Tru by Hilton Grand Junction Downtown hotel, located in the Historic District, is minutes from Two Rivers Convention Center and walking distance to restaurants, bars, and unique shops.
My Third (Technically 4th) Trip to Colorado
My very first time in Colorado, you could say that I was there for a whole 90 minutes and literally fell in love with the state from high in the sky. You see, it was only a Denver layover on a flight destined for San Francisco but it looked like the setting of a picture-perfect postcard. All it took was one smooth landing enveloped by mountains and a gorgeous take-off during sunset heading Northwest to California, and I promised myself that I’d visit Colorado for an extended stay sometime soon.
Well, I made good on that promise with visits to Breckenridge and then Denver, and those trips proved to be memorable and fueled my desire to see more of Colorado. So, getting the opportunity to visit Grand Junction, Colorado this time around was very exciting.
What Makes Grand Junction Special
Grand Junction is approximately 245 miles from Denver. Its location is how Grand Junction got its name because it’s situated at the junction of the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers (formerly called the Grand River), in the heart of Grand Valley.
The Colorado National Monument (known as a mini-Grand Canyon) is situated in Grand Junction. There are so many amazing hiking trails in addition to other fun outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting on the Colorado, Gunnison, and Green Rivers, mountain biking in Moab, and fishing, skiing, and snowboarding on the slopes of Grand Mesa.
We planned to do sightseeing and hiking to appreciate the natural beauty of Grand Junction in addition to shopping in the downtown Main street area. We did not ski on this trip.
Modern Hilton Hotel located in Grand Junction
The Tru by Hilton Grand Junction Downtown hotel is nestled in the heart of the Historic District. There were dozens and dozens of locally owned shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars within walking distance of the hotel.
Grand Junction Regional Airport is the main airport in the area, 13 miles from the hotel. For train travel, Amtrak, has a convenient stop at the Grand Junction Station.
While we are quite familiar with other Hilton properties, I hadn’t stayed at a Tru Hotel in quite some time. We stayed at this hotel for four nights and found it to be a safe and welcoming family-friendly atmosphere. I will say that Colorado is on the pricey side. However, this hotel offered us an affordable rate.
The team at the front desk was so friendly and helpful, providing us local information about dining, shopping, and key highlights of the area. It was noticeable that the staff seemed to continually ask if we needed anything and whether we were satisfied with our accommodations.
Colorful, Fun Lobby With Breakfast Bar and Market
The bright colorful lobby was a welcome surprise. Bright green, blue, pink, and yellow colors are everywhere you look. In other words, this is not a boring monotone hotel décor with muted earth tones. The hotel truly blends modern amenities with local character.
A large eye-catching “Downtown Grand Junction” mural adorns an entire wall. Even the (Eat. & Sip.) 24/7 market provides a colorful array of gourmet snacks, local treats, and beverages, adding to the fun of the lively lobby.
There’s a comfortable blue couch that makes for a great place to congregate with your travel group or other hotel guests.
The game zone with pool table was an enticing area, especially with games like the brightly colored “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots,” a toy my brothers had at our childhood home many years ago.
The lobby alcoves and hanging chairs were so cute! You literally can sit in the alcove to read or catch up on work.
It’s those little, unique hotel extras that can take a routine Hilton stay to a memorable experience.
Hotel Amenities
In addition to the fun, multi-functional lobby, the hotel features a lively vibe throughout. You can play games, lounge, buy snacks, and enjoy breakfast at colorful tables both inside and on an outside patio.
The free hot breakfast bar was a nice touch with both hearty and healthy breakfast options. The pancake maker was a fun way to create perfectly sized pancakes and add lots of great pancake toppings. If you don’t have time to sit down and eat, you can even grab a to-go breakfast.
Complimentary gourmet coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water is available in the lobby 24/7 in the beautiful lounge.
If you’re not planning to hike or ski down the mountain for exercise, the hotel features a nice gym. If traveling on business or working remotely, you’ll appreciate the 24-hour business center. There’s also an outdoor pool but it was too cold to swim.
Private parking is available on site, $14.00 per night, and the tall fence added vehicle safety. There is a dual-port ChargePoint Electric Vehicle charging station as well.
Check-in was at the typical hotel 3:00 PM timeframe but the later check out at noon was much appreciated.
It’s a pet-friendly hotel but fees and a pet policy applies.
Rooms and Suites
This 91-room hotel features efficiently designed rooms with that same colorful flair as in the lobby. The room felt new (so clean!) and boy was it quiet and relaxing. We had a 1 King Bed guest room on the 4th floor with mountain views. I will say that the room also felt a bit small compared to recent Hilton hotel stays. The all-white bedding on a soft yet firm mattress made for a good night’s sleep.
The room provided so much natural light from huge floor to ceiling windows. Luckily the black-out curtains darkened the room at night.
The television was big with lots of premium channels. The typical mini refrigerator held our snacks and drinks. Note that the room had no microwave.
The desk was the perfect size and the complimentary high speed Internet was faster than what I have in my home office.
The bathroom was a decent size and featured a glass-door shower and the water pressure was powerful. I loved the free bathroom toiletries.
With the chilly nights, I was happy the room had an adjustable thermostat.
My Favorites in Downtown Grand Junction
As with most Colorado locations, the natural beauty in Grand Junction is a showstopper.
The Colorado National Monument is actually part of the National Park Service and overlooks the city. Rim Rock Drive is the paved road that winds throughout the park. We loved driving around and around, taking advantage of the multiple pull-offs offering scenic views of the majestic canyon.
As for hiking and biking, we only hike on the easy hiking trails. But if you’re an advanced outdoor enthusiast, this area can offer you a challenging, fun, and picturesque adventure for you.
At the recommendation of the hotel staff, the Colorado National Monument is an outstanding location for stargazing at night. Looking at what appears like the inside of a planetarium but yet it was real life in the outdoor Colorado sky, made a chatterbox like me speechless and a bit emotional.
The Grand Mesa mountain is known as the largest flat-top mountain in the world. It’s great for both skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. The area, boasting 300+ lakes, is ideal for fishing in warmer weather.
The Rattlesnake Arches feature 30+ arches that have formed naturally, a must-see sight in Grand Junction.
Back near the hotel, we just enjoyed walking around the beautiful historic downtown area of Grand Junction. The winding Main Street featured many, many locally owned shops, restaurants, and unique boutiques. The art, murals, and sculptures lining the streets were made by local artists and I was saying “wow” over and over again.
Takeaways/Final Verdict
The last time I stayed at a Tru by Hilton hotel was in Hershey, Pennsylvania and like that stay, we were also impressed with the Tru by Hilton Grand Junction Downtown.
Whether traveling for work or with the family, consider this hotel for your visit to the area. We would stay here again as the colorful vibe made for an upbeat, happy stay.
- Modern hotel in a great location
- Colorful lobby with games and adorable game zone
- Good breakfast buffet and free coffee, tea, and hot chocolate
- Clean, brightly lit (large windows), and quiet guest rooms
- Rooms felt small but the comfort was top notch.
- Walking distance to downtown with many restaurants and stores
Author Bio: Originally from Long Island, New York, Donna Wright now calls Deland, Florida her home. An avid traveler, she has journeyed by air, land, and sea, to many cities in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean to exciting destinations like California, Arizona, Las Vegas, San Diego, Myrtle Beach, Lake Tahoe, Reno, and more.
This content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered travel or consumer advice. Inn amenities, prices, policies, and availability may change. Readers should verify all details independently and use their own judgment when planning travel.