Looking for a sunny destination with numerous activities for kids? St. George and the Greater Zion area just might be the answer. Located a quick ninety minute drive from Las Vegas, St. George lies within striking distance of four state parks and Zion National Park. Since the city is located in the Mojave Desert, it doesn’t have the cold weather found in other parts of the state. The weather in St. George hovers between 50 and 60 degrees in the winter, and the area enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year! If you’re looking for fun things to do in St George with kids, look no further. You will be booking a trip to Southern Utah in no time!
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Things to Do in St George for Families
1. Explore the state parks near St George
Snow Canyon State Park is just outside St. George and is well known for its volcanic cinder cones, sandstone cliffs, and petrified sand dunes. Our kids loved climbing into lava tubes, rolling down sand dunes, and hiking slot canyons. There are so many diverse landscapes at Snow Canyon, it feels like several parks in one. Families will love exploring the 38 miles of hiking trails within the park. Visiting this Utah state park is one of the best things to do on a Utah road trip.
Quail Creek State Park is a fisherman’s paradise. The reservoir is stocked with rainbow trout, bullhead catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass so bring a pole and head out fishing any time of year.
Sand Hollow State Park is 20,000 acres of pure recreation. Sandy Hollow Reservoir meets the red sand dunes and provides for some amazing ATV adventures. Older kids won’t want to miss this!
Gunlock State Park is a 240 acre park with boating, fishing, and swimming year round thanks to mild weather. Pack a picnic and head out for the day to explore its red rock cliffs and waterfalls.
Zion National Park is the perfect spot for kids with many family friendly hiking and biking trails. There’s also a scenic drive along the Virgin River and many opportunities to spot local wildlife. It’s a quick 45 minute drive from St. George and as one of the most beautiful national parks in the U.S., it’s one of the best things to do near St George.
2. Explore the museums
St. George has many kid friendly museums. The Dinosaur Discovery Site is a must see for dinosaur lovers. The museum features dinosaur footprints and swimming tracks, hands-on activities, and fossils.
Rosenbruch Wildlife Museum has over 300 animals on display, showcasing species from every continent.
The St. George Children’s Museum has twelve rooms of interactive displays encouraging children to use their imagination and explore.
3. Ghost town near St George
Just outside the entrance to Zion National Park, lies the abandoned town of Grafton. Many will recognize it from several movie scenes that were shot here, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
The town was originally settled in 1859 by five Mormon families, but three years later, the Virgin River flooded and wiped out the town. Settlers came together and built a new town upstream, but eventually Grafton was abandoned as people left to find safety from Indian attacks by moving to larger towns. Definitely worth touring with kids.
Other nearby ghost towns to explore include Old Iron Town and Silver Reef. Both were once thriving towns, but abandoned long ago.
4. Fun St George family activities
The St. George area offers many opportunities for adventurous families. Take a Jeep tour with one of the local companies and head off road. Or rent a UTV with Southern Utah Adventure Center in nearby Hurricane and head off to the dunes of Sand Hollow. The experience is unlike anything you’ve done before and it’s one of the best things to do in St George Utah!
Experience one of Utah’s longest zip lines at the “Green Valley Gap”, where you climb up a couple hundred feet, strap in, and soar across the sky. For something a bit more relaxing, take a hot air balloon ride and see all of the parks from above. There’s nothing else like it!
5. Learn about St George history
Brigham Young, the second president of the LDS Church maintained a winter home in St. George and today it is available for local tours. This is a fun way to learn about the man and why he chose St. George as his winter home.
The Daughters of Utah Pioneer Museum features historical artifacts, photos, and stories of the pioneer families who settled in Utah. Kids might enjoy taking a tour with a docent to learn more about the history of the town.
Photo: Dave Becker
St. George Tourism
Where to Stay in St George Utah
There are several good places to stay in St. George. Check out The Advenire Autograph Collection boutique hotel or try glamping near Zion National Park at Zion Wildflower Resort where you can try staying overnight in a covered wagon.
Where to eat in St George and Greater Zion
In St. George be sure to stop at Kayenta Art Village and have lunch at Xetava Gardens. We loved the Lemonade Mint Supreme and their burgers were delicious.
Also in St. George is one of our all time favorite restaurants, Hash House A Go Go. They are known for their super large portions and delicious farm food. My kids love the Snickers pancakes and hubby likes the Sage Fried Chicken Benedict.
Close to Zion in Springdale, we would recommend Zion Pizza & Noodle Co. with delicious pizza, calzones, and salads. Another great choice in Springdale is MeMe’s with the best Cubano sandwich I’ve ever eaten!
Looking for other Utah posts? Don’t miss: Things to Do in Cedar City Utah with Kids and Capitol Reef National Park with kids.
