The Perfect One Week in Utah Road Trip Itinerary (7 Day Guide)

Last Updated on twenty eighth February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

Planning a Utah highway journey itinerary? We have the right week lengthy information for you. Utah is an unbelievable place to go to for individuals who love the outside.

No matter what time of yr, there’s loads of enjoyable available on this state. And with 5 nationwide parks (referred to as the Mighty 5), you actually can’t go flawed right here. These nationwide parks embrace Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands.

Introducing Utah

Hitting all of the highlights in Utah might be difficult with solely 7 days, however you possibly can positively make it work. This 7-day Utah itinerary offers you a style of every nationwide park, and if you resolve to return again, you’ll know which locations you wish to linger in.

Having lived most of my life in Utah, I’m ashamed to say I haven’t accomplished a highway journey like this, however that is what I’d do if I have been going to (and now I’ve an excuse to check it).

When to Visit Utah

Like I mentioned, there’s no flawed time to go to Utah. However, this journey could be greatest suited to April-October since there’s going to be a good quantity of driving, and also you most likely don’t wish to cope with driving within the chilly, snow, and ice.

Fall is my favourite time of yr in Utah (and usually), so I’d advocate getting in October. You’ll be capable of see the autumn colours and the nationwide parks will probably be much less crowded than they’re in the course of the summer time.

Note: Most if not all of those locations are liable to flash floods, so verify the climate and updates from the nationwide parks recurrently.

How to Get There

You’ve bought a few choices flying into the world, and it sort of is dependent upon the place you wish to begin and the place you wish to end. 

You can fly in by means of Salt Lake City International Airport, which is slightly below 4 hours driving to the following vacation spot, Moab. With this selection, you possibly can both ebook a roundtrip flight and drive again from Zion National Park if you’re accomplished (about 4.5 hours), or you possibly can head to Las Vegas (about 2.5 hours).

The journey will also be accomplished in reverse, beginning in Vegas and ending in SLC. Or you possibly can ebook a roundtrip flight from Vegas and drive again from Moab or Salt Lake City (each drives are 6-6.5 hours).

For the aim of this itinerary, we’re going to start out in SLC and end in Vegas, which has the least quantity of driving time, however you possibly can adapt it nevertheless you need.

Where to Stay in Utah

You’ll be venturing throughout the state, which implies you’ll want totally different lodging each night time.

While you’re in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas, there are tons of lodges and Airbnbs to select from. I used to be raised to at all times keep in Marriotts. You can discover them just about wherever, they usually’ll at all times be first rate high quality.

In downtown Salt Lake, both the City Creek or the City Center ones are good choices that can put you in the midst of the town. For one thing slightly cheaper, there’s a Fairfield Inn or a Residence Inn, each about quarter-hour outdoors of downtown.

While you’re driving by means of the state, you may think about tenting in or close to the nationwide parks, or you possibly can hire an RV to make your keep slightly simpler. All the nationwide parks have lodges, inns, and lodges close by, so there are many choices.

How to Get Around

You’ll positively want a automotive for this journey. If you’re flying in, you’ll have to hire one (verify rental costs right here) or, as talked about, you possibly can hire an RV which may double as your transportation and your lodging.

Any automotive ought to do, you gained’t want one for off-roading (although if you wish to there are many locations within the areas you’re visiting to do this should you so want to). For extra info, you should definitely take a look at our prime highway journey suggestions. And for extra inspiration, take a look at this information to the greatest highway journeys within the USA.

Suggested itinerary for a 7 days in Utah highway journey

Day 1 – Salt Lake City

Start your journey within the state capital, Salt Lake City. This metropolis surrounded by mountains has a wealthy historical past, but when that’s not your cup of tea, there are additionally loads of mountaineering and out of doors alternatives close by.

While you’re right here you possibly can discover the town, visiting locations like Temple Square, the center of the town and the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Utah State Capitol, a beautiful constructing with stunning grounds and structure. You may also go to the Hogle Zoo or the Natural History Museum of Utah.

If you wish to get outdoors, head to Big Cottonwood Canyon (simply 20 minutes outdoors the town) the place you’ll discover loads of mountaineering. Or you possibly can go to Park City, an excellent vacationer cease within the mountains that at all times has tons of occasions and actions occurring (40 minutes away).

You can also wish to cease by a grocery retailer and choose up snacks and meals, as there are restricted choices in a few of the parks you’ll be visiting. If you’ve bought an additional day to spend right here, take a look at our 2-day Salt Lake City itinerary.

