Places to Visit in Utah With Kids

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A Photo Tour of Utah National Parks

Take a visual tour through all five Utah National Parks to see the stunning landscapes you’ll see when you visit!

Best Time of Year to Visit Utah

No matter what kind of vacation you’re looking for, Utah’s vacation spots offer a variety of ways to keep your family entertained throughout the trip.

From outdoor activities and attractions to theme parks and museums, Utah is a great destination for creating memories that will last a lifetime.

With so much to explore, it can be hard to decide the best time to visit Utah. From the warm days of summer to the snow-covered slopes of winter, Utah has something for everyone.

The best month to visit Utah depends on what you’re looking for in your trip – whether you want to experience its amazing skiing or enjoy its stunning desert landscapes.

You’ll find amazing places to visit in Utah any time of year! If you’re looking for the best month for your Utah vacation, it’s important to consider the weather and the activities available.

Places to Visit in Utah With Kids

We’ve asked our travel friends to help us put together a list of family-friendly places to visit and things to do in Utah!

From exploring the dinosaur tracks in Moab to skiing at Snowbird or Park City Mountain Resort, there are plenty of fun things to do in Utah with kids year-round!

Arches National Park With Kids

Arches National Park is one of the most popular of the incredible Mighty Five in Utah—and for good reason! Not only does the park boast over 2,000 natural arches, but it offers awesome activities for the whole family. 

In fact, some of the best hikes in Arches National Park are perfect for kiddos. For example, the Windows Loop Hike is an easy hike that takes you past three natural arches in 0.7 miles—the highest concentration of arches in the entire park!

The Double Arch trail is one of the best Arches National Park activities to do with kids. It’s a short and easy pathway to two conjoined natural arches that is perfect for the kids to climb and explore.

Arches currently requires both an entry pass for a specific time that you’ll enter the park (March through October) and an entry pass for each standard vehicle that’s good for a week.

Recommended by Jessica, Uprooted Traveler

Bryce Canyon National Park With Kids

Bryce Canyon National Park is an exciting place for families with kids to visit. The incredible beauty of the towering hoodoos, sculpted by centuries of wind and water erosion, will enchant visitors of all ages.

The best place for families to start on a trip to Bryce Canyon is at the amphitheater. A rim walk will show the everchanging wonders of the red sandstone formations in the canyon.

Ranger-led programs are perfect learning opportunities to understand the history and geology of the park. Younger kids will also enjoy the Junior Ranger program where they complete an activity booklet to earn a special Junior Ranger badge.

Families will find that Bryce Canyon has some of the best canyon adventures in Utah. Kid-friendly hikes include the Mossy Cave and the Queen’s Garden trails.

Horseback riding on the trails is one of the best tourist attractions in Bryce Canyon for kids!

Recommended by Karen, Outdoor Adventure Sampler

Canyonlands National Park With Kids

Are you wondering what places to visit in Utah with kids? While there are many national parks in Utah, one of the absolute best is Canyonlands National Park! Located just outside of Moab, many people will opt to visit nearby Arches National Park instead, making Canyonlands a bit of an oasis, even during the summer months.

In order to enter the park, you will need either an America the Beautiful Pass (recommended if you’ll be visiting lots of National Parks) or you can pay the entry fee per vehicle. No reservations are required, like in some other parks in the US.

There are lots of fun activities for kids in the park, including attending Ranger-led programs (these are normally offered during the warmer months), visiting the Visitor Center and seeing the exhibits, or going on one of the easier hikes in the park. 

One of the best kid-friendly hikes in Canyonlands is to Mesa Arch. This popular spot does have a bit of elevation gain, but it’s on the easy side of moderate and offers spectacular views. There are some drop-offs once you reach the arch though, so be sure to keep your kids close.

Recommended by KP, Delightfully Denver

Capitol Reef National Park With Kids

Capitol Reef National Park, located in south-central Utah, is a fantastic place to visit with kids. Tucked away in the middle of a red rock desert, this park offers a unique oasis-like experience. 

Unlike typical desert landscapes, Capitol Reef has large green areas. The best part? The Fruita orchards! They are especially lovely during the blossom or harvest seasons. There’s just something about picking apricots in the heart of the American Southwest.

Capitol Reef National Park also has several hikes that are perfect for kids, and one of the highlights is the Grand Wash Trail. This hike is relatively flat, making it a great introduction to the joys of hiking. Plus, there’s a chance to spot some wildlife along the way!

Another good activity with kids is to explore the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive to see the most stunning landscapes. You’ll need to pay an entrance fee, which is good for a whole week.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly destination in Utah, Capitol Reef National Park is a must-visit.

Recommended by Iphi, Travel Choreography

Dinosaur National Monument With Kids

For kids who love dinosaurs, be sure to add Dinosaur National Monument to your places to visit. It’s an iconic landmark located on the border of northeast Utah and northwest Colorado.

The Utah side of the monument features the famous Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall, where visitors can see over 1,500 dinosaur bones still embedded in the rock.

This includes the remains of numerous species such as Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus. The exhibit includes an 80 foot long mural!

A raised platform lets visitors view fossils and learn about the area’s paleontology. There are also a few places where you can touch the fossils! 

Although you can’t dig for dinosaur bones at the monument, there are dinosaur-themed educational activities for kids and families to learn more about the prehistoric world of dinosaurs.

Recommended by Dave & Jamie, Photo Jeepers

Hardware Ranch in the Winter With Kids

Located about 1 hour north of Salt Lake City near Hyrum, Utah is the Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area.

In the summer you can enjoy fishing, hiking, and horseback riding. But the most popular activity here is seeing the elk up close and personal in the winter!

Although spending time outdoors in the Utah weather in the winter can get quite cold, one of the most unique things to do and a must-see in Northern Utah is taking the horse-drawn sleigh or wagon ride through to see the elk!

