3 Best Hotels in Dinosaurland and Eastern Utah, Utah

With an emphasis on escaping the workaday world, this small and comfortable lodge is found on a 600-acre private ranch, catering to fly-fishers and hunters. Guests can choose from nine rooms, each uniquely decorated, some with vaulted ceilings, and two with jetted tubs. The lodge also offers luxury sporting packages, including fly-fishing and wing-shooting. There are no TVs in the rooms, but you can visit the rec room with a big-screen TV room for a fix, or to play a game of pool or ping-pong instead. The five- to seven-course meals are the best in the area, and you can bring your own wine or spirits the private restaurant. Specialties include whiskey-grilled glazed filet mignon, bacon-wrapped ahi tuna, and fresh home-baked bread. 

Log cabins in the forest let you reconnect with nature via a range of on-site activities without giving up creature comforts. Simply appointed with log and wood furniture, the cabins are near the lodge, where you can outfit yourself for a variety of outdoor adventures, including even cutting down a Christmas tree in the winter. The seasonal Bear's Grill serves reasonably priced take-out American fare for breakfast and lunch, plus ice cream and shakes. For dinner, you're on your own, but luckily each room features a full-service kitchen. There's a heated pool for summertime dips, and two hot tubs are open year-round. Autumn rates (October to December) are often deeply discounted. From October to May, the route from Kamas (49 miles) on Route 150 is closed, so access is from Evanston, Wyoming (30 miles).

One of the most stylish places to stay in Vernal, this all-suites hotel features large rooms decorated in neutral colors, all with a sofa bed in an attached lounging area. Microwaves, mini-refrigerators, and desks come standard, and larger rooms feature a separate lounging area. A year-round indoor pool and hot breakfast are nice perks.