Top Dog Friendly Hotel in Southern Utah
Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile is an awesome dog-friendly hotel in Southern Utah. It’s not your typical dog-friendly hotel, pets are not only welcome but expected. Located in Kanab, Utah, it is the perfect base camp while volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and exploring Southern Utah. The recreation options are endless! Plus, while you’re enjoying Best Friends Roadhouse hospitality, you’re also supporting their life-saving animal work. 🧡

We have stayed at the roadhouse multiple times along with other hotels in Kanab while visiting over the last six years. Here is why we love and recommend Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile (besides being dog-friendly)…first-rate customer service, easy online booking, unique and well-appointed guest rooms, walkable location, and convenient onsite services. Let’s get into the details.
“The only reason we invite people is to open the doors for the pets!” 😉
– JoAnne Rando-Moon, Front Desk Best Friends Roadhouse




All of us love the small touches. Our top two favorite activities at Best Friends Roadhouse are kitty bingo and s’mores by the bonfire. The smell of cedar, pine, and juniper in the evening surrounded by the red rocks is the best and warms the soul. Kitty bingo is hilarious- a fun night of community, meeting new people, lots of laughs, and kittens running around the Mercantile.


Kitty Bingo-




Pet-Friendly Hotel Amenities in Southern Utah
For pets; fenced and spacious park, a personalized nameplate, pull out bed and cubby holes, welcome treats from the staff, pet washing station, and their very own drinking fountain. The fenced pet park has plenty of running room and a splash zone for hot summer days. There is also a small run area. ALL of this and the pets stay free.
From the cozy beds to the outdoor park, our dog Allen, gives the Roadhouse 5 paws up.





For people; shopping and continental breakfast at the mercantile, laundry station with products included, technology (An INTELITY® in-room control and information tablet), and excellent Wi-Fi (which is a priority for us because we work while traveling).
Here is Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile employee, Michael, to tell you more –
Another huge plus for us is being able to walk to the many wonderful restaurants in Kanab. You can read about our favorites HERE.

Best Base Camp to Explore Southern Utah
Location, location, location! Kanab is ideally located close to National Parks and Monuments, Public Lands, State Parks, Geological Attractions, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. We’ve visited many times and our “things to do list” is still long. There is so much history and some of the most beautiful areas in the country. Below are a few ideas for your next visit.
Zion National Park. If you want to bring your dog for a hike, there is one dog-friendly trail. Read more HERE.

Explore Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon National Park.


Hike to the Sand Caves, Hidden Lake, and around Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.


You can also ATV or go sledding at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.

Escape the crowds and take a drive through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We loved driving and hiking and hardly seeing anyone. Below is one of the coolest stops at Grosvenor Arch. Incredible!

Camping, Swimming, House Boating at Lake Powell. There is so much to do in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.



Volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
And our favorite thing to do is volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary! If you don’t have time to volunteer, we highly recommend scheduling a tour of the sanctuary. You will learn about the inspiration behind Best Friends and meet animals along the way. If you’re interested in volunteering, make sure to schedule ahead of time- they fill up quickly and book out a year ahead of time.



Volunteering with the dogs fills my heart. There are many different jobs to be done from cleaning to taking them for walks. I don’t like to do my own dishes but I could wash dog dishes all day long. My volunteer days at the sanctuary are my best days. It’s emotional and hard to put into words- it’s so fulfilling. I love to work the morning shift and then grab lunch at Angel Village Cafe. Lunch is always vegan, delicious, and is only $5! You can find the menu HERE.
Life can change in a blink, do more of what stirs your soul.
©What Stirs Your Soul Media
Excellent article, thank you! We love our guests and their pets!
Can’t wait to see you again soon!
What a great article about an amazing place! I cannot wait to visit again in May!