Day 1: Fly to Salt Lake City, Drive to Moab Driving time and distance: 4 hours, 240 miles Pick up your rental car at the airport (a standard vehicle is fine for this itinerary) and drive to Moab. Remain on US-6 E for nearly 130 miles, then merge ontoI-70 E/US-191 S. This route will carry you the final 24 miles into Moab. From Salt Lake City, hop on I-15 south for a straight shot to the state's southern reaches. 11:00 am start in Salt Lake City. From there, youll follow UT-17 for six miles to its junction with UT-9, which will deliver you to Zion National Park. From Salt Lake City, hop on I-15 south for a straight shot to the states southern reaches. The trip can also be done in reverse, starting in Vegas and finishing in SLC. From horseback riding to backcountry hiking, the options are endless. City: round-trip one-way. The crater is a geothermal hot spring that's encapsulated in a limestone dome. Moab was once home to some of these prehistoric creatures, so be sure to visit the spots that showcase the dinosaur fossils, like the Moab Giants. With soda shops sprinkled across the state, I chose pop more often than coffee during my road trip. There are several flights that depart from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and arrive at Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY) in Moab. to get a sense of the park. This is Utahs adventure epicenter a place where world-renowned natural destinations are scattered around a town thats brimming with local charm. Canyonlands/ Tupungato/ Shutterstock. We originally wanted to visit the Mighty 5. And, like in Switzerland, the town is located near some of Utah's best skiing. The Homestead Crater's website states that it formed more than 10,000 years ago when melting snow seeped into the earth, where it heated and percolated upward. This helps minimize overcrowding in the park. Plus, it offers your family a consistent place to live while making your way down the road. 33 minutes Payson Canyon. Just 15 minutes from Temple Square, and featuring two restaurants, it features everything you could need for a one-night downtown stay. Since I couldn't get close to the rocks, I strained my eyes to view the faded petroglyphs and pictographs. 1. Moab to Salt Lake City road trip planner Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Moab to Salt Lake City. Follow UT-61 north back to UT-95, where youll take a right and drive for 28 miles to US-191. Salt Lake City to Moab drive - plan a road trip Salt Lake Citys Little America Hotel is a big surprise wrapped up in a neat package. A mix of souvenir shops, jewelry stores, and Western outfitters line the downtown area, making it a perfect spot to stretch your legs and absorb the Moab outdoorsy vibe. We went canyoneering while we were in Moab and had a great time. Plan to enjoy a day or two on either end Moab and Salt Lake City offer their own special characters and are unique in their offerings. To that end, this is not your typical weekend road trip itinerary. Take the stress out of the equation and explore the park with the help of an expert. 1969 - 2021 OARS Companies Inc. All rights reserved. Be prepared to stand in awe of the famous geological formations that it features. So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better? After the announcement that a temple was going to be built back in Hawaii, the majority of the settlers abandoned Iosepa and returned home. The many mesas at Moabs Dead Horse Point State Park, Penne di caprino at Caffe Molise in Salt Lake City, Utah, Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. I looked for a nearby park, and instead, spotted the amphitheater on the map. An intelligent AI-based tool like Jerry is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy that is customized for you. Since the church's members are urged not to consume alcohol, tobacco, and hot caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee in the church, according to The Washington Post, some people turned to soda. On this road trip, you'll trace the river and its tributaries across Utah and Colorado, seeing all the ways in which water has shaped the land. Youll then turn onto Highway 24, which will take you through Capitol Reef National Park and into the town of Hanksville. Check if you are overpaying for car insurance. Take advantage of some of them, and make sure you take in the wonderful views! The park becomes very busy by mid-morning, and parking can be difficult. Road conditions from Salt Lake City to Moab Utah. It cost me about $90, which included entrance into the crater, gear, and a diving partner since I was traveling solo. From high-energy adventure to world-renowned musical talent, your