Things to do in Utah, 2026/2027
Discover 15 of the best things to do in Utah, from Park City skiing and Olympic thrills to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches and Monument Valley.
Discover the best of Utah
Utah delivers two very different vacation experiences in one state. Northern Utah is defined by the Wasatch Mountains, ski resorts, alpine towns, reservoirs and year-round mountain adventures, while southern Utah is famous for vast red-rock landscapes and the spectacular national parks known collectively as the Mighty 5.
Our Utah vacation rentals are centered around Park City, with additional options around Heber City and Hideout. This makes the region particularly well suited to ski vacations, hiking, mountain biking, golf, watersports at Jordanelle Reservoir and exploring Park City's historic center. From mountain condos and townhomes to substantial group lodges with private amenities, our collection offers the perfect choice for year-round Utah getaways.
Southern Utah's national parks are much farther away, so Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands are best incorporated into a dedicated road trip rather than treated as excursions from Park City.
Things to Do in Utah: Park City & Wasatch Mountain Highlights
1. Ski and snowboard at Park City Mountain
Location / Neighborhood: Park City Mountain Village and Canyons Village. Best For: Families, groups, skiers, snowboarders. Estimated Time Needed: Full day. Cost / Entry: $$$; lift ticket required.
Park City Mountain is the centerpiece of a winter vacation in northern Utah, with more than 7,300 acres of terrain spread between Mountain Village and Canyons Village. Beginners can book lessons, while experienced skiers and snowboarders have access to groomers, bowls, steeps and terrain parks. Insider tip: lift tickets are limited, so book ahead for weekends, Christmas, Presidents' Day and spring break rather than relying on walk-up availability.
2. Ski at Deer Valley Resort
Location / Neighborhood: Deer Valley, Park City. Best For: Skiers, couples, families, luxury experiences. Estimated Time Needed: Full day. Cost / Entry: $$$.
Deer Valley Resort provides a different mountain experience, combining groomed ski terrain with polished service and upscale slopeside dining. It remains a ski-only resort, so snowboarders should head to Park City Mountain instead. Daily lift-ticket numbers are limited to help manage the experience. Insider tip: Deer Valley is particularly appealing for mixed-ability ski groups because the emphasis on grooming and guest service makes it easy to plan a relaxed mountain day.
3. Experience Utah Olympic Park
Location / Neighborhood: Kimball Junction, Park City. Best For: Families, teenagers, sports fans, adventure seekers. Estimated Time Needed: 2–4 hours. Cost / Entry: Free to visit; paid activities extra.
Built for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Utah Olympic Park hosted bobsled, luge, skeleton and ski-jumping events and remains an important training center today. Visitors can learn about Utah's Olympic history before adding seasonal adventures such as bobsled experiences, zip lines and ropes courses. Insider tip: the historical exhibits make the park worthwhile even if you don't book an adventure activity, so it works well for multigenerational groups.
4. Explore Historic Main Street
Location / Neighborhood: Old Town, Park City. Best For: Couples, families, shoppers, food lovers. Estimated Time Needed: 2–4 hours. Cost / Entry: Free to explore.
Park City's former silver-mining center is now lined with restaurants, cafés, bars, boutiques and art galleries, while historic buildings preserve much of the town's original mountain character. Main Street is particularly enjoyable after skiing or as a relaxed summer afternoon away from the trails. Insider tip: use Park City's public transportation where possible rather than trying to find central parking during peak ski weekends and major events.
5. Spend a summer day at Jordanelle State Park
Location / Neighborhood: Jordanelle Reservoir, near Hideout and Park City. Best For: Families, couples, boating, paddleboarding. Estimated Time Needed: Half day to full day. Cost / Entry: $–$$; park entry and rentals may apply.
When the snow melts, Jordanelle Reservoir becomes one of the most convenient warm-weather escapes around Park City. Visitors can swim, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, boat or fish against a mountain backdrop, while Hailstone recreation area provides the main marina and beach facilities. Insider tip: this is an especially convenient activity for guests staying around Hideout; reserve boats and paddle equipment ahead for sunny summer weekends.
6. Hike or mountain bike around Park City
Location / Neighborhood: Park City and the Wasatch Mountains. Best For: Active families, hikers, cyclists, couples. Estimated Time Needed: 2 hours to full day. Cost / Entry: Free to $$; rentals or lift access extra.
