Epic Utah and Nevada Road-Trip

Utah has so many amazing National Parks, State parks, landmarks, camping, hiking, biking etc. you name it and Utah has it. Planning our trip to this amazing state took me a lot of time and it was really fun for me. We had 7 days to get there, enjoy and get back during our spring break. I was going solo with my two kids and planning on car camping at as many free campsites as we could. Since it was still in the spring, we had to pack for many seasons and I did get us a hotel in Bryce because if you don't know, Bryce Canyon has higher elevation than the rest of Southern Utah. Utah is the ultimate playground when it comes to traveling with kids. There are so many wonderful places to see and explore that will really engage their bodies and mind. I hope you find this post helpful if you are planning a trip across Utah and Nevada.

Tips for planning your trip

• Know the weather before you go. Spring and Fall can have fluctuating temperatures and you will need to pack for both warm and cool weather.

• There are a lot of cellular dead zones in Utah so make sure you write directions down from place to place before you leave

• Have a travel plan of “Must Do’s” at each park. It is easy to become overwhelmed once you get to a park and you see just how much there is to do.

• If you have younger kids- cut your “Must Do’s” list in half. You will inevitably run into normal kid stuff like tiredness or just wanting to play in sand that will totally derail any plans you had for the day

• If you are camping, research multiple campsites you could potentially stay at for the night. Utah is very popular for outdoor activities and people like to camp. Campsites fill up fast and most are first come first serve.

• Bring Sunscreen

Itinerary

Day 1- We drove from Wyoming to Goblin Valley State Park in 7 hours arriving in the afternoon. It was a $20 entrance fee to get into the park which lasted 2 days. There is one road through the park which takes you right to the parking for the Valley of Goblins. When visiting Goblin Valley exploring through the Valley of Goblins is an absolute must. My kids spent hours running around and climbing among the rocks and it was even freezing the day we went. In the back of the Valley are large orange and white sandstone walls. We did not go any further than Valley 1 and 2 on our trip. If you have kids this is a perfect place to just let them have fun and run around without having to get to a certain end point.

The park offers camping and yurts but they do fill up months in advance. We tried our luck with the BLM campsites right outside the park and they were perfect. Each campsite was private and had a fire ring. These campsites have no amenities so you need to bring everything you need and pack everything out.

Day 2- I got up early of course because I have kids! We headed about 6 miles down the road to Hike Little Wild Horse Trail. It is either an 8 mile loop trail that winds through slot canyons or you can do just an out and back hike turning around at any point. We went out and back the day we went because at the end of March there was still a lot of frozen water in the narrower sections. I would say this a more difficult hike for young children because of the large rocks you have to climb but it is fun for them if you have adventurous kids or don't mind carrying them up the trickier parts.

Between Goblin Valley and capitol reef is a small town called Hanksville. We stopped here for gas and took a detour to see Factory Butte and Moonscape Overlook. To get there take highway 24 from Hanksville then turn right on Coal Mine rd for 6 miles, then take a right on skyline View Road (# 0913) for 2.7 miles. 4x4 cars are recommended for this road and it was quite rocky to get out there. The landscapes are incredible and you can even camp overnight here. We didn’t spend too much time ourselves because it is rather dangerous with small children. In fact I didn’t even get my 2 year old out of the car because of the drop offs. Worth the long drive out!

After this amazing side trip we headed to Capitol Reef National Park. I had no idea it was so beautiful. This is the least visited park of the mighty 5 but it definitely has all the beauty of the others. We drove the scenic road and hiked down the Grand Wash trail 4.5 miles. We also checked out the short but very interesting Petroglyph trail .3 miles. We wished we had more time in this park but it turned out very cold that night and I didn’t feel safe car camping so we headed to a hotel close to Bryce Canyon.

Day 3

We got an early start at Bryce Canyon. First stop was the visitors center where we picked up Wyatt’s Jr. Ranger Book. The Rangers were encouraging anyone planning on hiking to wear micro spikes below the rim. This was the last week of March and there had been a record snowfall that year. We quickly found out that yes this was true. The snow drifts were well over 4-5 feet high and even the paths to the overlooks were super icy. We took our time exploring the Sunrise Point, Sunset Point and Bryce Point overlooks.

