One of the best things about living in Northern Utah is the possibility of weekend getaways to cool places. There is so much more to see in Utah besides the five National Parks! I first visited the area on a family road trip, then many years later joined a rafting trip. Now that I live in Utah, I try to visit “Dinosaurland” at least once a year as I always find new things to do! A 3-4-day weekend is the perfect amount of time to explore the northeastern corner of the state.

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As an added bonus, although this is the desert, the temperatures often seem to be a bit cooler than Salt Lake City. It still gets hot in the summer, but it was very pleasant in late May and September when I have visited Vernal. However, anyone with a bug phobia like me should not visit in June or July. 2023 and 2024 saw a pretty major Mormon cricket invasion through town. I cut my last trip to Vernal short because it was just too gross. I’m talking crawling pavement, not just a few here and there!

Check out this scenic Utah road trip from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef!

Dinosaur National Monument

Vernal is called “Dinosaurland” because of the plethora of dinosaurs and fossils found in the area. The geology here is fascinating, and within an 80-mile radius of Vernal, you can see one of the most complete fossil and geologic records in the world! The best place to experience it is at Dinosaur National Monument. For paleontologists and dinosaur fans, the monument is the premier destination to see dinosaur fossils. At the Quarry Exhibit Hall, you can see 1,500 dinosaur fossils in the face of a rock wall.

Elsewhere in the monument, there are scenic drives, hikes, and petroglyphs, so it’s not just about dinosaurs! The monument straddles the border of Colorado and Utah, with visitor centers in each state. On the Colorado side, take the park road out to Harper’s Corner for fantastic views over the Green River. It takes about 40 minutes from the park entrance, and there’s a short hike at Harper’s Corner as well. I recommend stopping at all of the scenic overlooks on the way back, as they are all spectacular! If you have a high-clearance vehicle, you should also take a side trip down to Echo Park.

On the Utah side of the park, the main attraction is the Quarry Exhibit Hall. However, you can also take the park road until the pavement runs out, and just past that, you’ll find a couple of short hikes to some petroglyphs. The road is fine for passenger cars, so I highly recommend driving out there. The petroglyphs are super cool, and the scenery is pretty amazing.

Green River Rafting

One of the best ways to explore the scenery around Vernal is on a multi-day whitewater rafting adventure. The Green River runs right through Dinosaur National Monument, and there are multi-day trips as well as single-day outings with local outfitters like Adrift Adventures.

In 2012, I spent four days on a Green River Rafting trip with OARS. We started at the Gates of Lodore at the northeast corner of the monument. We then spent four days floating on the Green River under the incredible scenery of the Dinosaur National Monument. If you have time, there’s no better way to experience nature than on an overnight rafting trip! It’s really cool to have seen the area from the river level and the canyon rim.

Fantasy Canyon

About an hour south of Vernal, Fantasy Canyon is a magical place with the most unusual rock formations I’ve ever seen. You almost feel like you’re on a movie set because it’s just so bizarre. I recommend visiting near sunset as the light won’t be so harsh for photography. The last four miles are on a dirt road, but it’s all well-marked and totally suitable for passenger cars. (at least when the roads are dry) AllTrails lists this as a 1/2-mile trail. I just wandered around, missing the trail in several spots. It’s a small area, so I don’t think you can get lost. It’s also dog-friendly!

Red Fleet State Park

I dare to say this is a hidden gem in Eastern Utah, easily overshadowed by Dinosaur National Monument and Flaming Gorge. I would make a special trip back just to camp and paddle at Red Fleet State Park. Like many Utah state parks, Red Fleet State Park has camping and watercraft rentals, as well as boat docks for larger boats. (The park has been closed for two summers and should reopen in 2025. You can still hike to the dinosaur tracks, though.)

Unfortunately, we only had time for a quick hike along the Dinosaur Trackway. At 3 miles round-trip, it’s a fun hike through sandstone formations that ends at a “beach” on the reservoir. I actually did not see the dinosaur tracks, but it was still a fun hike with a nice cool swimming spot before turning around. Red Fleet is also a great spot for paddleboarding in Utah!

