Utah is one of the most magical and unique states in the USA. It truly feels like you’ve stepped onto another planet!
What’s it most famous for?
The big 5 Utah National Parks!
These 5 national parks are top of everyone's bucket list, and what better way to see them all than planning the ultimate Utah road trip!?
Lucky for you, we’ve visited the big 5 famous national parks of Utah and have put together the ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip itinerary!
We’ve even thrown in some other cool spots on the journey so you can have the ultimate Utah road trip experience.
This was our route:
If you’re flying into Utah then the likely answer to this question is no!
You’re going to need to sort your vehicle out when you arrive, so you’re already ready for the best Utah national parks road trip.
We love to use Motorhome Republic to rent vehicles. They’re one of the largest motorhome agencies in the world so they’re without doubt a trusted brand!
Motorhome Republic is really easy to use too. Simply put in your road trip dates and see which firms have availability within your budget.
They offer a great price comparison service, and guarantee the lowest price for your rental.
Road tripping around America can become very expensive, so small hacks like this to keep costs down are really important.
There are plenty of fantastic RV rentals in the USA but I'll dive more into that in a minute...
The most cost effective accommodation is staying at campsites, as opposed to hotels along the way.
There are plenty of campsites and RV parks throughout Utah and its national parks where you can camp overnight.
Cheaper still is "dispersed camping", which gives you lots of chances to camp for free around the Utah national parks. Just keep in mind that wild camping in the national parks themselves is illegal.
If you’re camping for the duration of your Utah parks road trip, you’ll want to make sure you have all the right facilities and amenities in your vehicle.
Also make sure you research the campsite facilities before you book so there are no nasty surprises along the way.
If you'd prefer not to stay at a campsite then the two most popular places to base yourself include Salt Lake City and Moab!
Just keep in mind that if you're staying in Salt Lake City you'll be doing a lot of driving this way. For this reason, I'd recommend staying in Moab instead.
The are two main options when it comes to starting a road trip to Utah.
The first and perhaps the most popular is Salt Lake City, the capital and most populous city in Utah state. Here you can rent an RV or car and start your road trip from there!
Check out our guide to the best car rental sites if you're looking for the perfect vehicle!
But you can opt to start a Utah road trip in Las Vegas if you wish as the state of Nevada is next door. If you're considering this route then check out Rental Cars for the best deals or take a look at RV rentals in las Vegas.
This Utah national parks itinerary focuses on the Salt Lake City route as this makes the most sense, and is the most logical.
It’s likely that you’ll fly into Salt Lake City or Las Vegas so use Skyscanner to compare flight prices. You could potentially save $$$ by flying a day later or earlier!
Utah is best known for its 5 ‘Mighty’ National Parks.
There are so many outstanding national parks all throughout America, but Utah’s really are a cut above the rest.
The national parks known as the big 5 are:
This park is found in south-central Utah, and is filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold.
Capitol Reef National Park is a great place to camp. There’s one developed campground, two primitive campgrounds, and loads of places for backcountry camping.
Some popular activities here include hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing and wildlife viewing.
The southern section of Capitol Reef is the amazing Waterpocket District.
It’s more remote and rugged than the rest of the park, so it’s ideal if you’re looking to get off the beaten track.
Most cars, pickups and vans can navigate the roads without difficulty, but it’s important to check the weather conditions before your travel.
You can check the road conditions at the visitor centre or call 435-425-3791 for current conditions.
The weather can be varied and unpredictable out in the backcountry of Capitol Reef, with temperatures staying below freezing in winter, but reaching over 37°C in the height of summer.
Irregular columns of rock (known as Hoodoos) exist all over the world, but the largest concentration of Hoodoos on the planet are found at Bryce Canyon National Park.
You can marvel at this global phenomenon at the Bryce Amphitheater, which is by far the most iconic section of the park.
There are four major viewpoints here: Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point and Sunrise Point.
One of the best driving routes to see this national park has to be the Southern Scenic Drive, with 9 scenic overlooks showing some of the lesser-seen beauty of Bryce Canyon.
