Green River to Orderville: Utah's Scenic Byway 24 Drive

At milepost 140 on I-70, the Green River cuts through the San Rafael Swell, a 1,500-square-mile warped rock dome. From here, US-24 and then UT-12 trace a route to Orderville that packs more national park scenery per mile than almost any other drive in the West. The journey crosses the Colorado Plateau, skirts Capitol Reef, and ends in a town named for a failed 1870s communal experiment. You’ll want at least half a day to cover the 142 miles, but the drive’s real value is in its geological time machine: rocks from 270-million-year-old marine beds to 5-million-year-old volcanic basalt.

The San Rafael Swell near Green River offers the Swell's iconic badlands, with hiking trails like the Little Grand Canyon. From Hanksville, the Henry Mountains rise to 11,000 ft, a lesser-known range. Capitol Reef’s Waterpocket Fold is a 100-mile warp in the Earth’s crust, while the Burr Trail switchbacks carve through the fold’s southern end. Finally, the slickrock domes of Grand Staircase-Escalante appear just south of Boulder.

Hanksville has a diner and a motel; Torrey offers a handful of restaurants (try the pork chops at the Rim Rock). Boulder has the famous Boulder Mountain Lodge and its Hell’s Backbone Grill. Orderville is the home of the famous “Best Friends” animal sanctuary, accessible via a short detour to Kanab.

Local commerce thrives on tourism: fruit orchards in Capitol Reef (pick your own in season), and art galleries in Torrey and Boulder. The drive is particularly striking in early summer when wildflowers bloom, or in autumn when cottonwoods turn gold.

US-24 is paved and well-maintained, with wide shoulders and occasional passing lanes. UT-12 from Torrey to Orderville is a narrower canyon road with steep drop-offs; RVs are allowed, but expect slow going. Cell service is sporadic: you'll have pockets around Hanksville, Torrey, and Boulder, but hundreds of miles of dead zones.

• Gas up in Green River (last cheap fuel) or Hanksville; Torrey has one station; Orderville has a single pump.
• Open year-round, but snow closures are possible Nov–Mar; check conditions.
• No major hazards, but watch for free-roaming cattle near Hanksville and deer at dusk.

Entry to Capitol Reef National Park is $20 per vehicle, valid 7 days. An annual America the Beautiful Pass covers it. Most visitors spend 2–3 hours driving the scenic loop and doing short hikes.

For those considering the journey: how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities can help you plan spontaneous detours.

Always carry extra water and a paper map. Fuel range is your biggest constraint: 80 miles without services between Green River and Hanksville, and 60 between Torrey and Boulder (though Boulder has a small store).

For families, the Capitol Reef Visitor Center has interactive exhibits, and the park’s petroglyph boardwalk is stroller-friendly. The Gifford Homestead sells fresh fruit pies (seasonal).

• Pet-friendly: Pets on leashes are allowed on park roads and in campgrounds, but not on most trails. Many motels in Torrey and Orderville are dog-friendly.
• Rest areas: Green River has a state rest area; a pullout at the San Rafael Swell viewpoint; the Capitol Reef Visitor Center; and the Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder.
• Stop for photos at the Goblin Valley overlook (but note: Goblin Valley State Park is 10 miles off-route via UT-24; entrance is $20).