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Southern Utah

35 replies

magicmischief · 06/02/2025 16:24

Has anyone been? I'd love some top tips or hidden gems to see. Going in June, flying to Las Vegas, 7 nights so not very long.
We love national parks, wildlife and also some downtime! Maybe something refreshing on the river while in Moab.

Thanks in advance!

PS we have done the big sights California/ Nevada already, hence choosing Utah this time.

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SnakesAndArrows · 23/02/2025 16:32

Have you booked any accommodation yet? Plenty of tips, but depends where you’re planning to be.

magicmischief · 23/02/2025 16:46

SnakesAndArrows · 23/02/2025 16:32

Have you booked any accommodation yet? Plenty of tips, but depends where you’re planning to be.

Somewhere near Moab or Monument Valley. Monument Valley would be top pick but we are struggling to find availability.

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magicmischief · 23/02/2025 16:47

ZoeyBartlett · 23/02/2025 16:10

We've been at Bryce - you can ride down into the canyon. It was scary but fab! canyonrides.com/bryce-canyon-horseback-riding/

Thank you! That looks awesome!
I should have been more specific re the area we are looking at, though, as sadly we won't have time at Bryce.

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SnakesAndArrows · 23/02/2025 17:38

What itinerary are you thinking? First night in Vegas, and then 6 nights in the same place at Moab, driving all the way back to the airport on departure day? Or are you going to stop one or two nights near Zion and Bryce before 4 nights at Moab?

Zion and Bryce are too far to visit in a day from Moab, and in summer you need to be at Zion early in the morning because it gets incredibly busy.

You could conceivably go to Zion on the first day as you’re likely to be up and away from Vegas before 6am, then stay somewhere between Zion and Bryce (or possibly in Springdale, but it may already be very booked up) before visiting Bryce on Day 2 and staying overnight there or in Tropic. That gives you 4 nights in Moab.

It’s not enough time, but a month wouldn’t be enough IMO…

magicmischief · 23/02/2025 20:03

The itinerary is all booked but DH did it so I'm not actually sure of the details!

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SnakesAndArrows · 23/02/2025 21:24

Well, Utah is a massive place so if everything is already booked (earlier you said you were struggling with availability?) recommendations of what to see and do will need to fit around where you’ll be.

magicmischief · 24/02/2025 02:03

SnakesAndArrows · 23/02/2025 21:24

Well, Utah is a massive place so if everything is already booked (earlier you said you were struggling with availability?) recommendations of what to see and do will need to fit around where you’ll be.

My most recent question was asking specifically about horse riding excursions in the Moab or Monument Valley areas.

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magicmischief · 24/02/2025 02:05

We have now found and booked a riding excursion so thank you all! Can't wait. 🤠

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JandLandG · 24/02/2025 02:27

We flew into Vegas on a 3.5 week family road trip a few years ago.

North east into Utah and Zion, then on to a load of amazing places - most mentioned here.

You've chosen an absolutely ace place to go - just unreal.

One thing I will say is that the driving there is so easy compared to here; flat, straight, empty roads - easy to drive 2/300+ miles compared to the same distance in the UK.

Monument Valley for me was the mega-highlight. Just unreal to be there. I'm getting a bit emoshe just thinking about it now. We drove in from the South (it was difficult getting accomplished anywhere near but we stayed in a fabulous wood homestead type place maybe about 30/40 miles away but no problem driving) and left up North towards Mexican Hat.

Sun going down, we drove along the road you see in the pictures and stopped to look back...just astonishing.

Drove up this tiny little mountain road about an hour away and climbed up some more to view it from maybe 20 miles away...just thinking about that now is pretty moving tbh. A family adventure, the 5 of us just experiencing the amazing.

Ended up in New Mexico which was my fave state on that trip, but not sure if you're going that far.

Through Albuquerque just because it was in that Prefab Sprout son, route 66, wanted to get to Tucson, Arizona just bc it was mentioned in that Beatles song, but was just that little bit too far so stayed in Phoenix instead.

Grand Canyon south and even a night across the river in California just for the sake of it on the way back to Nevada.

Amazing days. Buy the appropriate Rough Guide/Lonely Planet and enjoy the prep. Get things planned and then go rogue when you fancy.

Old fashioned motels are fun, a couple of fancy places are good, and a bit of chill out AirBnBs with a pool when you fancy a break from too much doing stuff.

I'm generally not a huge fan of The States tbh, but, blimey, that as a good trip, you'll enjoy.

Southern Utah
magicmischief · 24/02/2025 07:45

@JandLandG how wonderful - I can feel your joy and nostalgia in every word!!
Thank you.

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