Last Updated: 25th April, 2024
road trip in Utah is filled with diverse natural scenery from grandiose red rock formations, unrestrained forests, and charming lakes. The big cities are a fun interval between the long scenic drives, and you’ll never be bored in this adventurous, outdoor state.
The state has an excellent highway structure that makes getting around easy and 27 designated scenic byways that you can enjoy on a road trip through Utah. Keep reading to see our picks of what roads to take and where to stop along the way.
Begin your trip in Salt Lake City, and hire a car at the international airport here. Salt Lake is an outdoorsy city that has a growing arts scene and many craft beers served up at local pubs. Tour the stunning Temple Square - a well-visited landmark and Church of the Latter-day Saints in the centre of Salt Lake City. From here, travel east along the US-40 through forests, valleys, and along lakes to reach Dinosaur National Monument. Discover history, go white water rafting, take a desert hike along Fossil Discovery Trail, and explore the lands where dinosaurs roamed. Folded rock in the Carnegie Quarry exhibits ancient fossils visible right in the cliff face that you can walk by and see.
After a thrilling day immersed in the past, drive down US-191 and you’ll find a plethora of national parks and a gorgeous drive through sprawling landscapes. A few noteworthy parks along the way include Arches National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Along Route 191 you will find Moab. Use the city as a home base for adventure to the outlying areas.Take in a game of golf, try out mountain biking, get a lesson in astronomy, attempt stand up paddle boarding, or go horseback riding. With everything so close to Moab, it’s the perfect spot to rest up and try some day trips out to the beautiful parks and outdoor activities that surround it. Along Scenic Byway 12 lies Bryce Canyon National Park. Filled with hoodoos soaring up to the sky in pink and red hues, the roads along the canyon are stunning. Highway 63 takes you on a scenic loop of the park, or get out and enjoy one of the many hiking trails and stop for a picture at amazing viewpoints like Sunrise, Inspiration, or Bryce viewpoints.
A truly thrilling experience, taking a road trip through Utah’s varying landscapes will leave you with a feeling of wonder, and a desire to return again and again.
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