Southern Utah

Wild, vast, whimsical, stark, and stunning, the Desert Southwest is home to diverse landscapes and enticing terrain. From our two Moterra hubs in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Las Vegas, Nevada, you are offered exceptional access to the world-class biking, hiking, and off-road trails of this incredible region.

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Explore the Dr. Suessian hoodoos of Bryce Canyon and the sculpted walls of Zion valley just a couple hours from Vegas; the vast canyons in Canyonlands or the stately formations of Monument Valley from Salt Lake, or do a one-way between our hubs for the ultimate Desert road trip!

From our two Moterra campervan rental hubs based out of the bright lights of Las Vegas and the always-evolving metropolis of Salt Lake City, you may find it hard to decide what direction to head first! From March through May, and again in September through November, while the weather is mild and the roads typically free of snow, the playground that is the Desert Southwest is yours for the exploring – all from the comfort of our luxury Moterra Campervans.

Hub

Salt Lake City, Utah or Las Vegas, Nevada

Season

Fall September – November
Spring February – May

ONE WAYS AVAILABLE

Between Vegas & SLC
Contact us for more information

DISTANCES FROM SALT LAKE CITY

DISTANCES FROM LAS VEGAS

Zion National Park | 160 miles
Bryce Canyon National Park | 230 miles

Campervan Rental in Bryce Canyon National Park South of Salt Lake City, Utah

Arches National Park

Salt Lake City – 200 miles
Las Vegas – 450 miles

Arches National Park, home to the iconic stone arches, is located just outside of Moab, Utah and across the Colorado River from Canyonlands National Park.

Worn away by the wind, rain and snow of the passing millenia, the ribbon-like fins of sandstone become thinner and thinner, eventually crumbling away to form the vast balancing arches of this unique National Park. Immerse yourself in this alien landscape by whatever means suits you. Bike, hike, climb, or drive among the towering stone appendages that thrust out from the earth at every turn and marvel at these natural wonders.

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Scale the cliff faces surrounding the arches and gain a new perspective on these unique natural structures.

Hike on any of the numerous trails ranging from a quick jaunt out to see the Landscape Arch to steep and rocky scrambles on the Primitive Trail.

Pull over the van for the night at the Devil’s Garden Campground under the stars and surrounded by the fins, spires, and arches that give this unique national park its name.

Cruise the famous scenic scenic paved roads to see the Delicate Arch and many others from the comfort of your van or switch to 4×4 to traverse the Salt Valley Road past the Klondike bluffs and on to Tower Arch trailhead.

Canyonlands National Park

Salt Lake City – 230 miles
Las Vegas – 465 miles

Canyonlands National Park features a diverse landscape of canyons, mesas, and rivers that are sure to take your breath away.

Author and frequent appreciator of the canyonlands once called it “the most weird, wonderful, magical place on earth” and it’s hard not to agree. Two powerful churning rivers, the Colorado and the Green intertwine and snake through this colorful landscape of narrow twisting canyons, scorched mesas, and towering buttes. Get lost in this unparalleled desert wilderness that draws hikers, bikers, climbers and adventure seekers from all over the world to its infinite secret nooks and corners. Once you’ve had a taste, you will agree that “there is nothing else like it anywhere.”

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Wander the Island in the Sky trails with views of monumental sandstone features and incredible vistas.

Ride the White Rim Road or any other section of the hundreds of miles of dirt and gravel roads throughout the park.

Switch on the four-wheel drive and tackle the White Rim Road, a 71.2 mile track that traverses an ancient sandstone formation.

Explore the Colorado and Green rivers by canoe and kayak or brave the epic confluence of these two powerful waterways on a guided raft trip.

Monument Valley

Salt Lake City – 375 miles
Las Vegas – 400 miles

Monument Valley is an iconic area located on the Navajo Nation Reservation in Arizona and Utah, known for its towering sandstone buttes and mesas.

Pillars and buttresses of rock and sand tower over you, mighty testaments to times long past in a desert that is immediately familiar. As you gaze out upon natural monuments the size of skyscrapers, you recognize the view from its myriad appearances in the great Western films of John Ford and Sergio Leone. Explore the iconic roads of the greatest film set on Earth and realize that this landscape has been the scene of dramas eons-old that no camera will ever capture. All activities in Monument Valley Tribal Park require a guide, but the knowledgeable local pros add a wealth of natural and cultural value to the experience of this incredible place.

