St. George (Utah)

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 Tourism Office and Visitor Center

  phone: +1 435 634-5747
  address: 20 N Main St., Suite 105

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

• St. George Regional AirportIs served by Skywest Airlines, operating as Delta Connection with flights to and from Salt Lake City, Denver and Phoenix. Hertz, Avis, National, and Budget rental car companies have counters at the airport.

• McCarran 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.

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, et al.

St. George also has a good urban trail network offering some very scenic routes for pedestrians, bicyclists, and skaters.

• St. George Utah Temple

  phone: +1 435 673-5181
  address: 490 South 300 East
  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're a "worthy" Mormon) but you can enter the visitors' center and tour the grounds.

• Downtown Historic DistrictCentered 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.

• Brigham Young Winter Home

  phone: +1 435 673-2517
  address: 67 West 200 North
  Brigham Young, the Mormon leader who was instrumental in the settling of Utah, spent many of his winters here.

• St. George Tabernacle

  address: 18 South Main St
  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.

• McQuarrie Memorial Pioneer Museum

  phone: +1 435 682-7274
  address: 145 North 100 East
  Operated by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers society, this museum has a lot of items from the pioneer era.

St. George Art Museum

phone: +1 435 627-4525

address: 47 East 200 North

Permanent exhibits with artworks from Utah artists and changing exhibits.

St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site

phone: +1 435 574-3466

address: 2180 East Riverside

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.

Rosenbruch Wildlife Museum

phone: +1 435 656-0033

address: 1835 Convention Center Dr

A massive museum full of realistic replicas of wild animals in their "natural" habitat.

Tuacahn Amphitheater

address: 1100 Tuacahn Dr, Ivins

Beautiful setting in a with red rock canyon walls surrounding. In the summer you can see wonderful musicals.

Hiking

• Red Cliffs Desert ReserveThe 62,000-acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve lies immediately North of Saint George. Popular for hiking and mountain biking. The 3-mile (round trip) Owen's Loop Trail begins 5 blocks north of the old downtown and features a stunning ridge trail with great views.

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:

• Dixie Red Hills Golf Course

  phone: +1 435 627-4444
  address: 1250 North 645 West

• Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club

  phone: +1 435 986-2200
  address: 2537 W. Entrada Trail

• Southgate Golf Club

  phone: +1 435 627-4440
  address: 1975 Tonaquint Dr

• St. George Golf Club

  phone: +1 435 627-4404
  address: 2190 S. 1400 E

• Sunbrook Golf Club

  phone: +1 435 627-4400
  address: 2366 W. Sunbrook Dr

• Sun River Golf Club

  phone: +1 435 986-0001
  address: 4210 South Bluegrass Way

• Ledges Golf Club

  phone: +1 435 652-8100
  address: 1585 W. Ledges Parkway

Mountain biking

• Red Rock Bicycle

  phone: +1 435-674-3185
  Provides trail information and organizes group rides.

• 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.

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.

• 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.
• 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.
• 's major stores include Dick's Sporting Goods, Ulta, Old Navy, Gap, TJ Maxx, Target, Ross and Lowe's. Both shopping centers located on River Road about two blocks apart, just south of the St. George Boulevard exit.
• 's major stores include Kohl's, Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond, Walmart Supercenter and Home Depot. It's on Telegraph Street at Green Springs Drive, just south of the Green Springs exit.

• Bear Paw Coffee Co

  phone: +1 435 634-0126
  address: 75 N Main St
  Place serves excellent fresh breakfast dishes all day.

• Brick Oven Pizza

  phone: +1 435 628-5800
  address: 1410 E St George Blvd
  Great pizza, bread sticks, etc.

• Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

  phone: +1 435 656-0200
  address: 15 S River Rd

• Nielsen Frozen Custard

  phone: +1 435-628-5579
  address: 445 E St George Blvd
  Great ice cream-like frozen custard.

• Painted Pony

  phone: +1 435 634-1700
  address: 2 W Saint George Blvd
  Fine dining restaurant serving lunch and dinner. Steak and seafood are the specialties, and there is a good wine list.

• Pancho & Lefty's

  phone: +1 435 628-4772
  address: 1050 S Bluff St
  Great Mexican food and an overall good clean place to eat.

• Peppers Cantina

  phone: +1 435 628-4660
  address: 144 West Brigham Rd
  Great Mexican food with wonderful flavor.

• Pizza Factory

  phone: +1 435 628-1234
  address: 2 W St. George Blvd
  Pizza restaurant. Downstairs is a sister restaurant, the Pasta Factory, which has a patio dining area. The food is very good and reasonably priced.

• TwentyFive Main

  phone: +1 435 628-7110
  address: 25 North Main Street
  Gourmet café & cupcake parlor also serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee. Free Wi-Fi.
• Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: and at on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.

• The Office

  phone: +1 435 634-4100
  address: 1731 S Convention Center (Hilton Hotel)
  Bar in the Hilton Garden Inn. Utah no longer has the private club law.

• The One and Only

  phone: +1 435 673-9191
  address: 800 E St George Blvd
  Hometown beer bar.

• Poncho and Lefty's

  phone: +1 435 628-4772
  address: 1050 S Bluff
  Mexican food and cozy little bar.

• George's Corner

  phone: +1 435 216-7311
  address: 2 W St George Blvd (corner of Main & SG Blvd) Ancestor Square
  Full bar, live music, billiards and delicious food

• St. Helens Restaurant and Sports Bar

  phone: +1 435 652-8487
  address: 395 East Telegraph in Washington, just east of St George
  One of the few original spots in town with mouth-watering, old-fashioned cafe-style food, bar and live music.

• Best Western Abbey Inn

  phone: +1 435 652-1234
  address: 1129 S Bluff St

• Best Western Coral Hills

  phone: +1 435 673-4844
  address: 125 E St. George Blvd

• Best Western Travel Inn

  phone: +1 435 673-3541
  address: 316 E St. George Blvd

• Hampton Inn

  phone: +1 435 652-1200
  address: 53 North River Rd

• La Quinta Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 435-674-2664
  address: 91 East 2680 South
  An upscale hotel that delivers spacious accommodations and premium amenities.

• Red Mountain Resort

  phone: +1 435 673-4905
  address: 1275 Red Mountain Circle
  A luxury resort in the red rock vistas just west of St. George. Lots of activities, spa, lovely rooms.

• Seven Wives Inn

  address: 217 North 100 West
  Utah's first B&B establishment, located in the Historic Downtown district. There are 13 unique rooms with good service and great breakfasts.

• Wingate by Wyndham

  phone: +1 435-673-9608
  address: 144 West Brigham Road, Building G
  An upscale hotel offering classic, oversized rooms and suites with superior amenities. Friendly staff.

• Red Rock Vacation Rentals

  phone: +1 435 703-9944
  address: 301 N 200 E #1a

• 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