Arizona

10 Best Hotels in Flagstaff for Every Traveler

Posted by
D.T. Christensen
November 01, 2021
Updated January 08, 2024

best hotels flagstaff arizona
The Weatherford Hotel. Photo: Shutterstock

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The high country, dark skies and wooded lands around Flagstaff make this mountain town an ideal year-round destination for Arizonans and out-of-staters alike.

Naturally, exploring Flagstaff’s camping spots and trails is the best way to experience the town’s outdoorsy offerings, but when you’re in need of real shelter, there’s no shortage of comfortable hotels to choose from.

Here are 10 of the best hotels in Flagstaff for every type of trip, traveler, and budget, whether you’re here for a quick Grand Canyon layover or an extended stay to explore every corner of beautiful Northern Arizona.

Best Experience

1. Little America Hotel

little america hotel flagstaff
Photo: Little America Hotel

Why you should go: For the best overall hotel experience in Flagstaff.

  • Rates from: $139/night
  • Amenities: Wi-fi, free parking, outdoor pool, on-site restaurant and bar
  • Hotels.com rating: 9.3/10

The interstate highway boom of the 1950s led to some pretty dope roadside hotels scattered across the West, including Little America Wyoming, built by Robert Earl “Get That Big Money, Honey” Holding, who would eventually make the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. (He owned Sinclair Oil.)

After building a few other locations, Holding chose a plot of land off I-40 for Flagstaff’s Little America, and today, it still retains much of its roadside charm of yesteryear — just scope out the incoming semis at the nearby travel center on a busy weekend.

A few years back, Little America underwent a massive update to transform the 70’s-era hotel into a more lux property, and now the place is more popular than ever. The lobby offers ski lodge vibes and a roaring fire in the winter, which is the perfect time to visit. Come December, the hotel decorates with nearly one million Christmas lights across 500 acres, and the hotel also acts as basecamp for the North Pole Experience, a rollicking Christmas adventure as expensive as it sounds.

Flagstaff may have lost some of its small roadside reputation over the years, but Little America is a great way to recapture that nostalgic road trip experience without compromising on comfort.

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Follow ’em: @LittleAmericaFlagstaff

Best Historic Hotel

2. The Weatherford Hotel

weatherford hotel flagstaff
Photo: Shutterstock

Why you should go: For the best overall historic hotel in Flagstaff.

  • Rates from: $165/night
  • Amenities: Wi-Fi, parking, room service, on-site bar and restaurant, tour booking services
  • Booking.com rating: 7.6/10

In the late 1890s, a series of fires forced Flagstaff to pass an ordinance requiring new buildings to be made of stone or iron, rather than wood. Shortly after, Texas transplant John W. Weatherford built a two-story building to serve as his family home and a general store.

Weatherford foresaw the incoming tourism boom to Northern Arizona, so he soon converted the building to The Weatherford Hotel, which opened on January 1, 1900.

Today, the Flagstaff hotel is a refined version of its past: the building’s iconic stone exterior and second-story are well-known Flagstaff landmarks and it’s popular even with guests who never spend the night. The hotel houses three pubs, making it just as popular for daytime food and drinks as for overnight stays. Out-of-town guests can choose from several room options, including affordable “European-style” rooms with shared bathrooms.

Over the years, The Weatherford Hotel hosted all types of Arizona historical figures, including author Zane Grey, who wrote “The Call of the Canyon” in what is now the Zane Grey Bar & Ballroom.

Weatherford’s mark on Flagstaff is unmistakable: he also built the Orpheum — then known as the New Weatherford Opera House — and the San Francisco Mountain Boulevard, an ambitious (but ultimately ill-fated) dirt road that connected the town to the San Francisco Peaks to the north. The 10.4-mile road is now the Weatherford Trail, one of Flagstaff’s best hikes.

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Related read: 7 Pet-Friendly Hotels in Flagstaff, Arizona

Best Hotel Near NAU

3. Drury Inn & Suites

drury inn and suites flagstaff
Photo: Drury Inn & Suites

Why you should go: The best Flagstaff hotel if you’re visiting Northern Arizona University.