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Downsize for a day for a jeep tour of the park on the same dusty trails that John Wayne would have ridden.

Hike in the shadow of giants and see the monuments up close.

Explore on horseback the iconic trails and pathways travelled for hundreds of years by the Navajo people.

Bike the roads or incredible trails of this impossible landscape.

Capitol Reef

Salt Lake City – 200 miles
Las Vegas – 330 miles

Capitol Reef National Park is known for its colorful sandstone cliffs, unique geology, and historic pioneer settlements.

Sandstone reefs 65 million years-old fold and curl across the landscape in a dramatic display of ancient geological forces. Explore twisting canyons and improbable rock formations, then park for a night under the stars at the historic Fruita Orchards, originally planted by Mormon settlers over 150 years ago. Located squarely between Bryce Canyon and Canyonlands, this incredible geological oddity is a perfect stop along the way or a trip unto itself as you get lost in rock, desert, and history.

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Hike the folded canyons and explore the impossible domes and pinnacles of this ancient and rugged landscape.

Park the van and explore the beautiful paved and unpaved roads of this special place by pedal power.

Plunge into the twisting folds of the Navajo and Wingate sandstone canyons.

In an area with some of the lowest light pollution in the country, pull out a blanket and look to the stars for a breathtaking night below the heavens.

Bryce Canyon

Las Vegas – 230 miles
Salt Lake City – 250 miles

Bryce Canyon is known for its unique geological formations, horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters and vibrant hoodoos.

Known for its massive amphitheater packed with hoodoos, an appropriately bizarre name for an incredibly weird and beautiful rock formation. These irregularly shaped columns populate the landscape, a strange stone audience watching seasons melt into years, into millenia. The canyon is also home to miles and miles of trails, fascinating educational programming from the rangers, and the most spectacular arrays of starry night sky that you are likely to see. Find your way into this massive amphitheater of the ages and lose yourself in the vast space of geological time and beauty.

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Sunrise is not to be missed! Drive your van to to the one of the many lookouts, make a fresh cup of coffee, and watch as the first light ignites the tops of the hoodoos.

Don your cowboy hat and plunge below the rim in true wild west fashion. Keep your head up as you slowly meander through the hoodoos!

Did you know that Bryce has one of the clearest skies in North America? The park regularly puts on night hikes and astrology talks!

Wind through the hoodoos by bike on 18 miles of bike path just outside the park! Don’t forget to stop off at Rubys Village for a mid-ride Ice Cream.

Zion National Park

Las Vegas – 160 miles
Salt Lake City – 310 miles

Zion National Park is a stunning natural wonder featuring towering cliffs, deep canyons, and scenic hikes.

A trip into Zion National Park is a journey into another universe, complete with places whose names seem to have been ripped from the pages of a fantasy novel. Surrounded by outlandish rock formations, aquamarine rivers, and a fascinating variety of plants and animals, you truly feel transported to a mythical land. Home to some of the worlds best rock climbing, extensive hiking and trail systems, and crystal clear rivers, get lost in Zion and you won’t want to leave.

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If you have ever wanted to go “canyoneering” Zion is the place to do it. With options for novices and experts, you will get up close with some of the most amazing terrain you will ever see.

Peer down on the canyon from thrilling Angels Landing or hike up The Narrows from the Temple of Sinawava.

Climb in the hand and footholds of giants on Zion’s legendary rock routes.

Rent a bike (or e-bike!) and ride the Pa’rus trail through wildflowers, crossing rivers and surrounded by rock formations more beautiful and bizarre than the next.

The Grand Canyon

Las Vegas – 270 miles
Salt Lake City – 500 miles

The Grand Canyon is one of the most iconic natural landmarks, offering offers breathtaking views and scenic vistas.

The gut-wrenching, vertigo-inducing drop as the earth disappears beneath you into an impossible chasm is legendary. To describe it is to invite failure as it simply resists all attempts to capture its truly expansive reach and depth. Once you’ve had your slack-jawed gape at the rim, dive deeper into the canyon and be amazed as it continues to offer marvel after marvel. Explore on foot, by mule or raft, or even through the air and you will still never see every corner of the canyon, but you can certainly try.

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Descend the steep, rocky sides to impossible depths to gain a new perspective on this immense natural feature.

