We stayed at Capitol Reef Resort and had a really good experience overall, with a few surprises…read moremixed in. We got there right at our 4 pm check in time and our Conestoga wagon was ready. I figured this was probably my one chance in life to sleep in a wagon, and it had plenty of room for the four of us. The setup is really cool. All the wagons are arranged around a huge fire pit and they look awesome in person.
For pricing, our first night in the wagon came out to 319 dollars plus tax. With sales tax and lodging tax, the total for that night was 361.17. We had already paid that as a deposit, so it was covered.
The bathrooms are not attached to the wagons, but you get your own private bathroom with a shower and you access it with a key card. The wagon itself has a front door that uses an actual key, which adds to the whole experience.
We grabbed dinner, came back, and had a great time at the fire pit while the girls roasted s'mores. Everything felt perfect. We went to bed around ten.
Then the wind showed up.
At about 2 am I woke up to the sound of the wind hitting the canvas. It was loud. Way louder than I expected. The girls slept right through it, but my wife and I were basically awake for the rest of the night. The funny part is that when I walked to the bathroom at 4 am, it was not even windy outside. The canvas just catches whatever breeze there is and makes it sound like a storm. By six we gave up and got up for the day.
The next morning I went to the front desk to see if we could switch rooms. The staff was super helpful and understanding. For an extra 90.58 we upgraded to a cabin and it was absolutely worth it.
The cabin was awesome. It had a loft, a big main bedroom with a king bed, four bunk beds, a full size fridge, a microwave, and a two burner stove. The bathroom had a tub, shower, toilet, and sink. It was comfortable, clean, and honestly felt like a small house. After spending the day hiking around Capitol Reef, coming back to that cabin felt amazing.
Our second night in the cabin was 399 dollars plus tax. With sales tax and lodging tax, that night came out to 451.74. Between the wagon night, the cabin night, and the upgrade charge, the total for the stay was 718.01 before taxes and 812.92 after taxes, which we had already paid.
The front desk staff deserves credit. They were friendly, patient, and gave great tips for food and even where I could charge my car.
Bottom line. The wagons are a fun and unique experience, but if you are a light sleeper, the wind might get you. The cabins are fantastic and worth the upgrade. The staff is great and the location is perfect for exploring Capitol Reef. I would stay here again, but next time I am booking the cabin from the start.
