Utah is home to some of the United States’ most stunning national parks. This itinerary will take you past three of the nation’s finest national treasures with some of the Beehive State’s prettiest landscapes along the way.

1. St. George

Starting Point • Entertainment, History, Nature, Outdoor Recreation

With stellar Zion National Park located just under an hour’s drive away, the town of St. George is a destination unto itself, with a decent performing arts scene, an art museum, a children’s museum and plenty of opportunities for golfing, hiking, fishing and rock climbing. Don’t miss the Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm, a family-friendly museum with enormous dinosaur tracks.

2. Bryce

Drive 140.2 miles, 2 hours, 15 minutes • Nature, Outdoor Recreation

After giving yourself plenty of time to explore Zion National Park, head north to Bryce Canyon National Park, home to unmatched eye-candy. The park’s major distinguishing feature are creamy-orange hoodoos, which are spire-like geological structures that formed over millennia by erosion. The play of light on these rock formations dazzles visitors. The park’s hiking trails range in length from 1 to 11 miles.

3. Boulder

Drive 75.7 miles, 1 hour, 33minutes • Food, Nature, Outdoor Recreation

Although it’s one of the most charming towns in the state, many travelers skip right over Boulder on their way to Capitol Reef National Park. However, it’s certainly worth stopping over in this quaint spot, not only because it provides a good base for accessing Calf Creek Falls, Anasazi State Park and the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. It’s also got a ton of great dining options, including Zagat-rated Hell’s Backbone Grill.

4. Torrey

Drive 36.3 miles, 51 minutes • Food, Nature, Outdoor Recreation

The little town of Torrey serves primarily as a base for visiting Capitol Reef National Park, an 8-mile drive away. While the town offers plenty of quaint places to eat and sleep, most visitors to the region spend less time here and more time in the great outdoors, exploring nearby slot canyons, mountain biking in Capitol Reef’s Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge, fishing for brook and rainbow trout, or hunting elk and deer.