15 Fun Things to do in Provo UT (Summer to Winter)
Even if you aren’t outdoorsy, Provo, Utah has countless fun things to do for everyone in the family! From exploring interactive museums at BYU, mural hunting, or admiring the newly built Provo City Center Temple and gardens.
Our favorite outdoor summer activities in Provo include hiking in the Provo Canyon, attending the free concerts at Sundance, and floating in our tube down the Provo River.
In winter, Provo Utah is at the foothills of Sundance ski resort or try out the highly-rated indoor climbing gym for those who prefer to stay warm and active.
Things to do in Provo UT
Provo Utah is the third largest city in Utah and Provo is known for being home to the prestigious university of BYU, in addition to endless outdoor adventures year round.
1) Explore Provo Canyon
If you are a nature lover and want to experience true beauty, you cannot miss driving US highway 189 through the Provo Canyon.
For a scenic day trip, I’d recommend spending about 2 hours driving through the canyon up to Heber, UT.
As you drive through the Provo Canyon you will follow the ever-stunning Provo River gliding through the Uinta Mountains.
Make sure you take pit stops at Bridal Veil Falls, Deer Creek State Park, and cap it off with a great local burger from Dairy Keen before heading back.
If you have more time, drive the 5 minutes over to Midway as well and either make a reservation to swim in the hot springs at Homestead Crater or drive into Wasatch Mountain State Park.
2) Visit Bridal Veil Falls Utah
If you are visiting Provo then you absolutely should take this scenic 15 minute drive to see the iconic Bridal Veil Falls.
You don’t need to hike to view this massive waterfall, and anyone can walk or wheel the short 100 feet easily from the parking lot to the base of the falls.
Bridal Veil Falls cascades 600 feet down the limestone rocks and offers breathtaking pictures.
During winter, the frozen waterfalls are truly mesmerizing and you may even witness ice climbers from around the world scaling the falls so effortlessly.
As you can see from the picture, Bridal Veil Falls area is also dog-friendly!
3) Provo River Rafting & Tubing
If you want a fun summer experience then you should try rafting or tubing down the Provo River.
If you have the gear: raft/tube and life jacket then you can drop off one car at the endpoint at Vivian Park.
Then drive up to the starting point to GPS coordinates 40°24'05.0"N 111°31'52.0"W (park on the West side of river). It is about a two hour float ride.
The water is always cold, so it is best to go on a hot summer day and when the water flow is between 375-900 CFS, check conditions here.
A life jacket is required, and if you are tubing, bring an oar during early summer when rapids are more prevalent. It’s also a good idea to wear water shoes.
Around 2.5 miles down the river you will arrive at the Wildwood Train Trestle where the train tracks cross the river.
Exit here and carry your raft to the downstream side of the trestle to re-enter.
If you don’t have your own equipment you can schedule a reservation with High Country Adventure and they will also take you up to the entry point so you can float back down to your car. Rentals cost $30 per tube and $35 for a raft.
4) Provo Canyon Parkway Trail
This 14 mile trail starts at Provo River Parkway Trailhead (40.313577, -111.657341) and ends at Vivian Park.
Any time of year is a good time to go and everyone can find something to enjoy along this trail from running, cycling, one-wheel, or fishing, and it’s even dog-friendly!
The trail runs right along the Provo River and Bridal Veil Falls so there is endless scenery and fresh air that will be sure to give you all those good, happy vibes.
I think the best part of the trail to walk is starting at Vivian park and walking the 2 miles down to Bridal Veil Falls and then turning back.
If you are a runner, check out the PC2PG half-marathon held in August or the Utah Valley full marathon in June.
Love hiking in Utah? Don’t miss the Ultimate Guide to Kanab, UT aka our favorite hiking town in Utah!
5) Provo Farmers Market (Jun-Oct)
If you are in Provo, UT from June to October, plan a visit to the Provo Farmers Market, it will not disappoint!
The farmers market is located downtown in Pioneer Park at 600 West Center Street and occurs on Saturdays from 9am-2pm.
From fresh local produce, music, and unique arts and craft there is something for the entire family to enjoy.
6) Mural Hunting in Downtown Provo
Anyone who is into art or graffiti will love going on an adventure through downtown Provo to seek out all the unique and fun murals!
Not to mention it is a great place for Insta-worthy photos.
There are plenty of guides if you want to search the internet for a cheat sheet or you can just be in the moment and go exploring!
