# Road trips in Utah > 13 road trips and 45 hand-picked places in Utah, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. Source: https://camping-spirit.com/roadtrips/utah/ 13 road trips and 45 hand-picked places in Utah, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. ## Road trips through Utah - [Utah Scenic Byway 12](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/utah-byway-12/): From Bryce Canyon over the Hogback ridge to Capitol Reef, one of America’s great drives. - [Southeast Utah: Needles, Valley of the Gods and Moki Dugway](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b18-trail-of-the-ancients/): Petroglyphs, the Needles District, the San Juan River goosenecks and the switchbacks of Moki Dugway on a loop through Utah’s remote southeast corner. - [Southwest Utah: Snow Canyon, Kolob and Cedar Breaks to Bryce](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b18-southwest-utah-cedar-breaks/): From St. George to Bryce Canyon by the back way: lava and red rock in Snow Canyon, Zion’s Kolob Canyons, and the high hoodoo bowl of Cedar Breaks. - [San Rafael Swell and Goblin Valley to Capitol Reef](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b18-san-rafael-swell/): From Green River into the San Rafael Swell, then south to Goblin Valley’s hoodoos, a slot canyon and the Fremont River in Capitol Reef. - [Great Salt Lake: salt flats, Antelope Island and Golden Spike](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b18-great-salt-lake/): Cross the Bonneville Salt Flats, see the bison of Antelope Island, and follow the first transcontinental railroad to Spiral Jetty. - [Wasatch and Uintas: Alpine Loop to the Mirror Lake Highway](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b18-wasatch-alpine-loop/): Caves and waterfalls on the Alpine Loop, the mountain towns of Heber and Park City, then high lakes on the Mirror Lake Highway to Wyoming. - [Dinosaurs and Flaming Gorge](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b8-flaming-gorge/): From dinosaur country in Vernal, up US-191 through the Uinta Mountains to the red canyons of Flaming Gorge and on into Wyoming. - [Colorado River Byway to Moab, Dead Horse Point and Island in the Sky](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b18-colorado-river-moab/): Follow the Colorado River into Moab on Utah 128, hike to Corona Arch, then look down on the river from Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands. - [Kanab to Page: pink dunes, hoodoos and Lake Powell](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b8-kanab-page/): Along US-89 from coral-colored dunes to the gateway of Lake Powell, with hoodoos and dinosaurs of Grand Staircase-Escalante on the way. - [Utah's five national parks, in one loop from Las Vegas](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/mighty-five/): Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands, returning past Monument Valley and Horseshoe Bend. - [Logan Canyon and Bear Lake to Idaho’s hot springs](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b18-logan-canyon-bear-lake/): Up Logan Canyon to the turquoise water of Bear Lake, then north into Idaho for a sandstone tabernacle, a timed geyser and hot pools. - [Grand Canyon North Rim and Marble Canyon: Kanab to Page](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b18-north-rim-marble-canyon/): Cross the Arizona Strip to the quiet North Rim of the Grand Canyon, then drop past the Vermilion Cliffs to Navajo Bridge and Lees Ferry. - [Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b18-navajo-nation/): Across the Navajo Nation from Gallup to Utah, stopping at a historic trading post, the rims of Canyon de Chelly and a 13th-century village. ## Places worth the detour in Utah - [Zion National Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/zion/): Sandstone walls 2,000 feet high above the Virgin River. A shuttle runs the scenic drive for much of the year. - [Bryce Canyon National Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/bryce/): Amphitheaters crowded with orange hoodoos. The Navajo Loop takes you from the rim down among them. - [Arches National Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/arches/): More than 2,000 natural stone arches. Timed-entry reservations are often required in peak season, so check before you go. - [Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-coral-pink/): Pink-orange dunes blown from eroded Navajo sandstone, with a boardwalk, sandboard rentals and an area for off-highway vehicles. The color is richest in low light. - [Toadstool Hoodoos](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-toadstools/): Balanced rocks perched on pale pillars in Grand Staircase-Escalante, reached on an easy walk of under two miles round trip from US-89. - [Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-dinosaur-quarry/): A