How to Plan the Perfect Utah Road Trip

It was 108-degrees. We were 3-miles away from the car with no water, no food, and enough energy to barely roll a marshmallow down a hill.

Now, I know what you’re thinking… “what a bunch of idiots!”

You’re right. Instead of planning our dream trip to Utah, we flew by the seat of our pants and left dehydrated, bitter, and running away from an epic wildfire heading towards our campground.

Don’t let this be you.

I know, I know! Planning a road trip can be overwhelming. But, don’t worry! I’ve done all the leg-work for you.

After several road trips to Utah (some obviously more successful than others…), I’ve finally perfected the planning process and today, my friend, I’m going to let you in on all my secrets.

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How to Plan the Perfect Utah Road Trip

To ensure you plan the most epic, safe, satisfying, and fun Utah road trip there is, here is the list of steps I HIGHLY recommend you take.

1. Decide When to Visit Utah
2. Create a Small “Must See” List
3. Choose Your Start and End Locations
4. Decide on the Length of Your Trip
5. Create a Rough Itinerary Outline
6. Decide Where to Stay Each Evening
7. Book Flights, Car Rental, and Overnight Stays
8. Research and Finalize Your Itinerary
9. Learn the Best Tips and Tricks for Utah
10. Create a Pre-Trip To-Do List
11. Create a Packing List
12. Finish Preparing and Enjoy Your Adventure!

I know, it might look like a lot at first.

Don’t worry! Each step is quick and easy. I’ll hold your hand through the entire process.

Let’s take a look at each of these in detail, shall we?

When to Visit Utah

The very first step is to decide when you want to visit Utah. I strongly advise you to give this some serious thought because, to be honest, this can make or break your trip.

However, if you really don’t have a choice and MUST visit during, say the hot summer months, don’t fret just yet. I’ve got some amazing tips to help you still enjoy your trip!

Anyways, let’s take a look at what each season looks like in the state of Utah:

• Spring: In my opinion, spring is the best time of year to visit Utah. It is just after the first snow melt so waterfalls are at full capacity, crowds are low, and the temperatures are optimal. One of our trips to Utah was in the first week of Spring and we saw barely anyone. However, keep in mind that around spring break and late Spring can get a bit busy.
• Summer: I strongly do not recommend traveling in Utah during the summer. The temperatures are very hot (100+ during the day), wildfires are frequent, and crowds are large. However, if this is your only option, it can be done! Our most recent trip to Utah the first week of July and it was phenominal. My tips for summer in Utah can be found below.
• Fall: This is another great time to visit Utah! Temperatures are just right and the snow usually hasen’t fallen yet. Crowds have slimmed down, but the waterfalls have not had enough time to replenish. Something to think about.
• Winter: Because Utah can get quite snowy and… VERY cold, you might want to avoid this time of the year. Especially if you’re camping! However, the very end of winter is actually a great time to visit. It is still a bit cold, but bearable. There are absolutly no crowds, and if you have the right gear, you can really make it work. Just watch the weather forcast carefully.

Create a “Must See” List

The next step in the planning process is to create a “Must See” list. This will help you determine a realistic estimate of how many days your trip should be, as well as create an itinerary outline.

In my opinion, you should absolutely aim to see Utah’s Mighty 5.

What, you might be wondering, is this? You see, Utah has 5 National Parks, each of which is absolutely breathtaking, unique, and probably the reason you want to take this trip in the first place…

These 5 parks include:

• Arches National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Capital Reef National Park
• Zion National Park

I strongly believe you should use this as the foundation of your trip itinerary.

Some other big-ticket destinations you might want to consider on your “Must See” list, both in and out of Utah, that I believe are worth your time include:

• Salt Lake City
• Monument Valley
• Colorado National Monument
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
• Any Slot Canyon Hike – There are a Few Good Ones to Choose From
• Cedar Breaks National Monument
• Natural Bridges National Monument
• Dinosaur National Monument

Again, just start with a “Must See” list. While you’re doing your research, you can also create an “If There is Time” list, so that you know what your second picks are.

Where to Begin and End Your Road Trip

Can you start and end your road trip from home? If so, you have your answer. If not, read on.

You will either need to fly in or take the train into the area. Both are great options (I personally LOVE the train and think it is very under-rated). Once you arrive, you can rent a car and be on your way.

