If you’re flying in or out of Salt Lake City, but traveling south to visit Zion National Park and the rest of Utah’s Mighty 5, you’ll have no choice but to spend 4-5 hours on I-15. It’s an easy trip, but driving all day is exhausting and not very memorable. If you’re like me, you’ll want to see a few things along the way, so I put together the top 10 ten pit stops on I-15 and I’ve listed them below from north to south.
1. Hill Aerospace Museum, Ogden, Utah
Just off the side of the highway in Ogden, Utah, the Hill Aerospace Museum is part of Hill Air Force Base. Whether you have a few minutes for a quick stop or a couple of hours, Hill Aerospace Museum is a great choice. There are dozens of aircraft on display outside of the museum that you can walk around and explore and there are benches throughout if you want a break or just want to take in the view. Inside, there are two buildings filled with aircraft from several decades of our military’s history. The first building takes you from the Wright Brothers through the World Wars, Korea and Vietnam into present day. The second building is filled with jet fighters and should not be missed! The Museum is free and open to the public Tuesday-Saturday.
2. Antelope Island State Park
Located just north of Salt Lake City, Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake. With wild bison roaming across the island and access to the beaches of the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island is a perfect place to get away from the city and enjoy nature. Antelope Island State Park offers a museum in its Visitor Center, a Junior Ranger program for kids and stops and activities across the island. Access to the island is by causeway and vehicles are subject to a daily visitor fee. Read more about our visit to Antelope Island here.
3. Salt Lake City
The state capitol and largest city in Utah, Salt Lake City offers a great deal for visitors. If you’re looking for a chance to stretch your legs, consider walking around the state’s Capitol Building. There is a beautiful path and several monuments along the way. There is also a visitor information building across the street with information on sights and attractions throughout the state. Just a few blocks from the Capitol is Temple Square, another beautiful place to stretch your legs as you pass the Church of Latter Day Saints’ Temple and Tabernacle buildings.
4. Legends Motor Co, Springville, Utah
Constructed entirely of former shipping containers, Legends Motor Co. is a cute spot about an hour south of Salt Lake City. With several stores, two restaurants, a coffee shop and ice cream stand, it’s ideal for a quick pit stop. They are planning to add a movie theater in the future too. We stopped for dinner and an ice cream and we were not disappointed!
5. Rope Swings, Mona, Utah
What’s better on a hot day than a dip in a swimming hole? How about jumping into that cool, crisp water from a rope swing? Burraston Ponds in Mona, Utah is a popular spot for families to cool down during the summer. The day we were there, families were kayaking and canoeing, and groups of friends were in inner tubes and on rafts enjoying the water. All along the side of the pond, in the tall trees that surround it, are rope swings of varying heights and degrees of difficulty. And the water is deep enough to easily plunge down. We saw young kids jumping in and older teenagers doing flips on their way in. Everyone was super kind and encouraged us to join in on the fun. Bring a towel and enjoy a cool dip on a hot day.
6. Cove Fort
If you’re looking for a little history along the trail, Cove Fort is the perfect stop for you. Built with volcanic rock and limestone, the fort served as a mid-point for Mormon’s traveling across Utah in the late 1800s. It was large enough to host up to 75 people for meals and overnight accommodations and housed a telegraph office to assist in communications. Today the fort has been restored and you can tour it’s 12 rooms along with a guide who can provide historical information. The fort is located just off the exit of I-15 and I-70 and is free to visit.
7. Cedar Breaks National Monument
About 30 minutes east of I-15 along the Utah State Route 14 Scenic Byway is Cedar Breaks National Monument. Just before you arrive, you’ll pass a scenic overlook with views the whole way to Zion National Park. Cedar Breaks is at the top of the Grand Staircase and showcases amazing views of sandstone fins, hoodoos and arches. You don’t need a lot of time to make your visit here memorable, but it’s well worth the detour. Read all about our visit to Cedar Breaks here.
8. Zion’s Kolob Canyons
Zion’s Kolob Canyons is located just off I-15 in southern Utah. With fewer crowds this area of Zion National Park offers the opportunity to drive along and take in the scenic views. There are areas to stop and hike through the majestic canyons. Kolob Canyons is a dedicated wilderness area and many experienced hikers choose to backpack through this area on multi-day adventures. There are, however, many opportunities for shorter hikes through the sandstones peaks, along canyon creeks and near cascading falls in this area of the park.
9. Snow Canyon State Park
With its vibrant red rocks and ancient lava flows, Snow Canyon State Park is another great place to stretch your legs. The main road travels north to south with parking areas located at trailheads along the way. Snow Canyon has fewer crowds than its National Park counterparts and offers a unique landscape with a variety of hikes that will suit any hikers needs. Read more about our visit to Snow Canyon State Park here.
10. St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson’s Farm
Just before I-15 bends west towards Las Vegas, you will reach St. George, Utah, a great launching spot for Zion National Park. St. George was built around the sandstone formations that define this part of the state and offer every time of entertainment you could imagine. There are lots of local hiking trails and playgrounds available, but we particularly enjoyed our visit to the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site. Ancient dinosaur tracks and fossils were found at Johnson’s Farm, just of I-15, during an excavation of the property. As a result, the decided to build a museum right on top to preserve the tracks and provide more detailed information about the prehistoric landscape that existed here. We spent about an hour here and learned a great deal about dinosaurs and life in Utah millions of years ago.
Driving on I-15 might not be exciting, but with this list of the top 10 pit stops on I-15 you can make your time on the road a memorable part of your vacation. Where do you like to stop when you’re driving?
