Top 10 Bryce Canyon Budget Finds

Our Local Expert Says:

Totally cool way to see a national park! Don't miss the opportunity if you visit during a full moon.

Description:

Another Bryce specialty, the Full Moon Hikes are an adventurous (yet safe) and different way to experience a national park. Caveat: make sure you're visiting during a full moon if you want to take advantage! Shadows and moonlight help those hoodoos look downright spectral, spurring on your imagination as the ranger leads. There are some very strict rules about getting tickets as well as honoring your commitment to experience a Full Moon Hike, so be certain to check the website or at the visitor center at least the day before the night of a full moon for specifics.

Our Local Expert Says:

How cool would it be to say you've looked directly at the sun & didn't go blind?

Description:

This is just so cool. As a kid, most of us were told that looking directly at the sun would cause blindness. (Or maybe, as most of us probably discovered when we slyly ignored our parents' admonitions, lots of colored spots dancing before our stressed little eyeballs.) Well, at Bryce, you not only can look directly at the sun, the rangers encourage you to do so! Of course, you must use the special solar telescopes and follow a ranger's direction. But, along with many other Bryce attractions, Solar Viewing is one experience you won't soon forget.

Our Local Expert Says:

Appreciate Bryce with more depth as rangers explain geologic history in easy-to-understand terms

Description:

What the heck is a hoodoo anyway? Find out during one of these informative yet far from dry ranger-led Geology Hikes. The crazy topography of Bryce Canyon will make more sense as the rangers explain, in very down-to-earth terms, how our planet heaved and spat and fired up various rocks to create the impossibly gorgeous and truly bizarre scenery at Bryce.

Our Local Expert Says:

Lovely views and fewer sites make this a somewhat more intimate campground

Description:

The North campground is open year-round (some sites may be closed in winter), and offers sites suitable for both tents and RVs. No sewer, water, or electrical hookups. Reservations can be made for May - September from six months to two days in advance for a fee, by calling (877) 444-6777 or going to www.recreation.gov.

Our Local Expert Says:

Dog boarding available at the nearby kennel makes this a good choice when traveling with canine pals

Description:

The Bryce Canyon KOA has tent sites, RV sites, and cabins. 12 miles from the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance, this is a fantastic location for families who want to experience the beauty of the great outdoors without the crowds of other campsites. Guests can also board their horse or dog at the local stables and kennels.

Our Local Expert Says:

There's an onsite steakhouse for steak lovers

Description:

Foster's motel is a basic motel, perfect for groups or singles who are looking for clean and affordable lodging. Not the most luxurious or exciting, Fosters will get the job done in a pinch, and is a place to rest your head at night when other hotels are full. On the plus side, they have a decent on-site steakhouse, a grocery so you can buy those picnic items for your lunch in the Park, and even a bakery (don't think Parisian treats, though--it's more along the lines of donuts).

Our Local Expert Says:

Simple, cheap, and to the point if you're traveling no frills style

Description:

8 miles east of the park's entrance road, the Bryce Valley Inn features simple, clean and economical rooms for visitors who would rather spend their vacation fund on something other than lodging. Rooms are clean, and have either one or two queen-size beds. There is also a restaurant, gift shop and laundry facilities at the inn.

Our Local Expert Says:

For history buffs, an onsite bonus: Ebenezer and Mary Bryce's original pioneer cabin

Description:

The Bryce Pioneer Village Motel offers guests a clean and affordable place to stay. With rooms and cabins as well as RV sites and a tent campground, there are plenty of options for lodgers. Although the rooms are clean and comfortable, it's the cabins that are the stand-out lodging option here. Rustic, simple and charming, most contain a queen and twin-size bed and bathrooms. Of historical interest is the cabin where Ebenezer and Mary Bryce (for whom the park is named) lived in the late 1870s; the cabin is located right outside the motel office.

Our Local Expert Says:

Cheap and fast

Description:

Canyon Diner features big breakfasts, western food, and pizza. This unpretentious diner also produces delicious bratwurst, stuffed potatoes, and fried halibut. Please note, no alcohol is served. One of two restaurants at Ruby's Inn (the other is Cowboy's Buffet & Steak Room). Okay fare, will fill you up. Don't expect fancy and you won't be disappointed.

Description:

Housed in the motel bearing the same name, the Bryce Canyon Pines dining room is housed in a charming, cottage-style room, warm and inviting. With sandwiches for lunch and a full menu for dinner, Bryce Canyon Pines features a fantastic Utah Trout entrée that must be tasted. Beer and wine are available.