diff --git a/packages/scenes/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/scenes/CHANGELOG.md
index 4cf633064..935d4938b 100644
--- a/packages/scenes/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/scenes/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
 
 #### 🚀 Enhancement
 
-- Variables:  Query - Add optional `definition` prop to state [#489](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/489) ([@axelavargas](https://github.com/axelavargas))
+- Variables: Query - Add optional `definition` prop to state [#489](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/489) ([@axelavargas](https://github.com/axelavargas))
 
 #### 🐛 Bug Fix
 
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@
 
 #### 🚀 Enhancement
 
-- Macros: Support $_interval[_ms] variable [#487](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/487) ([@dprokop](https://github.com/dprokop))
+- Macros: Support $\_interval[_ms] variable [#487](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/487) ([@dprokop](https://github.com/dprokop))
 
 #### 🐛 Bug Fix
 
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@
 - Variables: Support for variables on lower levels to depend on variables on higher levels [#443](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/443) ([@torkelo](https://github.com/torkelo))
 - VizPanel: Handle empty arrays when merging new panel options [#447](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/447) ([@javiruiz01](https://github.com/javiruiz01))
 - PanelContext: Eventbus should not filter out local events [#445](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/445) ([@torkelo](https://github.com/torkelo))
-- Variables: Support __org and __user variable macros [#449](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/449) ([@torkelo](https://github.com/torkelo))
+- Variables: Support **org and **user variable macros [#449](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/449) ([@torkelo](https://github.com/torkelo))
 - SceneQueryRunner: Fixes adhoc filters when using a variable data source [#422](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/422) ([@torkelo](https://github.com/torkelo))
 - VizPanel: Support passing legacyPanelId to PanelProps [#446](https://github.com/grafana/scenes/pull/446) ([@torkelo](https://github.com/torkelo))
 
diff --git a/packages/scenes/src/index.ts b/packages/scenes/src/index.ts
index 7b40c18b6..61a49ae1a 100644
--- a/packages/scenes/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/scenes/src/index.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { getUrlWithAppState } from './components/SceneApp/utils';
 import { registerRuntimePanelPlugin } from './components/VizPanel/registerRuntimePanelPlugin';
 import { cloneSceneObjectState } from './core/sceneGraph/utils';
 import { registerRuntimeDataSource } from './querying/RuntimeDataSource';
+import { getUrlState, syncStateFromSearchParams } from './services/utils';
 import { registerVariableMacro } from './variables/macros';
 import { renderPrometheusLabelFilters } from './variables/utils';
 import {
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ export { AdHocFilterSet } from './variables/adhoc/AdHocFiltersSet';
 export { AdHocFiltersVariable } from './variables/adhoc/AdHocFiltersVariable';
 export { type MacroVariableConstructor } from './variables/macros/types';
 
-export { type UrlSyncManagerLike as UrlSyncManager, getUrlSyncManager } from './services/UrlSyncManager';
+export { type UrlSyncManagerLike, UrlSyncManager, getUrlSyncManager } from './services/UrlSyncManager';
 export { SceneObjectUrlSyncConfig } from './services/SceneObjectUrlSyncConfig';
 
 export { EmbeddedScene, type EmbeddedSceneState } from './components/EmbeddedScene';
@@ -98,6 +99,8 @@ export const sceneUtils = {
   registerRuntimeDataSource,
   registerVariableMacro,
   cloneSceneObjectState,
+  syncStateFromSearchParams,
+  getUrlState,
   renderPrometheusLabelFilters,
 