7) Provo City Center Temple
Whether you are Mormon or not, stopping by the newly built Provo City Center in downtown Provo is worth viewing.
Admiring this beautifully constructed building and all the colorful flowers outside the temple is worth a quick stop!
This temple was formerly a historical conference center that was burned down and now rebuilt by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints into a temple to honor the historical building and its memories.
8) Tour Brigham Young University Campus
If you love college campuses then you have to plan a short visit to see Brigham Young University.
From the immaculate architecture that seems so perfectly built right into the base of the Wasatch Mountains, it is definitely a sight to see.
You can park near the library in the visitor parking that is north of the MOA (Museum of Art) or one that is east of the Wilkinson Center.
I recommend a stroll around the Wilkinson Student Center, going inside the Harold B. Library, and seeing the infamous BYU football stadium up close.
9) Free Museums at BYU
BYU offers quite a few free museums and I’m sure at least one can appeal to everyone in the family. From modern art, life science, and dinosaur fossils. Here is a list of the most popular museums:
BYU Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum: this natural history museum houses an impressive display of plants and taxidermy animals in addition, they host special events like live animal shows throughout the year.
BYU Museum of Art - also referred to as the MOA, this art museum is free and open to the public from Mon -Sat starting at 10am. Here you will find unique exhibitions from garden sculptures to modern art. They also offer special events like Art in the Dark or A Night at the Museum.
BYU Museum of Paleontology - originally designed as a storage site for the rock and dinosaur fossils collected by Dr. James A. Jensen, this now museum is open free to the public M-F 9am-5pm.
10) Hike the “Y” Trail
This moderately rated 2.4 mile trail is known as a right of passage for most BYU students, but if you’re in the area visiting the campus, why not add this short and fun hike to your list of things to do in Provo, Utah!
Yes it is the large “Y” that you see on the mountains behind the BYU campus.
This trail gets steep at times as it climbs 1000 feet but most would agree it is kid-friendly if they are already pretty active. The trail is also dog-friendly.
Make sure to use the All Trails map to get you to the trailhead and up to the peak.
11) Hike Rock Canyon Trail
A short 10 minute drive from the center of Provo will land you in this vast and impressive rock canyon that is home to numerous hiking, biking, and rock climbing trails.
For hikers, Rock Canyon Trail is a moderately steep 5.7 mile out and back trail that will have you crossing rivers, bridges, unique rock formations, and even caves!
You can also keep going the additional (hard) 2 miles all the way to the summit of Squaw Peak. Both trails are also dog-friendly.
If you are visiting during winter, Rock Canyon is just as impressive for snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, and for the real adventurous- ice climbing!
12) Mountain Bike in Provo
It’s no secret Utah is home to some epic mountain biking so if you’re able to bring your bike definitely check out some of the popular trails along the canyon.
You can find more details about each of the 30 trails Provo offers here.
A classic ride is the easier Big Spring Hollow single track, short but sweet giving you all the views!
If you want something a little more difficult than check out the Provo Canyon Race Loop.
13) Live Music at Sundance
Not only is Sundance one of the most beautiful mountain resorts, it is also home to a free concert series every summer.
A short and scenic 15 minute drive from downtown Provo will have you up in the winding mountains of Sundance.
Here you can take in all the fresh air and enjoy free live music every Sunday afternoon from 5-8pm and Wednesday from 4-7pm on Ray's Lawn.
During winter, Nashville’s finest come out for the Bluebird Series, hosted by the Bluebird Cafe, for an exclusive experience of music, stories, and fun!
14) Provo Dog Park
If you’ve brought your pup with you to Provo, make sure they get in on some fun too and take them to Provo’s off-leash Bicentennial Dog Park.
This is a good-sized dog park with room for all sizes of dogs.
Located at: 1440 S 1600 E. Provo, UT 84606
The park also offers a playground, disc golf course, and a nice boardwalk walking trail.
15) Provo Balloon Festival
Beginning of July, typically during the 4th of July weekend, 25,000 spectators gather around to see numerous hot air balloons take off from Fox Field at the Provo Balloon Festival.
Families are welcome to walk around as the balloons start inflating at 6am, as most will take flight by 8am.
Pilots from around the world come out for this balloon festival and to compete in the rather unique and difficult Hare and the Hound Competition where "hound" balloons drop bean bags onto a target laid out by the "hare."
If early mornings are your thing, then be sure to catch Balloon Glow Friday starting at 9:30pm to see a truly spectacular event as the hot air balloons take flight, lighting up the dark night sky.
