If camping isn’t your thing (or you just want a hot shower and a good meal after a long day), these small towns in Utah make the perfect base camps. They offer easy access to major attractions, plus the comforts that make your trip smoother.

As an Amazon affiliate, when you click on some of the links on this page and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you! By using our affiliate links, you’ll find our favorite picks and support us at the same time. And we really appreciate your support!

Here are the best Utah base camp towns for exploring the state’s most iconic landscapes.

Moab: The Ultimate Adventure Base Camp in Utah

If you want a place that blends outdoor adventure with great food and amenities, Moab is hard to beat.

With dozens of restaurants, coffee shops, gear outfitters, and lodging options, from budget motels to upscale resorts, Moab is one of the most convenient and lively base camps in Utah.

Nearby Must-See Parks & Attractions

Arches National Park

Home to over 2,000 natural stone arches, dramatic rock fins, and balanced rocks. It’s also an International Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best places in the U.S. for stargazing.

Learn More: 18 Dark Sky Parks in the United States for Unforgettable Stargazing

Canyonlands National Park

A rugged landscape carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers, filled with canyons, mesas, and sweeping overlooks. Canyonlands is divided into four districts, with the most accessible being Island in the Sky. No roads join the districts together. Check the NPS website to help plan this trip.

Dead Horse Point State Park

One of the most photographed views in Utah. The park towers 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, where the overlook provides a breathtaking panorama of Canyonlands’ sculpted pinnacles and buttes.  

Utahraptor State Park

A newer park featuring one of North America’s largest dinosaur bone beds.

While in Moab ride the rapids in the Colorado, take an off-road tour with an experienced guide at the Sand Flats Recreation Area and do an astronomy tour in Arches or Canyonlands which have some of the best dark skies in the country.

Pro Tip: Be sure to carry plenty of water with you. You’ll be in the desert where it’s very arid and dehydration can set in quickly.

Torrey: The Best Base Camp for Capitol Reef National Park

Small, quiet, and incredibly scenic, Torrey is the closest town to Capitol Reef National Park, just 15 minutes away. The downside is that hotels book quickly, so book early.

Torrey has a variety of accommodations within all budgets, so you can find something that works best for you. Despite its size, Torrey has everything you need: local restaurants, a grocery store, and a range of lodging options. And it’s a designated Dark Sky Community.  Stop by the Torrey Trading Post for some unusual finds.

Pro Tip: If you plan on visiting a few National Parks, Forests, or Monuments consider getting the America the Beautiful Pass, it will save you some money.

Learn More: Unlocking America’s Best: The Ultimate Guide to the America the Beautiful Pass

Nearby Highlights

Capitol Reef National Park

 You’ll find yourself in the heart of red rock country, where there is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges. The Fruita Historic District offers history and petroglyphs, Waterpocket district is more remote, but you can drive through it while Cathedral Valley needs high 4-wheel clearance to visit.

Goblin Valley State Park

This park is often referred to as “Mars-like” It is covered with sandstone goblins and formations that are surreal.

Pro Tip: Be sure to have a good camera with you to save your memories. You’ll want pictures of all the amazing colors and formations that you’ll find in Utah. If you need a new camera, we recommend the ProPix from Kodak. It takes great pictures and really good videos.

Bentonite Hills at Mars Desert Research Station

 The striped rocks near the Mars Desert Research Station are beautiful. They are best viewed at sunrise and sunset to get the best colors.

Henry Mountains

 The Henry Mountain Range is one of the few places in the country where a buffalo herd roams free and is also rich in geologic resources. The Henry Mountains is a well-known point of reference in southeast Utah, reaching almost 12,000 feet at the top of Mt. Ellen.

Pro Tip: Don’t get too close to the buffalo when trying to get a picture. They may be somewhat accustomed to people, but they are still wild. Best bet is to get binoculars with a camera. We like these digital binoculars because they have 8x zoom.

Read More: How to Safely View Wildlife in National and State Parks (And Still Get Amazing Photos)

Kanab: A Hidden Gem Base Camp Near Zion & Bryce Canyon

Located near the Arizona border, Kanab is one of the most underrated base camps in southern Utah. Kanab is the gateway to three national parks and much more. Surrounded by sandstone cliffs and sagebrush you’ll find this is a great place to lay your head.

Downtown has a walkable main street that runs past the Little Hollywood Museum, the Heritage House and the Kanab Visitor Center. Abandoned film sets near town have become tourist attractions. From fast food to sit down restaurants you’ll find something you love and there’s plenty of accommodation where you can unwind and get your sleep.

Nearby National Parks

Zion National Park

Utah’s first National Park. Gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into the sky. Experience the tall, stretching walls of a narrow slot canyon.  Stay after sunset for amazing stargazing. Zion is rated as an International Dark Sky Park.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Situated along a high plateau at the top of the Grand Staircase, you’ll find the highest concentration of hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) here. It offers epic sunrise views and is perfect for star gazing. It also is an International Dark Sky Park.