There are plenty of day hikes and trails for visitors, and one of the most popular is the Rim Trail - a great, relatively easy 5.5 mile route spanning from Bryce Point to Fairyland point.
You don’t want to visit Bryce Canyon National Park without having a good stargaze either. The skies are so dark at night that in 2019 the park was named a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park.
For a unique memento of your time at Bryce Canyon National Park you can get a special stamp for your passport.
Described by author Edward Abbey as the most 'weird, wonderful, magical place on earth—there is nothing else like it anywhere', Canyonlands National Park is undoubtedly an unmissable destination.
It’s divided into four districts: The Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze and the Green, and the Colorado River, so you could easily spend days exploring Canyonlands.
This national park is most popular for hiking, boating, biking and climbing. And if you’re out camping in the wilderness you’d be silly not to enjoy some stargazing.
The Needles and Island in the Sky are the best districts for camping!
With over 2000 natural stone arches, the highest density of natural arches in the world are found at Arches National Park - which probably explains the name!
The best known of these arches is Delicate Arch, but there are thousands of other unique geological formations through this Utah National Park.
Arches National Park takes up over 310 sq km of high deserts on the Colorado Plateau.
It's a brilliant place to take part in adventure activities, with the most popular activities being hiking, mountain biking, camping, canyoneering, horseback riding and rock climbing.
This national park is a great place for hikers as there are trails which last just 15 minutes, up to longer treks which can take 5 hours. So there’s something for every kind of hiker!
Often dubbed ‘Utah’s First National Park’, Zion National Park allows visitors to follow the paths once walked by natives and pioneers.
The huge pink, cream and red sandstone cliffs dominate the landscape.
It’s the perfect place to absorb rich history, whilst also losing yourself in the present moment.
One of the most prominent features of Zion National Park is Zion Canyon, as it’s an impressive 15 miles long and up to 800m deep.
A popular scenic drive through the park is the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, where you can find the Weeping Rock.
There are some popular hikes here too, like Riverside Walk, Angels Landing, The Narrows and Lower Emerald Pools.
For those wishing to get away from the crowds, Kolob Canyons is a great spot, on the far side of the park.
Canyoneering and rock climbing are also great adventure activities to try out at Zion National Park.
The biggest tip I can give right here is to buy a National Parks pass!
They cost $80 for a year pass, which gives you access to over 2000 recreation areas.
100% of the proceeds go towards the improvement and enhancement of recreation services, so you know your money is being put to good use.
It’s excellent value for money too! National Park entrance fees are around $30-40 per park, so if you’re planning on visiting 5 during your road trip to Utah National Parks it works out much cheaper to get the annual pass.
And then you’ve still got the pass to explore national parks all over the USA for the rest of the year!
Each annual pass can have up to two owners!
The Annual Pass permits the pass owner and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle, entry to the parks. This cannot exceed 4 adults.
Any additional adults will be subject to a per-person fee, but children under 16 are always admitted for free.
For more information check out the USGS FAQs.
We visited in the summer months, and honestly, we don’t recommend it.
We still had an amazing time, but the heat was truly unbearable, and we had to plan our days to avoid the peak heat times.
I recommend visiting in the spring months, or even winter.
Winter days are warmer, but it gets colder at night, and you can actually see snow too which is pretty cool.
There are advantages and disadvantages to visiting during any season:
Spring: as temperatures start to increase, the crowds are still smaller. It isn’t unbearably hot during the day, so conditions are great for hiking. However if you want to hike The Narrows in Zion, the water levels are going to be too high at this time of year.
Summer: like I said before, the temperatures at this time of year are hot, sometimes TOO hot! It’s also the most crowded time to visit the Utah national parks, especially Zion National Park and Arches National Park. The advantage of visiting Utah in summer is that all the park amenities are open for full hours.
Autumn: as temperatures start to decline, so do the numbers of visitors. The weather and conditions at this time of year are great for hiking (including The Narrows in Zion) so autumn can be a fantastic time to visit the Utah national parks.