The four most popular Utah road trip start/end destinations are Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Flagstaff. Each has its pros and cons.

Before you make your decision, I encourage you to do two things: consider your “Must See” list and complete price comparison.

Also, be sure to take into consideration one-way vs round-trip pricing. If you start and end your road trip in the same city, you could potentially save some serious cash.

Decide on the Length of Your Trip

Now that you have a “Must See” list and start/end destinations, it is time to decide the length of your stay.

Use Google Maps and quickly map out each destination on your list, then have it calculate how long your drive will take. For this, you’ll probably need to move some destinations around in order to shorten the drive time.

Now, consider how much time you want to spend at each location. Just a rough estimate is probably good enough.

I recommend a minimum of a half-day at each major location, but ideally a full day. If you plan on longer hikes, you might want to consider two or more days at some National Parks.

Don’t stress, you can always come back and change your length if you need to.

Create a Rough Itinerary Outline

Next, it’s time to begin creating your itinerary outline. This is where the fun really begins!

Start with the easy stuff. List out each day: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, …, Day X.

Then begin filling in your start and end locations, as well as each major “Must See” location, with a little help using Google Maps for travel times.

Here is a 7-Day sample outline to help you out:

• Day 1: Travel Day – Arrive in Las Vegas, drive to Moab, UT and explore the town
• Day 2: Arches National Park
• Day 3: Canyonlands (Island in the Sky and The Needles Districts)
• Day 4: Slot Canyon Hike and Goblin Valley State Park
• Day 5: Capitol Reef National Park & Bryce Canyon National Park
• Day 6: Bryce Canyon National Park & Zion National Park
• Day 7: Zion National Park & Drive back to Las Vegas

Do some research and play around with your itinerary until you LOVE it.

Again, this is just an outline! You’ll fill in the details in a bit; I also have outlines for a 5, 7, 10, and 14 day itinerary, as well as much better details in my Utah’s Mighty 5 Road Trip Itinerary post.

Decide Where to Stay Each Evening

So, the reason you shouldn’t waste time really filling in your itinerary just yet (but still spend time on your outline) is that reservations in Utah fill up quickly. And I mean… minutes-after-reservations-open quickly (especially for the busy season).

Once you have an itinerary outline completed, you should begin booking your trip ASAP.

Let’s start by deciding where you want to stay each evening. You have several options:

• Backpacking in the National Parks (camping backcountry)
• Free Camping on BLM land or USFS land
• Camping in the Utah State Parks
• Camping in the U.S. National Parks
• Camping at a private campground
• Stay at a Vacation Rental (like AirBNB)
• Book a stay at a Hotel or Resort

Book Flights, Car Rental, and Overnight Stays

By now, you should have all the information you need to book your flights, car rental, overnight stays, and any other reservations you need.

Go! Go! Go!

Tip: If you plan on dining at a popular restaurant, you might want to consider getting reservations for that too!

Research and Finalize Your Itinerary

The next step in planning the perfect Utah road trip is to fill in your itinerary outline with all the fun activities, sites, and everything in between.

Tips for Creating the Perfect Utah Road Trip Itinerary

• One great rule-of-thumb to follow for National Parks is to check out at least 3 scenic overlooks (the more the better!) and go on at least one good hike.
• Also be sure to check out each visitor center. They usually have some great nature displays and useful information on each park.
• If you have time, also consider checking out Utah’s State Parks, many of them are just as spectacular as the national parks and often have smaller crowds.
• Plan frequent breaks while driving long stretches. It will make such a difference! Spend some time exploring the map and route you’ll be traveling and jot down some rest stop ideas. This also might require you find free parking lots and add them to your itinerary as well.
• Check out pre-made itineraries and Utah-related road trip resources, these will be huge time-savers and help you find some great hidden treasures along your adventure. I’ll link my favorite resources down below.
• Gas stations in Southern Utah are few and far-between. Be sure to map your gas milage well. I’ll give you some instructions on how to that below too.

Top Resources to Build the Perfect Utah Road Trip Itinerary

• Utah Office of Tourism
• The Ultimate Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary
• Utah’s Mighty 5 Road Trip Itinerary

How to Map Your Gas Milage and Electric Charges

Knowing how far you can go on a full tank of gas is a pretty useful tool, especially on a road trip through an area with few gas and charging stations (like Utah).

