Overview
St. George is a city in southwestern Utah, on the Utah-Arizona border, known regionally as "Utah's Dixie" (a nickname given to the area for its warm southern Utah climate which was used to grow cotton by early settlers). The city is nestled in a scenic valley of desert vistas in the northeastern Mojave Desert, adjacent to the majestic Pine Valley Mountains.
10 sights · 11 things to do · 9 places to eat · 5 bars & cafés · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about St. George
St. George Utah Temple
This beautiful, white temple is the oldest continually-used temple of the LDS Church, and it is a dominating landmark of the town. You can't enter the temple (unless you have a LDS Temple Recommend) but you can enter the…
St. George Tabernacle
The Tabernacle was once considered the center of town, and was often used as a meeting hall. The pointed clock tower makes this building a landmark in the district.
St. George Art Museum
Permanent exhibits with artworks from Utah artists and changing exhibits.
St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site
In 2000, some of the best-preserved dinosaur tracks in the world were found on a farm here, and since then a museum has been built around it where you can observe the dino tracks and fossil replicas.
Tuacahn Amphitheater
Beautiful setting in a with red rock canyon walls surrounding. In the summer you can see wonderful musicals.
Utah Tech Trailblazers
The sports teams representing Utah Tech University, known before mid-2022 as Dixie State University. Members of the Western Athletic Conference, the Trailblazers completed a four-year transition from NCAA Division II to …
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 100°F; winter lows dip to about 29°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Zion National Park)
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.
- SGU St George Regional Airport, St George — 6 mi away. Directions
- CDC Cedar City Regional Airport, Cedar City — 49 mi away. Directions
- LAS Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas — 112 mi away (major hub). Directions
St. George is on Interstate 15, which travels southwest through Las Vegas, Nevada and into Southern California, and north through Salt Lake City into Idaho and Montana. Access from Denver, the Midwest and the east coast can be achieved by Interstate 70, 2 hours to the north via I-15. Access from Phoenix and Albuquerque, New Mexico can be achieved by Interstate 10 and Interstate 40, about 2 hours to the southwest via I-15 and US Route 93.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $55–$75 a night (typical $72), from 4 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $13 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$90, mid-range ~$130, comfortable ~$210.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning St. George Utah Temple, St. George Tabernacle, McQuarrie Memorial Pioneer Museum
- Lunch Bear Paw Coffee Co
- Afternoon St. George Art Museum, Brigham Young Winter Home
- Dinner Pizza Factory
- Evening George's Corner
Day 2
- Morning Rosenbruch Wildlife Museum, Southgate Golf Club, St. George Golf Club
- Lunch Peppers Cantina
- Afternoon Sun River Golf Club, Utah Tech Trailblazers
- Dinner Pancho & Lefty's
- Evening The Office
Day 3
- Morning Tuacahn Amphitheater, Ledges Golf Club, Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club
- Lunch Riggattis Pizza
- Afternoon Taffyshop, Sunbrook Golf Club
- Dinner Painted Pony
- Evening Poncho and Lefty's
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
St. George has seen unprecedented growth and has become well-known for its spectacular scenery, proximity to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon National Park; a growing arts and cultural scene; year-round golf, big-city fine dining and shopping variety; recreation, mild climate of over 300 sunny days a year, internationally known events and a major southwestern retirement destination. In the 1990s, the city was dubbed Utah's Palm Springs as retirees were flocking here. Today, however, St. George is growing into a diverse city of all walks of life, with a population of over 80,000 and metropolitan area of over 160,000 (2016). For locals and visitors, from the avid outdoor enthusiast to the more cosmopolitan type, the area offers everything from 'A to Zion'.
Visitor information
- St. George City website
Get in
By car
St. George is on Interstate 15, which travels southwest through Las Vegas, Nevada and into Southern California, and north through Salt Lake City into Idaho and Montana. Access from Denver, the Midwest and the east coast can be achieved by Interstate 70, 2 hours to the north via I-15. Access from Phoenix and Albuquerque, New Mexico can be achieved by Interstate 10 and Interstate 40, about 2 hours to the southwest via I-15 and US Route 93.
There are a few rental car places at the airport, and an Enterprise at 652 E. St. George Blvd, +1 435 634-1556.
The St. George area is served directly by exits 2 (Southern Pkwy.), 4 (Brigham Road), 5 (Dixie Drive), 6 (Bluff Street), 8 (St. George Blvd), 10 (Green Springs Dr.) and 13 (Washington Pkwy). Bluff Street and St. George Blvd make up the downtown I-15 business loop where the bulk of lodging and services can be found.
By plane
Go St. George Regional Airport (SGU)
Is served by Skywest Airlines, operating as Delta Connection with flights from Salt Lake City, Denver and Phoenix. Hertz, Avis, National, and Budget rental car companies have counters at the airport.
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas is the nearest international airport. The drive from Las Vegas to St. George takes approximately 1.5 hours via I-15.
By bus
Greyhound serves St. George, stopping at the McDonald's at 1235 S Bluff, (corner of S. Bluff and Main Streets) just off I-15 exit 6.
There are also a few shuttle/bus companies serving St. George. St George Shuttle and Aztec Shuttle operates van service to Las Vegas International Airport and Salt Lake City. St George Express operates a shuttle to and from McCarran Las Vegas Airport (pick up at Level 0) and drops off at Howard Johnson Inn in St. George.
Get around
By car
St. George, like all cities in Utah, follows a well-defined grid system that makes it easy to get around and find your destination. For example, let's take the address 650 South 300 East. Each hundred represents one block radiating out from the center point at Tabernacle Street (running east-west) and Main Street (running north-south). To find 650 South 300 East, starting from the intersection of Main and Tabernacle, you would drive 3 blocks to the east, then just over 6 blocks to the south. St. George Boulevard, a major east-west artery, takes the place of 100 North.
