Orem, Utah — Several affordable road trips within a day’s drive of Orem offer spring break escapes for students attending Utah Valley University and travelers across Utah Valley.
With thousands of students studying at Utah Valley University, nearby destinations throughout Utah and the Intermountain West provide travel opportunities that often require only a few hours on the road, according to regional tourism agencies.
One of the most popular drives heads south to Zion National Park, where visitors explore towering sandstone cliffs, canyon hikes and scenic drives through one of the most visited national parks in the United States.
Students also frequently travel to Bryce Canyon National Park, known for its distinctive hoodoo rock formations rising from dramatic canyon amphitheaters.
Another common getaway is Arches National Park near Moab. The park features more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches across one of the most recognizable desert landscapes in the American Southwest.
Travelers looking for alpine scenery often head northeast to Park City, a mountain town known for hiking trails, scenic overlooks and historic streets surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains.
Closer to Orem, Utah Lake State Park offers lakeside recreation areas, walking trails and sweeping views of the surrounding mountains along one of Utah’s largest freshwater lakes.
Orem’s location along the Wasatch Front places national parks, alpine mountains and desert landscapes within reach of a manageable road trip.
For younger travelers and college students balancing tight budgets, these destinations provide opportunities to explore Utah’s landscapes while staying within driving distance of the Utah Valley University campus.
