Utah is an adventurer’s playground!  Not only are there world-renowned ski resorts in the winter, but there are hundreds of things to do in Utah in the summer! 

As the weather warms up, kids of all ages are ready to get back outside and discover the amazing places that Utah has to see and do.

Our list of 102 Things to do in Utah in the Summer contains attractions that cost money and also includes many free activities. Use it as a summer bucket list for your family or a “what to do when the kids are bored” idea list.

DOWNLOAD a printable list of things to do in Utah in the summer by clicking the image below.

1. Road Trip – Pick a place and go on a road trip to some of the amazing Utah destinations. You can also pack along fun Kid’s Road Trip Activities to keep them entertained.

2. Farmer’s Market – With food, fun, crafts and activities, farmer’s markets are a perfect place to explore and get some energy out. Find a farmer’s market in Utah.

3. Camping – Choose from over 7000 campsites in Utah.

4. Homemade ice cream – You can make Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag or get an Ice Cream Maker for your family to use over and over. 

5. Attend a Parade – Salt Lake City has a large July 24th parade and many communities in Utah have July 4th and/or July 24th parades.

6. Swimming Pool – Put on your swimsuit and sunscreen and head to your favorite swimming pool.

7. Drive In movie – There are five drive-in movie theaters in Utah! If one is close enough to you, go! If not,  create your own backyard drive in and invite some friends.

8. See a Rodeo – For a list of rodeos help in Utah, visit Rodeoz Authority Guide.

9. Outdoor Concert – Bring a picnic and listen to some great music. Here is a list of Free Concerts in Utah.

10. Zion National Park – Visitors can drive the Zion-Mt. Carmel Scenic Highway, wind through the canyon along a paved trail on the Riverside Walk, venture one of the most talked about adventures at Zion – hike the Narrows, access the beautiful Emerald Pools, or do a variety of other attractions at Zion National Park!

11. Lagoon – The largest amusement park in Utah has 10 roller coasters, a water park and total of 53 rides. The whole family will be thrilled!

12. Go on a Hike – There are great hiking trails all over Utah. Check out the book 100 Hikes in Utah for some great ideas.

13. Red Butte Garden – A beautiful area with themed gardens and a wonderful children’s garden as well. Find out when they have free events to visit the garden.

14. Try a New Park – Every city has numerous parks. Find a new one that you’ve never visited and take the kids. Simple, free fun.

15. Nature Scavenger Hunt – Collect or just view certain items in nature. Here are many ideas for a nature scavenger hunt.

16. Utah Olympic Park – Take the ride of a lifetime down the water ramps, ski jumps, bobsled track and more!

17. Food Truck – So many yummy and unique foods can be found in Utah food trucks. Find a food truck near you!

18. Soda shop – Many soda shops have popped up all over Utah. Take the kids to get a fun soda drink on a nice hot day!

19. Fireworks – Set off your own fireworks or find out where to watch them on July 4 or July 24.

20. Backyard Fire Pit – Make some s’mores in your own backyard and tell some ghost stories are a backyard fire pit. 

21. Thanksgiving Point – home to the Museum of Natural Curiosity (a phenomenal children’s museum), Farm Country (meet your favorite farm animals), Ashton Gardens (relaxing manicured gardens and waterfalls), Museum of Ancient Life (one the best hands on dinosaur museums we’ve been to), and the Butterfly Biosphere.

22. Trampoline park – Needing air conditioning? Take the kids to a trampoline park on a super hot day or a rainy day.

23.  Utah’s Hogle Zoo – With over 800 animals on 42 acres, Hogle Zoo is always a great place for kids and families to spend the day alongside amazing creatures.

24. Kid’s $1 movies – Cinemark and Megaplex both show older movies for kids for ~$1 each during the day.

25. BBQ – Invite some friends, fire up the grill and host a backyard BBQ. Don’t forget some fun outdoor lights to keep the party going into the night.

26. Splash in a Lake – With over 100 lakes in Utah that allow boats, there are ton of adventures to be had!

27. Hot air balloons – There are quite a few hot air balloon festivals in Utah where you can watch and sometimes ride in a balloon. Check out the full list of Utah Hot Air Balloon Festivals.

