Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Hop in the car and go for a scenic drive! The Beehive State has some remarkable views and many of them, you can witness from the comfort of your car. Check out one (or more) of the best scenic drives in Utah!
- Alpine Loop
Ted & Dani Percival/flickr The Alpine Loop, from American Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon, is well-known for its gorgeous fall foliage, but you don’t have to wait until October to enjoy this scenic trip in Utah. Take the 20-mile drive each spring for some truly beautiful scenery.
- Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Ken Lund/flickr This 512-mile long highway got its name for the diamond shape its route makes. It takes you through eastern Utah and briefly into Colorado, with Dinosaur National Monument as the highlight of the trip.
- Mirror Lake Scenic Byway
Ken Lund/flickr Start your trip on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway from Kamas, then drive 42 miles all the way to the Wyoming border. Along the way, you’ll pass through the High Uinta Mountain range, with its fragrant forests and stunning overlooks. Stop by one of the several lakes along the way for a quick picnic or some fishing. Bald Mountain Pass (shown here) is the highest point on this scenic road, and the highest point on a paved road in the state, at 10,687 feet.
- Zion Park Scenic Byway
Don Graham/flickr State Route 9, also known as the Zion Park Scenic Byway, takes you through Utah’s most prime red rock country. Zion is our most popular, most visited park, and you can see why when you drive this byway. It takes you from St. George and through Zion National Park and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (including the famous Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel, a feat of engineering that extended the route right through the mountain).
- Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway
snowbirdphoto/flickr Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway is the perfect day trip, especially if you’re looking for some recreation or dining along the way. State Route 210 takes you from the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, up the winding, picturesque road toward Snowbird and Alta resorts. Along the way, you’ll find tons of hiking opportunities, and the resorts offer both summer and winter recreation, dining, and overnight accommodations.
- Highway 12
Doug Kerr/flickr Utah State Route 12 is easily one of the best scenic drives in Utah. This road will take you on a journey through some of Utah’s most beautiful country. Starting in Panguitch, you’ll see Bryce Canyon National Park, the Dixie National Forest, Capitol Reef National Park, and parts of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. You’ll also swing through Boulder and end up in Torrey. It is not only one of the most beautiful drives, it is one of the best scenic trips in Utah.
- Nebo Loop Scenic Byway
Emily Robin/flickr This 38-mile loop takes you from Nephi to Payson, and along the way, you’ll drive through the Uinta National Forest, one of Utah’s most beautiful places. Plan on about 1.5 hours if you’re going to drive straight through, or give yourself an entire day to explore along the way.
- Logan Canyon Scenic Byway
Andrey Zharkikh/flickr The Logan Canyon Scenic Byway is northern Utah’s gem. The byway is US 89 from Logan to Garden City and it is 41 miles long. This is a simply stunning drive through a gorgeous canyon. You’ll end up at the Caribbean of the Rockies — the azure-blue Bear Lake.
- Brian Head-Panguitch Lake Scenic Byway
A. E. Crane/wikimedia This pretty byway (also known as State Route 143), stretches for 51 miles between Panguitch and Parowan. Along the way, you’ll pass Brian Head Resort and Panguitch Lake. You will also drive through Cedar Breaks National Monument.
These are just a few of the best scenic drives in Utah. What other beautiful drives in Utah do you recommend to our readers? Tell us in the comments!
Ted & Dani Percival/flickr
The Alpine Loop, from American Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon, is well-known for its gorgeous fall foliage, but you don’t have to wait until October to enjoy this scenic trip in Utah. Take the 20-mile drive each spring for some truly beautiful scenery.
Ken Lund/flickr
This 512-mile long highway got its name for the diamond shape its route makes. It takes you through eastern Utah and briefly into Colorado, with Dinosaur National Monument as the highlight of the trip.
Start your trip on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway from Kamas, then drive 42 miles all the way to the Wyoming border. Along the way, you’ll pass through the High Uinta Mountain range, with its fragrant forests and stunning overlooks. Stop by one of the several lakes along the way for a quick picnic or some fishing. Bald Mountain Pass (shown here) is the highest point on this scenic road, and the highest point on a paved road in the state, at 10,687 feet.
Don Graham/flickr
State Route 9, also known as the Zion Park Scenic Byway, takes you through Utah’s most prime red rock country. Zion is our most popular, most visited park, and you can see why when you drive this byway. It takes you from St. George and through Zion National Park and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway (including the famous Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel, a feat of engineering that extended the route right through the mountain).
snowbirdphoto/flickr
Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway is the perfect day trip, especially if you’re looking for some recreation or dining along the way. State Route 210 takes you from the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, up the winding, picturesque road toward Snowbird and Alta resorts. Along the way, you’ll find tons of hiking opportunities, and the resorts offer both summer and winter recreation, dining, and overnight accommodations.
Doug Kerr/flickr
Utah State Route 12 is easily one of the best scenic drives in Utah. This road will take you on a journey through some of Utah’s most beautiful country. Starting in Panguitch, you’ll see Bryce Canyon National Park, the Dixie National Forest, Capitol Reef National Park, and parts of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. You’ll also swing through Boulder and end up in Torrey. It is not only one of the most beautiful drives, it is one of the best scenic trips in Utah.
