Goblin Valley State Park   |  Michael Kunde

5 Days   •   650 Miles

Southern Dinos and Goblins

From fossils and petroglyphs to slot canyons and goblins, you’ll have four days of “oohs” and “ahhs” for the whole adventuring family.
SALT LAKE CITY1570701580215158015MONUMENT VALLEY

Start: Salt Lake City

It's typically less than a four drive from Salt Lake City to the Moab area. By the time you land at Goblin Valley State Park on day four, you'll be within four hours of Salt Lake again. If you can, consider planning a day at the beginning or end of your trip to explore Salt Lake, including a visit to the Natural History Museum of Utah to help you make sense of it all.

You could build a whole trip out of Utah's dinosaur and archaeological sites. This time, we're heading to Southern Utah. If you've spent day one exploring Salt Lake, day two drops you into the epicenter of adventure in Moab. Roar up steep slickrock to rarely seen overlooks on a Hummer tour. Just outside of town, scramble to the base of the behemoth Wilson Arch — the most accessible arch for small kids. Roam the dinosaur trail where life-size statues of massive Mesozoic monsters stand frozen in time for children to ogle.

Day three is for the history hounds. Visit Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument where hundreds of well-preserved petroglyphs share the 2,000-year-old news. Explore the artifacts of Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum in Blanding, then live like the pioneers who settled this once-barren area at Bluff Fort. Wander through an eclectic mid-century home carved into the side of a cliff at Hole N” the Rock.

Day four takes you to another easily accessible panel of petroglyphs at Sand Island where you can also play on the sandy beaches of the San Juan River. Next, head for the historic Goulding's Lodge and sweeping panorama of Monument Valley. Take Jeep tour with a Navajo guide at Monument Valley and learn about Native culture and the area's incredible history.

Your final day takes you to Natural Bridges National Monument, where stone bridges delicately hang between cliffs, or to Goblin Valley State Park, a magical place where kids and kids-at-heart can climb on and around goblin-like pillars of sandstone. Top it off with a scamper through Little Wild Horse Canyon, a playful, but not overly technical, slot canyon that can make everyone in the family feel like a kid again. (Read: Why Your Kids Need a Utah Trip)

Salt Lake City | Visit Salt Lake

Day 1

Welcome to Salt Lake City

10 Miles

Kick off your adventure with a stay in Utah's capital city, where you can enjoy the urban amenities or backyard mountains. For this itinerary, a trip to the Natural History Museum of Utah is a must. There's a reason why it's known as the "trailhead to Utah." First-time visitors might include a trip to Temple Square. The spiritual center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Temple Square offers free walking tours of the Temple grounds and frequent performances by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. (Please note that due to ongoing renovation of the Salt Lake Temple through 2026, access to Temple Square may be limited.)

Oh, and here's a pro tip: As you're navigating the city (walking, bike share, taxi, Uber, Lyft, public transit or car), if you know that part of Temple Square is essentially (0,0) on the grid, each street heading north or south adds 100 and each street heading east or west adds 100. Thus, nine blocks south and nine blocks east you'll be at 900 South and 900 East, locally known as 9th and 9th. (Read more about Salt Lake City neighborhoods.)

It's less than a four hour drive to Moab, so an overnight in either Salt Lake City or Moab is appropriate, depending on your day one agenda.

Dead Horse Point State Park | Austen Diamond

Day 2

Moab to Dead Horse Point State Park

280 Miles

Load ‘em up! Sure, the family wagon gets your vacation going, but it won't always take you where you want to go. To climb steep slickrock overlooking unbelievable natural places, leave the wagon for the day and choose from one of several Moab outfitters to ride to places only a Hummer should go. After, learn about prehistoric life at the Moab Giants museum, where state-of-the-art indoor interactive exhibits meld with lands where dinosaurs once roamed. Dead Horse Point State Park is your evening stop, offering views that rival the Grand Canyon. If you have an additional day or two, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park are both nearby. Just note that if your travels fall between April and October, Arches requires a timed-entry reservation. Overnight in Moab or Monticello. (Read: The Best Time to Visit Moab)

Newspaper Rock | Emily Sierra

Day 3

Moab to Bluff

125 Miles

By outward appearance, Hole N’’ the Rock appears kitschy. The large block lettering on the massive sandstone wall will definitely catch your eye. But this is actually a pretty impressive place, blasted and hand-chiseled into a home-turned-gift shop and curio cabinet with guided tours for a nominal fee. Marvel at the art and history behind Newspaper Rock on the Indian Creek Scenic Byway. With extra time, the Cave Spring hike in the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park is great for families. For more adventurous families, give yourself the day to hike around this rugged district. Otherwise, head to Blanding to the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum or Bears Ears Education Center for an introduction to the heritage of the Bears Ears region. Fans of pioneer history will want to press on for Bluff Fort. Overnight in Bluff.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park | Getty Images

Day 4

Bluff to Monument Valley

50 Miles

Start the day by touring the Sand Island petroglyph panel that sits just above the banks of the San Juan River. More adventurous families may spend today rafting the gentle rapids of the river. Otherwise, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park awaits. Book a Jeep tour in advance to get the best access to the park. There are tours of varying lengths depending on how much time you want to spend exploring the Navajo art, artifacts, Western memorabilia and Navajo tacos of Goulding’s Lodge. Overnight in Monument Valley or Mexican Hat.

Goblin Valley State Park | Michael Kunde

Day 5

Monument Valley to Goblin Valley

185 Miles

Today, gauge the family’s energy level and make a choice: explore deep into Natural Bridges National Monument on moderately strenuous hikes or stick to the scenic drive with overlooks and save extra time for Goblin Valley. Goblin Valley’s whimsical geology charms kids of all ages — and that definitely includes adults. The Valley of Goblins, the park’s main attraction, is located at its heart. If you have daylight and stamina, further down Little Wild Horse Road is the excellent canyon of the same name, where kids will love squeezing through the narrow passage. Otherwise, give yourself around four hours for the return to Salt Lake City.

Start ‘Em Early: Kids Exploring Nature on Their Own Terms

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