Campervan and RV Hire in Salt Lake City

Kick off an RV hire in Salt Lake City and explore Utah's iconic landscapes and beyond with Indie Campers. Visit the red rock wonders of Zion, Arches, and Bryce Canyon, or venture north into the rugged beauty of the Tetons. Choose the RV from our Adventure, California, Active, or Comfort range that best fits your needs, with unlimited miles, snow chains, heating kits, and 24/7 online assistance to support you wherever the road leads. Thousands of travellers rate Indie Campers 4.8 stars for freedom, value, and well-equipped vehicles.

RV Road Trips from Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is the most efficient RV base in the American West. Within a five-hour drive in any direction you have five national parks, three national monuments, two world-class ski resorts operating as summer hiking destinations, and the most concentrated stretch of canyon country on earth. No other city in the contiguous US puts you this close to this much public land this quickly.

Zion National Park is 4 hours south. Bryce Canyon is 4.5 hours. Arches and Canyonlands are 3.5 hours southeast via I-70, the most scenic interstate highway in America. Canyonlands is just 20 minutes beyond Arches. Capitol Reef, the least visited of Utah's five national parks, is 3.5 hours south and sits between Bryce and Arches on a natural loop that connects all five parks without backtracking. The Utah Mighty Five loop from Salt Lake City is the defining Southwest road trip and it begins and ends at the Indie Campers centre.

The city itself earns its time. The Great Salt Lake is 15 miles west of downtown and while the lake's shrinking shoreline is a well-documented story, Antelope Island State Park in the middle of it has a free-roaming bison herd of 500-700 animals and some of the strangest, most otherworldly driving in the state. The Wasatch Front ski resorts, Park City and Alta in particular, operate full trail networks through summer with gondola access to ridgelines above 10,000 feet. Sundance Film Festival takes over Park City every January. The Utah Jazz plays at the Delta Center from October through June.

Pick up your Indie Campers vehicle in Salt Lake City, drive south on I-15, and you're in canyon country before lunch.

What to do in Salt Lake City?

Top National Parks and Scenic Drives Near Salt Lake City

Zion National Park - 270 miles south via I-15, roughly 4 hours. Utah's most visited national park and one of the most dramatic canyon landscapes in the world. The Virgin River has carved a 2,000-foot deep sandstone canyon at Zion, and the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive follows the canyon floor through it. From April through October, private vehicles are prohibited on the scenic drive beyond the Zion Canyon Visitor Centre; you board the free NPS shuttle instead. The shuttle system runs frequently and the stops are well-positioned for the main trails.
Bryce Canyon National Park - 280 miles south via I-15 and US-89, roughly 4.5 hours. Bryce Canyon isn't technically a canyon; it's a series of natural amphitheaters eroded into the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, filled with thousands of orange and red hoodoos, spire-shaped rock formations that glow at sunrise and turn deep crimson at sunset. Sunrise Point and Sunset Point on the main rim road deliver the iconic hoodoo views. The 5.5-mile Rim Trail connecting all the main viewpoints is flat, fully paved, and open to all fitness levels. The Under-the-Rim Trail drops into the canyon floor for overnight backpackers.
Arches National Park - 235 miles southeast via I-70, roughly 3.5 hours. The park contains over 2,000 natural sandstone arches within 76,000 acres of red rock country outside Moab, Utah. Delicate Arch is the most recognisable natural landmark in Utah and the image on the state license plate. The hike to it is 3 miles round trip with 480 feet of elevation gain across open slickrock. Balanced Rock, visible from the road, is one of the most photographed roadside stops in the American Southwest. Landscape Arch, the longest natural arch in North America at 290 feet span, is a 1.6-mile flat walk from the Devils Garden trailhead.
Canyonlands National Park - 255 miles southeast, 20 minutes past Arches outside Moab. Canyonlands is Utah's largest national park at 337,598 acres and its least developed. The park splits into three districts separated by the Colorado and Green rivers: Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze. Island in the Sky is the one accessible to standard RVs, with a paved road to the 6,000-foot mesa rim overlooking the confluence of the two rivers 1,000 feet below. Grand View Point at the road's end is the single best overlook in Utah. The Needles district (60 miles south of Moab) has more hiking and is less crowded; the road is paved and accessible to RVs up to 28 feet. The Maze is 4WD only and not relevant to RV travel.
Capitol Reef National Park - 220 miles south via I-15 and US-89, roughly 3.5 hours. The least visited of Utah's five national parks and, for some travellers, the most rewarding. The Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long buckle in the earth's crust, dominates the park's geology. The Fruita area near the visitor centre has a historic pioneer orchard where visitors can pick fruit in season (peaches in August, apples in September, cherries in June), an NPS-operated tradition that's been running since the 1880s. Scenic Drive south from the visitor centre (7 miles, paved) passes through red canyon walls with several accessible pullouts for photography.
Highway 12: The Most Scenic Drive in America - Between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef lies Highway 12, a 124-mile state scenic byway that National Geographic has called one of the most scenic drives on earth. The road climbs over the shoulder of the Aquarius Plateau at 9,600 feet, passes through the red rock canyon country of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and crosses the Hogsback, a narrow ridge section where the road falls away on both sides into valleys hundreds of feet below. Calf Creek Falls trailhead at mile marker 75 leads to a 5.5-mile round-trip hike to a 126-foot waterfall in a slot canyon. Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder, UT (along the route, $5 admission) displays one of the largest Ancestral Puebloan village sites in the western US.

