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The Ultimate Utah National Park RV Road Trip

Photo by Lydia Kerr

Hipcamp and RV LIFE Pro have put together the perfect guide to take the leg work out of planning your Utah road trip, from the very best destinations and fuel stops to RV campsites along the way. 

With five national parks collectively boasting some of the most awe-inspiring natural features in the American West, it’s no surprise that Utah is a popular road-tripping destination. Whether you want to hike among sandstone formations, get a glimpse of history in the form of ancient rock art, or just gaze up at the brilliance of the Milky Way from the comfort of your campsite, Utah has you covered. However, the state’s splendor is no secret, so it’s critical to plan ahead to make the most of your time. Fortunately, Hipcamp and the RV LIFE Trip Wizard make every aspect of travel planning a breeze, from charting the perfect route to finding RV sites that are just right for you. 

Follow our itinerary from top to bottom, flip it in reverse, choose just one or two, or even extend your road trip by continuing on. Let’s go!

Zion National Park

Where to camp.

You can find great spots to park your RV within easy reach of Zion, from Zion Wright Family Ranch Eco-Camp —spread out over 1,200 off-grid acres—to Kolob Gate Gardens , a mere 20-minute drive from the park’s visitor center and  offering a quiet, remote alternative to busier campgrounds inside the park.

Things to do

Utah’s most visited national park also has some of the state’s best hikes. The most popular options include The Narrows, which takes hikers through a narrow (and wet) segment of Zion Canyon, and the permitted 5.4-mile (round-trip) Angels Landing hike, which rewards brave hikers with panoramic views over the park. Just know that making it up to the 5,790-foot precipice takes a bit of work—be prepared to traverse narrow cliffside trails while holding on to bolted chains.

Where to stop

If you need a place to stretch your legs between Zion and Bryce, take a half-mile (round-trip) hike into the Belly of the Dragon, a man-made sandstone tunnel just outside of Mount Carmel . Alternatively, head up to Shingle Creek Rest Area north of Glendale , which offers grassy areas with a bit of pine tree shade, plus a handful of picnic tables. If you need to stop for fuel, you’ll find options in Mount Carmel, Orderville , and Alton .

Bryce Canyon National Park

A roughly 90-minute drive from Zion

Plenty of RV campsites sit in the immediate vicinity of Bryce, including Ranchito Feliz , home to a few tent sites and a single RV site inside the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument , and Paria View Camp Site , situated in quiet Cannonville just from the canyon. A bit further north, spacious Bryce Desert Camping offers a couple of sites plus a fire pit and a picnic area.

Known for its massive hoodoos, or rock spires, Bryce is worth visiting for the photo opportunities alone. You’ll get the best shots if you descend into Bryce Canyon, and the 1.4-mile Navajo Loop Trail is a good, moderate option, taking hikers past some of the best-known formations in the park. Bryce is also a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it among the best places to stargaze in the area. Ranger-led astronomy programs are common.

The ideal way to get from Bryce to Capitol Reef is along Highway 12—just make sure to stop to take in the views of Capitol Reef and the Henry Mountains from the Larb Hollow Overlook (southeast of Torrey) along the way. Kiva Coffeehouse in Escalante is also worth a visit for its architecture alone, designed to blend seamlessly with its rocky backdrop. There are plenty of spots to fuel up along the way, with the bulk of options in Escalante, Boulder, and Torrey.

Capitol Reef National Park

About 2 hour’s drive from Bryce Canyon

About from Capitol Reef, Road to the Sun Ranch has a single RV site set on a massive expanse of prairieland with water, power, sewage, and wifi. For a more developed option, Canyons of Escalante RV Park has cabins, tent sites, and RV sites for vehicles up to 45 feet in length right on Main Street Escalante.

Capitol Reef offers a wide variety of hiking options, with 15 trails in the Fruita area alone. The 1.8-mile (round-trip) Hickman Bridge Trail takes you out to a natural arched bridge, while the more challenging 5.9-mile Chimney Rock Loop offers fantastic views, particularly around sunset. Don’t leave the park before visiting one of the two fruit orchards within a mile or so of the visitor’s center—some even offer u-pick.

You can get gas just outside of Capitol Reef in Hanksville or drive a bit further up to Green River for a few more options. If you have a bit of time, it’s worth making a detour to Goblin Valley State Park , named for its stubby hoodoos that, with a bit of imagination, bear a resemblance to squat goblins. 

Arches National Park

A 3-hour drive from Capitol Reef

The area around Arches has tons of RV camping options. At an elevation of around 7,000 feet, High Sage Hogans is a great choice for hot summer months, offering a cooler alternative to some of the lower-elevation spots in the area. South-40@LaSal is another great choice, with a few tent sites and four RV sites with electric hookups, water hydrants, and wifi. 

Things to do  

This national park is named for its 2,000-odd sandstone arches that are best visited on foot. Many trails are rated moderate, from the 3-mile (round-trip) Delicate Arch Trail, which gets hikers close to one of the park’s most iconic rock formations, to the 2-mile Fiery Furnace loop trail, which you can visit either by obtaining a permit or joining a ranger-led hike.

The town of Moab serves both Arches and nearby Canyonlands, with plenty of outdoor outfitters, gas stations, shops, and restaurants. You can find a bit of tranquility at the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve, a Nature Conservancy-managed wildlife reserve that provides a home to hundreds of bird species along with amphibians and aquatic mammals.

Canyonlands National Park

Just 30 minutes from Arches by road

If visiting Arches and Canyonlands on the same trip, you probably won’t feel the need to change campgrounds, but if you’re heading south or west after Canyonlands, it may make sense to move around. Great options in the area include the Sunset Campground on Ruin Road , set within hiking distance of ancient ruins and rock formations, and the Needles Outpost Campground , which offers creature comforts such as coin-operated showers and a camp store against a desert background dotted with rock formations.

Canyonlands has many, many hiking trails, most of which offer visitors the chance to see ancient rock paintings. One of the easiest such hikes is the 0.6-mile (loop) Cave Spring Trail in The Needles, which takes visitors to an old cowboy camp and past ancient art—just be prepared to climb a couple of ladders along the way. If you’re feeling ambitious and want to see life-size rock art, head over to the Great Gallery in Horseshoe Canyon, accessible via a strenuous 7-mile (round-trip) hike. 

If you want to fill up on the short drive between Arches and Canyonlands, the best place to do so is at Little Far West, site of an oft-photographed log church. It’s right by Moab Giants, an open-air dinosaur-themed attraction featuring gargantuan reproductions of Mesozoic beasts along with a variety of kid-friendly interactive areas.

When you pair Hipcamp with the RV LIFE Trip Wizard , it’s simple to get out on the road. And if you need to borrow some wheels? Check out RVshare’s RV rentals in Utah . Where are you headed next?

Start planning with RV LIFE Pro

In order to make the most of your trip, and get there safely, lay out your entire trip, including fuel stops, rest stops, and even grocery stops before you go. RV LIFE Pro not only includes RV LIFE Trip Wizard, but an RV safe mobile GPS app for your phone. Get started with RV LIFE Pro today and create a memorable trip you’ll never forget. Remember, ALL your Hipcamp locations can be added to RV LIFE Trip Wizard as part of your trip.

More road trip inspo for you

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• Mighty 5: Utah & the Grand Canyon

Mighty 5: Utah & the Grand Canyon

• Duration 13 Nights
• Begin Your Trip May 1 – October 1, 2025

• Gateway City Las Vegas, Nevada

Moab Sunset Hummer Tour

Bryce Canyon Dinner & Show

• Visit all 5 of Utah’s National Parks and tick the “Mighty 5” off your list
• Hike to Angel’s Landing for a breathtaking view of Zion Canyon (permit required)
• See the Milky Way as you’ve never seen it before
• Travel through Butch Cassidy country on a 4 wheel all terrain vehicle
• Hike part way into the Grand Canyon, or just enjoy the views at sunrise or sunset

Ready to start planning your national park RV vacation?

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For almost unlimited canyon landscapes and some of the most amazing scenery in the country, you’ll find Utah has it all! With five national parks, Utah is second only to Alaska and California, and each one is as impressive as the last! This epic trip will take you to Utah’s “Mighty 5” National Parks ( Zion , Bryce , Capitol Reef , Arches and Canyonlands ) and a bonus trip through the Grand Canyon . Erosion carved arches on sandstone, deep canyons, ancient rock art, and the incredible Colorado River and towering arches are some of the highlights. Spend your days hiking, rafting, four wheeling, horseback riding, canyoneering, mountain biking, or simply soaking in the scenery.