Winter: this is a beautiful time to visit the Utah national parks. Seeing anywhere in the snow promises to be magical, but this corner of the world is magical even on a normal day, so you’re guaranteed something special here in winter. Of course, it’s going to be much quieter to visit at this time of year as well. However the snow and the freezing temperatures are going to limit your ability to hike. Also some of the roads are actually fully closed throughout the winter months, so this can put a big spanner in the works when it comes to creating your Utah national parks itinerary.
This itinerary is going to be based on 10 days visiting the Utah National Parks, but you could take it slower or quicker depending on how much time you have at your disposal.
It will also depend on how many hikes you want to do.
Our itinerary is based on what we did and we moved pretty quickly!
Our Utah National Park itinerary starts in Salt Lake City, simply because this is a good spot to rent a vehicle, or fly into if you’ve not already got that sorted!
Start your Utah road trip by exploring the sights that Salt Lake City has to offer.
Not only is Salt Lake City the capital of Utah, and the most populous city in the state, but it’s also actually really beautiful.
There are beautiful buildings, and beautiful views of the mountains in the distance, so it’s definitely worth a visit.
You also won't be short of things to do in Salt Lake City as there are a ton of attractions and activities that you can get involved with here. A great way to make the most of your time in the city, is to use the Salt Lake Connect Pass. This makes sightseeing really easy and affordable!
Downtown Salt Lake City is easily walkable, so you can simply just wander around and really get a feel for the city.
A lot of streets in Salt Lake City are adorned with street art and murals, so have a look for these as you’re wandering around.
Some of our favourite sights in Salt Lake City are:
There are also plenty of activities you can do if you have some more time in the city, such as Salt Lake Paragliding, Salt Lake Brew and Bike Tour, or a Guided Tour of the Great Salt Lake, just to name a few!
There's also a fantastic guided bus tour that will take you to some of the most popular spots in the city, or you can head out on a haunted old town tour!
Capitol Reef National Park preserves the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile long wrinkle in the Earth’s crust. This ‘wrinkle’ is between 50 and 70 million years old!
The park is made up of layers of golden sandstone, canyons and striking rock formations.
Some of the best sights in Capitol Reef are the Chimney Rock pillar, Hickman Bridge Arch and Cathedral Valley.
Fruita is also a great spot to visit. It’s a small town found within the national park which has more than 2,500 fruit trees. Some of these were originally planted by Mormon pioneers. Visitors can stroll through the orchards and eat fruit fresh from the trees!
Capitol Reef National Park is a great place to camp, especially as the night sky is really something worth checking out.
There are certainly some can’t miss activities in Capitol Reef National Park, including:
If you'd prefer a guided experience, then why not check out this private 4x4 tour or go on day trip of Cathedral Valley.
Tip: Stop at Etta Place Cider on the way through to pick up some Utah cider! (bet you didn’t think you’d find cider in Utah!)
It’s a beautiful drive and you'll start to see the landscape changing into those reds, oranges and yellows associated with Utah.
Now, It’s time for the 1st national park on this Utah road trip.
There are a couple of options, depending on whether you want to hike or just see the sights from your car with shorter walks and viewpoints.
The Scenic Drive is a 7.9 mile (12.7 km) paved road with dirt spur roads into Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge that, weather permitting, is accessible to all passenger vehicles and RV's up to 27 feet in length.
The Scenic Drive is not a loop, so you must return on the same road. However, It will allow you to see many of the famous viewpoints in Capitol Reef NP.
You can do this within a couple of hours, or if you want to camp overnight on the campsite, you can also do a bunch of day hikes.
Moab is home to 2 of Utah’s big 5 national parks: Canyonlands and Arches National Park.
Therefore you’re going to want to spend a couple of days in Moab.
Spend your first evening in Moab enjoying the town, and grabbing a bite to eat. Some great spots to eat in Moab include:
Moab town itself has a lot to offer, aside from the two big national parks. You could take some time on your first day to enjoy some of the local attractions and activities.
Some of the best things to do in Moab include:
We did a full-day rafting tour with Moab Adventures, river rafting down the Colorado River, which included an awesome river BBQ lunch. It’s a lot of fun!
