If you traveled to Bryce Canyon National Park, you’ve probably driven through Bryce Canyon City. This community of 195 permanent year-round residents hosts a lot of visitors from April to October in southern Utah. If you are looking for upscale lodging, close to Bryce Canyon National Park, you’ll want to stay at Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. This is the second year in a row that I’ve found myself in Bryce Canyon during the fall. It’s a beautiful time of year to visit the national park. The leaves are changing, the crowds have vanished and the animals have come out to play with the cooler weather.
I had stayed at Best Western Ruby’s Inn last year with my husband and our Labrador Retriever. This year I returned to join Ruby’s Horseback Adventures on a four day, five night horseback ride with Ruby’s Grand Adventure. If you are an equestrian, or simply a horse lover who enjoys horseback riding in beautiful red canyon country, you’ll want to take this multi-day trail ride. I’ve written about Ruby’s Grand Adventure on the Writing Horseback blog. The company also offers shorter trail rides, a horse drawn wagon ride through national forest to the rim of Bryce Canyon National Park and your kids might enjoy watching the Bryce Canyon Rodeo.
Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel
The Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel is open year-round and features two, four-story towers. The hotel was built in 2010 and offers 164 rooms, with 8 room categories. We stayed in room #3406 on the fourth floor with a view out to the horse pasture across the street. I loved watching the horses play with each other.
Our room, a generously-sized double queen, with 490 square feet, rented for $159-$289 depending on the time of year. Rooms include hair dryer, Pharmacopia bath amenities, flat-panel color television and coffee/tea maker, as well as a microwave & mini refrigerator.
On our visit, the hotel was completely sold out, so make your reservations in advance. Our room was ideal for two people as there were two sinks in the bathroom, two luggage racks, plenty of electrical outlets, data ports and lots of room to spread out.
There is an outdoor swimming pool and large hot tub, a fitness center, business center and guest laundry at the Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. There are also meeting rooms; ideal for corporate gatherings, family reunions or cowboy poetry readings when it’s too chilly outside to have a barbecue at the rim of Bryce Canyon. Yes, those are snowflakes coming down on the swimming pool, so dress in layers when you visit Bryce Canyon in the late fall. By the way, the whirlpool is open year round while the outdoor pool is closed during winter. Insider tip: Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel guests may use the indoor pool across the street at Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn.
Best Western Plus breakfast
Hotel guests have a complimentary hot breakfast buffet included in the price of the stay. Breakfast is available from 6:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. with no reservations necessary. The breakfast is generous when it comes to buffets. Several meats, including bacon and sausage, were included, in addition to scrambled eggs, waffles, fresh fruit, hot and cold cereal, muffins, toast and yogurt.
Fresh coffee, hot chocolate, orange juice and tea were also on tap. Even when a large influx of tourists converged on the dining room, the buffet was kept stocked and the staff was courteous. I was disappointed that the hot chocolate machine was not accessible to hotel guests except at breakfast, but they are probably weary of folks like me who like to sip hot cocoa throughout the day when the weather turns cold. There is coffee and water available in the lobby by the fireplace.
Need to know:
There is plenty of complimentary parking at Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. The hotel is within walking distance to Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill, Best Western Ruby’s Inn, multiple restaurants, a general store, horseback riding and the free Bryce Canyon shuttle.
If I haven’t convinced you to try horseback riding with Ruby’s Horseback Adventures, try the horse drawn wagon ride to the rim of Bryce Canyon National Park or take in the dinner show at Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill, no horseback riding required.
Complimentary wifi is included. Pets are not allowed at Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. Pets are allowed at Best Western Ruby’s Inn and Ruby’s Inn RV Park and Campground.
Check in: 4:00 p.m.
Check out: 11:00 a.m.
Insider Tips: Check your closet to see if a robe is included in your room. If not, request housekeeping deliver a robe to your room before you head to the hot tub (in case it is snowing on your visit.) Wifi is always free at Best Western hotels. For additional insider tips follow luxury travel writer @Nancydbrown on Twitter or Instagram @Nancydbrown and BW Ruby’s Inn on Instagram Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel isn’t active on Instagram.
If You Go:
Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel (435) 834-5700
30 North 100 East
Bryce Canyon City, Utah 84764
Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel review and all photography by travel writer Nancy D. Brown.