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Moab to Zion: Salt Lake City to Las Vegas

A one-way drive from Salt Lake City to Moab, across to Cedar City, Zion and Hurricane, ending in Las Vegas. For mountain bikers, desert climbers and hikers in spring or autumn.

Fly into Salt Lake City (SLC)Fly home from Las Vegas (LAS)Best Apr-May, Sep-Oct4 stops771 mi / 1,241 km15.3 h driving12 days suggestedPoint to pointUnited States
Mountain BikingClimbingHikingRunningKayakingSkiing

When: Utah desert is too hot in summer: NPS says Zion summer temperatures regularly exceed 100F and Arches (Moab) often exceeds 100F, with spring (Apr-May) and fall (mid-Sep-Oct) the temperate seasons. Cedar City's higher trails can hold snow into April. [1][2]

Getting there: Fly into SLC, fly home from LAS; both airports have the major rental companies. SLC-LAS one-way rentals are offered by the major companies; expect a one-way fee and check at booking.

Customize this trip

Route: OpenStreetMap road data (OSRM). Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Spots: OpenBeta and our guides.

Day by day · 11 nights, 12 days

  1. Start in Salt Lake City (SLC): pick up the carDrive to Moab: 239 mi / 385 km · 4 h 42 min
  2. 1

    Moab

    UT, United States

    98Adventure Score

    Suggested stay: 4 nights

    Red rock adventure capital where world-class mountain biking, crack climbing, and desert canyon trails converge on the Colorado Plateau.

    Biggest draw
    • Slickrock Trail · 5.0/5 · Mountain BikingIconic desert mountain biking. Technical terrain on slickrock with stunning landscapes.
    Also here
    • Whole Enchilada · 5.0/5 · Mountain Biking
    • Indian Creek · 5.0/5 · Climbing
    • Castleton Tower · 5.0/5 · Climbing
    Full Moab guide →
    Drive to Cedar City: 295 mi / 475 km · 5 h
  3. 2

    Cedar City

    UT, United States

    81Adventure Score

    Suggested stay: 2 nights

    Gateway to Utah's high plateau: Brian Head bike park and skiing, Cedar Breaks, Three Peaks singletrack and Kolob Canyons, with a Shakespeare festival in town

    Biggest draw
    • Cedar Canyon (Highway 14) · 5.0/5 · ClimbingLimestone sport climbing a few minutes east of town: roughly 20-50 routes, about 5.7 to 5.12, across a few crags (counts vary by source).
    Also here
    • Brian Head Resort · 4.5/5 · Skiing
    • Brian Head Resort Bike Park · 4.8/5 · Mountain Biking
    • Three Peaks Recreation Area · 4.8/5 · Mountain Biking
    Full Cedar City guide →
    Drive to Zion National Park: 59 mi / 95 km · 1 h 24 min
  4. 3

    Zion National Park

    UT, United States

    93Adventure Score

    Suggested stay: 3 nights

    Sandstone walls 2,000 feet tall, a river for a trail, and a permit lottery for the most famous ridge in the West.

    Biggest draw
    • The Narrows (bottom-up) · 5.0/5 · HikingWade up the Virgin River from the Temple of Sinawava after the paved Riverside Walk; the NPS lists up to 4.7 miles one way to Big Spring (9.4 miles out and back, about 334 ft of elevation change, 1-8 hours). No permit is needed for the upstream day hike, but the river can close when flow is high (NPS: above about 140 cfs). Closed-toe shoes and a hiking stick are required gear; a drysuit or waders may be needed in cold months. Local outfitters rent gear, the park does not.
    Also here
    • The Narrows (top-down) · 5.0/5 · Hiking
    • Angels Landing · 5.0/5 · Hiking
    • Observation Point · 5.0/5 · Hiking
    Full Zion National Park guide →
    Drive to Hurricane: 22 mi / 35 km · 0 h 42 min
  5. 4

    Hurricane

    UT, United States

    90Adventure Score

    Suggested stay: 2 nights

    Slickrock riding above Zion — sandstone lines and painted desert panoramas

    Biggest draw
    • Gooseberry Mesa · 4.8/5 · Mountain BikingSlickrock playground with painted desert views near Zion.
    Full Hurricane guide →
    Drive to Las Vegas: 156 mi / 251 km · 3 h 30 min
  6. Finish in Las Vegas (LAS): drop the car (one-way rental) and fly home.
Plan it

WHEN, HOW FAR, WHAT TO BRING

When to go

Best: Apr-May, Sep-Oct. Utah desert is too hot in summer: NPS says Zion summer temperatures regularly exceed 100F and Arches (Moab) often exceeds 100F, with spring (Apr-May) and fall (mid-Sep-Oct) the temperate seasons. Cedar City's higher trails can hold snow into April.

All 4 stops are in peak or shoulder season in Mar-May, Sep-Nov.

Number = stops in peak or shoulder season that month. Darker = more stops at peak.

  • Moab: peak Mar-May, Sep-Oct, avoid Jan-Feb, Jul-Aug, Dec
  • Cedar City: peak May-Jun, Sep-Oct, avoid Jan-Feb, Dec
  • Zion National Park: peak Mar-May, Sep-Oct, avoid Jun-Aug
  • Hurricane: peak Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov, avoid Jun-Aug

Driving split

15.3 h on the road over 5 drives: about 3.1 h per drive on average, 771 mi (1,241 km) in total.

Longest day: Moab to Cedar City, 5 h.

No single drive is over 6 hours.

Drive times are free-flow estimates from OpenStreetMap roads, without stops, traffic or border queues.

Sports and gear

  • Mountain Biking · every stopBring: helmet, gloves, pads; check the bike-park pass and bike rental.
  • Climbing · Moab, Cedar City, Zion National ParkBring: harness, shoes, helmet, rope and quickdraws (or rent locally).
  • Hiking · Moab, Cedar City, Zion National ParkBring: boots, layers, map or offline maps, water.
  • Kayaking · Moab, Zion National ParkBring: PFD, helmet, dry layers; many rivers need a guide or permit.
  • Running · MoabBring: trail shoes, hydration vest, headlamp for long days.
  • Skiing · Cedar CityBring: skis or rental, avalanche kit for backcountry, goggles, layers.
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