glass hall built over a rock wall holding about 1,500 dinosaur bones, still in place. In busy months a shuttle runs from the visitor center. - [Red Canyon Overlook](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-red-canyon-overlook/): Pine-fringed viewpoints about 1,700 feet above the green water of Flaming Gorge Reservoir, next to a small visitor center. The rim trail is easy and fenced in places. - [Dead Horse Point State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-dead-horse-point/): A narrow mesa-top overlook 600 m above a gooseneck of the Colorado River, with a paved rim trail and visitor center. It is a separate state park from Canyonlands, with its own entry fee and two campgrounds. - [Canyonlands – The Needles District](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-needles/): The quieter southern district of Canyonlands, known for banded red-and-white sandstone spires and long day hikes like Chesler Park. The paved scenic drive ends at Big Spring Canyon Overlook; the campground is reservable in season. - [Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-kolob-canyons/): Zion’s quieter northwest section, reached directly from I-15 exit 40. An 8 km paved scenic drive climbs past finger canyons of red Navajo sandstone to a viewpoint; no shuttle is needed here. - [Cedar Breaks National Monument](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-cedar-breaks/): A 600 m deep amphitheater of orange hoodoos at over 3,000 m elevation, with rim viewpoints along Utah 148. The road is usually open late May to October; wildflowers peak in July. - [Goblin Valley State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-goblin-valley/): A basin full of thousands of mushroom-shaped sandstone hoodoos that you can freely walk and climb among. The paved road from Utah 24 ends at an observation shelter; the park also has yurts and a campground. - [Mirror Lake, Uinta Mountains](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-mirror-lake/): An alpine lake at 3,100 m below Bald Mountain, just off the Mirror Lake Highway (Utah 150). A recreation pass is required to stop along the byway; the road is closed by snow from about November to late May. - [Bonneville Salt Flats](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-bonneville-salt-flats/): A vast white crust of salt west of the Great Salt Lake, famous for land speed records. A rest area on I-80 has a viewing platform; driving onto the salt is only advisable when dry, usually late summer. - [Antelope Island State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-antelope-island/): The largest island in the Great Salt Lake, reached by an 11 km causeway, with a free-roaming bison herd, pronghorn and beaches. Fielding Garr Ranch dates from 1848. Bring insect repellent in late spring. - [Capitol Reef National Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/capitol-reef/): A 100-mile wrinkle in the earth with pioneer orchards in the middle. In season you can pick fruit, and the Gifford House sells pie. - [Mesa Arch, Canyonlands](https://camping-spirit.com/places/mesa-arch/): A half-mile walk to an arch on the edge of a cliff. At sunrise the underside glows red. - [Watchman Campground](https://camping-spirit.com/places/cg-watchman/): Riverside sites at the mouth of Zion Canyon, a short walk from the shuttle and the town of Springdale. - [Devils Garden Campground](https://camping-spirit.com/places/cg-devils-garden/): Sites tucked among sandstone fins at the far end of the Arches scenic drive, with a trailhead next to camp. - [Fruita Campground](https://camping-spirit.com/places/cg-fruita/): Grassy sites among Capitol Reef's historic orchards along the Fremont River. - [Lower Calf Creek Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/calf-creek/): A 126-foot waterfall at the end of a sandy six-mile round trip through a red canyon. - [Moqui Cave](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-moqui-cave/): A family-run roadside museum inside a sandstone cave on US-89, with fossils, fluorescent minerals and old-West curiosities. - [Big Water Visitor Center](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-big-water-dinos/): A Grand Staircase-Escalante visitor center with fossils and life-size models of the dinosaurs and sea creatures found in the monument. - [Flaming Gorge Dam](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-flaming-gorge-dam/): A 500-foot concrete dam in a red-walled gorge of the Green River. Walk across the top; the river below is famous for trout. - [Sheep Creek Canyon Geological Area](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-sheep-creek/): A loop road through tilted, twisted rock layers along a creek, with bighorn sheep on the slopes. Not suitable for large RVs. - [Fisher Towers](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-fisher-towers/): Dark