7 Coolest Utah Towns For A Summer Vacation In 2025
A summer vacation in Utah is something everyone must experience at least once in a lifetime. During this season, every nook and cranny of the state’s surreal landscapes is exposed for exploration, greatly increasing what people can enjoy. From exploring dinosaur tracks estimated to be around 200 million years old to floating in a 10,000-year-old cave pool, so much awaits this summer in Utah, and these towns are great places to set base for the best experiences. Carefully selected for their proximity to Utah’s prominent natural and manmade features, a summer vacation in these towns promises to be satisfying and inspiring. While big cities like Salt Lake City and Provo bustle with noise and crowds, these towns remain delightfully peaceful, plus waterbodies are always nearby for water-based adventures. In one of the towns, a turquoise water body even evokes Caribbean vibes, amidst the state’s scorching desert landscape. With that said, head to these Utah towns in the summer of 2025 for a vacation worth remembering.
Kamas
Located around 40 miles from Salt Lake City, Kamas is an exciting destination for a summer vacation in Utah. This town is the famed gateway to the Uinta Mountain Range and invites summer vacationers to explore this vast region by riding on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, the highest paved road in Utah. Stretching for 56 miles, this byway has so much to delight travelers, from the picturesque Mirror Lake, which is ideal for fishing and boating, to the Provo River Falls, where a pool offers a respite from the summer heat. The byway also offers campgrounds, more lakes, numerous viewpoints, and hiking trails. Plus, the Samak Smoke House & Country Store is on the byway and might well be the highlight of the drive. This establishment is more than just a place to stock up for the scenic drive; it is also one of the best places for shopping in Utah. Everything from drinks and smoked trout to smoked cheese, camping, and fishing equipment, and gift items can be acquired from this store. For art lovers, Artique is always a great place to explore artworks like ceramics, glass, jewelry, paintings, and sculptures, while the Mirror Lake Diner on Main Street is one of the coolest places to dine in Utah.
Midway
Midway is a delightful summer getaway in Heber Valley with so much to keep visitors hooked the entire summer. For starters, the town is home to the 23,000-acre Wasatch Mountain State Park, one of the state’s top parks, offering a myriad of summer adventures, including camping and horseback riding. The park even has some of Utah’s best golf courses, picnic areas, plus wildlife like deer, elk, and moose. Notably, the park features Huber Grove, a historic and natural attraction where visitors can enjoy relaxing strolls under the shade of Apple trees and see a farmhouse offering a peek into the area’s pioneer past.
Midway also hosts the Homestead Crater, where a 55-foot-deep geothermal pool framed by a rock dome offers a unique floating experience. This attraction alone is worth a summer vacation in Midway, as floating in a 10,000-year-old geological wonder is something to experience at least once in a lifetime. Moreover, the Heber Valley Artisan Cheese is in town and invites visitors to try out its different cheese varieties, take a dairy farm tour, and learn how to make ice cream and yogurt.
Heber City
Heber City is the neighboring town to Midway, with an even more exciting list of things that make it worth a summer vacation. This town is near three large lakes, including Jordanelle, Strawberry, and Deer Creek, and all three reservoirs are ideal for fishing, boating, and paddling. Strawberry Lake, particularly, is the best spot in Utah for fishing. Meanwhile, respective state parks offer easy access to the pleasures of Jordanelle Lake and Deer Creek, and both parks have campsites, picnic areas, and hiking trails for more adventures.
In addition to the water-based attractions, the town is home to the Heber Valley Railroad, where a historic train awaits to take vacationers on a journey through the picturesque Heber Valley. For those who love entertainment, the Avon Theatre in town is a great spot to catch movies and live shows.
Vernal
The age of the dinosaurs has been one of the greatest historical marvels of modern times, and stories about it will endure for as long as possible. This summer, travelers are invited to the quaint town of Vernal for a step back in time to the age of dinosaurs at the Red Fleet State Park. This park is home to 200-million-year-old dinosaur tracks, plus it has campsites and a reservoir for fishing and boating. Nearby, the Dinosaur National Monument also beckons for exploration. This monument, which extends into Colorado, is even more fascinating, as it features thousands of dinosaur fossils, petroglyphs, and opportunities for rafting. For a deeper dive into the world of dinosaurs, the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum is a must-visit. In this museum, dinosaur enthusiasts will see everything from dinosaur bones to full-size dinosaur replicas. Additionally, the museum displays Fremont and Ute artifacts, highlighting the area’s human history. More about the human history of the area is available at the Uintah County Heritage Museum. This museum focuses on pioneers, Native Americans, miners, and other groups that helped shape the region into what it is today.
