Have you been on a Utah Road Trip? Unfortunately if you haven’t you are missing a wonderful outdoor world of amazing opportunities.
If you’ve been to Utah you understand what an incredible part of the USA it is.
There is so much to see and do on a Utah road trip, so go and explore.
We flew into Salt Lake City Utah to start our Utah road trip expedition and flew out of Phoenix Arizona. Another option is flying in or out of Las Vegas Nevada. Plan where you want to go and make the right fit for you and or your family.
I will talk about some of the places that we have been to and seen first hand. With that said, there will be so many more amazing places to visit in Utah that we haven’t had the pleasure to see yet.
These are the places that we visited from Salt Lake City Utah heading down south and back west in Utah on our Utah road trip. We visited many places in Arizona on our extended trip. You can read about those on my blog Amazing Arizona Sights To See.
The Great Salt Lake
Day 1
We flew into Salt Lake City Utah, picked up our rental car and had just enough time to stop by our hotel near the airport to check in. Then grab some food on the go to get to the Great Salt Lake at sunset.
I personally think it’s worth checking out if you will be in Salt Lake City. Even if you only had a short time frame like us you may be able to see the Great Salt Lake. Sunset over the lake is beautiful! We took hwy 80 towards the Great Salt Lake and parked at the Great Saltair as many people were doing so to see the sunset. If we had more time we would’ve checked out Antelope Island.
The smell can be bad, but once you are out there you get used to it. It was too cold for us to get into the lake but thought it would be fun to feel how easy you float.
- Cost:
- Free in the area we parked at and entered. Other areas may have a fee to enter and park.
- Tips:
- Bring a flashlight or headlamp if going to see the lake at sunset or if you will be out there in the dark. The ground can be uneven and wet in areas which can be hard to walk in the dark.
- If visiting in the heat of summer make sure that you take a water bottle. The hike out to the lake was further than we would have thought. Distance to the water depends on where you access the lake from.
- We did encounter a lot of brine flies. The brine flies didn’t bite us but bug spray may be handy if other bugs are bothering you.
- If you have the chance to float you will want to bring a towel and change of clothes. Definitely take a shower there if in an area that provides one. The brine shrimp may be tagging along on your body as well as a lot of salt.
Arches National Park
Day 2
Day 2 we set out early and headed to the grocery store grabbing food and items needed for our fun journey.
My husband and I always try to save money where we can. There are many grocery stores in Salt Lake City including health food stores. In the small towns it can be hard finding special items for those with food allergies such as myself.
We buy containers of water, sports drinks, items for sack lunches, snacks and easy breakfast items.
I also bring with me a collapsible insulated bag or two that I fit in my luggage. All I need then is to buy ice or ice packs to keep lunch meat and drinks cold. Doing this will help you when visiting the parks. Having plenty of drinks, lunch and snacks will greatly help you out during your cool expeditions.
After our grocery shopping and lunch we headed on our journey to Moab, UT which takes about 4 1/2 hours.
Of course you can make plans to do any stops along the way if wanted.
We were on a mission to hurry to Moab and check into our hotel as that would be our base camp for the next 2 nights.
The Rustic Inn where we stayed is a nice cozy hotel not far off the main street. It is close to shopping and restaurants. Check out the mugs they have. My husband loved their Rustic Inn mug so much that he bought one as a souvenir.
Moab is a very cute charming town surrounded by gorgeous landscape. Moab is best known for the 2 National Parks near it. From Moab you can access Arches National Park in about 8 minutes and Canyonlands National Park in about 35 minutes.
If you get into Moab early like we did, you can take advantage of the rest of the day and hit Arches National Park for sunset. I’d suggest taking a sack lunch for dinner and plenty of water.
Arches National Park is a site to see for sure! There are so many beautiful formations throughout the park including the fabulous arches.
Is 1 day in Arches National Park enough? For some people that just want to skim the surface on the park it could be. If you were able to start at sunup till sundown and have a full day out there you could get a lot in. I’d say yes one day could be enough time if you planned your hikes out in advance and if the weather was nice. You couldn’t get every hike that the park offers on that 1 day since there is so much to see and do but you could probably get enough in.
