Where To Stay Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, Check Out Ofland

On a recent trip to Utah to tour the Mighty 5 National Parks, we needed a stopover between Moab and Springdale. Finding a place to stay when touring Bryce Canyon National Park and Capitol Reef National Park is a bit of a challenge. There are several small towns to choose from: Torrey is close to Capitol Reef National Park and has many good accommodations, and Boulder only has a few options to choose from, so we settled on Escalante, Utah. And I am glad we made that choice.

Read more about the journey from Moab to Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon National Park in this post!

Escalante is a small town with several lodging options and some good restaurants. It’s about an hour from Bryce Canyon National Park and in the heart of the Dixie National Forest and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. And home to the best place we stayed during our entire tour of Utah, Ofland, formerly Yonder Escalante.

With the tagline ADVENTURE FOR ALL, you might need clarification on what’s in store. Well, a unique, enjoyable, and comfortable stay is what awaits. The area is convenient for visiting 4-5 national parks, state parks, and national monuments.

What Yonder Does Right

This funky, quirky combo of cabins, deluxe cabins, and RV park does it all so well. You can camp and bring your RV or rent a refurbished Airstream trailer in a section dedicated exclusively to the vintage campers. If you are not an RV person, check out the Tiny Cabins. These are small A-frame buildings scattered about the grounds. Each end has glass walls, letting nature inside. This option has no in-unit bathroom, but the luxury bathhouses are only a few yards away. And when I say luxury, think high-end spa bathrooms. I would be a full-time camper if this were what the bathrooms at all campgrounds were like.

The final option is the one I chose, the Deluxe Cabin. These cabins are modern and well-appointed, located at the farthest end of the property; they offer privacy and space. Think cool, tiny container homes. The well-decorated room has a full bath and an incredible outdoor shower. Each has a private deck and a firepit.

Tons Of Amenities

But the experience doesn’t stop with the room. The main building houses the front desk. The staff was super helpful and friendly at check-in. It also has a general store where you can pick up snacks, sodas, DIY meal kits, Smores kits, and beer and wine.

Adjacent is the Lodge area, is a large, covered, open gathering area. Here, you will find drinks and sometimes treats, tables, board games, and two gas-burning firepits. It is a very inviting space you will feel comfortable hanging out in.

Yonder also has a lovely pool area. It’s a little exposed with a glass fence leading to the main parking area, but that is a minor item. The pool was quiet when we visited, and we had the whole thing to ourselves for a few hours.

I also loved The Wash, the onsite laundry facility that was super handy. Hiking is a dirty activity; washing our gear was nice.

An onsite food truck is their version of a restaurant. Located next to the Lodge, you can grab breakfast or dinner. Breakfast was incredible; I’m still thinking about the Cornbread French Toast. The breakfast sandwiches were delicious as well.

But the most unique amenity is the Drive-In movie theater. Watch a cult classic from the comfort of a vintage car! About a dozen vintage cars are arranged around a large outdoor screen, and each evening, they show an old movie (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off when we stayed). A concession stand, housed in a vintage Airstream, offers popcorn, drinks, and candy and is open 30 min before and after showtime, which is around sunset. It’s an enjoyable evening.

After the movie, you can gather around the communal firepits at the Lodge or head back to your cabin and build your own. It’s an entirely unique and relaxing experience. And it is well worth the trip to Escalante. Check out Ofland, formerly Yonder Escalante., you will be glad you did.