28. Snow Cones – Make snow cones at home or enjoy any of the snow cone trucks in your community. Summer is not summer until you’ve had a snow cone.

29. Fishing – Every kid needs to go fishing at least one. For information on fishing in Utah check out the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. 

30. Salt Lake Bees – For some good old fashioned baseball, a Salt Lake Bees game is magical. Check out the many family and kid promotions for the Salt Lake Bees.

31. 5K run or walk – Don’t fret about your fitness level, there are various 5k runs or walks in Utah and some support local charities.

32. Bear Lake Valley – Often called the “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its intense turquoise blue water, Bear Lake Valley is an adventurer’s paradise! Not only are there an incredible amount of activities to do in, on and around Bear Lake, you will not want to miss the Bear Lake raspberries! My personal favorite was a raspberry shake from LaBeau’s Drive-in. The blue water and the beach made for happy (and exhausted) kids! The rentals and campsites fill up fast for the summer, so plan ahead!

33. Splash at a splash pad – Find a splash pad near you, or try a new one from the list of Utah Splashpads.

34. This is The Place Heritage Park – Travel back in time to when early settlers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. Activities include mining for gems, pony rides, train rides, the Native American Village, visiting pioneer tradesmen, cooling off at Irrigation Station, shopping at The Gift Shop and ZCMI Mercantile Store, eat ice cream, grab a donut, enjoy food at the grill, and much more! 

35. Sweet’s Candy Factory Tour – For a fun and different experience, take the kids on a tour of Sweet’s Candy Factory. The tours are free, but are by appointment only Monday – Thursday and Friday mornings.

36. Visit a water park – There are numerous water parks in Utah with slides and pools for all ages.

37. Lemonade Stand – Help your kids learn some great business skills by setting up a lemonade and/or candy stand! They can build their own setup or use this fun cardboard lemonade stand.

38. Water Balloon Fight – Most kids love a great water fight and what easier way to do it now than to use Bunch-o-Balloons so no one has to be sitting for hours filling up balloons. 

39. Utah Waterfall – Visit one of the many beautiful Utah waterfalls and get cooled off from the summer heat.

40. Make a Wood Craft – Teach the kids how to make something out of wood. They could make a birdhouse, a small wood airplane, or anything they can think of.

41. Board Game Day – Pull out all your favorite board games, like Monopoly or Settlers of Catan, and play one after the other throughout the day. Don’t forget the snacks!

42. Tie Dye a Shirt – Make a shirt for the Fourth of July or simply for fun. Having a good tie dye kit makes the event so much easier.

43. Bryce Canyon National Park – The most famous location to visit is Bryce Amphitheater. In the summer months, there is a shuttle that takes visitors to the four main viewpoints. At most of these viewpoints are trailheads to explore the canyons. Our favorite hike was a 1.4 mile loop, Navajo Loop Trail that leads to hoodoo formations such as Wall Street, Twin Bridges, and Thor’s Hammer.

44. Geocaching – Download a free geocaching app and see your neighborhood in a different way. 

45. Backyard camping – Sleep under the stars, in a tent, on a trampoline, in a hammock or on a cot on a warm summer night. Don’t forget the bug spray!

46. Summer Camp – Find camps for fun or based on your child’s interests. Here is a list of camps in the Salt Lake area.

47. Ride the Train – Take a trip on UTA’s Trax or Frontrunner. You can stop at a specific location or just ride it out and back.

48. Antelope Island – The largest of the 9 islands in the Great Salt Lake, you can see buffalo on Antelope Island, wander along hiking trails, have access to the salt water and more.

49. Wash your Car with a Hose – Water fun and getting a chore done at the same time! Perfection! Here is a great car wash kit.

50. Grandparents – Visit or write a letter or make a video for grandparents. It will make their day!

51. Utah State Capital – Visit the majestic Utah State Capital. Free tours begin on the hour from 9:00am to 4:00pm Monday–Friday, with the exception of state holidays. Groups of under 10 people are welcome to drop in without a reservation.

52. Pick Fresh Fruit or Vegetables – If you have a garden, get the kids outside to help pick the harvest. If you don’t have your own garden, enjoy visiting a U-Pick Farm in Utah.

53. Outdoor Movies in the Park – Bring your chairs or blankets and snacks and enjoy one of many free movies in the park in Utah.

