SALT LAKE CITY — The United States is often considered among the best countries to go road tripping, each state offering its own unique experience. With beauties dotting the country, such as Glacier, Yosemite, Zion and Great Smoky Mountains national parks, the 50 states each offer something different to attract visitors.

And according to a new WalletHub study, Utah is the second-best state in the nation in which to pack up the car and drive.

“Taking a summer road trip can be a very exciting way to experience a new place, but with the prices of gas, food and accommodations still impacted by inflation, you’ll want to be in a state that makes this type of vacation affordable,” according to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

“Safe roads are also key, and so is having plenty of worthwhile attractions to stop at along the road. The best states for summer road trips, therefore, are those that keep costs low while providing the best driving experience and most fun activities.”

Why Utah is ranked so high

Coming in as the top road-tripping state is Minnesota due to its relatively cheap cost and its high spending on parks and recreation. But Utah comes in second for its “breathtaking scenery, outdoor recreation and safe driving conditions,” according to WalletHub.

While Utah ranks 34th in the country in terms of costs, the state makes up for it in road safety. Utah ranks in the top 10 for least amount of car thefts per capita and is fourth in fewest fatalities per 100 million miles driven.

Cumulatively, Utah is the sixth safest state to road-trip in.

Also boosting its rating are its amusement parks, where Utah ranks seventh.

The top five states for road trips include:

• Minnesota
• Utah
• Louisiana
• New York
• Florida

The bottom five round out to:

• Maryland
• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Rhode Island

The ‘Mighty Five’ and Utahraptor State Park

If you come for activities like amusement parks and zoos, Utah has you covered with Lagoon and Utah’s Hogle Zoo, accompanied by a plethora of water parks. However, Utah is perhaps best known for its stunning natural formations.

Boasting the second most national parks in the mainland U.S., only behind California’s nine, Utah’s five national parks make for a no-brainer trek. Starting at Canyonlands National Park, you can hit Arches National Park and Utah’s newest park, Utahraptor State Park, in a matter of 35 miles, give or take.

From Utahraptor State Park, another two hours will take you to Capitol Reef National Park, two more hours brings you to Bryce Canyon National Park and another two will land you in the second most visited national park in the country, Zion National Park.

In roughly seven hours of driving, travelers can cross five national parks off their bucket list while witnessing the scenic stretch from eastern Utah to the southwest part.

Utah also has the second-highest spending per capita on parks and recreation, and there are plenty of state parks to check out while in the desert state.

Utahraptor State Park

If you are a dinosaur enthusiast, Utahraptor State Park is a great place to stop. Officially opened to the public in May 2025, the park features one of the largest bone beds with over 5,500 fossils discovered, representing more than 10 different species at Dalton Wells Dinosaur Quarry.

Among the species is the Utahraptor, which spans 20 feet long and stands 5 feet tall, estimated to weigh 1,000 pounds.

The park also features various sites where you can see ancient tracks embedded in the sandstone, made by theropods, sauropods, ornithopods and even prehistoric crocodiles.

You can discover more at the park website.

Road trip tips

As the U.S. experiences brutal prices at the pump, which are also affecting the prices of other various services like food, it is even more important to plan ahead.

“If you want to make your money stretch, you have to ditch the luxury mindset and channel your inner 19-year-old on a broke, wild mission,” Lynn University associate professor Andrew Burnstine told WalletHub.

Here are some tips experts gave:

• Plan ahead.
• Look for local deals.
• Bring snacks from grocery stores.
• Download apps to track down cheap fuel.
• Bypass highway tourist traps.
• Use campsites instead of hotels.
• Check into hotels on the outskirts if a bed is a must.
• Keep tires inflated.
• Keep trunk light.

These are simple tips for making your trip financially less burdensome, but “even these small savings can make a visible difference by the end of a trip,” said Minnesota State University Moorhead professor Wooyang Kim, per WalletHub.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Huntsman Center was a sleeping giant on Saturday afternoon as Cam Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies crushed the Oklahoma City Thunder.

As that game concluded, empty seats began to fill and anticipation grew in the Utes’ home arena.

That anticipation culminated in an explosion of cheers as the Utah Jazz took the court, led by none other than rookie guard Darryn Peterson.

Darryn Peterson Shows Out In Salt Lake City Summer League Debut

Peterson’s first game with Utah draped across his chest was all that fans and the front office could’ve hoped for, and then some.

