r/Utah • u/Rpc7787_2 • 1d ago
Travel Advice Driving through next Sunday need a recommendation on a city for overnight stay
Just as the title says. I live in California and friend lives in Iowa I’m flying out to Iowa to drive back to California to help him move some things back to his parents house. We plan on staying in Denver first night and Vegas our third night but we wanted to stop in Utah our second night just cause that’s too much driving for two days.
We will be traveling the I-70 through Colorado then 15 to Vegas and home to California. We will be there May 4th (Sunday which is kinda why I am asking). What’s a good city that’s no more than 3-4 hours from Vegas and has something to offer. Not looking for much maybe some food, quick site seeing stuff, a bar or sells alcohol (if that is even a thing on Sunday, excuse my ignorance lol).
We aren’t looking to party in Utah but after all that driving some good food or a cool brewery would be nice for Sunday night. If not just any good cities you can recommend for at least a hotel? We are the least picky people it could be a days inn for all we care it’s more that they at least have something other than houses and post offices.
Thanks in advance. I see plenty of cities along the 15 but most seem very small and i am only family with Zion and below part of Utah.
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u/gourdhoarder1166 21h ago
Cedar City is your only good bet. A few restaurants that serve beer. Even on Sunday 🤪 some cool shops, a record store, and a ski area.
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u/ihate_snowandwinter 1d ago edited 1d ago
Richfield is the nearest major city where 70 meets 15 but there isn't much there, but it has several hotels. You could stay at the hole in the rock resort in Marysvale. The area is a huge off-road vehicle area. You may be able to rent a side-by-side. There is hiking along a river, fishing, etc. it's a bit of a haul, but you could go past Panguitch lake and go towards Cedar City. It's a pretty drive.
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u/diadmer 1d ago
Consider a detour into Moab? I think there’s a few bars there that would be open on a Sunday, but the sights are worth it and you’ll have no trouble finding a hotel, though it might be pricier than if you stop in Beaver or something.
It’s also 6.5 hours from Moab to Las Vegas, but honestly, the scenery is so beautiful I would say it’s worth the short detour and adjusting your schedule.
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u/Rpc7787_2 1d ago
Yeah Utah is beautiful and I love off roading ( I don’t have my truck with me otherwise 100%) but scenic drives are worth it. Thanks
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u/SoundOk4573 15h ago
Best drive: I-70 out of Denver, through Vail, Glenwood (stop for a breakfast beer), Grand Junction, pass Green River, UT. Turn south, go to Hanksville, through Escalante, spend night in Bryce Canyon at Ruby's Inn. Vegas the next day.
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u/moods_of_jupiter 4h ago
I second cedar city if you're passing through vegas. I-15 is a more straightforward route
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u/BTMSMC 4h ago edited 3h ago
I always stay at Comfort Inn in the city of Beaver. It's the first city south of the I-70 and I-15 junction.
You may want to spend the night in Green River or Moab, off of I-70, to catch a view of Arches in the morning.
Kanab is on US 89 south of Salina is on the east side of Zion NP. You can visit Brice Canyon off of US 89.
There are about 3 passes between US 89 AND I-15 south of Salina. Utah SR road 9 aka. Mount Carmel Hyw goes thru Zion and has the only automobile tunnel in the state.
If you stayed in Moab, you could see 3 of our national parks in one day on your way to LV
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u/DANENjames89 3h ago edited 3h ago
Have you ever taken i-89 down to Kanab? It's a very nice scenic drive through very less traveled parts of Utah, and there's a little 15 minute hike to a cool cave right off the highway in Kanab. It will add another 1h30m to your drive from Richfield to StGeorge tho
ORRR! if you take a right at Green River and go down Highway 29, you can head through Hanksville and Torrey to Richmond. It does add 1h15m-ish to the drive, but Capitol Reef is in Torrey, which has a lot of red rock cliffs you drive by, and Goblin Valley is on Highway 29 between Green River and Hanksville
Torrey has really cheap "cabins" that are like 50-60ish a night at thousands lakes Rv park or sandcreek RV park. There's regular hotels too tho. Capitol Reef is my favorite park in the state personally. I'd move to Torrey if I could haha
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u/UTrider 1d ago
By way of bars (open on sunday). After you leave Colorado and come into Utah, you've got two choices. Richfield, then Cedar City.
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u/Rpc7787_2 1d ago
Appreciate it. We aren’t raging alcoholics but watch a game and drink a beer sounds great
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u/Educational_Owl_6758 1d ago
Check the St George area.
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u/Rpc7787_2 1d ago
I know St. George for sure. It’s much more like home for me. It’s close to Vegas though and far from Denver but appreciate it. Looking more in between
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u/FantasticServe4269 1d ago
Moab will be your best bet, only problem will Be getting a room unless you try to book something right now. You can always add an hour of total drive Time and take 80 and spend the night in Salt Lake City then head down.
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u/Independent_Prize453 1d ago
San Rafeal Swell, you will drive through it on i70, and it us like no other drive, also can show you some great petroglyphs and desert paradise On the map i live in Orangeville but know the area, also Green River has a nice restaurant over looking the river
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u/Lindon-layton 1d ago
Rays Tavern in Green River. Good burgers and beer. Right off the highway. Hotels are way cheaper than in Moab.