54. Picnic – Pack a lunch, bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic at a park, your own yard, off a hiking trail, or next to the pool. The location possibilities are endless.

55. Dinosaurs – Go back in time at any of the Utah Dinosaur Museums or fossil viewing sites.

56. Utah Museum of Fine Arts – Expose your children to the world of art in the museum at the University of Utah. Admission is free each first Wednesday and third Saturday of the month.

57. Learn a New Skill – Use a can opener, tie a shoe, learn how to braid, hammer a nail, cook a new dessert, or have your kids select what new skill they want to learn this summer.

58. Bowling – For just the cost of shoe rentals, bowl weekly in the summer on the Kids Bowl Free program.

59. Attend a Local Festival – Find a summer festival in Utah that seems interesting to you! There are tons of festivals to choose from.

60. Read a Book Series – Find a new book series and read all of the books over the summer. You can do it as individuals or families.

61. Library Events –  Check your local library for a calendar of events for summer reading programs, summer shows and events.

62. Watch the Sunset or the Sunrise – Lookup when the sun rises or sets on a specific day and make an event out of it!

63. Science Experiments – Make slime, have a volcano erupt, create your own bubble mix, mix Diet Coke and Mentos, and so many more ideas for your kids to learn and discover. Check out 15 Simple Science Experiments.

64. Nature Center – Visit one of many nature centers in Utah. They each have something different to discover! Here is a list of 10 Nature Centers in Utah to start the adventure.

65. Park City – Park City is a winter playground for hundreds of thousands, but also provides various summer activities including fishing, hiking, golfing, biking, and attractions such as the alpine coaster and slide.

66. Slip ‘n Slide – Setup a backyard slip ‘n slide for your kids and their friends to enjoy a hot afternoon.

67. Star Gazing – Look up your own star gazing charts or go to a public star gazing party. Check out this calendar for party details: Salt Lake Astronomical Society.

68. Visit a Farm – There are numerous farms to visit in Utah, but our favorite farm is Wheeler Farm in Murray where you can wander around for free or enjoy some fun activities like milking a cow for a minimal fee.

69. Family Fun Center – Go mini-golfing, ride a go-cart, play some arcade games, go bowling and much more at a family fun center! There are multiple locations in larger cities and usually one in other areas.

70. Learning Videos – Learn how to do origami, draw a certain character, make slime, and thousands of other things by just searching a how-to video on YouTube.

71. Children’s Museum – Children’s museum in Utah include Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, Treehouse Museum, Museum of Natural Curiosity, St. George Children’s Museum. There are also children’s areas and events in most museums. 

72. Volunteer – Check out this list of volunteer opportunities in Utah.

73. Bike Ride – Ride on one the amazing biking trails in Utah!  Most cities have paved walking, running, biking trails that are perfect for families to enjoy.

74. Heber Valley Railroad – The Heber Valley Railroad runs various event trains and scenic routes out of Heber. Price may also include lunch or dinner.

75. Night Games – Summer is the perfect time to gather the neighborhood kids and play night games. Here is a list of ideas for Outdoor Night Games. 

76. Dinosaur National Monument – Kids of all ages will enjoy viewing over 1,500 dinosaur fossils that are exposed on the cliff face inside the Quarry Exhibit Hall. Trails in the park and area lead to dinosaur footprints, fossils and petroglyphs.

77. Homestead Crater – Located in Midway, Homestead Crater is the only warm scuba diving destination in the continental united states and attracts divers from all over. Visitors can enjoy a soak or a snorkel in the 96 degree water. 

78. Living Planet Aquarium – It may be on the more expensive side when it comes to family attractions in Utah, but the Living Planet Aquarium will put your kids close to other creatures they won’t find anywhere else in the state.

79. Nine Mile Canyon – Deep in the Utah desert, Nine Mile Canyon is filled with tens of thousands of petroglyphs and pictographs, some over a thousand years old.  Contrary to its name, the canyon is actually 40 miles long and is known as the “world’s longest art gallery.”

80. Handprint Art – Capture your kids at the size they are right now and have each of them make handprint art. There are various handprint art ideas or get a handprint art kit!

