Aarchway Inn

The Aarchway Inn is location next to Arches National Park and attracts outdoors enthusiasts on a budget, including a number of return guests. From the outside, the two-floor inn looks like any other budget motel. The Moab scenery -- with Colorado River buttes and red rock cliffs -- creates a beautiful setting. The lawns surrounding the hotel have picnic tables, barbecue grills, fire pits, and areas for playing horseshoes. The lobby is traditionally decorated with comfy furniture, framed Utah photos, petrified wood, pine wood pillars, and Southwestern decor. There's a coffee stand with pastries by the door.

The Aarchway Inn is off of the Highway 191, near the Colorado River and next to a designated wildlife management area. The location is ideal for outdoors exploration, and the Arches National Park Visitor Center is just five minutes away by car. Downtown Moab -- with shops, restaurants, the Valley Shopping Center, and the Moab Information Center -- is also a five-minute drive away, as is the Moab Adventure Center, which offers rafting and Hummer trips. Driving to Canyonlands National Park and to Dead Horse Point State Park takes around 35 minutes. It’s 45 minutes to Hurrah Pass.  

Knotty pine furnishings, brown patterned carpeting, and Southwestern art and photographic prints create a homey setting in the Aarchway's air-conditioned rooms. All come with flat-screen TVs with HBO and ESPN, ceiling fans, microwaves, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and irons. Windows overlook the pool, red rock cliffs or the parking lot. Suites and Family Rooms have living rooms with sofa beds and dining tables, two flat-screen TVs, and whirlpool tubs in bedrooms and some have kitchenettes. Studio Apartments have queen beds plus bunk beds for kids. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos and wall-mounted phones. Note that noise from upstairs guests can be heard in lower-level rooms. Wi-Fi is free in rooms and throughout the property.

The inn’s large breakfast room features Southwestern carpeting, arched windows, classic furniture,  and low-hanging ceilings. A free breakfast buffet is laid out every morning and includes a self-serve pancake maker. There's an ATM in the lobby along with two gift shops with souvenirs, local crafts, snacks, and beverages. There’s a business corner by the front entrance, with a PC, a printer, and a water cooler. There's also a meeting room for up to 60 people. The self-serve laundry room offers coin-operated washers and dryers.

An indoor gym -- open 24 hours a day -- provides free weights, modern cardio equipment, and a  flat-screen TV along with a water cooler and towels. The hotel also has numerous facilities for outdoor recreation. Families will likely appreciate the large pirate-ship playground and basketball court. There's also a pavilion that's used to host live music events and outdoor movies in the warmer months. The heated outdoor pool was replastered in 2014 and there's also a whirlpool hot tub. Mountain cyclists can store their bikes in an indoor secured room. When weather permits, there’s an outdoor parcourse for working out.