Seasonal Events in Provo
Provo is also home to some amazing activities that I do think are worth having to pay to play. Here is a list of our favorite summer and winter things to do in Provo, Utah.
Summer in Provo UT:
Utah Lake State Park: One of the largest freshwater lakes in the U.S. lies right here in Provo. From boating, swimming to now a disc golf course, this a great place to enjoy on a summer day!
Entry costs $15 per vehicle or you can camp for $40/night (every site has water and 30amp electric). If you happen to be there during the first Saturday in June, attend the Utah Lake Festival to view the sailboat regatta, live music, food trucks and tons of activities for the kids!Timpanogos Cave Hike: highly recommended this very popular hike to explore the unworldly Timpanogos Cave. Tickets are required to enter the cave and can be purchased on recreation.gov.
The trail is 3.5 miles round trip and takes ~3 hours, with the cave tour lasting 1 hour. Even during summer when temps are 100°F, the cave will remain a brisk 40°F.Splash Summit: When summer temps are sweltering, head out to slip n' slide at Utah’s largest waterpark, with more than 15 water attractions.
Daily admission will cost $25 for adults, $18 for children, and $6 per tube rental. This waterpark will sell out most summer days so get there early!Utah Pasifika Festival: attend this two-day festival over Memorial Day weekend featuring dancing, music, food, and craft booths celebrating Polynesian cultures.
Zipline over the Provo River: for a family-fun adventure, consider a unique experience zip-lining over the beautiful Provo River.
Make reservations with High Country Adventure or Max Zipline. Rates are ~$65/person (ages 7+).Fifth Water Hot Springs: while actually free, you will need to be an experienced hiker to get to these hidden hot springs. A 40 minute drive from Provo will lead you to the trailhead to walk the 4.5 mile round trip trail.
It is a very popular hike year-round so make sure to start early. PLEASE practice leaving no trace behind. Treat nature with respect if you want to enjoy it for years to come.
Winter in Provo UT:
Cross country skiing: Whether you are a beginner or expert skier, everyone should try snowshoeing or back-country skiing at the Sundance Nordic Center. Here you will find 15 km of pristine, groomed trails. A full day pass will cost $20/person and rentals are available at $23.
Sledding at Rock Canyon Park: if you have found yourself in winter in Provo and not exactly the ultimate skier or snowboarder, but still want to get outside to adventure. Sledding may be just up your alley! Fun for all ages, just make sure to bring your own sled and head to 2620 N 1200 E, Provo.
Climb indoors at The Quarry- when it gets too cold to enjoy being outside, adventure to the Quarry climbing gym. Day passes cost $18 + $5 for equipment rental. First-time visitors (age 12+) will take a free 15 minute belaying course before climbing.
Christmas lights at Riverwoods: while this shopping center is highly praised for its restaurants, shopping stores, and entertainment, you cannot miss coming here to see the magical setting of Christmas Lights!
Best Utah Vacations:
- Kanab, UT: A Hiker’s Paradise
Hotels in Provo Utah
There are endless options of hotels in Provo Utah from budget-friendly to luxury. When you book on hotels.com you can find majorly discounted rates that will cost anywhere from $70-$300/night. A few recommended options are:
Hyatt Place Provo: this is the best bang for your buck in my opinion. It is located right in downtown and has a luxury feel, with a budget-friendly price tag (from $150/night). It has a restaurant, fitness center, pool, and is dog-friendly.
Comfort Inn & Suites: for a cheaper option (around $90/night) that still gets 8 out of 10 stars, I suggest this Comfort Inn. There is Wifi, an indoor pool, decent size rooms and is dog-friendly. You will be about a 5 minute drive to downtown Provo, while still being very centrally located.
RV Parks in Provo Utah
Springville/Provo KOA Holiday: this easily accessible KOA is just a few minutes off I-15 and convenient access to all Provo has to offer.
They can host 150 RVs up to 70’ long max and space for tent campers. Amenities include a pool, WiFi, pavilion and dog park.Mountain Valley RV Resort: by far my favorite resort of all time is Mountain Valley RV Resort. It is located up the Provo Canyon in Heber, UT so it will take around 30 minutes to get to downtown Provo, but it is worth it in my opinion!
It is a luxury RV park with a dog park, pickle ball courts, pools, hot tubs, and a gym. There is even an entire adult-only section with its own pool, hot tub, dog park and gym. Rates run from $45 - 85/night depending on your site. We stayed one incredible month for $750 + electric.
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