Planning a 100-mile ultramarathon involves months of training, but race weekend logistics can make or break your performance. After years of racing ultras across the country, I’ve learned that accommodation choices directly impact recovery, sleep quality, and race-day readiness. Poor hotel selection costs you precious sleep, increases stress, and can sabotage months of preparation.

Whether you’re targeting Western States, UTMB, Leadville, or any destination 100-miler, strategic hotel booking ensures you arrive rested, prepared, and ready to perform. When I book race accommodations through Hotels.com, I prioritize specific factors that ultra runners need but most casual travelers never consider.

Why Hotel Choice Matters More for Ultra Runners

Unlike shorter races where you might arrive the morning of the event, 100-mile ultras require 2-4 nights of accommodation. You need hotels that support your specific pre-race and post-race requirements:

• Proximity to start/finish lines: Many 100-milers start at 4-6 AM, requiring hotel departures at 3-4 AM
• Quiet rooms for quality sleep: Pre-race anxiety is bad enough without noisy neighbors or thin walls
• Kitchenettes or refrigerators: Managing race nutrition and post-race recovery meals
• Early breakfast options: Hotels with 24-hour food access or early breakfast (5-6 AM)
• Flexible check-in/check-out: Races finish at unpredictable times; you might need late checkout Sunday
• Crew-friendly spaces: Common areas or parking lots where crew can organize without disturbing other guests

Timing Your Hotel Bookings for Major 100-Milers

Popular 100-mile races sell out hotels months in advance. Here’s what I’ve learned about booking timelines:

Ultra-Competitive Races (Western States, Hardrock, UTMB)

Book hotels immediately after lottery results or registration opens. For Western States (late June), Squaw Valley and Truckee hotels fill up by January-February. Hardrock (mid-July) sees Silverton accommodations booked 6-8 months out. Using Hotels.com’s rewards program helps offset costs when you’re booking this far in advance across multiple races annually.

High-Demand Destination Races (Leadville, Wasatch, Angeles Crest)

Book 3-4 months ahead. Leadville (mid-August) accommodation in Twin Lakes is extremely limited – many runners stay in Leadville proper (15-20 miles from start) or Frisco/Dillon (30+ miles). Booking early gives you better location choices and prevents last-minute scrambles.

Regional and Mid-Tier Races

Book 6-8 weeks out. While not as competitive, these races still stress local hotel capacity, especially in small towns. Waiting until 2-3 weeks before the race often means settling for hotels 30-45 minutes from the start line.

Location Strategy: Start Line vs. Finish Line vs. Midpoint

Most 100-milers use point-to-point or out-and-back courses. Your hotel location strategy depends on course design:

Point-to-Point Courses (Western States, Wasatch 100)

These races start and finish in different locations. You need to decide whether to stay near the start or finish:

Near start line (Friday-Saturday nights): Minimizes pre-race morning travel. You’re fresher and less stressed on race morning. However, you’ll need crew transportation to move vehicles and gear to the finish.

Near finish line (Saturday-Sunday nights): Simplifies post-race logistics – you finish and can collapse immediately into your hotel. But you need reliable crew to shuttle you to the start line early Saturday morning when you’re already anxious.

My strategy: I book two hotels – Friday-Saturday near start, Sunday near finish. This costs more but eliminates logistical stress. The mental clarity is worth the extra $150-200.

Out-and-Back or Loop Courses (Leadville, HURT 100)

Same start/finish location simplifies logistics. Book one hotel for 3-4 nights. Focus on proximity to start/finish and post-race recovery amenities (bathtubs for ice baths, laundry facilities, good restaurants nearby).

Essential Hotel Amenities for 100-Mile Runners

Standard hotel features matter differently when you’re running 100 miles. Here’s what I prioritize:

1. Room Darkness and Noise Control

Quality sleep the night before a 100-miler is non-negotiable. Look for:

• Blackout curtains (many mountain hotels have inadequate window coverings)
• Upper floors or end units (reduces foot traffic noise)
• Away from elevators, ice machines, and vending areas
• Double-pane windows if hotel is on busy road

When booking, call the hotel directly after your online reservation and request: “Quiet room, upper floor, away from elevators and ice machines.” This 30-second call has saved my pre-race sleep multiple times.

2. Temperature Control

Individual room HVAC control is essential. Pre-race, you want cooler temperatures (65-68°F) for better sleep. Post-race, you might need warmer temps (70-72°F) when your metabolism crashes. Hotels with central-only temperature control are problematic.

