Do you only have one day in St. George and are not sure how to spend it? Don’t worry! We are frequent visitors to St. George, Utah, and have crafted the perfect one-day itinerary for you!
St.George is full of adventures, art galleries, shops, restaurants, and comfortable hotels all nestled in between red rock cliffs and beautiful views! But because there is so much to do, it can be tricky to know what you should do if you are short on time and only have a day to spend!
Keep reading if you want our perfect one-day itinerary for visiting St. George!
Start your day off right with an incredible breakfast at this St. George staple! Serving up both sweet and savory crepes like their classic crepes benedict and blueberry lemon crepes. They also have a mouth-watering creme brulee french toast that is to die for! It is only served on Saturdays and will run out, so get there early! Dishes here typically cost ~$9-$15.
If you are not in the mood for a sweet breakfast and want something a little more classic, head over to Bear Paw Cafe to get all your favorite breakfast staples like steak and eggs, Belgian waffles, pancakes, and more! Dishes here typically cost ~$7-$15.
After a good meal, you will be ready to take on your next adventure!
Snow Canyon State Park is full of towering red and white rocks, fun desert hikes, lava tubes, slot canyons, volcanoes, and sand dunes!
This state park should not be overlooked! It is well worth spending a few hours hiking some of the most incredible trails St. George has to offer!
Here, enter the park, pay the $10 park fee for residents ($15 for non-residents), and make your first stop at Jenny’s Canyon. This short 0.3-mile trail brings you into a small slot canyon, where you can admire the towering walls and cooler temps!
After Jenny’s Canyon jump back in your car and drive the short distance to the Petrified Dunes trail. This 1.2-mile trail begins on a sandy pathway but soon has you climbing over the petrified dunes and following the metal trail markers. It is one of the most fun trails I have ever done in Utah, and I have hiked a ton of Utah trails! As you walk on the petrified dunes, you are rewarded with sweeping views of Snow Canyon. It is breathtaking!
An alternate trail that we absolutely love here is the lava tubes. We typically do butterfly rock to the lava tubes and back. Here you pass by petrified dunes, sandy trails, and a boulder that has been broken in half and looks like a butterfly (hence the name) until you arrive at the lava tubes! There are two lava tubes. One has a bigger entrance and is easier to explore for families with younger kids. The other has a smaller entrance and you will need to watch your head!
The trail is a 1.7-mile loop and is considered easy, however, if you are climbing down into the tubes to explore, I would rate this more of a moderate trail. Don’t forget to bring some flashlights and your sense of adventure!
If you are up for less of an adventure but still killer views, head to the White Rocks Amphitheater! This trail begins just outside of the northern entrance to Snow Canyon. There is a trail that begins inside the park, however, this is a more difficult and longer hike. Park at the small parking area and begin your hike on the sandy path. You will be walking straight toward white rocks in the distance.
Once you reach the white rocks, you will start to ascend the rocks (this is easy and the rocks are not slippery) and walk on the rocks, into the natural amphitheater. The views are breathtaking, and you can even spot the cinder cone in the distance, which is a now dormant volcano.
This trail is a mile total, and easy for all ages.
Be aware that hiking in St. George is usually full sun with little shade and the weather is hot from spring to fall. Please bring plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen for your hikes.
After all that hiking, you will probably be ready for some lunch and you don’t want to miss out on our favorite fast casual healthy bite, Viva Chicken!
This Peruvian spot features whole chicken, bowls, tacos, salads, family meals, sandwiches, and other healthy and (not-so-healthy) dishes!
Our favorite is the Tacu bowls or trays (feed your whole family with it) and don’t forget to add their amazing sauce to it. It is so good and takes the whole meal up a notch! This spot is popular and it may be best to order ahead and pick it up. Dishes here vary between ~$10-$20, with family meals between ~$30-$50.
If you are feeling more like a good burger after hiking, head over to Morty’s Cafe. Here they have your classic burgers, fries, and shakes. They have a variety of burgers and sandwiches between ~$3 and $10. They also have vegetarian options and don’t forget to grab some scone fries with raspberry cheesecake dip or honey butter for dessert.
After a great meal, it’s time to explore downtown St. George!
Guide includes the Springville Shuttle, Zion Canyon Shuttle, What to Do at Each Stop, Handy Tips + Maps
After lunch, head over to Townsquare Park in downtown St. George! This is a perfect place for kids to play and cool off in the splash pad! They can play amongst the sculptures, run through the grass, and relax under the trees.