While the grid system in the heart of town is well-defined, it can be become difficult to follow in the outlying areas and new subdivisions on the outskirts of the city. While in some cases the addresses will still follow the grid pattern, the blocks will become smaller and more irregularly spaced, and there will be more streets that don't follow the grid system at all.
By bus
SunTran is St George's public transit system, with over 140 bus stops and six fixed routes serving St. George and Ivins.
By bicycle
St. George also has a good urban trail network offering some very scenic routes for pedestrians, bicyclists, and skaters.
See
See Downtown Historic District
Centered around the intersection of St. George Boulevard and Main Street. Most of the town's preserved historic structures are here, as well as some shops and inns. Notable landmarks include the Old Pioneer Courthouse, Opera House, the Old Dixie Academy, and a number of historic homes and storefronts.
Do
Hiking
Golf
St. George is notable for its abundant golf opportunities, owing to the city's year-round warm climate. There are a number of golf courses to choose from:
Mountain biking
*Bear Claw Poppy, Easy, short ride. *Green Valley Raceway, Home to many local races. *Gooseberry Mesa North and South Rim, A must-do! Slickrock coupled with singletrack. *Paradise Canyon Loop, A quick fun ride. *Hurricane Cliffs Trail System, Excellent singletrack. *Stucki Springs Trail, Fun trail close to town. *Broken Mesa Rim Trail, Technical trail in the desert reserve. *Church Rocks Loop with Prospector, A popular trail, especially in the winter.
Spectator sports
Do Utah Tech Trailblazers
The sports teams representing Utah Tech University, known before mid-2022 as Dixie State University. Members of the Western Athletic Conference, the Trailblazers completed a four-year transition from NCAA Division II to Division I in 2024. Utah Tech 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 in the football-only United Athletic Conference. 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 Greater Zion Stadium for football and soccer and Burns Arena for basketball.
Events
- Last weekend of January: St. George Winter Bird Festival.
- Late-March: St. George Arts Festival
- First weekend of May: St. George Ironman 70.3.
- First week of August: Washington County Fair.
- First Friday of each month: George Streetfest, a downtown street festival featuring arts, culture, live music, food, beer/jazz garden.
- First Saturday in October: St. George Marathon.
- Mid-October: Huntsman World Senior Games .
- Third Saturday in October: Tour de St. George, a 100-mile (160-km) bike ride.
Buy
- Red Cliffs Mall is the only indoor shopping mall between Las Vegas and the Wasatch Front, it's anchored by Sears, JCPenney, Dillards and Barnes and Noble as well as over 65 retailers located on Red Cliffs Drive at the underpass between I-15 exits 8 and 10.
- The Outlets at Zion / Promenade at Red Cliffs offers a variety of local and national retailers and restaurants. Both shopping centers are on Red Cliffs Drive across the street from each other, just north of the St. George Boulevard exit.
- Red Rock Commons / Rimrock Center's major stores include Dick's Sporting Goods, Ulta, Old Navy, Gap, TJ Maxx, Target, Ross and Lowe's. Both shopping centers are on River Road about two blocks apart, just south of the St. George Boulevard exit.
- Telegraph Marketplace's stores include Best Buy, Mattress Store, Payless Shoe Source, and America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses.
Shop Middleton Shopping Center
Shop Cotton Mill Center
Stores include: The Home Depot, Walmart, Suile Salons, Petco, & Red Rock Spas.
Shop Cotton Mill II
Stores include: Kohls, Joann Fabric Crafts, DownEast, Shoe Carnival, Natural Grocers, & Dollar Tree.
Eat
Eat Bear Paw Coffee Co
Place serves excellent fresh breakfast dishes all day.
Eat Cafe Rio Mexican Grill
Eat Nielsen Frozen Custard
Great ice cream-like frozen custard.
Eat Painted Pony
Fine dining restaurant serving lunch and dinner. Steak and seafood are the specialties, and there is a good wine list.
Eat Pancho & Lefty's
Great Mexican food and an overall good clean place to eat.
Eat Peppers Cantina
Great Mexican food with wonderful flavor.
Eat Pizza Factory
Pizza restaurant. Downstairs is a sister restaurant, the Pasta Factory, which has a patio dining area. The food is very good and reasonably priced.
- Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: 929 N 3050 East Ste B6 and at Sunset Plaza on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.
Drink
Drink The Office
Bar in the Hilton Garden Inn. Utah no longer has the private club law.
Drink The One and Only
Hometown beer bar.
Drink Poncho and Lefty's
Mexican food and cozy little bar.
Drink George's Corner
Full bar, live music, billiards and delicious food
Drink St. Helens Restaurant and Sports Bar
One of the few original spots in town with mouth-watering, old-fashioned cafe-style food, bar and live music.
Sleep
Go next
- Zion National Park, the most popular National Park in Utah.
- Snow Canyon State Park, a must-visit gem right in St. George's backyard.
- Hurricane, small town with hot springs sometimes open to the public, near Silver Reef ghost town
- Colorado City unique polygamist community on Utah-Arizona border
- Mesquite Golf, gamble, get away in St. George's favorite place to let loose
Nearby
Middleton
City / town · 28 listings · 3 mi away
Snow Canyon State Park
Park · 4 listings · 8 mi away
Hurricane
City / town · 8 listings · 15 mi away
Zion National Park
Park · 40 listings · 32 mi away
Springdale
City / town · 16 listings · 33 mi away
Colorado City
City / town · 8 listings · 34 mi away
Mesquite
City / town · 14 listings · 34 mi away
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Park · 1 listings · 48 mi away
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