🚙 Breaking in Our New Truck on Utah’s Most Scenic Roads 🌄

January 24, 2024

From Ancient Ruins to Red Rock Wonders: A Breathtaking Road Trip Across Utah

When you get a new truck, the first thing you want to do is test it out on roads worthy of its capabilities—and there are few places better than Utah for that. With a fresh set of wheels and a hunger for adventure, we planned an unforgettable route through the scenic highways of southeastern and central Utah, packed with stunning landscapes, national parks, ancient history, and peaceful small towns.

From Blanding to Bryce Canyon, and Hwy 191 to the San Rafael Swell, this blog is your guide to a journey that winds through both geological time and natural splendor. Whether you're planning your own Utah road trip or just want to be inspired, read on for a day-by-day breakdown, must-see stops, and plenty of visual magic.

🗺️ Starting the Journey: Hwy 145 & 191 – From Colorado Into Utah (0:00–3:16)

We kicked off our journey from Colorado, driving along the scenic Highway 145 before connecting with Highway 191 into Utah. The drive alone gave us those wide-open Western vibes—rolling mesas, deep canyons, and sky that seemed to stretch forever.

As we crossed into Utah, we could already feel the terrain shifting into something more ancient and dramatic. Our first official stop: Blanding, Utah—a small town with a big story to tell.

🏺 Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum – Blanding, UT (3:35)

Exploring Ancient Puebloan History

Our first educational and scenic stop was Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum. This spot is more than just a museum—it’s a deep dive into Ancestral Puebloan culture, with one of the best collections of pottery, tools, and dwellings we’ve ever seen.

Highlights include:

• A well-preserved kiva you can actually climb into 🛖

• Thousands of artifacts excavated from the Four Corners region

• Panoramic views over the ancient cedar-lined plateau 🌲

It’s an ideal place to understand the cultural roots of the region before heading into the canyons and monuments ahead.

🌉 Natural Bridges National Monument (5:25)

Utah’s First National Monument

A short drive up Hwy 95 brought us to Natural Bridges National Monument, home to three massive sandstone bridges carved out by water over millions of years.

We stopped at:

• Sipapu Bridge – one of the largest natural bridges in the world

• Kachina and Owachomo Bridges – accessible by scenic overlooks and short hikes

• The visitor center for maps, geology info, and ranger tips

The loop drive here is peaceful and gives you a chance to soak in the landscape without the crowds of some larger parks. It’s a quiet, spiritual place—perfect for contemplation and photography.

🏞️ Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (6:51)

Canyons, Water, and Wild Vistas

Continuing along Hwy 95, we drove through a dramatic portion of Glen Canyon

National Recreation Area, a region carved by the Colorado River and filled with deep canyons, rock formations, and hidden water oases.

Even if you don’t have time to boat or hike here, the drive itself is stunning. Look out for:

• Sheer red cliffs

• Surprise canyon overlooks

• Ancient rock layers revealing millions of years of geology

🏜️ Capitol Reef National Park & Hanksville (9:27)

An Underappreciated Gem on Hwy 24

We reached the town of Hanksville and took Highway 24 west toward Capitol Reef National Park, which quickly became one of our trip highlights. Capitol Reef is often overlooked for the other Mighty Five parks, but trust us—it’s a must-see.

Things we loved:

• Towering cliffs and narrow slot canyons

• Petroglyph panels right off the road

• Fruita Historic District with its pioneer orchards and homestead

• Fewer crowds than Zion or Arches

We overnighted in Torrey, Utah, a quaint mountain town and perfect basecamp for Capitol Reef exploration.

🌲 Scenic Byway 12 – America’s Most Beautiful Highway (10:32)

Torrey to Bryce Canyon: The Crown Jewel of the Trip

From Torrey, we began one of the most jaw-dropping stretches of the entire journey: Scenic Byway 12. This All-American Road is often called one of the most beautiful in the country—and it did not disappoint.

Our route included:

• 🏞️ Dixie National Forest – red rock meets alpine forest

• 🏺 Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder, UT – more ancient history

• 🏜️ Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument – raw, rugged beauty

• 🌄 Hole in the Rock Road and Devil’s Garden – quirky rock formations and fun detours

• 🏕️ Heritage centers and visitor stops for education and scenic info

Every twist and turn of this highway brings a new landscape—and a new sense of wonder.

📸 Kodachrome Basin State Park & Bryce Canyon National Park (16:48–18:19)

Color and Contrast in Full Display

As we approached the end of our journey on Scenic Hwy 12, we visited

Kodachrome Basin State Park, named (fittingly) for its intense color palette and photo-worthy views. This park features:

• Bright red spires and sand pipes

• Wide, quiet trails

• Campsites and picnic areas

Then, we entered Bryce Canyon National Park, a place that needs no introduction. The famous hoodoos, sunrise overlooks, and amphitheater views gave us the ultimate grand finale to this road trip.

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive and be sure to stop at Sunset Point and Inspiration Point for photos that look straight out of a painting.

🛣️ The Final Stretch: I-70 Through the San Rafael Swell (20:05)

Back to the Desert, with One Last Surprise

To wrap up our adventure, we headed north and jumped onto I-70, driving through the dramatic and lesser-known San Rafael Swell. Even on an interstate, this portion is wildly scenic.

Watch for:

• Jagged rock formations and deep canyons

• Layered cliffs that glow during golden hour

• Virtually no traffic—just wide-open beauty

It’s a reminder that even the “boring” roads in Utah are something special.

📝 Final Thoughts: The Ultimate Scenic Drive in Utah 🚗✨

This road trip gave us a little bit of everything:✅ National parks✅ Cultural history✅ State parks✅ Forests, canyons, and rivers✅ Epic roads and peaceful detours

Breaking in our new truck was just the excuse—we ended up breaking in a deeper appreciation for Utah’s unmatched natural beauty.

🔁 Route Summary:

• Start: Hwy 145 (Colorado) to Hwy 191

• Stops: Blanding, Edge of the Cedars Museum, Natural Bridges NM, Glen Canyon

• Middle: Capitol Reef, Hwy 12, Escalante, Devil’s Garden, Kodachrome

• End: Bryce Canyon & San Rafael Swell

Whether you're in an RV, truck camper, or just your everyday vehicle, this route is ideal for:

• 📷 Photographers

• 🥾 Hikers

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• 🌎 Road trip enthusiasts

• 🏕️ Adventure seekers

💬 What’s Your Favorite Scenic Drive in Utah?

Have you driven Scenic Byway 12 or explored Capitol Reef and beyond? Drop your favorite spots or travel tips in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!

🔖 Don’t forget to bookmark this blog or share it with your fellow road trippers.

📌 A special thank you to the National Park Service for use of select photos that helped showcase these amazing destinations.