Utah is one of the most popular states in the country for tourists, and it’s not hard to see why. The natural beauty throughout the state ranges from lush, green alpine forests to otherworldly red rock and everything in-between. And the world-class ski resorts and bucket-list hiking trails are some of the best vacation spots in Utah.
But what are some of the best places to visit in Utah? We’ve got you covered. Here’s our list of the 18 best vacation spots in Utah.
Park City
Park City is a world-famous vacation destination, and for good reason. No matter what time of year you visit, you’ll find something to meet every interest and need. In winter, world-class skiing is available at the resort, and in summertime you’ll find hiking, fishing, nature exploring, and more. Year-round, Park City is also home to some of the best restaurants in Utah, as well as art galleries, shops, local markets, and one of the state’s best bookstores right on the Park City main street. Park City is maybe most famous as the host of the Sundance Film Festival, but you don’t have to be a film buff or a skiing enthusiast to enjoy one of the many beautiful hotels, villas, chalets, or rental condos available for your perfect alpine vacation.
Sundance Resort
Confusingly, the Sundance Film Festival doesn’t actually take place primarily at Sundance Resort— that happens at nearby Park City. But Sundance Resort was founded by the film festival’s founder, Robert Redford. Sundance offers all of the alpine charm of Park City in a smaller, less tourist-heavy package. Just fifteen minutes up Provo Canyon, this resort offers skiing and snowboarding in winter and plenty of hikes in the summertime. In fact, the trailhead to Utah’s most popular peak— Mt. Timpanogas— is located just up the road from Sundance. You’ll also have access to the Alpine Loop, Utah’s most famous scenic drive. If you’re looking for mountain charm, plenty of rental properties nestled into the aspen trees, and more nature than you know what to do with, Sundance is one of the best vacation spots in Utah regardless of the season.
Moab
Now it’s time to switch gears, from the lush, green, snowy climes of Park City and Sundance to a landscape that’s closer to the surface of Mars than anything you’ll find in northern Utah. Moab is a town situated in one of the most unique landscapes on earth, amongst the red rock formations of the two national parks it’s sandwiched between— Arches National Park and Canyonlands National park. Both are just a short drive from downtown Moab, which is a major draw on its own. But Moab has its own attractions, from off road vehicle rentals, hot-air balloon and helicopter rides, and world-class mountain biking trails to dozens of hotels and campsites, quirky desert craft shops, and amazing restaurants from the cheap and delicious to the high-class and sophisticated. No visit to Utah is complete without a weekend stop in Moab.
Salt Lake City
No list of the best vacation spots in Utah would be complete without its capital and largest city. Salt Lake City may not be New York, but this relatively small city has an appeal all its own. As you drive into the city, you’ll be taken aback by its mountain setting— it’s nestled right up against the Wasatch Mountain Range. Next, you’ll love the clean and fresh feel of the city’s primary downtown area, City Creek. It’s here that you’ll find City Creek Mall, an indoor-outdoor shopping space filled with luxury shopping, fine dining, and an artificial creek stocked with local fish that follows the exact path of a natural creek that used to occupy the spot. A short walk from here you’ll find the famous Mormon temple and the beautiful temple grounds that surround it, where you’ll have a chance to learn about the fascinating people that founded the city.
You’ll also find all of the attractions of a major city, including a symphony hall, theater, plenty of live music venues, and more great restaurants and places to eat than you know what to do with. And, unlike some more famous large cities, where else will you find isolated hikes to alpine lakes that begin just ten or fifteen minutes from downtown?
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is a massive lake and river system found in southern Utah, and it’s become a major destination for anyone who loves fishing, water sports, and lounging out on the water. The unique red rock landscape that’s the trademark of southern Utah is present here, too, with steep cliff faces flying up from the water on other side, creating narrow slot canyons in some areas that will have you reaching for your phone camera time and time again. Lake Powell is one of the best vacation spots in Utah thanks to the range of things you can do here, and you can even rent a houseboat to stay out on the water if you’d like.
St. George
Warm almost year-round and surrounded by unique red rock landscapes, St. George has become a favorite vacation and retirement destination for Utah locals and visitors alike. Lots of hikes, outdoor adventures, and motorsports are extremely popular in this city in Southern Utah, particularly mountain biking, motocross, swimming, and fishing. If you’re looing for a place where you can get away from it all while still accessing your favorite grocery store and restaurant chains, St. George is the perfect place for striking that unique balance.
Zion National Park
Let’s talk National Parks, considering that Utah is absolutely loaded with them— only California and Alaska have more. Five national parks spread across the southern half of the state offer the full range of adventures and wilderness activities, and each one has a charm all its own.
First up— Zion National Park, perhaps the most popular of Utah’s national parks. Here you’ll find stunning vistas, death-defying hikes along steep red-rock ridges, hikes that take you into narrow slot canyons through crystal-clear rivers, and much, much more. Do not let any visit to Utah be complete without at least a day trip to Zion National Park.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is another beautiful park that serves as a sort of miniature Grand Canyon, offering the same kinds of stunning vistas just a short walk from parking lots along the canyon’s rim. Want a closer look? Incredibles hikes lead down into the canyon itself, combining red rock formations, pine trees, and wildlife that you won’t find anywhere else. Bryce Canyon is als surrounded by small Utah towns featuring hotels, great restaurants, and off-the-beaten path attractions that can quickly fill up a full week.