We've written a full guide on the best things to do in Moab if you're looking for some more information...
There’s lots of accommodation options when it comes to staying in Moab.
If you’re looking for budget accommodation in Moab, Lazy Lizard Hostel is a great option. They brand themselves as being one of the cheapest hostels in the US!
The hostel offers a whole host of amenities, including a shared kitchen, free WiFi, hot showers, laundry, barbecues and free parking.
Of course camping is always a great budget accommodation option. Moab has lots of great choices for tent, caravan or campervan pitching. and you can find some great spots on Pitchup.
There are lots of options for unique stays too like a glamping set up or a tipi.
Downtown Hotel Moab is located in the heart of Moab and is a great choice for mid-range Accommodation in Moab. It’s the largest full service hotel in the town and is ideally located with restaurants, shops, galleries and museums nearby.
Expedition Lodge is found in the heart of Moab, with an on-site pool, and breakfast included in all rates.
And for those who are after luxury accommodation you could rent an entire apartment or villa, a brilliant idea if you’re travelling as a group.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott is a great luxury hotel option in Moab, and Airbnb also offers some great private rentals!
Depending on what time you’ve booked your slot, it’s time to head to National park number 2 on this epic Utah road trip.
Arches National Park is probably one of the 2 most famous national parks in Utah, which means it will be busy!
So head there early if you can, or wait until later in the day when the coach trips will have dispersed.
It’s a 10 minute drive from Moab town to the entrance of Arches National Park.
Arches National Park is very aptly named as you can find the highest density of natural arches in the world in this park.
The unique landscape and geological features here really make the area feel otherworldly.
Two of the most iconic arches are Delicate Arch, which you can see on Utah licence plates, and Landscape Arch, which is the longest natural arch in the whole country.
In order to ensure the best visitor experience, and manage traffic levels, you have to pre-book an entry time slot ahead of visiting the Arches National Park.
This is the perfect place for adventure activities, and of course there’s some fantastic hiking trails.
Here are some can’t miss activities in Arches National Park:
You'll also find plenty of fantastic guided tour options here including this 4x4 adventure, and this backcountry adventure.
Alternatively you can head out on a self-guided audio driving tour that will take you to all the best spots!
Arches National Park is another park that offers a really cool scenic drive that will take you to all the popular locations with only a few short walks required.
OR, you can choose to stay overnight within the park and head out hiking.
We did the 4-hour drive itinerary and felt we saw a lot!
Some highlights for us included:
If you want to take the second option and head out hiking here’s a suggested itinerary.
The hike to Delicate Arch is moderately challenging, but a good one to get done first thing. It will likely take you around 2-3 hours!
It’s an easy 1 hour hike from here to Landscape Arch. This arch is part of the Devil’s Garden, a challenging 3-4 hour hike combining 6 arches. You could spend the rest of your day in Arches National Park doing this, or come back the following day to complete the 7.2 mile hike if you have the time.
After visiting Landscape Arch at the very north end of the park you can start making your way towards the park entrance. Along the way there’ are short, easy trails to reach Skyline Arch and Sand Dune Arch.
You can also make quick 15 minute stops at Balance Rock and Fiery Furnace viewpoint. Fiery Furnace is a maze of slot canyons. There’s a trail here but it’s only for permit holders. Visitors can only look from the viewpoint so just keep that in mind!
This was one of my favourite national parks on this road trip.
Canyonlands National Park is split into four different sections: The Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze and the Green, and the Colorado River, so you could easily spend days exploring Canyonlands.
If you’re looking to camp in the park, Island in the Sky and The Needles are the districts to go for.
There are plenty of unmissable activities in Canyonlands, but here are some of our top recommendations (all of these are in the Island of the Sky district as this is where we visited):
We spent our time at the ‘Islands in the Sky’ district, which is the most popular.
The views here are crazy beautiful, and you’re basically driving on a ridge with deep canyons on either side.
It’s an amazing spot to visit, and again you can drive the scenic route of the park.
A 34-mile round trip scenic drive through Island in the Sky is the best way to sightsee by car, with overlooks rising 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscapes. Plan at least an hour to drive out to Grand View Point!
