18 Incredible Activities for Your Utah National Parks Road Trip
A Utah national parks road trip is a must for anyone’s bucket list. The best part is that Utah’s national parks, collectively known as “The Mighty Five”, are all relatively close together, which makes it possible to visit them all on a single road trip. But with five national parks and multiple nearby national monuments and stunning state parks, it can be hard to narrow down which places belong on your itinerary. For each of the five parks, we’ve included the best activities inside the park plus nearby hidden gems that most out-of-staters overlook.
Here’s a quick summary of where you’ll be stopping:
Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary
- St. George
- Zion National Park
- Kanab
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Scenic Byway 12 through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Goblin Valley
- Moab
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
There’s going to be a ton to do on this itinerary but if you want more, read about our Utah bucket list.
Quick tip before you embark on this journey: since you’ll be visiting multiple national parks, make sure to buy the America the Beautiful national parks pass. It only costs $80 and will save you money over paying individual entrance fees at each park.
Best Airport to Start Your Utah National Parks Road Trip
There are two options for major international airports if you’re visiting Utah’s national parks from out of state or out of country – Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. The option we recommend is to fly into SLC and drive south on I-15 towards Zion (around a 5-hour drive). You’ll end your Utah national parks road trip in Moab and then return to the SLC airport (around a 4-hour drive). The other option is to start in Las Vegas and drive north on I-15 towards Zion, which is a shorter drive and takes less than three hours. However, the return drive from Moab takes almost 7 hours. Alternatively, Moab has a small regional airport. SkyWest operates daily flights from Moab to Denver as well as seasonal flights to Salt Lake.
15 Incredible Activities for Your Utah National Parks Road Trip
There are so many fun things to do on a Utah national parks road trip that’s hard to rank them, let alone even list them all. So rather than attempt to rank a top 10 list, we’ll just list them in order of a recommended itinerary. It will be up to you how much time to spend at each stop but we recommend at least 7-10 days for the whole trip.
1. Hike a volcano
Is hiking a volcano on your bucket list? Maybe you saw some viral footage of the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland or you dream of going to Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii. Checking that volcano hike off your bucket list is easier and closer than you think! Look no further than the hidden gem that is the Cinder Cone Trail near St. George, Utah. The trail is a moderate 1.7 miles and wraps around the volcano until you reach the rim, where you get excellent vies of Snow Canyon State Park to the east.
St. George makes for a great first stop on your Utah national parks itinerary. It’s the largest metro area in southern Utah and is located less than hour from Zion National Park with a plethora of state parks and other outdoors activities to try.
2. Go cliff jumping at Sand Hollow
One of our favorite things to do in St. George is to visit Sand Hollow State Park. This item on the Utah national parks itinerary could have many alternate titles – go paddleboarding, go boating, relax at the sandy beach, ride a UTV in the sand dunes… The point is, Sand Hollow is awesome and there’s a ton of possible activities here. It’s hugeley popular with Utah locals but overlooked by most out-of-staters.
3. Hike the famous Angel’s Landing
Zion National Park is the first big stop on your Utah national parks road trip. Five million people visited in 2021 but don’t let that scare you away from visiting. It’s one of those places that’s popular for good reason. Plus, if you want to enjoy the park with fewer people just avoid the summer months. There is a ton to see and do, but Zion has a shuttle system that makes it very easy to see the park’s highlights. There are nine different stops, so you could easily spend the day just hopping on and off the shuttle to see the sites or you could do some longer hikes like the Emerald Pools or the Narrows.
One hike in particular, Angel’s Landing, has gotten so popular that Zion instituted a permit system in 2022 to limit crowds. This is definitely a bucket list-worthy hike but it’s not for the faint of heart. Towards the top of the steep 4.4-mile trail, there are steep drop offs on other side of you. There is a handrail for safety but even so, people have died here. Your daring efforts will be rewarded with incredible views of the soaring Zion cliffs and valley below.