Emily Robin/flickr
This 38-mile loop takes you from Nephi to Payson, and along the way, you’ll drive through the Uinta National Forest, one of Utah’s most beautiful places. Plan on about 1.5 hours if you’re going to drive straight through, or give yourself an entire day to explore along the way.
Andrey Zharkikh/flickr
The Logan Canyon Scenic Byway is northern Utah’s gem. The byway is US 89 from Logan to Garden City and it is 41 miles long. This is a simply stunning drive through a gorgeous canyon. You’ll end up at the Caribbean of the Rockies — the azure-blue Bear Lake.
A. E. Crane/wikimedia
This pretty byway (also known as State Route 143), stretches for 51 miles between Panguitch and Parowan. Along the way, you’ll pass Brian Head Resort and Panguitch Lake. You will also drive through Cedar Breaks National Monument.
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Address: Alpine Loop Scenic Byway, Utah, USAAddress: Moab, UT 84532, USAAddress: Mirror Lake, Utah 84031, USAAddress: Zion National Park, Utah, USAAddress: Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah 84092, USAAddress: Utah 12, UT-12, Escalante, UT, USAAddress: Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway, Nebo Loop Rd, Nephi, UT 84648, USAAddress: Logan Canyon, Logan, UT 84321, USAAddress: Utah 143, UT-143, Brian Head, UT, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Scenic Drives In Utah July 06, 2021 Courtnie Erickson What are the best scenic trips in Utah? There is no shortage of scenic trips in Utah. No matter what corner of the Beehive State you may want to explore, you can find some of the most incredible views, fascinating attractions, and beautiful drives in Utah. As you search for the best scenic trips in Utah, start with the national parks. Utah is home to five national parks — Zion, Arches, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Bryce Canyon. Numerous state parks in the Beehive State are well worth the drive and feature some incredible views as well. Snow Canyon State Park, located in the southern part of the state, boasts some extraordinary hiking. Dead Horse Point State Park, which is approximately 45-minutes from Moab, will give you some of the most stunning and awe-inspiring views of the Colorado River. Where can I find incredible scenic overlooks in Utah? While there are several scenic overlooks in Utah that require a bit of a hike to enjoy, there are others where you can drive right up to them. For example, Bald Mountain Pass provides beautiful views of the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, one of the best scenic drives in Utah. When visiting Bryce Canyon National Park, make sure to stop by all of the viewpoints around the park to capture remarkable views of the hoodoos. Visit this national park during the winter months for some beautiful winter scenes. One lesser-known scenic overlook in Utah is Sheep Creek Overlook, which is located just south of Manilla. This overlook is directly off of the main road and is well worth the stop. You will receive some jaw-dropping views of Sheep Creek Bay at Flaming Gorge.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Scenic Drives In Utah
July 06, 2021
Courtnie Erickson
What are the best scenic trips in Utah? There is no shortage of scenic trips in Utah. No matter what corner of the Beehive State you may want to explore, you can find some of the most incredible views, fascinating attractions, and beautiful drives in Utah. As you search for the best scenic trips in Utah, start with the national parks. Utah is home to five national parks — Zion, Arches, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Bryce Canyon. Numerous state parks in the Beehive State are well worth the drive and feature some incredible views as well. Snow Canyon State Park, located in the southern part of the state, boasts some extraordinary hiking. Dead Horse Point State Park, which is approximately 45-minutes from Moab, will give you some of the most stunning and awe-inspiring views of the Colorado River. Where can I find incredible scenic overlooks in Utah? While there are several scenic overlooks in Utah that require a bit of a hike to enjoy, there are others where you can drive right up to them. For example, Bald Mountain Pass provides beautiful views of the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, one of the best scenic drives in Utah. When visiting Bryce Canyon National Park, make sure to stop by all of the viewpoints around the park to capture remarkable views of the hoodoos. Visit this national park during the winter months for some beautiful winter scenes. One lesser-known scenic overlook in Utah is Sheep Creek Overlook, which is located just south of Manilla. This overlook is directly off of the main road and is well worth the stop. You will receive some jaw-dropping views of Sheep Creek Bay at Flaming Gorge.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There is no shortage of scenic trips in Utah. No matter what corner of the Beehive State you may want to explore, you can find some of the most incredible views, fascinating attractions, and beautiful drives in Utah.
As you search for the best scenic trips in Utah, start with the national parks. Utah is home to five national parks — Zion, Arches, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Bryce Canyon. Numerous state parks in the Beehive State are well worth the drive and feature some incredible views as well.
Snow Canyon State Park, located in the southern part of the state, boasts some extraordinary hiking. Dead Horse Point State Park, which is approximately 45-minutes from Moab, will give you some of the most stunning and awe-inspiring views of the Colorado River.
Where can I find incredible scenic overlooks in Utah?
While there are several scenic overlooks in Utah that require a bit of a hike to enjoy, there are others where you can drive right up to them. For example, Bald Mountain Pass provides beautiful views of the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, one of the best scenic drives in Utah.
When visiting Bryce Canyon National Park, make sure to stop by all of the viewpoints around the park to capture remarkable views of the hoodoos. Visit this national park during the winter months for some beautiful winter scenes.
One lesser-known scenic overlook in Utah is Sheep Creek Overlook, which is located just south of Manilla. This overlook is directly off of the main road and is well worth the stop. You will receive some jaw-dropping views of Sheep Creek Bay at Flaming Gorge.
