Boomer Road Trips on the Road to Mighty
If you haven't heard of Utah's Road to Mighty, you are in for a treat. Utah is home to The Mighty 5® national parks. To get there, you can travel the Great American Road Trip. See scenic byways beyond imagination, destinations that could be national parks and all the gems of culture, art, dining, adventure and relaxation along the way — not to mention the scenic setting. Here are three recommended vacation itineraries to get you started, or see them all by filtering by number of days you want to travel, what you want to see and what you want to do on Utah's Road to Mighty.
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Hidden Secrets
For the soul who wants to venture off the beaten path and explore hidden gems, we’ve got you covered. From stand-up paddleboarding through the tranquil, narrow slot canyons of Lake Powell to browsing through a massive vinyl collection at a small town record store, with this six-day itinerary you’ll find hidden gems all over Southern Utah.
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Iconic Classics
Looking to spend a week on the open roads of Southern Utah? Spend your Utah destinations vacation at The Mighty 5 — our iconic national parks — and at the equally majestic national monuments and state parks in between.
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Red Rock & Dark Skies: Stargazing the National Parks
This road trip through southwest Utah takes you to four of Utah’s best places to see the Milky Way — Capitol Reef National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument.
Top National Sites for Boomers and Multigenerational Travelers
National parks, monuments and recreation areas can provide one of the most accessible outdoor vacation experiences around.
Luckily, Utah has five national parks and 14 other national monuments, and recreation areas to help you fill your dance card. In the south, Lake Powell is a popular destination for house and speed boating while anglers will appreciate the trophy trout of Flaming Gorge and the Green River in northeastern Utah. All five national parks have scenic byways and stretches of paved or improved trails for travelers with limited mobility, yet all the parks also have extensive backcountry if your family heeds the call of the wild. In short, Utah's national parks enable families to custom build an itinerary with options for every age and ability.
National Sites in Utah
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Arches National Park
Arches National Park contains more than 2,000 natural arches—the greatest concentration in the country. Find places to stay, itineraries, reservation info and weather for Arches, Moab and Canyonlands National Park.
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Bears Ears National Monument
A pair of towering buttes stand against beautiful scenery. The twin buttes are so distinctive that in each of the native languages of the region their name is the same: Hoon'Naqvut, Shash Jáa, Kwiyagatu Nukavachi, Ansh An Lashokdiwe, or in English: Bears Ears.
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Bryce Canyon National Park
An alpine forest with as many red rock hoodoos as trees. At dawn and dusk, mule deer graze the forested plateau along the road into Bryce Canyon.
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Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is home to many different types of travel experiences, from sublime solitude in the more remote stretches of the park to moderate hikes through the Needles district to the opportunity to create your own version of one of the West's most photographed landforms, Mesa Arch.
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Capitol Reef National Park
Even considering Utah’s many impressive national parks and monuments, it is difficult to rival Capitol Reef National Park’s sense of expansiveness, of broad, sweeping vistas, of a tortured, twisted, seemingly endless landscape, or of limitless sky and desert rock.
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Cedar Breaks National Monument
Hidden within the mountains above Cedar City is the brilliant geology and vibrant environment of Cedar Breaks National Monument. The geologic amphitheater and surrounding environs are home to cool hiking trails, ancient trees, high elevation camping, and over-the-top views along the “Circle of Painted Cliffs.”
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Dinosaur National Monument
Northeastern Utah’s dinosaur legacy comes to life at Dinosaur National Monument, where geological and climatic forces have tilted, warped, and eroded the earth’s crust to reveal a treasure trove of fossils.
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Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
With more than 200,000 acres of land and water, Flaming Gorge is a scenic playground for boating, waterskiing, windsurfing, camping and backpacking in addition to some of the best fishing in the west.
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Glen Canyon and Lake Powell
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers more than 1.2 million acres of unparalleled opportunities for land- and water-based recreation.
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Golden Spike
Visit the Golden Spike National Historic Park to relive the history with exhibits and demonstrations, and take in the beauty of the surrounding Great Basin Desert and nearby Great Salt Lake and Spiral Jetty.
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Grand Staircase-Escalante
The allure of the Grand Staircase region — the bulk of which is contained in the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument — is phenomenal. Sun-drenched Utah backcountry spreads out well beyond the visible horizon from the road, whether you’re traveling along the The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12, or on Highway 89.
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Hovenweep National Monument
Hovenweep, the Ute Indian word meaning ‘deserted valley,' stands as a sentinel of Ancestral Puebloan ruins in a landscape of sage and juniper. Info from VisitUtah.com.
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Natural Bridges National Monument
As you start to descend toward Natural Bridges National Monument, the groundcover becomes more luxuriant and the trees taller. You cannot see the chaotic landscape of Natural Bridges from the highway– it is only revealed once inside the park.