4. Hike The Subway or The Narrows
The Subway and The Narrows are both popular slot canyons at Zion National Park. The Subway is a long distance hike that requires wading and at times swimming through cold water, as well as scrambling over boulders and waterfalls. It’s only for very experienced hikers and requires a permit. Doesn’t it sound like an adventure?! As an alternative, the Narrows (the bottom-up route) isn’t as intense, though still challenging. It’s also an out-and-back hike without any particular viewpoint or end destination, so you can simply hike as far up as you desire before turning back around.
5. Drive through the Mt. Carmel tunnel
The Mt. Carmel tunnel in Zion National Park is one of the most scenic drives in the country, in our humble opinion. The drive takes you away from the main part of the park with all shuttle stops, meaning it’s a good place to escape the crowds. You’ll wind your way up several switchbacks (take some Dramamine if you’re prone to carsickness) and then you’ll pass through the tunnel. It travels 1.1 miles underneath the towering cliffs.
On the other side of the tunnel is the Zion Canyon Overlook trail, which is an easy alternative to Angel’s Landing. It’s only a 1-mile round trip hike that offers similarly stunning views but with much less risk.
6. Explore Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Coral Pink Sand Dunes is a great hidden gem, even among locals let alone out of state visitors. It’s a shame because it’s a pretty incredible place! The state park is located near Kanab just 45 minutes from the east entrance of Zion. If you want to add a unique adventure to your itinerary and make your Instagram followers jealous, then try sandboarding at Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Or go ahead and splurge for an even bigger adventure – riding around in dune buggies with Coral Pink ATV Tours.
7. Go off-roading to Peekaboo Canyon
Peekaboo Canyon is a slot canyon on the east side of Zion near Kanab. It rivals the famous Antelope Canyon in terms of cool slot canyons but you don’t need a $100+ tour to walk through it. But here’s the kicker! You need 4WD to get there. If you already have a Jeep or some other off-road capable vehicle then you’re good to go. Check out our blog post on how to tour Peekaboo Canyon for free for instructions. If that sounds intimidating, you can still have an adventure by doing a UTV guided tour. Super fun but also pricey!
8. Hike the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park is located around 90 minutes from the East entrance of Zion. We recommend staying at least one night near the park. The closest lodging option to the park is Ruby’s Inn, which is currently operated by Best Western but has been around for over a century!
You’ll want to spend the day exploring the bizarre hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. If you’ve never heard of a hoodoo, they’re essentially huge limestone pillars with an orange hue. The coolest way to experience the uniqueness of the hoodoos is to take the Navajo Loop trail and hike down into the natural amphitheater. You’ll traverse steep switchbacks and pass by famous features like Wall Street and Thor’s Hammer. It’s only 1.7 miles so you’ll have time to try other adventures, so make sure to check out our Bryce Canyon itinerary.
9. See the Milky Way with the naked eye
Don’t wear yourself out too bad hiking those hoodoos, because you’ll want to stay awake for the out-of-this-world stargazing. Bryce Canyon park rangers offer nightly sky programs and you’ll be able to see the Milky Way with the naked eye.
10. Drive the Scenic Byway 12
One of the best parts about this Utah national parks itinerary is the driving in between parks! You’ll get to go on some very scenic drives but Highway 12 between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef is considered one of the best in the country. If you have more time, you could easily spend a couple days exploring the vast Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and its many slot canyons and other landmarks.
11. Hike to a scenic waterfall
Lower Calf Creek Falls is one of the best ways to experience Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and can be done as a stop along the Scenic Byway 12. It’s considered one of the best hikes in Utah because it’s one of the few waterfalls in the region (not counting the flash flood waterfalls that show up momentarily during monsoon season). The hike is on the longer side at 6.7 miles, but you’ll enjoy meandering among sandstone cliffs, beaver ponds and ancient rock art on your way to see a soaring 130-feet waterfall. And after a long hike, you can cool off by taking a dip in the water below the falls.