Las Vegas – 1 night Fly into Las Vegas and check into your hotel, then take a walk down the Strip to see the lights and have dinner before turning in. Las Vegas to Zion: 160 miles

Zion National Park – 2 nights Explore the bare stone mesas and canyon walls of Zion and unlike other desert parks, find dense forests, waterfalls, and other hidden gems. Zion to Bryce Canyon: 80 miles

Bryce National Park – 2 nights Take time to visit the overlooks to see the “hoo-doos”, or hike into the midst of the bizarre rock formations. Enjoy one or more fun activities, like an ATV tour or horseback ride. Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef: 130 miles

Capitol Reef National Park – 1 night Visit this hidden treasure with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges on your way to eastern Utah. Capitol Reef to Moab: 160 miles

Moab – 3 nights Moab is a great basecamp for visiting Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. There are opportunities for rafting, biking, jeep rides, and other activities in and around this spectacular area. Moab to Monument Valley: 150 miles

Monument Valley – 1 night Nothing says “American West” like the landscape in Monument Valley. Unlike some of the other canyon parks, here the land is much more open and rolling, but with dramatic formations of sandstone towering hundreds of feet over you. Monument Valley to the South Rim: 180 miles

Grand Canyon – 2 nights Explore one of the most visited National Parks in the World. South Rim to Las Vegas: 290 miles

Las Vegas – 1 night Drive on old Route 66 and visit the Hoover Dam on your way back to Las Vegas.

Enjoy an evening out on a Hummer adventure and view a breathtaking Moab desert sunset. This off-road tour features visits to secluded canyons, hidden arches, prehistoric dinosaur tracks, and awe-inspiring panoramic overlooks of the Colorado River as you ascend to the tops of the cliffs surrounding Moab.

Your trip includes an unforgettable evening of live country music and a delicious BBQ dinner! You’ll be entertained by a mixture of seasoned country music performers and up-and-coming talent. The show features timeless country classics as well as modern hits. For dinner, you will have several options to choose from, and all will come with the cowboy classics of baked beans, red skin mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and a biscuit on the side! Dessert and soft drinks are also included.

©Photo Credit : Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill

There are hundreds of guided experiences you could do along the way. These are the ones we think are worth your time and money. Keep it simple or load it up! Our Team will help you decide which ones are right for you. Prices are below with the descriptions and are subject to change by the suppliers.

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• Built-In Excursion(s)
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Take This Southwest RV Road Trip From Las Vegas to Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef

Explore five national park sites in utah on this epic adventure where you’ll camp at working farms, vineyards and guest ranches thanks to the innovative service, harvest hosts..

From the bright lights of Las Vegas through the red rock country of Utah, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to take an RV road trip than the American Southwest. We love the ease of traveling in a home on wheels–there’s no worrying about hotel checkout times, it’s easy to cook fresh and healthy meals and if the kids get tired, bed is always along for the ride.

However, RV parks can get monotonous and they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. With that in mind, we put together an incredible RV road trip from Las Vegas to Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks, along with often overlooked national monuments like Cedar Breaks and Grand Staircase-Escalante. And the best part? No Yogi Bear in sight. You’ll stay at unique and interesting properties from vineyards to organic farms to ranches, and often you’ll be the only guest staying there, guaranteeing a solitude filled night.

First, join Harvest Hosts . It’s an affordable yearly membership that gives you access to more than 5,000 unique RV camping locations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico ranging from working farms to breweries, museums and golf courses. Each of these locations allow self-contained RVers stay on their properties with no camping fees.

Because hosts are offering up their yards and businesses for travelers to stay in without compensation, members are asked to support the business, whether that’s buying freshly made cheese, sampling a hard cider flight, or playing a round of golf. It’s a great way to introduce local businesses to travelers while giving RVers unique camping options. To qualify as a guest, RVs need to have an interior toilet and holding tank, or bladder for wastewater, as hosts usually don’t have hookups. Cooking must be done inside your vehicle and no additional tents are allowed. Each host’s profile clearly states their rules regarding generator use, pets and more, so review the listing carefully before requesting to book.

Next, fill up your tank with gas (or arrange an RV rental in Las Vegas) and hit the road to some of Utah’s most alluring national park sites.

Zion National Park

Zion Vineyards Leeds, UT harvesthosts.com/hosts/utah

Spend the night just under 45 minutes from Zion National Park at this peaceful, boutique vineyard. Against the backdrop of striking red rocks and vibrant green grape vines, you can enjoy a laid-back evening on the property. Make sure to arrive during business hours so you can enjoy a wine tasting. Chances are, the vineyards’ winemaker will be the one pouring your glass. Offerings include cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, sauvignon blanc, grenache blanc and primitivo. The tasting room is dog friendly, but those under 21 aren’t allowed due to Utah law.

After a restful night’s sleep, head into the nearby national park. To avoid searching for parking in your rig, leave it in the gateway town of Springdale, Utah and take the free shuttle into Zion. From there you can transfer to the Zion Canyon Shuttle to get to trailheads, scenic viewpoints and more. Navigating the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, which connects the south side of the park with the east, requires a permit for large vehicles  and some won’t fit. Skip the headache and stick to the park’s south side. When you’re done exploring, head back out to Interstate 15 and go north through Cedar City.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Red Acre Farm CSA Cedar City, Utah harvesthosts.com/hosts/utah

Just north of Cedar City in the beautiful Cedar Valley, pull up your RV at Red Acre Farm CSA. Located at 5,900 feet in elevation, this remarkable organic and biodynamic farm grows produce year round. Started by southern California transplant Sara Patterson when she was just 14 years old, you’ll find a vibrant and intriguing spot to spend the night. Meet the farm animals from goats to pigs to a llama and be sure to pick up some goodies for dinner from the farm stand. Offerings depend on the season, but you might find fresh greens, herbs, fruits and vegetables, eggs, fresh baked bread and jam, all from Red Acre Farm. There’s also a selection of products from other local makers.

Be sure to check out the events calendar as you’ll often find something fun going on from burger and band nights to farm dinners to classes ranging from wreath making to weeding. Note that pets aren’t allowed for overnight guests since there are many animals living on the farm.

In the morning, head to Cedar Breaks National Monument , a site that’s equally as intriguing as the state’s national parks, but sees a fraction of the crowds. At 10,000 feet in elevation, this monument is relievingly cool, even in the height of summer, and features a unique combination of desert and forest. Hike through bristlecone pines into a stunning natural amphitheater with striking rock formations ranging from deep red to pink, orange and white, and stay after dark for incredible stargazing.

Bryce Canyon National Park

From Cedar Breaks, head east to Bryce Canyon National Park  where pillar-like rock formations called “hoodoos” make for a strange and wonderful spot to hike. Take in the views from the rim (make sure you save time for a sunrise or sunset at the viewpoints of the same names) or venture into the hoodoos for a longer hike.

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Drive stunning Scenic Byway 12 , which connects Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks, for endless high desert beauty. It’s a paved, two-lane highway that’s drivable for most RVers, though there are some steep grades and a narrow section with steep drop-offs on either side that may make some drivers, especially of bigger rigs, uncomfortable.

Just north of the town of Escalante, there’s an optional detour to Hell’s Backbone . This aptly named road serpentines through some seriously impressive terrain, climbing to a narrow ridgeline where a precarious-feeling bridge deposits you on the other side. It’s probably best saved for those towing a passenger car, or very comfortable drivers in smaller rigs.

Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch Boulder, Utah harvesthosts.com/hosts/utah

Whether you choose to take Hell’s Backbone or stay on Scenic Byway 12, take a break from the road at the sustainably-minded Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch. It’s located a little ways up Hell’s Backbone Road from Boulder, but you’ll get to the ranch before any of the harrowing sections. This serene, 168-acre property is a great place for a relaxing evening in a picturesque valley setting, but you’ll want to stick around once the sun comes up to explore. Take a hike through the property’s trails to check out verdant pastures and wetlands, or make a reservation at the on-site Sweetwater Kitchen with meals featuring grass-fed beef raised on site. There’s also a general store with snacks, drinks and sundries to keep you going.

In the nearby town of Boulder, just 15 minutes away, you’ll also find the James Beard Award semi-finalist Hell’s Backbone Grill, an incredible restaurant anywhere, but magnified when you add in its remote location.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument  is a massive and remote swath of public lands filled with slot canyons, rock art, lonely plateaus and some of the most incredible desert scenery in the West. As you drive from Boulder to Capitol Reef, you’ll only be able to scratch the surface, but a hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls or Escalante Natural Bridge is a great way to spend the morning.

Capitol Reef National Park

Etta Place Cider Torrey, Utah harvesthosts.com/hosts/utah

Pull up your rig in the town of Torrey , just outside the red rock wonderland of Capitol Reef National Park , and dive into cider making at Etta Place Cider. When you visit the historic Fruita apple orchards in the park, you’ll discover a vibrant history of fruit growing at 7,000 feet above sea level. Etta Place, named after one of Butch Cassidy’s accomplices, continues that tradition. The orchard-based cidery grows more than 90 varieties of apples and turns them into hard cider. You can enjoy a tasting flight in the taproom or on the patio, along with the cidery’s in-house mead, local Utah beers, wines, spirits and more. There’s also snacks available from charcuterie boards to apple salsa made with the orchard’s fruit. If you’re interested in the cider making process, book a behind the scenes tour.

