Riverside Motel

Angel, the site manager, gave us motel service I don’t think I’ve ever had before. Our Turo rental got canceled about six hours before we reached the Helper train station, and Angel picked us up and took us back when we left. The motel is right in town, about half a mile from the station, and the rooms were clean and nice. It’s a little place with a great price. If you’re visiting Helper, stay at the Riverside. Thanks for everything, Angel.

The quick, easy check-in came with a friendly welcome. From the outside, I figured this motel might be a big mistake, but inside was much better: a powerful heater, comfortable sheets and bed, tile floors instead of carpet, good soap, and water with strong pressure and a nice temperature. The price was great. Don’t be scared.

Angel, the owner, is friendly and very helpful, and the rooms are being remodeled one at a time. Some still look dated, but the beds are comfortable, the rooms are clean, and the linens and blankets were good. Hot water, showers, towels, and basic soap were better than I expected. The kitchenette had a clean, working microwave, coffeemaker, and mini fridge. It’s in a great spot in Helper, close to historic downtown, just off the main highway, with a 24-hour convenience store just past the US 6 bridge. If you’re hungry, Angel has a family-run Mexican food stand in the parking lot. The food is delicious, inexpensive, and popular with locals. Wi-Fi was decent, though we had occasional brief power and internet interruptions; Angel said they were caused by city services. Rooms are surprisingly quiet, apart from occasional trains on the main line about 100 feet away. I’m a train buff, so that suited me fine. It isn’t the Hilton, and this place is still a work in progress, but don’t let appearances fool you. The prices are definitely affordable by today’s standards, and I’d readily recommend staying here.

It’s still a work in progress, but it’s better than it was 40 years ago. It’s comfortable enough, and the owners are just plain friendly. There’s a little food truck out front serving the best damn Mexican food I’ve ever had, and I’ve been everywhere, man. Affordable and freaking good. Where else are you going to go, Angel?