Overview
Cedar City is a small city in Dixie, Utah, and is a good place to stock up on supplies before heading into beautiful wilderness areas stretching out in all directions. The city is sandwiched between mountain ranges covered by Dixie National Forest, while further to the southwest lie the remotest areas of Zion National Park, and to the east Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park.
4 things to do · 3 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Cedar City
Utah Shakespearean Festival
Founded in 1961, the Utah Shakespearean Festival takes place each year on the campus of Southern Utah University from June to October.
Brian Head Ski Resort
Southern Utah's premier ski resort. Winter activities include skiing, tubing, and bag jump. Summer activities include biking, hiking, golf, and geo-caching.
Southern Utah Thunderbirds
The sports teams representing Southern Utah University, playing in the Western Athletic Conference for most sports, as well as the football-only United Athletic Conference. While SUU is a member of NCAA Division I, it la…
Neil Simon Festival
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 16°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Mar and Oct.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CDC Cedar City Regional Airport, Cedar City — 3 mi away. Directions
- SGU St George Regional Airport, St George — 51 mi away. Directions
- LAS Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas — 160 mi away (major hub). Directions
Cedar City is located along I-15, the north-south freeway through western Utah. The drive from Salt Lake City is 3.5 hours and 2.5 hours from Las Vegas.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Utah Shakespearean Festival, Neil Simon Festival
- Lunch Ninja Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
- Afternoon Brian Head Ski Resort, Southern Utah Thunderbirds
- Dinner Café Rio
- Evening IG Winery & Tasting Room
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Climate
Cedar City's elevation is approximately 5840' (1780m) above sea level, which gives it warm summers and cold winters.
Get in
By plane
By car
Cedar City is located along I-15, the north-south freeway through western Utah. The drive from Salt Lake City is 3.5 hours and 2.5 hours from Las Vegas.
By bus
Salt Lake Express provides intercity bus service.
Do
Do Southern Utah Thunderbirds
The sports teams representing Southern Utah University, playing in the Western Athletic Conference for most sports, as well as the football-only United Athletic Conference. While SUU is a member of NCAA Division I, it lacks the high profile of some other schools in the state, most notably Utah in Salt Lake City and BYU in Provo, in no small part because its football team plays in the second-level Division I FCS. On the plus side, this means ticket prices are considerably lower than those for more prominent teams. The most prominent venues, both on campus, are Eccles Coliseum for football and America First Event Center for basketball, volleyball, and women's gymnastics.
Buy
Shop Utah Shakespearean Festival Gift Shoppe
Eat
Eat Ninja Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
Drink
Drink IG Winery & Tasting Room
Drink Bristlecone
Coffee shop.
Sleep
Go next
Cedar City is located very near major recreational areas including:
- Cedar Breaks National Monument - a half-mile deep geologic amphitheater. Wander among timeless bristlecone pines, stand in lush meadows of wildflowers, ponder crystal-clear night skies, and experience the richness of the subalpine forest. Utah Highway 148, the main road through Cedar Breaks, is closed during the winter due to high snowfall.
- Bryce Canyon National Park - There is no place quite like Bryce Canyon. Hoodoos (odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion) can be found on every continent, but here is the archetypal "hoodoo-iferous" terrain.
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Zion National Park - to the south.
- Las Vegas - only about a 2-hour drive along I-15 to the southwest.
Nearby
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Park · 8 listings · 12 mi away
Zion National Park
Park · 40 listings · 26 mi away
Springdale
City / town · 16 listings · 34 mi away
Panguitch
City / town · 10 listings · 36 mi away
Mount Carmel Junction
City / town · 34 listings · 38 mi away
Hurricane
City / town · 8 listings · 38 mi away
Snow Canyon State Park
Park · 4 listings · 46 mi away
Middleton
City / town · 28 listings · 47 mi away
My experience
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