A Road Trip Guide to Utah

Utah is the state for adventure seekers.  With the “Mighty Five” national parks, 45 state parks, and various outdoor experiences, it is the perfect road trip destination.  Explore these 6 essential stops for an unforgettable time.

When to Visit

Summers in Utah can be unbearably hot, especially if you plan on hiking.  Crowds and temperatures tend to be moderate in March with April-September being the months with the most visitors.   Late September through October isn’t as crowded.

How to Get There

We recommend flying into St. George Regional Airport to begin your trip.  The first stop of the road trip is Zion National Park which is about an hour from St. George.  As the road trip ends with stops in and around Salt Lake City, we would recommend flying out of Salt Lake City International Airport. 

How Many Days Do I Need?

 If you plan on hiking in each of the national parks located in Utah, we would recommend at least a week on the road with 10 days being ideal.  This allows enough time to experience the great outdoors while also enjoying the road trip element. 

Stop #1-Zion National Park

Named a national park in 1919, Zion National Park was the first national park in Utah.  With over 3 million visitors each year, it is a popular Utah destination.  With sandstone cliffs, mountains, and waterfalls, Zion has no shortage of breathtaking views.  If hiking isn’t your thing, the Zion National Park Scenic Drive is a great option.  It is an 8 mile drive (one way) through Zion Canyon with plenty of scenic viewpoints along the way.  You can also rent bikes at (here) and bike the scenic drive or ride the Zion Canyon Road Bike Route, a 17.2 mile out and back trail. 

If you love hiking as much as we do, you won’t want to miss the following trails:

Angels Landing

Probably the most popular hike in Zion National Park, Angels Landing now requires a permit.  This prevents overcrowding on the trail, as crowding near the top became a safety concern.  Permits can be found here.  It is a strenuous 5.4 mile round trip hike with over 1,400 feet of elevation gain.  The last part of the hike, known as the Angel Landing Spine is along cables.  Take your time and keep at least one hand on the cables as you ascend and descend.  The view at the top is worth it! 

If you don’t get a permit to hike Angel’s Landing, check out the Canyon Overlook Trail.  This one mile trail is a moderate hike, and the view is the same (just a little lower in elevation). 

The Narrows

The Narrows is a hike through a gorge in Zion Canyon.  You will be hiking through the Virgin River, so be prepared to get your feet wet.  Riverside Walk is a one mile paved alternative to hiking and is wheelchair accessible.  If you plan to hike all 16 miles of the Narrows.

Kolob Canyon

Along Kolob Canyons Road, you can easily view the Kolob Canyon red rock from your car window.  This five mile scenic drive offers picturesque views with stops along the drive for hiking or scenic lookouts.

Pa’Rus Trail

If you park at the Visitor’s Center, this trailhead is found right across the road.  It’s a popular path for bikers and a great trail to spot mule deer.

Stop #2-Bryce Canyon National Park

Known for its concentration of hoodoos or irregular rock columns, you don’t want to miss Bryce Canyon National Park. 

Rim Trail

Best hiked from March to November, this 10.7 mile out and back trail is a popular hike in Bryce Canyon National Park.  Sunset Point to Sunrise Point along the trail is a shorter option.  It is one mile and paved, offering breathtaking views of the canyon below.

Queen’s Garden

Best hiked from April to October, Queen’s Garden is a steep but shorter trail option.  It is a 1.8 mile out and back trail that begins at Sunrise Point.  Along the trail, you will be able to see some rock formations such as Gulliver’s Castle, Queen’s Castle, and Queen Elizabeth. 

Fairyland Loop

Beginning at Fairyland Point, the Fairyland Loop Trail is a bit strenuous.  It is a 7.9 mile loop that offers amazing views the entire way.

Stop #3-Lake Powell

Formed by the Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell is an artificial reservoir of the Colorado River.  In the summer, some popular Lake Powell activities include swimming, kayaking, and wakeboarding.  If water activities aren’t your thing, Lake Powell offers hiking opportunities too.  The largest natural bridge, Rainbow Bridge, is located at the edge of Lake Powell. 

Stop #4-Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park boasts colorful canyons and buttes carved by the Colorado River.  There is so much to see here; you could easily spend days hiking various trails.  Some popular hikes in this national park include:

Mesa Arch

An easy half mile hike takes you to the stunning Mesa Arch, a landmark of Utah.

White Rim Overlook

An easy 1.8 mile out and back trail for an epic view of the park.

Grand View Point Trail

This moderate 1.8 mile out and back trail offers panoramic views of the park.

Stop #5-Arches National Park

Arches National Park is one park that we could go to over and over again.   If you plan to visit between April-October 31st of 2023, you will also need a timed entry reservation when entering the park from 7am to 4pm.  These tickets are $2.00 and can be purchased on recreation.gov.  In addition to your park pass, you will also need to show this reservation at the entrance.  We chose to hike to Double Arch and Delicate Arch on our visit.  Double Arch is a short half mile round trip hike, while Delicate Arch is 3 miles roundtrip and more strenuous. 

We hiked Delicate Arch and got to the top right before sunset.  It’s a popular photo spot and while there’s normally a line for photos, it’s nice because the people behind you can snap a quick photo or two.  There is also a ledge below the main viewing area that is great for pictures, and a ledge up to the left of the main viewing area.  We chose to climb to the upper ledge and sit while we waited for sunset.  We hiked down in the dark by the light of everyone’s phone flashlights and stargazed in the parking lot.  Arches National Park is a dark sky park and ideal for stargazing, especially on moonless nights.

Stop #6-Bonneville Salt Flats

The Bonneville Salt Flats is a place like no other.  In what seems like the middle of nowhere, this flat surface of salt looks like another planet.  It is a popular photo spot.   There is limited parking, but you can drive onto the flats.  However, driving onto the flats is not recommended when water is covering the flats.  The best time for driving on the flats is from late June to October.  When we visited in March, some areas were underwater.  We drove from Provo, Utah for an evening visit and it took us about two hours to get there.   Make sure you fill up your gas tank before heading out here!  There are bathrooms next to the parking area, but no gas stations.

There is so much to explore in the state of Utah, and we can’t wait to go back and experience more of its natural beauty. Arizona is a great state to add on to this road trip; check out our Arizona road trip guide!