Anonymous wrote:Isn't Zion Lodge the only one that's actually in the park? (I haven't been, but planning a trip there too!)

That's correct. Only guests of the lodge can enter the park in the evenings. You also reduce your shuttles from 2 to 1 by staying in the lodge.

Lodge reservations open 13 months in advance. They get booked up quickly because there is a liberal cancellation policy.

Isn't Zion Lodge the only one that's actually in the park? (I haven't been, but planning a trip there too!)

We stayed at Flanigan's Inn. It was cute. Very close to park entrance, and we could walk to a few places or drive for a couple of minutes.

There's a place call Bumberry motel something close to the Visitor Center at Zion. Any of the hotels/motel around there would be good. There is a free shuttle that runs from there to the Visitor Center. And the Visitor Ctr is not even far. You could do camping if you are up for that. We rented a vacation van and got their tent option too and slept in the van and in the tent at the campground.

Damages and improper parking by visitors has cause the park to change the way people drive there, so you are encouraged to park at the Visitor Center's parking lot and take the other free shuttle that drops you off at different points in the Zion Park. When we were there, it was alot of people-ALOT. Long lines. Maybe it was just the spring break crowd. The line was about 45 minute wait at 9am to get onto the shuttle.

About 7 years ago, we stayed at the Desert Pearl Inn on the advice of some DCUM posters. We loved it. We had a creek (river?) outside our room.

When we were driving through last summer, we saw many nice places to stay.

We stayed at cable mountain lodge, based on a recommendation from here and loved it. It was convienient, clean, and had plenty of space in the room with a kitchen, couch, and bedroom with a door, and a balcony.

Inexpensive: we stayed at a Best Western Plus about 45 min outside of Zion. Beautiful drive in. Be sure to visit the backside of Zion for hiking and scenic drive/lookout point. I think the BW was new so very clean and easy. They had snacks/BBQ in the evening for guests.

Anonymous wrote:Springhill suites by marriott. It's a fairly new hotel. Very comfy beds. Very clean.

That's the opposite of quirky.

11:06 here. Just noticed "at Thanksgiving." Forget what I said about the pool.

Quirky: Yurt (scroll down here)

http://www.zionguru.com/lodging/

This is my favorite place to stay when I'm visiting Zion. VERY close to the park entrance (a path behind the inn connects directly to the walk-in entrance), pool and hot tub are amazing - they face the river and the big cliff rising above it. Rooms are just rooms. They added nice cottages (or suites) with kitchens several years ago and I just really like that place.

http://cliffroselodge.com/

Desert pearl inn - it’s great

Springhill suites by marriott. It's a fairly new hotel. Very comfy beds. Very clean.

Looking for recommendations. Vacation rental offerings look uninteresting so far. Something quirky would suit is well. In its absence I'm considering hotels, ranches and resorts. Any ideas? This is for two couples and two children at Thanksgiving. Likely three nights.