a few things you can do to help out your financials:
get a hard seasonal job that pays something better than 7.50/hr, I was able to pay for my college education through a mix of student loans (public, not private ones), light part time work during the school year, and landscaping full time through the summers. Also, talk to your school about financial aid, some schools will provide grants instead of loans for students that are in dire financial straits.
As for dealing with your parents, work with them, keep them in the loop, even if they disagree with what you're doing, you'll appreciate having a relationship with them, especially if things don't work out right. Do a little research on how much it would cost for a plane or bus to where your dad is living. Set this much aside, or give it to your dad as an oh-shit fund, where if you really can't make it on your own, you can still afford a ticket to Utah. How you deal with this situation is going to factor into your dad's perception of your capabilities on your own. If you can handle this situation well, you may prove to him that you're ready to start charting your own course.