The St. George Carousel is located here and is only a couple of dollars to ride. Our kids are always begging to go on the Carousel and it has become a fun tradition.
If you are wanting to cool off indoors, the St. George Children’s Museum is right by the park and has a brand new Lee’s Grocery Store section for your kids’ imaginations to run wild! There are 12 exhibit rooms to explore and admissions cost ~$6.25 per person, with 2 and under free. The museum is open 10 am-5 pm every day and closed on Sundays. They are also closed on Mondays from the middle of August to the end of May. Tuesday evenings from 5-7 pm are sensory-friendly times to visit the museum.
Brigham Young’s Winter Home is also located downtown and open for walk-throughs and tours Monday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm, and Sundays 12 pm-6 pm. Brigham Young was a prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, often called Mormons, and lived in this home in the Winter months of 1870-1877. The property has been restored to its original condition and tours tell about Brigham Young’s time there, his history, and the building of the St. George Temple.
You may also want to check out the shops downtown, there are many fun and unique stores and art galleries located in St. George’s Downtown. Don’t forget to grab some pastries from Farmstead Bakery or Ice Cream from Judd’s General Store.
Wood Ash Rye is an elevated dining experience in St. George. They locally source their ingredients and carefully curate and craft their menu, which rotates seasonally.
Many of the items are meant to be shared amongst the table and the menu features Beef Wellington, Prime Rib, house-made pasta, and freshly made bread.
Wood Ash Rye is also open for breakfast and brunch. Dinner entrees are around ~$13-$50 with varying prices for shared and side dishes.
If you go, be sure to grab some freshly made biscuits or bread because they are to die for!
If you are looking for something more traditional for dinner, head over to Rigatti’s Wood-Fired Pizza. Rigatti’s is a St. George staple and offers a wide variety of pizzas, salads, and desserts. Our favorite is the Margherita pizza and the Limone!
A large pizza here runs about ~$14-$22. If you visit, don’t miss their peach cobbler pizza for dessert!
After dinner, it’s time to unwind with a state-of-the-art production!
The perfect ending to any day in St. George would have to be seeing a show at the Tuacahn Amphitheater. At Tuacahn they put on Broadway-level shows that are truly incredible and the scenery tops it all!
The Amphitheater is nestled among the red rocks and as you sit outside watching their incredible shows, it is just the most amazing experience!
Every year their shows change, and we recently saw their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory show and absolutely loved it. We were blown away by the talent, and the concessions weren’t too bad either! We grabbed some popcorn, salty pretzels, and candy for our show!
They also rent out seat cushions at the shows if you want a more comfortable seat (think sports stadium seating).
Tuacahn offers outdoor shows in spring-fall and indoor theater shows during the winter months. You can also catch many concerts here and a Saturday Market during the Summer.
Tickets for Tuacahn run about ~$30-$110 a show and kids under 3 are not permitted to attend. As the shows are mostly outdoors, you will be subject to weather so dress appropriately. Shows start in the evening around 7 or 8 pm and end around 10-11 pm or even midnight depending on the show, so be prepared for a late night.
St. George is truly an incredible and special place to visit and a place our family goes back to often because we just love it.
St. George is located in the desert and has an extremely hot climate in the summer. Spring, fall, or winter are better seasons to visit for milder weather.
St. George is also only 50 minutes from the Southern entrance of Zion National Park and is a great base for exploring and visiting the park.
St. George has so many incredible sights, stores, and restaurants to explore! If you have more than one day in the area or want to learn about other fun adventures, you can find out more on our St. George Trip Planner page.
ZION TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about Zion National Park, check out our Zion Homepage
THINGS TO DO: Don’t miss all that Zion has to offer including Emerald Pools, Angel’s Landing, The Narrows, and Kolob Canyons
WHERE TO EAT: Check out the best places to eat in and near Zion National Park
GREAT CITIES TO STAY OR CHECK OUT: Learn where to stay or camp when visiting Zion and explore some amazing cities nearby including St. George, Kanab, and Cedar City
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Find out if you need a reservation and how to use the shuttle system as well as if you can drive in Zion, which entrance to use, and how to avoid crowds
WATCH: Enjoy videos of gorgeous Zion National Park while learning our best tips for visiting by watching our Zion YouTube Playlist
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