Do you sometimes wish you could visit the past? If so, you will love today’s adventure. We want to help you catch a glimpse of life long ago and take a step back in time on this historic road trip in Utah. Throughout this journey, you can explore many old-fashioned and historic sites — destinations that range from the late 1800s to the 1950s. But this is not all. Not only will you be learning about Utah’s past, but will also enjoy some of the state’s natural beauty — this is a road trip in Utah that has it all.
Google Maps Our road trip makes a large loop, beginning in Spanish Fork and ending in Nephi. You will travel the area known as Utah’s Little Denmark, and along I-70, and I-15. In total, you can expect to travel approximately 170 miles. You can always customize your trip using this interactive map if you wish to add more stops along the way.
Glade’s Drive-Inn, Spanish Fork
J Patrick Lockhart/Google Our road trip begins in Spanish Fork at the popular Glade’s Drive-Inn. This tasty place to eat has been a staple in Spanish Fork since 1954 and is where you can enjoy some old-fashioned burgers, fries, and ice cream before you continue on your way. 296 S Main St, Spanish Fork, UT 84660, USA
Spring City
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Spring City is a must-visit stop on this scenic, yet historic road trip in Utah. This town was founded by pioneers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1852 and today, the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places. Spring City is also considered one of the best-preserved examples of a nineteenth-century pioneer village. During this stop, spend some time driving around town and admiring the pioneer homes and buildings. Then, if you are hungry, stop at Das Café, located right on Main Street. This restaurant serves some of the best German food in Utah. Spring City, UT 84662, USA
Manti Temple
NikonShutterman/iStock Via Getty Images Plus Our next stop on this historic road trip is in the beautiful town of Manti. This is one of the largest towns you will drive through on this trip and it is also full of pioneer homes and historic buildings. But, if you don’t have time to drive around and admire each historic structure, we recommend you stop at the Manti Temple, one of the most prominent and well-known buildings in town. Groundbreaking for this building began in 1877 and it was officially dedicated in 1888. While you can’t enter the temple without being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can still admire the building from afar. Temple Hill, Manti, UT 84642, USA
Mom’s Café, Salina
WandeRView S/Google You will definitely want to make the stop at Mom’s Café on Main Street in Salina. People drive all over the state to enjoy a meal in this 1878 building. As you walk inside, you’ll notice it still boasts its old-fashion charm and the food is incredible. This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and every meal is going to fill you up and leave you with a smile on your face. 10 E Main St, Salina, UT 84654, USA
Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum, Scipio
Matt Gatlin/Google The next stop on our road trip is at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum in Scipio. This museum is packed with history and will teach you all about the pioneers who lived in the area decades ago. You can examine all types of memorabilia and artifacts, and you may even learn some fascinating stories about the individuals who first settled in Utah. 55 N State St, Scipio, UT 84656, USA
George Carter Whitmore Mansion, Nephi
Airbnb The last stop on our road trip is the beautiful Whitmore Mansion. This is a historic house that was built in 1898 for George Carter Whitmore, the man who founded the First National Bank of Nephi and who served in the Utah Senate in the early 1900s. Today, this home has been transformed into an Airbnb where you can stay overnight before heading home. 110 S Main St, Nephi, UT 84648, USA
What other stops would you add to this road trip in Utah? What are some of your favorite historic sites in the Beehive State? Let us and your fellow travelers know in the comments.
Google Maps
Our road trip makes a large loop, beginning in Spanish Fork and ending in Nephi. You will travel the area known as Utah’s Little Denmark, and along I-70, and I-15. In total, you can expect to travel approximately 170 miles. You can always customize your trip using this interactive map if you wish to add more stops along the way.
J Patrick Lockhart/Google
Our road trip begins in Spanish Fork at the popular Glade’s Drive-Inn. This tasty place to eat has been a staple in Spanish Fork since 1954 and is where you can enjoy some old-fashioned burgers, fries, and ice cream before you continue on your way.
296 S Main St, Spanish Fork, UT 84660, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Spring City is a must-visit stop on this scenic, yet historic road trip in Utah. This town was founded by pioneers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1852 and today, the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places. Spring City is also considered one of the best-preserved examples of a nineteenth-century pioneer village. During this stop, spend some time driving around town and admiring the pioneer homes and buildings. Then, if you are hungry, stop at Das Café, located right on Main Street. This restaurant serves some of the best German food in Utah.
Spring City, UT 84662, USA
NikonShutterman/iStock Via Getty Images Plus
Our next stop on this historic road trip is in the beautiful town of Manti. This is one of the largest towns you will drive through on this trip and it is also full of pioneer homes and historic buildings. But, if you don’t have time to drive around and admire each historic structure, we recommend you stop at the Manti Temple, one of the most prominent and well-known buildings in town. Groundbreaking for this building began in 1877 and it was officially dedicated in 1888. While you can’t enter the temple without being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can still admire the building from afar.
Temple Hill, Manti, UT 84642, USA
WandeRView S/Google
You will definitely want to make the stop at Mom’s Café on Main Street in Salina. People drive all over the state to enjoy a meal in this 1878 building. As you walk inside, you’ll notice it still boasts its old-fashion charm and the food is incredible. This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and every meal is going to fill you up and leave you with a smile on your face.
10 E Main St, Salina, UT 84654, USA
Matt Gatlin/Google
The next stop on our road trip is at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum in Scipio. This museum is packed with history and will teach you all about the pioneers who lived in the area decades ago. You can examine all types of memorabilia and artifacts, and you may even learn some fascinating stories about the individuals who first settled in Utah.
55 N State St, Scipio, UT 84656, USA
Airbnb
The last stop on our road trip is the beautiful Whitmore Mansion. This is a historic house that was built in 1898 for George Carter Whitmore, the man who founded the First National Bank of Nephi and who served in the Utah Senate in the early 1900s. Today, this home has been transformed into an Airbnb where you can stay overnight before heading home.
110 S Main St, Nephi, UT 84648, USA
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