   // Variable guards
diff --git a/packages/scenes/src/services/UniqueUrlKeyMapper.ts b/packages/scenes/src/services/UniqueUrlKeyMapper.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..87d48f8ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/scenes/src/services/UniqueUrlKeyMapper.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { SceneObject } from '../core/types';
+
+export interface SceneObjectWithDepth {
+  sceneObject: SceneObject;
+  depth: number;
+}
+
+export class UniqueUrlKeyMapper {
+  private index = new Map<string, SceneObjectWithDepth[]>();
+
+  public getUniqueKey(key: string, obj: SceneObject) {
+    const objectsWithKey = this.index.get(key);
+    if (!objectsWithKey) {
+      throw new Error("Cannot find any scene object that uses the key '" + key + "'");
+    }
+
+    const address = objectsWithKey.findIndex((o) => o.sceneObject === obj);
+    if (address > 0) {
+      return `${key}-${address + 1}`;
+    }
+
+    return key;
+  }
+
+  public rebuildIndex(root: SceneObject) {
+    this.index.clear();
+    this.buildIndex(root, 0);
+  }
+
+  private buildIndex(sceneObject: SceneObject, depth: number) {
+    if (sceneObject.urlSync) {
+      for (const key of sceneObject.urlSync.getKeys()) {
+        const hit = this.index.get(key);
+        if (hit) {
+          hit.push({ sceneObject, depth });
+          hit.sort((a, b) => a.depth - b.depth);
+        } else {
+          this.index.set(key, [{ sceneObject, depth }]);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    sceneObject.forEachChild((child) => this.buildIndex(child, depth + 1));
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/scenes/src/services/UrlSyncManager.test.ts b/packages/scenes/src/services/UrlSyncManager.test.ts
index e336df0b7..7881815da 100644
--- a/packages/scenes/src/services/UrlSyncManager.test.ts
+++ b/packages/scenes/src/services/UrlSyncManager.test.ts
@@ -5,23 +5,29 @@ import { locationService } from '@grafana/runtime';
 import { SceneFlexItem, SceneFlexLayout } from '../components/layout/SceneFlexLayout';
 import { SceneObjectBase } from '../core/SceneObjectBase';
 import { SceneTimeRange } from '../core/SceneTimeRange';
-import { SceneObjectState, SceneObject, SceneObjectUrlValues } from '../core/types';
+import { SceneObjectState, SceneObjectUrlValues } from '../core/types';
 
 import { SceneObjectUrlSyncConfig } from './SceneObjectUrlSyncConfig';
-import { isUrlValueEqual, UrlSyncManager } from './UrlSyncManager';
+import { UrlSyncManager } from './UrlSyncManager';
 
 interface TestObjectState extends SceneObjectState {
   name: string;
   optional?: string;
   array?: string[];
   other?: string;
+  nested?: TestObj;
 }
 
 class TestObj extends SceneObjectBase<TestObjectState> {
-  protected _urlSync = new SceneObjectUrlSyncConfig(this, { keys: ['name', 'array', 'optional'] });
+  protected _urlSync = new SceneObjectUrlSyncConfig(this, { keys: ['name', 'array', 'optional', 'nested'] });
 
   public getUrlState() {
-    return { name: this.state.name, array: this.state.array, optional: this.state.optional };
+    return {
+      name: this.state.name,
+      array: this.state.array,
+      optional: this.state.optional,
+      nested: this.state.nested ? 'nested' : undefined,
+    };
   }
 
   public updateFromUrl(values: SceneObjectUrlValues) {
@@ -36,6 +42,12 @@ class TestObj extends SceneObjectBase<TestObjectState> {
     if (values.hasOwnProperty('optional')) {
       this.setState({ optional: typeof values.optional === 'string' ? values.optional : undefined });
     }
+
+    if (values.hasOwnProperty('nested')) {
+      this.setState({ nested: new TestObj({ name: 'default name' }) });
+    } else if (this.state.nested) {
+      this.setState({ nested: undefined });
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -43,7 +55,7 @@ describe('UrlSyncManager', () => {
   let urlManager: UrlSyncManager;
   let locationUpdates: Location[] = [];
   let listenUnregister: () => void;
-  let scene: SceneObject;
+  let scene: SceneFlexLayout;
   let deactivate = () => {};
 
