Near a City

National Parks Near Salt Lake City, UT

10 national parks within driving distance of Salt Lake City, UT -- from quick day trips to extended road-trip destinations.

Updated

Weekend Getaway (2.5 to 5 hours)

A hiker stands beside Hickman Bridge, a natural sandstone bridge

Capitol Reef

UT

Busy

227 mi -- about 4.1 hr drive
Bristlecone pine tree with a dark blue sky behind it with a bright Jupiter shining

Great Basin

NV

Room to BreatheHidden GemDark Sky

231 mi -- about 4.2 hr drive
a broad, red arch with rock pinnacles in the background

Arches

UT

Very CrowdedDark Sky

243 mi -- about 4.4 hr drive
shallow pools with a double rainbow in the background

Canyonlands

UT

Moderate CrowdsHidden GemDark Sky

265 mi -- about 4.8 hr drive

Extended Drive (5+ hours)

Snow blankets a red rock landscape of tall rock spires beneath an early morning sky

Bryce Canyon

UT

Very CrowdedDark Sky

286 mi -- about 5.2 hr drive
Winter sunrise on snow-covered Teton Range

Grand Teton

WY

Busy

286 mi -- about 5.2 hr drive
The sun sets behind large red and white towers of sandstone.

Zion

UT

Very CrowdedDark Sky

321 mi -- about 5.8 hr drive
Black Canyon near Painted Wall

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison

CO

Moderate CrowdsHidden Gem

348 mi -- about 6.3 hr drive
A crowd of people standing along a wooden boardwalk watches a geyser erupt.

Yellowstone

ID, MT, WY

Comfortable

356 mi -- about 6.5 hr drive
Park visitors visiting a cliff dwelling

Mesa Verde

CO

Moderate CrowdsHidden GemDark Sky

397 mi -- about 7.2 hr drive