (although some have been modernized and include whirlpool tubs) and named for the famous guests who stayed there. If you can't stay for the night, take a self-guided tour of the hotel and visit the restaurant. Although most things here are a trip back in time, the stately Turquoise Room---serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner---is decidedly modern. The spectacular menu stays true to original Chef John Sharpe's vision and incorporates traditional fine-dining fare with locally sourced foods of the Southwest. It's a unique culinary experience in this part of the state, well worth the trip from Flagstaff.

Impeccably renovated to reflect its heyday as a circa-1960 motor hotel, this boutique property delivers comfort and great value as well as a fun blast from the past. Friendly owner-hosts greet you with complimentary drinks, and most of the whimsically decorated retro rooms have gas fireplaces and private patios. As an added bonus, you can pedal around downtown Prescott (three blocks away) on loaner bicycles—they even have a tandem.

About 6 miles from the canyon, this clean, family-run lodge has a two-story motel building and a newer, three-story hotel building, both good values. The motel portion of the lodge, with smaller but comfortable rooms, has showers only; all rooms have cable TV and refrigerators. An outdoor pool and hot tub are open seasonally, and a Mexican restaurant next door offers discounts for Red Feather Lodge guests.

Nestled among two acres of pine trees a ½ mile uphill from Route 66, this upscale B&B has decks with good views and a flagstone patio with a hot tub. Decorated with simple, Asian-inspired furnishings, rooms all have king beds, flat-screen TVs, and luxurious bathrooms. Hearty breakfasts—including eggs and British-style sausages—will ready you for the hour-long drive to the canyon. Gracious hosts Claire and Nick, originally from the United Kingdom, gladly help guests plan itineraries.

Plants, knickknacks, bright colors, and plenty of sunlight make this beautiful Mediterranean-style home a welcoming place to stay. Multicourse breakfasts might include overstuffed burritos or a marinated fruit compote. There are two suites and two rooms, including a former chauffeur's quarters that has a skylight and private rooftop patio.

All the rooms at this inn south of Sedona have either wood-burning or gas fireplaces, and some of them also have Jacuzzi tubs and balconies that look out onto the red rocks. The four spacious villas each have separate entrances and a fireplace that opens into both the sitting area and the bathroom, which is outfitted with a two-person Jacuzzi tub. 

This romantic B&B with spectacular views and ultracomfortable beds was built well off the main drag and in the shadow of the buttes for views and privacy. Understated and inviting rooms all have private entrances and patios. Bath salts and candles await in the bathrooms, most of which have two-person Jacuzzi tubs.

The sleek rooms at this boutique property next to gurgling Oak Creek but convenient to town come with many extras, including yoga classes, access to a spa and fitness center, complimentary mountain bikes, and a shuttle to nearby shops and restaurants. Step out onto your room's private balcony or terrace to take in expansive views of the red rocks or pool and waterfalls.

About 2 miles from the park's south entrance, this motel lacks the historic charm of the lodges at the canyon rim but has more amenities, including pools, a bowling alley, a gym, a small cowboy museum, and one of the better restaurants in the region. Updated rooms with flat-screen TVs, microwaves, and refrigerators are spacious and furnished in Southwestern style. Those in the rear have a view of the woods. A casual restaurant and a sports bar and grill round out the dining options.

This B&B in verdant Oak Creek Canyon exudes rustic elegance in its Southwestern-theme rooms in charming wooden cabins, many with full kitchens and decks overlooking the creek. On summer mornings you can sit outside and enjoy home-baked breads and fresh egg dishes while listening to live classical violin or guitar music. Massage and facial services are available in your cabin or creekside.

Sleep in a historic railcar or a stone cottage from a 1938 motor lodge at this 13-acre property at the forest's edge on the outskirts of Williams. The best rooms are the 1929 Santa Fe red cabooses: both are family-friendly (and can sleep up to six people), with two sides separated by a bathroom, giving parents a little privacy. The original wooden floor and tool equipment add to the authenticity. Cottage rooms are built from the local sandstone known for its variegated colors. The motel also has grills and an outdoor fire pit, seven "dry" campsites (there is no water in the campsite, but restrooms, showers, and laundry are close by), and a 47-space RV park with full hookups.

Close to the lion’s share of the trailheads in the Village of Oak Creek, this clean, older property is a good base for outdoor adventures, and the front desk has plenty of maps and advice on offer.