We then went to Ruby’s for a quick veggie burger and salad before going to the Mossy Cave trail .8 mi. Again this trial was icy but we went for it anyways and ended up on our butts more than once. Once it started snowing we headed back to the hotel for an early night, but not until Wyatt got his Jr. Ranger Badge.

Day 4

We drove 1.5 hours from Bryce to Zion. Once we entered Zion it was one of the most beautiful drives I have ever been on. We were able to get to Zion a little before 8 a.m. securing a parking spot in the very crowded Visitors Center lot. After hitting up the visitors center we went on a pleasant and easy hike on the Pa’rus trail 3.2 miles. This is the perfect trail for kids and bikers. They have little trails off of this down to the Virgin River where my kids spent hours having fun in the sand and water.

My daughter was so excited when we finally got on the bus. We got off at stop 5 and grabbed a quick lunch at the lodge before hiking the Lower Emerald Pool trail 1.4 miles from trailhead 2.5 miles from bus stop. I feel like this family friendly trail doesn’t get enough hype. It is absolutely gorgeous and easy for kid hikers to accomplish.

We finished up with Zion by getting Wyatts Jr Ranger Badge and enjoying our dinner by the Virgin River. We had a little wildlife encounter here when a herd of deer followed my daughter.

We were again camping for the night. Twenty minutes west of Zion we found free camping at the Sheep Bridge BLM area. It had beautiful views but there was a lot of trash left by the previous campers.

Day 5

We went to Zion for Sunrise and then headed to Saint George because unfortunately our windshield had to be replaced thanks to a huge rock hitting it in Colorado on our way out. After that was a 2 hour drive to Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. This small state park has a lot to offer visitors and families. We spent a ton of time climbing in the beehives area. Our favorite hike here is the White Domes trail 1.2 miles followed closely by the Fire Wave trail 1.5miles. Both are under 2 miles and have easy-moderate difficulty. White Domes is the site of many old western movies and has a great slot canyon to explore. Our last stop for the night was at Mouse Tank Road for that epic insta-worthy picture view that has become so popular.

We were not able to get camping inside the park, but found great and free camping right outside of the park. Also very private and had a fire ring at each site.

Day 6

We got an early start hiking the Fire Wave today 1.5 miles. It was an easy 1.5mile out and back hike. We were there around 8 and had the place to ourselves for the full 30 minutes we climbed around the rocks.

We then had a long 6 hour drive back to Moab, Utah. We ate a quick lunch in town and found a campsite at Drinks Canyon. We went to Arches to spend the afternoon and catch a sunset. The kids and I hiked Sand Dune Arch .4mi and Broken Arch 1.2 miles before heading to the windows section for a memorable golden sunset.

If you want to know more about hiking Arches National Park with kids check out this post. https://www.wanderingwhartons.com/post/arches-national-park-with-kids

Must See

• The Mighty 5 Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion

• White Domes Trail in Valley of Fire

• Scenic Drive through Zion

• Hidden gem in Hanksville- Moonscape Overlook

• Junior Ranger Program

• Delicate Arch

• Sunset campfires

Best time to visit

• Spring/Fall- best temperatures and less crowded

• Summer- Extreme temperatures and lots of tourists

• Winter- least crowded time of year trails can be closed because of snow

Overall Experience

This trip was a learning experience for me. It was the first time I went on a solo camping trip with both children. I think that planning is key to having a good experience and a lot of patience. There are so many wonderful places in Utah to visit and I hope I have given you some good ideas on places to visit. Utah is an outdoor playground for kids and adults alike. If you are planning a roadtrip through Utah know that it can be exhausting to be continually be on the move to the next place. Be sure to take time to recuperate each day and plan down time. A roadtrip like this can be one of the most memorable experiences for you and your children so make it fun and enjoy.