To do so, just simply follow these steps:

• Step 1: Determine your gas tank size and highway miles-per-gallon. Both can be found in your owners manual or a simple online search. If you drive a hybrid or electric vehicle, lookup your miles per charge and be sure to take this into account.
• Step 2: Multiply your gas tank size by highway miles-per-gallon. For example, if you have a 15 gallon tank and get 30 mpg, you will be able to go 15 * 30 = 450 miles until you are empty. For hybrids, tack on any addition miles you get with one charge.
• Step 3: At each gas station, choose your next gas-up or charge-up location, ensuring you will reach it before you run out of gas. Be sure to account for all of your side trips! You can also plan all of these locations before you leave.

Pretty simple, right?! It might sound a bit tedious, but it is super simple and might really help you out!

Learn the Best Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Utah Road Trip

Next, to ensure you have the absolute best Utah road trip possible, be sure to read up on the top Utah tips and tricks.

Here are some of my favorites to start you off:

General Utah Road Trip Tips

• To get you excited for the journey, watch some great Southwest USA films. My favorites are: Indiana Jones, Cars, Thor, and Wild Wild West. For movies filmed in Utah, check out this great article.
• Service can be spotty in many areas of Utah. For this reason, I can’t recommend carrying a road atlas with you on your journey (we used ours 3 different times on our last trip). Your best bet is to get an uptated atlas that includes National Park maps. This is the one we have and we LOVE it; it was perfect for Utah (and a great price).
• As mentioned before, gas stations around Utah can be pretty far apart. Plan accordingly.
• Speaking of gas, I HIGHLY recommend you use cash each time. My card information was stolen at gas stations on two seperate road trips… learn from my mistake and save yourself the headache.
• Be prepared for every possible emergency. Personally, I always carry a roadside emergency kit (make sure it is stocked and has everything you might possibly need, like this one) and a fully-loaded first aid kit.
• The State of Utah is very tourist-friendly, and offers some fantastic tourism resources through their Office of Tourism website.

Tips to Beat the Crowds in the Utah National Parks

• Start your day early… and the earlier the better.
• Between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, avoid the popular tourist spots by taking a break back at camp, driving to a new destination, hiking a longer trail, or visiting less-popular sites.
• Return to the parks later in the day for an evening stroll.
• If possible, visit the parks mid-week.
• Have a list of backup ideas for each day incase parking lots are full, permits are all taken, etc.
• If possible, utilize the park shuttle systems, they are HUGE time-savers and free.
• Come to the parks prepared with food, water, and gear (so you don’t have to fight the crowds at the busy shops mid-day).
• Try backpacking! Very little people actually explore the National Parks backcountry.
• Lastly, change your expectations. You are likely to encounter many people on your journey. Might as well embrace it and enjoy the experience together.

Tips for a Utah Road Trip in the Summer

• Keep a close eye on the current wildfires in the area. They can make a big difference in what roads, parks, and campsites are open and safe.
• Plan the hottest part of the day carefully. This is a great time to drive long distances, visit indoor locations (like visitor centers, neaby museums, etc.) or cool off near the water.
• Drink pleanty of water during the day (and always have pleanty more with you), wear a sun hat (I promise, the proper hat will make a HUGE difference, this is the one I have and it works wonders!), and constantly apply sunscreen.
• Speaking of protection, I HIGHLY recommend wearing UPF protective long sleeved shirts and hiking pants. I know, long sleeves sounds counter-productive. But I was wearing UPF protective clothing and my husband was in athletic shorts and a tank. He only made it 20 minutes in the 100+ degree weather before starting to get overheated and I was completly fine the whole trip. No joke. I don’t know what magic is in this clothing but it truly works. Beware: they can get spendy, but you can find some great sales if you look around. For reference, here is a similar shirt to what I use, and here is a similar pair of pants.
• Beware of summer thunderstorms and read up on summer storm safety from the National Parks Service.
• If you’re tent camping: put up your tent as late as possible, opt for a UV tarp hung a few feet over your tent instead of the rainfly, and use a cheap tent fan. You won’t regret it.
• Finally, if you can, sleep in an air-conditioned location (such as an RV with AC or a hotel).

