Here's Why Southern Utah Should Be Your Next Bucket List Vacation
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Southern Utah has a very well-established reputation as being one of America’s premier outdoor playgrounds. It is exploding with fantastic opportunities for road-tripping, sight-seeing, camping, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, fishing, backpacking, and more. What sets this region of the United States apart is the sheer massive expanse of wilderness to explore and the five fantastic national parks (known as the “Mighty Five”) within close proximity to one another that look nothing like any other state in the continental U.S.
Southern Utah is dominated by wide open desert lands, staggering mountain ranges, skinny slot canyons, and rough and remote terrain. The Wild West is at its full glory in southern Utah; you can drive for hours and hours without hitting a major (or even minor) city. Stars are unparalleled in the night sky without light pollution, everyone you cross paths with is sporting hiking boots, and civilization fades away into distant memory when exploring these wild, untamed lands.
Below we go over can’t-miss sites and highlights of Southern Utah for your exploration of this awe-striking region, as well as questions you may have about traveling over this area.
Why explore Southern Utah?
The state’s five national parks are all within a few hours of one another, making for an unbelievable road trip. The sheer expanse of the Utah desert can’t be found anywhere else—no cities, no commercial plots of lands. It’s wild, baby.
This terrain type is unique to Utah. Spectacular and unique natural features—such as slot canyons, natural bridges, and arches—populate the entire region. The red rock features and dirt are stunning and look like they were transported from Mars at times. No one forgets the first time they experience this kind of landscape, but you can get a similar taste of it in Sedona, Arizona (except that Sedona is very often crowded by travelers and a much smaller area).
What is the best way to explore Southern Utah’s National Parks?
Absolutely by car. A road trip through southern Utah easily provides a stellar itinerary without much effort. If you want to take your travel experience up a notch, consider renting an RV camper, as many travelers do.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time of year to visit southern Utah is spring and fall; these times of year are off-season, so there will be less competition for campsites, permits, and space on the trails. The weather is also best during these times of year, with clear skies, bearable sunshine, and warm temperatures. Southern Utah can get hot, hot, hot in the summer months, from the end of May through the beginning of September.
March through May, as well as September through November, are ideal. Nights can drop down to cool temps during this time, and layers will probably be needed, but days will rise to pleasant 70’s.
Are there any dangers associated with exploring?
Heat, sun exposure, and flash floods are natural dangers to be aware of.
If you are unaccustomed or not acclimated to high temperatures and intense sunlight, Utah’s sun can be relentless and potentially dangerous. Every year, unprepared hikers are injured—even fatally—from heat stroke, dehydration, and other pre-existing medical conditions exacerbated by the high temperatures. Please bring more water than you consider necessary, every time you venture out into the outdoors. Always wear a hat that will shelter your face from the bright sun.
Monsoon season is mid-July through mid-September, where southern Utah is known to have flash floods. Massive rainstorms drop from the heavens, and because the dry, hard desert floor is unable to absorb that much water, torrents of water rage dangerously over the land, seeking low ground. Be especially wary for news of flash foods, recent rainfall, and current conditions posted by park rangers when you are planning to hike a slot canyon. Slot canyons are some of the coolest things to experience in southern Utah, but also some of the most dangerous
What to bring when exploring Southern Utah?
Hydration, and more hydration. Keep extra gallons stored away in the shade of your trunk.
Protection from the sun: hat, sunscreen, light layers designed for sun protection, and sunglasses.
An outdoors-appropriate backpack.
Camping gear. Check out this post to see a complete camping gear list.
Basic auto repair, like a spare tire and jack. Don’t depend on AAA out here! You are hours from any major city, so help is a long time coming when it comes to a popped tire. (I recommend very reliable, sturdy vehicles with 4-wheel drive.) Some trailheads are at the ends of rough roads. For more road trip essentials, read this post.
A physical map, of the entire region and of each park/region you plan to check out. You will blissfully lose cell connection often when in southern Utah—these are some of the most desolate lands in all of America. Embrace it! Do not rely on Google Maps or Apple Maps as your sole source of geography.
Other things to know about exploring Southern Utah
You can be at any experience level for camping and hiking to truly enjoy the great outdoors of southern Utah. There are daredevil-challenging options for those ready to take on the full brunt of the wilderness, but there are also options for less-experienced individuals and young families. You can make it as easy or as hard as you like, but just make sure to do your research on a particular adventure before going into it, so that you are confident that it is suitable for every skill level in your group.
