The Little America Hotel is one of our favorite Flagstaff hotels. Conveniently located right of Interstate 40, it is an iconic choice for travelers looking for lodging in Northern Arizona. It is an ideal location for our guests to stay as they travel in and out of Flagstaff for a Grand Canyon river raft expedition with Arizona Raft Adventures.
Outdoor Space is Superb
The first reason that Little America Hotel is a contender as one of our favorite Flagstaff hotels is that the outdoor space around the property is simply beautiful. The hotel sits on 500 acres of Ponderosa Pine Forest. Not only can guests enjoy the beautiful landscape on the hotel grounds, but there is also a two-mile hiking trail on the property, making it a perfect retreat for our outdoorsy guests. The trail is maintained and within a couple of minutes of hiking, you are out of sight of the hotel and the freeway. It is peaceful and you may even spot wildlife such as elk or a bald eagle. You feel like you are in the mountains even though you are in the city.
Can’t Beat the Charm
Another reason Little America Hotel is one of our favorite Flagstaff hotels is because it is rather charming. The décor is a nice mix of modern and country and gives off that Flagstaff mountain town vibe. The rooms are spacious which gives our guests lots of room to spread out their river clothes and gear as they organize, pack and repack either before, or after the raft adventure. The rooms are comfortable, clean, fun and quirky. Each room has a mini fridge but there is an affordable restaurant and bar onsite too.
Location, Location, Location
The Little America Hotel is also in a fantastic location. First, is it only minutes from downtown Flagstaff, which puts our guests in a suitable location for picking up last minute supplies or choosing a unique Flagstaff dining experience. In addition, it is only about 15 minutes from the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport or 10 minutes to the Amtrak Station (hotel shuttle available). There are other nearby shopping options, grocery stores, convenience marts, gas stations and restaurants as well. So, if our guests want to come to town a couple days before their trip or stay a few days after to enjoy all Flagstaff has to offer, we know they are in a great location that is easy to find and convenient.
More for the Raft Adventurers
To make our favorites list, it’s all about how this hotel meets the needs of our visitors. While Little America boasts many amenities beyond the beautiful setting, the room accommodations and the location, the additional amenities we think our guests appreciate are:
- A unique gift shop with many indigenous offerings from the southwest
- Silver Pine Restaurant and Bar – A quaint restaurant with a warm atmosphere and good food
- Breakfast buffet
- Laundry room
- Business center
- 24 hour convenience store
- Fitness center
- 24-hour pool and hot tub
- Complimentary wi-fi
- Ample parking and long-term parking available if you need to leave your vehicle during your raft adventure
- ATM onsite so you can grab a little cash
- Concierge Services – to assist with planning the rest of your time in Flagstaff
Top of the List for Favorite Flagstaff Hotels
Ultimately, there are many good options when it comes to choosing lodging in Flagstaff. The Little America Hotel, at 2515 East Butler Avenue, is one premium choice for active adventurists coming through the area. We know Flagstaff has a lot to offer. Therefore, we want to share with you one of our favorite Flagstaff hotels and reasons why.
Last Little America interstate billboard was in Wyoming. Courtesy of Little America Facebook page.
What’s with the penguins? According to the Little America Facebook page, the penguin comes from their namesake, a 1929 base camp in Antarctica. The Little America exploration stations were speckled across Antarctica from 1929-1958. The penguins were used on billboards along the interstate to entice travelers to stop at the Little America Hotel inferring that they were in an isolated area like the Little America exploration stations. The last of the penguin billboards came down in 2002. However, the penguin is seen around the properties like in the photo above (Little America Flagstaff Facebook).