Everyone loves Spring Break! It’s a great time to go somewhere and bask in warm weather after a long winter. Many Utahns love spending their Spring Break in St George/ Zion or Moab/ Arches. We love both of these area of Utah and there is a lot to do, but we have some new ideas for your spring break in Utah this year. And hopefully they will help you avoid the crowds. Here are 8 other Spring Break Destinations in Utah.
There are so many fun places to explore and visit in Utah, all within a few hours of the Wasatch Front. Today we have chosen places that are 3 hours or less from our home in Utah County. Let us know if you have any other ideas for us to try in the future.
Vernal: For Dinosaur Lovers
One of our first Spring Break getaways was to Vernal. We spent a few days in this small town, but found so much to do, and we fell in love with dinosaurs. Make sure to visit Dinosaur National Monument, as well as the Utah Field House Museum. These have wonderful displays of dinosaurs as well as the famous Quarry at Dinosaur National Monument with hundreds of dinosaur bones. We also went on an amazing hike in Red Fleet State Park to see dinosaur tracks. We also spotted some loons there (birds not people). You can check out our list of Things to Do Near Vernal. If you are looking for a simple, but fun getaway, check out Vernal.
Blanding: For Explorers
Have you ever heard of Blanding? It is in the far southeast corner of the state, and has so much to see and do, but most people never head this way. We explored Natural Bridges National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, and some pioneer history in Bluff. You are also a quick 90 minute drive from Monument Valley in Arizona, which is amazing!! You could stay in Bluff, too–either spot offers great access to these less visited spots in Utah. We also want to head back and explore Bears Ears National Monument in this area. Visit our post about things to do near Blanding for more info!
Goblin Valley: For Adventurers
Goblin Valley is one of our all time favorite state parks because you can explore all over among the goblins. We love to stay in the yurts, but they are nearly impossible to get into now, so you can try for a camping spot, or you can stay in Hanksville which puts you a 1/2 hour away from Goblin Valley and 1/2 hour away from Capitol Reef National Park. We always spend a little time in Capitol Reef when we head to Goblin Valley. And we also hike Little Wild Horse Canyon, which is our kids favorite slot canyon hike ever. Goblin Valley is a great spot for some adventuring. This post also has great ideas: Things to do near Capitol Reef.
Escalante: For Outdoor Enthusiasts
We have fallen in love with Escalante. There is so much to see and do in this area. It is amazing! And the best time to visit is Spring before it gets too warm because most of the hikes have limited shade. Peek-a-boo and Spooky Slot Canyons are famous in this area, but there are plenty of easier things to do such as Kodachrome Basin State Park, Willis Creek, and Devil’s Garden. If you have the time and energy, Lower Calf Creek Falls is a must! We have even written a 3-day itinerary with all of our favorite spots.
Cedar City: For History
Cedar City is filled with things to do. It is only 45 minutes from St. George, but the elevation difference is quite large. If you decide to spend a day or two here over Spring Break, you won’t be able to visit Cedar Breaks National Monument because it doesn’t open until late May due to elevation. Cedar City is quite high itself, so plan on a cooler spring break in this town. Some of the fun things to do here are Park Discovery, Frontier Homestead State Park, Parowan Gap Petroglyphs, and Old Iron Town Ruins. This area is full of history! We have a list of other adventures we found in Cedar City here.
Logan: For Relaxation
Logan is a little closer to the Wasatch Front than some of these other getaways, but if you are looking for a slightly less busy, more relaxing place to visit, you could spend a day or two in Logan. Depending on the year, you might find snow in Logan Canyon, but there are some fun hikes to try. Our favorite is Tony Grove. You can also check out fun parks like Ryan’s Place Park, as well as stop at the American West Heritage Center. We also love Zootah, which is smaller than Hogle Zoo, but still has fun animals to see. If you are looking for an easy stop for lots of fun, check out Things to do in Logan.
Kanab: For Unique Experiences
We have fallen in love with the Kanab area. There is so much to do right around this small town and a lot of unique adventures to try. We loved hiking to the Nautilus, Catstair Canyon Car Stacks, the Toadstools, through the Belly of the Dragon, and up to the Sand Caves. These are just a few of the adventures to try in this area. Kanab is also close to Zion if you want to visit this National Park, as well as Lake Powell. You could easily spend 4-5 full days here! Use our Things to do near Kanab post for a huge list of ideas.
Heber Valley: For Ease
Heber is so close to the Wasatch Front and it makes it an easy spot to escape for a few days without a big drive. We love exploring this area and there is a lot to see and do. You can visit Wasatch Mountain State Park, take a ride on the Heber Valley Railroad, and eat at a lot of awesome restaurants. There are 3 different reservoirs nearby, but they will probably be a little chilly during Spring Break. Heber Valley is also near Park City, so you can explore this part of Utah, too. Check out our full list of Things to do in Heber Valley.
A Few More Ideas…
We know there are lots of places to enjoy Spring Break in Utah. Let us know your favorite spots in the comments. We can’t wait to visit somewhere new for Spring Break soon!
If you are looking for ideas if you stay local to SLC or Provo, check out our Spring Break in Utah posts:
Also, if you ARE headed to St. George, Zion, Moab, or Arches, we have lists of things to do there, too!
- Things to do near Zion
- Zion Family Guide
- Things to do in St. George
- Arches Family Guide
- Things to do in Moab
