3-Day Kanab Family Itinerary: Sand Dunes to Dinosaur Tracks

• Salt Lake City
• Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
• Kanab

If you're beginning your trip from Salt Lake City, aim for an 8 a.m. departure. To keep the drive manageable — it’s about 300 miles between Salt Lake and Kanab — stop for lunch in Beaver at The Creamery, where the kids can enjoy housemade mac 'n' cheese and an ice cream for dessert. By mid-afternoon, you’ll reach Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, just 20 miles east of Kanab. This is a giant natural sandbox where you can rent sleds at the visitor center for an afternoon of sand sledding. After checking into your hotel, let the kids splash in the pool before heading to Peekaboo Canyon Wood-Fired Grill for a casual, kid-approved pizza dinner to end your first day.

• Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Day two is all about short drives and high-engagement activities. Start your morning just six miles north of downtown at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. The nation's largest no-kill animal sanctuary offers guided tours of its various animal areas, including Dogtown, Cat World, Piggy Paradise and more. The Goat and Pig tour is a big hit with children, offering an up-close look at the sanctuary's gentlest residents. Just remember to book your tour online in advance. For lunch, stay onsite at the Angel Village Cafe, which pairs an award-winning $5 vegan buffet with incredible canyon views. The afternoon features micro-adventures located less than 10 minutes from downtown. You can choose the Sand Caves, which involve a short walk (1.2 mile out and back) to stunning man-made caverns, or the Dinosaur Tracks Hike (1 mile roundtrip), where kids can hunt for real prehistoric footprints in the rocks. The hike up to the Sand Caves along a sandstone slope can be a bit slippery, so shoes with grip are recommended. another relaxing pool session, head to Wild Thyme Cafe for a fusion dinner that offers something for everyone in a warm, welcoming environment.

• The Toadstool Hoodoos
• Zion National Park
• Lake Powell

On your final day, you’ll explore the beginner-friendly geological wonders that make this region famous. After breakfast, head 40 minutes east to the Toadstool Hoodoos, where a flat, easy trail (2 miles roundtrip) leads to whimsical, mushroom-shaped rock formations. Kids will love playing among the rocks and making up tales to go along with the forest of toadstools. The route to the Toadstools isn’t shaded, so it’s best to avoid hiking midday when the heat is at its peak. You can easily be back in Kanab for a final lunch before heading home. Rocking V Cafe and Escobar's Mexican Restaurant are two great family-friendly options. And if your crew isn't quite ready to call it quits on your Southern Utah road trip, you might consider extending your adventure. The east entrance of Zion National Park is just 30 miles west of Kanab, and Lake Powell is about 65 miles east.