Pro Tip: One of the things we love most when gazing at stars, is our portable telescope by Gskyer. You can also use it for pictures with the Iphone adapter.

More Things to Do Around Kanab

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

 Just 30 minutes east of Zion, this state park offers rolling sand dunes tinted with a soft, warm coral color, especially striking in morning or late-afternoon light. It’s an easy, peaceful place to wander for a few minutes or walk a short distance into the dunes for wide-open desert views.  You can also rent sand sleds to ride the dunes.

Dixie National Forest

In just a short drive, you can visit this forest that covers 170 miles across southern Utah. Red Canyon, one of the most spectacular colored cliff canyons in southern Utah, is in the heart of the Dixie Forest. Visitors may also enjoy a hike in Pine Valley, see scenic Navajo Lake, fish at Panguitch Lake, and visit Tropic Reservoir.

Kodachrome Basin State Park

 67 monolithic stone spires, accentuate multi-hued sandstone layers that reveal 180 million years of geologic time here.  The color and beauty found here prompted a National Geographic Society expedition to name the area Kodachrome, after the popular color film, in 1948.

Peek-A-Boo Canyon

 Peek-A-Boo Canyon is an easy, short hike (0.7 miles round trip) into one of the most beautiful slot canyons in the area. The stunning orange, sandstone walls make an amazing backdrop for photographs. In the canyon, you will find ancient Moqui Steps climbing the canyon wall as well as logs balanced between the canyon walls above you. Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon is about nine miles north of Kanab along Highway 89.

Escalante: Remote Beauty & Access to Grand Staircase

If you’re looking to get off the beaten path, Escalante is a fantastic base camp. Located between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, It sits right on the edge of one of Utah’s most rugged landscapes.

A handful of down-home cafes and diners, along with several cozy inns and motels, serve the visitors who come through or use the town as a base camp for extended exploration.

Nearby Attractions

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

 This National Monument is a vast area located in southern Utah, covering nearly 1.9 million acres of diverse landscapes, including cliffs, canyons, plateaus, and badlands. It is laid out in three distinct districts, so check the NPS website to help you plan your trip.

Escalante Petrified Forest Park

While not Petrified Forest National Park, you’ll still find plenty of petrified wood here. Two short, linked loop trails wind past many of the fossilized specimens, the area is also noted for Fremont Indian relics, 1,000-year-old petroglyphs and fossilized dinosaur bones.

Anasazi State Park Museum

 The Ancestral Puebloans who inhabited this region over 1,000 years ago are often referred to as Anasazi. The highlight is the Puebloan remains of Coombs Village. Outside the museum, there’s a completely reconstructed six-room replica of the ancient dwelling.

100 Hands Pictograph

 Between Boulder and Escalante, you’ll find the Pictographs on a rock overlooking the Escalante River.

Escalante is quieter than Moab or Kanab, making it ideal for travelers who want peace, solitude, and wide-open landscapes.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Utah Base Camp

Utah’s landscapes are some of the most dramatic in the country, but where you stay can make or break your trip.

Choosing the right base camp means: less driving time, more time to explore, and easier access to food, lodging and supplies. If you’re planning a road trip and need some ideas, check roadtrippers.com. They have ideas for places to stop, stay, and eat. Use code BTR5QTP to save $5.

The truth is you really can’t go wrong. Each of these towns offers its own version of Utah magic; red rock views, star-filled skies, and easy access to unforgettable adventures. Pick your base, unpack once, and spend your days chasing some of the best scenery in the American West.

We love to share tips and information we learn along the way to help you plan your trip. We hope to inspire you to find your adventures, have lots of fun and make many memories.

The post Best Small Towns in Utah for Base Camps (Near National Parks & Scenic Adventures) appeared first on scenicroutetravelers.com.

Utah is full of jaw-dropping landscapes, but some places feel so unusual you might wonder if you’ve left Earth altogether. Beyond the iconic Utah national parks, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef National Park, Southern Utah is packed with surreal destinations that look like they belong on Mars, the Moon, or in a fantasy movie.

From alien-like hoodoos and colorful slot canyons to bizarre desert monoliths, these unusual landscapes are perfect for adventure seekers, photographers, and anyone chasing Utah’s stranger side. Here are some of the most unique places to visit in Southern Utah.

As an Amazon affiliate, when you click on some of the links on this page and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you! By using our affiliate links, you’ll find our favorite picks and support us at the same time. And we really appreciate your support!

Did We Travel to Mars? Hanksville & The Mars Desert Research Station

The town of Hanksville, Utah sits in the middle of landscapes that look more like Mars than Earth. Surrounding rock layers of Wingate, Navajo Sandstone, Mancos Shale, and Chinle formations give the area its red-planet vibe.

This terrain caught the attention of The Mars Society, which built the Mars Desert Research Station nearby to simulate what life might be like on Mars. While the station itself isn’t open to the public, you can view it from the road and explore the surrounding Martian-like desert.

