Utah: The Ultimate Family Road Trip
- theleavers
- Jul 23, 2025
- 9 min read
We had heard stories of the spectacular natural beauty of Utah but being able to see it with our own eyes, left us wanting more. We visited Utah in December 2024 and we can't recommend this beautiful State enough for families who are visiting America. Our visit was part of a larger 5-week road trip across a number of States, so our itinerary had us driving into Utah from Idaho. Here are the highlights of our trip and a suggested itinerary starting in the north and travelling south.
Day 1 - Morning
In the north of Utah, is the Golden Spike National Historical Park. One of the greatest technological achievements of the 19th century was the completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. Here at the Golden Spike National Historical Park, visitors can see the location of the Last Spike Site, 1869 railroad construction features, walk or drive on the original railroad grade, and get an up-close view of Victorian era replica locomotives.
Entrance is free if you have the America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. If you are visiting in winter (mid-October through to late April) just check the website as the park has limited opening hours.
Day 1 - Afternoon
Hill Aerospace Museum (Ogden)
About 1hr drive south of the Golden Spike National Historical Park is the Hill Aerospace Museum in the town of Ogden and located on the US Hill Airforce Base. This museum will keep the whole family entertained for hours and the best part - it is FREE to enter!
There are over 70 aircraft on display, and thousands of historical Air Force artifacts, including the first aircraft ever manufactured, the lumbering B-17, the speed-demon SR-71 or the one-and-only F-117 Stealth Fighter. The staff are volunteers who are passionate about aircraft and will happily talk you through the exhibitions. This is a fantastic opportunity to get up and close with aircraft from across the different generations.
Where to stay: Tru by Hilton Clearfield Hill Air Force Base
Day 2 - Morning
Accessible via a seven-mile causeway, Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, covering about 28,000 acres. Antelope Island is home to free-ranging herd of bison. You'll likely spot them grazing near the visitor center, or toward the scenic Fielding Garr Ranch. On our visit we didn't see many but just a few lonely bison in the distance.
You could easily spend a full day visiting Antelope Island with plenty of hiking trails. On our visit it was a cold December day, so we didn't do any hiking but we drove around the Island marveling at the roaming bison. We then drove to the Historic Fielding Garr Ranch. Inside the ranch house you step back in time with original 19th-century ranch and buildings on site.
The entrance fee to the Island including the causeway access is $15 per vehicle.
Day 2 - Afternoon
Drive to Salt Lake City
Where to stay: Hampton Inn Salt Lake City - Downtown. This hotel is in the city center. We were able to walk from the hotel to the Delta Centre to watch the ice hockey. The hotel offers free parking and a great breakfast.
Even if you're not religious, you should visit Temple Square. Situated on ten immaculately maintained acres in Downtown Salt Lake City, Temple Square is anchored by the Salt Lake Temple, a massive quartz and granite sanctuary that serves as the heart of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Start at the visitor center where you can book a free tour. And then explore the religious and historic sights of Temple Square including the Family History Library, Nauvoo Bell, Deuel Pioneer Log House, and Salt Lake Tabernacle where the Tabernacle Choir performs.
When we visited Salt Lake City it was just before Christmas, so we were lucky to see the city lit up in lights. The Salt Lake Temple was under renovation when we visited so we couldn't see inside unfortunately. Whilst we couldn't get tickets to the Christmas Carol event (our son was too young - I believe they must be at least 8 years old to attend) we were able to watch the event as it was live-streamed as we sat in the Tabernacle.
Tip: If you are in Salt Lake City for Christmas and you want to attend the FREE Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert at Temple Square, you need to obtain complimentary but required tickets through a random selection process. The registration period for tickets usually opens in mid-October and closes in early November. You can register for a chance to win tickets on the Tabernacle Choir's website. A standby line will be available for those who don't secure tickets, starting 90 minutes before the concert.
Day 3 - Morning
Natural History Museum is an architecturally beautiful building and inside it offers interactive displays from dinosaurs to geology and Indigenous culture. It's engaging for all ages and kept us busy for a few hours.
Day 3 - Afternoon
The Grand America Hotel is Salt Lake City’s premier luxury hotel and is worth a visit any time of year. But during the Christmas season, visitors can take a stroll along the main level and view their whimsical hand-crafted window displays. Enter the hotel and grab a map to each display, passing a life-sized gingerbread house on your way.
Afterwards, head to the Clark Planetarium. Clark Planetarium offers an out-of-this-world experience, featuring three floors of exhibits, as well as the breathtaking Hansen Dome Theatre and Northrop Grumman IMAX Theatre. This was a great indoor family activity and kept our young son entertained for a few hours.
Day 3 - Evening
Attending an Ice Hockey game is always a fast-paced exciting evening and Utah has recently entered a team into the National Hockey League.
Day 4 - Morning
Head out of the city early to explore Provo and Park City. First stop Downtown Provo, and a chance to take a stroll on Center Street, check out local shops, or grab a pastry at Peace on Earth Coffee. Provo offers a variety of activities, including outdoor recreation, cultural attractions, and family-friendly options. You can enjoy hiking, water activities, and exploring the city's museums, or experience the vibrant nightlife and unique shops downtown. Just outside of Provo is a short drive to Bridal Veil Falls.
Next stop is Midway, which is a beautiful Bavarian inspired town. Visiting the Midway crater should be at the top of your list! The Midway hot geothermal spring crater is a natural thermal geothermal paradise. The temperatures are around 95 degrees. The Utah Midway crater is located on the property of the Homestead Resort. It looks like a beehive shaped limestone rock from the outside but once you go inside you will find the pools.