Canyonlands is also home to Mesa Arch which is one of the most iconic and famous sights in all of Utah, especially for sunrise and sunset.
You can actually visit Canyonlands National Park on a day tour from Moab but I'd definitely recommend camping here overnight if you can!
Tip: The trip to this National Park is one road in and then back out again, so make sure you fuel up before you head in as there's nothing there. We forgot and ended up having to drive back after 20 minutes of driving!
Dead Horse State park isn’t a national park, but it's en route on the way out of Canyonlands national park and is definitely worth a visit.
It’s a $20 entrance fee for a vehicle, and this isn’t included with your national park pass (because it’s a state park). The park has a very “grand canyon” landscape look to it, and it’s amazing.
Fun fact: It was actually used as the “grand canyon” in the movie Thelma and Louise.
There isn’t a lot of hiking to do in the place, but there are a bunch of bike trails if you like to do that, and you can stay overnight in your campervan if you have one!
You can also head out on a jet-boat tour to Dead Horse State Park if that's up your street...
Driving Time Tip: It’s a 30 minute drive from Moab to the entrance of the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. Then it’s another 20 minutes to drive between Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park.
So we dip into Arizona on our way through to the next national park on this road trip, simply because this route will bring you through some of the BEST sights that Utah has to offer.
If you don’t have the time you can take a quicker route, but this route is worth it!
Valley of the Gods is home to one of the coolest driving loops and landscapes we’ve ever seen. The whole drive in this region is very typical Utah and you’ll have extraordinary sights throughout!
Valley of the Gods is free to enter, and it’ll take you just over an hour to drive through the loop. It’s only a 17-mile road, but it’s all dirt and gravel, so it’s pretty bumpy and you’ll want to take it slow!
It’s a fun and exhilarating drive, but the best thing about it is that it’s usually deserted! It’s a really special place. You feel like you’ve truly escaped civilization and everything associated with modern life.
Tip: You can actually stay overnight in your camper in Valley of the Gods as it’s BLM land.
After visiting Valley of the Gods, you can pop into Goosenecks State Park for another amazing sight! This one costs $5 per car to enter, and again you can camp if you wish.
There are primitive campsites, vault toilets and scattered picnic areas. Campers are advised to bring their own water, food and other necessary gear.
This state park is largely undeveloped, and there are no maintained trails and no access to water. However don’t let this put you off! The views are incredible, making it a very popular spot for photography.
The remoteness of the area means there is very little light pollution. Therefore it’s a great spot for night photography and stargazing.
In March 2021 the park received International Dark Sky Park designation by The International Dark-Sky Association.
Finish your day with a sunset run at Monument Valley (located right on the Utah-Arizona state line), and follow in the footsteps of Forrest Gump! ;)
This is without a doubt an iconic spot to take a photo and enjoy those epic views.
It’s a new day and time for another national park, and this is probably the most famous and popular national park in all of Utah.
The trails in Zion National Park date back centuries, and the park prides itself on a rich and vibrant history.
The landscape at Zion is dominated by huge colourful, sandstone cliffs.
Zion Canyon is one of the most prominent features of this Utah national park. At 15 miles long and up to 800m deep in places it’s certainly a site you don’t want to miss!
There are a fair few unmissable activities in Zion which you’ll want to try and incorporate in your Utah itinerary:
Zion is packed with beautiful hikes, and it does have a scenic drive, but you can only access it via shuttle in peak season months.
When we visited we didn’t want to do a shuttle bus, so we didn’t do the full park, which is definitely a shame, but if you’ve only got a small amount of time on your Utah National Park road trip, then driving through is still beautiful.
As I mentioned before, Zion also has lots of beautiful hikes, and many people stay in the town and do multiple hikes over multiple days. But this itinerary is presuming you have the whole day to explore the park and do a hike, if you want more time, then add on another night!
Bryce Canyon National Park was our favourite of all the Utah national parks. It was beyond epic, and I can’t even begin to describe the beauty on display here.
