Minutes from the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park, Ruby’s Inn is a well-known rest stop in Southern Utah. With almost 700 rooms on property, this historic hotel has been welcoming guests to Bryce Canyon since 1916. The family-owned and operated resort is almost like a little city, with its own post office, grocery store, multiple restaurants, business center, stables and ATV operation, as well as an RV park and campground next door. While the magnitude of this operation is impressive, the family-friendly personalities and small town atmosphere still shine through.
My husband and I were returning to California after attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta with our RV. We wanted to squeeze in visits to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, and I’m so glad we did. Our first night in Utah was spent at Ruby’s Inn RV Park and Campground, a pleasant option for camping or recreational vehicles. The best part about a stay at Ruby’s Inn is the wealth of lodging options for every price point. We stayed at the hotel in mid-October, when tour buses were dwindling down. I can imagine that this place runs like a well oiled machine when in full swing during peak tourist season.
The front desk was staffed by multi-lingual employees. Our dog-friendly hotel room wasn’t quite ready when we checked in early, but we were given a map of the grounds with the front desk phone number circled and instructed to call back if we didn’t hear from them. Sure enough, we got a welcoming phone call alerting us of our room status as we were walking our dog around the lake out back. We parked our truck in front of Lakeview Lodge, one of several hotel building wings on the property. As you can see from the photo above, our dog felt right at home here. We did, too!
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The inn’s rooms include double king, double queen with jetted tub, double queen, king suite with in room spa and a two room family suite. Not all rooms are pet-friendly so call in advance if you travel with your dog. All rooms include cable tv, HBO & pay per view, coffee/tea maker, iron and iron board (seriously? I’m not ironing anything when I’m hiking in parks) am/fm alarm clock, hairdryer, microwave oven, fridge and free high speed wireless. Local phone calls are free and all room are non-smoking.
If hiking in Bryce or Red Canyon isn’t enough activity for you, there’s a fitness center and indoor swimming pool onsite. One of my favorite activities at Ruby’s Inn was horseback riding with Ruby’s Horseback Adventures. If horseback riding isn’t your sport, there are ATV rides, or you can sit back, relax and let the Bar G Wranglers entertain you during a dinner performance at Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill, across the street from Ruby’s Inn. I didn’t know what to expect, but the food was good (the steak was excellent) and the entertainment was really fun. The performers speak a little bit in several languages to accommodate multi-national travelers. Ours was mainly a US-based crowd during our visit, but again, I imagine the atmosphere is quite different during peak season in summer.
If you go: Depending on the season, room rates start at $62.96 for two queen beds standard with AAA membership rate. The hotel also offers AARP or senior rates. Ruby’s Inn is one of the most popular hotels in the Bryce Canyon area, so book your room when you know your travel dates. They do have a cancellation list if you get shut out on dates. You can also compare rates and book through Hotels.com, Expedia or other online booking sites.
Ruby’s Inn hotel review and all photography by Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown.