Monticello
The historic town of Monticello, founded by pioneers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, may just be the coolest town to spend a summer vacation in Utah. Beyond its Christian reputation, this off-the-beaten-path town is a natural playground in summer as it sits at the base of the Abajo Mountains and near some of Utah’s most exciting attractions, like the Newspaper Rock Recreation Site. This site is a true marvel for every visitor as it features over 650 ancient petroglyphs engraved into the walls of a massive rock known as Newspaper Rock. These petroglyphs depict animals, humans, and symbols, and some are said to be over 1,500 years old. Notably, Newspaper Rock is within the Bears Ears National Monument, a massive landscape full of more archaeological and geological treasures. While in the monument, visitors can also see two tall buttes that look like a bear’s ears and enjoy rock climbing and camping in the Indian Creek area.
Back in town, the Frontier Museum is like a mirror into the town’s pioneer past, as it contains artifacts like vintage clothing, early telephones, photographs, and more. For some relaxation, a visit to the nearby Lloyd’s Lake is recommended, as the lake is great for fishing. Around the lake, a two-mile trail offers great views of the blue water, plus picnic tables are available for more relaxation.
Kanab
Kanab is one of the reasons Utah holds its reputation as a foremost tourist destination in the US, with striking landscapes like the Coral Pink Sand Dunes and Moqui Caves. These are in addition to Kanab Creek flowing along the town and the nearby Jackson Flat Reservoir. For starters, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park begs for indulgence with an adorable expanse of pink dunes perfect for dipping the feet and trudging through or sliding on a sandboard. A bit up north, Moqui Caves is an attraction that combines history and nature's magnificence in one visit for tourists. This sandstone cave, created by erosion, offers tours of its interiors and features a museum, where American Indian artifacts, pottery, fossils, and dinosaur tracks offer a peek into a past world. At Jackson Flat Reservoir, the summer can be all about fishing, boating, kayaking, or beach fun. Meanwhile, Kanab is a location of choice for Hollywood filmmakers, earning it the “Little Hollywood” nickname. On a summer visit, learn about how this town hosted some of Hollywood’s best movies at the Little Hollywood Museum through various Hollywood memorabilia and epic movie sets.
Garden City
Garden City is not particularly full of gardens, but features even more interesting sights and experiences than gardens would offer. This town is particularly alluring for its location along Bear Lake, which has been nicknamed "the Caribbean of the Rockies." Extending into Idaho, this lake is the center stage of summer adventures in this town, with its charming turquoise-blue waters inspiring Caribbean vibes. Vacationers can head to the Bear Lake State Park to enjoy this water body by swimming, jet skiing, boating, fishing, or relaxing on its sandy beaches. Additionally, the park has campsites and trails for hiking and biking.
Also, the town is home to Pickleville Playhouse, one of Utah’s best theatres, where visitors can catch exciting shows and musical performances in summer. Elsewhere, hikers and nature enthusiasts can explore the 1.2-mile loop Limber Pine Trail to see a giant limber pine tree and relax under its shade. This tree is unique and worth seeing as it is a combination of several trees that have grown together at a point. The trail also rings around Bear Lake Summit, offering pleasant views of the water body. Moreover, the Bridgeland Adventure Park is open in summer, offering thrilling adventures, from ziplining to tubing, axe throwing, rock climbing, and rope courses.
In a land where history is framed by unbelievable landscapes and art weaves itself in the middle, there are no limits to the jaw-dropping moments one can experience. Utah is that destination, and this summer, it invites visitors across the country and the world to these cool towns for a spectacular vacation. From Herber City, where lakes offer abundant water sports, to Vernal, where dinosaur fossils offer a peek into the prehistoric era, these towns are truly exciting. Spend the summer of 2025 in these towns in Utah, and you can be sure to leave with pleasant experiences that will make you want to visit the Beehive State again.
