This year the great state of Utah won the GOLD for Best State To RV in the third annual Trailer Life Readers’ Choice Awards in the 2014 online poll taken by its readers. Here at General RV Center we couldn’t be more excited and proud to give the great state & home of the only General RV location currently out West some well deserved spotlight and recognition. Chosen by Trailer Life readers & RVers alike, Utah is the ultimate RVing destination and a “must” on your destination checklist. What do these RVers know about Utah that you may not?
From the moment you cross the state line you will have access to some of the greatest natural beauty in North America. Home of The Greatest Snow On Earth, The Mighty 5 and a “Life Elevated” you begin to know this is no place like home; in a good way.
Utah has hundreds of RV parks and campgrounds throughout the state, with 42 state parks and 5 national parks. Just be mindful when planning full hookups are harder to come by in the Southern part of the state. If you’re willing to nix the hookups and go “au naturel” Utah offers some of the most amazing dry camping or boondocking in the country, most of which are free. The RV Park Reviews website is a great resource to find the write campground, with helpful reviews and information.
Utah is one of the Nation’s most protected and preserved states with:
- Six national forests: Ashley, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-LaSal, Uinta and Wasatch-Cache
- Two national recreation areas: Flaming Gorge and Glen Canyon
- Seven national monuments: Cedar Breaks, Natural Bridges, Dinosaur, Rainbow Ridge, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Timpanogos Cave and Hovenweep
- Five national parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Byrce and Capitol Reef
With national parks so extraordinary they’ve earned the name “The Mighty 5”. Use this helpful trip planner to experience what they refer to as The Best Week Of Your Life. This is one of many trip itineraries available on VisitUtah.com each tailored to experience different attractions throughout the state.
Utah is not only highly acclaimed for it’s national treasures; it serves as the ultimate playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether it’s skiing the “Greatest Snow On Earth” at one of Utah’s many top-rated ski resorts, hiking through pristine forests and hidden valleys or enjoying the year-round fishing in one of the 1,000 fishable lakes, there wont be a moment you aren’t surrounded by it’s unique natural beauty.
It is important to plan your RVing trip through Utah in order to see all the sites and know where you plan to park or set up camp. Utah is broken into 3 regions, Northern, Southern and Central Utah.
Northern Utah
Northern Utah is where a lot of the population resides, with Salt Lake City the largest metropolitan area in the state; and Park City a popular tourist destination. Offering a mix of city life, history and some of the best skiing in the state.
Here are some of the “top spots” to visit in Northern Utah:
Salt Lake City – The largest metropolitan city in Utah
Park City – home of the Sundance Music Festival and 3 World-Class Resorts and the best skiing adventure in the country
Bear Lake- referred to as the Caribbean of the Rockies because of it’s bold turquoise color
Wasatch Mountain
Lagoon Amusement Park
Antelope Island State Park- the largest island on the Great Salt Lake
Dinosaur National Monument
Bonneville Salt Flats – 30,000 of flat unique land
Red Canyon Overlook – Known because of the natural red hue of the rocks this point gives you panoramic views of the reservoir
Flaming Gorg Dam
Central Utah
Central Utah is packed with the popular Scenic Byways, cute little towns and one of Utah’s best most historic and cultural attractions, Heritage Highway 89. Central Utah is an avid spot for hunting and fishing.
Here are a few places to see and things to do in Central Utah:
San Rafael Swell/San Rafael River – canyons, wildlife, fishing and more this area boasts of beautiful views and outdoor recreational activities
Paiute ATV Trail – One of the best rated ATV trails in the world, ride up and down mountains past historic sites and beautiful scenery
Heritage Highway 89 – Utah’s first tourist route dedicated solely to offering guests a quality Western heritage experience served up Utah-style.
Palisade State Park & Golf Course
Skyline Drive – This road is for ATVs & 4x4s only, a great way to drive through the mountains and see Central Utah
Big Rock Candy Mountain – Mineralization has caused this mountain to be rich with hues of green, tan, brown, orange and grey
Rockhound – search for semi-precious stones and fossils in this remote location
Little Sahara Sand Dunes
Fremont Indian State Park – view ancient rock art left by the Fremont people
Southern Utah
Southern Utah is so utterly unique and beautiful people say the entire half of the state should be on your bucket list. Southern Utah contains all of the 5 national parks in Utah.
Here are a few (the list could literally go on and on forever) of the top things to do and places to see:
“The Mighty 5” – all of the 5 national parks in Utah are located in the Southern part of the state.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park – millions of years and layers of sediments, wind and water formed the wonders of Monument Valley, ancestral home of the Navajo people
Slickrock Trail & Sand Flats Recreation Area – most popular mountain biking trail in the world
Delicate Arch- Utah’s most famous icon and one of the best family hiking destinations
Peek A Boo Gulch – A slot canyon and a popular hike in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that cuts through sandstone bedrock as a narrow slit.
Tuacahn Center For The Arts – go see a show or concert at this outdoor amphitheater with sweeping views of the canyons and red rock
Hell’s Backbone/Scenic Byway 12 – a rugged area that bridges between towering Boulder Mountain on the north and canyons cut by the the Escalante River
With some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, RVers get a special opportunity to develop a more intimate and special relationship with the state, getting to experience the landmarks, history and rural untouched land of Utah as you drive down the open roads. When planning your RV trip make sure to take the famous Scenic Byway roads as much as possible, you won’t be disappointed!