Summer reveals an extensive network of mountain trails around Park City, ranging from relaxed walks to technical singletrack. Mountain bikers can explore routes such as the Mid-Mountain Trail and Wasatch Crest, while hikers can choose forest, meadow and ridgeline routes throughout the surrounding mountains. Insider tip: elevation makes even moderate routes feel harder than they would at sea level, so start with shorter trails and carry plenty of water.
Things to Do in Utah: The Mighty 5 & Moab Highlights
7. Explore Zion National Park
Location / Neighborhood: Southwest Utah. Best For: Families, hikers, couples, photographers. Estimated Time Needed: Full day to 2+ days. Cost / Entry: National Park entrance fee.
Zion National Park combines towering sandstone cliffs, the Virgin River, hanging gardens and some of Utah's most famous hiking routes. Easier experiences such as the Pa'rus Trail and Riverside Walk sit alongside demanding adventures including Angels Landing and The Narrows. Insider tip: you don't need to tackle the headline hikes to appreciate Zion; families can build a rewarding day around the canyon shuttle, viewpoints and easier riverside trails.
8. See the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park
Location / Neighborhood: Southern Utah Best For: Families, photographers, hikers, stargazers Estimated Time Needed: Half day to full day Cost / Entry: National Park entrance fee
Bryce Canyon's amphitheaters are filled with extraordinary columns of orange, pink and white rock known as hoodoos. Scenic viewpoints provide easy access to the landscape, while hiking trails descend among the formations for a completely different perspective. Insider tip: Bryce Canyon sits at a much higher elevation than many southern Utah destinations, so pack layers even when nearby desert areas are warm; sunrise and sunset are particularly photogenic.
9. Discover Arches National Park
Location / Neighborhood: Moab, Southeast Utah. Best For: Families, road-trippers, hikers, photographers. Estimated Time Needed: Full day. Cost / Entry: National Park entrance fee.
More than 2,000 sandstone arches make Arches one of Utah's most distinctive landscapes, with Delicate Arch its most recognizable formation. An approximately 36-mile round-trip scenic road connects viewpoints and trailheads throughout the park, making it possible to combine short walks with longer hikes and stargazing trips. Insider tip: stay around Moab rather than trying to squeeze Arches into a rushed statewide day trip, and begin early to avoid the hottest part of summer afternoons.
10. Explore Canyonlands National Park
Location / Neighborhood: Near Moab, Southeast Utah. Best For: Couples, photographers, hikers, road trips. Estimated Time Needed: Full day. Cost / Entry: National Park entrance fee.
The Colorado and Green rivers have carved an enormous network of canyons, mesas and cliffs across Canyonlands National Park. First-time visitors staying around Moab usually find the Island in the Sky district easiest to incorporate, with spectacular overlooks reached by road and relatively short walks. Insider tip: Canyonlands' districts are separated by long driving distances, so select one for the day rather than trying to cover Island in the Sky and Needles together.
11. Drive through Capitol Reef National Park
Location / Neighborhood: South-central Utah, near Torrey Best For: Families, scenic drives, hikers, quieter adventures. Estimated Time Needed: Half day to full day. Cost / Entry: National Park fees apply in designated areas.
Capitol Reef centers around the Waterpocket Fold, a remarkable wrinkle in the Earth's crust extending for around 100 miles. Around Fruita, visitors can combine hiking and scenic driving with historic orchards and evidence of early settlement, while more remote districts reward experienced travelers. Insider tip: link Capitol Reef with Bryce Canyon using Scenic Byway 12 for one of the standout driving sections of a Mighty 5 road trip.
Best Things to Do in Utah with Kids
12. See dinosaur fossils at Dinosaur National Monument
Location / Neighborhood: Vernal and Jensen, Northeast Utah. Best For: Families, dinosaur fans, educational trips. Estimated Time Needed: 2–4 hours. Cost / Entry: National Monument entrance fee.
At Dinosaur National Monument, prehistoric Utah becomes remarkably tangible. The Quarry Exhibit Hall protects a rock face containing approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones, while the wider monument offers scenic drives, hiking, petroglyphs and river adventures. Insider tip: pair the fossil wall with a stop in Vernal if your children are particularly interested in dinosaurs; the wider region contains several museums, trackways and paleontology attractions.