3. Food Storage and Preparation

Most runners bring specialized race nutrition and recovery foods. You need:

• Refrigerator: For storing gels, waffles, and post-race recovery drinks
• Microwave: Heating pre-race oatmeal or post-race real food
• Coffee maker: Early morning caffeine before hotel breakfast opens
• Kitchenette (ideal): Extended-stay hotels like Residence Inn or Homewood Suites provide full kitchens

4. Bathtub for Ice Baths

Post-100-miler, a proper ice bath provides immense relief. Showers-only rooms don’t cut it. When searching Hotels.com, I filter for “bathtub” in room amenities – this simple feature impacts next-day recovery significantly.

5. Laundry Facilities

After a 100-miler, everything you own is filthy and potentially blood-stained. On-site laundry means you can wash gear Sunday evening rather than packing disgusting clothes for your flight home Monday morning.

Crew-Specific Considerations

If you have crew supporting your race, their accommodation needs matter too:

• Proximity to major aid stations: Crew spends 20-30 hours driving between aid stations. Hotels near highway access reduce their drive times.
• Late check-in capability: Crew might not arrive until 11 PM-1 AM after supporting you through evening aid stations
• Parking for support vehicles: Crew vans with gear can’t fit in compact parking garages
• Multiple room bookings: Booking crew rooms at the same hotel creates a “base camp” for organizing

Managing Costs Across Multiple Races

Serious ultra runners race 3-6 major events annually. Hotel costs accumulate quickly:

Typical annual hotel costs:

• Western States (3 nights): $450-600
• Leadville (3 nights): $350-500
• UTMB (4-5 nights): $800-1,200
• Wasatch (3 nights): $400-550
• Additional smaller races (2 nights each x 2-3 races): $400-750

Annual total: $2,400-3,600

Hotels.com’s loyalty program (collect 10 nights, get 1 free) effectively provides a 10% discount. Over a season of racing, that’s $240-360 back – essentially one free race weekend. For runners hitting 15-20 hotel nights annually across training camps and races, this adds up meaningfully.

Alternative Accommodation Options

Hotels aren’t always optimal. Consider alternatives based on race logistics:

Vacation Rentals (Airbnb/VRBO)

Pros: Full kitchens, more space, better for groups/crews, often cheaper for 3+ nights
Cons: Less reliable than hotels, no front desk for late arrivals, cleaning fees add costs
Best for: Races with crew, 4+ night stays, bringing family

RV/Camper Rentals

Pros: Ultimate flexibility, park at start/finish areas, mobile crew headquarters
Cons: Expensive ($150-300/night), requires tow vehicle or RV driving skills, campsite availability
Best for: Remote races (Hardrock, Bighorn), races with limited local lodging

Camping

Pros: Cheap ($15-40/night), outdoor atmosphere, often allowed near remote race starts
Cons: Poor sleep quality, weather dependent, no amenities, requires gear
Best for: Young, low-budget runners who sleep well anywhere

My philosophy: Hotel quality directly correlates with race performance. I’ll economize on flights (red-eyes, budget carriers) but not accommodations. The $50-80 difference between a mediocre hotel and quality lodging is trivial compared to race entry fees ($200-500) and training investment (hundreds of hours).

Booking Mistakes I’ve Made (So You Don’t Have To)

Mistake #1: Booking the Cheapest Option

For my first Leadville attempt, I booked a budget motel in Leadville proper to save $60 versus nicer options in Frisco. The motel had paper-thin walls, no working heat (it was August but cold at 10,000 feet), and neighbors partying until 2 AM. I got maybe 3 hours of fragmented sleep before a 100-mile race. Terrible decision.

Mistake #2: Not Confirming Check-In Times

I once flew into Salt Lake City, drove 3 hours to a Wasatch Front hotel, and arrived at 11 PM to find the front desk closed and no late check-in instructions. Spent 45 minutes calling emergency numbers and waking up staff. The stress crushed my pre-race calm.

Mistake #3: Forgetting About Sunday Post-Race

Early in my ultra career, I’d book Friday-Saturday only, planning to drive home Sunday. This is insane. After a 100-miler, you can barely walk, are often hypothermic or nauseous, and need 12-16 hours of sleep. Always book Sunday night, even if you think you’ll finish early and feel fine. You won’t.

Final Thoughts on Race Weekend Accommodations

Your hotel is more than just a place to sleep – it’s your pre-race headquarters, crew staging area, and post-race recovery room. Treating it as disposable logistics rather than critical race infrastructure is a mistake I made early on and learned from painfully.

The difference between arriving at the start line rested, calm, and prepared versus stressed, sleep-deprived, and frazzled often comes down to accommodation quality. When I’m investing 4-6 months of training and $500-1,000 in race fees and travel, economizing on the hotel seems penny-wise and pound-foolish.

Quality sleep, stress-free logistics, and proper recovery space aren’t luxuries for ultra runners – they’re necessities that directly impact performance and race enjoyment. Your legs carry you 100 miles, but your hotel gives you the rest and recovery to make those miles possible.