Last Updated on twenty eighth February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Planning a Utah highway journey itinerary? We have the proper week lengthy information for you. Utah is an unbelievable place to go to for individuals who love the outside.
No matter what time of 12 months, there’s loads of enjoyable available on this state. And with 5 nationwide parks (known as the Mighty 5), you actually can’t go fallacious right here. These nationwide parks embrace Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands.
Introducing Utah
Hitting all of the highlights in Utah may be difficult with solely 7 days, however you may undoubtedly make it work. This 7-day Utah itinerary gives you a style of every nationwide park, and once you resolve to come back again, you’ll know which locations you wish to linger in.
Having lived most of my life in Utah, I’m ashamed to say I haven’t finished a highway journey like this, however that is what I might do if I had been going to (and now I’ve an excuse to check it).
When to Visit Utah
Like I stated, there’s no fallacious time to go to Utah. However, this journey can be finest fitted to April-October since there’s going to be a good quantity of driving, and also you in all probability don’t wish to take care of driving within the chilly, snow, and ice.
Fall is my favourite time of 12 months in Utah (and usually), so I’d suggest moving into October. You’ll be capable of see the autumn colours and the nationwide parks can be much less crowded than they’re throughout the summer season.
Note: Most if not all of those locations are susceptible to flash floods, so verify the climate and updates from the nationwide parks usually.
How to Get There
You’ve obtained a few choices flying into the world, and it form of is determined by the place you wish to begin and the place you wish to end.
You can fly in by means of Salt Lake City International Airport, which is slightly below 4 hours driving to the following vacation spot, Moab. With this selection, you may both e book a roundtrip flight and drive again from Zion National Park once you’re finished (about 4.5 hours), or you may head to Las Vegas (about 2.5 hours).
The journey can be finished in reverse, beginning in Vegas and ending in SLC. Or you may e book a roundtrip flight from Vegas and drive again from Moab or Salt Lake City (each drives are 6-6.5 hours).
For the aim of this itinerary, we’re going to begin in SLC and end in Vegas, which has the least quantity of driving time, however you may adapt it nevertheless you need.
Where to Stay in Utah
You’ll be venturing throughout the state, which suggests you’ll want completely different lodging each night time.
While you’re in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas, there are tons of inns and Airbnbs to select from. I used to be raised to at all times keep in Marriotts. You can discover them just about anyplace, and so they’ll at all times be first rate high quality.
In downtown Salt Lake, both the City Creek or the City Center ones are good choices that can put you in the course of town. For one thing a bit cheaper, there’s a Fairfield Inn or a Residence Inn, each about quarter-hour exterior of downtown.
While you’re driving by means of the state, you may contemplate tenting in or close to the nationwide parks, or you possibly can lease an RV to make your keep a bit simpler. All the nationwide parks have inns, inns, and lodges close by, so there are many choices.
How to Get Around
You’ll undoubtedly want a automobile for this journey. If you’re flying in, you’ll have to lease one (verify rental costs right here) or, as talked about, you may lease an RV which might double as your transportation and your lodging.
Any automobile ought to do, you received’t want one for off-roading (although if you wish to there are many locations within the areas you’re visiting to do this in the event you so want to). For extra info, remember to try our high highway journey suggestions. And for extra inspiration, try this information to the finest highway journeys within the USA.
Suggested itinerary for a 7 days in Utah highway journey
Day 1 – Salt Lake City
Start your journey within the state capital, Salt Lake City. This metropolis surrounded by mountains has a wealthy historical past, but when that’s not your cup of tea, there are additionally loads of mountain climbing and out of doors alternatives close by.
While you’re right here you may discover town, visiting locations like Temple Square, the center of town and the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Utah State Capitol, a stunning constructing with stunning grounds and structure. You may also go to the Hogle Zoo or the Natural History Museum of Utah.
If you wish to get exterior, head to Big Cottonwood Canyon (simply 20 minutes exterior town) the place you’ll discover loads of mountain climbing. Or you may go to Park City, vacationer cease within the mountains that at all times has tons of occasions and actions occurring (40 minutes away).
You may additionally wish to cease by a grocery retailer and decide up snacks and meals, as there are restricted choices in among the parks you’ll be visiting. If you’ve obtained an additional day to spend right here, try our 2-day Salt Lake City itinerary.