Spend a day or two exploring everything Capitol Reef has to offer. After staying at Etta Place, you’ll definitely need to make a stop in the historic town of Fruita where you can pick your own fruit, depending on season. Don’t miss a stop at the Gifford Homestead where you can buy locally baked fruit pies. There’s also amazing hiking amongst gorgeous red rocks, remote and stunning scenic drives and incredible stars after dark here.

Finney Farm Hildale, Utah harvesthosts.com/hosts/utah

As you make your way from Capitol Reef back to Las Vegas, break up the drive with a night spent at Finney Farm in Hildale, close to the Arizona border. If you want to add the Grand Canyon to your itinerary, this is an excellent jumping off point for the North Rim. When you stay, you can meet the sweet-faced Brown-Swiss cows and purchase raw milk, cream and cheese made at the dairy. There’s also other products for sale produced on the farm like yogurt, eggs, beef, pork, homemade bread and raw honey. Sunsets are truly stunning here against the red rock cliffs.

Learn more and become a Harvest Hosts member at harvesthosts.com

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A 10 Day Family RV Itinerary for Utah’s Big 5 National Parks and More

I spent a lot of time planning my family’s very first Cruise America RV trip to visit some major US landmarks including the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, and Utah’s 5 National Parks. I’ve received so many questions about this trip from others that I figured I would share our itinerary and takeaways to serve as a reference to help others.

This trip occurred in early June 2019 before I started my blog. So it’s not as detailed as some of my other posts. I’m going from memory and I may not be able to recall everything, plus some of the information may be outdated. But hopefully, it can serve as a starting point for some plans you might be thinking about.

It wasn’t our smoothest family trip, but it was definitely a memorable one!

This point contains affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adventures with Kelly (@adventureswkelly)

• Ages – Our crew consisted for 6 adults, and 4 children. My nieces and nephwere were ages 5, 7, and 9 and my son was 11 months.
• Mode of Transportation – Two RV’s from Cruise America . My parents stayed with my family. My sister’s family of 5 had their own. We both got the largest models.
• Itinerary – Fly from Pittsburgh to Phoenix, visit Grand Canyon National Park , Lake Powell , and Utah’s 5 National Parks ( Zion National Park , Bryce Canyon National Park , Capitol Reef National Park , Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park ), fly from Salt Lake City to Pittsburgh.

How the Trip Came About

I designed this route around a few bucket list items that were communicated to me by my family members. My dad has always wanted to go to Zion. My husband and I have a goal of visiting all of the National Parks. He had been to Arches and Canyonlands, while I had been to Zion and Bryce. Neither of us had been to Capitol Reef. While my sister was interested in Utah’s Big 5, she also got a twinkle in her eye when I mentioned we could possibly swing by the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell.

We looked at it like we might not get to this part of the country for a while, maybe we should just go for it and hit all of these places. I often look back and think the trip felt rushed and we tried to conquer too much territory. But at the same time, we covered a lot of ground and created a very memorable trip. I feel like I could spend a week in one National Park alone. I wish I could. But, when I reflect on the trip with my family members, there’s a consensus that everyone had a great time and would do it again.

It’s my preference to design trips flying in one airport and out another, or a loop road trip, so we can see new things and we aren’t spending a lot of time backtracking and repeating. It doesn’t always happen, but it’s something I strive for. We were able to avoid backtracking flying into Phoenix and out of Salt Lake City.

I started planning this trip roughly one year in advance. I inquired with Cruise America about our route. They allowed us to pick up and drop off in different locations (pick up in Phoenix and Salt Lake City). I was told they usually don’t do this and they prefer that people pick up and drop off in the same location. For example, we have some friends that visited Utah’s Big 5 National Parks with RV pick up and drop off in Las Vegas. However, Cruise America shared they were willing to allow our requested route because their headquarters are in Phoenix and they didn’t mind pushing inventory out to other locations. They weren’t able to accommodate our trip in reverse order (Salt Lake City to Phoenix). So I don’t know if they always accommodate this route but, I’m just sharing what happed to us. I also think booking this a year in advance might have allowed us to secure this route.

Booking in Advance

I booked everything in advance including flights, RV rental, all of our lodging and campsites, and our excursions. I know a lot of people who like to leave a road trip more open ended and go where the wind blows them. And I love that. But when accommodating a larger group such as this, I felt like I needed to have the larger items booked in advance.

Why Cruise America?

I haven’t had many RV experiences in my life and it’s something I’ve always wanted to try. The reason I chose Crusie America was simply that I saw so many of these RVs while living out west, I thought I’d go with them. I’m sure there are other options out there. But, we were happy with our Cruise America experience overall.

We went with the two largest models and I believe we ended up renting a few items from Cruise America such as a kitchen set, camp chairs, and linens. Be sure to visit the website for all the up-to-date information and pricing.

I think the highlight of the trip for my nieces and nephews was just hanging out in the RVs.

Packing for a Baby

Since I had my own questions about flying and going go on an RV vacation with a baby, I figured I would share how we went about packing for my 11-month son.

We could have purchased him a plane ticket and put the car seat in the airplane seat, but instead, we saved on a ticket for him and he sat on our lap. We checked his infant car seat and base with our luggage. We also paid to check a Pack ‘n Play as an additional piece of luggage. Since we are allowed a baby item to use through the airport, we carried him in a hiking child carrier through the airport, something we knew we were going to need for hiking. We left the stroller at home and did fine without one.

The booth in the RV can break down to a bed which is what we put the Pack ‘n Play on (use at your own risk). It would be tight but I think there was floor space for the Pack ‘n Play as well, but we didn’t want to walk around the baby. He was a chill baby at the time. Had he been more curious or mobile, we probably would have put it on the floor.

The infant car seat base was fastened in with the seat belts provided. We also found it helpful to have our portable high chair with us for meals and really anytime we needed to set the baby down for a minute.

Other Items We Packed

Here is some information about other items we packed.

• Backpacks – In general, nearly everyone took a backpack that served both as a carry-on for the airplane and a daypack for hiking to hold items such as as water, snacks, sunscreen, layers of clothing, etc. My husband has an Osprey Manta 24 Hydration Pack which I carried while he carried the baby. My nieces and nephew had some sort of kid’s hydration pack . We didn’t own our REI Co-op Ruckpack 28 Daypack at the time which also serves as our diaper bag. But this might have been another good daypack option.
• Hats – This trip occurred before my love affair with Sunday Afternoons Sun Hats began. But these are amazing sun hats that I definitely would have packed. I love my Shade Goddess Hat ( Amazon or REI ). My kids have the Play Hat ( Amazon or REI ), and my husband has the Ultra Adventure Hat ( Amazon or REI ).
• Clothing – We didn’t need any dressy clothes, just comfortable activewear mostly. Even though we went in June, we packed clothing to account for cooler weather with the various elevation changes and cool desert nights (convertible pants or zip offs were helpful too).
• Footwear – I made due with a pair of flip flops, my hiking boots , and what I call my “shandals” (shoes + sandal- Keen Whisper ). If you plan to hike, good footwear is a must. Also I love Smartwool socks and packed my hiking socks .
• Travel Organization – Some useful products that help packing for a family include packing cubes (especially when my husband and I share a suitcase), an over the door shoe organizer (this basically turns into a mud room on the go holding shoes, hats, and clothing), and a travel hamper for dirty laundry.
• Shower stuff -My sister had a travel shower caddy which was a good idea. While the RVs offered showers, we mostly showered at the campgrounds and the shower caddy came in handy. Many of us also packed REI Co-op Multi Towels (Lite) because they are space saving and not all of us rented linens from Cruise America. For example, my husband and I packed our sleeping bags for bedding.
• Toys – Check out my post about No Tech Travel Toys for Toddlers for some toy travel ideas. We packed some of our favorites including a playing cards , Uno cards , and Catan . Tip: Save space with Catan by packing the pieces in a ziploc bag while leaving the box at home.

General Tips

Here are some other tips I found helpful.

• Itineraries – I printed copies of the itinerary for all the adults in my family so they could try to anticipate what was coming. This included information about lodging, anticipated drive times, and planned activities for the day, etc.
• National Park Passports – The National Park Service offers a variety of passports to track your travels. Read my post about National Park Passports which also includes information about what to do if you weren’t able to collect your stamp. We collected a lot of stamps on this trip.
• Walkie Talkies – With poor cell phone reception in this part of the country, it was so helpful to have a set of walkie talkies (or two way radios) among both RVs. This really came in handy during our flat tire incident (spoiler alert). These also occupied the kids quite a bit on long drives and were a lot of fun.
• Food – Eating out day in and day out can get expensive so we packed a lot of food or threw together cheap meals while balancing dining out occasionally. Some of our favorite on the go snacks included bagels for breakfast, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, trail mix, cheese and crackers, and pepperoni rolls which made at home and packed.

The Itineray

In our family, we talk about the difference between a vacation and a trip. Vacation implies relaxation. Trip implies more adventure. This was definitely a trip over a vacation and involved more adventure and scheduling. The printed itineraries helped keep everyone in the loop for what was next.

