The Best Cities and Towns Near Capitol Reef National Park
These are the best cities and towns near Capitol Reef National Park and are the perfect places to stay for any Utah road trip! Capitol Reef National Park is one of the least visited national parks in Utah but should not be missed. Many people tend to skip over Capitol Reef National Park, which I will never understand!
The park offers something for everyone, including a stunning scenic drive, fun hiking trails, sandstone arches, and beautiful overlooks. It is unique compared to the other national parks in Utah, and I promise you will fall in love with the area!
When you visit, I recommend spending at least 1-2 days in Capitol Reef National Park. If you spend a night near the park, a few towns near Capitol Reef National Park make perfect base camps for your adventures. This guide has everything you need to know about the best cities and towns near Capitol Reef National Park to stay in during your trip!
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The Best Cities and Towns Near Capitol Reef National Park
Torrey
Torrey is the best town near Capitol Reef National Park to stay in during your trip because it is only 15 minutes from the park. It is the closest town to the park, and although it is small, it has everything you need for your trip, including a grocery store and restaurants. We stayed in Torrey during our trip and loved it because of its proximity to the park!
Torrey has a variety of accommodations within all budgets, so you can find something that works best for you! The only downside is the hotels tend to book up quickly since it is the closest town to Capitol Reef National Park. But it is the perfect place to stay if you want to be as close as you can to the park!
Places to Stay in Torrey:
Hanksville
Hanksville is a small town 45 minutes east of Capitol Reef National Park and has everything you need for your stay. Although it is tiny, it has a grocery store, restaurants, and a couple accommodations . It is also incredibly scenic and has become an increasingly popular destination because of its beautiful landscapes that look like you are on Mars. It is also close to the start of Cathedral Valley in Capitol Reef National Park, providing easy access to either section of the park!
Places to Stay in Hanksville:
Bicknell, Lyman, and Loa
If Torrey does not have accommodations available, you can try Bicknell, Lyman, and Loa. The three towns are just west of Torrey and are 20-30 minutes from Capitol Reef National Park. Each town is tiny but has food and accommodations for your stay.
It is also an easy drive to Torrey if you need something the towns do not have. Bicknell, Lyman, and Loa are quiet and make you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere but still have everything you need nearby for your trip!
Places to Stay in Bicknell, Lyman, and Loa:
Green River
If you would rather stay in a city near Capitol Reef National Park, Green River is one of the closest (about 1.5 hours away). It is a great place to stay if you want to be between Capitol Reef National Park and Moab, too! If you plan on traveling to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park, Green River is a great place to stay if you want to stay in one place for the entire trip.
Although it is small, it has more accommodations than the surrounding towns and has some fun things to do in the area, including Ratio, Crystal Geyser, and Green River State Park. It also has plenty of restaurants and grocery stores, so you have everything you need for your trip at your fingertips.
Because Green River is further away from the entrance of Capitol Reef National Park, I recommend leaving early to get into the park before traffic builds up at the entrance station. Even though Capitol Reef National Park is one of the least-visited national parks in Utah, it still can get crowded, and getting into the park sooner rather than later is better!
Places to Stay in Green River:
Salina
Salina is the second largest city near Capitol Reef National Park and is about 1.5 hours west of the park. Although it is a long drive into the national park, Salina is a great place to stay during your trip because the city has everything you need, including restaurants, grocery stores, and accommodations for all budgets.
The city is also nearby other beautiful attractions if you want to do something else besides visiting the national park. You can visit Palisade State Park, Red Hill Hot Springs, or the Manti-La Sal National Forest. Salina is a great city near Capitol Reef National Park to stay in for your trip!
Places to Stay in Salina:
Richfield
If you would rather stay in a larger city, Richfield is the perfect city near Capitol Reef National Park. Although it is small compared to major cities, like Salt Lake City, it is the largest city near the park and only about 1.5 hours from the entrance. Richfield is a cute city and has everything you need for your trip, including accommodations for every budget, restaurants, and grocery stores.
Similarly to Salina, Richfield has fun nearby things to do if you want to visit places outside Capitol Reef National Park! You can explore the Red Hill Hot Springs and Mystic Hot Springs or hike on the nearby trails. Richfield is a great place to stay near Capitol Reef National Park!
Places to Stay in Richfield:
Escalante
Escalante is one of my favorite towns near Capitol Reef National Park and one of my favorite places in Utah! The town is small but has plenty of accommodations, restaurants, and grocery stores for your trip. It is also about an hour from Bryce Canyon National Park, making it the perfect base camp if you visit both parks. And if you want to stay in a unique accommodation, this is the town for you because it has everything from yurts to tiny homes.
Although it is about 1.5 hours away from Capitol Reef National Park, it is one of the most beautiful places to stay and has many fun activities nearby. You can visit the Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, drive the Scenic Byway 12, or hike along its many trails. You will quickly fall in love with Escalante and understand why it is one of the best towns near Capitol Reef National Park!
Places to Stay in Escalante:
This guide is a perfect starting place if you are looking for the best towns near Capitol Reef National Park! It has everything you need to know to find the best places to stay near Capitol Reef National Park for your trip.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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