Road Trips Starting from Salt Lake City, UT
Best National Parks Near Salt Lake City, UT
The entrance to Capitol Reef National Park is about 220 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. This Utah national park is well-known for its surreal landscape, desert vistas, and dark skies. Favorite activities here include hiking, backcountry camping, stargazing, and biking. Don't forget to stop by the park's orchard so that you can get your hands on some fresh peaches, apricots, cherries, and more.
Great Basin National Park is roughly 240 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. This park has a wide variety of environments that provide ample opportunities for adventure. If you want to explore the Northern Hemisphere's southernmost glacier, you can do so here. You can also hike through an ancient bristlecone pine forest, explore a fascinating cave system, and summit a 13,063-foot peak. Great Basin is an International Dark Sky Park, so it's a stellar place to sit back and enjoy stargazing.
Arches National Park is approximately 130 miles east of Capitol Reef National Park. The main attraction is the stunning sandstone arches that have enchanted explorers, photographers, and adventurers for generations. Visitors love exploring these arches on foot and horseback, but they also like pitting themselves against nature by doing some canyoneering. If you don't get your fill of canyons here, you can drive about 25 miles southwest to the entrance of Canyonlands National Park.
Popular State Parks Near Salt Lake City, UT
You can reach Jordanelle State Park by driving 36 miles east of Salt Lake City. This recreation area is centered around the Jordanelle Reservoir, which is a fantastic place to boat, fish, canoe, and paddle. On dry land, you can walk on the park's paths and boardwalks, grab a bite to eat at the park's picnic areas, and take pictures of the park's more than 200 species of mammals and birds. This state park features a nice campground with some full-hookup sites.
No trip to Salt Lake City is complete without exploring Great Salt Lake State Park, which is 19 miles west of the city. You can use the docks of the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club to launch your motorboat, canoe, or sailboat onto the lake. This state park has lakefront campsites; you can park your RV here to watch gorgeous sunsets.
East Canyon State Park is a little more than 55 miles northeast of Salt Lake City. Visitors come here to spend time on the East Canyon Reservoir, which is an excellent place to boat, fish, scuba dive, and swim. If you like to hike, you can trek on the same trails that the Donner-Reed Party and the Pony Express once took. The stargazing is excellent here since you can set up your equipment on the beach and take advantage of the park's dark skies.
Must-see Monuments and Landmarks Near Salt Lake City, UT
If you want to learn more about the Pony Express, you can visit Salt Lake City's portion of the Pony Express National Historic Trail. This lengthy trail stretches from Missouri to San Francisco Bay. However, it has multiple attractions to visit in the Salt Lake City area. You can stop by the Pony Express Station Monument in the downtown area. On the outskirts of town, explore This is the Place Heritage Park and Donner Hill. Before leaving, you should check out Traders Rest Pony Express Station in Midvale.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument is 35 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. This national monument in the Wasatch Range is home to a lengthy cave system that winds its way through the cliffs of American Fork Canyon. Ranger-led cave tours are popular here, as are hiking, auto touring, and picnicking. If you're in the mood for an adventure, you can sign up for the Introduction to Caving Tour, which will feature a guide taking you through some of the monument's more challenging cave areas.
There is some overlap between the Pony Express National Historic Trail and the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail. The entire Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail stretches from Illinois to Salt Lake City; it's the route members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints took when they left their previous home and settled in Salt Lake Valley. Attractions on or near this trail to visit in the Salt Lake City area include This Is the Place Heritage Park, Emigration Square/Washington Square Pioneer Campground, the Pony Express Station Monument, and the Church History Museum.
RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks & Campgrounds
If you're looking for an RV campground that's just three miles from downtown Salt Lake City, then you should check out the Salt Lake City KOA. Amenities at this RV campground include trails to walk your dog, an on-site restaurant, a car wash, and a media center.
Right next door to the Salt Lake City KOA is Camp VIP. Full hookups, pull-through spaces, and back-in spaces are all available here. A local express train has a stop right in front of this RV campground, so you can quickly get to Salt Lake City's top attractions.
If you want to stay close to the Jordan River State Recreation Area and the Salt Lake City International Airport, then you may want to camp at Pony Express RV Resort & Campground. This RV campground is about seven miles northwest of downtown Salt Lake City. A pool, a camp store, showers, and laundry facilities are all available here.
RV Dump Stations Near Salt Lake City, UT
The Salt Lake City area is home to multiple free RV dump stations. One of these is Smith's Food and Drug, which is about seven miles west of Timpanogos Cave National Monument. Another free dump station near Salt Lake City is Magna Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is nearly 13 miles west of downtown Salt Lake City. You could also take advantage of Springville Utah Waste Treatment Plant, which is 25 miles southeast of Timpanogos Cave National Monument. One additional free dump station is located at State Trailer RV and Outdoor Supply, which is just seven miles southwest of downtown Salt Lake City.