Day 2 – Canyonlands 

Drive south to Moab, a small city identified for its proximity to 2 of Utah’s most well-known nationwide parks, Arches and Canyonlands, and certainly one of Utah’s state parks, Dead Horse Point. It’ll take you slightly below 4 hours, so get an early begin, but additionally benefit from the scenic drive.

You can both spend the remainder of the day exploring Canyonlands or Arches. Choose whichever one you don’t thoughts spending much less time in because you gained’t should drive as a lot on day 3.

Canyonlands National Park covers over 337,000 acres of rugged terrain. There are three important areas within the park: Island within the Sky, the Maze, and the Needles. Island within the Sky is closest to Moab and one of many park’s hottest areas. 

Be positive to go to Grand View Point, one of many coolest viewpoints within the park. Take a hike to Mesa Arch, maybe the park’s most well-known landmark. If you’ve bought time head to Green River Overlook or Shafer Canyon Overlook and benefit from the unbelievable views of the canyons and rock formations because the solar units.

Day 3 – Arches 

Spend the following day exploring Arches National Park. Hike to Delicate Arch, one of many park’s most well-known landmarks, and watch the dawn over the park’s beautiful purple rock formations. The hike takes two to 3 hours, relying in your tempo.

After, you possibly can hike the Devils Garden, a 7-mile path which might be shortened and also you’ll nonetheless see some cool sights, together with big boulders, tunnels, and arches. If this appears too lengthy, then don’t fear as you possibly can alternatively hike simply the panorama arch, which is a 1.9 mi/3.1 km roundtrip portion of the Devils Garden.

On your approach out of the park, there are some nice landmarks alongside the highway the place you possibly can cease and take photos. These embrace Balanced Rock, the Windows, Double Arch, and the Petrified Dunes Lookout.

You could make the 2-hour drive to Capitol Reef in the course of the night to save lots of you a while on day 4.

Day 4 – Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef National Park is commonly ignored amongst Utah’s parks, however it has some unbelievable sights, and it’s a little bit of a hidden gem in Utah’s nationwide park system. 

Start with a hike to the Hickman Bridge Arch, which spans 133 toes. The 1.8-mile path offers you beautiful views of this park. 

Take a hike alongside the Capitol Gorge Trail or the Chimney Rock Trail and discover the park’s historic orchards and pioneer-era buildings. There are plenty of viewpoints alongside Highway 24, together with Panorama and Sunset Viewpoints, and it’s also possible to see some petroglyphs.

When you’re accomplished right here, make the two.5-hour drive to Bryce Canyon

Day 5 – Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park is thought for its distinctive geological formations referred to as hoodoos, and it’s certainly one of my favourite parks. 

You can take a hike alongside the park’s rim, supplying you with totally different views on the hoodoos, or descend into the canyon and discover the paths that wind by means of the formations. 

One nice hike is the Navajo Loop, which lets you hike down into the hoodoos and see them from a completely totally different perspective. At the beginning of this path, you’ll be capable of see the well-known hoodoo Thor’s Hammer — which so far as I do know nobody has been in a position to carry— and alongside the best way you’ll see issues like big bushes rising in between the rock formations and towering hoodoos. 

Watch the sundown over the park’s beautiful landscapes and benefit from the unbelievable views.

Day 6 – Zion 

Head to Zion National Park, certainly one of Utah’s hottest and beloved parks (1.5 hours from Bryce). Take a scenic drive by means of the park’s beautiful landscapes, together with towering rock formations, deep canyons, and dashing rivers. 

If you’re a severe hiker, you may think about a hike to the highest of Angels Landing, one of many park’s most well-known and most difficult trails, which you’ll want a allow to hike. 

If you’re not up for that, discover the Narrows, a surprising canyon with towering partitions and a winding river. There’s a one-mile paved part, however if you wish to go additional in, you’ll should hike by means of the river.

Day 7 – Back to SLC or on to Las Vegas

On your final day, both head again north to Salt Lake or head right down to Las Vegas, the place you possibly can discover the town or just board your flight again house. For extra inspiration, you should definitely take a look at our recommended itinerary for Las Vegas.

We hope you take pleasure in your time in Utah visiting these attractive nationwide parks!

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About the writer: Lexi Cooper is a contract editor and author. Her mother and father taught her a love for touring, seeing new sights, and studying concerning the world. Along together with her ardour for journey, she loves tales and desires of spending her days studying and writing books and wandering the globe.