Day 2 – Canyonlands
Drive south to Moab, a small city recognized for its proximity to 2 of Utah’s most well-known nationwide parks, Arches and Canyonlands, and one among Utah’s state parks, Dead Horse Point. It’ll take you slightly below 4 hours, so get an early begin, but additionally benefit from the scenic drive.
You can both spend the remainder of the day exploring Canyonlands or Arches. Choose whichever one you don’t thoughts spending much less time in because you received’t should drive as a lot on day 3.
Canyonlands National Park covers over 337,000 acres of rugged terrain. There are three most important areas within the park: Island within the Sky, the Maze, and the Needles. Island within the Sky is closest to Moab and one of many park’s hottest areas.
Be certain to go to Grand View Point, one of many coolest viewpoints within the park. Take a hike to Mesa Arch, maybe the park’s most well-known landmark. If you’ve obtained time head to Green River Overlook or Shafer Canyon Overlook and benefit from the unbelievable views of the canyons and rock formations because the solar units.
Day 3 – Arches
Spend the following day exploring Arches National Park. Hike to Delicate Arch, one of many park’s most well-known landmarks, and watch the dawn over the park’s beautiful crimson rock formations. The hike takes two to 3 hours, relying in your tempo.
After, you may hike the Devils Garden, a 7-mile path which may be shortened and also you’ll nonetheless see some cool sights, together with enormous boulders, tunnels, and arches. If this appears too lengthy, then don’t fear as you may alternatively hike simply the panorama arch, which is a 1.9 mi/3.1 km roundtrip portion of the Devils Garden.
On your manner out of the park, there are some nice landmarks alongside the highway the place you may cease and take footage. These embrace Balanced Rock, the Windows, Double Arch, and the Petrified Dunes Lookout.
You could make the 2-hour drive to Capitol Reef throughout the night to avoid wasting you a while on day 4.
Day 4 – Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef National Park is usually neglected amongst Utah’s parks, nevertheless it has some unbelievable sights, and it’s a little bit of a hidden gem in Utah’s nationwide park system.
Start with a hike to the Hickman Bridge Arch, which spans 133 ft. The 1.8-mile path gives you beautiful views of this park.
Take a hike alongside the Capitol Gorge Trail or the Chimney Rock Trail and discover the park’s historic orchards and pioneer-era buildings. There are numerous viewpoints alongside Highway 24, together with Panorama and Sunset Viewpoints, and it’s also possible to see some petroglyphs.
When you’re finished right here, make the two.5-hour drive to Bryce Canyon
Day 5 – Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park is thought for its distinctive geological formations known as hoodoos, and it’s one among my favourite parks.
You can take a hike alongside the park’s rim, providing you with completely different views on the hoodoos, or descend into the canyon and discover the paths that wind by means of the formations.
One nice hike is the Navajo Loop, which lets you hike down into the hoodoos and see them from a wholly completely different perspective. At the beginning of this path, you’ll be capable of see the well-known hoodoo Thor’s Hammer — which so far as I do know nobody has been capable of elevate— and alongside the way in which you’ll see issues like enormous bushes rising in between the rock formations and towering hoodoos.
Watch the sundown over the park’s beautiful landscapes and benefit from the unbelievable views.
Day 6 – Zion
Head to Zion National Park, one among Utah’s hottest and beloved parks (1.5 hours from Bryce). Take a scenic drive by means of the park’s beautiful landscapes, together with towering rock formations, deep canyons, and dashing rivers.
If you’re a critical hiker, you may contemplate a hike to the highest of Angels Landing, one of many park’s most well-known and most difficult trails, which you’ll want a allow to hike.
If you’re not up for that, discover the Narrows, a shocking canyon with towering partitions and a winding river. There’s a one-mile paved part, however if you wish to go additional in, you’ll should hike by means of the river.
Day 7 – Back to SLC or on to Las Vegas
On your final day, both head again north to Salt Lake or head right down to Las Vegas, the place you may discover town or just board your flight again dwelling. For extra inspiration, remember to try our urged itinerary for Las Vegas.
We hope you get pleasure from your time in Utah visiting these beautiful nationwide parks!
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About the creator: Lexi Cooper is a contract editor and author. Her mother and father taught her a love for touring, seeing new sights, and studying concerning the world. Along along with her ardour for journey, she loves tales and goals of spending her days studying and writing books and wandering the globe.