Looking for a great spot to camp in Bryce Canyon? Check out our Bryce Canyon camping guide.
Arches National Park
One of two national parks (along with Canyonlands) located less than 30 minutes from each other, Arches is the park that provides Utah the iconic symbol found on nearly all license plates in the state— Delicate Arch, the massive arch rock formation found inside the park.
You’ll definitely want to hit Delicate Arch, but there are also too many other beautiful hikes and arches in the park to list here. Just driving into the park entrance will have you catching your breath as you take in massive red rock formations in a landscape that looks more like something on Mars than something on Earth.
Canyonlands National Park
Just across the road from Arches National Park is the entrance to Canyonlands National Park, an equally striking destination filled with more arches, incredible hikes, and views that you have to see to believe. Be sure to make a stop at Dead Horse Point on your way to the park entrance, where you’ll be greeted by a view into the canyon below that almost rivals the vistas of the Grand Canyon. Seriously— it’s that beautiful.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is arguably the least visited National Park in Utah, but that can be its own advantage in helping you escape the crowds. And it’s still one of the best vacation spots in Utah, with dozens of incredible hikes that will take you down into narrow slot canyons and up over thrilling viewpoints. There are also plenty of places to stay nearby, from the Capitol Reef resort to campsites for those who like to rough it a little more. Whatever your preference, don’t sleep on Capitol Reef National Park— it’s only the least popular park in the state by default because the others are so massively popular.
Logan
Logan, UT is a town nestled in a valley near the Idaho border, and it features a cute downtown with an excellent Saturday market, a beautiful Mormon temple in the center of town, and the respected Utah State University. If you’re looking for a destination off the beaten path, give Logan a shot. Plus, it’s less than an hour’s drive to Bear Lake.
Bear Lake
Bear Lake is a massive lake surrounded by resorts, restaurants, campsites, and more activities and adventures than you can fill a week with. Best experienced in spring and summer, Bear Lake gives you all the joy of a beach vacation without the ocean. Favorite activities include boating, water skiing, fishing, and simply soaking up the sun along one of the pristine sandy beaches that line the lake.
Dinosaur National Monument
East of Salt Lake City you’ll find the town of Vernal and Dinosaur National Monument. Perfect for families with kids that love dinosaurs and fossils, this park features a huge facility where visitors can see hundreds of dinosaur fossils exactly where they were uncovered along a steep rock face. Plus you’ll find dinosaur museums with towering, life-size replicas children can experience for themselves. Plus, the small town of Vernal has some great restaurants and shops to enjoy during your visit.
Monument Valley
One of the most popular spots in Utah for its use in a long list of films, primarily westerns, a visit to Monument Valley will have you saying, “Hey, I recognize that!” over and over again. Plenty of camping spots and nearby hotels will give you a place to spend the night, and it’s also near other natural destinations in Southern Utah that will let you fill your road trip with adventure.
Midway
Located deep up Provo Canyon is the idyllic town of Midway. Originally founded by Swiss settlers, the town retains much of the Swiss influence in its architecture, cuisines, and annual festivals. You’ll find great hikes, restaurants, adorable shops, resorts, and the famous Homestead Crater, a natural hot spring inside a cavern filled with sparkling turquoise water that stays pleasantly warm year-round. There’s also a respected golf resort in Midway as well as the annual sheepdog festival, plus facilities leftover from the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics back in 2002 that host tubing and bobsledding.
Antelope Island
Located on the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island is accessed by a land bridge that will have you feeling like you’ve entered into a place from another time. The island is absolutely bursting with rare wildlife, from buffalo roaming the island’s plains and rocky hills to owls, eagles, and bushy bundles in the trees that you’ll quickly discover are huge porcupines. Snap a photo— just don’t get too close to these prickly critters! Antelope Island also offers some of the best hikes in Utah with incredible views of the surrounding Salt Lake valley.
Provo
As the home to Brigham Young University, Provo is a college town— but it’s also so much more. You don’t want to miss out on the main street walk, which boasts some of the best restaurants in Utah, incredible desserts you won’t find anywhere else, the recently restored historic Mormon temple, and one of Utah’s best bookstores— Pioneer Book. Rich with history and positioned right up against mountains filled with hikes through beautiful canyons, Provo is a vacation destination in its own right and one of the best vacation spots in Utah.
Conclusion
With all the beauty that road-tripping through Utah has to offer, you’ll want to make sure you’re properly insured. Freedom National can help you get a quick quote for cheap car insurance online, then customize your Utah car insurance coverage based on your unique needs. We even offer affordable coverage for people with SR-22s or negative events on their driving records. Whatever your unique insurance needs, Freedom National has you covered.