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Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Considered sacred in Navajo culture, Rainbow Bridge is a symbol of deities responsible for creating rain, the essence of life in the desert.
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Timpanogos Cave
Timpanogos Cave sits high on the northern slope of Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah.
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Zion National Park
Whether you are trying to catch your breath while climbing the trail to Angel's Landing or watching the shadows constantly change the mood of the Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park is always ready to quench your appetite for outdoor wonder.
Utah State Park Vacations for Boomers and Multigenerational Travelers
Below is a sampling of Utah's 44 state parks. With few exceptions, boomer travelers and those traveling with families will find Utah State Parks are amenity rich and scenic. Active travelers will revel in the diverse outdoor adventure while those looking for a little bit of leisure time can relax at camp — many public state park campgrounds offer full or partial hookups — or explore beautifully curated cultural opportunities at the state park museums.
Popular Utah State Parks
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Antelope Island State Park
Antelope Island State Park is 25 miles north of Salt Lake City. Accessed by a causeway, the island sits in Great Salt Lake and features free-roaming bison and antelope herds.
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Bear Lake State Park
Bear Lake is a 20-mile long and eight-mile wide natural lake with beautiful, placid waters that perfectly match the tranquil pace of the quaint towns that dot the shore. The northern half is located in Idaho and the southern half in Utah with the state lines dividing it.
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Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Coral Pink Sand Dunes are open for hiking and kid-friendly playing. About 90-percent of the dunes are open for OHV riders, an attraction for which this state park has become ever popular.
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Dead Horse Point State Park
A broad peninsula of land jutting out over the spectacular White Rim of the Colorado River, Dead Horse Point State Park specializes in the type of sweeping, jaw-dropping views that make visitors run for their cameras to try and capture the area’s grandeur. In recent years, a tight network of fun singletrack trails has begun attracting mountain bikers who want epic views with moderate rides, increasing the popularity of the park.
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East Canyon State Park
For history buffs, East Canyon offers the opportunity to retrace the footsteps of pioneers. Visitors can splash in the springs where the Donner party collected drinking water, hike beside Brigham Young’s wagon ruts, or mountain bike down the Pony Express route.
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Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
The Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is located at Wide Hollow Reservoir. This small reservoir is popular for boating, canoeing, and fishing.
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Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park could almost be mistaken for a martian landscape with intricate and bizarre geologic formations. Bring the family and experience this amazing place by hiking, camping, mountain biking and exploring the surrounding canyons.
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Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Enjoy biking, boating, bison-spotting, bird-watching and more.
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Green River State Park
Green River State Park is a great place to begin your adventure on the Green River. If you make the journey you’ll be rewarded with easy access to the river, sheltered campgrounds and picnic areas, a nine-hole golf course, and a new eighteen-basket disc golf course.
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Kodachrome Basin State Park
Kodachrome Basin covers 2,240 acres of canyon country and is surrounded by Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument on three sides.
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Quail Creek State Park
Quail Creek State Park welcomes day-trippers and overnighters to boat, camp, fish or paddleboard at Quail Creek Reservoir.
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Red Fleet State Park
Known as “Little Lake Powell,” Red Fleet State Park offers fishing, hiking, camping, biking and more in a gorgeous sandstone lake setting. Plan a trip!
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Sand Hollow State Park
Beachside camping, boating and OHV trails are all within easy reach at Sand Hollow State Park. Plan your trip to this local favorite today!
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Snow Canyon State Park
Located at the edge of the Mojave Desert, Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, Snow Canyon State Park explodes with dramatic geology perfect for your outdoor adventure — and photo opportunities.
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Wasatch Mountain State Park
Year-round family adventure awaits. In the warmer months, hit the hiking or biking trails, or reserve a tee time at the golf courses. In the winter, ski or snowmobile through the alpine terrain.
Suggested Itineraries
Intinerary #1: Zion to Bryce
Launching Point: St. George, Utah, home of championship golf, Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm and an emerging fine dining culture.
Day 1: Explore Awesome Zion
There's no mistaking it, Zion National Park is a bucket-list destination. For that reason, it welcomes a lot of annual visitors. Weekends are the busiest time, especially late morning to early afternoon. Book early for Springdale hotel accommodations, or consider an earlier departure from a base camp in St. George. No matter how you plan it, you must visit Zion National Park.
All-access pass
You'll find all generations enjoying the Human Past Museum, Emerald Pools and the Riverside Walk and take the scenic drive through the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel.
The Must See
The Riverside Walk is a paved, 1-mile journey from the Temple of Sinawava to the mouth of the Narrows. You will be joined on the journey by travelers from around the world. Canyon walls rise on either side of the river, where kids old and young splash around. Walking sticks line the wall for those prepared for the riverbed hike into the Narrows. Wear hiking boots appropriate for safely navigating rocky riverbed. Though flash floods can occasionally prohibit entry into the canyon, there is nothing like the echo of thunder through Zion Canyon or the cooling afternoon rains of the monsoon season. For fit travelers, Angels Landing is must-hike trail. But its final quarter-mile traverses a narrow ridge — it requires a great amount of caution and care, and is not recommended for small children or people with a fear of heights.