But think Hoodoo heaven, and if you’ve never seen a hoodoo before, fear not! Because you’re going to see thousands at Bryce Canyon National Park!
In fact, the largest concentration of Hoodoos on the planet are found here.
The most iconic section of this Utah national park has to be the Bryce Amphitheater, with its four major viewpoints:
Sunrise Point shows the best colours of the hoodoos at the break of dawn, and Sunset Point shows the hoodoos come alive in a rainbow of colours as the sun goes down.
At 8,300 feet Bryce Point offers the most sweeping view of the Amphitheater, and Inspiration Point showcases landscapes which seem to stretch to the edge of the earth.
Aside from the Bryce Amphitheater, there are plenty of other sights in Bryce Canyon National Park which you don’t want to miss:
We stayed overnight in Bryce National Park in one of their dedicated campsites. It was lovely and we’d highly recommend it for your Utah road trip.
We stayed in Sunset Campground, and from there it’s easy to get started on your full scenic drive of Bryce Canyon National Park. Then afterwards you can go enjoy the sights and views within a short walk from your campsite.
There are lots of great hikes in Bryce. Some of the most popular include Queens Garden & Navajo Combination, Fairyland Loop, and Swamp Canyon Trail.
All the hikes and trails are of varying difficulties, so do your research before you head off so you know what you’re getting yourself in for!
You can also go backcountry hiking overnight, but you’ll need to obtain a permit first.
As you drive through to get to Bryce you’ll likely pass through Dixie National Forest too, which is another beautiful drive!
Dixie National Forest offers almost 2 million acres to explore. Choices of activities include hiking in the wilderness, camping on either camping grounds or in the backcountry, mountain biking, and there’s even cross-country and downhill skiing in the winter!
You can also try horse riding, take a guided hike, or simply head out on a sightseeing tour if you're limited on time.
This final day of driving is almost 4 hours of driving, so you could split it into two days and dip into a few more wonderful sights that Utah has to offer.
For example, you could stop at Cedar Breaks National Monument or even Timpanogos Cave National Monument.
Cedar Breaks sits at over 10,000 feet and overlooks an amphitheatre which buries down over half a mile! So it’s certainly a view worth admiring!
It’s often said to be like a ‘mini Bryce Canyon’ and the entry fee is just $10.
Timpanogos Cave gives visitors a chance to explore some of Utah’s hidden underground world. It’s a strenuous 90 minute, 1.5 mile hike to access the cave so just keep that in mind.
The paved trail has an elevation gain of 1100 vertical feet which is what makes the short distance so challenging.
Once you’ve completed the hike you get to spend an hour long ranger led tour exploring all three of the caves. The route is paved, well lit and has several flights of stairs.
Cave tours cost $12 for adults!
There are a lot of advantages to stretching the drive back to Salt Lake City over two days. It allows you to relax a bit more, take it all in and really make the most of the last moments of peace these remote areas of Utah can offer you.
This Utah road trip really is the experience of a lifetime, so make sure you soak up every second!
If you’re travelling anywhere in peak season in Utah, then it’s advisable to book your campsites in advance, as the ones within the national parks all sell up super quick.
We got very lucky with Bryce Canyon that we got a space as it wasn’t too busy (coming to the end of summer!)
Campsite reservations are released on a 6-month rolling basis, so get yourself organised! Recreation.org is the best place to go to book your campsites in advance.
Remember that boondocking (wild/free camping) is not legal within the national parks themselves.
You may be able to find places just outside the national park boundaries, but if you park within the national parks, you will be fined and asked to move on.
It can be especially if you're paying daily entrance fees to the national parks, but buying a national parks pass will alleviate some of those costs. Some of the itinerary suggestions above are State Parks and National Forests, which come with their own entry fees.
And of course any additional activities, tours, or adventure sports you wish to take part in will come with an additional price tag.
If you’re camping in a van/tent then take advantage of all the facilities you have on board. Make yourself breakfast and dinner at the campsite, and make yourself a packed lunch for the day before you head out.
For this reason, it’s important that you check your vehicle and campsite have all the necessary amenities and facilities before you book.
