St. George (Utah)



St. George is a city in southwestern Utah, on the Utah-Arizona border, known regionally as "Utah's Dixie" (a nickname given to the area for its warm southern Utah climate which was used to grow cotton by early settlers). The city is nestled in a scenic valley of desert vistas in the northeastern Mojave Desert, adjacent to the majestic Pine Valley Mountains.

Understand
St. George has seen unprecedented growth and has become well-known for its spectacular scenery, proximity to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon National Park; a growing arts and cultural scene; year-round golf, big-city fine dining and shopping variety; recreation, mild climate of over 300 sunny days a year, internationally known events and a major southwestern retirement destination. In the 1990s, the city was dubbed Utah's Palm Springs as retirees were flocking here. Today, however, St. George is growing into a diverse city of all walks of life, with a population of over 80,000 and metropolitan area of over 160,000 (2016). For locals and visitors, from the avid outdoor enthusiast to the more cosmopolitan type, the area offers everything from 'A to Zion'.

By car
St. George is on Interstate 15, which travels southwest through Las Vegas, Nevada and into Southern California, and north through Salt Lake City into Idaho and Montana. Access from Denver, the Midwest and the east coast can be achieved by Interstate 70, 2 hours to the north via I-15. Access from Phoenix and Albuquerque, New Mexico can be achieved by Interstate 10 and Interstate 40, about 2 hours to the southwest via I-15 and US Route 93.

There are a few rental car places at the airport, and an Enterprise at 652 E. St. George Blvd, +1 435 634-1556.

The St. George area is served directly by exits 2 (Southern Pkwy.), 4 (Brigham Road), 5 (Dixie Drive), 6 (Bluff Street), 8 (St. George Blvd), 10 (Green Springs Dr.) and 13 (Washington Pkwy). Bluff Street and St. George Blvd make up the downtown I-15 business loop where the bulk of lodging and services can be found.

By plane

 * Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is the nearest international airport. The drive from Las Vegas to St. George takes approximately 1.5 hours via I-15.
 * Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is the nearest international airport. The drive from Las Vegas to St. George takes approximately 1.5 hours via I-15.

By bus
Greyhound serves St. George, stopping at the McDonald's at 1235 S Bluff, (corner of S. Bluff and Main Streets) just off I-15 exit 6.

There are also a few shuttle/bus companies serving St. George. St George Shuttle and Aztec Shuttle operates van service to Las Vegas International Airport and Salt Lake City. St George Express operates a shuttle to and from McCarran Las Vegas Airport (pick up at Level 0) and drops off at Howard Johnson Inn in St. George.

By car
St. George, like all cities in Utah, follows a well-defined grid system that makes it easy to get around and find your destination. For example, let's take the address 650 South 300 East. Each hundred represents one block radiating out from the center point at Tabernacle Street (running east-west) and Main Street (running north-south). To find 650 South 300 East, starting from the intersection of Main and Tabernacle, you would drive 3 blocks to the east, then just over 6 blocks to the south. St. George Boulevard, a major east-west artery, takes the place of 100 North.

While the grid system in the heart of town is well-defined, it can be become difficult to follow in the outlying areas and new subdivisions on the outskirts of the city. While in some cases the addresses will still follow the grid pattern, the blocks will become smaller and more irregularly spaced, and there will be more streets that don't follow the grid system at all.

By bus
SunTran is St George's public transit system, with over 140 bus stops and six fixed routes serving St. George and Ivins.

By bicycle
St. George also has a good urban trail network offering some very scenic routes for pedestrians, bicyclists, and skaters.

Golf
St. George is notable for its abundant golf opportunities, owing to the city's year-round warm climate. There are a number of golf courses to choose from:



Mountain biking

 * Bear Claw Poppy, Easy, short ride.
 * Green Valley Raceway, Home to many local races.
 * Gooseberry Mesa North and South Rim, A must-do! Slickrock coupled with singletrack.
 * Paradise Canyon Loop, A quick fun ride.
 * Hurricane Cliffs Trail System, Excellent singletrack.
 * Stucki Springs Trail, Fun trail close to town.
 * Broken Mesa Rim Trail, Technical trail in the desert reserve.
 * Church Rocks Loop with Prospector, A popular trail, especially in the winter.
 * Church Rocks Loop with Prospector, A popular trail, especially in the winter.

Events

 * Last weekend of January: St. George Winter Bird Festival.
 * Late-March: St. George Arts Festival
 * First weekend of May: St. George Ironman 70.3.
 * First week of August: Washington County Fair.
 * First Friday of each month: George Streetfest, a downtown street festival featuring arts, culture, live music, food, beer/jazz garden.
 * First Saturday in October: St. George Marathon.
 * Mid-October: Huntsman World Senior Games .
 * Third Saturday in October: Tour de St. George, a 100-mile (160-km) bike ride.

Buy

 * is the only indoor shopping mall between Las Vegas and the Wasatch Front, it's anchored by Sears, JCPenney, Dillards and Barnes and Noble as well as over 65 retailers located on Red Cliffs Drive at the underpass between I-15 exits 8 and 10.
 * offers a variety of local and national retailers and restaurants. Both shopping centers are on Red Cliffs Drive across the street from each other, just north of the St. George Boulevard exit.
 * 's major stores include Dick's Sporting Goods, Ulta, Old Navy, Gap, TJ Maxx, Target, Ross and Lowe's. Both shopping centers located on River Road about two blocks apart, just south of the St. George Boulevard exit.
 * 's stores include Best Buy, Mattress Store, Payless Shoe Source, and America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses.

Eat

 * Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: and at  on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.
 * Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: and at  on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.
 * Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: and at  on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.
 * Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: and at  on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.
 * Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: and at  on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.
 * Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: and at  on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.
 * Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: and at  on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.
 * Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: and at  on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.
 * Bishop's, a local ma and pop American food restaurant/cafe, has two locations: and at  on the corner of Sunset and Dixie Drive.

Go next

 * Zion National Park, the most popular National Park in Utah.
 * Snow Canyon State Park, a must-visit gem right in St. George's backyard.
 * Hurricane, small town with hot springs sometimes open to the public, near Silver Reef ghost town
 * Colorado City unique polygamist community on Utah-Arizona border
 * Mesquite Golf, gamble, get away in St. George's favorite place to let loose