While I would have been perfectly content simply driving through all of the scenery and hiking, I did feel in the interest of our group, it would be best to incorporate other types of activities to break it up. In addition to hiking, we rented a boat on Lake Powell and completed a UTV tour and mountain bike tour in Moab. I also tried to create some balance, the balance between eating out and making food, the balance between feeling on the go and relaxing. I tried to avoid high-traffic national parks on the weekends, and I also chose hikes that were family-friendly, not too long, but enough of a hike that felt like an accomplishment.

That’s a general idea so far. If you are still with me, let’s go ahead and break down the exact details of the trip. 

Day 1 (Thursday)

Summary: Fly Pittsburgh to Phoenix, cab to Mesa near Cruise Ameria pickup, stay in a hotel in Mesa for the night

We flew direct from Pittsburgh to Phoenix. I planned to book a hotel out near Mesa because I thought it would be a good idea to get close to where we were going to pick up our Cruise America RVs the next day in Mesa . So we utilized Uber for a roughly 20-minute drive to Mesa after our plane landed. Aside from a delayed flight, a blowout from my son, and an ear infection for my niece, our first major hiccup involved our hotel in Mesa. We arrived at the hotel in the middle of the night, probably about 1 am Phoenix time. We booked a hotel through a third-party site. When we arrived at the hotel, it wasn’t open, as in still under construction, hadn’t opened yet. This was the first time something like this ever happened to me.

So after some frustrations and phone calls with our tired crew, we ended up finding another hotel in Mesa to accommodate us where we finally crashed for the evening.

Day 2 (Friday)

Summary: Pick up Cruise America RV, get groceries, drive to Grand Canyon (252 miles), stay at Grand Canyon Trailer Village RV Park

To our benefit, my cousin lived in Phoneix at the time. She met us at the hotel the next morning to visit and transport a few of us to the Cruise America pick-up location in Mesa . This included me, my sister, and our husbands. My parents stayed back with the kids.

From my recollection, anyone that might be a prospective driver of the RV needs to participate in the pick-up process which involves paperwork and orientation/training with the vehicles.

I can’t remember if we were assigned a pickup time, if we requested one, or if we just showed up, but it helped us to get the RV early. It took us a while to pick up the RVs, get acclimated with driving them, grab groceries, and get to the Grand Canyon with Phoenix traffic, keeping in mind the RVs drive slower than a regular car.

As an alumnus of Northern Arizona University, it was gut-wrenching to drive through Flagstaff without stopping. I love Flagstaff and there’s so much to see and do in the area. But we had to keep pressing onward to Grand Canyon National Park .

If we had more time, I might have considered planning other activities like a day trip to Sedona, a visit to downtown Flagstaff, Walnut Canyon National Monument , Wutpatki National Monument , and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument . We could have spent a week in the Flagstaff area alone.

While I was really hoping to arrive in the early evening at the Grand Canyon and have time for a visit to the rim or a short hike, we, unfortunately, arrived at the campground just as it was getting dark and we just went to bed.

I would have taken my family on the Bright Angel Trail or Kaibab Trail. These trails go to the bottom of the canyon, so I just planned that we would go down and turn around when we wanted, maybe after a mile or so. There’s a shuttle along the rim to take you to the trailheads.

Day 3 (Saturday)

S ummary: Visit rim of Grand Canyon, drive to Lake Powell (133 miles), rent a boat, church in Page, and drive to Mt Carmel Motel and RV near Zion National Park (93 miles)

Because we missed the canyon the night prior, we spent the morning visiting the Grand Canyon. We walked from the campground to get coffee and a quick breakfast at Yavapai Lodge and then we found a trail that led to the rim (beside McKee Amphitheater).

Below is a map from Trip Planner (NPS.gov) . Our walking route is in pink. We strolled along the rim for some views and pictures and then headed back toward the campground, stopping at the general store along the way to browse some souvenirs.

We didn’t have time to hit a hiking trail because I had two scheduling concerns for the day. First, we are a Catholic family and we needed to make mass. I planned for us to attend mass in Page at 5 pm. But, what I came to learn after the fact is that there is a Catholic Church ( El Cristo Rey Catholic Church ) in the Grand Canyon. Had I known this, the first few days of the trip might have been planned a little differently. Second, I really wanted to rent a boat on Lake Powell. But the boats were first come first serve. On a Saturday in the summer, availability was a concern of mine. It just so happened we were able to snag the last available boat rental at the marina (either Antelope Point Marina or Wahweap Marina) .

Had we arrived at the Grand Canyon earlier the day prior, we probably would have taken off immediately in the morning to head toward Lake Powell with a stop at Horseshoe Bend . But since we were pressed for time, we visited the Grand Canyon in the morning and unfortunately had to skip Horseshoe Bend.

Another must-do in the Lake Powell area is booking a tour of Antelope Canyon . I ran this by my family and everyone chose the boat over Antelope Canyon. I wish we could have visited, but everyone had fun swimming. Lake Powell is one of my favorite places in the country and it’s so much fun to experience it on the water.

A boat worked best for our crew, but in other times I have visited Lake Powell, I have rented kayaks and taken them to the beach at Lone Rock, a cheaper option for getting out on the water.

We attended mass at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church . Then, we grabbed some quick food after mass and drove to Mt Carmel Motel and RV near Zion where we would stay the next two nights.

We rolled in as it was getting dark which made for another long day. I’ll admit, everyone was feeling rushed at this point with lots of driving, but the family seemed like they were enjoying themselves.

Day 4 (Sunday)

Summary: Explore Zion National Park , stay a second night at Mt Caramel Motel and RV

With a concern for crowds, I definitely did not want to hit Zion on a Saturday, but a Sunday could not be avoided. And so we made it a point to try for an early start. The drive from our campground to the park was 26.9 miles (about 45 minutes).

One thing to keep in mind if you have an oversized vehicle like an RV, you will need to look into obtaining a permit for the Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel . There are designated times a larger vehicle can go through the tunnel to enter the park for a fee. I believe we paid $15 at the time.

Our early start resulted in no parking issues. We easily found a spot to park the RVs on Lion Blvd in Springdale. Then, we caught the shuttle near Lion Blvd and rode a few stops to Zion Canyon Visitor Center. We were able to use the restroom and then head out for our chosen hike trail, the Watchman Trail.

There are many hiking options in Zion to consider. When Zion comes up in conversation with people, I find the Narrows and Angel’s Landing are most often discussed. I have attempted Angel’s Landing in the past but did not make it to the top because of windy conditions with ice plus I was having knee issues. But I made it high enough to know that this was not a hike I wanted to attempt with the young members of our group for my personal comfort level. I also did not want to deal with the water in the Narrows Hike. During a previous visit to Zion, I hiked Emerald pools which is another hike I probably would have considered, but I just wanted to do something different.

I ended up choosing the 3.3 mile Watchman Trail. Described as moderate in difficulty, the trail was uphill and felt like an accomplishment. It offered stunning views at the top where we were able to relax and enjoy some snacks. We carried my son and my nieces and nephews hiked it well on their own. The hike wasn’t too long or too short and it didn’t consume our entire day. I was very happy with this choice for our crew.

After the hike, our crew split up. My husband and I took our son back to the RV. He took a nap while we played a game of Catan . My sister, brother-in-law, and dad were very interested in Angel’s Landing. They knew they didn’t have time to complete the entire hike, but they wanted to go and explore as much as they could while my mother occupied my nieces and nephews at a picnic area near the creek somewhere near the shuttle stop. They hustled and made it just past Walter’s Wiggles (21 switchbacks) where they turned around. From there, that crew grabbed some ice cream in town and also looked into renting bikes, but none were available. Around the same time, my son’s nap was finished and we all regrouped for a yummy dinner with beautiful patio views at Whiptail Grill .

While we would have loved to spend more time in the park, we opted to head back and grab showers and relax at the campground. We were really in the mood for a campfire, but we learned no fires were allowed anywhere on our trip due to the risk of wildfires.

Day 5 (Monday)

Summary: Drive from Mt Carmel Campground to Bryce Canyon National Park (57 miles), explore Bryce Canyon National Park, drive to Wonderland RV Park (108 miles) near Capitol Reef National Park for a one night stay

I believe we were directed to park our RVs in a designated parking area after the entrance to the park and from there we caught a shuttle that took us to the rim area of Bryce Canyon.

With several hiking options , we decided to hike the Queen’s Garden Trail. It is described as a 1.8-mile moderate hike. We wanted to make it a Loop with the Navajo Loop Trail, but the Navajo Trail was closed. So we just went out and back (or hiked down into the canyon, and hiked back up the way we came). Again we carried my son, and my nieces and nephews hiked well on their own.

After exploring the park, we drove toward Wonderland RV Park to position us nicely for Capitol Reef when things got interesting. One of our RVs got a flat tire.