Get Inspired

Our Road Trips Itineraries

Why Hire an RV in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City's location on the map is almost unfairly good for RV travel. The Wasatch Front runs immediately east of the city, providing a wall of 11,000-foot peaks with trailheads within 30 minutes of downtown. The Colorado Plateau begins 200 miles south, and from that point you're in one of the densest concentrations of public land in the United States, with BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and USFS land covering more than 60% of Utah's total area. Free dispersed camping on BLM land is legal and widespread throughout southern Utah, with no fee, no reservation, and a 14-day maximum stay.

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is 5 miles west of downtown, roughly 15 minutes by car or TRAX light rail from the city centre. It's one of the most efficiently laid out airports in the western US with direct flights from most major American cities. The Indie Campers pick up centre is accessible from SLC within 20-30 minutes. Utah has no toll roads. Fuel prices in Utah run below the national average, in a similar range to Tennessee and consistently well below California.

The city has changed faster over the past decade than most outsiders realise. The Granary District on the west side of downtown has a legitimate restaurant and bar scene. The 9th and 9th neighbourhood is a walkable strip of independent food businesses. Temple Square and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints campus downtown are free to visit and architecturally worth the time regardless of religious affiliation. The Natural History Museum of Utah on the University of Utah campus houses one of the best dinosaur fossil collections in the world, and Utah's geology is the reason why: the Morrison Formation running through the state has produced more dinosaur specimens than almost anywhere on earth.

Why Choose Indie Campers in Salt Lake City

Every Indie Campers booking includes unlimited mileage, 24/7 road assistance, and a Basic Protection Plan as standard. A Utah Mighty Five loop from Salt Lake City covers 1,200-1,500 miles of driving. A full Southwest loop that adds the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Las Vegas pushes past 2,000 miles. Neither trip works with a per-mile cap. There isn't one.

One-way hires are available from Salt Lake City to all active Indie Campers US centres. The most natural one-way from SLC runs south through all five Utah parks and drops off in Las Vegas (a 5-hour drive from Zion), which turns what would be a backtrack into a clean linear route. Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and all other active US centres are available for one-way drop-off. Confirm availability and pricing at booking.

What's the Best Time to Hire an RV in Salt Lake City?

Spring (March to May) is the window serious canyon country visitors aim for. Temperatures in the southern Utah parks run 15-27°C in April and May, crowds are lighter than summer, and the desert wildflower bloom from late March through mid-April is one of the most underrated natural events in the Southwest. Snow at Bryce Canyon's 8,000-foot elevation is still possible through April, which means the hoodoos dusted in white are a real possibility. Arches and Canyonlands are at their best in spring; book permits and campgrounds the day they open on Recreation.gov.