6 Things you must see at Arches National Park on your Utah road trip
Delicate Arch – Amazing! The walk definitely takes time and can be very exhausting in the heat of summer, be prepared. This is about a 3 mile round trip hike from the parking lot. Definitely worth the hike but it is uphill and uneven ground. There are other hikes that offer a view of this arch from a distance if you aren’t able to do this hike.
Double Arch – This arch is Beautiful! Close to the parking area only .6 mile round trip on a mostly level trail. Can be seen from the road and parking lot.
North & South Window and Turret Arches – These arches are fun to see and explore. It is just about a 1 mile round trip hike to see all these Arches in one go. The uphill climb in areas are easy steps and the trail will lead you to all 3 arches and back to the parking lot.
Landscape Arch – Pretty! This arch is in the Devil’s garden area with many other Arches and rock formation walls. It’s a little less than a 2 mile round trip hike. The trail is mostly level ground with some uphill areas. If you check out other areas and arches out of that 2 mile hike you may need to scramble over rocks.
- Cost:
- Check out the Arches National Park website for current and accurate pricing. I’ve heard that at some times they have required reservations to get in. Be sure to check out their website.
- I suggest you purchase an America the Beautiful National Park Pass which was $80 when we visited this park. That pass will get you into National parks and save you a lot of money in the long run since you can use it for a full year.
- Tips:
- Use a hydration backpack so you will have plenty of water while you hike and wander through this amazing park. If visiting in the summer you most definitely want to carry plenty of water with you.
- Wearing loose fitting breathable clothing and a hat is definitely a good thing when it’s hot. Oh, and shoes please don’t wear flip flops or dress shoes. Just had to put that in because I did see some people wearing those types of shoes and were miserable. Seriously you will be doing a lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes that you can hike in.
- If visiting during very busy seasons plan to get there extremely early or go in the afternoon when people are leaving. We did both. The sunset at Delicate Arch was magnificent. Bring a flashlight or headlamp as you will need it walking back to your car.
Canyonlands National Park
Day 3
Set out to Canyonlands National Park early for sunrise if possible. Stay there as long as you want or just do the items listed below and head back over to Arches National park for the remainder of the day.
Canyonlands National Park is a beautiful landscape wonder. It really has a great combination of what all Utah has to show you in the outdoors. There is even an Arch formation with a most amazing view through it.
Many areas of this park you need an off road vehicle for. This park is extremely large and has many options to book all sorts of tours if you have the time and money. We only went to the Island in the Sky area where we were able to drive and explore in our car. There is also another side of the park to enter that has trails and lots to see but our time was short.
Can you see Canyonlands National Park in 1 day? Yes, if you only visit Island in the sky area and see the following items. This will just skim the surface on Canyonlands but will give you a basic knowledge of the scenic views and terrain of the park. If you have more time and money to spend, check out some of the tours and really emerge yourself in it.
Can you see Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park in 1 day? Yes, It could happen since both parks are close by. You would have to make use of your full day by starting at Canyonlands National Park at sunrise. Do the suggested items and then head over to Arches by or before lunch and complete that park by sundown or till dark. It would be a crazy busy hectic day but if you are persistent to see both in 1 day you could. If you have one full day there and part of another day that would make it a little easier to hit both parks like we did.
Which is better Canyonlands or Arches Park? I would choose Arches National Park. We really enjoyed the hikes there and the beautiful arches and formations.
Top 4 things to see at Canyonlands National Park in the Island of the Sky area
Mesa Arch – Walk the Mesa Arch Trail, about a 1/2 mile round trip to the Arch. The view is priceless. A definite must see!
Grand View Point Overlook – Beautiful panoramic view. The view very close to the parking lot. There is also a trail that you can hike 1.8 miles round trip or just walk a short way along the canyon edge and back.
Upheaval Dome – About a 1 mile hike round trip with some steep terrain. Read the information posted at the site and try to answer the question on what you think happened.
Green River Overlook – A beautiful look at the green river winding through the land. It’s a very short walk to get to the overlook from the parking lot.
- Cost:
- Check out the Canyonlands National Park website to see the up to date accurate pricing. If you have an America the Beautiful National Park Pass you can use that or purchase one at the gate.
- Tips:
- Wear a hydration backpack with plenty of water or bring plenty of water bottles. Good hiking shoes are great especially if hiking longer distances. A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are always good to have.
- Pack a sack lunch and snacks for whatever time period you might be out there. A nice little picnic with an outstanding view is always great.
