Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile

This New Utah Hotel Is Designed With Dogs in Mind - but Humans Are Welcome, Too

"As of November, there’s a new definition of dog-friendly hotels: Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile, a 40-room property in Kanab, Utah on the eastern edge of Zion that practically worships pets. I was impressed when the receptionist stood up to love on my 10-month-old Leonberger puppy, Wilco; the hotel drops the usual restrictions (no weight/breed limits or bans on leaving animals alone) and even lends crates for free. Our room had built-in dog houses, slide-out dog beds big enough for Wilco (105 pounds), dog dishes, leash hooks, two dog beds, and two-door entries to deter Houdinis; it also felt hygge with warm wood tones, three-setting lighting, a sleek in-room tablet in lieu of printed info, a well-equipped kitchenette, and a large portrait of Paco the parrot. The on-site mercantile serves a complimentary vegan continental breakfast, sells almost anything you forget, and the property includes two dog parks (one small, one large enough for “101 Dalmatians”), “slurp” water fountains, a free, pro-quality indoor pet-washing station, free guest laundry, rooms specifically designed for cats (window perches, cat-proof blinds, litter box), pet-free rooms for allergy sufferers, and accommodations that sleep up to eight (12 with pets) with up to four pets allowed; rates start at $109/night and revenue helps fund Best Friends Animal Society’s goal to end shelter killings by 2025. I’d stay here even without a pet, though bringing a dog might ruin them for life." - Katie Jackson Katie Jackson Katie Jackson is a New York City-based writer who covers travel, food, and more. Her work has appeared in USA Today, The Sunday Times, Esquire, Outside, New York Post, and Travel + Leisure, among others. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines