Utah is an amazing state. There are a lot of people who don’t give Utah the credit that it deserves. That I love about the North West of the United states is that they states are so easy to travel through. A lot of this has to do with the fact that they only have a few highways and it is easy to get from place to place. That isn’t always the case with the eastern part of the country. Here are some tips regarding a safe Utah road trip.
What you should know
Utah is great state to take a road trip. When I went through the state I came in from Idaho and then drove back up to Montana, which happens to be my favorite state. The people are incredibly friendly and I though that the food was pretty good. They like cheese in Utah which is always a benefit.
If you are traveling to Utah, you shouldn’t expect too much glitz and glam. That really isn’t what the state is about. A Utah road trip, especially if it is being done solo, is mostly good for safety and outdoor activities. There are few states that I have felt more safe in than Utah. The demographics of the state are also not very diverse, but the people were kind and I didn’t have any issues.
Budget Tips and Traps
When it comes to pricing. Utah itself is not that expensive but the gas can be high. If you are trying to find ways to save on gas you can find my post right here. I was able to find affordable accommodations while staying in an Airbnb. Airbnb is a great alternative to the traditional hotel hence, why I am always raving about it. You can often find a little apartment to stay in where you can wash your clothes and cook your meals at a cheaper cost than a hotel. It goes a long way in cutting costs.
I was able to find pretty good food but I wouldn’t say that the options are very diverse. If you are planning to eat out a lot then you are going to have to make sure your budget can accommodate $15 a meal or more. I wouldn’t say that I found a bunch of fancy restaurants, but they exist. A majority of what I was able to find were burger shops, taco places, and pizza parlors. Overall the food isn’t that expensive but you would save by making meals if possible.
You will have to pay for parking, by the hour, in Salt Lake City. Most of the restaurants and shopping (outside of the mall) that you are going to do is in Downtown Salt Lake. Almost all the parking is paid for by the hour. This is not always the case in North West cities but it is in Salt Lake.
Where You Need To Go
- Utah has several national parks that you need to hit up on your Utah road trip. If you are looking for a great guide to the National Parks, you can find it here.
- Bryce Canyon National Park, make sure you see Navajo Loop.
- Zion National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park, the one thing you should see is Cassidy Arch if you are strapped for time.
- Arches National Park, only 30 minutes from Canyonland National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Goblin Valley
- Beaver, Utah: The National Rural Water Association said in their Great American Water Taste Test, that Beaver has the best tasting water. I am going to take their word for it. You can stop by if you are traveling between Salt Lake and Zion National Park.
- Colob Canyon, a secluded park of Zion National Park.
- Red Canyon
- Calf Creek Falls
- Mesa arch in Canyonlands National Park.
- Dead Horse Point
- Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
- Moab, Utah
- Moqui Caverns in Kanab, UT
- Mystic Hot Springs
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Hiking in the National Parks
- River Rafting, Moab is a great place to get this done.
- Sailing on the Great Salt Lake
- Bobsled Rides in Utah Olympic Park. This works well for a winter activity
- Skiing/ snow boarding
- Mount Timpanogos
- Temple Square
Things to Keep in Mind
The Mormons are alive and real in Utah. So, what I mean by that is if you have ever watched those shows where the women where long dresses and braids down their back and men do most of the speaking, that is a real thing that happens in Utah. I was eating my pizza where a family of about 10 came into the restaurant. I don’t think I heard the wife speak once.
With that being said, there may be some things in Utah that don’t happen in other states or aren’t as prevalent. I say this for people to be mindful to continue to be respectful. That includes not starting or approaching them to complain about their lifestyle. They have a right to live their life just like anyone else.
If you are someone who wants to do a lot of drinking, it may be a BYOB kind of situation. The residents in Utah are not heavy drinkers. A lot of them also don’t smoke. There is a lot of emphasis on physical activity and keeping the city clean. If you are looking for a wild party and a bunch of drinks, then Utah might not be the kind of place where you want to spend a lot of time in.
Salt Lake, Utah has the abbreviation of SL,UT. You know, slut… There are lots of products that say “ride the SL,UT” or something along those lines. I know, because I have a bunch of it. I thought it was hilarious.
There you have it. Those are all of my tips and trips for a Utah road trip. Let me know what you think in the comments. If you have any questions, drop your girl a line. You can find some tips on how to plan a road trip, you can find that right here.
If you would like to see my post about road trip essentials for a little info that you need about packing, you can find that here. You can also find my tips for a solo female road trip fight here. You should also check out my other road trip guides for Oregon, Colorado, Texas, and Florida.
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