If you’re renting an RV then it’s important to be aware of the additional costs that are involved with RV rental, aside from the basic rental rate. You need to take into account factors like insurance, extra add-ons, mileage, campsite fees, taxes, tolls and of course fuel.
If you opt for hotels or Airbnbs, then try and get somewhere that has cooking facilities so you can make your own meals. Hostels are also a budget friendly option and they usually have a kitchen when you can prepare your own meals.
You’ll need to have your ultimate packing list sorted for a Utah road trip.
Unlike other destinations, you’re a bit more isolated when visiting the Utah national parks, so you’ll need to be prepared.
Here are some top tips and advice to make your Utah national parks road trip run that little bit smoother:
If I haven’t already convinced you to get the Annual National Parks Pass…then get an annual national parks pass!
It’ll save you so much money. The pass is $80 but entry to each park is at least $30, which is a total of at least $150.
And the usage doesn’t stop at the end of your Utah national parks trip. You’ve got use of it for the whole year, all across America!
As I mentioned before, campsites book up quickly, especially in peak seasons, so get yourself organised and book as early as possible.
It’s often advised that you get yourself booked in as early as 12 months in advance!
Do the same with your vehicle rental too. During peak periods, firms can get booked up pretty fast, so do you research early on and get your vehicle secured.
The last thing you want is to arrive in Utah, all ready for your road trip, and find yourself disappointed and vehicle-less.
Also make sure you don’t forget to book your timed slot for Arches National Park before you visit. At the moment this is the only of the mighty 5 national parks that requires an advanced booking.
Depending on the time of year you visit, the temperature can differ dramatically between day and night.
Especially if you’re heading out early, it could be cold in the morning and then warm up considerably into the afternoon.
For this reason it’s best to wear lots of thin layers and then you can take them off or put them back on as the temperatures fluctuate.
A lot of this Utah national parks road trip is going to be very remote, so you’re likely going to find yourself without phone service.
Download maps for the whole of southern Utah before you head off grid, and then you can navigate even without service.
Maps.me is a great provider of offline maps and this is what we tend to use!
National park visitor centres will be able to provide you with maps and information for hikes and trails.
If you’re planning to camp on your road trip, you’ll need an essential tent repair kit in case anything gets damaged.
You’ll also want to take a first aid kit with you, as you could easily graze your knee on some of the red sandstone in one of the parks.
It’s easier to initially buy a travel first aid kit, as it has all the essentials in a great sized bag, and then you can top it up as necessary.
Also keep a torch, blanket, basic roadside tool kit and jump cables in your vehicle, should you encounter any problems on the road.
Thunderstorms aren’t uncommon in Utah in the summer, and of course these can pose dangers for hikers.
Make sure you check the weather forecast before you head out on a hike for the day, especially if you’re doing a ‘slot canyon’ hike, like 'The Narrows in Zion’.
Also pack a light rain jacket or poncho for your trip.
The big 5 national parks in Utah get millions of visitors every year, and when you visit you’ll see why!
To avoid the big crowds, it’s best to start your day as early as possible. The sooner after sunrise the better - or why not get up super early to catch the sunrise!
Getting there early also guarantees the best parking spots.
Alternatively, you could wait until later on in the afternoon to explore some of the parks, as the large tour groups will have gone by then.
You’ll save yourself loads of money by shopping before you head to the park.
Head somewhere like Walmart in St. George and stock up on the essentials.
Think about what meals you’ll want to cook whilst you’re on the road so you know exactly what to buy. This will help with budgeting.
So that’s our ultimate Utah national parks road trip 10 day itinerary!
I hope this has not only inspired you to go and visit this amazing corner of the world, but also helped you with your trip planning.
We would love to hear about your experience exploring the Utah national parks, so please drop us a comment below.
Did you use our itinerary? Or have you followed a different itinerary? We’d love to hear about it!
If you're planning to explore more of the United States after Utah then you've got plenty of options. The fantastic states of Nevada and Colorado are just next door, but Utah is also bordered by Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming, and New Mexico (although only at a single point).
Here are some travel guides that you may find helpful if you're looking to extend your trip:
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