red mud-and-sandstone spires up to 275 m tall, rising above the Colorado River off Utah 128. A trail winds 3.5 km among the towers; the last 3 km of access road is graded dirt, fine for cars. - [Corona Arch Trail](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-corona-arch/): A 5 km return hike from Potash Road (Utah 279) to a free-standing arch with a span of about 43 m, passing Bowtie Arch. One short section uses cables and a ladder. Go early; there is no shade. - [Grand View Point Overlook](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-grand-view-point/): The southern tip of Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky, looking over the White Rim and the canyons of the Green and Colorado rivers. An easy 3 km return rim trail continues past the parking lot. - [Newspaper Rock](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-newspaper-rock/): A sandstone panel packed with hundreds of petroglyphs carved over some 2,000 years, right beside Utah 211 on the way to the Needles District. Parking and viewing platform are free and take ten minutes. - [Valley of the Gods](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-valley-of-the-gods/): A 27 km graded dirt road loops among isolated sandstone buttes and pinnacles, like a smaller Monument Valley without fees. Passable for cars in dry weather; skip it after rain, when the washes flood. - [Goosenecks State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-goosenecks/): An overlook above a series of tight meanders where the San Juan River has cut 300 m into the rock. It is a short paved drive off Utah 261; a small day fee is paid at a self-service kiosk. - [Moki Dugway](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-moki-dugway/): A graded gravel section of Utah 261 that climbs 340 m up the face of Cedar Mesa in tight switchbacks. Signs advise against vehicles over 10,000 lb or 28 ft; the pullouts at the top overlook Valley of the Gods. - [Natural Bridges National Monument](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-natural-bridges/): Three large natural bridges carved by streams, seen from a 14 km one-way loop drive with short trails down to each. Utah’s first national monument is also a certified dark-sky park with a small first-come campground. - [Snow Canyon State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-snow-canyon/): Red and white Navajo sandstone and black lava flows just north of St. George, with short trails to petrified dunes and lava tubes. Utah 18 and the park road are paved; summer afternoons are very hot. - [Red Canyon, Dixie National Forest](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-red-canyon/): Bright red hoodoos right beside Scenic Byway 12, including two arch tunnels the road passes through. A paved bike path, short trails and a visitor center make it an easy stop before Bryce Canyon. - [The Wedge Overlook](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-wedge-overlook/): The edge of the Little Grand Canyon of the San Rafael River, reached on graded dirt roads north of I-70. Fine for cars in dry weather; there are no services, so carry water and fuel. - [Little Wild Horse Canyon](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-little-wild-horse/): One of the most accessible slot canyons in Utah, with narrow, curving walls just wide enough to walk through. The trailhead is a few kilometers past Goblin Valley; avoid it when storms threaten. - [Hickman Bridge Trail](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-hickman-bridge/): A 3 km return trail in Capitol Reef climbs to a 40 m natural bridge above the Fremont River. The trailhead is right on Utah 24, which crosses the park free of charge. - [Timpanogos Cave National Monument](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-timpanogos-cave/): Three linked limestone caves full of helictites, reached by a steep paved trail climbing 335 m. Tours run late spring to early autumn and sell out; book online in advance. - [Bridal Veil Falls, Provo Canyon](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b18-bridal-veil-falls/): A 185 m double cascade on the side of Provo Canyon, seen from a park and paved river trail beside US-189. Best in spring and early summer when snowmelt is high. ## FAQs **What are the best road trips in Utah?** Popular routes include Utah Scenic Byway 12, Southeast Utah: Needles, Valley of the Gods and Moki Dugway, Southwest Utah: Snow Canyon, Kolob and Cedar Breaks to Bryce and San Rafael Swell and Goblin Valley to Capitol Reef. CampingSpirit has 13 trip guides that pass through Utah, each with a stop-by-stop itinerary and a route map. **Which places in Utah are worth a detour?** Our editors recommend Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Toadstool Hoodoos and Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall.