The 130-Mile Scenic Drive In Utah You Will Want To Take As Soon As You Can
By Courtnie Erickson|Published March 07, 2023
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Courtnie Erickson
Author
From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.
There is nothing like spending your day exploring the beauty of the Beehive State. While there are scenic drives you can take all around Utah that are certainly bucket-list-worthy, there is one that is lesser-known but just as incredible — the Utah Bicentennial Highway Scenic Byway. This drive takes you from Hanksville to Blanding in southern Utah and along the way, you’ll wind through canyons, visit Lake Powell, capture incredible views, and even see a few natural features and fascinating museums.
Utah Bicentennial Highway Scenic Byway, also known as State Route 95, was officially completed in 1976. If you travel this byway in its entirety, you will travel approximately 130 miles, allowing you to complete this drive in a single morning or afternoon. But, we highly recommend you dedicate an entire day to this journey so you can stop and enjoy its many attractions along your way.
Whether you begin in Hanksville or Blanding, we suggest you fill up your gas tank and grab plenty of snacks. You won’t come across many services along your route.
For this particular article, we will begin in Hanksville.
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As you continue your drive to Blanding, you will capture incredible views of the Henry Mountains. Stop and take a few photos of these mountains — they were the last mountain range in the lower 48 to receive a name and are home to free-roaming buffalo herds.
Along the Utah Bicentennial Highway Scenic Byway, you will enter the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. You can stop at one of the overlooks to capture images of Glen Canyon and Lake Powell.
Natural Bridges is Utah’s first and oldest national monument and is where you can view three beautiful natural bridges. Visit the visitor center, tackle a few small trails, and spend some time admiring these natural features from various viewpoints. This is one stop along this byway where you can easily spend several hours.
Once you reach the small town of Blanding, feel free to explore. We recommend visiting Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum.
This unique museum in Utah is home to the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan pottery on display in the Four Corners region and is where you can even visit an authentic Puebloan village. It's one stop you will not want to miss.
The Bicentennial Highway Scenic Byway is one scenic drive in Utah with so much to see and do, you may want to travel this route a few times just to enjoy all it has to offer.
There are many side roads that branch off this scenic byway. Feel free to explore these roads to see even more of what the Beehive State has to offer. This scenic drive is also open year-round but be aware that the summer months can be extremely hot in this area of the state.
Have you ever driven the Bicentennial Highway Scenic Byway in Utah? What are some of your favorite stops along the way? Let us know in the comments!
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