Visiting The “The Mighty Five” National Parks
Zion National Park does not allow private vehicles past a certain point in the park; you have to get around via park shuttle, which has both pros and cons. Another reason to visit southern Utah in the off-season!
There are hotels and motels available outside of every national park, but I recommend camping when exploring southern Utah. Camping is one of the best ways to experience the true, untouched wilderness of this beautiful state. It also has pretty ideal camping conditions: few bugs, few wild animals to fear, stable temperatures, rain is rare, and there are a ton of camp spots available.
To avoid the crowds of national park campgrounds, one of my favorite things about southern Utah is the dispersed camping made available on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. These are large areas of land that are not maintained or established as designated campgrounds, but instead, set aside for free public outdoor recreation. Often there are 14-night limits to these areas, and there are very rarely bathrooms or “campsites.” You will also be able to visually decipher where previous campers made camp.
It is my favorite way to camp: roads are rougher, you have fewer camping neighbors, no fees, and fewer restrictions. This option is best for experienced campers, so if you are new to camping, stay with the designated campgrounds.
Arches National Park
Days Needed to Explore: 2-3
Small but mighty, Arches National Park lies outside Moab, a recreational haven. Arches is named after the unique geographical landmarks that protrude grandly and proudly from the red desert rocks, and the park is an awesome, can’t-miss stop. You can easily visit Arches in a weekend, and even a long, solid day here could be enough time to see nearly ten arches.
Can’t-Miss Highlights:
The Arches Scenic Drive
Zion National Park
Days Needed to Explore: 2-3
Zion is potentially the busiest national park in Utah, both due to media attention and the famous hikes it houses, such as The Narrows and Angel’s Landing. Zion has an extremely busy summer season, so book in advance, and know that you will be sharing trails here often.
Nonetheless, Zion Canyon is exceptional. The park has miraculous scenic viewpoints and incredible, deep canyons to wander into; it has pools, observation points, lush trees, and rocky summits. It is big and has three different entry points; for a more remote and quieter experience, enter from the east side. (However, this entrance is closed during winter)
Can’t-Miss Highlights:
Bryce National Park
Days Needed to Explore: 1-2
Bryce’s landscapes are out of this world, unique even among the other Utah national parks. The strange and incredible rock formations that jut aggressively from the ground are called hoodoos, and here lies the greatest concentration found on the planet. Just a quick ride away from Zion, Bryce is smaller in size, but deserves a visit for its distinct features and jaw-dropping vistas. It is possible to do Bryce in a day, but several days would allow a more complete visit!
Can’t-Miss Highlights:
Canyonlands National Park
Days Needed to Explore: 2
A wide expanse of buttes, rivers, vistas, and wide canyon awaits you in Canyonlands. It is the largest of Utah’s national parks but one of the least-visited, due to the fame of its sister parks Zion and Arches. That in itself is a perk if you decide to visit Canyonlands, for you will have to fight less for camping and hiking space! The park is split into four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers. The park is a little more off-the-beaten-path but has so much to offer in terms of outdoor adventure.
Can’t-Miss Highlights:
Capitol Reef National Park
Days Needed to Explore: 1-2
Another unique-to-Utah region, Capitol Reef is proud to exist in a “wrinkle of the earth,” a geologic monocline called the Waterpocket Fold, that stretches nearly 100 miles. Here in this extraordinary and somewhat-overlooked national park, you can explore glorious arches, buttes, canyons, and all the beauty of red rock country. Much of the park is easily accessible by car due to the scenic highway that conveniently runs through. A day or two is an appropriate amount of time to set aside for this Utah gem!
Can’t-Miss Highlights:
Scenic Highway 24
More Bucket list Sites in Southern Utah
Consider hopping the state line to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon National Park, Lake Powell, or Page, AZ.
For a complete guide to an epic road trip through the Southwestern states: Ultimate Guide To A Road Trip In The Southwest!
For hiking tips and etiquette: 8 Trail Etiquette Rules Every Hiker Should Know
For camping tips: 19 Camping Tips For Beginners
For more outdoor recreation inspiration, check out our Outdoors section.