Create a Pre-Trip To Do List

Next, it is time to write up and schedule a pre-trip to-do list.

Here are some task suggestions to consider:

• Ensure all reservations have been made.
• Ensure the travel itinerary is finished.
• Meal plan, purchase groceries, and meal prep any snacks and meals you wish to take on the road.
• Print a copy of all reservation paperwork to bring with you. Campsite maps are useful too!
• Make large ice cubes or freeze water bottles for the cooler.
• Make a packing list and pack for the trip (see below).
• Fill all water bottles and a large water jug for the journey.
• Fill up the car with gas.
• Complete all pre-trip maintenance and other car checks (tire pressure, oil, air filter, etc.).
• Make arrangements for your home while your gone (pet-sitter, plant-drip watering system, security, etc.).
• Take out all trash in home just before leaving
• Create an “After Trip” to-do list.

Creating the Perfect Road Trip Packing List

I go into great detail about what I recommend packing for a road trip in this amazing blog post. I swear by this list and turn to it each time I hit the road.

But, for Utah specifically, I would also be sure to add:

Cooler Weather Utah Road Trip Essentials:

• Neoprene Gear: If you’re hiking The Narrows in Zion National Park, you will REALLY want some type of waterproof foot protection, such as neoprene socks, water shoes, waterproof pants and/or a dry suit with water-friendly hiking shoes. Trust me, we didn’t do this and had to turn back. You can also rent this gear at nearby shops.
• Trekking Poles: These are just a no-brainer for any hike, but especially in slick, icey conditions (and definitely in The Narrows).
• Ice Cleats: Especially if you plan on hiking anything that is icey…
• Winter Jacket: Be sure to check the weather to see what to expect, but you’ll probably want a good winter jacket.
• Gloves: Perfect for those cold hikes when your hands are swinging around in the cold air.
• Winter Hat: Keep your ears warm with a good hat or ear warmers.
• Re-Chargable Hand Warmer: These are so awesome… and a great price! Easy way to keep warm.
• Hiking Boots: If you will be doing any hiking, you’ll want some good boots.
• Bug Spray: Depending on the time of year and locaiton, the bugs can get pretty bad.
• Hiking 10 Essentials: You should always carry the 10 hiking essentails with you… on any hike!

Warmer Weather Utah Road Trip Essentials:

• Trekking Poles: Trekking poles are a no-brainer, especially on longer trails.
• Water Hiking Shoes: For the Narrows hike, if you’re planning on it.
• Hiking Boots: A must for hiking. Be sure to wear them in before you leave for your trip if you are getting a new pair.
• USF Protective Hat: I’ve already mentioned the magic of USF clothing… totally worth the investment.
• USF Protective Shirts: USF long sleeved shirts make all the difference. I know, sounds counter-intuitive but I promise!
• Breathable Hiking Pants: Another must! Pants help protect you from the sun, bushes, bugs, etc.
• Sunscreen: An absolute must in the sunny weather.
• Bug Spray: If you’ll be near water at any time (likely), you’ll want bug spray. Also a good way to avoid ticks.
• UV Tarp: One of my favorite hacks for keeping tents cool.
• Tent Fan: Another great way to cool down a tent.
• Hiking 10 Essentials: Finally, the 10 hiking essentials should always be on your adventure packing list.

Related: Road Trip Essentials: 55 Items You Can’t Forget!

Finish Preparing and Enjoy Your Adventure!

If you’ve made it this far in the post, bravo! I’m truly impressed. That was a ton of information I tossed at you.

All that’s left? Finish packing, complete your pre-trip to-do list, and enjoy your Utah road trip adventure!

I hope you have the most spectacular time… I’m sure you will if you’ve gone this far.

Happy Travels!

Further Reading

One last thing! Here are some great related blog posts that might interest you:

• The Ultimate Southwest USA Road Trip Itinerary
• Utah’s Mighty 5 Road Trip Itinerary
• The Best Hikes in Zion National Park
• The Ultimate Arches National Park Guide
• Road Trip Essentials: 55 Items You Can’t Forget
• The Ten Hiking Essentials: Everything You Need for the Trails
• Denver’s Top Ten Day Hikes

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