Utah Tours & Holidays

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy

Utah is situated in the Western region of the United States. Utah is surrounded by a number of states including Wyoming, New Mexico, Idaho, Arizona, and Colorado to the east, and Nevada to the west. 

Getting to Utah is relatively easy with a number of different transportation options available. These include flying into one of their seven commercial airports such as Salt Lake City International Airport and Provo Municipal Airport, embarking on a road trip from one of the neighboring states, or catching public transport in the form of a bus or a train with several routes taking you to various destinations within the state. 

How far Utah is from California largely depends on the way you're traveling, whether that's by plane, car, or via public transport. If you were to drive from California to Utah it would take you roughly 12 hours (that's one hell of a road trip) as it's approximately 487 miles. If flying is more your thing, then the flight time between LAX and SLC will take you just under 2 hours and is a relatively cheap option. 

Click to read more about how far Utah is from California

Getting around Utah is also relatively easy due to the number of different transportation options available. If you're driving into the state then it remains easy to drive around the state with all major highways easy to navigate and maintained regularly. You can also fly between popular destinations within the state as there are seven different commercial airports that offer services to take you from Salt Lake City to Cedar City, and from St. George Regional Airport near Zion National Park to Provo. Utah also has an excellent and reliable public transportation system in the form of bus and train networks that offer routes to popular destinations and regions within the state. 

Utah's climate is very similar to that of neighboring states such as Nevada in that it has a very dry, semi-arid, and desert climate. This means that summers can get very hot although there is little chance of humidity as Utah is considered one of the driest states in America. Despite the dry, desert-like climate, Utah still experiences four very distinct seasons with temperatures in Winter averaging between 32°F and 59°F. 

What to pack for Utah depends on what time of the year you're traveling in but regardless of the season, there are some items you should always pack. Some of these items include sensible and comfortable walking shoes (most likely you'll be doing a lot of hiking during your time in Utah), a sun hat or cap, and some sunscreen (especially in summer). If you're traveling in winter, be sure to pack trousers, sweaters, waterproof jackets, and thick coats to keep yourself warm. 

The best time to visit Utah largely depends on what you want to get out of your vacation and what kind of activities you want to participate in while you're there. When it comes to the weather, the best time to visit Utah is between April and mid-June (before temperatures get too high) or from August to mid-October as the state is filled with the beautiful fall colors of orange, red, and brown. If you're planning on trekking through some of the state's national parks, then traveling during summer is advised against (unless you undertake extra planning) as temperatures can exceed 100°F. 

Click to read more about the best time to visit Utah

If you stick to the popular cities of Utah such as Salt Lake City, then your internet coverage shouldn't be affected. However, if you're planning on spending time in one of the state's many national parks then you could experience some disruptions. Most national parks have reception areas or tourist hubs where wifi access is available but if you're hiking through the park or you've stopped at a high-altitude viewpoint then your service is likely to be weak and unreliable. 

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveller. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. 

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe.

Find out more or make a donation