road trip between the two will be filled with history, exploration, and great food. From Bryce Canyon, its about two hours to Capitol Reef National Park, the site of a geologic wrinkle in the earths crust. Goblin Valley State Park is known for its unique rock formations, which look like goblins or mushrooms. Do Car Rental Companies Check Your Driving License? ($$): Lunch depends on your hiking preferences, but. Essential Eligibility Criteria for River Trips, Essential Eligibility Criteria for Sea Kayaking Trips, Essential Eligibility Criteria for Hiking Trips, Essential Eligibility Criteria for Grand Canyon Hiking In/Out, Colorado River Rafting through Cataract Canyon. An Epic 5-Day Southwest Road Trip & National Park Itinerary Start your day off at The Moab Movie Museum, then ride through those same movie backdrops on horseback at Red Cliffs Lodge. Salt Lake City is the ideal starting point to set out to the Yellowstone National Park and to discover the natural resources in northern Utah as well. You can make stops in Boise, Twin Falls, and Salt Lake City to enjoy the sights. : Guided horseback tours into the canyon are very popular and are less strenuous than hiking the Canyon. 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Be sure to check out the Bean Life Science Museum and the BYU Museum of Paleontology. follow the path of explorer John Wesley Powell, Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. Ready to start your Salt Lake City to Moab road trip? They also have a picnic table or two, so it is a good location to bring lunch if you dont want to purchase food there. The John Wesley Powell River History Museum and Black Canyon Dragon Viewpoint are both in Green River. Afterwards, with tired legs and an unshakeable smile its time to head back into town for a bite to eat before gazing upwards into some of the darkest night skies anywhere in the world. The shops offeredwhatfelt to me like an endless combination of soda, syrups, and flavors. I opted to go scuba diving one morning on my trip. Utah Road Trip: The Ultimate 5-10 Day Itinerary | Skyscanner US This is the perfect base to spend a couple of nights while you explore nearby Stop #2: Arches National Park, a mere 15 minutes away by car. The town is located just an hour southeast of Salt Lake City. As the rehearsal began, I observed a slow but steady stream of people who walked into the building to watch. They offer low rates on all of our vehicles, so you can hit the open road without breaking the bank. Our flight from ATL . While the amphitheater doesn't have a website, I did find its Facebook page, where upcoming events are listed and shared. Drive through the Utah desert, visiting four national parks before arriving in Moab. After her husband died, she believed she was receiving messages directly from god, instructing her to build a colony to survive the imminent end of the world. : Once youre finished with dinner, see if you can catch a film at the Redwood Drive-In movie theater over in West Valley City. Once you get to Zion, have a look around before checking into your hotel for the evening. . If youre planning to drive from Salt Lake City to Moab, renting a car is the best option. There are two main driving routes from Salt Lake City to Moab: I-15 S and US-6 E/US-191 S The quickest route is via I-15 S and US-6 E/US-191 S, which takes you through Spanish Fork and Price before reaching Moab. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For thrill-seekers who are happy to hand over the controls to a professional, there are large all-terrain vehicles where you can buckle in and enjoy the scenic route. The drive from Salt Lake City to Moab is not scary. So when I read about the Dream Mine in Spanish Fork on Atlas Obscura, I knew I wanted to visit. Even equipped with a Salt Lake City to Moab itinerary, so much lies ahead. Within two hours of departing the city, you'll enter the Colorado Plateau, which is home to the mountains, rock arches, canyons, and rivers that make the Southwest a stunning natural playground. Tucked in an old courthouse, Utah locals told me that the Jailhouse Cafe is a Moab staple when it comes to breakfast. This was one of our kids favorite things we did in Moab, and they are still talking about it. Or you can book a roundtrip flight from Vegas and drive back from Moab or Salt Lake City (both drives are 6-6.5 hours). drive for about 3 hours. WATCH: The Differences Between Salt Lake City & Denver. If I'm passing through Spanish Fork again, I plan to make another pit stop for either a yoga class or lunch buffet. 