Summer (June to August) is the most popular season and the most demanding. Temperatures in Moab and the canyon country reach 38-41°C by July. Zion is packed from June through August; the shuttle lines at the visitor centre can run 30-45 minutes in peak weeks and Angels Landing permits are extremely competitive. Salt Lake City itself sits at 4,300 feet and runs 6-8°C cooler than the canyon parks. The Wasatch ski resorts open their summer hiking and mountain biking trails in late June, which gives a natural escape from canyon heat. Morning departures from camp before 8 a.m. and hiking done before noon are not optional in July; they're survival strategy.

Autumn (September to October) is the strongest season for most travellers. Temperatures drop into the 21-29°C range in the parks, autumn colour comes to the Wasatch and the Dixie National Forest in October, and the crowds thin noticeably after Labor Day. Arches and Capitol Reef in October light are exceptional. Bryce Canyon's autumn colour at 8,000 feet peaks in late September. Book campgrounds ahead; the autumn shoulder season is not as uncrowded as it used to be.

Winter (November to February) is specialist territory in the parks and genuinely excellent in the city. Salt Lake City's proximity to Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, and Park City puts it at the centre of some of the best powder skiing in North America. The Wasatch gets 500+ inches of snow annually and the resorts run from November through April. Southern Utah parks in winter are cold but beautiful and empty; Bryce Canyon hoodoos in snow are one of the most photographed winter landscapes in the American West. Some park facilities and campgrounds close, and Zion's Narrows in winter requires dry suits rather than wading gear. Plan accordingly.

How Many Days Do You Need for a Salt Lake City Road Trip?

3 to 5 Days

Salt Lake City + Arches + Canyonlands (750km round trip, 4-5 days)

Day 1: Pick up RV, drive southeast on I-70 to Moab (380km, 3 hr 30 min), set up at Moab Valley RV Resort
Day 2: Arches National Park — Delicate Arch hike, Balanced Rock, Landscape Arch, timed entry permit required
Day 3: Canyonlands Island in the Sky — Grand View Point, White Rim overlook, afternoon in Moab
Day 4: Return to Salt Lake City via I-70 (380km), Antelope Island State Park stop en route
Day 5: Salt Lake City — Natural History Museum, Granary District, depot drop-off

Salt Lake City + Zion (550km round trip, 3-4 days)

Day 1: Pick up RV, drive south on I-15 to Zion (270km, 4 hours), overnight at Watchman Campground
Day 2: Full day Zion — Angels Landing permit hike or The Narrows, NPS shuttle to canyon viewpoints
Day 3: Springdale morning, drive back toward SLC via US-89 and I-15 (270km)
Day 4: Salt Lake City city day, Antelope Island, depot drop-off

7 to 10 Days

Utah Mighty Five Loop (1,600km, 8-9 days)

Salt Lake City → Arches/Moab (380km, 2 nights) → Canyonlands Island in the Sky (30km, half day) → Capitol Reef (190km, 1 night at Fruita Campground) → Bryce Canyon via Highway 12 (190km, 1 night) → Zion (160km via US-89, 2 nights at Watchman) → return to SLC via I-15 (270km). The complete Utah five-park loop in under 10 days. Book all campgrounds on Recreation.gov months ahead for April through October.

Salt Lake City + Grand Canyon + Monument Valley (2,000km, 9-10 days)

Salt Lake City → Zion (270km, 1 night) → Grand Canyon South Rim (170km via AZ-389, 2 nights at Mather Campground) → Monument Valley (200km via US-89, 1 night) → Moab via US-163 and I-70 (380km, 1 night) → Arches day (30km) → return to SLC (380km). Crosses into Arizona and back, covering the two most recognisable landscapes in the American Southwest.

14+ Days

The Grand Southwest Loop (3,500km+, 14-16 days)

Salt Lake City → Arches/Moab (2 nights) → Canyonlands (1 night) → Capitol Reef (1 night) → Bryce Canyon via Highway 12 (2 nights) → Zion (2 nights) → Grand Canyon South Rim (2 nights) → Monument Valley (1 night) → Horseshoe Bend/Page, AZ (1 night) → Antelope Canyon day trip → back north to SLC via US-89 (480km). The definitive Southwest road trip from one depot.