  • Rates from: $189/night
  • Amenities: Wi-Fi, free hot breakfast, in-room fridges and microwaves, outdoor pool, pet-friendly
  • Booking.com rating: 8.9/10

Drury Inn & Suites is on the north end of the Northern Arizona University campus, making it an ideal spot to spend the weekend if you’re visiting friends or family on campus. Downtown is within walking distance and public transportation options on Butler Avenue make it easy to get around.

The rooms are clean and comfortable and the green initiatives that guide the hotel are impressive. It’s a LEED®-certified hotel and has preferred parking for electric and fuel-efficient cars. The hotel chain also teams up with NAU’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Management to mentor the next generation of hospitality professionals in Arizona, making it a fun place to stay if you know someone in that specific program.

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Related read: What You Need to Know About the Holiday Inn Express Pet Policy

 

Best Pet-Friendly Hotel

4. SpringHill Suites Flagstaff

springhill suites flagstaff
Photo: SpringHill Suites Flagstaff

Why you should go: If you’re bringing Fido along for the trip.

  • Rates from: $139/night
  • Amenities: Wi-Fi, pet-friendly, all-suite rooms, gym, near pet-friendly restaurants
  • Booking.com rating: 8.6/10

Springhill Suites Flagstaff is a 2021 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice hotel with modern pet-friendly accommodations. It’s in a convenient spot for quickly moving around town and also close to NAU, which is a fantastic place to take Fluffy for a walk (just expect every student to want to stop and pet your pup!) Or for a more strenuous outing, check out nearby Sinclair Wash Trail, Flagstaff’s longest urban trail.

After your hike, enjoy the hotel’s fitness center and indoor pool, then check out Flagstaff’s best pet-friendly patios like Altitudes Bar & Grill, Flagstaff Brewing Company and The Oakmont. All the rooms are pet-friendly, but there is a $75 non-refundable extra charge per stay (not per night) if you’re bringing your pooch along.

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Related Read: 7 Tranquil Cabin Rentals in Strawberry, Arizona

Best Family-Friendly Hotel

5. Residence Inn Flagstaff

residence inn flagstaff az
Photo: Residence Inn Flagstaff

Why you should go: The best places to stay if the whole family is in tow.

  • Rates from: $219/night
  • Amenities: Wi-Fi, pet-friendly, indoor pool, large rooms, gym, free breakfast
  • Booking.com rating: 9.3/10

The studios at Residence Inn offer plenty of space for kids to unwind, and hotel amenities like kitchenettes, a gym, and a laundry room make it ideal for extended stays. Each room offers space to work, lounge, and make meals, perfect for families looking to keep their food and entertainment budgets in check. Or for families who just think four people in a standard double queen room is a bit too close for comfort.

Just west of the hotel are Wheeler Park and the Flagstaff library, both good places for kids with lots of programming for younger guests. The hotel is also fairly close to family- and kid-friendly places to eat, and the nearby Lowell Observatory has lots of family and kids events throughout the year.

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Best Hotel Near Downtown

6. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson

Country Inn & Suites
Photo: Country Inn & Suites

Why you should go: Choose this Flagstaff hotel if you want to be just steps from downtown.

  • Rates from: $149/night
  • Amenities: Wi-Fi, free parking, great location, gym, indoor pool and hot tub, 24-hour desk, free breakfast
  • Booking.com rating: 8.9/10

The name “Country Inn” doesn’t do this hotel justice — it’s a lively, tastefully decorated property not far from downtown that provides a genuinely welcoming guest experience. It’s one of the best-rated hotels in Flagstaff for a few reasons, receiving high marks from guests for everything from the excellent staff and customer service to the comfortable beds and upgraded toiletries.

The walk from the hotel to downtown passes plenty of places to shop and eat, so it’s one of the best places in Flagstaff to stay if you want to park the car and forgot about it for a while. It’s a great hotel if you want to be near campus and downtown without having to shack up in the more rustic abodes at Weatherford or the Monte V.

