Skip to content
Voykit
Set your trip — dates, party, bagsPlanner

Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · United States

TorreyTorrey, Utah

Base in Torrey for 2 nights to do Capitol Reef: it is the only town with beds, fuel and food within 20 minutes of the park's west entrance.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat and afternoon storms), Dec–Feb (many businesses close)
Airports
SLC · LAS · GJT
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Torrey is a small town at the junction of Utah SR-12 and SR-24, and the practical base for Capitol Reef National Park, whose entrance is about 11 miles (18 km) east. It has a handful of motels, a few restaurants and a gas station, so most travellers stay 1–2 nights, drive the park's Scenic Drive and Highway 12, and move on. Book ahead in summer and on fall weekends: beds are few and the nearest alternatives are 40–70 minutes away.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Torrey, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner main$18–32
  • Street or quick mealBurger or sandwich plate$12–20
  • BeerDraught beer$6–9
  • Budget bedHostel or bunkhouse bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$220

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Capitol Reef National Park gatewayUtah Highway 12 scenic bywayDark night skiesBoulder Mountain and Thousand Lake Mountain
Airports
SLC Salt Lake City International (About 3.5 h drive via I-15 and SR-24; the usual rental-car gateway.) · LAS Harry Reid International, Las Vegas (About 5 h drive; useful for a Utah national-parks loop.) · GJT Grand Junction Regional, Colorado (About 3.5 h drive east via I-70 and SR-24.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Torrey: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

5°C

−9°C

5 rd

Feb

8°C

−6°C

5 rd

Mar

13°C

−3°C

6 rd

Apr

18°C

1°C

5 rd

May

23°C

5°C

5 rd

Jun

29°C

10°C

4 rd

Jul

32°C

14°C

7 rd

Aug

30°C

13°C

8 rd

Sep

26°C

9°C

5 rd

Oct

19°C

3°C

5 rd

Nov

11°C

−4°C

4 rd

Dec

5°C

−9°C

5 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. There is no public transport to Capitol Reef or between towns, and no rideshare. Fuel up in Torrey or Bicknell before park drives; the next reliable services are in Hanksville (east) and Loa (north).

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Capitol Reef National Park

go

Door to door: 20–30 min to the entrance

Drive SR-24 east about 11 miles to the visitor centre, then the Scenic Drive

The reason to stay here. Scenic Drive is a fee road; check current hours and conditions at the visitor centre.

Boulder and Highway 12 over Boulder Mountain

go

Door to door: 1–1.5 h to Boulder

Drive SR-12 south over the mountain

One of the best drives in Utah; stop at the overlooks and go slowly.

Hanksville

caution

Door to door: About 50 min

Drive SR-24 east about 45 miles

Fuel, food and a base for Goblin Valley and the San Rafael Swell; little else in town.

Bryce Canyon National Park

overnight

Door to door: About 2.5 h

Drive SR-12 south via Boulder and Escalante

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep near Bryce instead.

Goblin Valley State Park

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Drive SR-24 east, then south via Hanksville

A long half-day; combine with Hanksville rather than returning to Torrey twice.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Torrey town centre (SR-24 through town)

Walkable strip of motels, cafés and the Chuckwagon store; closest to park access.

West SR-24 (toward the park entrance)

Newer hotels and lodges with red-cliff views; 1–3 miles from the centre, so you drive to dinner.

Bicknell and Loa (north on SR-24)

Cheaper, fewer rooms, 15–25 min north; a fallback when Torrey is full.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–190 excl. bed
High
$200+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$180US$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$130US$520
Capitol Reef Scenic Drive fee, one vehicle1 × US$20 · checkUS$20
Fuel, about 100 miles of driving1 × US$15 · checkUS$15
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$95
Trip total≈ US$260 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,040

2026 estimate in US dollars; park fees and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Burger or sandwich plate$12–20
Sit-down dinner main$18–32
Draught beer$6–9
Gallon of gascheck$3.50–4.50
Motel double room, summer$150–300
Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, per vehicle$20 (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Torrey is a low-crime rural town; the real risks are driving distances, heat, flash floods in Capitol Reef and thin services after dark. Carry water, fuel up early and tell someone your route.
  • Distances are long and cell signal drops on Highway 12 over Boulder Mountain and inside the park: carry water and a paper map.
  • Summer afternoons bring flash-flood risk in Capitol Reef's slots and canyons; check the park forecast before hiking.
  • Many restaurants and motels close in winter and reduce hours in spring and fall: check before you arrive.
  • Altitude is about 6,800 ft (2,070 m) in town; pace your first day.
  • Gas is limited: fill up when you see a station.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Wayne County Sheriff (non-emergency)
435-836-2751
Capitol Reef National Park
435-425-3791

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

TorreyTorrey, Utah

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Wayne County Sheriff (non-emergency)435-836-2751
  • Capitol Reef National Park435-425-3791

Embassy

No consulates in Torrey; nearest consular help is in Salt Lake City or Denver. US travellers: no embassy needed.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Torrey → Capitol Reef visitor centre: about 11 miles (18 km), 20–30 min by car
  • Torrey → Hanksville: about 45 miles (72 km), 50 min by car
  • Torrey → Salt Lake City airport: about 3.5 h by car (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the gas station? — Where is the gas station?
  • Is the park road open? — Is the park road open?
  • Do you have a table for two? — Do you have a table for two?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the nearest restroom? — Where is the nearest restroom?

Cell signal is patchy outside town; download offline maps before you drive.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Torrey. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and afternoon storms), Dec–Feb (many businesses close) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for SLC, LAS and GJT with last-departure checks and a Torrey fallback when the park is full.
  2. Walking clusters for the Torrey strip, west SR-24 lodges and Bicknell, with fuel and food anchors.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the Capitol Reef visitor centre, Scenic Drive and Highway 12 overlooks.
  4. Eat pages with last orders and winter-closure flags for each Torrey restaurant.

Sources