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -57,6 +69,7 @@ describe('UrlSyncManager', () => {
     deactivate();
     locationService.push('/');
     listenUnregister();
+    urlManager.cleanUp(scene);
   });
 
   describe('getUrlState', () => {
@@ -103,6 +116,42 @@ describe('UrlSyncManager', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('Initiating state from url', () => {
+    it('Should sync nested objects created during sync', () => {
+      const obj = new TestObj({ name: 'test' });
+      scene = new SceneFlexLayout({
+        children: [new SceneFlexItem({ body: obj })],
+      });
+
+      locationService.partial({ name: 'name-from-url', nested: 'nested', 'name-2': 'nested name from initial url' });
+
+      urlManager = new UrlSyncManager();
+      urlManager.initSync(scene);
+
+      deactivate = scene.activate();
+
+      expect(obj.state.nested?.state.name).toEqual('nested name from initial url');
+    });
+
+    // it('Should get url state from with objects created after initial sync', () => {
+    //   const obj = new TestObj({ name: 'test' });
+    //   scene = new SceneFlexLayout({
+    //     children: [],
+    //   });
+
+    //   locationService.partial({ name: 'name-from-url' });
+
+    //   urlManager = new UrlSyncManager();
+    //   urlManager.initSync(scene);
+
+    //   deactivate = scene.activate();
+
+    //   scene.setState({ children: [new SceneFlexItem({ body: obj })] });
+
+    //   expect(obj.state.name).toEqual('name-from-url');
+    // });
+  });
+
   describe('When url changes', () => {
     it('should update state', () => {
       const obj = new TestObj({ name: 'test' });
@@ -372,18 +421,3 @@ describe('UrlSyncManager', () => {
     });
   });
 });
-
-describe('isUrlValueEqual', () => {
-  it('should handle all cases', () => {
-    expect(isUrlValueEqual([], [])).toBe(true);
-    expect(isUrlValueEqual([], undefined)).toBe(true);
-    expect(isUrlValueEqual([], null)).toBe(true);
-
-    expect(isUrlValueEqual(['asd'], 'asd')).toBe(true);
-    expect(isUrlValueEqual(['asd'], ['asd'])).toBe(true);
-    expect(isUrlValueEqual(['asd', '2'], ['asd', '2'])).toBe(true);
-
-    expect(isUrlValueEqual(['asd', '2'], 'asd')).toBe(false);
-    expect(isUrlValueEqual(['asd2'], 'asd')).toBe(false);
-  });
-});
diff --git a/packages/scenes/src/services/UrlSyncManager.ts b/packages/scenes/src/services/UrlSyncManager.ts
index c08db77f0..f37554c99 100644
--- a/packages/scenes/src/services/UrlSyncManager.ts
+++ b/packages/scenes/src/services/UrlSyncManager.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 import { Location, UnregisterCallback } from 'history';
-import { isEqual } from 'lodash';
 
 import { locationService } from '@grafana/runtime';
 
 import { SceneObjectStateChangedEvent } from '../core/events';
-import { SceneObject, SceneObjectUrlValue, SceneObjectUrlValues } from '../core/types';
+import { SceneObject, SceneObjectUrlValues } from '../core/types';
 import { writeSceneLog } from '../utils/writeSceneLog';
 import { Unsubscribable } from 'rxjs';
+import { UniqueUrlKeyMapper } from './UniqueUrlKeyMapper';
+import { getUrlState, isUrlValueEqual, syncStateFromUrl } from './utils';
 
 export interface UrlSyncManagerLike {
   initSync(root: SceneObject): void;
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ export interface UrlSyncManagerLike {
 }
 
