SOUTHERN UTAH
VisitCedarCity.com; @VisitCedarCity
Cedar City offers picturesque scenery, authentic charm, and cultural appeal in one accessible destination. Set against a backdrop of red rock landscapes and mountain vistas, Cedar City provides a relaxed, welcoming environment while remaining within easy reach of major gateways like Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
“Cedar City is centrally located between Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks, with incredible scenery along the way,” says Kaylee Pickering, communications specialist for Visit Cedar City, Brian Head, the Iron County Visitors Bureau. “We are also close to Cedar Breaks National Monument, an International Dark Sky Park with beautiful views and a newly opened visitor center.”
Cedar City’s cultural scene adds a distinctive layer to meetings, giving planners opportunities to incorporate arts, history, and heritage into their agendas. The city is home to the renowned Utah Shakespeare Festival, one of the oldest and largest Shakespeare festivals in North America, located at the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University. Each season, from June through October, a resident company performs a rotating repertory of eight plays across three theaters (one outdoor and two indoor), delivering an immersive theatrical experience. Beyond the performances, the venue offers nightly Greenshows (free shows as a prelude to the evening’s performance), pre-show entertainment, and educational seminars, offering groups a chance to connect through shared cultural experiences.
Just beyond downtown, the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs trace the region’s Indigenous history and heritage. This remarkable site features nearly 1,500 petroglyphs etched into towering Navajo sandstone walls across 90 panels.
For nature enthusiasts, Cedar City’s location makes it an ideal basecamp for exploring southern Utah’s most iconic landscapes. Within a 90-minute drive, groups can experience the dramatic scenery of Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks while taking advantage of affordable lodging options in a quiet home base, compared to many gateway towns.
Closer to town, year-round recreation adds even more flexibility. Brian Head Resort offers both winter and summer activities, from group ski outings and beginner-friendly “learn-to-ski” experiences to scenic lift rides and mountain biking during warmer months. For something more unconventional, Outpost X offers a one-of-a-kind setting for teambuilding and retreats, blending a sci-fi-inspired desert environment with amenities like a spa, group gathering spaces, and dark-sky stargazing.
There are 1,845 guest rooms across Iron County. The new Hampton Inn in downtown Cedar City opened earlier this year with 96 rooms and a two-level parking garage. Festival Hall and Heritage Center conference center offer 18,735 square feet of flexible space, including 10 meeting rooms and a 986-seat theater—ideal for conferences, general sessions, and performances. The Courtyard by Marriott features 6,920 square feet of meeting space across five rooms with banquet capabilities, while the Ramada by Wyndham offers 2,400 square feet across five meeting rooms.
In addition, Southern Utah University’s campus facilities are available to groups, with spaces suited for lectures, receptions, and larger gatherings.