Hike to Moonshine Arch

Moab isn’t the only place in Utah with arches! This is a super easy hike to Moonshine Arch. Heading north from Vernal on 191, the turnoff is marked with a blue sign. You’ll travel a few miles down a dirt road and come to the large parking area with pit toilets. The hike to the arch is about .75 miles each way, with a little bit of up and down. It took us an hour round-trip, with my 13-year-old dog!

Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway

I sometimes return to Salt Lake City by one of Utah’s designated scenic byways. Taking 191 north from Vernal, you are driving on the Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway. It’s a gorgeous drive, and it’s also a must-see for any geology fans. As you drive the byway, there are signs telling you which prehistoric period you are driving through, as well as what may have lived there. It’s really quite fascinating to see how many layers of Earth have been exposed over the years.

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

Straddling the Utah-Wyoming border in the Ashley National Forest is the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. We drove through here on a family trip many years ago and I was excited to return and see it again. This is another place I’d love to return to for a long weekend of camping and paddling. There are 43 campgrounds around the reservoir, lodges in nearby Manila and Dutch John, as well as many outfitters offering adventurous day trips throughout the region.

Vernal Dinosaur Museum

I highly recommend visiting the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum in Vernal. It’s all about dinosaurs and has a ton of cool exhibits, including a 90-foot-long Diplodocus skeleton in the main rotunda. I also really enjoyed the dinosaur garden, an outdoor area featuring several dinosaur models and interpretive signs. This is a great place to begin your visit to Vernal, as it’s also home to the local visitor’s center, where you can gather information to plan your trip.

The dinosaur theme is everywhere in Vernal. I had fun just finding all the miniature dinosaur statues and murals. If you’re visiting Vernal with kids, that could be a fun scavenger hunt activity.

Uintah County Heritage Museum

This small, free museum is located in the middle of town near the library and government offices. It’s a great resource for learning about Utah’s heritage, as well as the local area. The staff was super helpful and gave me several brochures to learn about the area. The bookstore also has a great selection. While heritage museums aren’t always the most interesting to me, this one is worth a quick stop if you are looking for indoor things to do in Vernal, Utah.

Other Things to Do in Vernal, Utah

Like I said, I come back at least once a year to see what I missed in Vernal. These are some popular Vernal activities that I’ve yet to do.

• Visit the McConkie Ranch Petroglyphs
• Visit the Josie Morris cabin in Dinosaur National Monument
• Visit Steinaker State Park
• Visit the Jones Hole Fish Hatchery
• Check out some mountain biking trails
• Ashley Valley Community Park looks great for anyone traveling with kids

Don’t forget these important things to pack for a day hike!

Restaurants in Vernal, Utah

Vernal is a fairly small town, but I managed to find some good food when I was there. They have all of the fast food and pizza chains, but you can get those anywhere. These are the restaurants in Vernal, Utah that I enjoyed.

• Dinosaur Brew Haus – I had a nice fish and chips dinner here and a tasty brew from Vernal Brewing Company. $4 for a pint…you gotta love small-town prices!
• Betty’s Cafe is super popular with the locals, I had a filling breakfast for a great price here.
• Cafe Rio – this is a chain, but local to Utah. It’s pretty decent for fast-casual Mexican, although the portions are huge! Their tortillas are delicious…definitely recommend if you’re looking for something fast and fresh.
• For a good old-fashioned burger, fries, and a milkshake, head to Country Grub. It’s not fancy, but it’s good and cheap, too!
• Antica Forma now has a Vernal location, this is one of the top places to eat in Moab!

Where to Stay in Vernal, Utah

There are plenty of Vernal hotels to choose from. Most of the major chains are represented, as well as some mom-and-pop motor lodges. I usually stay at the TownePlace Suites (check rates) since I worked for Marriott and have lots of points. It’s pet-friendly and a decent option for our stay, including free breakfast. Hotels in Vernal are strangely expensive (think $250 for Holiday Inn Express) and I think it’s because oil crews stay there so they hike up the rates. There are no luxury hotels in Vernal; Springhill Suites is about as fancy as it gets!

Browse Vernal Utah Hotels

Honestly, if you like camping, there are some great campgrounds around Vernal. I’ve stayed at the KOA for convenience, but the Echo Park Campground and Split Mountain Campground inside the monument both have amazing locations right on the river. I will definitely choose camping near Vernal next time I travel this way!