Visit St. George, UT
If you have ever driven along the I-15, chances are great that you have been through the city of St. George, UT. The city often serves as a stopover for road trippers as well as a gateway to Zion National Park. But have you ever wondered what there is to do in St. George? You might be surprised to learn that St. George has a lot to offer. This article is there to answer popular questions and give you trip ideas.
Updated: 6/22/2026
Where is St. George, Utah?
The city of St. George is located in southwestern Utah, at the border with the state of Arizona. Many people get through the greater St. George when visiting the national parks of southern Utah from states like California and Nevada.
St. George occupies a pivotal position between many major towns and attractions. The biggest nearby town is Las Vegas, “only” 1H45min away from St.George.
Zion National Parks is located only 30min away from St. George, and there are many other national parks at a reasonable distance.
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Bryce Canyon - 2H20
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Canyon Lands - 5H
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Capitol Reef - 3H35
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Grand Canyon North Rim - 2H20
Is St. George worth visiting?
If you love outdoor activity, St.George is definitely a place worth taking a look at. It is located approximately 30min away from Zion National Park and 2 hours away from Bryce Canyon National Park. In addition, the surroundings of St. George features many beautiful state parks that are great for camping, hiking and other activities. Private companies also operate tours (horseback, ATV, etc…) in the area. The city features some smaller attractions as well.
Staying in St.George, UT
St.George is a fairly large town, and with that comes a handful of lodging options. Thanks to Zion National Park, you will easily find hotels to stay at, but you may also easily find campgrounds and RV parks. These are especially popular options among road trippers.
The St.George Metropolitan Area includes but is not limited to; Hurricane, Leeds, Santa Clara and Washington. If your goal is to visit Zion national park, we would recommend staying either in Springdale – the nearest town. Hurricane and La Verkin are two of the closest areas to the park from St. George.
When is the best time to visit St. George?
Although St. George is located at an altitude, it can be pretty hot in the summer with temperatures over a F100, and chilly in the Winter with temperatures around F60.
Usually, the best period to visit is between September and May. This range offers a good mix of temperatures and weather.
What to do around St. George, UT?
As we have already mentioned, there is plenty to see and do in the St.George area. Here is a list of some popular attractions in St. George. Most of them are outdoor oriented.
Gunlock State Park
The Gunlock State Park is mostly centered around its reservoir. It offers plenty of activities like hiking, boating, fishing or camping, and it features the Gunlock waterfalls. The landscapes are probably not as dramatic as in other places, but it is a nice spot to relax and take a walk.
Admission:​
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$25 for out of state visitors (vehicles)
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$15 for Utah residents (vehicles)
Address: 1450 S. Gunlock Rd.
Gunlock, UT 84733
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Red Cliffs National Conservation Area
The Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is a giant playground for outdoor lovers. The area is completely free of access (except for the snow canyon and recreation area) and includes many hiking trails and paleontological sites (dinosaur tracks). If you enjoy the scenery of southern Utah, you will certainly love to hike in Red Cliffs. It’s also a great area to find short free hiking trails.
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Admission:​
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Free
Snow Canyon State Park
Ironically, the name “Snow” Canyon has absolutely nothing to do with the weather of the area. The name actually comes from the persons who discovered this area characterized by red rock landscapes and lava fields. There are plenty of short but nice hikes in the park. And if you like geology and would like to see some lava tubes, flows, or even cinder cones, it’s a great park to visit.
Admission:​
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$20 for out of state visitors (vehicles)
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$15 for Utah residents (vehicles)
Address: 1002 N. Snow Canyon Dr.
Ivins, UT 84738
Sand Hollow State Park
Sand Hollow offers a beautiful mix between colorful sandstone and deep blue water. And as the name suggests, the park has sand dunes. Aside from that, the park features hiking trails and water activities. So, if you like water and sand, I guess you will like it?
Admission:​
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$35 for out of state visitors (vehicles)
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$25 for Utah residents (vehicles)
Address: 3351 South Sand Hollow Road
Hurricane, UT 84737
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Kolob Canyons Section of Zion National Park
St. George is often known for its proximity with Zion National Park. However, what most people know as Zion is only the Zion Canyon portion of the park. Indeed, on the other side of the park lies the Kolob Canyons, a wilder, but equally beautiful part of Zion National Park. If you would like to go on an adventure and discover the more primitive side of Zion National Park, we would definitely recommend visiting Kolob Canyons.
Address (Visitor Center): 3752 E Kolob Canyon Rd, New Harmony, UT 84757
Silver Reef Ghost Town
Like many states in the American West, Utah has its ghost towns. Often, boom towns appeared as mines were opened, and those disappeared as the other closed. Silver Reed is an example of that pattern, and if you would like to know more about it, we encourage you to visit the Silver Reef Ghost Town and its accompanying museum.
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Admission:​
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Admission to Museum is $5 for Adults
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Access to the ghost town's site is free.
Address (Museum): 1903 Wells Fargo Rd, Leeds, UT 84746
Zion National Park
St. George is a major gateway to Zion National Park, so it seems impossible to not mention the park in this list. Zion is an iconic park, featuring two main areas, Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyons. We have already mentioned the Kolob canyons section, but let’s also talk about the Zion Canyon section. It is the most popular area of the park with campings, a village, a museum and one visitor center. If Kolob Canyons is the wild part of the park, Zion Canyon allies comfort and fun.
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Address (Visitor Center): Zion National Park, 1 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
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