If you are in Midway during winter, then other popular activities include tubing, ice-skating and the ice castles.
For those who are hungry or foodies then you must visit the Midway Bakery to enjoy the freshly baked bread, scones and home-made soups. Another stop is also the Herber Cheese Factory.
On the way back to Salt Lake City, make a stop in Park City. You can easily spend a full day here, as Park City, Utah, offers a wide array of activities year-round, from skiing and snowboarding in the winter to hiking, biking, and scenic gondola rides in the summer. Beyond the slopes, visitors can explore historic Main Street, enjoy live music and events, or experience the Utah Olympic Park.
Day 5 - Drive Canyonlands National Park (4 hour drive)
Canyonlands is a place of rugged beauty, deep canyons, towering mesas, and sweeping vistas that stretch out for miles. Canyonlands National Park is both the largest and least visited national park in Utah but is an underrated park with many different areas to explore.
Entrance is free if you have the America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
The park is divided into four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the riverside district. Each offers its own unique adventures, from easy hikes to multi-day backpacking trips. Our visit was from the Island in the Sky Visitor Centre entrance.
The Island in the Sky district is the most accessible area of Canyonlands, offering panoramic views from the park’s highest point. To get from Moab to Canyonlands it is a 35-minute drive.
The views from the Grand View Point Overlook are simply breathtaking, giving you a bird’s eye view of the labyrinth of canyons and rock spires below. After your stop at the Island in the Sky visitor center, head straight to the Grand View Point Overlook. It’s a short drive from the entrance, and the views here are spectacular. This is a perfect spot to begin your adventure, with panoramic views of the Green and Colorado Rivers, the needles, and mesas. If you're up for it, a 2-mile round-trip hike takes you to the point for an even closer look.
Where to stay: Aarchway Inn. This hotel offers a wonderful breakfast and free parking.
Day 6 - Arches National Park
Arches National Park is one of America's famous National Parks and is therefore very popular tourist attraction in Utah. Even in off peak periods the park can be very busy so recommend staying in Moab overnight and arriving just before opening to ensure you have a full day to enjoy all that this National Park has to offer.
Entrance is free if you have the America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
Remember to bring plenty of water (particularly in the warmer months), bring a packed lunch and snacks and to wear very comfortable hiking boots. We have done a separate blog on visiting Arches National Park - you can read it here.
Day 7 - Monument Valley (3 hour drive)
There are places on this earth that feel as though they’ve been touched by the hands of time itself—places that leave you in awe and are the reason we love to travel. Monument Valley, located on the Arizona-Utah border, is one of those places.
When we visited Monument Valley we booked a sunrise tour with a Navajo guide. Highly recommend doing this tour as it provided a wonderful insight from a local guide into this magical and inspiring piece of Utah as the sun was rising and the Valley was quiet and peaceful.
Where to stay: Goulding's Lodge. Goulding's Lodge offers a fantastic restaurant (the only real place to eat in the local vicinity) and a museum of the history of the area and the movies that have been made in Monument Valley. We stayed at Goulding's Lodge as we there weren't any available rooms at The View hotel (which is located in the Navajo Reservation in Monument Valley) and as it indicates provides spectacular views of the Valley.
Day 8 - Zion National Park (4 hour drive)
Where to stay: Zion Canyon Lodge
Recommend entering the National Park on Hwy 9 through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel for stunning scenery. Located just outside of the main section of the park—Zion Canyon—the Canyon Overlook offers a stunning view of Zion Canyon from above. To get there, you’ll need to hike a short and easy trail that leads up to the overlook. The trail is well-maintained and offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the scenery along the way. You’ll find the trailhead at the east end of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. There is limited parking on the side of the road.
Entrance is free if you have the America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
Day 9 - Zion National Park
Arrive early and Park at the Zion Visitor Center or take the free Springdale shuttle bus into the park entrance. Rent a bike at Zion Outfitter, which is right next to the park entrance.
Riding a bike through Zion National Park is not only allowed — it’s one of the best ways to experience Zion National Park. The main bike route is the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (from the South Entrance/Visitor Center to Temple of Sinawava).
Bikes are allowed on all park roads and the Pa’rus Trail, but not on hiking trails.
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Bike Route:
Distance: ~16 miles round trip
Route: Zion Canyon Visitor Center → Temple of Sinawava (with stops at Zion Lodge, Big Bend, and more)
Highlights: You’ll pass towering cliffs, the Virgin River, trailheads like Angels Landing, Emerald Pools, and the Narrows.
Optional Side Ride: Pa’rus Trail
Paved, bike-friendly trail from the Visitor Center to Canyon Junction (1.7 miles one-way).
Perfect for families or casual riders.
If you have time...
Outside of Springdale (about 30 mins) is the Grafton Ghost Town with the school house and church and a few modest houses still standing.
Tips to save and see more:
When visiting Utah, you are most likely going to be visiting the National Parks, so it may be worthwhile investigating and investing in an America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. This pass can be purchased when you arrive at your first National Park for 80USD and includes entrance to so many National Parks.
When you visit your first museum in America (e.g. the National History Museum in Utah) you may want to consider paying a little extra to become a member. Under this arrangement, you will join the ASTC Program, which provides allied membership benefits with hundreds of other museums across America. These benefits include free entry to other museums. The list of these museums is found here. During our road trip through America we probably used this membership approximately 6 times all with free entry, thereby saving us money.
If you have any questions please reach. This blog contains affiliate links, where we may earn a commission (at no cost to you).
Comments