 export class UrlSyncManager implements UrlSyncManagerLike {
-  private urlKeyMapper = new UniqueUrlKeyMapper();
+  private _urlKeyMapper = new UniqueUrlKeyMapper();
   private _sceneRoot!: SceneObject;
   private _stateSub: Unsubscribable | null = null;
   private _locationSub?: UnregisterCallback | null = null;
@@ -71,8 +72,8 @@ export class UrlSyncManager implements UrlSyncManagerLike {
   public syncFrom(sceneObj: SceneObject) {
     const urlParams = locationService.getSearch();
     // The index is always from the root
-    this.urlKeyMapper.rebuildIndex(this._sceneRoot);
-    this._syncSceneStateFromUrl(sceneObj, urlParams);
+    this._urlKeyMapper.rebuildIndex(this._sceneRoot);
+    syncStateFromUrl(sceneObj, urlParams, this._urlKeyMapper);
   }
 
   private _onLocationUpdate = (location: Location) => {
@@ -82,9 +83,9 @@ export class UrlSyncManager implements UrlSyncManagerLike {
 
     const urlParams = new URLSearchParams(location.search);
     // Rebuild key mapper index before starting sync
-    this.urlKeyMapper.rebuildIndex(this._sceneRoot);
+    this._urlKeyMapper.rebuildIndex(this._sceneRoot);
     // Sync scene state tree from url
-    this._syncSceneStateFromUrl(this._sceneRoot, urlParams);
+    syncStateFromUrl(this._sceneRoot, urlParams, this._urlKeyMapper);
     this._lastPath = location.pathname;
   };
 
@@ -97,10 +98,10 @@ export class UrlSyncManager implements UrlSyncManagerLike {
       const searchParams = locationService.getSearch();
       const mappedUpdated: SceneObjectUrlValues = {};
 
-      this.urlKeyMapper.rebuildIndex(this._sceneRoot);
+      this._urlKeyMapper.rebuildIndex(this._sceneRoot);
 
       for (const [key, newUrlValue] of Object.entries(newUrlState)) {
-        const uniqueKey = this.urlKeyMapper.getUniqueKey(key, changedObject);
+        const uniqueKey = this._urlKeyMapper.getUniqueKey(key, changedObject);
         const currentUrlValue = searchParams.getAll(uniqueKey);
 
         if (!isUrlValueEqual(currentUrlValue, newUrlValue)) {
@@ -114,124 +115,9 @@ export class UrlSyncManager implements UrlSyncManagerLike {
     }
   };
 
