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Top 7 Things to Do in Southern Utah With Kids

Looking for a unique, family-friendly destination that gives kids a true taste of nature’s beauty? Step away from the bustle and rush of everyday life and plan a Utah family vacation. From its awe-inspiring landscapes, natural diversity, and thrilling outdoor activities, there are plenty of places to visit in Utah with family. To help inspire your next adventure, this travel guide reveals our top recommendations for a Utah trip that your family will never forget.

Fun Ways to Spend Your Southern Utah Family Vacation

1. Hike through the Region’s Many National Parks

When you’re in southern Utah, there’s no shortage of national parks to visit. In fact, we’re known for the Mighty 5一Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches National Park. Each of these parks offers a variety of hiking trails for all skill levels.

Easy and moderate trails are often shorter and less strenuous for the kids, but waterfalls, streams, and distinctive rock formations mean there's no shortage of wondrous things to see.

Planning to take a family-friendly hike? Try one of Utah's stunning beginner trails:

  • The Toadstools (east of Kanab): 1.5 miles
  • Riverside Walk (Zion National Park): 2.5 miles
  • Red Reef Trail (Red Cliffs Desert Reserve): 3 miles

Beginner/intermediate trails are great choices for more experienced young adventurers:

  • Petrified Dunes (Snow Canyon State Park): 1.2 miles
  • Canyon Overlook (Zion National Park): 1.25 miles
  • Babylon Arch (Red Cliffs Desert Reserve): 2.9 miles

No matter where your vacation takes you, remember to grab sturdy shoes, plenty of water, and a camera before heading out.

2. Go Camping

Take a break from hotels and give your kids the chance to sleep under the stars. After a day of hiking or other outdoor activities, sleeping in nature allows them to take in the magic of their surroundings and experience the nocturnal side of the desert come to life. Plus, camping is a great way to bond as a family, teach valuable life skills, instill resilience, encourage physical activity, and foster appreciation and respect for nature1.

There are plenty of camping options to suit your preferences, whether you’re parking an RV at a national park campground or tent camping by a lake. Glen Canyon Recreational Area, Moab, Snow Canyon State Park, Sand Hollow State Park, and Kodachrome Basin State Park all offer excellent campgrounds.

3. Rent a Raft or Kayak

While you’re hiking Utah’s trails, why not take advantage of its many waterways? Southern Utah’s rivers run through popular trails. Flanked by towering canyons and rock formations, they provide an incredible view from the water. There are many opportunities for family-friendly rafting and kayaking, including the San Juan River, Westwater Canyon, and Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Rafting is typically seasonal, offered from spring to fall. Southern Utah offers year-round opportunities for kayaking, but it’s a good idea to check the weather forecast and water levels before any excursion.

4. Visit Anasazi State Park Museum

If you’re looking for educational things to do in Utah with kids, bring your family to the Anasazi State Park Museum. This park gives visitors a look into the lives of some of the earliest-known inhabitants of southern Utah and one of the largest Ancestral Puebloan communities west of the Colorado River2.

View the museum’s collection of ancient artifacts to learn how the Ancestral Puebloans lived and explore the partially excavated ruins of their massive community. Though small, the museum provides many interactive learning opportunities for children, and they’ll love exploring the reconstructed homes.

5. Fill Your Day With Dinos

Southern Utah is a haven for dino lovers. Walk alongside 200-million-year-old fossilized dinosaur footprints at St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site, and see life-size models of the dinos that made them.

At Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park, your family can experience the wonders of prehistoric life. Explore their collection of 100 dinosaur sculptures at the outdoor sculpture park, take a journey through time in the Stewart Museum of Paleontology, interact with hands-on exhibits at the Ogden Natural History Museum, and be dazzled by fossils and crystals from around the world in the Gem and Mineral Museum.

6. Slide Into Fun at Jellystone Park

After hot days of adventuring in the great outdoors during the summer, cool down at Zion, Utah’s Jellystone Park. Kids will have a blast taking twists and turns down water slides, getting flushed down a plunge bowl, and playing around the splashground. As a family, you can compete in an exciting water obstacle course, try gemstone mining, bounce around on a giant jump pillow, or relax and drift down the lazy river.