13. Wander among the hoodoos at Goblin Valley
Location / Neighborhood: San Rafael Desert, Central Utah. Best For: Families, photographers, adventurous kids. Estimated Time Needed: 2–4 hours. Cost / Entry: State Park day-use fee.
Few landscapes encourage exploration quite like Goblin Valley State Park, where thousands of weathered sandstone formations create a natural maze across the desert floor. Unlike many viewpoint-led parks, visitors can walk among the strange rock shapes and discover the landscape at ground level. Insider tip: bring far more water than you think you'll need, avoid exposed areas during thunderstorms and stay into the evening if possible — the remote setting is excellent for stargazing.
Unique Things to Do in Utah
14. Experience Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Location / Neighborhood: Navajo Nation, Southeast Utah/Arizona border. Best For: Road-trippers, photographers, couples, cultural experiences. Estimated Time Needed: Half day to full day. Cost / Entry: Tribal Park admission; guided tours extra.
The immense sandstone buttes of Monument Valley form one of the defining landscapes of the American West, but this is also Navajo Nation land with deep cultural significance. Visitors can admire the famous viewpoints, travel the Tribal Valley Loop under current park rules or join a Navajo-guided experience for greater cultural context and access to restricted areas. Insider tip: approach Monument Valley as a living cultural landscape rather than simply a photo stop, and follow Navajo Nation regulations throughout your visit.
15. Walk across the Bonneville Salt Flats
Location / Neighborhood: Western Utah, near Wendover. Best For: Photographers, road-trippers, car enthusiasts. Estimated Time Needed: 1–3 hours. Cost / Entry: Generally free for casual sightseeing.
West of Salt Lake City, the Bonneville Salt Flats stretch across a vast, brilliantly white salt landscape famous for record-breaking motorsport and surreal photography. The scenery changes dramatically with weather, occasionally reflecting the sky after rain and appearing almost snow-white when dry. Insider tip: never drive onto wet salt — vehicles can become stranded and damage the fragile surface — and check current access or racing-event restrictions before traveling.
Seasonal Events in Utah
Kimball Arts Festival, Park City
Every summer, Historic Main Street becomes a large open-air gallery for the Kimball Arts Festival. The latest edition brought almost 200 jury-selected artists representing 13 different mediums alongside live music and educational activities. The event typically takes place in early August and is one of Park City's signature summer weekends. Tip: use public transportation because central parking becomes especially limited during the festival.
Park Silly Sunday Market, Park City
Running on selected Sundays through the warmer months, the Park Silly Sunday Market turns lower Historic Main Street into a lively open-air gathering with local makers, food, live music and community entertainment. It is an easy addition to a summer Park City stay and particularly good for families who want a relaxed morning between mountain activities
Utah State Fair
Held each September at Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City, the Utah State Fair is one of the state's biggest annual family events, combining agricultural exhibits, livestock shows, fairground rides, live entertainment, food stands and competitions. Usually held in September, it makes an easy addition to an early-fall Utah vacation. Insider tip: check the daily schedule before visiting, as concerts, arena events and specialist shows vary throughout the 11-day program.
Utah Pride Festival
The Utah Pride Festival takes over central Salt Lake City on the first full weekend of June, bringing together live music, food vendors, local businesses, community organizations and all-ages activities celebrating Utah's LGBTQ+ community. The two-day festival each June is followed by the free Utah Pride Parade through downtown on Sunday. Insider tip: arrive early for the parade, as thousands of spectators and participants gather along the route.
Moab Music Festival
The Moab Music Festival brings live performances into the dramatic red-rock setting around Moab, making it an unusual cultural addition to an Arches and Canyonlands itinerary. Events traditionally take place around late summer and early fall, with performances staged in distinctive indoor and outdoor settings. Its best to confirm the festival dates before arranging your road trip.
Utah Shakespeare Festival
Held in Cedar City, the Utah Shakespeare Festival provides a cultural contrast to southern Utah's outdoor adventures, with a season of plays and performances extending through the warmer months and into fall. Its location makes it especially useful for travelers building a longer itinerary around Zion, Bryce Canyon and southwest Utah.
