Utah Road Trip Ideas: 12 Best Road Trips + Itinerary

Utah is a mesmerizing state with all types of terrain. From mountains and deserts to red rocks and blue lakes, the sights throughout the Beehive State are sure to take your breath away. While there are several different ways to explore the vast landscapes offered in Utah, a scenic drive is one of the best. There are countless Utah road trip ideas and if you are feeling a little overwhelmed, that’s where we come in. Here are 12 of the best road trips in Utah and believe us, each one will make you fall in love with the Beehive State all over again.

For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState’s Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. And, whether you’re leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can’t forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.

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• Route: Kanab > Panguitch > Big Rock Candy Mountain > Manti > Spring City
• Distance: 255 miles
• Trip Time: 4 hours driving time

Highway 89, also known as the Utah Heritage Highway, is one of the best day trips you can take. This beautiful road trip will take you through small towns, past historic buildings, and to fascinating geological sites. While this highway can take you across the state, for this particular drive, you will travel from Kanab to Spanish Fork. It is one scenic drive in Utah you may want to travel over and over again.

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• Route: Zion National Park > Bryce Canyon National Park > Canyonlands National Park
• Distance: 330 miles
• Trip Time: 5.5 hours driving time

If you are up for a truly incredible road trip, spend your weekend in three national parks — or three canyons in Utah — in just three days. This weekend road trip takes you from Zion National Park to Canyonlands National Park or vice versa. While you certainly won’t be able to see all that each national park has to offer during your one-day visit, prioritize the attractions you want to see the most and this will become one special adventure.

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• Route: Toquerville Falls > Red Cliffs Recreation Area > Zion National Park > Cedar Breaks National Monument > Panguitch Lake > Bryce Canyon National Park > Fish Lake
• Distance: 275 miles
• Trip Time: 6.5 hours driving time

There’s no doubt that southern Utah is breathtaking. And while there are destinations like Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park (both are stops on this road trip!), there are even more southern Utah destinations that will make you fall in love with the Beehive State all over again. From waterfalls to overlooks to lakes, this is easily one of the best road trips in Utah.

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• Route: Arches National Park > Canyonlands National Park > Natural Bridges National Monument > Capitol Reef National Park > Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument > Bryce Canyon National Park > Zion National Park
• Distance: 830 miles
• Trip Time: 15 hours driving time

Utah is known for the Mighty 5 — the five breathtaking national parks in the state. If you want to tackle the ultimate adventure, consider this Utah road trip itinerary. It will take you to all five national parks in the Beehive State, as well as two of the most popular national monuments. This definitely isn’t a short road trip — you’ll travel approximately 830 miles — but you will view some of Utah’s most inspiring natural beauty.

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• Route: Legends Motor Co > Young Living Lavender Farm > Yuba State Park > Cluff’s Carhop Cafe > Cove Fort > The Creamery > Red Reef Trail
• Distance: 273 miles
• Trip Time: 5 hours driving time

This drive is one that most Utahns have taken multiple times but it will encourage you to stop at many gems along the way. From unique museums to historic sites to hikes, there is something for everyone on this Utah road trip. While the drive itself is approximately five hours, we recommend you break this road trip into multiple days so you can truly enjoy every single stop and not feel rushed.

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• Route: Hatch Family Chocolates, Salt Lake City > Carol’s Pastry Shop, Salt Lake City > Spilled Milk, Salt Lake City > Flake Pie Co., South Jordan > The Scoop!, West Jordan > Blox Dessert Bars, American Fork > Simply Cheesecake, Provo
• Distance: 54 miles
• Trip Time: 1.5 hours driving time

Spring in Utah may mean wet and muddy or blue skies and sunshine — you never know. So, for one of the best road trips in Utah during this time of year, let your taste buds celebrate the change in seasons by tackling this magical Utah dessert trail. You will travel to seven delicious shops from downtown Salt Lake City to Provo. Whether you are in the mood for chocolates, pastries, ice cream, pie, etc., you’ll get a taste on this journey.

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• Route: Battle Creek Falls > Scout Falls > Stewart Falls > Bridal Veil Falls > Grotto Falls
• Distance: 66 miles
• Trip Time: 2 hours driving time

There is something completely refreshing about waterfalls on a hot summer day. If you are searching for the best summer road trip in Utah, this road trip itinerary will take you to five waterfalls in a single day. In less than 70 miles, you will visit breathtaking destinations like Scout Falls and Grotto Falls. Just make sure to bring your hiking boots as some waterfall views do require a bit of a hike to enjoy.

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• Route: Big Cottonwood Canyon > Guardsman’s Pass > Midway > Heber Valley > Sundance > Alpine Loop > Little Cottonwood Canyon > Top of Little Cottonwood Canyon
• Distance: 100 miles
• Trip Time: 3 hours driving time

Fall in Utah may be one of our favorite times of the year and this scenic road trip will take you to several of the best destinations for leaf peeping. You’ll drive through areas like Big Cottonwood Canyon, Sundance, and American Fork Canyon — each breathtaking during this time of year. At just under 100 miles and three hours of driving time, you could easily complete this drive in an afternoon, but we suggest you take your time, especially if you time your drive just right and explore this route during peak fall foliage. There’s nothing like the gold, red, and orange hues out of your car window.

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• Route: Ogden > Roy > Layton > Salt Lake City > Park City > Midway > Heber > Provo > Spanish Fork > Helper
• Distance: 192 miles
• Trip Time: 4 hours driving time

There’s no better way to welcome in the holidays than with a road trip to some of the best Christmas towns in Utah. Driving through Ogden to Helper (or vice-versa), you will visit up to 10 towns in Utah that sure know how to get into the holiday spirit. This is one trip where we suggest visiting at least one town per day so you can fully partake in all of their holiday festivities.

Mountain America Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point

• Route: George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park > Natural History Museum of Utah > Museum of Ancient Life > Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry > Utah Field House of Natural History Museum > Dinosaur National Monument
• Distance: 295 miles
• Trip Time: 5.5 hours driving time

Whether you are a dinosaur lover yourself, you have a young dinosaur enthusiast, or you just want to learn a little more about the Beehive State, this dinosaur-themed road trip in Utah is one every member of the family will enjoy. With some of the most incredible and popular dinosaur attractions in Utah like George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park and the Quarry Exhibit Hall at the Dinosaur National Monument, this Utah road trip itinerary will take your entire family way back in time.

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• Route: Dead Horse Point State Park > Delicate Arch, Arches National Park > Goblin Valley State Park > Waterpocket Fold, Capitol Reef National Park > Pando, Fishlake National Forest > Bryce Canyon National Park > Coral Pink Sand Dunes > Zion National Park >Buckskin Gulch
• Distance: 550 miles
• Trip Time: 11 hours driving time

To help you enjoy some of the best natural wonders and other landmarks found in Utah, you’ll want to tackle this breathtaking road trip in southern Utah. Taking you from Dead Horse Point State Park to Buckskin Gulch Trailhead near the Utah/Arizona state line, you’ll see many of the most breathtaking and highly recommended natural wonders and landmarks in this area of the state. This is one trip you certainly won’t want to rush through.

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• Route: Mountain Green > Morgan > Coalville > Wanship > Oakley > Kamas > Francis > Heber > Midway > Alpine
• Distance: 117 miles
• Trip Time: 3.5 hours driving time

Utah’s small towns are the heart and soul of this state. With this Utah road trip itinerary, you will visit some of the most charming small towns that are also near several recreation opportunities. From Mountain Green all the way to Alpine, this route may be one that you rarely explore.

Have you experienced any of the above road trips? What is your favorite road trip through Utah? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to include your Utah road trip map!