Our Family Trip to Utah: Salt Lake City, Capitol Reef, and Zion National Park

In July 2025, my family and I traveled to Utah for a summer vacation that ended up being one of the most memorable trips we’ve taken together. We explored three very different areas of the state and experienced everything from cool mountain air to desert heat, quiet cabins to bustling national parks. Utah surprised us in the best way, and it’s a place we already know we’ll return to.

Salt Lake City: The Perfect Starting Point

We flew into Salt Lake City and rented an SUV, which is absolutely essential when visiting Utah. We stayed at The Grand America Hotel, and it was an incredible place to start our trip. The hotel itself felt like an experience. It’s large and beautiful, with both indoor and outdoor pools, an on-site restaurant with amazing food, and a central location that made it easy to explore the city. I purposely planned the trip to start bougie and progressively become more and more bare bones (although still with air conditioning for obvious reasons).

On our first day, we wanted something relaxing after a long flight from Florida, so we visited Red Butte Garden and Arboretum. Walking through the gardens with our girls was the perfect way to ease into the trip. It was peaceful, beautiful, and just what we needed to stretch our legs and slow down before heading back to the hotel for a restful evening.

Breath-Taking Utah Trails

The following day, we drove toward Park City for a hike. The drive alone was stunning, but what really caught us off guard was the temperature. It was warm in Salt Lake City, so we assumed it would be similar in the mountains. We were very wrong. The higher we climbed, the colder it became, especially early in the morning. We were completely underdressed, and so were our girls. We ended up hiking much faster than planned just to warm up.

While it wasn’t what we expected, it was also one of those moments that sticks with you. Utah in the summer doesn’t always mean heat, and the cool mountain air was actually refreshing. It turned out to be the most beautiful hike I’ve ever done.

After the hike, we headed back to Salt Lake City and spent the rest of the day enjoying the hotel and recharging.

Preparing For a Longer Hike With Kids

As for prep, we came with lots sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, camel backpacks for the girls and my favorite camera and lens. I bought the cheapest camel backpacks for the girls and I regret it as they kept leaking water on them. That just made them uncomfortable. I would recommend investing in a good one if you’re going to make a purchase. Lesson learned!

Months before our actual hike, I bought us all hiking boots and went on family walks to break them in before hitting the mountains of Utah.

Capitol Reef National Park: Slow Days and Desert Views

From Salt Lake City, we took a scenic drive to Capitol Reef National Park. The drive was beautiful and wide open, and we turned it into a game by spotting as many Mormon churches as we could along the way. It made the long drive fun for our kids and gave us a chance to really take in the Utah landscape.

We stayed at Capitol Reef Resort, and this ended up being one of our favorite stays of the entire trip. We booked a larger cabin, which was perfect for our family. It had two bedrooms, a kitchenette, an outdoor barbecue, and an outdoor fireplace. The resort even provided s’mores kits, which our girls were obsessed with. They didn’t care much about eating the s’mores, but roasting marshmallows over the fire was the highlight.

We found a small local market (with the nicest people working there!) just a few minutes away where we picked up groceries so we could cook our own meals. That slower pace was exactly what we needed. We spent our days hiking shorter trails that worked well for our five- and six-year-olds, and our evenings cooking, chasing rabbits, playing games, and watching the sun set over the desert.

One of the things we loved most about Capitol Reef is that it doesn’t require a park pass or entry fee, which made exploring feel easy and relaxed. Even the shorter hikes were absolutely stunning, and one longer hike we did got us all kinds of lost but it’s now a funny memory to look back on.

Another huge bonus was the on-site laundry. Since this was the midpoint of our trip, it was so nice to reset, do laundry, and feel refreshed before heading to our final destination.

Zion National Park: Heat, Beauty, and Unforgettable Views

Our final stop was Zion National Park. Zion does require an entry fee, so we opted for an annual pass. While it didn’t fully pay off for us since we didn’t spend as much time in the park as planned, it could definitely be worth it for longer stays. Or if you plan on visiting more parks throughout the year. Keep in mind this is only for national parks, not state parks (as I figured out afterwards to my dismay).

We stayed at Wildflower Zion Resort in a Grand Mesa tent. The resort itself was very cute and had great amenities, including food available on site and a pool that our girls loved. The pool was essential because Zion in July is extremely hot. Zion sits at a lower elevation than our previous stops, and the heat was intense. As complete newbies to Utah, this was not something we had anticipated.

The tent, however, struggled to stay cool, and the air conditioning just couldn’t keep up with the summer temperatures. If we were to return in the summer, I would absolutely choose one of the resort’s small houses instead of a tent, or stay closer to the park entrance where there are more dining options and hotels better equipped for the heat.

Despite the heat, Zion was breathtaking. The drive into the park alone was unforgettable, and it’s easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. We were able to find several shorter hikes that worked well for our girls, which made the experience enjoyable for the whole family. They loved exploring, and it was incredible to experience such a special place together.

Don’t get me wrong, there were definitely complaints and “i’m tired” thrown around. But overall, worth it.

Final Thoughts

By the end of our trip, we already knew we would be back. Utah has so much to offer, and one visit isn’t nearly enough. Next time, I would love to explore Moab, spend more time in Park City, and return to Zion with accommodations better suited for the summer heat.

This trip showed us how diverse and beautiful Utah truly is, and it gave us memories we’ll carry with us for a long time. It was the perfect mix of adventure, rest, and family time, and it left us counting down the days until our next visit.