Ultimate Road Trip Through Utah's National Parks
Zion, Bryce, Arches and Canyonlands, mapped mile by mile, with drive times, trail picks, and where to fuel up between parks.
Zion, Bryce, Arches and Canyonlands, mapped mile by mile, with drive times, trail picks, and where to fuel up between parks.
Book the rental early. SUVs sell out fast in peak season.
🚗 ~2.5 hr drive to Springdale 💵 ~$65/day rental 🕐 Book weeks aheadPersonal vehicles aren't allowed into the main canyon in peak season, so hop the free park shuttle.
🚐 free park shuttle 💵 Free w/ park pass 🕐 Ride before 10 AMAn easy, paved trail to ease in before tomorrow's bigger hikes.
🚶 easy 2.2 km trail 💵 $35/vehicle park pass 🕐 SunsetApply for the day-before lottery permit. The chain section isn't for anyone uneasy with heights.
🥾 ~4 hr round trip 💵 ~$6 permit 🕐 Start by 7 AMRent water shoes and a walking stick in Springdale, since you'll be wading upstream through the Virgin River.
🚐 shuttle to trailhead 💵 ~$20 gear rental 🕐 Before afternoon stormsEarly night: tomorrow's a long drive to Bryce.
🚶 walkable in town 💵 ~$25 🕐 Early, ~6 PMA scenic drive through a historic tunnel and red-rock switchbacks. Budget extra time for one-way traffic control.
🚗 ~2 hr drive 💵 Free 🕐 Mid-morningAn easy, mostly flat walk connecting the park's best overlooks.
🚶 ~5.5 km trail 💵 $35/vehicle park pass 🕐 Late-afternoon lightThe hoodoos glow orange as the light drops, so arrive 30 minutes early for a spot.
🚗 short drive within park 💵 Free (in pass) 🕐 30 min before sunsetThen a quick loop on the Navajo Loop trail before the crowds arrive.
🚶 ~2 km trail 💵 Free (in pass) 🕐 SunriseA long haul across central Utah, so stop at a Capitol Reef viewpoint to break it up.
🚗 ~4.5 hr drive 💵 Free 🕐 Depart by noonCasual dinner on Main Street and an early night before Arches at sunrise.
🚶 walkable in town 💵 ~$25 dinner 🕐 Early dinner, ~6 PMCheck for a timed-entry reservation in peak season, and book it before you leave home.
🥾 ~5 km round trip 💵 $30/vehicle park pass 🕐 Before 8 AMTwo very different arch clusters, both an easy walk from the parking areas.
🚗 short drives between areas 💵 Free (in pass) 🕐 Early afternoonThen dinner back in Moab.
🚗 10 min from park exit 💵 Free (in pass) 🕐 SunsetThe most photographed spot in the park, so arrive before the tour groups for a clear shot.
🚗 ~40 min from Moab 💵 $30/vehicle park pass 🕐 SunriseTwo of the widest canyon panoramas in the entire national park system.
🚗 short drives within park 💵 Free (in pass) 🕐 Late-afternoon lightLast night in Moab: book a half-day Colorado River trip if you have the energy left.
🚗 back to Moab 💵 ~$90 🕐 Book aheadSlickrock terrain right in town for one last look before the drive.
🚴 rentals in town 💵 ~$40 bike rental 🕐 Early, before heat buildsToward Salt Lake City or back to Las Vegas, depending on your flight out.
🚗 ~3.5–4.5 hr drive 💵 Free 🕐 Depart early afternoonLeave a buffer: one-lane construction zones are common on rural highways.
🚗 airport drop-off 💵 rental already paid 🕐 Arrive 2 hrs earlyThe America the Beautiful pass pays for itself by your third park entrance.
Gas in Moab or Springdale is noticeably cheaper than the small stops between parks.
Cuts lodging costs significantly versus a hotel, and puts you closer to the trailheads.
Get there at first light, since by mid-morning it's a crowd, not a photo op.
A ranger-guided or permitted self-hike through Arches' maze section, with far fewer visitors than the main trails.
Right next to Canyonlands with a nearly identical canyon view, a fraction of the crowd.
Where to next