Day 4
This will be an exciting day of your Utah road trip with many fun stops along the way.
Check out of your hotel early and begin your fun road trip journey heading to Monument Valley.
There are many fun side trips to see along the way traveling on hwy 191. It will take a little less than 3 hours to make it to Monument Valley without stops. The little side stops will add to your trip but will be well worth it.
The first side trip you may want to check out is the Hole N” the Rock.
Hole N” the Rock is just off of hwy 191 about 12 miles south of Moab. It is an interesting home that was carved out of a huge sandstone rock. This is now a museum as no one lives there anymore.
Hole N” the Rock is a cool pit stop that has souvenirs, snacks, drinks and bathrooms for a quick stop. It was fun to check out and see all the interesting things around there. We didn’t do the tour of the house but you can kinda get a sneak peak through the gift shop.
- Cost:
- Free to browse in gift shop and look around outside. There is a fee for the house tour and for the petting zoo.
- Tips:
- Fun rest stop for anyone but especially with kids.
Next along the route is the Wilson Arch, that is if you hadn’t already had your fill of Arches. We just drove by as you can see it from the road since we had many other stops planned.
Church rock is another formation you can see from the road.
Twin Rocks Trading Post
The Twin Rocks Trading Post is a nice stop to take a stretch and check out the rock formation and gift shop. We enjoyed browsing through the shop. They have good quality items for a very nice souvenir or great gift. Most if not all the items sold there are personally made from people in the area.
- Cost:
- Free to enter and browse. Only costs if you find something you want to buy, which we did.
- Tips:
- When we visited, the lady that was working there had lots of useful information on where else to visit in the area. She gave us information on the Sand Island Petroglyphs and Goose Necks State Park.
- They also had so much interesting information on items in the store on who made them and their stories. So if you stop by don’t hesitate in asking some questions about the area, they might just help you find a hidden gem. You might even find a souvenir that you can treasure.
Sand Island Visitor Station
The Sand Island Petroglyphs is just a short stop off of hwy 191. If you have time make a quick side trip.
If you haven’t seen Petroglyphs in person here’s your chance. They are along the cliff wall very close to the parking area. Definitely worth a few extra minutes to stop by and see first hand.
- Cost:
- Free to access and see. They do have camping available there for a fee.
- Tips:
- Located about 3-4 miles west of Bluff Utah. Look for the Sand Island boat launch and camp sign just off of hwy 191. In the parking lot look for the signs and the fencing along the rock panel to know where to look for the Petroglyphs.
Goosenecks State Park
To get to Goosenecks State Park – from hwy 191 you need to take hwy 163 to hwy 261 to hwy 316. This will take you about 30 minutes to get there from the Sand Island Petroglyphs.
Goosenecks State Park has an outrageous view. It is a very small park but really is very beautiful. Looking down into the canyon is a view of the San Juan river as it twists and turns and creates this amazing landscape.
- Cost:
- $5 per car to enter as of the time we went.
- Tips:
- The view is just right off from the parking lot. No hiking involved. This can be just a fast stop on your journey but well worth it.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Monument Valley is actually on the border of Utah/Arizona.
Before reaching your beautiful destination check out the Forest Gump spot. There is a sign marking the location of this spot off the highway. If you aren’t interested in a movie spot, stop off anyway. You can marvel on the beautiful view of your upcoming destination.
When you finally reach this wonderful destination check into your cabin, room or camping spot. Then relax and enjoy the view. If you arrive too early to check in go on a drive through the park if it’s open.
It feels like you are on a movie set when there. Funny to say that, it actually is a natural background for some movies you may have seen before. In this particular spot we remembered seeing it on the National Lampoons Vacation. So my husband had to do his reenactment of Chevy Chase walking with his shirt over his head through this landmark area.
Seriously though it feels “unreal” to be there.
We stayed in a cabin in Monument valley with the view of the mittens from our balcony. I would highly suggest you stay in a cabin there, we absolutely loved it. You can walk straight out the door and be on a natural platform with the view of The Mittens, John Ford’s Point and the vast area of beauty.
What is the prettiest place in Utah? Well the prettiest place to me is actually on the border of Utah and Arizona. In my opinion it is the Monument Valley. Watching the sunset is spectacular with the mittens and other formations lit up as the sun fades. After the dark has really set in, go back outside and enjoy the magnificent view of the lit up sky with the multitude of stars. Definitely a magical trip!