81. Natural History Museum of Utah – One of Utah’s newer and top attractions, the Natural History Museum of Utah is located near the University of Utah and provides an introduction to the science in Utah’s remarkable landscape. There is also a large collection of dinosaur bones and tons of hands-on activities for all ages. The museum offers four free days each year, but plan for crowds on those days.

82. Random Acts of Kindness – Get the kids involved and do random acts of kindness for strangers or neighbors or your own family. 

83. Pajama and Movie Day – Keep on your comfy pajamas, pick out the family favorite movies and be cozy all day long. Popcorn is a must!

84. Timpanogos Cave – An experience like no other, visiting Timpanogos Cave National Monument is one your kids won’t soon forget. It is a steep climb to the cave, but I have seen kids, toddlers, babies on backs, teenagers, parents, and grandparents, of every level of health, climb the 1.5 miles to the top. There is a car fee for entrance into the area and you need to reserve your tickets for Timpanogos Cave early.

85. Play Bingo – Print Bingo cards online or get an actual bingo game, get some prizes from the Dollar Store and have a fun game of bingo!

86. Goblin Valley State Park – Visiting Goblin Valley is a strange and colorful experience covered in rock goblins and gnomes and formations that many often compare to Mars. This is a kid’s outdoor playground at its best!

87. Monument Valley – Often photographed, Monument Valley is a part of the Navajo Nation park system and is characterized by a cluster of vast sandstone buttes, the largest reaching 1,000 ft above the valley. There is a fee per vehicle.

88. Hole in the Rock – Near Moab is a fun stop along the highway, a unique, 5,000 square foot home carved directly into a rock. Outside the living quarters, you’ll find a rock and cactus garden, a petting zoo, plus picnic tables and benches carved from stone.

89. The Real “Up” House – Mimicked after the house in the movie “Up,” there is a real “Up” house that you can drive by. Tours of the house are not permitted, as it is a residence, but you can purchase a photo shoot.

90. Sidewalk Chalk – Create your own unique sidewalk art on a fun morning or afternoon with sidewalk chalk.

91. Gilgal Sculpture Garden – Open seven days a week and free to the public, this gem is tucked in the middle of the block behind houses and businesses. Gilgal Sculpture Garden contains 12 original sculptures and over 70 stones engraved with scriptures, poems, and literary texts. 

92. Watch a Thunderstorm – Nothing is truly as spectacular as nature’s fireworks show! 

93. Eccles Dinosaur Park – Your kids will feel transported back to the time of the dinosaurs at Eccles Dinosaur Park in Ogden. Life-size replicas of various species of dinosaurs are scattered throughout the manicured park. And there is even a dinosaur slide or two!

94. Bake Cookies for a Neighbor – Learn a new cookie recipe or make an old favorite. Either way, your neighbor will be so grateful!

95. Hill Aerospace Museum – Whether you’re a plane-lover or not, this free museum will be an enjoyable surprise!  Hill Aerospace Museum has over three gigantic hangers full of historic air force airplanes and memorabilia. 

96. Sprinkler Trampoline – Set a sprinkler up under a trampoline or spraying on a trampoline and let the kids slip, slide and jump the afternoon away.

97. County Fair – Find one of many county fairs in Utah and spend a day enjoying the animals, crafts and carnival. 

98. Historic Temple Square – Free tours are given of Temple Square daily. Other activities to do on the square or nearby include viewing the Christus statue at the North Visitor Center, watching the famous Choir on Temple Square perform, visiting the free Church History Museum, eating at any of the acclaimed restaurants: The Roof, The Lion House or Nauvoo Cafe, and many more ideas.

99. Feed the Ducks – Take some old bread pieces and feed some ducks at a nearby pond or lake.

100. Try a New Restaurant – Have your eye on a restaurant and just haven’t ever tried it out?

101. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary – As the country’s largest no-kill center, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is home to approximately 1,700 animals available for adoption. In the visitor’s center, guests can sign up for tours, learn about the animals, and participate in events.

102. Arches National Park – Some of the incredible arches are only accessible by hiking. However, there are many arches that can be seen along the 18-mile scenic route.  Many outdoor adventures are available at the park including camping, biking, climbing, backpacking, horseback riding and stargazing. Be prepared as the summer weather here can be incredibly hot.

MEET BIG ADVENTURE FAM