Take in staggering scenery, canyons, mountain passes, great forested plateaus, the Navajo Nation, and Natural Bridges National Monument.
Everyone should discover the desert southwest and the natural wonders that await you across southern Utah. A little ambitious for a day’s drive, one could easily spend a whole day exploring any one of the monuments and parks along the way. Start your trip at St. George in the southwest corner of the state, head out on Route 9 going to Zion National Park. Route 9 runs right through Zion Canyon, a pretty drive, but it can get tremendously busy during peak tourist season.
There are plenty of opportunities to stop and check out other more secluded areas of the park. Then it’s up U.S. 89 to Route 12 to Bryce Canyon National Park, where you’ll have to get off the road to walk around. Unless you’re a camper, lodgings get pretty spotty after Bryce. If you’ve spent any amount of time off the road, you may want to take some rest and call it a day here. Any of these sights are highly recommended, and it would be a shame to just pass them by, but the route itself is full of staggering scenery as it takes you down over mountain passes, through canyons, and across great forested plateaus.
Route 12 continues through the famous Dixie National Forest, where you pick up Route 24 to Route9 5 across the Henry Mountains. After you cross the Colorado River and access the Glen Canyon place, Route 95 takes you down past the Natural Bridges National Monument, a worthwhile stopover. Heading into Blanding, there are potential side trips to the Navajo Nation, Mexican Hat, Four Corners, and numerous other area attractions.
Starting Point:
St. George, UT
Distance of Drive:
499 miles (2-days)
Must Eat:
Sullivan’s Rococo Steakhouse
511 South Airport Road, St. George, UT 84770
Phone: 435-628-3671
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Best steaks around
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Year round
Points of Interest on Drive:
Bryce Canyon National Park
Navajo Nation
Natural Bridges National Monument
Tagged with: best time:summer • canyons • mountains • Utah
Filed under: Best Road Trips