Don’t miss out on the view from the hotel/gift shop look out view point.
Unfortunately we weren’t able to do the drive through the park. The drive through the Monument Valley park was not open when we stayed there.
- Cost:
- There is a fee to enter the park and drive through. Prices vary on the accommodations at the park. Hotel rooms, cabins or camping can be found there.
- Check out the Monument Valley website for up to date accurate pricing, accommodations and any other important policies they have in place.
Day 5
After checking out of your stay at Monument Valley go drive through the park if you hadn’t already.
Then I suggest to either drive to Page Arizona or Kanab Utah to stay and have a base camp there for your next explorations. From Monument Valley it will take a little over 2 hours to get to Page Arizona and about 3 1/2 hours to make it to Kanab Utah.
We had a lot of activities we were planning to do around that area as there is so much offered there. On this visit we stayed in Page but Kanab would be a nice place to stay as well. Page is a bigger city if you prefer or need that verses Kanab which is a smaller town. Definitely replenish water, sports drinks, food/snack items in Page if you need varying options.
I will finish this off with the rest of our Utah road trip and how we incorporated it all in our time frame. You may want to stay longer in some areas and change course all together. Get more information in my Amazing Arizona Sights To See blog if you plan to continue through Arizona.
Belly of the Dragon
The Belly of the Dragon was a quick stop to explore. It’s right next to the parking area. A very short walk through unless you want to continue your adventure outside the tunnel.
Follow the trail and it will lead you to an area where people have built cairns of all sizes and shapes. Some will say you don’t ever build or alter cairns as they are markers. I think in this area only it would be okay as you can tell it’s not a marker or directing you anywhere. It’s just an area where people are free to build and create with the multitude of rocks.
I’ve heard people complaining that this is not a natural tunnel so why visit? Whether it was man made or not didn’t seem to bother me. I think it is a fun place to explore and take fun pictures. Definitely fun for kids traveling through a pretend Dragons belly.
- Cost:
- Free
- Tips:
- Bring a flashlight or head lamp. It can get dark in there so a light would be handy so you can watch your step. If walking the trail after the tunnel make sure you have a water bottle especially in the heat of the summer.
Sand Caves
The Sand Caves are very cool. A neat cave to explore and hang out in for a bit. This is fun for the whole family however getting up to it on the hike might be hard with little ones. If you have kids that can climb very well or you are able to get little ones up there be sure to have them by your side. There are many places they could easily fall out of if not attended. As I have said before, man made or not it is still fun to check out.
- Cost:
- It’s free to explore
- Tips:
- Parking is across the road from the cave in small pull off areas. It is located about 5 miles North of Kanab off hwy 89. You can see the caves from the highway. If you get to Moqui Cave you have gone too far.
The WAVE
Day 6
If you are a lucky permit holder or you are trying your chance and are lucky at an in person drawing in Kanab Utah this might be your activity for the day.
You have to pay a fee to enter online with the Recreation.gov website for the drawing of the Wave lottery. It is a lottery system on determining who can get permits to hike the wave. There is a small allowance of people that get to hike this magnificent wonder each day.
The Wave is actually in Arizona on the border with Utah. Trailhead starts in Utah but the Wave is actually in Arizona.
The Wave is such an amazing jaw dropping experience. And the hike itself to and from the wave is outstanding. It actually feels like you are on another planet. The wave is a wonderful colorful sandstone formation in the north part of Coyote Buttes.
If you are fortunate to get to hike the Wave then you need to decide if you want to hire a guide. Guides can be reserved to make sure that you don’t get lost and are able to see all the great sites. If hiking the wave on your own with your group you need a compass, GPS and a map. We hired a guide and that really did help our group find everything and we were able to focus more on the beautiful wonder.
I would not recommend taking small children or children at all. If you are determined to take your kids don’t take them in the heat of the summer. It can be absolutely miserable for the kids and you and also life threatening if they get way too hot and dehydrated. I also would not recommend anyone with health issues or the elderly.
This is a very long hike and depending on the weather can be very hard to endure. Its over a 6 mile round trip but in the heat of the summer feels a lot longer. We took this hike in July. There is no shade! It was extremely hot and was very exhausting. Even with that said it was such a wonderful opportunity that we greatly enjoyed.
