5 Best Hotels in Dinosaurland and Eastern Utah, Utah

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.

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.

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.