Getting Around Utah

Flying is definitely the fastest way to get to Utah. If you like driving, Utah has a lot of scenery along its freeways in the mountains.
Rent a car and humor us Utah drivers. UTA buses are also a good way to get around.

Car is the best way to get around. I'm not even sure you can realistically manage any other way. The distances are long between places and roads lightly traveled. Make sure your car is in good condition and fill up the gas tank often. Help may be a long way off - my friends and I once went over 2 and a half hours driving without seeing another car (on a 'major' State Highway).

Air travel to Utah is convient from the Salt Lake City Airport. The southern area of the State is also accessible from the Las Vegas Nevada Internation Airport, but it involves driving about 100 miles into Utah.
Interstate highways cross the state from North to South and East to West
It's best if you can drive yourself. You'll want to stop often to view the scenery and distances to destinations can be long.
Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden have a decent public transportation system, but having been to Europe, don't expect that kind of convience here. Again, it's best if you can drive yourself

My family used to drive here from Florida. While that drive is scenic and interesting, I am extremely partial to the airline route as an adult. Still, driving into Utah from the south is a beautiful drive. Just be sure that you take state highways to break the monotony of driving through the desert.
You NEED a car if you want to go to the neatest places in the state. However, if you are strictly interested in downtown Salt Lake, the new light rail system provides a convenient way to get around. Just stay clear of I-15.

Highway 12 passes through and adjacent to some of Utah's greatest natural wonders. The west to east version of this route begins at Red Canyon before it heads past the turnoff from Bryce Canyon National Park. A few miles later, the road dips into a wide open valley before climbing back up for a view of a canyon. Winding and twisting its way past scenic vistas and small towns, highway 12 ascends Boulder Mountain first via a very narrow passage which allows for incredible views but little room for error, then cruising along the crest of the mountain for a sweeping view and, finally, descending sharply into the small town of Torrey where you can stop and look at the mountain your vehicle just climbed.

This scenic byway has a National Park on either end and passes by the entrance to 3 very scenic state parks in addition to the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Its scenery galore from end to end of this 120 mile journey. Just make sure to stop and use the pullouts when you want to admire the view. This is especialy important if you are the driver of the vehicle.

Heading east out of Zion National Park towards Bryce Canyon National Park is the Zion Mount Carmel Highway. The highway is steep at some points and passes through a mile long dark tunnel, but is a pretty drive. There are several pullouts and trails that offer views of Zion Canyon and Checkerboard Mesa, shown in the photo.

Whether you opt to fly or drive to Utah, the best way to get around the red rock country is by car. There is so much to see and so many places to stop along the way. The roads are good and it is easy to get around. There are some areas only accessible with 4-wheel, high clearance vehicles, but most areas are fine for the family sedan.

Utah can be reached by airplane at it's capitol Salt Lake City. We however started our drive along the National Parks (mainly in the Southern half of the state) from Phoenix-Scottsdale Arizona.
By car we followed the green line on the map that I enclose for every future visitor.