State Park Alternative
Snow Canyon State Park explodes with dramatic geology perfect for your outdoor adventure – and photo opportunities. With much of the look and feel of Zion National Park, you'll enjoy hiking among the sandstone cliffs, petrified sand dunes and broad lava fields.
Day 2: Get Inspired in Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park is also very popular. The moment you first set eyes on its shockingly original and vast amphitheater of orange hoodoos, you'll know why. Accommodations in the park's lodge and nearby Bryce Canyon City can fill up quickly, so book in advance. Nearby towns on the All-American Road Scenic Byway 12 offer alternatives. Believe us when we say you won't mind the drive into the park.
All-access pass
The scenic drive accesses multiple overlooks into the vast amphitheaters of Bryce Canyon, granting bird's-eye views of hoodoos, spires, bridges and beyond into rugged backcountry.
The Must See
The Rim Trail between Sunrise and Sunset Point and Yovimpa Point are short, easy trails with rewarding views. Also check for learning opportunities such as ranger-led full moon hikes or astronomy lessons under Bryce Canyon's pristine night skies. Under clear skies during the full moon, you'll feel like you have night vision as a moon so brilliant illuminates the entire canyon.
Bigger Adventure
Navajo Loop/Queen's Garden is a 3.1 mile loop that takes hikers down to the canyon floor for an all-together different view of the hoodoos. The drop in elevation makes for a heart-pumping hike back up, but very doable for most ages.
Day 3: Cedar Breaks National Monument and Brian Head Resort
Continue the expedition by driving up to 10,000 feet where short hikes access the rim of the astonishing Cedar Breaks National Monument and the quaint mountain town of Brian Head offers access to all manner of mountain adventure for outdoor enthusiasts and the comforts of luxury spas and dining for those in the family ready to relax and unwind.
Suggested Itinerary 2: Salt Lake "City Safari"
As with so many trips to Utah, a successful multigenerational trip can start in Utah's capital, Salt Lake City. Utah's vibrant urban corridor is an intriguing destination for multigenerational travel because it combines the best cultural amenities of a big city with incredible outdoor recreation opportunities.
Best of all, you'll spend much less time driving thanks to the proximity of our mountains and excellent infrastructure.
Brigham City, Ogden and Provo are all major cities along the Wasatch Front, but the cultural heart is Utah's capital, Salt Lake City, just minutes from Salt Lake International Airport and a few minutes more from world-class outdoor recreation.
Day 1: Peak Family-Friendly Culture
Though Utah is widely renowned for its great outdoors, you'll also discover a thriving capital city with a number of cultural attractions to enrich your visit.
Natural History Museum of Utah, Living Planet Aquarium, Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, Tracy Aviary, Family History Library, Discovery Gateway and Clark Planetarium, The Leonardo,Utah's Hogle Zoo. Salt Lake is also home to the Utah Jazz professional basketball team and the Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake.
On this family trip, seasoned travelers may wish to check out Salt Lake's complete package of professional performing arts, including the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera, Ballet West and multiple theater companies. (Read: "Salt Lake City: A Place to Play")
Stick together by exploring the art, science and technology exhibits at The Leonardo and walking the Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited Hogle Zoo then let the grandparents research their genealogy at the Family History Museum while the kids hit the nearby planetarium.
Local tour companies like Salt Lake City Tours and City Sites whisk you around the city with narratives of historic sites and top points of interest.
Day 2: Peak Adventure Family Vacations
If you're traveling to Utah, you can't ignore the incredible outdoor recreation. Whether driving or flying into Salt Lake City, you'll be surprised by the proximity and drama of the backyard Wasatch Mountain Range. So while you could easily fill a weekend with culture and dining, active travelers won't want to forgo a trip into the mountains for hiking, mountain biking, fly-fishing, wildflowers in the summer and skiing in the winter, among many other activities.
Adventure-rich canyons and trailheads line the Salt Lake Valley, which means a trip to Salt Lake can also feed the adventurous spirit of your family, whether that means mountain biking the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and renowned Wasatch Crest, hiking among wildflowers in designated wilderness or skiing and riding The Greatest Snow on Earth® in the winter.
Nearby mountain resorts like Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, Park City Mountain Resort or Deer Valley Resort in the Park City area (an all-encompassing mountain town just over a half-hour from Salt Lake), Snowbasin Resort near Ogden or Sundance Mountain Resort near Provo all offer a one-size-fits-all vacation retreat for the whole family. Several of Utah's state parks offer a range of activities off the beaten path, and a handful have adaptive traveler accommodations. And remember to take advantage of AARP member discounts for lodging and more.