1 hour Wayan. How can I make sure my friend is covered to drive my car during a road trip? Two intriguing and different Utah destinations Moab and Salt Lake City are waiting for you to explore their gifts. To break things up, you can spend the night in Park Citythere are numerous good hotels to consider. If you have the time, a 4- or 6-day Cataract Canyon rafting trip will give you the ultimate taste of red rock country. 11 Stops Along A Scenic Road Trip From Moab To Salt Lake City Greyhound and Salt Lake Express offer daily bus services between Salt Lake City and Moab, with prices starting at around $35 for a one-way trip. From Zion, head back to UT-9 (24 miles, then take a left on US-89 north. Cross over and check out Dinosaur National Monument. This is a short drive from the airport, and if you have the extra time, it is totally worth it. Capitol Reef National Park is a stunning park with towering cliffs, canyons, and rock formations. Some of Utah's prettiest vistas are on display as you traverse mountains and valleys on this road trip from Salt Lake City to Moab, Utah. If you are flying into Salt Lake City from another location or if you are concerned about your vehicles capability to make the journey from Salt Lake City to Moab, you will want to rent a car. Every turn opens up new and unusual gravity-defying red rock formations. Around this time, you will see signs for US-6 E toward Price. No phone calls. The rooms are spacious and comfy. Once in Moab, get settled into your hotel and have dinner. I opted to add an extra hour of driving to my road trip across Utah just so I could spend the night in Midway, which has been dubbed Utah's little Switzerland, according to Only In Your State. Its not exactly a low-calorie option, but the buttery biscuits and juicy limeade are an SLC must! Weather conditions: Find out if there are any road closures in Utah from UDOT.Check road conditions from Moab Utah to Salt Lake City, or you can get reverse directions from Salt Lake City to Moab Utah.If you're trying to avoid mountains or steep grade roads, check the elevation profile from Moab Utah to Salt Lake City.Or if you are hungry, look for places to eat between Moab Utah and Salt Lake . There are companies you can rent from, as well as platforms like Airbnb but for RVs. Having 33 states and territories, 23 countries, and a grand collection of national and state parks in her travel log; her current goal is to visit all 50 states in the next 5 years. Some travelers drive from Salt Lake City to Arches National Park just to reconnect with nature and truly experience the sheer beauty of Moab and the surrounding areas. eat at Red Iguana. What will your adventure hold? Tours and equipment for these sports are available throughout the area and are a good time, especially if you are doing activities for the first time. The Fruita Campground is the only developed campground in the park, and you can make reservations between March and October. Other popular stops include Utah Olympic Park, Salt Lake Utah Temple, and Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. At 234 miles, this route takes about 4 hours. But I can't say I'd make the 40-mile trek out to the ghost town again. Sandi loves writing about culture, cuisine, adult beverages, cruising, golf, skiing, road trips, hiking, New England, and photography. Power ranks Hertz as the best car rental company in North America, and for good reason. With four to five national park stops, a visit to Bears Ears National Monument, and endless opportunities for adventure, this Utah road trip from Salt Lake City to Moab is a definite bucket list experience. One thing is for certain, you can always find something to do in Moab. Welcome to an idyllic weekend road trip to Moab. Some of Utahs prettiest vistas are on display as you traverse mountains and valleys on this road trip from Salt Lake City to Moab, Utah. You can also take a short detour to Goblin Valley State Park. No trip to Moab is complete without visiting Arches National Park. Moab is a city full of adventures just waiting to be discovered. If youre looking to explore Salt Lake and the surrounding areas along the way to Moab over an extended period of time, you might want to consider renting an RV. is a trendy spot serving up a range of summer eats. Murray Today, the ghost town is privately owned, so people can only view the remaining buildings from a distance. Fullyexploring the Canyonlands regioncalls for a trip all its own, but Gooseberry is an excellent day hike to see the parks dramatic geology. And the easiest way to get it is to use. You would need to figure out transportation from Green River to Moab. Moab to Salt Lake City drive - plan a road trip Nothing quite compares to the adventurous spirit of a road trip. From: 1 traveler 2 travelers 3 