How Long Does It Take to Road Trip Around Utah?

By Alice Nichols

Utah is a beautiful state with a diverse landscape that includes stunning red rock formations, snow-capped mountains, and pristine lakes. If you’re planning a road trip to explore this spectacular scenery, you might be wondering how long it would take to see all the major attractions. In this article, we’ll break down the driving distances and time estimates for a road trip around Utah.

Getting Started

First things first: before hitting the road, you need to plan your itinerary. Utah is home to five national parks – Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion – as well as other must-see destinations like Salt Lake City and Moab. Depending on what you want to see and do, your route and timeline will vary.

Route Options

There are several route options for a road trip around Utah. One popular choice is starting in Salt Lake City and heading south towards Moab before looping back up north towards the national parks. Another option is starting in Las Vegas and traveling east through Zion National Park before heading north towards Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef.

Driving Distances

The driving distances for a road trip around Utah can vary depending on your chosen route. Here’s a breakdown of the approximate distances between major destinations:

  • Salt Lake City to Moab: 233 miles
  • Moab to Arches National Park: 5 miles
  • Arches National Park to Canyonlands National Park: 40 miles
  • Canyonlands National Park to Capitol Reef National Park: 160 miles
  • Capitol Reef National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park: 130 miles
  • Bryce Canyon National Park to Zion National Park: 72 miles
  • Zion National Park to Las Vegas: 163 miles

Driving Time Estimates

Now that we know the driving distances, let’s take a look at the estimated driving times. Keep in mind that these times are based on driving without stops, so you’ll need to add extra time for sightseeing and breaks.

  • Salt Lake City to Moab: 3.5 hours
  • Moab to Arches National Park: 15 minutes
  • Arches National Park to Canyonlands National Park: 1 hour
  • Canyonlands National Park to Capitol Reef National Park: 3 hours
  • Capitol Reef National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park: 2.5 hours
  • Bryce Canyon National Park to Zion National Park: 1.5 hours
  • Zion National Park to Las Vegas: 2.5 hours

Total Trip Time Estimate

Based on the above estimates, a road trip around Utah visiting all five national parks and other major destinations would take approximately two weeks if you spend around two days in each park and one day in each city. Of course, if you have more or less time, you can adjust your itinerary accordingly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a road trip around Utah offers endless opportunities for adventure and stunning scenery. Whether you have a few days or a few weeks, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful state. Plan your route, pack your bags, and hit the open road – Utah is waiting for you!