On arrival into Salt Lake City International Airport, collect your bags and rental car, before driving the short distance to your downtown hotel.

The rest of the afternoon and the evening are at your leisure to relax, get your bearings and prepare for exploring the best that Utah has to offer!

Salt Lake City Airport > Downtown | 8 miles

The Peery, Salt Lake City, or similar

This morning you may like to begin your day by exploring downtown Salt Lake City on foot. Perhaps start by visiting Temple Square, where you can take a free guided tour around the Salt Lake Temple, Assembly Hall and other historic buildings.

You could also tour the Utah State Capitol Building to see the governor’s office and supreme court chambers, as well as the numerous murals, sculptures and other artwork that adorn the walls.

In the afternoon you may wish to drive out to the west of the city to the Bonneville Salt Flats. This area is a vast expanse of brilliant white salt crust stretching across the Utah-Nevada border, creating one of the most otherworldly landscapes in North America. This stark, flat desert is renowned for its mirror-like surface and has long been a popular destination for land speed records.

The Peery, Salt Lake City, or similar

Leaving the Utah state capital behind, today’s journey takes you south through some of the state’s most dramatic scenery on your way to Zion National Park.

As you head out of Salt Lake City, the landscape quickly changes from city skyline to open desert plains framed by rugged mountains. A good first stop is Provo, a lively university town on the shores of Utah Lake, where you can stretch your legs with a stroll along the waterfront or grab a coffee downtown.

Continue south on Interstate 15, passing Nephi and Fillmore, Utah’s original state capital, before reaching Cedar City, known as the ‘Gateway to the National Parks’. If time allows, take a short detour east to Cedar Breaks National Monument, where colourful rock amphitheatres rival those of Bryce Canyon.

The final stretch of the drive winds through red rock country, with towering cliffs and juniper-dotted hills signalling your approach to Zion. Arrive in Springdale, the welcoming gateway town to the park, where you can settle into your lodge and perhaps take an evening stroll beneath the glowing canyon walls.

Salt Lake City > Zion National Park | 310 miles

Cable Mountain Lodge, Zion National Park

From your lodge in Springdale, it’s just a short walk to the Zion Canyon Visitor Centre, where you can pick up maps, check trail conditions, and hop aboard the free park shuttle that runs the length of the canyon.

Perhaps start your day with an easy stroll along the Pa’rus Trail, a gentle riverside path perfect for taking in the morning light on the surrounding cliffs. From there, continue deeper into Zion Canyon to tackle one of the park’s classic walks, the Emerald Pools Trail. This moderate route offers shaded alcoves, waterfalls and sparkling pools, with excellent viewpoints of the towering sandstone walls above.

After a picnic lunch, you can take a scenic drive along the Kolob Terrace Road or up to the Canyon Overlook Trail, a short but rewarding hike that delivers one of the park’s most iconic views, particularly striking in the late afternoon sun.

Return to your lodge in the early evening to relax and maybe dine at one of the local restaurants in Springdale. As night falls, don’t forget to step outside to admire the dark desert sky, where the stars shine bright above Zion’s majestic cliffs, a perfect end to your day in Utah’s first National Park.

Red Cliffs Lodge Lodge, Zion National Park

After breakfast, begin your scenic drive northeast towards Bryce Canyon National Park. The route follows Highway 9 through the dramatic hairpin bends and tunnels of Zion–Mount Carmel Highway, offering incredible farewell views of Zion’s sandstone cliffs. Take your time, there are plenty of pull-outs for photos of the Checkerboard Mesa and surrounding rock formations before joining Highway 89 north towards Bryce.

As you climb onto the Paunsaugunt Plateau, the landscape shifts again, with pine forests and open meadows replacing red rock canyons.

Arriving at Bryce Canyon National Park around midday, head straight for the Bryce Amphitheatre, the park’s main area of viewpoints and trails. From Sunrise Point and Sunset Point, take in jaw-dropping panoramas over thousands of delicately carved spires known as hoodoos, glowing orange and gold in the afternoon light.