travelers 4 travelers 5 travelers 6 travelers. The drive from the airport to Moab is about 20 minutes. Jerry automatically shops for your insurance before every renewal. Flying Into Salt Lake City Once you land in Salt Lake City, plan to pick up your car or RV rental and head south toward Moab, Utah. The intrepid explorer can pilot their own ATV/UTV up and down the precarious rock formations following in the footsteps of many a skilled driver. According to Atlas Obscura, the petroglyphs and pictographs were created by three Indigenous tribes, the Utes, Fremont, and Archaic groups, thousands of years ago. We are both senior citizens and do not hike or ski. Moab is surrounded by a sea of buckled, twisted and worn sandstone sculpted by millennia of sun, wind and rain. stay at Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City - a Kimpton Hotel. Archaeologists estimate that the Bears Ears area contains more than 100,000 Indigenous cultural sites, and the concentration of human history here is truly awe-inspiring. Salt Lake City . The park also has two primitive campgrounds, which are free. But we love the national parks. The 1,080-mile road trip between Seattle and Moab will take about 17 hours to drive. OARS is a proud member of Adventure Collection, a partnership of the world's premiere adventure travel companies. Provo comes up pretty quickly after Lehi. Follow the Google link below: GIMME MY UTAH MIGHTY 5 ROAD TRIP MAP! Plus, a soda never cost me more than $3.14. The Salt Lake Express is a shuttle service that runs a route to Moab twice daily. Salt Lake City, Utah Search for cheap flight deals now! Its impossible to squeeze a trip to Moab into a single day (you could easily spend a week in this adventure hub), but whatever you do, dont miss a malt at Milts Stop & Eat. There are three campgrounds in Zion, two of which (South and Watchman) can be reserved in advance. Your kids will also be amazed by the dinosaur trackway at Mill Canyon. As the day winds down, be sure to spend the evening popping into the galleries, gift shops and outfitters that line Main Street for a sense of Moabs charm. Home of the Truth's origin story is the most fascinating ghost-town story I've heard. Road Trip From Salt Lake City Airport Top Travel Destinations For a Southern Utah Road Trip The State of Utah has just about every kind of terrain that an adventurer could want. This is a great book that has helped us when we are exploring the off-road trails in Moab like Poison Spider Mesa. This route is approximately 240 miles long and takes about 3 hours and 48 minutes. Semi-retired from a long career in marketing, Sandi is making the most of her boomer traveling, go-go years, with a goal to visit as many places as possible. First of all, dont panic! It's an outstanding drive, especially around sunset. Road conditions from Salt Lake City to Moab Utah The easy-rated White Rim Overlook is just under 2 miles round trip with a rewarding view. Trips from Moab to Salt Lake City No long forms. Road Trip Conditions. The hotel is in the perfect spot after a day of exploring Salt Lake City. Each year, the temple holds one of the largest color festivals outside India, its website states. Can You Rent A Car With An OpenSky Credit Card? Our goal, to share the worlds unique, hidden and once in a lifetime locations with you to create unforgettable memories. In the 1880s, 46 Hawaiians left their homes to travel to Utah for religious reasons. This is a very strenuous ride, so you might elect to sample the 1.6 mile Slickrock Practice Trail instead, or consult with a local bike shop for a better suited trail. Leg 1: Salt Lake City to Zion National Park Get an early start to leave as much time as possible to explore Utah's first national park. To get from Salt Lake City to Moab, you will first take I-15 S for about 50 miles. Amtraks California Zephyr will carry you from Salt Lake to Green River, UT, which is the closest stop to Moab. Keep in mind that if you are flying into Salt Lake, you will be able to take a shuttle directly to the rental car desk from the airport terminal. The 76,000-acre park is home to more than 2,000 natural arches, otherworldly land forms, and expansive views. In 1892, it became Moab's county courthouse,and today's kitchen wasoncethe courthouse's jail cell. Moab and Salt Lake City are about a 4-hour drive apart if you navigate straight through from one to the other. Explore fun things to do in beautiful Salt Lake City or explore exciting outdoor adventures in Moab by visiting our destination guides. I could hardly spot what historians believe are images of horses, pale white circles representing shields, and humans. Day 2: Arches National Park