So clean it sparkles, the Drury Inn sits at the edge of Northern Arizona University's campus and packs in the amenities, like happy hour dinner and drinks, an indoor pool, and comfy lounge areas with mountain views. Solar panels heat the water for the entire property, and the staff—many are student interns—are friendlier than you typically find at large properties. Rooms are spacious and modern.

The outdoor veranda at this 1898 B&B affords sweeping views of the Verde Valley and Sedona. Most rooms are decorated in Victorian style and all have private entrances and baths. Pre-approved pets are welcome in two of the rooms, the Miner's Suite and Western Room.

Designed to resemble the train depot's original Fray Marcos Hotel, this upscale place features attractive Southwestern-style accommodations with large bathrooms and comfy beds with upscale linens. Neoclassical Greek columns flank the grand entrance, which leads to a lobby with maple-wood balustrades, an enormous flagstone fireplace, and oil paintings of the Grand Canyon by local artist Kenneth McKenna. Original bronzes by Frederic Remington also adorn the lobby. Adjacent to the lobby is Spenser's, a pub with an ornate 19th-century hand-carved bar; next door is the Fred Harvey Restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

At the south end of Tusayan, this popular hotel has bright, clean, and contemporary rooms, a cozy stone-and-timber lobby, and free Wi-Fi. Live cowboy singers lead the entertainment in the Canyon Star Steakhouse and Saloon every evening. At the bar, you can sit on a saddle that was once used for canyon mule trips.

Built in 1927 for early automobile travelers, the Hassayampa Inn has a lot of character; the ceiling in the lobby is hand-painted, and some rooms still have the original furnishings. Don't get a room by the old-fashioned elevator or you'll be jarred by the clanging metal gate every time it opens and closes. The Peacock Dining Room, the hotel's pretty—and pricey—dining room, serves Continental food. In the cocktail lounge, listen to live jazz while you sip a martini.

With its hip, ’60s vibe, this renovated motel attracts weary travelers and locals alike for live music, cocktails, and artisan pizzas at its on-site restaurant. Rooms are basic but clean and comfortable. The property boasts Arizona's first Nordic spa, available for use for an additional fee.

This World War I–era hostelry, tastefully restored, has seen miners, health seekers, and celebrities walk through its doors. Old-fashioned touches, including the original claw-foot tubs, remain, and like many other historic hotels the Vendome has its obligatory resident ghost (her room costs slightly more).

This full-service hotel at the highest point in town, housed in Jerome's 1927 former hospital, has comfy rooms with homey furnishings that part with the institutional past, and many have splendid views. The hotel's restaurant, the Asylum, is superb.

This deservedly popular hotel is a little distance from the roar of the trains, the grounds are surrounded by evergreen forests, and it's one of the few places in Flagstaff with room service. Plush rooms have comfortable sitting areas with contemporary Western decor. Other pluses are an above-average in-house restaurant, courtesy van service to the airport and the Amtrak station, a deli, and a great Southwestern gift shop.

Rooms in this rambling wood-and-stone Craftsman house have a refined rustic style; most have fireplaces, and some have jetted tubs, redwood decks, or hot tubs. For solitude, walk the seven-path classic labyrinth (made of local rock) and through the gardens. A chef prepares a lavish and healthy breakfast, as well as "sunset snacks" in the evening.

On a hill on the outskirts of town, this upscale property run by the Yavapai tribe has views of the mountain ranges surrounding Prescott and the valley, although many guests hardly notice, so riveted are they by the poker machines and slots in Prescott's only hotel casino. There are plenty of recreational facilities, including a saltwater pool, full-service spa, and good restaurant, to occupy those able to resist the gambling.

This restored saloon and bordello from 1897 now houses a small, antiques-filled B&B. Guest rooms are on the second floor; ask for the "Best Gal's Room," which has its own sitting room overlooking the train tracks, forest, and mountains. All four rooms (one is interior, with skylights) are quiet, as the only train traffic is the Grand Canyon Railway. Even if you don't stay here, the fresh pastries served in the first-floor coffee shop are worth a stop.

There may be no better vantage point in town from which to view Sedona's red rock canyons and sunsets than the private patios and balconies at Sky Ranch Lodge, near the top of Airport Mesa. Some rooms have stone fireplaces, and some have kitchenettes; all have refrigerators and microwaves. Local wines and craft beers are served at their garden bar. Paths on the grounds wind around fountains and, in summer, through colorful flower gardens.