I have road tripped a good portion of this country and I gotta tell ya, Southern Utah is killing it with incredible views, national parks, and outstanding nature. I will let you know now that hitting some of these spots in the middle of summer during the day is not going to make the trip as enjoyable as going in September early in the morning. Nobody likes big crowds and having to navigate in order to find a quality photo spot. So if possible, plan your trip during less trafficked months. Going between September – Early April will give you a better time with way less tourists around. Also if you have time to really explore, the Arizona-Utah border area is one of the best for hiking and some amazing views.
Here are some must – see landmarks that are super unique and won’t find anything like them ANYWHERE else.
Monument Valley / Mexican Hat
When most people say they want to go to Monument Valley, it’s because they want to shoot their version of the infamous spot where Forrest Gump stopped running. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, the image on the right is an example. This spot is actually along Route 163 in between Monument Valley and Mexican Hat. Mile Marker 13 is the exact spot where most people stop to take the picture. If you are wanting to get a perfect shot, it’s fairly easy to park on the side and wait out the people. Most of the tourists come and leave immediately after taking a quick picture. If you want to drive around Monument Valley, it’s only about 15 minutes away and a beautiful scenic drive. There’s also a wonderful campsite really close to Forrest Gump Point. For a full review, read here.
Peek A Boo Gulch
This one does have pros and cons so hear me out.. Peekaboo is a perfect hike to go on if you want to see a slot canyon but don’t want to pay the expensive fees for Antelope Canyon. It involves a 30 minute hike through a slot canyon that isn’t very difficult but does get pretty narrow towards the end which makes for great pictures and an awesome experience. The “cons” are really centered around the drive in and lack of maps we had. I recommend 4×4 but we did make it work. It took about 1 hour 30 minutes to go 20 miles on the road in. There was also no maps or clues at the trailhead. So bring a map or screenshot one if you don’t want to get lost! Other than that, we had a great time and it was free which you can’t beat.
Bryce Canyon
This national park is one of the biggest highlights to date! It has the most unique- looking formations for what seems like hundreds of miles. The drive in is pretty easy compared to others and everything is very clearly laid out for tourists. They have one main trail that perfectly crosses through the major “points” of this park. There is, of course, hiking and other activities available. However if you are just driving around for the day, there is still plenty you will get to see. There is an entry fee standard to any other national park. If you are visiting several, I really recommend getting the annual pass to save a lot of money! Below is a free campsite right outside of Bryce that’s perfect after a long day of exploring!
Free Campsite Coordinates: GPS: 37.656008, -112.164194
Zion National Park
Zion is super close to Bryce Canyon so if you see one, there’s no reason not to see the other! Zion was a close second to Bryce for the views but both places will blow you away! If you have time, hike the Narrows which is about a 10 mile, beautiful hike through the canyon. You’ll get to see the different perspective from the bottom and how vastly different it is from the top. Walking through water, hiking over rock, and a full day’s worth of views! Definitely try to plan spending at least two days hiking through this park in order to avoid missing any key points. There’s even a perfect campsite right in between Bryce and Zion that works really well as a stopping point in between for a good night’s sleep.
Free Campsite Coordinates: 37.2071, -112.6893, Mt. Carmel Junction
