Skip to content
The Green Adventures
Find my parkMapGreat Smoky MountainsZionYellowstoneSee all: ParksCaliforniaAlaskaUtahSee all: By stateNational monumentsSeashores and lakeshoresAll 412 Park Service sitesSee all: All sitesWhich park should I visit?Pass calculatorCampground finderSee all: Trip toolsAnnual pass 2026International visitorsFree days 2026See all: Fees and passes

National Historic Trail · 5 states

Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail

National Historic Trail in 5 states. No entrance fee.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Historic Trail
StateIllinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkBadlands (175 mi)
Closest airportLBF (61 mi)
Red cliffs line a highway as seen from a high point with grass in the foreground.
Echo Canyon on the way from Wyoming to Salt Lake City, Utah is both beautiful and historic. Photo: NPS photo

Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail is a national historic trail run by the National Park Service in 5 states.

In the park service’s words

Explore the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail across five states to see the 1,300-mile route traveled by Mormons who fled Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1846-1847.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

  • Become a Mormon Pioneer Trail Junior Ranger: Learn about the Mormon Pioneer Trail and earn your junior ranger badge! This activity can be completed virtually or after visiting a site along the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail. Booklets can be submitted either electronically or by mail. Take a look and start exploring the trail today!

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Open 24 hours, every day. The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail is not a clearly marked hiking trail. Instead it is a corridor that passes through communities, urban areas, public lands, and Wilderness. The route travels across a variety of land ownerships and management, including private land. Each location varies as to the hours of operation and access. Please contact individual trail sites before your visit for more information.

Getting there

The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail crosses five states following the route the Pioneer Company of 1846-1847 established from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah, covering about 1,300 miles.

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
North Platte Regional Airport Lee Bird Field (LBF) North Platte, NE No road route 61 Regional
Alliance Municipal Airport (AIA) Alliance, NE No road route 74 Regional
McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport (MCK) McCook, NE No road route 98 Regional
Denver International Airport (DEN) Denver, CO No road route 178 Large hub

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Weather

Due to the length of the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, be sure to consult local weather sources for the region you'll be visiting. Check out the forecast with the National Weather Service and search for the area you'd like to visit: weather.gov

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Badlands, about 175 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail?

No entrance fee.

Where is Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail?

In Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming. The closest airport with scheduled flights is North Platte Regional Airport Lee Bird Field, about 61 miles away.

More sites nearby

The visitor center sits in the middle of mixed grass prairie. National monumentsAgate Fossil Beds National Monument National Monument in Nebraska. No entrance fee. 2 hikes listed. Aerial photograph of trail through lava along the Hawaiian Coast TrailsAla Kahakai National Historic Trail National Historic Trail in Hawaii. No entrance fee. 1 hikes listed. TrailsAppalachian National Scenic Trail National Scenic Trail in 14 states. No entrance fee. 1 hikes listed. Recreation areasBighorn Canyon National Recreation Area National Recreation Area in Montana and Wyoming. No entrance fee. A cross and bell on the roof alcove of a white stucco church. TrailsButterfield Overland National Historic Trail National Historic Trail in 7 states. No entrance fee. A white canvas wagon sits in front of a large rock buttress with mountains in the distance. TrailsCalifornia National Historic Trail National Historic Trail in 10 states. No entrance fee. 1 hikes listed.