The only bad part of the experience is waiting in the long lines out in the freezing cold. If you visit on a Sunday there are typically less crowds. 

Either way, make sure to dress warm, bring some no-tech activities for your kids while they wait (there is no cell service), and be sure to have plenty of gas and snacks since you’re a little ways out from civilization at the ranch. 

Recommended by Haley, Fernweh Foreigner

Kanab With Kids

Kanab, Utah is a great spot to visit with kids with plenty to do in the area for all ages. Whether you want to stay closer to town or take some longer trips out to the nearby national parks and national monuments, you’ll have plenty to choose from based on what your kids are interested in doing.

If your kids like caves, make sure to visit Belly of the Dragon and the Moqui Caves. While Belly of the Dragon is relatively easy to access even for young kids, Moqui Caves does require a bit of scrambling that is not as easy for young children, kids who are scared of heights or kids who may need to be carried.

For kids who like animals, be sure to stop by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and take a tour to see the animals. They also have a pet friendly hotel in Kanab if you need a place to stay with your furry family members.

There are plenty of great Kanab restaurants to try, but one that is great for the kids is Iron Horse Restaurant. With a western facade outside of the restaurants, kids have room to run and play while waiting for a table or for the food to arrive.

Overall, Kanab is a great spot for families visiting Utah to base out of to explore Southern Utah.

Recommended by Christine, Live Love Run Travel

Moab With Kids

Moab is a rugged city centrally located in eastern Utah. Tucked between Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and Canyonlands National Park, you’ll find a variety of kid-friendly things to do in Moab, Utah! 

You’ll also find dinosaur parks for kids, museums, hiking trails, and more. You won’t run out of fun activities to do with your family in Moab!

One of the top things to do in Arches with kids is to get out and hike! For those with younger children, Arches and Canyonlands both offer scenic drives with quick out-and-back overlooks that don’t require much traversing.

To stay right in the heart of the town, Moab Valley RV Resort has great family-friendly amenities such as a hot tub and huge pool area, a putting green, cabins and camping sites for pop-ups, camper vans, big rigs, tents, and even hammock camping spots!

Recommended by Erin, The Simple Salty Life

Snowbird Ski Resort With Kids

Snowbird Ski Resort is a fantastic place to bring the kids in both summer and winter! Snowbird is located in Little Cottonwood Canyon which is less than 40 minutes from the Salt Lake City airport.

You really can’t go wrong planning a trip to the mountains. Snowbird is about 20 degrees cooler than the valley, so it is a great place to get away from the summer heat. 

Snowbird offers a fantastic summer venue. There is a mountain coaster, alpine slide, rope course, vertical drop zone, and an amazing obstacle course. These Snowbird summer activities are geared toward taller kids over the age of 6. You can easily spend an entire day enjoying the beautiful views and fun activities.  

If you are visiting Utah in the winter, Snowbird has fantastic ski lesson options.  Cliffs Lodge is a great family vacation resort right on the mountain. Snowbird is a great option for kids in both winter and summer.

Recommended by Lisa, Planning Away

Timpanogos Cave National Monument With Kids

If you’re looking for a fun day trip with kids, consider visiting Timpanogos Cave National Monument. It’s Located in the Wasatch Mountains about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.

The caves may only be entered with a guided tour led by park rangers. They are offered multiple times a day from May to October.

Plan 3 to 4 hours for the cave tour and hike: 1.5 hours to hike up, an hour in the caves, and up to 1 hour for the hike down.

After hiking to the cave entrance, you’ll walk 1/3 mile inside the cave for the tour. There are several sets of stairs and places you must bend and twist to navigate through the cave.

Because of the steep incline of the trail, strollers and other wheeled vehicles are not allowed. You can use a baby backpack or carrier for hiking to the caves but external frame backpacks (including baby carriers) are prohibited in the cave. Infants may be carried through the cave in front packs.

Recommended by Dave & Jamie, Photo Jeepers

Zion National Park With Kids

Taking a trip to Utah with kids calls for a stop at Zion National Park. Famous for its wide variety of hikes, this natural paradise is the perfect place to allow kids to experience the great outdoors.

Hiking trails like Angel’s Landing are treacherous in the best conditions and should likely be avoided with younger kids. There are many easy Zion National Park hikes like Emerald Pools or The Grotto that reward hikers with amazing views and are more kid-friendly.

A great hike to do with kids in Zion is the Narrows hike. Most of this trek is in water in the fantastic Virgin River. What makes this a great choice with children is that the hike can be as short or length as you choose- there is no preset length. 

Since you’re traveling with kids, make sure to arrive early to grab a shuttle up to the trailheads! 

Recommended by Taylor, Traverse With Taylor

Utah Travel Guides & Maps

More Places to Visit in Utah With Kids

Utah is an incredible place to explore with kids all year long! Here are even more ideas for things to do during specific seasons in Utah.

• Places to visit in Utah in the spring
• Places to Visit in Utah in summer
• Places to go in Utah in fall
• Places to visit in Utah in the winter

Be sure to add Utah State Parks and Scenic Drives to the list to enjoy stunning scenery, wide open spaces, and endless outdoor activities!

Utah State Parks and National Monuments With Kids

• Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
• Goblin Valley State Park
• Kodachrome Basin State Park
• Golden Spike National Historical Park

Utah Scenic Drives With Kids

• Best Stops Along Scenic Byway 12
• Alpine Loop Scenic Drive
• Mirror Lake Scenic Byway
• Potash-Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway

Utah Bucket List

Check out even more fun Utah Bucket List ideas for your next family vacation. Be sure to download the free printable that includes ideas for things to see, do and taste all around the state! Click the image below!