For an easy yet memorable walk, follow the Rim Trail between the main viewpoints, or venture below the rim on the Navajo Loop or Queen’s Garden Trail, both moderate routes that wind among the hoodoos themselves.

Check into The Lodge at Bryce Canyon, the only accommodation within the park, ideally positioned for a relaxed evening. As the sun dips low, head back to Sunset Point to watch the canyon transform through shades of pink and purple, before a peaceful dinner and perhaps some stargazing under Bryce’s famously clear night skies.

Zion National Park > Bryce Canyon National Park | 90 miles

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park

You may want to get up early this morning to see the sunrise over the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. You can always return to the lodge for breakfast afterwards.

Today’s journey takes you through some of Utah’s most stunning and varied landscapes as you travel along the famous Scenic Highway 12, often described as one of the most beautiful drives in America.

Heading east, the road winds through the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, where vast sandstone cliffs, canyons and plateaus stretch to the horizon. Stop at Kodachrome Basin State Park, just a short detour from the main road, to admire its multi-coloured rock spires and take a short walk along one of its easy trails.

Continuing on, the route descends into the town of Escalante, a good spot for lunch or a coffee, before climbing again through Boulder, home to the excellent Anasazi State Park Museum, which offers a fascinating glimpse into the area’s ancient Puebloan culture. From here, the drive across the Hogsback Ridge is particularly memorable, a narrow stretch of road with breathtaking drop-offs on both sides and panoramic desert views.

As you near Capitol Reef National Park, the scenery softens into fertile valleys and orchards along the Fremont River. Arrive in the afternoon and check in to the Lodge at Red River Ranch, a charming property set on a private ranch just outside the park.

As evening falls, relax on the ranch porch, where the fading sun paints the red cliffs gold.

Bryce Canyon National Park > Capitol Reef National Park | 120 miles

The Lodge at Red River Ranch, Capitol Reef National Park

You may like to begin your day at the Capitol Reef Visitor Centre to get oriented and pick up a map. From here, the ‘Scenic Drive’ is the best introduction to the park. It is a 7.9-mile paved road that winds through red rock canyons, past towering monoliths and ancient cliff formations. Stop at Panorama Point and Goosenecks Overlook early in the morning when the light is soft and the colours are rich.

Continue to Capitol Gorge, where an easy walk through a narrow canyon leads to historic pioneer inscriptions and natural rock formations. Another excellent option is the Grand Wash Trail, a mostly level hike through a deep canyon that rivals the Narrows of Zion but with fewer visitors.

In the afternoon you can head to the historic Fruita District, once a small Mormon settlement tucked away in a lush valley. Here you can visit the restored Gifford Homestead for homemade pies and local preserves, or stroll among the orchards (visitors are welcome to pick fruit in season).

If you enjoy short scenic drives, take the winding road up to Sunset Point or Goosenecks for late-day views, or venture onto the unpaved Capitol Reef Cathedral Valley Loop, best suited to SUVs and 4×4 vehicles, but offering extraordinary panoramas and solitude.

Back at the Lodge at Red River Ranch, relax in the evening with views across the red cliffs and the sounds of the wind through the cottonwoods.

Round Trip | 50 miles

The Lodge at Red River Ranch, Capitol Reef National Park

Today’s journey takes you east from the quiet beauty of Capitol Reef National Park to the red rock adventure hub of Moab, one of Utah’s most colourful desert towns and the gateway to both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Leaving Torrey, follow Highway 24, a scenic drive through the park’s eastern section, cutting between towering sandstone cliffs and colourful badlands. Be sure to stop at Behunin Cabin, one of the last reminders of pioneer life in the canyon, and then continue to the Hanksville area. Here, the landscape opens into wide desert plains framed by the Henry Mountains.

A worthwhile detour on Highway 95 is the Goblin Valley State Park, just off the main route. This otherworldly valley is filled with thousands of mushroom-shaped rock formations, a fantastic short stop for a picnic or a half-hour wander among the ‘goblins’.

From there, continue towards Green River, following quiet stretches of desert highway that offer a real sense of Utah’s vastness. As you near Moab, the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic, with red mesas and sculpted cliffs appearing on the horizon.

