Utah National Parks Road Trip: 8-day itinerary & map
Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches
Utah's five national parks sit in a rough arc across the south of the state, and scenic byways link them. From Zion's slot-canyon walls to the arches outside Moab, each day's drive is part of the trip. Utah 12 between Bryce and Capitol Reef is one of the best drives in the West.
When to go: April–May and late September–October. Summer is very hot in Zion and Moab, and winter brings snow to Bryce.
Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef are both certified International Dark Sky Parks, and the stargazing is best around a new moon. ahaboo has a narrated explainer on why the Moon goes through phases, which is useful when you pick your nights.
Map loads when you scroll here…
Route line and mileage from OSRM over OpenStreetMap roads. Open this route in the planner to change the stops.
Day-by-day Utah's Mighty Five itinerary
- Start
Las Vegas
Fly in and pick up the car. It's about two and a half hours to Springdale.
Pass through - 163 mi · about 3 h 6 min from Las Vegas
Springdale (Zion)
Spend two nights at Zion's gate. Take the park shuttle up the canyon, walk the Riverside Walk, and hike Angels Landing if you win the permit lottery.
2 nights here - 84 mi · about 2 h 6 min from Springdale (Zion)
Bryce Canyon City
Drive the Zion–Mount Carmel tunnel road east. At Bryce, catch sunrise at Sunrise Point and hike the Navajo Loop down among the hoodoos.
1 night here - 112 mi · about 2 h 48 min from Bryce Canyon City
Torrey (Capitol Reef)
Utah 12 runs through Escalante and over the Hogback ridge. At Capitol Reef, pick pie and orchard fruit in Fruita and drive the Scenic Drive.
1 night here - 156 mi · about 3 h 12 min from Torrey (Capitol Reef)
Moab
Base yourself in Moab for three nights. Arches has Delicate Arch and the Windows, Canyonlands' Island in the Sky has Mesa Arch, and Dead Horse Point is right beside it.
3 nights here - 234 mi · about 4 h 36 min from Moab
Salt Lake City
Head north on US-191 and US-6 to fly out, or loop back to Las Vegas instead, which takes about seven hours.
End of the trip
Before you drive
- Some parks have used timed-entry or shuttle systems in recent years. Check each park's nps.gov page for current rules before you go.
- Services are thin on Utah 12 and Utah 24. Fill up whenever you pass a gas station.
- An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entry to all five parks.
Fuel for this trip
At 28 mpg and $3.50/gal, 748 miles costs about:
$94
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Utah's Mighty Five FAQ
How long does the Utah's Mighty Five road trip take?
This itinerary takes 8 days and covers about 748 miles, or roughly 16 hours of driving without traffic or stops. You can drive it faster, but the nights listed leave time for the sights.
When is the best time for a Utah's Mighty Five road trip?
April–May and late September–October. Summer is very hot in Zion and Moab, and winter brings snow to Bryce. Check official road status before you go.
What is the longest driving day?
Moab to Salt Lake City: about 234 miles, or 4 h 36 min of driving before stops. Leave early that day.
Where should I stay overnight?
The overnight bases in this plan are Springdale (Zion), Bryce Canyon City, Torrey (Capitol Reef), Moab.
