Best Hotels near Capitol Reef National Park: Comparison Chart
Keep in mind that there are no hotels inside Capitol Reef National Park—only campgrounds—and that there are several towns in the surrounding area where you can stay, with Torrey being the closest of them all. If you don't have time to read the entire post—although we do recommend it—we've put together this summary and a table featuring some of the hotels we've selected by area:
🏆 Best Choice: Capitol Reef Resort
💰 Best value: Austin's Chuckwagon Motel
🍳 Best breakfast: SkyRidge Inn
| BEST HOTELS NEAR CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel | Area | Ideal for | Pros | Cons |
| Capitol Reef Resort | Torrey | Being close to the park | Views and a restaurant | Few services nearby |
| The Noor Hotel | Torrey | Being close to the park | Affordable, clean, and a restaurant | There are few amenities nearby, and breakfast isn't included |
| SkyRidge Inn | Torrey | Spectacular surroundings | Views, exceptional breakfast, and clean | There are no services nearby |
| Austin's Chuckwagon Motel | Torrey | To be in the center of town | Clean, with a pool, and close to amenities | Classic Style |
| Cathedral Valley Inn | Caineville | Exploring Cathedral Valley | Clean, with a pool, laundry facilities, and breakfast | There are no services nearby |
| Muddy Creek | Hanksville | Save money on food and stay in town | Clean, comfortable, with kitchen and laundry facilities | Further away from the park |
Where to Stay in Capitol Reef
Staying inside Capitol Reef is the ideal way to enjoy a unique experience within the park, surrounded by some of its rock formations and fruit trees, and with easy access to trails without having to drive.
✅ Benefits of staying overnight in Capitol Reef National Park
- Located in a unique setting and close to the best scenic overlooks
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❌ Disadvantages of staying overnight in Capitol Reef National Park
- Camping is the only option; there are no hotels inside the park
- There are no amenities within the park (restaurants, supermarkets, etc.)
- The main campground in the town of Fruita fills up very quickly, especially during peak season, so you should make your reservation well in advance
ℹ️ Find all the information about this park in our post on how to visit Capitol Reef National Park
Campgrounds in Capitol Reef
Camping in Capitol Reef National Park is the only way to spend the night inside the park. There are three campgrounds: the main one, with 71 campsites, is located in the former town of Fruita among the fruit trees; the other two are basic campgrounds with no amenities, located in Cathedral Valley and Strike Valley.
Fruita Campground operates on an advance reservation system; reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance through the recreation.gov website or app. If you’re interested in reserving a campsite during peak season, we recommend that you create your account on recreation.gov in advance and practice using the app to familiarize yourself with it. Spots fill up fast!
-Sites: Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Moon,
Cathedral Valley and more
-Includes: 4x4 transportation and guide
-Duration: 4 hours
Both the Cedar Mesa Campground and the Cathedral Valley Campground are primitive campgrounds, as they have no amenities; they have 5 and 6 campsites, respectively, and fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. At both sites, the access road is unpaved, but at Cathedral Valley, you’ll need a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle; in principle, this isn’t necessary for Cedar Mesa.
In this table, we've listed all the campgrounds in Capitol Reef, their locations, prices, opening dates, and a brief description. You'll find them all marked on the map at the end of the article.
| CAMPGROUNDS ON CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Opening | Price | Things to Keep in Mind | |
| Fruita Campground | Fruita | All year round | 25$ | Located in the center of the park; reservations up to 6 months in advance. Water and dump are available. |
| Cathedral Valley Campground | Cathedral Valley (North District) | All year round | 0$ | Located in the northern part of the Cathedral Valley Loop, a high-clearance 4x4 is required, and fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no amenities. |
| Cedar Mesa Campground | Strike Valley (South District) | All year round | 0$ | Located in the Southern District, close to Strike Valley, the access road is unpaved, and fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no amenities. |
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Where to Stay Near Capitol Reef
If you don't want to camp and would rather stay in a hotel with all the amenities, you'll have no choice but to stay outside the park. Although this area of southern Utah is remote and doesn't have a large number of lodging options, there are all kinds of places to stay, and some are very close to Fruita, the main area. There are several towns where you can stay near Capitol Reef, such as Torrey, Caineville, and Hanksville.
✅ Benefits of staying outside Capitol Reef National Park:
- A wide variety of accommodations are available (hotels, glamping sites, bed-and-breakfasts, campgrounds, etc.)
- More services (restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, pharmacies, laundromats…)
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❌ Disadvantages of staying outside Capitol Reef National Park:
- More driving time
- More expensive, since there are only campgrounds inside the park
Torrey
Torrey is a small town located 11 miles or (19 km) west of Capitol Reef National Park along State Route 24, where you'll find amenities such as a gas station, restaurants, and a few small grocery stores. In this town, you'll find the intersection with Scenic Route 12, which takes you to Escalante and Bryce Canyon.