We piled into the other RV and went to the nearest restaurant to obtain cell phone service and figure out a plan. We grabbed a bite and we were able to make contact with Cruise America who sent someone out to fix the RV.

The situation set us back on time. Had we arrived on time, we might have been able to venture into Capitol Reef. Instead, it was another late-night arrival to the campground. Again no campfire, but I’ll never forget how incredible the stars were that night.

Day 6 (Tuesday)

Summary: Explore Capitol Reef National Park , drive to Moab for a 3-night stay at Portal RV Resort (138 miles)

We hiked 1.8 miles roundtrip hike to Hickman Bridge . Getting an early start was helpful to beat the heat and secure parking for the RVs. After the hike, we headed toward Moab grabbing lunch on the way out at Duke’s Slickrock Grill .

While I would have liked to spend more time in the park, it was getting hot and the kids were ready for a change-up from driving and hiking. Everyone was happy to begin a three-night stay and unwind at the campground. The kids were very excited about the pool.

Day 7 (Wednesday)

Summary : UTV tour, Canyonlands National Park

We started the day with a UTV tour with Moab Tour Company . My mom stayed back with my son while we took my nieces and nephews.

We drove our own vehicles and switched drivers among adults as we followed our guide. We did the Hell’s Revenge and Fins and Things. Just as advertised, Fins and Things was a nice warmup for Hell’s Revenge. This was thrilling for both adults and kids. My five-year-old niece was a little scared at times but she got through it. If I had to do it again, I probably wouldn’t go any younger in age.

Completing the UTV in the morning allowed for some time in the afternoon to explore Canyonlands National Park (37 miles). Originally we were all going to go. But my nieces and nephew just wanted to hang back and swim again at the pool. So my brother-in-law stayed with them while the rest of us headed for a quick trip to Canyonlands where we hiked a short trail to the popular Mesa Arch (0.5 miles).

As always, I wish we had more time in the park, but we decided to regroup for dinner and relaxing family time the rest of the evening at the campground. We knew we were in for another early start in the morning.

Day 8 (Thursday)

Summary: Explore Arches National Park (4 miles)

Again, we aimed for another early start to beat the crowds and the heat. So the next morning we headed straight for the popular Delicate Arch , an iconic symbol for the state of Utah.

At a little over 3 miles roundtrip, this trail involved an ascent with some exposure to cliffs. My mom was left out of our group shot at the arch because she had her fill of cliffs.

After our hike, we were able to view some additional arches in the Windows Section of the park including Double Arch . But with the increase in crowds in the park, we decided to leave the park afterward.

My dad likes to find a geocache in each new state he visits, so after visiting Arches National Park, we stopped to find a geocache at Lions Park for his Utah cache.

Then we called it a day back at the campground. I know we were all feeling tired and just wanted to relax. But had we had more time and energy we would have explored downtown Moab and I wanted to take the kids to Moab Giants .

Day 9 (Friday)

Itinerary: Mountain Bike Tour, drive to Salt Lake City (236 miles), stay one night at Salt Lake City KOA

For our last day in Moab, we spent the morning doing a half-day mountain bike tour. This was an adult-only activity, so my mom volunteered to stay behind with the kids while the rest of us adults participated.

My dad at the time was really starting to take up mountain biking and from my understanding, Moab is a mecca for the sport. I’ll also admit Dead Horse State Park was on my bucket list to visit, probably because parts of the film Thelma and Louise were filmed there.

We had a fantastic experience with Rim Tours , shoutout to our awesome guide Neal. They provided us with the bikes and equipment and transported us to the park after meeting at their location in town. All we did was show up and pedal. We chose the Dead Horse Point Singletrack half-day tour. Rated as intermediate and moderate this was a challenge for all of us, and previous experience with mountain biking is suggested. If you are very much a beginner, you might want to opt for something easier. I can easily say this was the highlight of the trip for me.

After the mountain bike tour, we drove to the Salt Lake City KOA where we spent the evening relaxing at the campground.

Day 10 (Saturday)

Itinerary: Return Cruise America RVs, fly home

To our benefit again, a friend of mine came to visit us in Salt Lake City. So after we returned our RVs at the Salt Lake City Cruise America location at 1400 W North Temple , we were able to hitch a ride back to the campground with my friend.

After we packed everything up, we were able to walk to access the local public transportation system Trax to get to the airport with a station just outside of the KOA within walking distance.

The light rail dropped us off right at the airport and then we flew home.

Nearby Attractions:

I mentioned a few of these items earlier, but here’s a list of places we might have visited if we had more time.

• Flagstaff, AZ
• Montezuma Castle National Monument
• Walnut Canyon National Monument
• Wutpatki National Monument
• Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
• Petrified National Park
• Antelope Canyon
• Horseshoe Bend
• Grand Staircase National Monument
• Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
• Antelope Island State Park

There’s so much to see in this part of the USA and I’m sure there’s more to add to this list.

This was our itinerary. I know there’s a ton we missed, but we accomplished a lot and it was a trip of a lifetime. I hope you find this useful, and if this helps you plan a trip or if you did something different, I definitely want to hear about your trip. Leave a comment or tag me on Instagram @adventureswkelly.

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Tina Marchant

Do you happen to have a price breakdown? I’d love to get a ballpark idea of what things might cost.

Adventures with Kelly

I don’t have a price breakdown and the price will depend on the length of your trip and whether or not you are flying to the area or not. And I wonder if the prices have changed since 2018, but here’s an overview of expenses to consider: Flight to the area, hotel if needed, Uber or rental car. I want to say one RV was around $1400 (not including gas). Lodging wasn’t too expensive because we did campgrounds ($75-125 a night if I had to guess). Groceries – we ate in a good bit. National park pass. Hiking is free, but if you want to add excursions I’d plan for a few extra hundred dollars (we did UTV rentals, a boat rental, and mountain biking – a little pricey but definitely memorable experiences). Hope that helps!

David N Brace

This looks like an awesome adventure! We really want to get an rv and just start going all over like this. Thanks for sharing.

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Utah Mighty 5 National Parks Trip Planner

Utah Mighty 5 National Parks Trip Planner. Enjoy the stunning beauty and natural landscapes of Utah rocks on this ten-day itinerary that takes you through Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Explore hiking trails, take photos of nature’s beauty, and find out what makes each park unique with this adventure guide!

10-Day Itinerary for Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks

Planning a trip to Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks is an incredible adventure filled with stunning natural landscapes and outdoor activities.

These five parks include Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion.

Here’s a 10-day Utah Mighty 5 itinerary to help you make the most of your visit:

Day 1: Utah Mighty 5 Zion National Park

• Drive to Zion National Park. (We came down from Utah where we visited a few hot springs, including Homestead Crater.)
• Check into your accommodations in Springdale, Virgin, or Rockville, near Zion. (We stayed at Zion River Resort in Virgin, Utah.)
• Explore the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and shuttle system.

• Hike the iconic Narrows or Angels Landing (if you’re up for a challenging adventure).
• Consider taking a ranger-led program or renting equipment for canyoneering or rock climbing.

• Enjoy your night in Springdale.

2: Bryce Canyon National Park

• Drive to Bryce Canyon National Park. (93 miles, about 2 hours!)
• Check into your hotel or campsite near Bryce Canyon. (We stayed at Canonville KOA which is now RJourney RV Park.
• Enjoy the sunset at Bryce Point for incredible views of the park’s unique hoodoos.

Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park

• Spend the day hiking and exploring Bryce Canyon’s breathtaking amphitheaters.

• Don’t miss popular trails like Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail.

• Stargaze at night, as Bryce Canyon is a designated International Dark Sky Park.

4: Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef National Park

• Drive to Capitol Reef National Park (136 miles, about 3 hours.)
• Check into your accommodations near Capitol Reef. (We stayed at Wanderland RV Park.)
• Explore the park’s unique geology and scenic drive.

• Take a short hike to Hickman Bridge.

Day 5: Capitol Reef National Park

• Spend the day hiking deeper into Capitol Reef or consider a horseback riding adventure.

• Visit the Capitol Reef Visitor Center and learn about the park’s history.
• Hang out at Panorama Point to watch the sunset and look for the Milky Way.

• Enjoy a relaxing evening and local cuisine.

Day 6: Arrival in Moab (Arches National Park)

• Arrive in Moab. (161 miles, about 3 hours.)
• Check into your hotel or campsite in Moab. We stayed at Portal RV Resort.
• Explore Arches National Park and hike to iconic landmarks like Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch.

• Enjoy a beautiful sunset in the park.

7: Arches National Park

• Continue exploring Arches National Park.
• Consider taking a ranger-led tour or participating in a photography workshop.

• Relax in the evening at your accommodation in Moab.

Day 8: Canyonlands National Park

• Drive to Canyonlands National Park (or spend another day at Arches NP.)
• Spend the day exploring the other districts of Canyonlands, such as The Needles or The Maze (if you have the appropriate permits and a high-clearance vehicle).
• Consider taking a guided 4×4 tour to access remote areas.
• Visit the Island in the Sky district and hike the Mesa Arch.
• Explore the Grand View Point Overlook for sunset.