Salt Lake City to Las Vegas One-Way: Utah Parks Linear Route (1,100km, 10-12 days)

Salt Lake City → Arches/Moab (2 nights) → Capitol Reef (1 night) → Bryce Canyon via Highway 12 (2 nights) → Zion (2 nights) → St. George, UT (90km, 1 night) → Las Vegas drop-off (170km). All five Utah parks in sequence with a clean one-way finish. No backtracking.

Most travellers find 8-9 days ideal for the full Utah Mighty Five loop from Salt Lake City. Anything less means rushing at least one park. Arches and Zion each deserve two nights minimum.

Where to Refuel and Refill Near Salt Lake City

Fuel Stations

Maverik — The dominant Utah fuel chain with over 400 locations across the Mountain West. Dense coverage throughout Salt Lake City and along I-15 south toward Zion and I-70 east toward Moab. Consistently competitive pricing and RV-accessible locations
Pilot Flying J — Multiple SLC metro and interstate locations on I-15 and I-80. Pull-through lanes for large rigs, diesel, DEF fluid, dump stations at most locations. Most reliable chain for big rigs in Utah
Love's Travel Stops — Coverage on I-15 south toward St. George and the Arizona border
Costco — Multiple Wasatch Front locations including West Valley City (3600 S. 2700 W.) and Sandy (10565 S. State Street). Cheapest fuel in the metro (members only), typically $0.15-0.30 below major branded stations
Shell/Chevron — Widespread suburban coverage for day-to-day fill-ups

Average regular unleaded price in Utah: $3.10-$3.60/gallon. Utah fuel prices run close to the national average, well below California.

Utah and regional fuel notes:

Moab fuel runs $0.20-0.40/gallon above Salt Lake City due to remote location and tourist demand. Fill up in Price or Green River on I-70 before arriving
Springdale (Zion gateway) fuel is similarly elevated. Fill in St. George on I-15 before heading into the canyon
Highway 12 between Bryce and Capitol Reef has limited fuel; fill completely in Panguitch or Escalante before the scenic drive
Nevada/Las Vegas fuel runs close to Utah pricing and significantly below California levels
No fuel stations exist inside any of the five Utah national parks. Plan all fill-ups in gateway towns

Propane Refill Stations

U-Haul — Multiple Salt Lake City metro locations throughout the valley, open 7 days a week, $3.50-4.50/gallon, RV-accessible. Most reliable option for propane refills before a southern Utah departure
Maverik — Select locations carry propane exchange, check the Maverik app for specific stations
Camping World — 1500 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City. Full RV supply store with propane fill station, open 7 days. Best pre-trip provisioning stop for any extended canyon country run
Tractor Supply — Locations in West Jordan and Ogden carry refills and cylinder exchange
Walmart Supercenter — Multiple valley locations. Exterior cylinder exchange only, approximately $20-25 per 20 lb swap

Propane notes: Propane powers your fridge, stove, and onboard heating. A typical tank holds 20-30 gallons and costs $70-135 to fill from empty at current Utah rates. No propane refill options exist inside any Utah national park. Fill in Salt Lake City before departure and top up in Moab or St. George depending on your route direction.

Dump Stations

Camping World Salt Lake City — 1500 S. Redwood Road. Dump station available during store hours
Pilot Flying J — Multiple I-15 and I-80 locations with dump stations at $10-15 for non-fuel customers. Verify via the Pilot app
Moab Valley RV Resort — On-site dump station for registered guests. Most Moab area RV parks include dump station access
Watchman Campground, Zion NP — On-site dump station for registered campers
Most Utah state parks allow non-guest dumps for $10-15. Call ahead to verify

