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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Blanding
One full day covers the main sights; use Blanding as a base for Goosenecks and Bears Ears, not a destination on its own.
Blanding is a small town in southeastern Utah, the closest lodging base for Goosenecks State Park and a launch point for Bears Ears National Monument. The Dinosaur Museum and Edge of the Cedars State Park fill half a day. Most travellers stop for one night on a Canyon Country road trip.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat), Dec–Feb (snow possible)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–180 excl. bed · High $180+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · San Juan Hospital (emergency room) 435-678-2251
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dinosaur Museum entry | $2 |
| Edge of the Cedars day use | $5 |
| Motel double room per night | $80–150 |
| Gas (per gallon) | check |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CNY · Canyonlands Regional Airport (Moab)
- About 1 h 15 min drive north on US-191
- SLC · Salt Lake City International
- About 5 h drive
Typical fares
- Salt Lake Express bus (if available)
- check schedule and fare
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. US-191 runs north–south through town; everything is along that road or a short side street. No public transport.
See and do
Known for
- Edge of the Cedars State Park
- The Dinosaur Museum
- Gateway to Bears Ears National Monument
- Goosenecks State Park
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Goosenecks State Park | US-191 south then UT-261, about 1 h | About 1 h 15 min |
| Bears Ears National Monument | US-191 south then UT-95, about 45 min to the visitor area | About 1 h |
| Moab | US-191 north, about 1 h 15 min | About 1 h 15 min |
| Mexican Hat | US-191 south, about 45 min | About 45 min |
Sleep
- Downtown Blanding
- Motels and inns along US-191; walk to restaurants and the museum.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Goosenecks State Park has no services: bring water and fuel.
- Bears Ears backcountry requires a permit for overnight trips; check the BLM office in Monticello.
- Cell service is patchy south of town toward the Arizona line.
Very low crime. Risks are summer heat, dehydration on hikes, and wildlife on the road at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Blanding yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Edge of the Cedars State Park
- The Dinosaur Museum
- Gateway to Bears Ears National Monument
- Goosenecks State Park
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Edge of the Cedars State Park: stateparks.utah.gov/parks/edge-of-the-cedars/
- Wikivoyage: Blanding, revision 5238650 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5238650
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Blanding
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- San Juan Hospital (emergency room)435-678-2251
The nearest US consulate is in Salt Lake City (check address). Most foreign visitors enter on the Visa Waiver Program or a B-2 visa.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/blanding). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.