May 2024 visit to Utah

[Airsurfer]

Fellow Airstreamers, we are looking for ideas of great locations in Utah. Next May we will be exploring Utah during the month of May towing our 2018 Flying Cloud 23 FBQ. We like all types of camping. Full service RV parks, camping in state and federal parks with or without hookups, and Boondocking anywhere. We are members of Harvest Hosts as well. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Paul and Mary

[Hittenstiehl]

Utah is a beautiful state to visit with the southern half having 5 national parks and monument sites you may not make it north. You can do a big loop of all the national parks, though a few may still have snow depending on this years winter, and some will be getting hot already. May should still have cooler nights even if the days are warm. Lots of cultural tribal land, morman settler history, canyons, and beautiful high desert red rock views. The scenery is second to none. If you come from CA into St George, it's very scenic. You could head 89 along the Sevier River, Dixie National Forest and Cedar Breaks. In Panquitch there is a great old west steak house restaurant.

One of my favorite views is on Highway 12, coming east from Bryce, and you come around the bend with a big valley below and the little town of Tropic. If you are on the east side of the loop Moab is very touristy and crowded but still very worth the visit. Goose Island Campground is a good spot to stay. There are lots of state roads and not too much interstate. Get gas when you need it as the towns are small and spaced out. Alcohol is purchased at state stores, and spirits are served in restaurants with the purchase of food. Wasatch Brewery has many great craft beers with fun titles.

Headed south on 95 is Hite Crossing, the only bridge crossing the Colorado for 300 miles.

Depending on how much time you have, you may have to pick a side of the state and just do those sites. Bryce, Zion and Arches of course are the big three but are on opposite sides of the state. Zion has the Mount Carmel Tunnel and they will stop traffic for you if going driving thru. If you like cool photos, put your passenger out so they can get your Airstream coming thru.

[majorairhead]

The National Parks are impressive. Much depends on what type of stuff a person finds interesting, and how much time one has!

I'd recommend Hovenweep National Monument. Camp there if you can Dark skies!

Bluff is where I learned of the Mormon Handcart Companys. I saw a tombstone there, and was intrigued. Discover Salvation Knoll and hike up to the top, it's quite a story.

Bears Ears, Butler Wash Ruins, House on Fire, Natural Bridges, Moki Dugway, Canyonlands, Needles District, Goosenecks State Park (camping)....

Lots of petroglyphs in the region, and lots of sites to visit for sure.

We ran 191 from south to north and hit a huge part of the sights along the way.

Steinaker State Park camping, Dinosaur National Monument.

On up north to Flaming Gorge.

[Waterbeach]

We did a similar visit this may 2023 - in Utah we focused on the national parks - and were not disappointed. Campsite near Bryce was Bryce Canyon Pines - very close to the park but not nearly as expensive nor busy. Best was Fruita - well worth trying to get a site if you can. Bryce had snow but well cleared and magical. Arches meant Moab and we stayed at Portal - not a great experience for the cost. A highlight for us was Utah to Lake Tahoe via Highway 50 - loneliest road etc. and a great experience.

[FloydCoVa]

One of the best parks we have ever stayed at is Dead Horse Point State Park! All trails are flat and start right at your campsite. Best of all because it’s a State Park you can walk your dogs on all trails. Canyonlands , Arches and the town of Moab is 30 min drive away. We also drove over to Goblins State Park, think day trip. Also a drive to the La Sal Mountains is a must see, the ones you can see them from your campsite. We also went this past May. Be sure to make reservations as soon as you are able, I thinking 6 month out.

[Prettygood]

You could spend a whole month and still want more of Utah. Don’t skip Capitol Reef, it’s just as awesome as the others in its own way. The drive from there to Bryce takes you down Grand Escalante, and that was a phenomenal drive. Have fun, and make your reservations as soon as the window opens!

[ppppino]

Hello all. We are currently in Moab visiting Arches NP but have visited Bryce, Zion and Monument Valley. All beautiful . Hear a word of caution!! We were in Torrey Utah for our visit to Capital Reef. Our next destination was Monument Valley. Google maps had our route using UT 261. Don’t go the way or you will face the Moki Dugway. A 10% grade gravel road with hairpin turns and an 1800 foot decent to Rt 163. One of the most dangerous RV roads in the nation. We did it by mistake, now my wife has called the divorce lawyer - she hates heights ��. We were lucky

[Rosey Jet]

Kanab is a great stop for a hub. We stay at the Dark Sky RV park. Also plenty to do in Kanab. Put in for reservation at “The Wave”.

[Toasterlife]

Loved Hovenweep - but a word of caution, the Cedar Gnats can be ferocious at certain times of the year - Ask me how I know.

[Toasterlife]

We have never landed at a bad state park in Utah. In terms of National Parks and monuments, one of our all time favorite parks is Cedar Breaks (I think it is a National monument). A shout out for the state parks near Vernon, lots to see and do around there including Dinosaur NP. One of the nearby state parks has dinosaur footprints. Another favorite is Capitol Reef - the secondary parks being less busy are in our opinion a better experience.

[bcheever]

Before we had an Airstream, I never thought much of Utah. But now I can say it's one of my favorite states in the country. There's so much beautiful stuff to see there.

Definitely visit Arches, close to impossible to get a reservation at the Devils Garden campground but you can camp closeby in Moab and drive through.

Moab has fantastic bike trails if you are into that - the paved trail to Arches and up the Colorado River is really scenic. Good restaurants in Moab, and Back of Beyond is a great bookstore.

Definitely visit Zion and Bryce.

Yonder Escalante is my favorite campground in the US. Just redesigned and reopened. Beautiful cafe and bar with a huge outdoor patio, super lush outdoor showers and a drive-in with vintage cars you can sit in and watch movies under the clear Utah skies every night (we sat in the '63 Corvair Convertible : ) ). They have hook-up campsites and vintage Airstreams to rent.

The area around Escalante itself is super magical. Kiva Coffee is great coffee shop on a lonely highway outside of town and the nerve-wracking but spectacular Hwy 12 "Million Dollar Highway" is something you'll never forget.

[Prettygood]

Originally Posted by bcheever

Before we had an Airstream, I never thought much of Utah. But now I can say it's one of my favorite states in the country. There's so much beautiful stuff to see there.



Definitely visit Arches, close to impossible to get a reservation at the Devils Garden campground but you can camp closeby in Moab and drive through.



Moab has fantastic bike trails if you are into that - the paved trail to Arches and up the Colorado River is really scenic. Good restaurants in Moab, and Back of Beyond is a great bookstore.



Definitely visit Zion and Bryce.



Yonder Escalante is my favorite campground in the US. Just redesigned and reopened. Beautiful cafe and bar with a huge outdoor patio, super lush outdoor showers and a drive-in with vintage cars you can sit in and watch movies under the clear Utah skies every night (we sat in the '63 Corvair Convertible : ) ). They have hook-up campsites and vintage Airstreams to rent.



The area around Escalante itself is super magical. Kiva Coffee is great coffee shop on a lonely highway outside of town and the nerve-wracking but spectacular Hwy 12 "Million Dollar Highway" is something you'll never forget.

100% agree. I drove highway 12 from Capitol Reef to the junction by Bryce. I had no idea what to expect, and was surprised at nearly every turn. Possibly my favorite stretch of road I have ever driven on.