-  private _syncSceneStateFromUrl(sceneObject: SceneObject, urlParams: URLSearchParams) {
-    if (sceneObject.urlSync) {
-      const urlState: SceneObjectUrlValues = {};
-      const currentState = sceneObject.urlSync.getUrlState();
-
-      for (const key of sceneObject.urlSync.getKeys()) {
-        const uniqueKey = this.urlKeyMapper.getUniqueKey(key, sceneObject);
-        const newValue = urlParams.getAll(uniqueKey);
-        const currentValue = currentState[key];
-
-        if (isUrlValueEqual(newValue, currentValue)) {
-          continue;
-        }
-
-        if (newValue.length > 0) {
-          if (Array.isArray(currentValue)) {
-            urlState[key] = newValue;
-          } else {
-            urlState[key] = newValue[0];
-          }
-        } else {
-          // mark this key as having no url state
-          urlState[key] = null;
-        }
-      }
-
-      if (Object.keys(urlState).length > 0) {
-        sceneObject.urlSync.updateFromUrl(urlState);
-      }
-    }
-
-    sceneObject.forEachChild((child) => this._syncSceneStateFromUrl(child, urlParams));
-  }
-
   public getUrlState(root: SceneObject): SceneObjectUrlValues {
-    const urlKeyMapper = new UniqueUrlKeyMapper();
-    urlKeyMapper.rebuildIndex(root);
-
-    const result: SceneObjectUrlValues = {};
-
-    const visitNode = (obj: SceneObject) => {
-      if (obj.urlSync) {
-        const newUrlState = obj.urlSync.getUrlState();
-
-        for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(newUrlState)) {
-          if (value != null) {
-            const uniqueKey = urlKeyMapper.getUniqueKey(key, obj);
-            result[uniqueKey] = value;
-          }
-        }
-      }
-
-      obj.forEachChild(visitNode);
-    };
-
-    visitNode(root);
-    return result;
-  }
-}
-
-interface SceneObjectWithDepth {
-  sceneObject: SceneObject;
-  depth: number;
-}
-class UniqueUrlKeyMapper {
-  private index = new Map<string, SceneObjectWithDepth[]>();
-
-  public getUniqueKey(key: string, obj: SceneObject) {
-    const objectsWithKey = this.index.get(key);
-    if (!objectsWithKey) {
-      throw new Error("Cannot find any scene object that uses the key '" + key + "'");
-    }
-
-    const address = objectsWithKey.findIndex((o) => o.sceneObject === obj);
-    if (address > 0) {
-      return `${key}-${address + 1}`;
-    }
-
-    return key;
-  }
-
-  public rebuildIndex(root: SceneObject) {
-    this.index.clear();
-    this.buildIndex(root, 0);
-  }
-
-  private buildIndex(sceneObject: SceneObject, depth: number) {
-    if (sceneObject.urlSync) {
-      for (const key of sceneObject.urlSync.getKeys()) {
-        const hit = this.index.get(key);
-        if (hit) {
-          hit.push({ sceneObject, depth });
-          hit.sort((a, b) => a.depth - b.depth);
-        } else {
-          this.index.set(key, [{ sceneObject, depth }]);
-        }
-      }
-    }
-
-    sceneObject.forEachChild((child) => this.buildIndex(child, depth + 1));
-  }
-}
-
-export function isUrlValueEqual(currentUrlValue: string[], newUrlValue: SceneObjectUrlValue): boolean {
-  if (currentUrlValue.length === 0 && newUrlValue == null) {
-    return true;
+    return getUrlState(root);
   }
-
-  if (!Array.isArray(newUrlValue) && currentUrlValue?.length === 1) {
-    return newUrlValue === currentUrlValue[0];
-  }
-
-  if (newUrlValue?.length === 0 && currentUrlValue === null) {
-    return true;
-  }
-
-  // We have two arrays, lets compare them
-  return isEqual(currentUrlValue, newUrlValue);
 }
 