The first possession of the game for the Jazz ended with a layup from Peterson, and the points seemingly never stopped rolling in. The rookie was the team’s leading scorer at the end of each quarter.

The positive signs weren’t only when he had the ball in his hands, though. He finished with two blocks, but his defensive impact extended far past the box score. He often matched up with Atlanta guard Kingston Flemings, who finished the night shooting 4/16 from the field.

Darryn Peterson and Cody Williams each with a big block early. Good defensive activity from both.

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) July 4, 2026

What was maybe most impressive was his efforts in the fourth quarter and in overtime. He scored 10 points in his last 8:35 on the court, and willed the Jazz to a win with some big plays late.

Peterson finished with 28 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. He shot 52 percent from the floor and 57 percent from three.

The only real blemish on his performance was eight turnovers. However, many of those are shared fault, if not totally on teammates for dropping well-placed passes.

Peterson is the first Jazzman since Donovan Mitchell to score 20+ points in his SLC Summer League debut, eclipsing Mitchell’s 23-point mark from the 2017 event.

Ace Bailey, Cody Williams Shine Against Atlanta Hawks

The performances of Cody Williams and Ace Bailey almost went under the radar as a result of the hype built around Peterson. But they still came to play. That trio of Jazz players were likely the three best players on either side in Saturday’s contest.

Bailey only played 20 minutes, but still finished with 10 points, six rebounds and two stocks. The sophomore forward was ruled out for the rest of the game early in the second half with back spasms.

Williams played the most minutes on the team at 34 and finished with 17 points, five rebounds, one assist, and three stocks.

Both of the forwards looked to have added noticeable weight so far in the offseason and used it to their advantage to generate easy looks. Williams specifically threw down a pair of poster dunks that caused fans in the arena to jump to their feet.

Easily the dunk of the day.pic.twitter.com/vVxNEMKMQQ https://t.co/7DirAGYUz8

— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) July 4, 2026

About Darryn Peterson

Peterson, born in Northeast Ohio, quickly rose through the ranks as one of the best basketball prospects in the country.

He played prep basketball at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in his home state before moving to West Virginia and then California for his junior and senior years.

On November 1, 2024, Peterson made his commitment to the University of Kansas.

In his lone year with the Jayhawks, Peterson averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 43.8/38.2/82.6 shooting splits.

Austin Ainge, Utah Jazz unfazed by Darryn Peterson injury history

In 2026, the Utah Jazz selected Peterson with the No. 2 overall pick, tied for the highest selection in the franchises history.

Salt Lake City Summer League History

The annual showcase of both rookies and young talent in the NBA is returning to Utah for the 11th time.

The modern iteration of the event debuted in 2015 with the Rocky Mountain Revue moniker, a nod to the pro-am roots of a similar event that was held in the late 1980s, 1990s, and into the 2000s.

The event was rebranded to the Utah Jazz Summer League in 2017, and changed once again in 2019 to the Salt Lake City Summer League.

Memphis has competed in the event for seven straight years. 2026 will make it eight in a row. OKC will reach its fifth year in a row this summer.

The list of notable names to hoop in Utah in early July is a long one. Aside from the obvious Jazz stars over the last decade, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ben Simmons, Trae Young, Jayson Tatum, Chet Holmgren, and more have all competed in the SLC Summer League.

Chandler Holt is the Utah Jazz insider for KSLSports.com and co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast. Follow Chandler on X for Jazz and NBA updates.

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MONTICELLO, Utah (KUTV) — The second-largest wildfire in the nation has burned more than 87,500 acres and destroyed five structures in southeastern Utah.

The Babylon Fire reached a total of 87,554 acres in San Juan County, officials with the U.S. Forest Service said in a Saturday morning update.

More resources arrived in the area, with 730 firefighters now working to control the wildfire, which remains at 0% containment.

The cause of the fire, which ignited on June 26, has not yet been determined.

MORE | Utah Wildfires:

Utah has the two largest wildfires in the nation, with the Babylon Fire about 9,000 acres smaller than the Cottonwood Fire. The Cottonwood Fire has burned 94,417 acres in Beaver and Piute Counties and is 25% contained.

While the fires both saw little growth overnight, officials said hot, dry weekend temperatures could potentially lead to increased fire activity. They said a Fire and Fuels Advisory has been issued for the state of Utah.

“This extreme dryness, combined with an unstable atmosphere, will naturally increase the potential for the fire to flare up and create large smoke columns,” officials said.

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