Price

Price is a mid-sized town (pop. 9,000) in Northeastern Utah. To the south and east lie the terrifically remote expanses of desert of the San Rafael Swell and Colorado Plateau. Nearby are a few areas of interest. Price serves as the county seat of Carbon County and is the largest city in the region.

The area was once the playground of the dinosaurs, and today it's a playground for dinosaur enthusiasts. Only here will you see the actual dinosaurs in the area where they were found. The Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum houses significant paleontological collections. The surrounding area features Nine Mile Canyon with some of the best ancient rock art in the state, the Green River with whitewater rafting opportunities, and the northern portion of the San Rafael Swell with scenic drives and backcountry hiking.

Price has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures can exceed 100°F (38°C), while winter temperatures can drop below 0°F (-18°C). The area receives about 10 inches of precipitation annually, with most falling as snow in winter.

By Plane

The nearest commercial airport is Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), about 120 miles northwest. There is no commercial air service to Price.

By Train

There is an Amtrak station in Helper, a city just north of Price. The California Zephyr stops at Helper, providing service between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area.

By Car / Road

Drive southeast from Spanish Fork through Spanish Fork Canyon, over Soldiers Summit, and through Price Canyon on Highway 6. It can also be accessed from I-70 through Emery County on Highway 10 from the south. Salt Lake Express stops in Price on its route between Salt Lake City and Blanding.

Driving and walking are almost the only ways to go in Price. Due to its size, nearly everything in the city is within walking distance, but some features of the area are best driven to.

• Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum — 155 East Main. $6 admission. Features dinosaurs found in the local area, including unique species not on exhibit anywhere else. To the northeast, Nine Mile Canyon features some of the best ancient rock art in the state.

• Nine Mile Canyon — Northeast of Price. Often called "the world's longest art gallery," featuring thousands of petroglyphs and pictographs.

• Price Historic District — Features buildings from the town's coal mining era.

• Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry — South of Price. One of the richest Jurassic dinosaur bone beds in the world.

• Carbon County Club Golf Course — 18-hole championship course surrounded by natural sandstone bluffs and shale cliffs. The Price River runs through the front nine holes.

• Hiking — Numerous trails in the San Rafael Swell and surrounding mountains.

• River trips — The Green River offers whitewater rafting and fishing opportunities.

• Backcountry exploration — The San Rafael Swell offers scenic drives and backcountry hiking for the adventurous.

Price is an ethnically diverse area for dining, offering Greek, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Dutch Oven dinners, steak houses and many other venues.

• Big Don's Pizza & Pasta Restaurant — 170 W 100 N. Popular local pizza and pasta restaurant.
• Price River Brewery — Local brewery with a variety of specialty beers and great food.
• Greek Food Festival — Annual event celebrating the area's Greek heritage.

Price has a few local bars and the Price River Brewery for craft beer. Utah's unique alcohol laws apply here as well.

• Budget: Super 8 Motel, 180 North Hospital Dr. Basic but affordable.
• Mid-range: Quality Inn, 590 E Main St. Comfortable rooms with standard amenities.
• Upscale / heritage: SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Price, 838 Westwood Blvd. Modern rooms with good service.

Price has basic shopping along Main Street, including grocery stores, sporting goods stores, and specialty shops. The area is known for fossils and mineral specimens.

• Moab — About 115 miles southeast via I-70. Gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
• Green River — About 60 miles east. Known for river trips and fishing on the Green River.
• San Rafael Swell — South. A vast wilderness area with scenic drives and backcountry hiking.
• Spanish Fork — About 75 miles northwest. Gateway to the Wasatch Mountains.
• Helper — 10 miles north. A historic railroad town with art galleries.
• Vernal — About 130 miles northeast. Dinosaur National Monument and outdoor recreation.