Arrive in Moab by mid to late afternoon and check into ULUM Moab, a stylish luxury glamping site set amid sweeping desert scenery. Spend the evening relaxing by the fire pit or enjoying dinner under the stars, surrounded by the stillness of the desert.

Capitol Reef National Park > Moab | 185 miles

Ulum Moab

After breakfast, set out early for the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. The approach road winds through open desert before climbing to a vast mesa that offers breathtaking views over a landscape carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers.

Your first stop should be the Mesa Arch Trail, an easy half-mile loop leading to one of Utah’s most photographed vistas, the arch framing distant canyons and mountains, especially magical in the morning light. Continue to Grand View Point Overlook, where short walks along the rim reveal sweeping panoramic views.

For a moderate hike, try the Upheaval Dome Trail, a short but slightly steeper walk to viewpoints over a mysterious crater-like formation. Alternatively, the Murphy Point Trail offers solitude and unforgettable sunset views if you stay later in the day.

Pack a picnic lunch, as facilities in the park are limited, and enjoy it at one of the designated viewpoints. Return to ULUM Moab in the late afternoon to relax and perhaps enjoy a cocktail as the desert sky turns pink and gold over the La Sal Mountains.

Round Trip | 70 miles

Ulum Moab

Today is dedicated to exploring Arches National Park, just a short drive north of Moab. The park is home to over 2,000 natural stone arches, along with fins, pinnacles, and balanced rocks sculpted by wind and time.

Begin at the Visitor Centre to get oriented before driving the scenic park road. Early morning is ideal for the Delicate Arch Trail, a moderate 3-mile round trip leading to Utah’s most iconic landmark. Standing beneath the arch as the sun rises over the red cliffs is a moment you’ll never forget.

Afterwards, explore the Windows Section, where short, easy trails link North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch, all within a compact area ideal for photography. Stop for lunch at one of the picnic areas before continuing to Devils Garden, at the end of the park road, where you can walk as far as you like on the trail to Landscape Arch, the longest of them all.

In the late afternoon, make your way slowly back, stopping at Park Avenue Viewpoint and Balanced Rock, both especially striking in the golden light. Return to ULUM Moab for your final night under the stars, where the day’s red rock glow fades into a sky glittering with constellations.

Round Trip | 40 miles

Ulum Moab

The drive from Moab to Park City offers a fascinating cross-section of Utah, from sandstone canyons and wide-open desert to forested mountains and cool, crisp air.

Follow Highway 191 north through Arches country, with one last chance to glance back at the glowing cliffs before joining Interstate 70 west. A short detour to the San Rafael Swell Viewpoint makes a rewarding photo stop if you missed it earlier.

Continue past Green River, then turn onto Highway 6 towards Price, where you might stop for lunch and a visit to the Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum, known for its excellent dinosaur and Native American exhibits.

From Price, the road climbs steadily through the Manti-La Sal National Forest, offering scenic mountain views before descending into the Wasatch Back. As you approach Park City, the desert hues give way to green valleys and pine-covered slopes, a striking contrast to the red rocks of Moab.

Arrive in Park City by late afternoon and settle into your hotel. Once a silver mining town, Park City is now a trendy mountain retreat known for its boutique shops, art galleries, and great dining. Stretch your legs with a stroll along historic Main Street and breathe the mountain air.

Moab > Park City | 260 miles

Waldorf Astoria, Park City

Enjoy a relaxed final morning in Park City, taking time for breakfast and perhaps a short stroll through town before beginning your journey back to Salt Lake City International Airport for your flight home.

If time allows, ride the Town Lift or take a gentle walk along the Rail Trail, a converted railway line that offers lovely mountain views and a peaceful way to say goodbye to Utah’s high country.

The drive back to Salt Lake City is short and scenic, descending from the Wasatch Mountains through Parleys Canyon on Interstate 80. Keep your camera handy, the view as the valley opens out, with the Great Salt Lake glimmering in the distance, is a memorable sight.

Return your car at Salt Lake City International Airport and check-in on time for your flight home, or your onwards journey.

Park City > Salt Lake City International Airport | 36 miles