Essential Apps for Your Salt Lake City RV Trip

GasBuddy — Real-time fuel prices across Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Prices swing $0.30-0.50/gallon between gateway towns and Salt Lake City; check before every fill-up in remote areas
NPS App — Download offline maps for Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef before leaving Salt Lake City. Cell service disappears inside all five parks and most of Highway 12
Recreation.gov — Essential for Arches timed entry permits, Angels Landing permits at Zion, and campground bookings at Watchman (Zion), Devils Garden (Arches), Fruita (Capitol Reef), and North Campground (Bryce). Book as far in advance as possible
Gaia GPS — The best offline mapping app for Utah BLM dispersed camping. Download southern Utah maps before departure; covers all BLM and USFS land boundaries and road conditions
iOverlander — User-reviewed free camping spots throughout canyon country. Strong coverage for BLM sites near Moab, Capitol Reef, and Grand Staircase-Escalante
Hipcamp — Private land camping on Utah ranches and farms. Useful gap-filler between NPS campgrounds on the Highway 12 corridor
Roadtrippers — Route planning for complex multi-park loops. Essential for sequencing the Mighty Five efficiently
Waze — Best real-time routing for Salt Lake City metro traffic. Enter RV dimensions to avoid low-clearance routes in older city neighbourhoods

Tips for Hiring an RV in Salt Lake City

Minimum driver age for Indie Campers vehicles is 21. A valid driver's license is required for all drivers; international visitors must carry an International Driving Permit alongside their home country license. A credit card in the primary driver's name is required at pick-up for the security deposit.

The America the Beautiful Annual Pass at $80 covers entrance fees at all five Utah national parks plus the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley Tribal Park (separate fee, not covered), and every other NPS fee site in the country. If your trip covers two or more Utah parks, the pass pays for itself on day one. Buy it at the first park entrance you visit or at store.usgs.gov before departure.

Book Arches timed entry permits and Angels Landing permits at Zion through Recreation.gov before your trip dates. These are not the same as campground reservations; they're separate permit systems. Missing the permit window means missing the hike or the park entry during peak hours.

Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef campgrounds all book up months in advance for spring and autumn dates on Recreation.gov. Set calendar alerts for the dates your booking windows open (typically 6 months ahead) and book on the morning they go live.

Driving Tips for Salt Lake City and Utah

Speed Limits

Utah interstates: 80 mph in rural areas (I-15 south of Nephi, I-70 across the plateau), 65-70 mph near urban zones
State highways: 55-65 mph
Urban streets: 25-35 mph
School zones: 20-25 mph when children present
National park roads: 25-35 mph, strictly enforced by NPS rangers

Enforcement: Utah Highway Patrol active on interstates. Utah's 80 mph rural interstate limit is among the highest in the US; the flip side is zero tolerance for much over that number. Many park entrance roads have automated speed monitoring. Speed cameras are not widespread in Utah outside of school zones but NPS rangers issue citations regularly inside all five parks.

Road Conditions

Excellent: I-15 south to St. George and the Nevada/Arizona borders is well-maintained multi-lane interstate. I-70 across the Colorado Plateau is similarly excellent and extraordinarily scenic
Scenic and demanding: Highway 12 between Bryce and Capitol Reef is paved throughout but includes the Hogsback ridge section, narrow two-lane mountain roads above 9,600 feet, and long stretches without guardrails. Not technically restricted for RVs but recommended for vehicles under 28 feet only
Remote: US-89 south from Kanab toward Page, AZ, and the BLM roads throughout Grand Staircase-Escalante are two-lane highways with long gaps between services. Fill fuel before leaving major towns
Winter: I-15 and I-80 in the SLC metro are ploughed and salted quickly after snowfall but can be hazardous during active storms. US-89 and mountain passes to Park City close temporarily in heavy snowfall. Bryce Canyon road is kept open year-round but snow tyres or chains are required November through March

Driving Culture

Lane discipline: Right lane for slower traffic, left for passing. Utah interstate drivers push the 80 mph limit; an RV in the left lane will be passed aggressively
Rural Utah: Most state highways south of Salt Lake City are two-lane roads with infrequent passing opportunities. Logging trucks and agricultural vehicles on the Sanpete Valley routes; take your time
Moab traffic: Main Street through Moab (US-191) is a single-lane-each-direction commercial strip that backs up badly during spring break (mid-March to early April) and over Memorial Day weekend. Leave early or late
Alcohol limit: 0.05% BAC, the lowest in the United States. Utah's DUI threshold is stricter than any other state. Two drinks before driving is over the limit for most people. Be aware of this before an evening on the Granary District restaurant strip