Jellystone Park even has cabins and RV rentals for those who want to tuck in after a fun-filled day. Their cozy cabins feature a kids’ loft, a campfire pit, and seating on a private deck.

7. Take a Dip in a Hot Spring

With a trip full of excitement and adventure, everyone is bound to be exhausted towards the end of the journey. When your family needs a place to recover and play, take a dip in the restorative waters of a natural hot spring pool. Mineral hot springs rejuvenate the body as you allow yourself to fully relax in a tranquil environment.

At Zion Canyon Hot Springs, we offer a variety of mineral hot spring pools available in a range of temperatures, mineral compositions, and regional influences to provide various health and wellness benefits. This experience is available year-round, but don’t worry about feeling hot in the summer. The springs are heated to 90°F—cooler than your body temperature—so you’ll actually feel great in the heat!

Our family-friendly area is fun for all ages, featuring 14 mineral-rich springs with water sourced and treated from the natural hot springs water of the Virgin River. Additional amenities include a large freshwater pool, cold plunge, barrel sauna, fire pits, and snack bar.

The large pool is designed for the whole family’s enjoyment, so the kids can splash around and in warm, comfortable water that the grown-ups will find soothing and relaxing. The pool is also connected to a jetted spa, so everyone can unwind surrounded by beautiful canyon views.

This Utah family vacation, take your family on a wellness journey and book your visit today.

Sources:

  1. Joyce, E. Camping with Kids: The Benefits of Exploring Nature Together. Forest Nation. Retrieved July 23, 2025, from https://forestnation.com/blog/camping-with-kids-the-benefits-of-exploring-nature-together
  2. Anasazi State Park. Utah.com. Retrieved July 23, 2025, from https://www.utah.com/destinations/state-parks/anasazi-state-park/

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(February 12, 2025). Day Hikes. National Parks Service. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/day-hikes.htm Utah Office of Tourism. Kanab. Utah: Life Elevated. Retrieved October 23, 2025, from https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/kanab Utah Office of Tourism. Zion National Park. Utah: Life Elevated. Retrieved October 23, 2025, from https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/parks-outdoors/zion

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Approximately half an hour from Zion National Park in La Verkin, you’ll find Zion Canyon Hot Springs is the ideal spot for pampering and relaxation. Boasting 32 natural geothermal hot springs with water pulled and treated from the natural hot springs of the Virgin River, 16 globally-inspired mineral soaking pools, each inspired by legendary destinations—like Iceland’s Blue Lagoon and the Dead Sea—cold plunges, barrel saunas, delectable food and drinks served poolside, Zion Canyon Hot Springs is a stellar reward at the end of the trail. We have both family-friendly and 21+ areas, so whether you’re traveling with friends or little ones, our water-rich oasis has everything you need to ease your aches and pains so you can return home not only inspired by all you’ve seen in this unforgettable part of the country, but also well-rested and rejuvenated in both body and mind. Book in minutes. Soak for hours. Sources: (10 December 2021). The Perfect 72 Hours Near Bryce Canyon National Park. Under Canvas. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from https://www.undercanvas.com/blog/72-hours-near-bryce-canyon-national-park/ (9 September 2022). 11 Things to Do Near Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. The Wildlife Diaries. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from https://www.thewildlifediaries.com/things-to-do-near-bryce-canyon/ Bauer, A. Fun Family Things to Do Near Bryce Canyon (Plus the Best Place to Stay!). Zion Adventure Photog. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from https://www.zionadventurephotog.com/single-post/things-to-do-near-bryce-canyon Ockey, N. (22 April 2023). Things to Do Near Bryce Canyon. Utah’s Adventure Family. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from https://www.utahsadventurefamily.com/things-to-do-near-bryce-along-scenic-highway-12/ Parks and Other Tourist Attraction Spots near Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://www.brycecanyon.net/parks-tourist-attraction-spots-near-bryce-canyon/