- Cost:
- Check out the pricing and exact details on the Recreation.gov website. There is a fee to try for the lottery tickets. At this time it is $9 for choosing 3 days out of the month they are currently doing the lottery for. If you win the lottery each person will then have to pay $7 each. The pricey side after winning the lottery is hiring a guide if you go that route.
- Tips:
- Food/Drink: You need at least 4 liters of water or more in warmer conditions but it would probably be best to always have that much water with you. Most definitely you want a hydration backpack one that can hold at least 3 – 4 liters of water and then extra room in the pack for a sports drink or extra water and snacks.
- Personally I had 3-4 liters of water with ice in the bladder of the hydration pack. Then I added 1 frozen water bottle and 1 sports drink bottle. You most definitely want to be diligent on sipping water throughout your hike so you don’t get dehydrated.
- It’s important to pack electrolyte packs to put into your water or bring a sports drink or two. That will help you keep your electrolytes balanced and not get dehydrated. I read somewhere that you should take sips of water every 15 minutes while hiking, so I tried doing that or drinking when I could to stay hydrated.
- I packed a lunch and snacks to eat out there. You need to really think hard about keeping your body hydrated and eating good snacks so that your body has the energy it needs.
- Salty snacks are good to pack especially in the heat of the summer when you are sweating a lot. I packed a small bag of pickles, a sandwich, salty chips, dried fruit mixed with nuts, beef jerky, and a granola bar.
- Clothing:
- Wear layers during cold months to keep yourself warm, shedding clothing if needed. During the heat of the summer make sure that you wear a long sleeve shirt (like a fishing shirt or similar) and shorts or pants to keep most of your skin covered. It really depends on how much skin you want exposed to the sun and how you burn.
- You want to wear loose fitting breathable clothing in the hotter months. Don’t forget a hat to help keep the sun off your face and sunglasses to protect your eyes.
- Shoes – hiking boots or hiking shoes are best to invest in. The ground is uneven and can be slippery on the rocky surfaces. There is also sand you will have to walk through.
- Accessories:
- Walking sticks can be useful but not a necessity. There were times where I did use them and they helped a bit.
- A cooling towel really helps cool you down when its hot outside. I used one and kept a spare one in my hydration backpack near a frozen water bottle.
- Sunscreen is highly recommended, there is no shade out there. Lip balm is another thing most people don’t think about but if you are like me it would be needed and appreciated.
- Okay this item may take you for a loop but doggie bags not only for your dog but for you too. Might even throw in just a bit of toilet paper. In this park as it should be in all parks what you bring in you bring out. There are no bathrooms out there so if you gotta go – you gotta go and must take it back out with you.
If you were not able to hike the Wave check out my Amazing Arizona Sites To See, you might just find something else fun to do.
A Utah Road trip with the family would be a great adventure!
FAMILY TIPS ON HIKING:
I love for families to travel and explore the great outdoors together. Just be prepared!
Those traveling with small kids really need to make sure that they are by your side at all times. So many of these amazing views at any of these parks could be devastating if a small child wanders off or gets too close to an edge.
I know when my kids were small some of our adventures were so nerve wracking. Plan ahead and bring front or back carriers for your little ones for you to carry them in. Use a child harness or wrist leash to your wrist, something that will ensure the child to stay close to you. It just takes a blink of an eye for the child to be out of reach.
Don’t stress or stop yourself from these adventures just be prepared ahead of time. Also be prepared to take breaks on hikes with small ones. Realize that children can dehydrate fast and their little legs and bodies get tired.
At some of these parks we noticed very small kids fussing and crying on these hikes. Some of these kids needed a break, shade or water. Make sure that you bring an umbrella if you will be in an area with no shade. And as for yourself make sure that they have a hat and sunscreen on.
Definitely make sure that they have plenty of water. If they are big enough buy them a hydration pack or some water bottle carrier on them so they can drink when they want or need. Otherwise make sure that you offer water very often especially in the heat of summer.
Pack snacks, kids need food for energy just like we do.
Plan ahead and determine if your kids can handle the hike. If not don’t torture kids or yourself in that stressful situation.
Read my blogs on activities for kids in car and motion sickness and elevation pressure. Those blogs might help you out on your Utah road trip.