• Return to Moab in the evening.

9: Canyonlands NP

• Explore another section of Canyonlands National Park such as The Needles.

• Stop at Dead Horse Point State Park or check out the Petroglyphs and Dinosaur Tracks.

Day 10: Utah Mighty 5 Departure

• Check out of your accommodations.
• Continue on to your next destination. (After we left Moab, we headed to Mesa Verde National Park Colorado.)

Utah Mighty 5 National Parks Conclusion

This itinerary covers the highlights of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks and offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, photography, and enjoying the unique natural beauty of each park.

Be sure to check park websites for any closures, trail conditions, or reservations needed in advance of your trip. Enjoy your adventure!

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Planning a Utah National Parks Road Trip to the Mighty 5

National Parks

With amazing arches, vibrant red rocks and plunging canyons, Utah beckons travelers from all walks of life to bask in its beauty. Home to an impressive five national parks, this southwestern state has no shortage of natural wonders for intrepid travelers and casual sightseers alike.  This essential guide will help you prepare for the scenic paths ahead. We’ll cover the best times to visit, develop a Utah road trip itinerary and explore some insider travel tips.  Get ready; this Utah national parks road trip will be one for the books!

Utah Road Trip Itinerary

Arches National Park 

Canyonlands National Park 

The next stop on our Utah national park road trip is Canyonlands National Park. This national park is just 30 minutes from Arches, so you’ll be there in no time.  What to do : If your legs are tired from hiking, take in the views by car. Go 1,000 feet up to Island in the Sky, a 34-mile round trip drive inside the park. If the weather is pleasant, hop in a kayak and take a peaceful paddle down the Colorado River. For a more heart-pumping adventure, cruise along White Rim Road by mountain bike. Browse more activities in our guide to camping at Canyonlands National Park . Campsite options include Canyonlands RV Resort and Campground, which offers full hookups for RVs. To stay inside the park, check out Willow Flats Campground. Though it is low on amenities, it’s set in a beautiful location. 

Capitol Reef National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

You and your crew are in for a treat on the way to Bryce Canyon. State Route 12 has been dubbed Scenic Byway 12 thanks to the domes, canyons and plateaus that appear along it. The beauty of Bryce Canyon earns it a place along this route.  What to do : Bryce Canyon is open all year, and each season brings different recreational activity options. Take an ATV tour through the park's rocky terrain or enjoy a sleigh ride in the winter. Full moon hikes are popular at this national park. For one or two days each month, rangers lead hikers through the park under the night sky. Our guide to Bryce Canyon National Park is here to offer more tips.     Campsite options include Sunset Campground, which offers 50 RV-only sites, and Bryce Canyon Pines, which has 30 RV sites and full hookups.

Zion National Park

Your time is done at Bryce Canyon, and you’re almost a card-carrying member of the Might 5 club. There’s just one place left to complete the list— Zion National Park . Fortunately, Zion is a little over an hour away from Bryce Canyon.  What to do : Trails abound in Zion National Park. Experienced hikers can take in the magnificence of Angel’s landing. For a more relaxed stroll, hike one of the Emerald Pools Trails. The sunsets at Zion are dazzling, but the night sky holds treasures of its own. Zion is a prime stargazing location; catch the Milky Way galaxy overhead before leaving.   Campsite options include Watchman Campground and Zion River Resort. Watchman is located inside the park, making it a great place to stay for quick park access. If you’re in search of more amenities, Zion River Resort is ideal. 

Best Time for a Utah National Park Road Trip

All five of the national parks mentioned above are in southern Utah, which experiences all four seasons. While each season brings its own charm to the parks, spring and fall are the most popular times to visit.  Spring brings pleasant weather and a wide range of activities. Go horseback riding through Arches and gaze upon vibrant wildflowers in Zion and Capitol Reef. As waterfalls melt and the sun begins to shine, The Mighty Five become a nature lover’s playground. March and April are full of new life and opportunities for adventure.  Another beautiful season to hop in the RV and head to The Might Five is fall. Before the intense cold of the winter sets in, temperatures are mild in the parks. Many hiking trails remain open, and the fall foliage is captivating. Your camera roll will be filled with gemlike reds, oranges and yellows that explode onto the scene in October.   No matter when you visit, your Utah national parks road trip is all the more fun with the right vehicle for your travels. Read on to learn how to make the most of your trip!  

Make This Trip a Memorable One in Your Cruise America RV 

You’ll be spending a lot of time on the road. Why not make it a comfortable journey? Cruise America RV rentals give you the space and amenities you need while on the road. With a wide range of options, you can pick the right size vehicle for your trip. Plus, we offer deals for RV travels in the Southwest . Before embarking on your Utah national park road trip, browse Cruise America RV rentals today!  

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RV Road Trip: The Utah Mighty 5

Posted by Abby Epperson | Jan 11, 2020 | Travel

Ready to see the Utah Mighty 5?

An RV trip through Utah can have you checking off National Park after National Park. The Utah Mighty 5 includes some of the most popular Parks, including Zion National Park, and Arches National Park. It’s also an RVers paradise road trip.

While Summer is certainly the most popular time of year to visit, I highly recommend a shoulder season visit (late spring or early fall trip). The beauty of the parks, as they come into seasonal bloom, is really spectacular, plus there are fewer visitors.

Plan Ahead:

National Parks are more popular than ever. Make sure you book reservations for campgrounds, timed entries, and more. as soon as the reservation window opens. All of your planning will happen through Recreatoin.gov and we’ve got 4 TIPS FOR RV TRIP PLANNING WITH RECREATION.GOV that will make sure you have the best RV vacation possible.

Starlink has made it easier than ever for RVers to have internet service even in the remotest of National Parks, however, if Starlink isn’t part of your RV adventure, it’s important to know that In all of Utah’s Mighty 5, you’ll find little to no cell service.

A majority of the parks are fairly removed from civilization, so a quick run to the grocery store for milk isn’t always going to be easy. Make sure you stock up and include meals like our 10 Easy Cast Iron Skillet Recipes on hand for a quick and hearty meal ready after a long day in the park.

Utah Mighty 5

Zion National Park

Utah’s first National Park, Zion National Parks. By far our favorite of the Utah Mighty 5, Zion has it all — making it a popular summer vacation spot for families and adventurers.

Trails range from short and easy to long and strenuous. The Watchman Campground offers some of the finest camping inside a National Park.

It’s also the only campground of the five to offer partial hook-ups making it incredibly popular. There’s also the adjacent South Campground, which has no hookups, and smaller sites. It’s mainly full of tenters but can be a good option for van campers and other small RVs.

Shuttles take you from the Visitor’s Center through the canyon, making Zion ideal for those RVers without an additional vehicle. With the gateway town of Springdale tucked right up against the park’s main entrance, you’ve plenty to do, plenty to eat, and plenty of places outside the park to explore.

Tip : There are a few private campgrounds around Zion, plus some great BLM land wild camping, but just know, if you’re not staying in the park, get there early or come later in the day. The parking lot fills fast and fills early. By late morning cars are being redirected to Springdale and even then parking can be a real hassle.

Large Vehicles coming from the East will have to enter via the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway through a tunnel that isn’t very tall or wide. Any vehicle that is more than 7 feet 10 inches in width or 11 feet 4 inches in height is required to have a $15 tunnel permit, and you can only pass at certain times of the day.

Rangers shut down the tunnel and allow you to enter without other vehicles. Other restrictions include vehicles over 13 feet 1 inch, vehicles weighing more than 50,000 pounds, single vehicles over 40 feet long, or combined vehicles over 50 feet long are not allowed in the tunnel. Whenever possible, it’s best to come to the park from the West, but it adds an hour or more of travel time.

Bryce Canyon National Park

About 75 miles north of Zion is Bryce Canyon National Park, famous for the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. To really take in the majesty of these rock formations hike the Fairyland Loop Trail. The eight-mile hike is considered strenuous due to its length and meandering trails with multiple elevation changes, but the views are worth every step.

Tip : Bryce offers RV camping by reservation at the Sunset Campground and first-come-first-served at the North Campground. There are no hook-ups at either campground, but a dump station is available for a $5 fee. We highly recommend staying at Sunset Campground and then utilizing the park’s shuttle during the busy season to get around the park.

Capitol Reef National Park

A little less than 120 miles up the road from Bryce is Capitol Reef National Park. An International Dark Sky Park, Capitol Reef is a hiker’s paradise and offers some of the most stunning night skies you’ll ever see.

Capitol Reef is a hidden treasure, filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges all in a Waterpocket Fold that extends almost 100 miles.

In the Fruita area, there are fifteen-day hiking trails that start along Utah’s Highway 24 and the Scenic Drive. Trails range from easy strolls over level ground to strenuous hikes involving steep climbs over uneven terrain near cliff edges. 

Tip: Like Bryce, Capitol Reef offers developed campsites for RVs, however, you won’t find any with hook-ups. You do however have access to a dump station and fresh water nearby and there are bathrooms with flush toilets, but no showers. Private campgrounds are an option, but you’ll have at least a 20-mile drive between you and the park.