1-Day flatwater tours down the Colorado River are available from several outfitters to provide a relaxed and cool way to experience the canyon.

Cruise the paved pathway of the South Rim on two wheels for an incomparably stunning ride.

Looking for a new angle on a classic? How about a leap of faith into the worlds greatest canyon at 136 miles per hour.

Lake Powell

Las Vegas – 300 miles
Salt Lake City – 420 miles

Snaking river canyons, brilliant blue waters, teeming with fish, Lake Powell is an unbelievable aquatic destination.

Finished in 1963, the Glen Canyon Dam turned an area almost the size of the Grand Canyon itself into a vast and intricate lake and river system, burying archaeological sites and a canyon system that, some argued, almost rivaled the Grand itself. While debates still rage regarding the value and impact of the dam compared to what now lies beneath the waters, what is undeniable is the beauty of this incredible place.

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Paddle the smooth aquamarine waters and lose yourself in the labyrinthine passageways walled with smooth red sandstone.

Turn on the 4×4 and get to the Coyote Gulch trailhead for an epic hike to the Jacob Hamblin Arch.

Pull out your rod and start casting with a clear conscience as you reel in invasive bass, crappie, and walleye to help clear the way for native species.

Relieve the sometimes oppressive heat of the Arizona sun with a day spent in clear blue waters that can reach as high as 80 degrees.

Death Valley

Las Vegas – 130 miles
Salt Lake City – 520 miles

With summer temperatures regularly reaching as high as 120 degrees, Death Valley is one of those places that earns its name.

Settlers and native alike learned to be wary of this desert, often the hottest place in the US, but also one of its most beautiful. Rare spring super blooms paint the desert in striking colors, sand dunes rise and fall like the Sahara, and the lowest point in the country rises up to its highest just 80 miles away. With our desert season taking place outside of the summer’s hottest months, you are perfectly poised to see Death Valley at its best in a vehicle built to thrive in hard places.

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Wander on the ancient seabeds of North America’s lowest point in the Badwater Basin, an expansive salt flat that sits 282 feet below sea level.

Venture out into the desert in your rugged, 4×4 enabled Sprinter van. Grab a map from the Death Valley Natural History Association and hit the road, but don’t forget the name. You’ll want to be prepared for whatever happens in one of the hottest places on Earth.

Gravel, pavement, or rutted rocks, there’s something here for everyone, just don’t forget to hydrate!

Multiple stables in the valley offer group trail rides to explore the area on horseback.

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There are thirty-three State Parks, five National Parks, four National Forests, seven National Monuments, two National Historic Sites, two National wildlife refuges and three national recreation areas located in Utah – not to mention the roughly 22.9 million acres of public land managed by the BLM. Click below for a free copy of our Moterra Parks of the Desert Southwest Insider Recommendation List for recommended itineraries and more information to help guide your travels.

Insider Recommendation List

Moterra Adventure Experiences in Southern Utah

Explore the wilderness around Southern Utah with our fully planned campervan tours.

We had an EXCELLENT experience with our Moterra for the week across the Utah National Parks! As someone with limited camping experience, I was a bit nervous about what to expect but the campervan was a luxurious experience. The team clearly paid attention to detail when stocking the vans, everything we could think of needing was already provided and plenty of locked storage for our belongings. The 2020 van model was the highest tech driving experience available and the 4 wheel drive gave us the capability of finding remote campsites with fantastic stargazing. Could not recommend this company more highly, you will certainly not regret spending your vacation time with them!
– Rachel Parupsky

Rachel P.

Salt Lake City, UT

Nov 21, 2022

Moterra customer service has been incredible every step of the way! This van was perfect for my husband and I for our 10 year anniversary get away. We explored the St. Anthony Sand Dunes, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and Bear Lake. The van had literally everything we could want and then some. Just bring your stuff and hit the road! We even saw another Moterra one day in Yellowstone.
– Jessica Austin

Jessica A.

Salt Lake City, UT

Nov 21, 2022

Amazing time touring around The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone! First time using a camper van and Moterra was an excellent choice. The company was hands on and available for all questions and suggestions even prior to getting the van. The van was surprisingly easy to drive and felt safe throughout the trip. The inside was roomy and was more than enough room. The van had so many amenities inside that we didn’t even know we needed! Highly recommend and already planning our next trip!
– Bianca