RV-Specific

Height: Know your exact vehicle height before approaching the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel east entrance. Vehicles over 7 feet 10 inches wide or 11 feet 4 inches tall require a $15 escort permit and can only transit during set hours (8 a.m.-8 p.m.). Verify your vehicle dimensions against this restriction before planning your Zion route
Length: Highway 12's Hogsback section is not officially restricted but is not recommended for vehicles over 28 feet. Bryce Canyon's main viewpoint parking lots have limited pull-through space for large rigs; arrive early for the best positioning. All other Mighty Five main park roads are fully accessible to large RVs
Propane: Turn off propane at fuel stations as standard practice. No propane restrictions on Utah highways. Turn propane off when entering propane-restricted tunnels if your route includes any Nevada or California sections on a one-way trip
Parking: Downtown Salt Lake City has limited RV-specific parking; use Camp VIP near North Temple or the Camping World lot as a base and rideshare or TRAX into the city centre. Moab has designated RV parking on the north end of town near the Moab Golf Course area; street parking on Main Street is not appropriate for large vehicles
Altitude: Salt Lake City sits at 4,300 feet and the canyon parks range from 3,900 feet (Zion valley floor) to over 9,000 feet (Bryce Canyon rim). Altitude sickness is real above 8,000 feet for people arriving from sea level; symptoms include headache, fatigue, and nausea. Hydrate aggressively for the first 48 hours, avoid heavy alcohol consumption the first night at altitude, and ascend gradually where possible. If symptoms are severe, descend

Estimated Costs for a 7-Day Salt Lake City RV Trip

RV hire: $850-1,800 (varies by season and vehicle size; spring and autumn peak season increases prices 20-40%)
Fuel: $175-300 (regular unleaded $3.10-3.60/gallon, 600-900 miles typical Mighty Five loop, 8-12 mpg = 50-113 gallons)
Propane: $25-55 (if refill needed mid-trip)
Tolls: $0 (Utah and Nevada have no toll roads on any routes from Salt Lake City)
Campgrounds: $105-630 ($15-90/night × 7; free BLM dispersed camping on the low end, Moab Valley RV Resort full hookup on the high end)
Food: $175-450 (groceries vs. restaurants; SLC dining $14-32/person; Moab and gateway town restaurants run $15-30/person)
Activities: $80-250 (America the Beautiful Pass $80 covers all five parks; Angels Landing permit $6/person; Antelope Island $15/vehicle; Natural History Museum $16/adult; additional guided tours $40-80)
Parking: $0-30 (NPS campgrounds included in site fee; SLC city parking $10-15/day at RV parks)

Total estimates:

Budget: $1,400 (smaller RV, cook all meals, BLM free dispersed camping near Moab and Grand Staircase-Escalante, America the Beautiful Pass covers all park entries, hiking and free activities only)

Mid-range: $2,700 (mid-size RV, mix of cooking and eating out, NPS campgrounds plus one night at Moab Valley RV Resort, full Mighty Five loop, Natural History Museum and one guided canyon tour)

Premium: $4,500 (larger RV, frequent restaurant meals in Moab and SLC, full hookup RV parks throughout, guided Narrows trip with hire gear, Antelope Canyon guided tour, all park permits and entries)

Utah is among the most affordable RV destinations in the American West. No toll roads, fuel below the California average, and the BLM free camping network throughout canyon country mean the base cost of a week in southern Utah is genuinely low. The main budget variables are vehicle size, campground selection, and whether you're adding guided experiences in Moab and around Zion.

One-Way Hires from Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City → Las Vegas (680km, 6 hours via I-15 south through St. George) — The cleanest one-way in the SLC network. Drive all five Utah parks in sequence and drop off in Las Vegas. No backtracking, all the best canyon country in one linear route.

Salt Lake City → Denver (600km, 6 hours via I-70 east) — Through the Colorado Rockies on one of the most scenic interstates in America. I-70 east from the Utah border to Denver crosses the Colorado Plateau, enters Glenwood Canyon, and climbs through the Front Range. Add a night in Moab before crossing into Colorado.

Salt Lake City → Los Angeles (1,100km, allow 2 days via I-15 south through Las Vegas) — Through Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert. Alternatively route through Zion, Bryce, and the Arizona Strip for a longer but more scenic southern approach.