12. Eat homemade pie in a pioneer cabin
Capitol Reef National Park is probably the most underrated of the Mighty Five. The best part about this park is the mix of ancient Native American and 1800s pioneer history. Start your day by checking out the petroglyphs left by the ancient Fremont people as well as the historic buildings built by Mormon pioneers. Then head over to the Gifford Homestead, where you can walk through fruit orchards and order some fresh-baked pie inside an old pioneer cabin. Don’t wait until late in the day because the pies always sell out. Work off that sugar rush by taking another hike – either Cohab Canyon, Cassidy Arch, or Hickman Bridge. For the best hikes and activities besides eating pie, check out our Capitol Reef itinerary.
13. Glamp in a covered wagon
Glamping near Capitol Reef is one of the most unique experiences on this itinerary. In keeping with the history theme of Capitol Reef, you can either sleep in a conestoga covered wagon or a Native American-style teepee. Both are really cool options and surprisingly spacious inside. One wagon easily fit our family of six with a king bed, bunk beds, and a couch! There’s a luxury option at the Capitol Reef Resort or a budget option at the Broken Spur Inn.
14. Get lost in Goblin Valley
“Goblin mode” may be the 2022 Oxford word of the year, but Goblin Valley has been a cool hidden gem for decades! Goblin Valley State Park is located in the middle of nowhere – seriously, it’s 30 minutes from the nearest town. There’s no cell service, no light pollution, and truly off the grid. You can take a 30-minute detour on the drive from Capitol Reef to Moab to see it for yourself. It doesn’t take long to go for a walk among the hoodoos and goblins. You just go at your own pace because there are no marked trails in the small valley.
If you want another unique glamping experience and want to go to sleep feeling like you’re on another planet, then check out the Goblin Valley yurts.
15. Hike to the iconic Delicate Arch
You’ll end your Utah national parks road trip in Moab, where you get two national parks near one small town. Arches National Park has over 2,000 natural arches but some of the best hikes at Arches are easy and can all be done in a single day. There’s Double Arch, made famous by the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Or there’s Landscape Arch, which is the longest arch in the world. But the most iconic of all is Delicate Arch. It’s an unofficial symbol of the state of Utah, used everywhere from license plates to the Utah Jazz homecourt.
16. Get your adrenaline pumping with a Moab adventure
The other great part about Moab is that it’s an adrenaline junkie’s mecca. Take your pick of adventures, whether it’s whitewater rafting on the Colorado River, mountain biking Slick Rock or Porcupine Rim, or four-wheeling in the desert with a Jeep or UTV. Just try one of the outfitters in town for a guided tour. You’ll definitely want an expert along for the ride. Check out our Moab itinerary for more ideas on things to do and affordable places to stay.
17. Watch the sunrise at Mesa Arch
Canyonlands National Park is worth a visit if for no other reason then it’s a great national park to escape the crowds. It’s actually a massive park and most of it is inaccessible to the average person, unless you’re willing to do some serious backcountry adventuring. Don’t worry, there are still many landmarks that are easily accessible. Mesa Arch is easily the most famous one, especially if you remember the Windows 7 wallpaper from over a decade ago. Ever since then, photographing the arch at sunrise has been somewhat of a right of passage for photographers. Unfortunately, that is one particular place and time that you will have to deal with crowds and fight for a spot among the throngs of photographers and their tripods… but it’s worth it if you can get a shot like this:
18. Visit Salt Lake City’s cultural sites
Your Utah national parks road trip has now come to an end! The drive back to Salt Lake City from Moab takes about 3 ½ hours, so your last day will most likely just be a travel day. But if you have any time to spare, try to take a few hours to see the cultural sites and landmarks of Utah’s capital city, like Historic Temple Square, the State Capitol, or City Creek Mall. After several days of being outdoors, a quick jaunt downtown to eat, go shopping or see the sights will be a welcome change of pace before you head back to reality.
Download Your FREE Utah Bucket List
Our family is on a mission to experience the best our home state of Utah has to offer and help other families find affordable, kid-friendly adventures in the process. You can follow us on Instagram @theminivanbucketlist or download our free printable The Ultimate Family-Friendly Utah Bucket List with the top 100 things to do in Utah, both kid-friendly and more adventurous.
–JJ🤘🏻