Whisper it, but there’s no such thing as the ultimate US road trip: in Utah alone, with its five national parks and 27 scenic byways, you could be cruising through lush valleys, rolling past red rock cliffs and accelerating into volcanic sunsets for weeks or months on end.
So vast are the options out here in one of America’s most rugged and fiercely beautiful states that an online road trip planning tool has now been introduced on the Visit Utah website (www.visitutah.com/road-to-mighty) to help visitors plan their own perfect drive.
With the Mighty Five® national parks (Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion) at Utah’s heart, it makes sense to have them front and centre when it comes to your route planning too – and that’s exactly what the website does.
Named ‘The Road to Mighty’®, the system uses a drop down menu to help you plan your ideal four-wheeled adventure, based on the duration of your stay and overall goals. From photography to history, adventure to solitude, the site will help you plan your perfect route through Utah’s national parks, and along the beautiful byways connecting them.
Only got four days and travelling with kids? No problem: The Road to Mighty can lead you down Utah’s famous dinosaur trail, taking in Goblin Valley State Park en route – a magical place where the young and young-at-heart can climb on and around goblin-like sandstone monoliths. Throw in Little Wild Horse Canyon (a playful, but not overly technical, slot canyon that anyone can tackle), ancient rock art sites and the brand new Moab Giants – a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art dinosaur museum – and visitors are ready to hit the road for an unforgettable family adventure.
Got longer and want to explore some of America’s most famous national parks in more depth? That’s easy too. The Road to Mighty will plot you a bespoke 10 day course through all of the Mighty Five – as well as state parks, national monuments, Navajo Tribal Parks and plenty of stunning spots in between, from ancient ruins and pioneer homesteads to colossal red rock domes and slickrock labyrinths.
Becky Johnson, Senior Global Manager for the Utah Office of Tourism, Film & Global Branding, comments: “Utah is world-renowned for its magnificent national parks, and road tripping is one of the most efficient and enjoyable ways to make the very best of them. The Road to Mighty road trip builder is designed to remove any stress or complications from the planning, so you hit the road with a ready-made route. All you have to do is enjoy the drive – and the amazing scenery outside the window!”
To plan a road trip, visit www.visitutah.com/road-to-mighty
For more information on Utah, visit www.visitutah.com