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Best Hotel for Passing Through

7. Comfort Inn I-17 & I-40

Comfort Inn I-17 & I-40
Photo: Comfort Inn I-17 & I-40

Why you should go: Comfortable hotel with easy highway access for roadtrippers.

  • Rates from: $94/night
  • Amenities: Wi-Fi, free parking, gym, outdoor pool, free breakfast, pet-friendly
  • Booking.com rating: 8.9/10

With two interstates in its name, this Comfort Inn location knows the name of the game. Millions of people travel the busy corridor between Phoenix and Flagstaff each year, some of whom are of them are just passing through on their way to other destinations around the Southwest.

Comfort Inn caters to that type of traveler with its convenient property near NAU, near highways and roads that make it easy to quickly get out of downtown. But don’t be fooled by the candid name: this hotel comes with stellar reviews, even from those sticking around for more than night or two. It’s a budget stay, sure, but it’s clean and delivers on its promise of a comfortable place to lay your head.

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Related Read: What to See on an Awesome Phoenix to Grand Canyon Road Trip

Best Hotel on the East Side

8. Sonesta ES Suites

sonesta es suites
Photo: Sonesta ES Suites

Why you should go: If you’d rather stay on Flagstaff’s east side.

  • Rates from: $117/night
  • Amenities: Wi-Fi, free parking, all-suite rooms with kitchens, outdoor pool, fireplaces
  • Booking.com rating: 8.5/10

Most visitors want to stay near downtown or NAU, but the east side of Flagstaff offers a mellow alternative great for families and travelers looking for something more low key. Enter Sonesta ES Suites, offering modern one- and two-bedroom apartment-style suites in the Country Club area just south of I-40.

It’s not the most common hotel chain, but don’t sleep on Sonesta’s amenities and spaciousness. For the price point, you’ll be hard-pressed to find more square footage and options. A gym and seasonal pool make this an excellent extended stay option, and the included grab-and-go breakfast and coffee service is ideal for busy professionals or people anxious to get an early start for hikes and sightseeing.

Staying on the east side also offers an easy drive to some of Flagstaff’s best Native American ruins, including the cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon National Monument and the sprawling pueblos at Wupatki National Monument.

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Best Motel

9. Motel DuBeau

Motel DuBeau Travelers Inn
Photo: Laura Felina / Unsplash

Why you should go: Stay in the heart of downtown Flagstaff at a historical hotel

  • Rates from: $59/night
  • Amenities: Wi-Fi, free parking, free breakfast, laundry facilities, in-room fridges
  • TripAdvisor rating: 4/5

Motel DuBeau’s iconic sign stands tall just south of downtown, where the motor-court hotel has been in business since the 1920s. It’s a small, budget-friendly option for those looking to explore close to downtown and don’t care about hotel room frills. It’s the best hotel in Flagstaff if you want to sleep indoors but would like to save a few bucks you can spend instead on park t-shirts or farm-to-table dinners.

The main perk here is the location. It’s a quick walk into downtown and to surrounding highly rated restaurants. The Mo DuBeau is near Flagstaff staples like Macy’s European Coffeehouse, Beaver Street Brewery, and NiMarco’s Pizza. If you’re in town for the food and nightlife, you’ll find the Motel DuBeau to be an affordable and convenient basecamp.

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Follow ’em: @MotelDuBeau

Best B&B

10. Starlight Pines

Starlight Pines Bed & Breakfast
Photo: Starlight Pines Bed & Breakfast

Why you should go: If you prefer bed and breakfasts to traditional hotels

  • Rates from: $199/night
  • Amenities: Wi-fi, free in-room breakfast, antique tubs, Wi-Fi, balconies, mountain views
  • Booking.com rating: 9.7/10

If larger hotel brands aren’t your thing, consider a stay at Starlight Pines Bed & Breakfast, where innkeepers Maxx and Monica offer a warm and incredibly well-reviewed experience.

Both Maxx and Monica came to Flagstaff from out of state, but since running Starlight Pines, they’ve become experts at showing guests how to make the most of their time in Northern Arizona. Though it’s tempting to spend all your time sightseeing, be sure to leave some time to enjoy the mountain breeze rolling through from the home’s beautiful Victorian front porch.

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