Things to do / Travel Guide
The spectacular natural scenery that distinguishes the southern Utah region means traveling to and through it is part of the vacation experience. Getting to the region is convenient via car directly on Interstate Highways 15 and 70 from the surrounding states of Idaho, Colorado, or Nevada. Visitors from further away also have the option of flying into Salt Lake City or Las Vegas, and traveling from there into the region.
By Plane
There are no major international airports in the region itself, but nearby Las Vegas McCarran and Salt Lake City International Airports are served by major carriers, providing connections to many major U.S. and international cities. Salt Lake City International Airport is about 250 miles from Cedar City, Moab, and Bryce Canyon National Park, and about 50 miles further to St. George, Zion National Park, and Lake Powell. Las Vegas International Airport is about 120 miles to St. George and Zion National Park, the closest regional attractions. Car rentals and buses offer ground transportation opportunities into the southern Utah region from the two airports.
Two regional airlines, Sky-West and Alpine Air, offer daily flights directly into Cedar City, St. George, and Moab from Salt Lake City, while flights to St. George and Cedar City are available from Las Vegas. Ground transportation options from the two airports are extensive, with car rental facilities, airport shuttle companies, limousine and taxi services, and greyhound buses all available. Many tour groups also depart from Salt Lake City and Las Vegas into the region.
If your regional destination is Moab, you might choose to fly into Walker Field airport in Grand Junction, Colorado, which generally serves western Colorado and eastern Utah, as it's actually about twice as close as Salt Lake City Airport. Bus shuttles are available between Moab and the Grand Junction airport, which services direct flights to and from Denver, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City, and one-stop connections to cities throughout the country.
By Car
Coming from the east, travelers can take I-70, connecting the region to the western Colorado and Denver metro area, passing by Moab and Arches National Park and ending when it hits I-15. I-15 traces a north-south path from Idaho through Salt Lake City into Cedar City, St. George, and the Arizona Strip, continuing south and then west into Las Vegas.
The following are approximate driving times and distances to and from Cedar City and Moab, Utah to other destinations outside the southern Utah region:
- Salt Lake City: Cedar City - 250 miles, 3.5 hours; Moab - 235 miles, 4 hours
- Las Vegas: Cedar City - 170 miles, 2.5 hours; Moab - 460 miles, 7 hours
- Phoenix: Cedar City - 430 miles, 7 hours 10 minutes; Moab - 470 miles, 7 hours
- Los Angeles: Cedar City - 440 miles, 6.5 hours; Moab - 730 miles, 11.5 hours
- Denver: Cedar City - 575 miles, 8.5 hours; Moab - 355 miles, 5 hours 45 minutes
- Albuquerque: Cedar City - 615 miles, 9.5 hours; Moab - 390 miles, 6 hours
- Grand Junction: Cedar City - 340 miles, 4 hours 45 minutes; Moab - 115 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes
By Bus
Greyhound buses from Salt Lake City travel to Cedar City and St. George twice daily, stopping in Parowan and other spots along I-15 on their transcontinental routes. These buses also provide daily services between Cedar City and St. George. Bus tours head south from Salt Lake City to Bryce, Zion, and Grand Canyon National Parks, or from the gateway cities of Moab, Cedar City, and St. George.
Greyhound buses also connect Cedar City and St. George to Denver and Las Vegas. Moab can be reached by shuttle bus via Green River, Utah.
By Train
The region's sole Amtrak station is located about 50 miles northwest of Moab on I-70 in Green River. It serves Amtrak's daily transcontinental route, the California Zephyr line, which travels between Chicago and San Francisco. The route's major stops are in Denver, Grand Junction, Salt Lake City, Omaha, and Sacramento. From Chicago, the train takes about 30 hours to reach Green River, and another 22 hours to reach its final destination in Emeryville, CA (near San Francisco).
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