Utah
Utah is a red rock desert state with five national parks, and ski mountains a short drive from its capital, Salt Lake City.
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Utah is a state in the western United States, and Salt Lake City is its capital and largest city. The state has two kinds of country. In the south, red rock desert holds five national parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion. North of Salt Lake City, the Wasatch Mountains rise close to town and hold ski resorts, Park City among them.
Southern Utah suits hikers, photographers and drivers who want wide desert views and long trails. Salt Lake City International Airport is the main air gateway, and a rental car is the practical way to get between the parks and the mountains. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for hiking. Summer days in the lower canyons run hot, and the northern ski resorts are a winter trip. Plan at least a week for the southern parks, or a few days if you focus on one area.
Utah in five
- Fly into Las Vegas or Salt Lake CityLas Vegas is about 2.5 hours from Zion; Salt Lake City is about 4 hours from Moab. A one-way car rental between them saves a day of backtracking but adds a drop fee.
- Check permits, not timed entryArches dropped timed entry for 2026 but still requires Fiery Furnace permits, and Zion's Angels Landing needs a lottery permit.Zion permits and shuttle
- Hike at dawn in summerFrom June to August the heat is dangerous by midday. Carry more water than you think you need.
- Price the nonresident annual passNon-US residents 16 and over pay an extra $100 per park visit, and the $250 America the Beautiful nonresident pass waives it. Count the parks before you buy.The new fee for visitors
- Budget two to three hours per legDistances look short on the map, but each hop between parks takes about 2 to 3 hours before stops on Scenic Byway 12. Keep loop days for driving and park days for walking.Arches National Park
Neighborhoods
Moab
- Best for: Arches, Canyonlands, activities
- To airport: About 4 hours from Salt Lake City
- Price band: $$
- About 10 minutes to Arches
- Many restaurants and outfitters
- Busy in spring and fall
Skip if you want a quiet village.
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Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah's capital, pairs skiing in the Wasatch Range with Temple Square, the historic core of Mormon settlement.
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Zion National Park
Visitors come to Zion for sandstone canyon walls cut by the Virgin River and for hikes that range from a 30-minute round trip to a 4-hour round trip to Angels Landing.
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Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah is known for hoodoos, tall rock spires carved into amphitheaters, and trails that descend from the rim.
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Things to do in Utah
See all attractions in Utah
Need to know
- Airports
- Las Vegas (LAS), Salt Lake City (SLC)
- Getting around
- Rental car
- Best base
- Springdale for Zion, Moab for Arches and Canyonlands
- Season
- Mar–May and Sep–Oct
- Time needed
- 7–10 days for the five-park loop
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh2°Low-5°Mild, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low-4°Mild, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh10°Low0°Spring startsMarchPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh15°Low4°Warm, parks busyAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, parks busy
- MayClear10 rainy daysHigh20°Low8°Hot, crowdsMayClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowds
- JuneClear4 rainy daysHigh28°Low14°Hot, start at dawnJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, start at dawn
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh34°Low19°Very hotJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low18°Monsoon stormsAugustClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon storms
- SeptemberClear4 rainy daysHigh26°Low13°Hot, easingSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, easing
- OctoberClear6 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh17°Low6°Warm, fall colorOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, fall color
- NovemberClear7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low1°Cool, quietNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh3°Low-4°Cool, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in St George, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Utah
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
4
- Feels like
- 2°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 63%
Utah
01:05 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today-4°-6°63%Monday: Snow. High -4°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Tue0°-6°1%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 0°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Wed-2°-6°43%Wednesday: Snow. High -2°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Thu2°-6°1%Thursday: Cloudy. High 2°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Fri2°-5°3%Friday: Cloudy. High 2°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat6°-4°2%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 6°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun9°-1°0%Sunday: Clear. High 9°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 09:41 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Park Cityabout 45 minutes by car from Salt Lake CityMain Street shops and ski runs, and the town that hosts the Sundance Film Festival each January.Read the guide
- Wasatch Mountainsabout 30 to 45 minutes by car from downtown Salt Lake CityAlpine trails and ski resorts in the range that rises right behind Salt Lake City.Read the guide
- Moababout 4 hours by car from Salt Lake CityArches National Park and the Colorado River. Delicate Arch is reached on foot from the park road.Read the guide
- Zion National Parkabout 4 hours by car from Salt Lake CityCanyon walls and the Narrows. Angels Landing needs a permit, so arrange it before you go.Read the guide
Before you go to Utah
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Rules for Utah, checked
- Most visitors from visa-waiver countries need an ESTA before flying to the US. Apply only on the official CBP site and check your passport rules there.Source
- Check nps.gov before you visit Zion, Bryce Canyon or Arches. Entry fees and timed-entry or permit rules change, so confirm them for your dates.Source
- Drones cannot take off or land in US national parks without a permit. Keep at least 25 yards from most wildlife and 100 yards from bears.
- Check the National Weather Service flash flood forecast before you enter a slot canyon such as The Narrows in Zion. Flash floods can rise fast.Source
Plan around Utah
Delicate Arch and no timed entry in 2026
Read the guideBryce CanyonThe hoodoo amphitheater between Zion and Capitol Reef
Read the guideSalt Lake CityThe airport city for the Wasatch and ski country
Read the guidePark CitySki town about 35 to 45 minutes east of Salt Lake City
Read the guideAll of USAEntry rules, money and the park reservation picture
Read the guideNational park fee for visitorsThe extra nonresident charge and the annual pass
Read the guideUtah FAQ
What is the best order to visit Utah's national parks?
East to west or west to east along one line: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, then Arches and Canyonlands. Pick the airport and one-way rental that match the direction.
How many days do you need for Utah's national parks?
Seven to ten days cover all five at a steady pace. With four days, pick Zion and Arches, which are the most distinct, and fly into the matching city.
Which airport is best for Utah's parks?
Las Vegas for Zion and the west end, Salt Lake City for Arches and the east end. A one-way rental between them saves a day of driving.
When is the best time to visit Utah's national parks?
March to May and September to October. Summer highs reach 40 °C in the low desert, so use dawn starts if you go in July or August.
Do I need permits for Utah's national parks?
Not for most day walks. Angels Landing at Zion needs a lottery permit and Arches' Fiery Furnace needs a booking; neither park needs timed entry in 2026. Check each park's NPS page.