Night 1

Snow Canyon State Park is a beautiful spot just outside busy St. George. Even though it’s at a higher elevation than the town, this area gets very hot in the summer, when the campground is fairly lightly used. But during spring, it’s quite popular; reserve a site well in advance.

Nights 2–3

Head to Zion National Park, where you can find good spots in either of the two park-maintained campgrounds. If you’re planning in advance, some sites in Watchman can be reserved. Spend a couple of nights there to really see the park.

Night 4

The campgrounds at Bryce Canyon National Park are perfectly nice, but the high elevation of this park means cold nights in the spring and fall. (There are significant patches of snow on the ground in early May.) Find a warmer spot at Kodachrome Basin State Park, about 20 miles south of Bryce. Kodachrome is quite scenic in itself, with great campsites and several hiking trails.

Night 5

Two campgrounds near Escalante make a good base for exploring the northern edge of the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. Of the two, the Calf Creek Recreation Area, east of town, is more scenic, but Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, just west of town, is larger and has showers.

Night 6

Don’t skip a visit to Capitol Reef. The most noteworthy thing about the park’s Fruita campground is its easy access to the local fruit trees (available for picking in the right season) and hiking trails. Because no reservations are accepted, it’s best to arrive here early in the day to claim a spot.

Night 7

Head east to Hanksville and north along U.S. 191. Stop to visit Goblin Valley State Park, and either pitch your tent here or continue north to Green River State Park (150 S. Green River Blvd., 435/564-3633 or 800/322-3770, www.reserveamerica.com, year-round, $5 day use, $15 camping), in the town of Green River. If you’re ready for a meal in town, have a burger and a beer at Ray’s (25 S. Broadway, 435/564-3511, diner nightly, $7–19).

Night 8

Make your way northwest through Price and Provo to Jordanelle State Park, north of Heber City. Camp by the reservoir here or walk in to campsites at the Rock Cliff Reservoir unit. Another good local spot is Wasatch Mountain State Park, west of Heber City. From here, it’s only about an hour’s drive back to Salt Lake City.

© W.C. McRae and Judy Jewell from Moon Utah, 8th Edition