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Utah is an amazing state and location when it comes to landscape, environment, recreation and sites. And that makes it a go-to location when traveling across the Southwest U.S. for tourism, exploration and even travel over long distances. On the eastern side of the state, Utah is generally a microcosm of towns that are situated as satellites around Salt Lake City and then to the southeast is Moab and the four corners junction, rich in ancient Southwest history and sites. However, in between is an incredible amount of land change, going from cattle-ranging territory to high desert reaches. That stretch that bridges the gap between state route 191 and Interstate 70 is home to a major crossroads location, Green River, UT.
Situated In A Great Spot For Utah Travelers
Travel through Utah generally runs east-west and north-south. But the highways due to the landscape don’t work in a perfect cross. A stretch of highway on Interstate 70 running laterally through the region connects the two parts of 191 north and south. This stretch is a major junction and stopping area for travelers, business routes, tourism and more, making it a great location for finding a place to stay, whether on business travel or exploring the greater Utah area.
Green River is particularly advantageous, sitting right on the Green River itself, ergo the name of the town and location. It’s a perfect stopping point to and from Moab, the famous geological national park and town to the southeast. To the west from Green River, Interstate 70 makes its way across the state desert middle area until reaching the vast Manti-La Sal National Forest and eventually state route 89, also running north and south along the western edge of Utah. In a lot of ways, all of the above make Green River a critical stopping point for any long-range trip through Utah, and that also makes getting a good night’s rest in Green River particularly smart before taking on a full day’s drive again. Green River in particular stands out as a good stopping point when travelling west to Las Vegas, because Green River is about a day’s drive distance from that destination.
Plan Smart For Distance Traveling
For those who are looking for a way to experience Utah at a bit a slower pace and needing a good location to work as a “home base,” Green River works particularly well too. Again, due to its location, Green River is fairly close or within a few hours’ drive to a number of key Utah attractions. It’s position on the major highways of Utah also makes it really easy to travel to and from versus having to take multiple road connections to get to a primary destination. Being fairly developed, Green River offers a good amount of choices of resources, lodging, and food, making it a great place to take a break on a long trip too. Whether exploring Utah or traveling across the Southwest, Green River is definitely a place to aim for between travel gaps.
Safety When Traveling
Coming from the East, travelers deal with a significant passage through the plateaus before arriving at the junction of 191 and 70. That pass can see a lot of weather at different times of year. And that can be pretty tiring before taking on the next stretch, west across the desert or on the long stretches north and south. Repeatedly, accidents happen on the Interstate and state routes, because people grow tired of driving for extensive hours and still have long stretches ahead of them before quitting. It’s a far smarter approach to use a place like Green River as a good place to recover and get ready for the next stretch after a good night’s sleep, as well as dinner or breakfast. And there are good choices for a Green River UT hotel when needed.
Remember, nighttime travel across Utah can be particularly risky, pushing a distance for the sake of time. Unlike a lot of other stretches, Utah desert highways, particularly state routes, don’t have intermittent lighting. That means, without moonlight, the road can be very hard to see at night with just headlights. More than one vehicle has gone sideways or been seriously damaged, hitting wildlife on the road seen at the last minute in the dark.
Take A Moment To Enjoy The Sights
Utah has a lot to offer visitors and business travelers, and the state will continue to be a major crossroads for travel across the Western U.S. There’s no need for folks to feel lost. Folks are welcome, and Green River makes it easy for first timers as well as regular travelers. With a stop in Green River, everyone gets a chance to enjoy the trip as well as the beauty of a Utah sunset and morning.
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