7 days, about 900 miles
The Mighty 5 in a week
All five of Utah's national parks in one loop: Arches and Canyonlands from Moab, Capitol Reef and Scenic Byway 12 through the middle of the state, then Bryce Canyon and Zion. Spring and fall are ideal.
Trips and itineraries
Day-by-day plans for a week, a weekend or a single day, from people who live here.
Itineraries
3 days
Zion and Bryce long weekend
Two of the most famous parks in the country are only 90 minutes apart. Spend two days in Zion's canyon and one on Bryce's rim.
3 days
A weekend in Moab
Two national parks, a state park with one of the best views in the West, and the Colorado River, all within 40 minutes of town.
2 days
Park City weekend
A silver-mining town turned ski capital, 35 minutes from the Salt Lake airport. Two resorts, Olympic venues and a historic Main Street full of restaurants.
2 days
48 hours in Salt Lake City
History, food and mountains in one compact city. The canyons start 20 minutes from downtown.
2 to 3 days
American Fork, Lehi and Utah Valley
Thanksgiving Point's museums and gardens, a cave high above American Fork Canyon, the Alpine Loop over Mount Timpanogos and Sundance at the other end.
3 days
Ogden, Logan and Bear Lake
A railroad town with a lively old main street, a university town in Cache Valley, and the turquoise water of Bear Lake.
Day trips and scenic drives
Full day, 123 miles
Scenic Byway 12
An All-American Road linking Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef through Red Canyon, Escalante and over Boulder Mountain, with a narrow ridge called the Hogback in the middle.
Half day, about 20 miles of mountain road
The Alpine Loop and fall colors
SR-92 climbs American Fork Canyon past Timpanogos Cave and Tibble Fork, crests at about 8,000 feet below Mount Timpanogos, and drops past Sundance into Provo Canyon.
Half day, about 45 minutes each way
Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake
A causeway leads to the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, home to a free-roaming bison herd, pronghorn, a historic ranch and huge sunsets.
Full day, about 2 hours each way
Golden Spike and the Spiral Jetty
Where the transcontinental railroad was joined in 1869, and nearby on the lakeshore, Robert Smithson's 1970 earthwork spiraling into the Great Salt Lake.
Full day, about 2 hours each way
Bonneville Salt Flats
A white, perfectly flat expanse of salt crust near Wendover, famous for land speed records each August and September.
Full day, about 2 hours each way
Mirror Lake Highway
SR-150 runs from Kamas into the High Uintas, topping out at Bald Mountain Pass above 10,700 feet, past dozens of lakes and trailheads.