Arches National Park

Travel 130 more miles down the road and you’ll discover Arches National Park. Arguably Utah’s most famous park, or at least most photographed,

Arches is a red-rock wonderland unlike any other in the world. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles. Sunsets and sunrises in Arches will amaze and inspire.

Like Capitol Reef and Bryce, RV camping is available but there are no hook-ups. Drinking water and flush toilets are located in the campground and reservations must be made during the busy season. It’s important to note that Arches has no dump station.

Tip : At the park entrance, secure a $16 ticket for a ranger-led hike around the Fiery Furnace loop, which takes you through a maze of sandstone walls that, at times, requires crawling on your hands and feet. If you’re up for an adventure, Fiery Furnace is for you.

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is a massive park that invites you to explore a wilderness of canyons and buttes carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries. In fact, the rivers divide the 337,598 acres of park into four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers themselves.

Tip : Though they appear close on a map, there are no roads that directly link the four districts. Traveling between them requires two to six hours by car as there are few places to cross the rivers. Most people find it difficult to visit more than one area in a single trip.

Honorable Mentions:

Did you know Utah is a wonderland of National Park Service sites? Beyond the five National Parks, Utah is also home to Dinosaur National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument, Golden Spike National Historical Park, and so many more. Click here to see a full list of NPS sites in Utah.

Want more NPS travel inspiration? Head to the Midwest and check out these five not-to-be-missed locations.

About The Author

Abby Epperson

Abby is the co-founder of the RV Miles Network, and along with her partner, Jason has been traveling full-time since 2016 with their three boys.

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Why You Must Visit Utah’s National Parks In An RV

Marc Venema / Shutterstock

• Activities and Interests
• Bryce Canyon
• Canyonlands
• Capitol Reef
• Destinations
• National Parks
• Types of Travel
• United States
• United States National Parks

The very best way to see the Mighty Five of Utah is by camping in an RV. The five national parks in Utah are Bryce Canyon, Zion, Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef. The spectacular beauty of these geological wonders should not be missed. Visiting only one will provide a lifetime of memories. Here are some reasons you want to RV camp in these national parks.

Editor’s Note: For a more general overview, consider our guide on how to plan a trip to Utah’s national parks , especially if you haven’t heard of the Mighty Five before.

1. Live And Breathe These Wonders Of Nature

Waking up in breathtaking scenery with wildlife at your door is an unforgettable experience. All five Utah parks have spectacular features that make them stand out in the pantheon of National Parks. For example, Bryce Canyon is home of the hoo-doos — those rocky buttes that look like a potter has dripped clay in a stacked formation. They sit in a canyon and produce incredible light effects during sunrise and sunset. The rim of the canyon and some of the sides are filled with trees where wildlife congregates.

Arches is aptly named for the over 1,500 cataloged, weathered rock formations that form natural arches due to erosion. The most famous and photographed one is Delicate Arch . It stretches 60 feet in width and is utterly mesmerizing.

Zion boasts the slot canyon, The Narrows at the Temple of Sinawava, and the peaks known as the Court of the Patriarchs. The park is a treasure trove of sights. Imagine camping near enough that you can see these wonders from your front door and know that you are just a tram ride away from starting the day’s adventures.

Perhaps the least-known park is Capitol Reef . It sits in between Bryce Canyon and Canyonlands . It is vast and unique in its attributes. There are many slot canyons, deep canyons, mesas, and high points. One of the most interesting sights to see is the petroglyphs. You can drive to a parking area and take a boardwalk to see the petroglyphs up close. There are other more remote places where you can see petroglyphs by hiking to them, too.

B Brown / Shutterstock

2. Hike Home To Your Own Bed

Having your own room in the park is the ultimate in RV travel . There is no need to “go” anywhere when you are done exploring the park for the day. You don’t have to say goodbye.

Campgrounds book early, so plan accordingly. Snagging a national park campsite brings huge rewards no hotel can provide. First, you get access to evening programs hosted by the Rangers. It may be a night sky talk or pointing out nighttime wildlife. You can relax around your campfire or in your favorite camp chair under your awning while you enjoy your favorite beverage and the company of other campers.

The great attraction of camping inside the park is that hiking is right outside your door. Whether it is an asphalt walkway, boardwalk, or remote trail, you have a thousand experiences at your fingertips. These parks, though rugged in terrain, have opportunities for all levels of access and skill. For instance, in Zion, you can walk a wide, paved path to The Narrows or take the ever higher and very difficult path to Angel’s Landing. Each park also has overnight or day-trip back-country hiking. Check in with the ranger station to post your itinerary and check on daily conditions.

You can hike with your bike in certain sections as well. Some of the most beautiful terrain can be viewed by park tram (Zion and Bryce Canyon) or scenic drives. Canyonlands has a spectacular 2-wheel-drive, paved road in the Island in the Sky section. Numerous off-road 4-wheel-drive lanes are available throughout the park.

3. Serious Stargazing

The International Dark-Sky Association has designated four of the Mighty Five Utah National Parks as International Dark Sky Parks. This is a worldwide designation. All but Zion get this recognition. The Association states, “An IDA International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) is a land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.” Camping in the park will guarantee you have a Dark Sky experience.

RVLIKEMIDGLEY / Shutterstock

4. Camp In The Parks Like A Pro

You can choose from primitive to hookup sites in some of the parks, but be prepared to “rough it” if you are used to staying in RV resorts. National park campsites, which commonly offer amenities, are hit and miss in the Mighty Five. Cell service depends on how close your park is to a city and whether terrain interrupts the signal. You can check what other campers have reported by going to the park’s site at Recreation.gov

Zion : The Watchman is the most popular campground. There are electric sites with water available in the campground and a dump station. There are no showers, but there are restrooms. Watchman is open year-round and RV sites are $30/night. South Campground has no hookups and does not allow generators. There is a dump station and water available. Camping is seasonal and sites are $20/night.

Bryce Canyon : There are no hookups at either of the campgrounds. There is potable water and you’ll have dump station access. One loop is open year-round and the rest are seasonal. Generators are allowed for four hours per day during designated morning and afternoon hours. Like Zion, there is a park shuttle that you can take to various stopping points instead of driving. RV sites are $30/night.

Capitol Reef : There is only one campground, Fruita, near the town of the same name. The campground is inside the park but has no hookups. You’ll find potable water and a dump station as well as restrooms. RV sites are $20/night.

Canyonlands : This is the most primitive of the Mighty Five parks. There are no hookups, and only one campground has water. Water is available at the visitors center at the entry to the park. There are no dump stations in the park. RV fees are $20/night in the campground with water and $15/night in the non-water campground.

Arches : There are only 51 sites in this very popular park. Reservations are tough to come by. Fortunately, there are many boondocking sites nearby. However, just like the park, these are sites without hookups. The campground inside the park offers potable water and toilets but no dump station. Fortunately, there are a few gas stations with dump stations and public works dump stations in and around Moab. RV sites are $25/night.

For more on boondocking and spending time in and around Moab, consider

• Boondocking Tips From Full-Time RVers
• Things To Know Before Boondocking For The First Time
• Boondocking Safety: 11 Tips You Need To Know To Stay Safe
• The Best Things To Do In Moab, Plus Where To Eat And Stay

Nadia Yong / Shutterstock

5. There’s Plenty Of Bureau Of Land Management Camping Even When National Park Campgrounds Are Full

Camping in these national parks is ideal if you can snag a spot. But if you cannot, there are dozens of free Bureau of Land Management (BLM) places to camp near and in between these parks, mostly for free. Favorite places between Arches and Canyonlands include Horsethief Campground and Upper Big Bend, along with Deadhorse State Park. I had a particularly memorable experience on BLM land outside Zion where I and my fellow campers watched the sunset light up the mesas. The Dixie National Forest on the way to Bryce also has free dispersed camping along with spaces in and around Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument .

What To Know Before You Go

While staying in a national park has tremendous advantages, it does require some planning. Know the capability of your rig for boondocking because most of the campgrounds do not have hookups. Plan where you will stock up and get food and gas, as some places are in small towns and far from an Interstate. Finally, know your tank capacity for dumping and whether your park has a sanitation station. Boondocking obviously has none of these amenities, but nearby towns probably have services.

Bryce and Zion have restaurants and lodges inside the parks. That means you can arrange an easy night out without going into town. Both lodges have dining rooms and casual eateries that are available for some combination of three meals a day. Springdale, a small town outside the gates of Zion, has a number of restaurants and hotels steps away from the Watchman Campground, which means you can walk or take the free trolly. There are plenty of grocery options in Hurricane near Zion and fewer options in Bryce near Bryce Canyon. It’s always best to stock up before you go.

Capitol Reef is the most remote park and has primitive camping only. There are a couple of gas stations and several local restaurants in Torrey and Bicknell that are 10 to 15 minutes away from the Fruita Campground. Otherwise, bring what you need.

