6 Epic Places to Visit in Utah
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A List of 6 Epic places to visit in Utah
Utah, an area with dramatic landscapes, is home to some of the most breathtaking and diverse epic places to visit in the United States. From awe-inspiring red rock formations of Arches National Park to mesmerizing vistas of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, Utah’s beauty is magical. There are many iconic destinations that offer an array of outdoor adventures and serene escapes from adrenaline-pumping activities like rock climbing, canyoneering, and mountain biking. You will be drawn to the beauty of its national parks or vibrant urban scene where Utah has something epic for every traveler.
I have found Utah to be one of my favorite states to visit. There is so much to do in this state and so much more to discover. If you haven’t researched places to visit in Utah, I suggest you start, I guarantee you will create a long list of places to visit. You will not be disappointed and will find a lot of things to do while visiting this state. This list will give you a starting point of what to add to your list.
Places we have visited and recommend are below:
Moab Tourism Center - 4x4 Tour
I chose the T-Rex 4x4 Tours - U Drive Experience through Moab Tourism Center. I wanted to be able to drive my own 4x4 with a tour guide and this company provided just that opportunity. This was a 2.5-hour tour and is available for ages 3 and up. Each 4x4 can accommodate a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 4. There were 5 - 4x4’s in our tour and we were led by our tour guide, Ben. You must be 21 years of age and older and have a valid driver’s license to drive the 4x4.
Cost: $161.03 for ages 18 and older and $91.52 for children ages 3-17. Water bottles provided during the tour. (in 2024)
BOOK YOUR HELL’S REVENGE 4X4 TOUR HERE
This tour took us on the Hell’s Revenge trail through Moab in a 4x4. It included steep inclines with minimal to no sides throughout the tour. Please only take this tour if you are not afraid to drive on steep inclines with no sides to protect you as there were some big cliffs along the way. It is a scary drive but so so exciting!! I definitely recommend this tour.
There were 3 tour times available: 8:15 am, 12:15 pm and 4:00 or 5:30 pm for a sunset tour as of 2022. Check out more details on visiting Moab Tourism Center.
2. Forrest Gump Point
Forrest Gump Point is located in Mexican Hat, Utah, within Monument Valley. Forrest Gump Point is located off of scenic highway 163. There are pull offs on each side of the highway for you to park. Your clue will be all the cars pulled off the side of the road once you arrive. This location is FREE to visit.
Once parked you walk into the middle of the road for the epic picture. People are more than willing to take your picture in exchange for you taking theirs. I just love friendly people!!!
GPS coordinates: 37.101445, -109.990812
3. Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon I have discovered is one of my absolute favorite National Parks so far. The beauty in the color of the rocks, the hoodoos, the switchbacks and more make this park worth a visit. There are so many beautiful hikes and scenic overlooks you will not be disappointed. I cannot say enough great things about this park. You have to check it out! For more details check out my blog post on visiting Bryce Canyon National Park.
I just stood in awe of the beauty of this park, and I know you will too.
This park is open 24 hours. They have a gift shop, shower and laundry facilities at the General Store, restaurant, Lodge for a meal or lodging and a campground.
Entrance fee is $35 for private vehicle or FREE with America The Beautiful National Park pass.
4. The Narrows at Zion National Park
This too is one of my favorite hikes which is located at Zion National Park. There are several other great hikes within this park, so check them out while you are there.
You can take the bus to the start of the trailhead to start this hike. There is a restroom at the trailhead for convenience. You will walk about a mile to the entrance of the water once you get off the bus which is an easy path to walk. The water is cool year-round. You will need good waterproof walking shoes as you will be walking on rocks and in the water the whole time. There will be a couple areas where the water will be waste deep so be cautious of that with small children. We usually carry my younger son through this area with no problem.
Visitor Center hours: Open from 8am to 7pm but vary seasonally. Restrooms available at the visitor center. Shuttle bus hours: 7am to 7:15pm in the summer and 8am to 5:45 in the fall and winter.
Entrance Fees: $35 for a personal vehicle and is good for 7 days. We had a National Park Pass so were able to get in this park for FREE.
Park hours: open 365 days of the year. 24 hours a day. Check out my blog post for more details on visiting The Narrows at Zion National Park.
5. Toadstools Trailhead
This trailhead is located in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in Kanab Utah. This trailhead is located 1 hour 17 minutes east of Zion National Park. It is so cool to see the rocks formed into toadstools and standing tall for all to see.
This trail is located off of highway 89 and is FREE to visit. This trailhead is open year round and is dog friendly. It is a 1.5 mile round trip hike. There are port a potties at the entrance of the trailhead for your convenience.
GPS Coordinates: 37.10124, -111.87328. Check out more details on visiting Toadstools Trailhead at this blog post.
6. Arches National Park
This park is open 24 hours daily so you can enter without a timed ticket outside of their normal hours of 5am to 6pm daily. From April to October, you will need a timed ticket which you can purchase online. With over 2,000 beautiful arch formations you have to add this to your list of places to stop.
You can start out at the Visitors Center to get a map and shop for souvenirs. Visitor Center Hours: Hours vary depending on season. Hours range from opening 8am to 9am and closing between 4pm to 6pm.
Park hours: Open 24 hours daily
Entrance Fees: $30 in a private vehicle which is good for 7 days. FREE with an America the Beautiful National Park pass.
This blog post on visiting Arches National Park will include 9 must see stops within the park.
Where to stay while visiting Utah?
Don’t want to camp? Check out booking.com, Trivago or VRBO to book your next hotel stay.
More Utah Travel Ideas
I will continue to add places as we travel. Bookmark this for later. Places I still want to visit are:
Belly of the Dragon
Angels Landing at Zion National Park
Capital Reef National Park
Bonneville Salt Flats
Homestead Crater
Dead Horse Point State Park
Plus multiple slot canyons to explore
Which one of these do you recommend I must see on my next trip to Utah? Do you have a favorite thing to do in Utah? Help me decide what to do next, comment below.
I enjoy hearing from each of you. Please let me know how I can help you plan a long trip in your campervan.
Enjoy your journey,
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