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Utah is a stunningly beautiful state. If you have never visited, get excited for new scenery at every turn and likely the need to stop at every single overlook. As with most things in the west, Utah is best explored from the car. Want some suggestions? Look no further. Here we will cover some of the best scenic drives in Utah organized by area of the state complete with maps. Get ready for the ultimate Utah road trip itineraries. And if you need it, here is a road trip packing list to make sure you are ready to go!

Side note: The 5 scenic drives listed can be done in any type of vehicle, but if you are looking for an off-road experience, check out this post about the Cathedral Valley Loop near Capitol Reef National Park.

Top Scenic Drives in Utah

Big Cottonwood Canyon to Parley’s Canyon via Guardsman Pass

One of the best scenic drives in Utah that I recommend most frequently starts right outside of Salt Lake City. You drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon and then connect via Guardsman Pass to Park City and then coming down I-80 via Parley’s Canyon. Guardsman Pass is open seasonally (spring-fall only) so check before making this drive. This loop will allow you to get up close and personal with the mountains and pass some of the best trailheads including the second and fifth trail in this list of top 7 hikes in Salt Lake City.

If you have a little extra time, you could also take this same loop but add a drive down to Midway and Heber, UT. On the way to Heber, you will see signs for Wasatch State Park which has some great stops. You could also make an entire weekend out of your time in Midway and Heber with great restaurants and activities. Check out this list of things to do in Midway here.

If you found this post when Guardsman Pass or the road to Heber are closed, it is still worth driving up Big Cottonwood Canyon, even if you can’t connect all the way to Park City.

Suggested stops along the drive:

• Lake Blanche – a difficult 7 mile hike but one of my favorites in Salt Lake City
• Hidden Waterfall – parking in the same spot as Lake Blanche and a short few steps to access this waterfall
• Brighton Lakes Loop – 4.4 mile loop that goes by 5 lakes and is another favorite in the Salt Lake City area
• Guardsman Pass Overlook
• Empire Pass Overlook
• Wasatch State Park (if you take the road to Heber)
• Midway Crater and Midway Ice Castle (if you take the road to Heber)

Mirror Lake Highway

One of the prettiest scenic drives in Utah is a little more difficult to access and is located in the Uintas. The Uinta Mountain range is unique because it is the only mountain range in the contiguous United States that runs east-west instead of north-south.

The drive is beautiful and make sure you plan extra time as you will want to stop, repeatedly. Once you pass through Kamas, there is no cell service, gas stations or food. So keep this in mind when you are planning your drive. Unless you are planning to make your drive into a route that goes through Wyoming, I recommend turning around at Mirror Lake. There is a $6 fee to use the facilities here, which is also covered by the America The Beautiful Annual Pass (aka the National Parks Pass). Make sure to have exact change.

Suggested Stops along the drive:

• The best donuts in Utah (haven’t tried them myself – but let me know if you do)
• Provo River Falls
• Any of the small lakes in the area
• Mirror Lake
• Lofty Lakes Loop – a 4 mile round trip hike that is one of the best hikes in Utah

Alpine Loop Scenic Drive

This loop is also seasonally open from May through October and it follows Utah Highway 92 up American Fork Canyon and then continues through Uinta National Forest into Provo Canyon on US 189. This route will take you by the third and sixth hikes on the list of best hikes near Salt Lake City. There is a $6 fee to use the facilities here, which is also covered by the America The Beautiful Annual Pass (aka the National Parks Pass). Make sure to have exact change.

Suggested Stops Along the Drive:

• Timpanogos Cave National Monument
• Tibble Fork Reservoir
• Silver Lake Hike (requires 4WD to access trailhead) – a 4.7 mile hike that is one of my favorites in the greater Salt Lake Valley area
• Mount Timpanogos Hike – a 13-16 mile hike that is difficult but very beautiful
• Sundance Ski Resort
• Bridal Veil Falls

US Route 89

Starting in the central portion of the state near I-70 and Monroe and ending near Kanab is the scenic Utah portion of US Route 89. This route is actually much longer and goes from Canada to Mexico so if you are on a North/South cross-country road trip you could consider using this as part of your route.

While this portion of the state is typically underrated, it is the gateway to so much beauty including the scenic drive that is listed next as well. While Kanab is a fabulous stopping point as there are so many things to do in Kanab, you could continue on US Route 89 to Page, AZ as well.

Suggested Stops along the way:

• Mystic Hot Springs
• Monroe Hot Springs
• Fishlake National Forest
• Highway 12 Scenic Byway (see next suggestion)
• Bryce Canyon, Red Canyon, and Zion National Park
• Belly of the Dragon
• Coral Pink Sand Dunes
• Any of these 11 things to do around Kanab

Highway 12 Scenic Byway

With “scenic” in the name, you know that driving the Highway 12 Scenic Byway in Utah definitely makes it on the list of best scenic drives in Utah. No Utah road trip is complete without time spent on Highway 12. This drive is easily started along the Highway 89 route listed above, or it can be done in conjunction with a tour of the national parks in Utah, known as the Mighty 5. Highway 12 connects Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef with several beautiful stops along the way.

Although amenities are limited along all scenic drives in Utah, they are most limited on this route. Make sure you get gas and food where you see it and plan ahead for your stops. Although this is probably a given if you are doing this drive for the views, you definitely don’t want to do it at night. The road is a lot more winding than others.

Suggested Stops along the way:

• Prior to starting (or after you finish depending on the direction), hit the Highway 89 scenic route and Zion National Park
• Red Canyon (especially the tunnels)
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Kodachrome Basin State Park
• Hole in the Rock Road in Escalante (likely requires 4WD) – the gateway to so much amazingness it needs its own post but you can find a few of the recommendations from a hiking perspective in this post on best hikes Utah
• Calf Creek Falls in Boulder
• Capitol Reef National Park

Tips for Scenic Drives in Utah

If you’re thinking of hitting one or several of these drives in Utah, make sure you consider the following:

• While none of these scenic drives in Utah specifically require 4WD, it wouldn’t hurt to have 4WD if you want to venture off of the specified route and check out some of the scenery
• The drives have limited gas, restaurants, lodging and other amenities. Plan ahead for stops.
• Not all routes are open year-round. Check these seasonal roads in advance on the UDOT website here.
• For suggestions on places to visit in Utah outside national parks click here.

Have you taken one of these scenic drives in Utah? Which was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

• Driving the Cathedral Valley Loop
• Best Hikes in Utah
• Easy Hikes near Salt Lake City
• 21 Places to Visit in Utah that aren’t National Parks
• 11 Things to do in Kanab
• What to do in Midway Utah
• Visiting the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks

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