Capitol Reef Resort
Located 0,6 miles (1 km) from the park entrance, it is the closest hotel to the park—it’s practically like staying inside the park itself. It features a restaurant, swimming pool, hot tub, and fitness center. Its double and family rooms—with 1 or 2 double beds—are equipped with private bathroom, air conditioning, coffee maker, microwave, TV, Wi-Fi, and terrace with views of the surrounding area.
☺️ Guests at this hotel especially liked its location near the park, the views from the room, and the fact that it has a restaurant.
The Noor Hotel
This classic American-style hotel is located very close to the national park and is one of the most affordable in the area. It has a small shop and a Mexican restaurant. Its double or family rooms that sleep up to 4 people in 2 double beds and feature a private bathroom, air conditioning, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, TV, and Wi-Fi.
☺️ Guests note that it is a clean and well-located place to stay, although it does not offer breakfast.
SkyRidge Inn
This bed-and-breakfast near the town of Torrey offers simple yet comfortable rooms and an exceptional breakfast for its guests. The property also features a spa. The rooms are equipped with private bathroom, air conditioning, heating, refrigerator, coffee maker, terrace, TV with Netflix, and Wi-Fi.
☺️ What guests appreciate most are the location, the views, the breakfast, and the cleanliness.
Austin's Chuckwagon Motel
This charming motel, located in the center of the town of Torrey, features a bar, restaurant, ATM, swimming pool, and hot tub. Plus, because it’s in the center, it’s closer to Torrey’s amenities than other hotels. It offers double or family rooms with two double beds, a private bathroom, air conditioning, heating, refrigerator, microwave, TV, and Wi-Fi.
☺️ Guests have appreciated that the accommodations are clean, as well as the pool and the location.
Caineville
Caineville is a tiny town located 20 miles (32 km) east of Capitol Reef National Park, right at the intersection of Route 24 and Cathedral Rock Road. The town has only one place to stay, but it has received very positive reviews.
Cathedral Valley Inn
This motel, located very close to Capitol Reef, is the ideal place to explore Cathedral Valley Road, as it’s practically at the start of the road. It also offers several amenities for its guests, including a pool, hot tub, laundry facilities, and breakfast. Its double and family rooms, which feature two double beds, come with a private bathroom, air conditioning, heating, refrigerator, microwave, TV, Wi-Fi, and views of the mountains.
☺️ Guests especially liked that it was clean, the location, the pool, and the option to have breakfast.
Hanksville
The town of Hanksville is located 38 miles (61 km) from Fruita, and although it is very small (smaller than Torrey), it has some amenities, such as restaurants, a grocery store, and a gas station.
There are also a couple of interesting spots worth checking out. One of them is Carl’s Critter Garden, a private garden that has been turned into an exhibition of artwork created by the owner using scrap metal and other materials. Then there’s Hollow Mountain, the town’s gas station, where the store is located inside a cave—it’s definitely worth a quick stop!
Muddy Creek Mining Company
What makes this lodging unique is that it consists of small wooden cabins equipped with a full kitchen, allowing you to prepare your own meals. It’s an ideal option for families! There are 3 different types of cabins, accommodating 2, 4, and 8 people. The double cottage has one double bed, the small family cottage has two double beds, and the large family cottage has one double bed, one double bunk bed, and one sofa bed. In addition, all cottages feature a private bathroom, air conditioning, patio, barbecue, TV, and Wi-Fi.
☺️ Guests really appreciate how clean it is, the comfort of the bed, the location, the kitchen, and the free laundry facilities.
Map of Lodging Options in Capitol Reef
On this map, you'll find not only the hotels near Capitol Reef National Park we've told you about, but also the campgrounds, various entry points, the visitor center, the trails, and the places to visit in the park. We hope you find it helpful!
Frequently Asked Questions About Where to Stay in Capitol Reef
Where is the best place to stay when visiting Capitol Reef?
Torrey is the best place to stay when visiting Capitol Reef National Park. It's located very close to the park entrance and offers a good variety of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
Is it possible to spend the night inside Capitol Reef National Park?
Yes, but only at their campgrounds. The main option for staying overnight inside the park is the Fruita Campground, a campground located in a very pleasant area along the Fremont River. It's a good option if you're looking for an experience closer to nature.
Is it worth staying in Torrey?
Yes, especially if you want to visit Capitol Reef for one or more days. Torrey is very close to the park, making it easy to combine your visit with other attractions in the area.
How much does it cost to stay in Torrey?
Accommodation prices in Torrey can vary considerably depending on the time of year and the type of establishment. Prices tend to be higher from April through October, so it's advisable to book in advance.
Are there hotels inside Capitol Reef?
There are no hotels inside the national park. Most hotels and motels are located in Torrey and other nearby towns, while the main lodging option inside the park is camping.
Where can I find affordable lodging near Capitol Reef?
Torrey is usually the most practical option for finding accommodations at various price points near Capitol Reef. You can also consider campsites in the area if you're looking to stick to a budget.
We hope this post on best hotels near Capitol Reef National Park helps you find the lodging that best suits your needs.
