The secret is out. For those planning summer trips, or compiling travel bucket lists, Zion National Park is the place to be. From conquering Angels Landing to hiking The Narrows, this park is one that can’t be missed.
In fact, Zion‘s popularity is only growing, and in 2018, it ranked 4th among the most popular National Parks. It even beat out beloved Yellowstone and Yosemite!
If you are planning a trip to Zion National Park, you’ll want to find the best discount hotels in the Springdale, Utah area. Here’s our review of the Desert Pearl Inn.
Desert Pearl Inn: The Best Hotel In Springdale Utah?
At the entrance to Zion National Park is the charming town of Springdale Utah. Springdale has many restaurants, shops, and hotels all with stunning views of the canyon and within a shuttle ride of the visitor’s entrance.
Zion was the first stop on our Southwest road trip, and The Desert Pearl Inn was our home base for 3 nights. It was a beautiful boutique hotel and a convenient spot to stay, and we especially loved that the rooms could accommodate our family of 5.
Here’s brief history of the Desert Pearl Inn.
History of the Desert Pearl Inn:
The Desert Pearl has been family owned and run by husband and wife team, Kent and Robin Palmer for over 20 years, and Kent’s family has ties to the area going back to the 1800s. The Palmers spent much of their time exploring Zion from their home base in Salt Lake City and decided to buy land in Springdale in the mid-1980s.
Opening the Desert Pearl Inn was a long-held dream of theirs, and their love of the area and attention to detail is evident the moment you walk through the door.
Tip: Enjoy complimentary lemon-infused water, cookies and coffee in the lobby daily!
Desert Pearl Inn Location:
Located in the heart of Springdale Utah, the Desert Pearl Inn is less than a mile from the entrance to Zion National Park. It even has its own stop on the Springdale shuttle route, and is only 3 stops away from the Zion Visitor Center. If you stay at the Desert Pearl Inn, you won’t even need to use your car.
Tip: Zion is only about a 2-hour drive to Bryce Canyon. If you’re looking to minimize your packing and unpacking, consider doing a day trip to Bryce from here.
I highly recommend taking the drive through the Mt. Carmel tunnel, as the views are jaw-dropping!
Check out this pic we got of a couple of Big Horn Sheep just before the Mt. Carmel tunnel on our way back from Bryce:
The Desert Pearl Inn is within walking distance of downtown Springdale’s restaurants and shops, and there are even a couple of grocery stores.
Tip: While there are a few grocery stores in town, consider stocking up on groceries at a big supermarket before you get to Springdale to save money.
Desert Pearl Hotel Rooms:
The Desert Pearl Inn has 4 room classes, all with fully stocked kitchenettes, free wifi, and private balconies or terraces.
• Double-Queen Room
Perfect for larger families, the Double Queen rooms are outfitted with two queen beds and a queen-size sofabed. Each Double Queen room can sleep 6. We absolutely loved our Double-Queen room! There was plenty of room for us to spread out, and having the kitchen allowed us to eat breakfast in, pack food for our day hikes, and even heat up leftovers.
Tip: While the river-view rooms offer more privacy, we loved our pool-facing room. The kids were able to head off to the pool on their own. We loved that we could still keep an eye on them while unpacking, or having a drink on our patio.
• King Room
With one king bed and a pull-out sofa bed, these rooms sleep up to 4. The layout of the king rooms is similar to the layout of the double queen rooms and they have either pool or river views.
• Premium King Room
Overlooking the Virgin River, Premium King rooms are slightly more secluded than the standard King Rooms. There is also a divider between the bed and the pullout sofa.
• Riverview Suites
For those looking for more space, these 1300 square foot rooms have a separate bedroom with a king bed. The living area has a sofabed, and there are two bathrooms.
Tip: The dark skies around Zion are perfect for stargazing. We were able to see incredible stars right from our terrace.
Desert Pearl Inn Amenities:
• Pool and Hot Tub
Our kids had a blast at the pool, and the views weren’t too bad either! Surrounded by the red cliffs of Zion National Park, the Desert Pearl Inn is an extension of the park’s natural beauty. Families love the large, saltwater freeform pool, which is open from April to October. The hot tub is open year-round.
• Laundry
The inn has coin-operated laundry facilities onsite.
• Massage
While there isn’t a spa on property, the hotel can arrange for in-room massages.
Food:
Adjacent to the Desert Pearl Inn, Moki serves cocktails and comfort food and is open spring-fall.
The town of Springdale has over 20 dining options. With choices like Pizza, Thai, Mexican, and breweries, your family will have plenty of places to choose from!
How Much Does the Desert Pearl Inn Cost?
Off-season, nightly rates at the Desert Pearl Inn range from $160-250. During the peak summer season, rooms cost between $280-415.
Location? How to Get to the Desert Pearl Inn:
Springdale is only a 2 ½ hour drive from Las Vegas and a little over 4 hours away from Salt Lake City.
It’s proximity to Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Grand Canyon National Park makes it the perfect addition to a road trip itinerary.
Tip: Antelope Canyon is exactly halfway between Zion and the Grand Canyon. If you’re planning a trip to both of these parks, definitely check it out!
Let’s Review… Is the Desert Pearl Inn the Best Hotel Near Zion National Park? (in Springdale, Utah)
After our 2-week southwest road trip, the Desert Pearl Inn stood out as one of our favorite hotels. Yes, it was the most expensive hotel we booked. However, we loved the convenience of having a kitchen and the beauty of the pool and grounds. The proximity to Zion National Park made it worth every penny.
I would like to nominate the Desert Pearl Inn as the best hotel in Springdale Utah at this inexpensive price range.
Thanks for reading our review of the Desert Pearl Inn!
Visit their website at www.DesertPearl.com