 let urlSyncManager: UrlSyncManagerLike | undefined;
diff --git a/packages/scenes/src/services/utils.test.ts b/packages/scenes/src/services/utils.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9b644e270
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/scenes/src/services/utils.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import { isUrlValueEqual } from './utils';
+
+describe('isUrlValueEqual', () => {
+  it('should handle all cases', () => {
+    expect(isUrlValueEqual([], [])).toBe(true);
+    expect(isUrlValueEqual([], undefined)).toBe(true);
+    expect(isUrlValueEqual([], null)).toBe(true);
+
+    expect(isUrlValueEqual(['asd'], 'asd')).toBe(true);
+    expect(isUrlValueEqual(['asd'], ['asd'])).toBe(true);
+    expect(isUrlValueEqual(['asd', '2'], ['asd', '2'])).toBe(true);
+
+    expect(isUrlValueEqual(['asd', '2'], 'asd')).toBe(false);
+    expect(isUrlValueEqual(['asd2'], 'asd')).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/scenes/src/services/utils.ts b/packages/scenes/src/services/utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4f7e227bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/scenes/src/services/utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import { isEqual } from 'lodash';
+
+import { SceneObject, SceneObjectUrlValue, SceneObjectUrlValues } from '../core/types';
+import { UniqueUrlKeyMapper } from './UniqueUrlKeyMapper';
+
+/**
+ * @param root
+ * @returns the full scene url state as a object with keys and values
+ */
+export function getUrlState(root: SceneObject): SceneObjectUrlValues {
+  const urlKeyMapper = new UniqueUrlKeyMapper();
+  urlKeyMapper.rebuildIndex(root);
+
+  const result: SceneObjectUrlValues = {};
+
+  const visitNode = (obj: SceneObject) => {
+    if (obj.urlSync) {
+      const newUrlState = obj.urlSync.getUrlState();
+
+      for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(newUrlState)) {
+        if (value != null) {
+          const uniqueKey = urlKeyMapper.getUniqueKey(key, obj);
+          result[uniqueKey] = value;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    obj.forEachChild(visitNode);
+  };
+
+  visitNode(root);
+  return result;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Exported util function to sync state from an initial url state.
+ * Useful for initializing an embedded scenes with a url state string.
+ */
+export function syncStateFromSearchParams(root: SceneObject, urlParams: URLSearchParams) {
+  const urlKeyMapper = new UniqueUrlKeyMapper();
+  urlKeyMapper.rebuildIndex(root);
+  syncStateFromUrl(root, urlParams, urlKeyMapper);
+}
+
+export function syncStateFromUrl(
+  sceneObject: SceneObject,
+  urlParams: URLSearchParams,
+  urlKeyMapper: UniqueUrlKeyMapper
+) {
+  if (sceneObject.urlSync) {
+    const urlState: SceneObjectUrlValues = {};
+    const currentState = sceneObject.urlSync.getUrlState();
+
+    for (const key of sceneObject.urlSync.getKeys()) {
+      const uniqueKey = urlKeyMapper.getUniqueKey(key, sceneObject);
+      const newValue = urlParams.getAll(uniqueKey);
+      const currentValue = currentState[key];
+
+      if (isUrlValueEqual(newValue, currentValue)) {
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      if (newValue.length > 0) {
+        if (Array.isArray(currentValue)) {
+          urlState[key] = newValue;
+        } else {
+          urlState[key] = newValue[0];
+        }
+      } else {
+        // mark this key as having no url state
+        urlState[key] = null;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (Object.keys(urlState).length > 0) {
+      sceneObject.urlSync.updateFromUrl(urlState);
+    }
+  }
+
+  sceneObject.forEachChild((child) => syncStateFromUrl(child, urlParams, urlKeyMapper));
+}
+
+export function isUrlValueEqual(currentUrlValue: string[], newUrlValue: SceneObjectUrlValue): boolean {
+  if (currentUrlValue.length === 0 && newUrlValue == null) {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  if (!Array.isArray(newUrlValue) && currentUrlValue?.length === 1) {
+    return newUrlValue === currentUrlValue[0];
+  }
+
+  if (newUrlValue?.length === 0 && currentUrlValue === null) {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  // We have two arrays, lets compare them
+  return isEqual(currentUrlValue, newUrlValue);
+}
diff --git a/packages/scenes/src/variables/adhoc/AdHocFiltersVariable.tsx b/packages/scenes/src/variables/adhoc/AdHocFiltersVariable.tsx
index c01d5409c..c1311983b 100644
--- a/packages/scenes/src/variables/adhoc/AdHocFiltersVariable.tsx
+++ b/packages/scenes/src/variables/adhoc/AdHocFiltersVariable.tsx
@@ -21,7 +21,15 @@ export interface AdHocFiltersVariableState extends SceneVariableState {
 
 export type AdHocFiltersVariableCreateHelperArgs = Pick<
   AdHocFilterSetState,
-  'name' | 'filters' | 'baseFilters' | 'datasource' | 'tagKeyRegexFilter' | 'getTagKeysProvider' | 'getTagValuesProvider' | 'name' | 'layout'
+  | 'name'
+  | 'filters'
+  | 'baseFilters'
+  | 'datasource'
+  | 'tagKeyRegexFilter'
+  | 'getTagKeysProvider'
+  | 'getTagValuesProvider'
+  | 'name'
+  | 'layout'
 >;
 
 export class AdHocFiltersVariable