Salt Lake City → San Francisco (1,200km, allow 2 days via I-80 west through Nevada) — Straight west across the Great Basin. The Nevada desert stretch is long and flat; Reno and the Sierra Nevada crossing are the natural break points.

Salt Lake City → Phoenix (1,000km, allow 1-2 days via I-15 south and I-40 or US-89 through the Grand Canyon corridor) — Through southern Utah, the Grand Canyon's North Rim approach, and the Arizona high desert. Sedona (175km north of Phoenix) is a natural last-night stop.

Salt Lake City → Seattle (1,500km, allow 2-3 days via I-84 west through Boise and the Columbia River Gorge) — Through Idaho's Snake River Plain, the Columbia River Gorge, and Portland before the final push north. One of the strongest Pacific Northwest approaches in the Indie network.

Salt Lake City → Nashville (2,800km, allow 5-6 days via I-70 east through Denver and beyond) — A serious cross-country run. Denver, Kansas City, and St. Louis are natural break points.

One-way fees vary by route and season. Confirm availability and pricing at the time of booking.

Why Start Your Road Trip in Salt Lake City

Five national parks within a five-hour drive. No toll roads anywhere in the state. BLM free camping on some of the most dramatic landscape in North America. A city with a functional airport, a growing food scene, and a natural history museum worth two hours before you leave.

The Utah Mighty Five loop is the most concentrated stretch of world-class scenery accessible from a single RV depot anywhere in the US network. Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands cover geology, canyon scale, and desert colour that most travellers have only seen in photographs. Highway 12 connecting them through the Grand Staircase-Escalante is the kind of road that doesn't need a destination to justify the drive.

Salt Lake City puts you at the start of all of it.

Frequently Asked Questions in Salt Lake City

Do I need a special licence to hire a campervan in Salt Lake City?

For most travelers, a special licence is not necessary to hire a campervan in Salt Lake City. A valid driving licence is required, though, to operate any of our vehicles. If you are a non-EU citizen, an International Driving Permit (IDP) may be required in addition to your home country’s driving licence. Additionally, your licence must match the transmission type of the vehicle (manual or automatic). You can find more details about driving licence requirements here.

Are pets allowed in your campervans?

Yes, our campervans are pet-friendly. Just be sure to add the extra cleaning service when booking. This ensures a professional anti-allergy cleaning is carried out after your trip. Please note that only one pet is allowed per campervan, and it must not exceed 30kg in weight. Also, we are not liable for any legal fees related to traveling with pets. If you’re booking through our marketplace, check the “vehicle rules” section to confirm if the vehicle is pet-friendly.

How many people can sleep in a campervan?

The sleeping capacity of our campervans and motorhomes varies depending on the model and size. Our Class C motorhomes can typically accommodate 4 to 8 people, while our Class B campervans can sleep between 2 to 4 people. Vehicles equipped with a rooftop tent generally have space for around 2 people. For a full breakdown of our models and sleeping capacities, click here.

Where can I stay overnight in Salt Lake City with a campervan rental, and is it safe?

If you're exploring Salt Lake City in a campervan rental, it's essential to be aware of the country’s official camping regulations. Many natural areas are legally protected, so using designated overnight parking spots or official campsites is strongly recommended. This not only helps preserve the environment but also ensures a safe and enjoyable experience. For more guidance on safety and responsible camping, click here.

Is it safe to rent a campervan in Salt Lake City? What protection do I have?

We provide three different protection plans to cover any incidents or damages that might occur during your campervan rental. All Indie Campers campervans come with third-party vehicle insurance, and property damage coverage (which varies based on the country). For marketplace rentals, insurance options may differ depending on the host. For further details on campervan insurance, visit this page.

Can I rent a campervan near me?

Yes, our search filter makes it easy to rent a campervan close to your location by using a 60km radius system. Depending on where you're searching from, you can quickly find the nearest Indie Campers campervan rental pick-up centre.

Do your RV rentals in Salt Lake City come with unlimited mileage?

Yes, a selected number of Indie Campers RV rentals in Salt Lake City include unlimited mileage, allowing you to explore freely and make the most of your road trip! Please note that unlimited mileage applies exclusively to Indie Campers RVs and is subject to responsible use.