Bentonite Hills – Utah’s Lunar-Like Clay Landscape

Just an hour from Hanksville lies the surreal Bentonite Hills, a favorite among photographers and geologists. The soft clay creates waves of purple, red, and gray that look like a lunar landscape.

These formations are extremely fragile, so it’s important to stick to established roads and trails. This is one of those Southern Utah hidden gems that looks almost too strange to be real.

Always follow the Leave No Trace Principles. Learn more: Guide to Leave No Trace

Moonscape Overlook – Skyline View Near Factory Butte

If you’re chasing unforgettable views, you can’t miss Moonscape Overlook, also known as Skyline View. This dramatic cliffside viewpoint near Factory Butte offers panoramic vistas of badlands, rugged canyons, and desert monoliths stretching to the horizon.

The crumbly rock edges make it dangerous to get too close, so admire the view safely from a distance. Located about 16 miles west of Hanksville, this spot is a must for anyone exploring Factory Butte.

Pro Tip: Bring binoculars that have a camera so you can still take great pictures even when you can’t get too close. We like these because of the 8X zoom.

Factory Butte – A Cathedral in the Desert

Rising 6,302 feet above the desert floor, Factory Butte is one of Southern Utah’s most striking landmarks. Its sheer size and flat-topped shape make it look almost manmade, like a massive desert cathedral.

Located just east of Capitol Reef National Park, Factory Butte is surrounded by barren desert and open skies, often dotted with mule deer. It’s a classic Utah roadside stop for landscape photographers and adventurers alike.

The Little Grand Canyon of the San Rafael Swell

Nicknamed the Little Grand Canyon, this hidden gem offers sweeping canyon views without the crowds of Arizona’s Grand Canyon. Located in the San Rafael Swell, the best place to experience it is from the Wedge Overlook, where you’ll find multiple viewpoints with incredible perspectives of the gorge’s steep cliffs and layered rock formations.

It’s an off-the-beaten-path stop that showcases Utah’s canyon country at its finest. You can take the Wedge Overlook drive which cuts through the heart of the northern portion of the San Rafael Swell, providing access to several scenic play areas including the “Little Grand Canyon” of the San Rafael River, an ancient rock art panel in Buckhorn Draw and a camping area near the Swinging Bridge over the river.

Slot Canyons: Little Wild Horse Canyon & Beyond

Utah is famous for its slot canyons, and near Hanksville, Little Wild Horse Canyon is one of the most accessible and family friendly. The winding sandstone walls shift in color from deep reds to purples and golds, creating that otherworldly feel Utah is known for. Little Wild Horse trail is 3.3 miles one way or extend it into an 8-mile loop with Bell Canyon. It’s good for beginners, no ropes or climbing gear required.

More advanced slot canyons nearby: Ding and Dang, Little Bull, Blarney Canyon Loop, and Leprechaun Canyon (these require technical gear and experience).

Goblin Valley State Park – Utah’s Alien Playground

Located just 15 minutes north of Hanksville, Goblin Valley State Park is one of Utah’s most bizarre landscapes. Thousands of sandstone hoodoos nicknamed “goblins,” fill the valley, shaped like mushrooms, chimneys, gnomes, and alien-like creatures.

With three main hiking trails and plenty of areas to explore off-trail, this park feels like walking through another planet. It’s often compared to a real-life Mars or moonscape, making it one of the most unique state parks in Utah.

Pro Tip: Be sure to always carry water with you. Parts of Utah are very dry and arid and it’s easy to become dehydrated. We like this water bottle because it clips easy to our daypacks and even belt buckles.

Little Egypt Geologic Site – A Secluded Hoodoo Wonderland

For a quieter alternative to Goblin Valley, head 30 minutes south of Hanksville to Little Egypt Geologic Site. Here, eerie stone hoodoos resemble ancient Egyptian temples, giving the site its name.

This small but stunning area is less visited, making it perfect if you want solitude while exploring unusual formations.

Long Dong Silver – Utah’s Remote Twin Spires

One of Southern Utah’s strangest and least-known formations, Long Dong Silver consists of two tall black spires rising from the desert. Remote and unsigned, this spot requires GPS navigation to find, it’s located off Highway 24 about 7 miles west of Hanksville.

Its mystery and solitude make it one of Utah’s coolest off-the-beaten-path destinations. If you love adventure, this is a must, plus you’ll get great pictures!

Final Thoughts – Southern Utah’s Otherworldly Adventures

Southern Utah is packed with destinations that feel like stepping onto another planet. From Martian deserts and lunar badlands to goblin-shaped hoodoos and winding slot canyons, the landscapes here are some of the most unusual in the U.S.

Whether you are road-tripping through Capitol Reef Country or seeking Utah hidden gems beyond the national parks, these otherworldly destinations prove that Utah is truly one of the most adventurous and photogenic states in America. If you need ideas or help planning a road trip through Utah or somewhere else, check out roadtrippers.com. We’ve used them for a couple trips and found some great places to stop that we wouldn’t have known about. If you use code BTR5QTP, you can save $5.

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