3 Best Hotels in Mexican Hat, Moab and Southeastern Utah

With spectacular views of Monument Valley from each room's private balcony, this historic lodge often serves as a base for film crews in the area—and has for years, as cinema greats John Wayne and John Ford used to stay here. It has handsome stucco buildings and simple rooms decorated with Native American art. The best lodging deals here are the houses and suites, which offer full kitchens and much more space than the hotel rooms for not much more money. For a true sense of Goulding's beginnings and history, spend some time at the on-site museum. Also on the grounds, the Stagecoach restaurant serves the area favorite, a Navajo taco, along with many traditional American entrées. Goulding's offers custom-guided tours of Monument Valley and provides Navajo guides into the backcountry, where you're not allowed to venture on your own. The lodge is 2 miles off U.S. 163, at the Monument Valley Tribal Park turnoff, about 25 miles southwest of Mexican Hat.

This peaceful spot is a well-known launching point for white-water runners on the San Juan, a river that's famed as the setting of many of Tony Hillerman's Jim Chee mystery novels. The motel's Southwestern-style rustic rooms overlooking the river at Mexican Hat are clean and well maintained. Diners can watch the river flow by at The Juan restaurant, which serves delicious grilled steaks and juicy hamburgers. Fresh trout and inexpensive Navajo dishes add variety to the menu. Call the motel directly for the cheapest rates.

Aptly named, the hotel is all about the vista—prices increase the higher the floor, and almost every room looks out to the Navajo Tribal Park's famous "Mittens." The rooms are fairly simple, though the Navajo sand paintings, authentic rugs, and traditional bedspreads make for nice touches. Each room is also outfitted with a microwave, refrigerator, and flat-screen TV. Premium cabins are a great option if you're looking for more privacy.