6 favorite staycation destinations in Utah

Whether you’re the minivan crew or the adventuremobile crew, Utah is the best place for a quick getaway. KSL Classifieds shares some of the best staycation spots to reconnect with loved ones. 

Park City 

The land of cabins and chalets, ski resorts and film fests, distilleries, alpine coasters, moose and more — right outside your vacation rental backdoor. Backcountry and nightlife lovers alike love staying in Park City because it’s just 30-40 minutes from Salt Lake City, and you can do just about anything in this mountain town — rain, sunshine or whiteout.  

Daytime adventures like mountain biking, horseback riding, boating and skiing of all types keep you connected to nature. Walk down historic Main Street for sundries and art shops or go retro and wild on a bobsled ride in Utah’s Olympic Park. Or drive 25 minutes to Midway, home of Utah’s Swiss Alps and The Crater — a 65-foot-deep hot spring. 

Greater Zion 

Birds of a feather flock together, especially to the St. George area — Utah’s warmest place to vacay and home to the splendor of Zion National Park and Snow Canyon State Park. It’s common to visit The Narrows or Angel’s Landing on a weekend trip, but the red-rock exploration feels endless. 

Snowbirds and other warm-weather-lovers can rent a vacation home close to year-round outdoor activities like hiking, canyoneering, mountain biking, swimming and golf. Oh and did we mention the Broadway musicals at Tuacahn Center for the Arts? No wonder people also buy vacation rentals for themselves to use throughout the year.  

Bear Lake 

We bear-ly remembered to put this one in! Only kidding. How can anyone forget northern Utah’s Caribbean —  Bear Lake? Booking a vacation rental in Garden City, Utah, or Fish Haven, Idaho, is a popular summer vacation spot that feels remote but is right next to the hustle and bustle of the lake. 

OK, so there’s not much hustling. Or bustling … unless you count the fiery fall-time leaves in nearby Logan Canyon. Staying at Bear Lake has a lot of lakeside lounging, paddleboarding and boating. If you do want to hustle and bustle, head up Logan Canyon for stunning hikes and biking. 

Eden

No, it’s not the actual Garden of Eden, but settlers thought it was so beautiful it may as well have the same name. It’s only 25 minutes from Ogden — the cute, hip city that has less city-folk and noise than Salt Lake City. Located up Ogden Canyon, Eden is home to some of Utah’s most iconic adventures.

Eden has summer activities like mountain biking in the canyon and boating at Pineview Reservoir. But deep down, this town is for the powderhounds. They’ll love staying in a mountain home rental in Eden, within 20 minutes to three ski resorts. There’s Nordic Valley, Snowbasin and Powder Mountain — the latter being the largest ski area in Utah.  

Moab

When Utahns want a staycation that feels like they’re on another planet, staying near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks is the answer. The bubbly slickrock, sculpted canyons, bizarre arches and the Colorado River are hard to beat. 

It’s the perfect place for weekend warriors that climb, bike, raft, rappel and just all around want to get covered in red dirt. Nearby towns have art galleries, shops and quirky restaurants to enjoy.  Everyone will love having a vacation home to regroup and shower at after all those adventures.  

Brian Head

This little resort community will take your breath away — literally! Not only is it gorgeous year-round, it is the highest town in Utah with an elevation of 9,800 feet. Whew! It is a great family staycation location for those looking for tons of outdoor recreation and woodsy entertainment that’ll keep all your little critters busy. 

Just down the road is the orange hoodoo amphitheaters of Cedar Breaks National Monument, where you can hike and sign up for stargazing tours. There are plenty of remote trails to mountain bike or take ATV rides. There are several nearby alpine lakes to go fishing or take a dip — just know it’ll be c-c-cold! But that’s OK because you can warm up in your vacation rental cabin. 

Pack your bags, hit the road and find the perfect vacation rental with KSL Classifieds.