With projects, essays and tests being constantly assigned, the last month of classes can be a stressful time for students with many looking for a temporary escape.
Road trips can be that escape as well as a quick and affordable way to take a break from everyday life. Whether you’re looking to escape studying or just create more memories with friends, here are five road trips you can take near St. George.
Pine Valley
Travel Time: 45 minutes
For anybody looking to take a quick road trip and be back by dinner, Pine Valley is an excellent choice.
“Pine Valley Mountain is beautiful and a close drive,” said Travel Specialist Sherri Phillips. “The town of Pine Valley is historic and quaint and has a small reservoir and lots of hiking and camping options.”
If you want to add a little bit of time to your drive, you can also stop by Gunlock State Park. This reservoir is home to Gunlock Falls with water only flowing through the falls on rare occasions.
Kolob Reservoir
Travel Time: 1.25 hours
Another local road trip within Washington County is Kolob Reservoir; however, this trip is much more about the drive and the scenery on the way than it is the destination.
The reservoir sits just outside of Zion National Park and offers a variety of sights as you pass through a part of the national park not often seen by visitors. At the end of the drive, you come to a large reservoir surrounded by hills and pine trees. Sitting at over 8,000 feet above sea level, this trip is a great way to escape the heat of St. George while seeing incredible scenery along the way.
Las Vegas
Travel Time: Two hours
Changing it up from forests and lakes, the next road trip on the list is to the city of Las Vegas. Las Vegas is the closest metropolitan area to St. George and is home to a large number of things to do.
There are countless places to shop, rollercoasters to ride and shows to see. But let’s not forget about the famous Las Vegas casinos. Even if you aren’t a fan of gambling, these casinos offer tons to see and do. One of the most popular is the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium.
Additionally, Valley of Fire State Park is only a few miles outside of Vegas if you’re looking to get out of the city.
Grand Canyon
Travel Time: Three hours
Learning that the Grand Canyon is only a three-hour drive from St. George may be a surprise to some, but it’s true.
The Grand Canyon is one of the most visited locations in the United States and it’s right in St. George’s backyard. There’s not much you can say about the Grand Canyon that hasn’t already been said, but with breathtaking views, endless hiking trails and a large number of campgrounds, this is an outdoor enthusiasts’ paradise.
Salt Lake City
Travel Time: 4.5 hours
It might surprise some people to know Utah’s capital city and the surrounding area are home to tons of fun activities.
If you’re looking to stay within the city then there are plenty of things to do and see such as the Hogle Zoo, City Creek Center shopping mall and the state capitol building.
If you want to explore the surrounding area then you can take a short drive up the Wasatch Mountains which are home to tons of ski resorts, hikes and beautiful scenery.
Luke Evans, a junior marketing major from Spanish Fork, said: “My girlfriend and I drive up north to visit family once every couple of months. I definitely think road-tripping is a good way to take a break, see sights, jam out to songs or have good conversations.”
Next time you’re looking to take a break from studying or your normal routine and you have a few hours or an entire weekend, check out one of these places and make some new memories along the way.
