Museum · 28 min east
Dinosaur National Monument Quarry Exhibit Hall
A building that encloses a rock wall with about 1,500 dinosaur bones still in place, near Jensen.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- National park entrance fee
Day Trippin' › Utah › From Vernal
Day trips from Vernal
From Vernal, Red Fleet's dinosaur tracks are about 20 minutes away, Dinosaur National Monument's wall of bones under half an hour, and Flaming Gorge about an hour. The best day trips from Vernal, by drive time.
59 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Vernal
- Cub Creek Road (Dinosaur NM) 26 min east
- Fossil Discovery Trail 26 min east
- Dinosaur National Monument Quarry Exhibit Hall 28 min east
- Flaming Gorge Dam 1 hr 1 min north
- Fantasy Canyon 1 hr 5 min south
- Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation 1 hr 17 min west
- Helper 1 hr 56 min southwest
- Park City 2 hr 28 min west
- Timpanogos Cave National Monument 2 hr 52 min west
- Temple Square 2 hr 55 min west
Within an hour from Vernal 4 spots
Scenic drive · 26 min east
Cub Creek Road (Dinosaur NM)
A 10-mile drive from the Quarry Visitor Center through red rock, past Fremont petroglyphs and Swelter Shelter, to the historic Josie Morris cabin.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round (check road conditions)
- National park entrance fee
Trail · 26 min east
Fossil Discovery Trail
A desert trail between the Quarry Exhibit Hall and visitor center where you can see dinosaur bones in the rock.
- 1-2 hrs · Moderate
- Spring to fall
- National park entrance fee
Viewpoint · 56 min north
Red Canyon Visitor Center (Flaming Gorge)
Overlooks on the rim of Red Canyon high above the blue water of Flaming Gorge Reservoir, with the Canyon Rim Trail along the edge.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Visitor center mid-May to mid-September; road open while snow allows
- Free (some Flaming Gorge sites need a recreation pass, check)
1 to 2 hours from Vernal 8 spots
Historic site · 1 hr 1 min north
Flaming Gorge Dam
A tall concrete dam on the Green River with a visitor center and a walkway with views of the river side of the dam.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Visitor center mid-April to fall (check); views year-round
- Free (check)
Viewpoint · 1 hr 5 min south
Fantasy Canyon
A tiny area of strange, twisted sandstone shapes in the desert south of Vernal, with a short loop trail.
- Half day · Easy
- Spring and fall (dry roads)
- Free
Swimming · 1 hr 17 min west
Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation
A large reservoir near Duchesne (formerly Starvation State Park) with a sandy swim beach, warm summer water and big desert views.
- Half day · Easy
- Summer (park open year-round)
- Utah State Parks day-use fee (per vehicle)
Town · 1 hr 56 min southwest
Helper
An old railroad and mining town with a historic Main Street of galleries and a mining and railroad museum.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Scenic drive · 1 hr 12 min north
Sheep Creek Canyon Geological Area
A 13-mile loop road along the Uinta Fault through tilted rock layers and steep cliffs near Manila, where bighorn sheep are often seen.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Late spring to fall (check)
- Free (check)
Trail · 1 hr 35 min north
Little Hole Trail
A riverside trail below Flaming Gorge Dam along the clear Green River, popular with anglers and rafters.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Recreation fee (Flaming Gorge recreation pass)
Lake · 1 hr 37 min west
Moon Lake
A mountain lake at the edge of the High Uintas Wilderness north of Duchesne, with a campground, fishing and trails into the wilderness.
- Full day · Easy
- Summer to early fall
- Recreation fee (check)
Trail · 1 hr 19 min east
Jones Hole Trail
A trail down a creek canyon from the Jones Hole fish hatchery to the Green River, passing rock art and a side trip to Ely Creek Falls.
- Half day · Moderate
- Spring to fall
- Free (check)
2 to 3 hours from Vernal 42 spots
Town · 2 hr 28 min west
Park City
A former silver-mining town with a lively Main Street, shops, restaurants and two big ski resorts that stay busy in summer.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free (paid parking on Main Street)
Historic site · 2 hr 55 min west
Temple Square
The heart of downtown Salt Lake City, with gardens, historic buildings and a new visitors' center about the Salt Lake Temple and Utah's pioneer history.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
National park · 2 hr 52 min west
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
A ranger-led tour through colorful caves high on a cliff in American Fork Canyon, reached by a steep paved trail.
- Half day · Hard
- Mid-May to fall
- Cave tour ticket; entrance free
Family fun · 2 hr 12 min west
Heber Valley Railroad
A historic train ride from Heber City along Deer Creek Reservoir, and in spring and summer down into Provo Canyon, with many themed rides for families.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round (routes and themed trains vary by season)
- Admission
Swimming · 2 hr 21 min west
Deer Creek State Park
A reservoir below Mount Timpanogos with beaches, boat and kayak rentals and good wind for sailing and paddleboarding.
- Half day · Easy
- Summer (park open year-round)
- Utah State Parks day-use fee (per vehicle)
Zoo · 2 hr 51 min west
Utah's Hogle Zoo
A large zoo at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, with elephants, a polar bear and grizzlies at Rocky Shores, lions on the African Savanna and the Zoofari Express train.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Admission
Theme park · 2 hr 56 min west
Cowabunga Bay
A water park in Draper with tall slides including the Mondo slide, a lazy river, a beach area and Kids Cove for little ones.
- Half day · Easy
- Summer (closed off-season; check dates)
- Admission
Bike trail · 2 hr 18 min west
Round Valley (Park City)
A 56-mile open-space trail network on the east side of Park City with rolling singletrack for mountain biking and walking.
- 1-3 hrs · Easy to moderate
- Spring to fall; Nordic in winter
- Free
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 84078 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.