Moab caters to tourists that visit Arches and Canyonlands (30 miles away). You’ll find plenty of grocery, gas, and food options there. But be prepared for crowds in the busy season and even in summer.

RVshare is the world’s first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace. With thousands of satisfied customers and a broad inventory ranging from travel trailers to luxury motorhomes, RVshare has the perfect RV for your vacation, tailgate, or temporary lodging needs.

Related Articles:

• How To Spend A Perfect Long Weekend In Gorgeous Moab
• Utah Road Trip: 9 Best Stops From Zion To Moab
• How To Visit The Incredible House On Fire Ruins
• 9 Best Hikes To Experience In Utah
• 11 Tips For Hiking Utah’s Buckskin Gulch

After 30 years as a professor at universities around the country, Robyne retired to travel in an Airstream travel trailer. She traded in a busy calendar for a tiny-house nomadic life that gives her time to write plus inspiration from our beautiful country. Robyne studied cities and public policy and remains an avid political junkie. She cares deeply about social justice, the environment, and baseball. She travels with her black cat, Inky.

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Best Time to Visit Utah National Parks

The best time to visit utah national parks is mid spring and early fall..

• 1.1.1 When to Visit
• 1.2.1 Zion National Park
• 1.2.2 Bryce Canyon National Park
• 1.2.3 Arches National Park
• 1.3 Join our Group Travel Map!
• 1.4.1 Capitol Reef National Park
• 1.4.2 Canyonlands National Park
• 1.5.1 Grand Canyon
• 1.5.2 Slot Canyons
• 1.6 Mike and Jennifer's Southern Utah RV Adventure Guide

Are you planning a Utah road trip soon?

Taking your RV on the open road is the best way to see the numerous national parks and other attractions that Utah has to offer!

Utah has some of the coolest rock formations in the United States. Whether you're going to visit a Utah national park or just driving through, the formations are usually just an easy hike away.

When to Visit

You can visit many parts of Utah year-round. However, some areas require chains or snow tires in the winter months. And others lots of water or air conditioning during the summer months.

Overall, the perfect time to visit Utah's national parks and other attractions are April through May and September through October. That is when you can enjoy its main attractions with moderate crowds and the most moderate temperatures.

A good idea when planning your national park road trip is to map out the parks and the best things to do in the area. Combine that with the best time of year to visit and you'll have the best experience possible.

To make that easy for you, we've created a 7-Day Southern Utah Adventure . It'll guide you through the best Utah national parks in the area and more! Including all of the parks below and more…

Best Utah National Parks to Visit

More and more people are taking to their RVs on a Utah National Parks road trip. It is a great way to see everything Utah has to offer.

Check out my list of the top places you won't want to miss!

Zion National Park

Zion National Park is a geological wonderland and offers some of the best hikes in Utah. With massive sandstone cliffs colored in creams, reds, and pinks, you will be in awe. I've even referred to it as “ Indeed a Holy Place ” in our blog article about our visit.

You can see a wide variety of plant and animal life before checking out a narrow slot canyon that is worth the hike!

Another spot you will not want to miss is the Zion Canyon Kolob Canyons. It features 2,000-foot peaks of red Navajo sandstone set along lolling streams. There's an amazing 5-mile scenic drive with gorgeous scenic viewpoints and cascading waterfalls.

Another popular adventure is the hike to the observation point at Angel's Landing. Be warned, though, as it is not for the faint of heart! Also, be aware that they are implementing a lottery system for that hike soon.

Bryce Canyon National Park

One of the best things to check out at Bryce Canyon are the red rock hoodoos. Think of them as an otherworldly tree sculpture!

These rock formations were formed as a result of millions of years of a freeze and thaw cycle that carved their unique shape.

Jennifer and I were mesmerized by the changing colors during sunset on our trip to Bryce Canyon National Park .

At 8,000 to 9,000, Bryce Canyons is considered one of the higher elevations in which to spend time. Be sure to give yourself time to acclimate to the elevation!

If wildlife is what you are after, you will not be disappointed. See mule deer, as well as dozens of other species of birds and mammals.

Although there are many popular hikes to do in the park, there is also adventure to be had during the winter months, like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing!

Be sure to also visit the nearby Navajo Loop Trail. This 1.5-mile loop is one of the most popular trails in Utah, and for good reason.

Arches National Park

Yet another Utah red rocks wonderland!

Arches National Park has over 2,000 natural stone arches. You can also view hundreds of rock fins, balanced rocks, and pinnacles soaring high above you, You will be amazed by the rock formations and enjoy its numerous hikes.

One of the park's main attractions is Delicate Arch. You can take a level, short hike (about 100 yards) to view the arch from one mile away. Or, take a 3-mile roundtrip hike to see it up close and personal.

The best time of year to visit Arches is outside of the peak heat and cold. The summer heat has the potential to be very high and brutal, and the winter cold can pose frozen, icy conditions.

Late spring and fall through early November are excellent times to plan a trip.

You can stay at one of these 4 Arches National Park Campgrounds .

All 4 of these campgrounds are on our NEW RV Lifestyle Map!

Join our Group Travel Map!

Think of this as a group travel journal! We've been adding our favorite places all across the country and now you can, too! Every day more and more gets added by RVers just like you!

To add your own locations, you need to get the free app for your smartphone so you can add spots and share them with others as you travel! Click the link in the lower-right corner of the map and start adding YOUR favorite places. Already we've found many new places to explore during our RV adventures and you will too!

Together, we can make this a huge resource for the RV community!

Now back to the Best Time to Visit Utah National Parks

Capitol reef national park.

Capitol Reef National Park is a Utah hidden gem featuring canyons, domes, cliffs, and bridges in something called the Waterpocket Fold.

This is a geologic fold, which is basically a wrinkle on Earth's surface, that extends for almost 100 miles! We've outlined 7 Things to Do at Capitol Reef National Park .

Canyonlands National Park

This national park is divided into four main districts, characterized by the massive canyons formed by the Colorado and Green rivers. The districts are named: The Needles, Island in the Sky, The Maze, and then the rivers themselves.

Check out breathtaking buttes and countless canyons!

Other Places to Add to Your List

The national parks in Utah are amazing, which is why so many people love to visit as many as they can. But if you are in the area, there are other places worth a mention.

Grand Canyon

While the Grand Canyon is not technically in Utah, it is near enough to visit if you have never been. Or if you want to visit again!

The Grand Canyon is located in the northwest corner of Arizona. It is very close to the borders of both Nevada and Utah. The breathtaking and grandiose canyon is the result of millions of years of being carved out by the Colorado River.

There is a reason this is one of the most visited national parks in all of America. Its unmatched views and breathtaking hikes are like no other on Earth. You can check out its one-mile and 18-mile gap (at its largest opening) from the rim, or hike down to the bottom.

It is open year-round, 24 hours a day. There are more visitors that come during the spring, summer, and fall.

Slot Canyons

If slot canyons are what you are seeking, there is no better place to see them than in Utah. The most popular locations to check out these cool canyons are:

• Bucksin Gulch (Wire Pass Trailhead)
• Little Wild Horse
• Spooky and Peekaboo
• Furniture Draw
• Zion Narrows
• Box Canyon Hiking Trail in Maple Canyon
• Zebra Canyon
• Willis Creek Slot Canyon
• The Subway (Top-Down Route)

Mike and Jennifer's Southern Utah RV Adventure Guide

Utah, Utah, Utah.   What more is there to be said? In very few places across the United States is there such a tremendous area with breathtaking vistas and diversity of terrain.

This ebook is a seven-day guided exploration of the State and National Parks in Southern Utah. We provide a suggested route and itinerary, links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, and the best spots to see along the way. Don’t plan your trip to Southern Utah without it!

Published on 2021-09-02

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

2 Responses to “Best Time to Visit Utah National Parks”

February 09, 2023at8:04 am , Richard Moccia said:

Hi Mike and Jen. I am thinking about doing you southern Utah trip but we have a dog. Can we do the trip with a dog? Are they allowed on the hikes you outline? I know you have Beau. Could you take him on this trip? Thank you. Love the work you do.

February 10, 2023at10:16 am , Team RV Lifestyle said:

Hi Richard – Mike and Jen bring their dog Bo with them everywhere, so he was with them on this trip, too. Thanks for the kind words – we will pass it on to them! Team RV lifestyle

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Utah National Parks Road Trip: 10 Epic Days To Explore the Mighty 5

H ands down, there is nothing as exciting as a epic Utah National Parks Road Trip. Visiting the “Mighty 5” on a road trip through Utah was the highlight of our West Coast RV adventure. This article will take you through the best-of-the-best for your national parks excursion, with several options for people who like to travel a little differently than we do.

We’ve outlined the must-do activities for you in a 10-day itinerary, but it’s easy to take it to 7 days with the modifications we highlight below. We also take you off the national park scene a little with a few suggestions, if you’re up for it.

BEFORE YOU PLAN YOUR UTAH NATIONAL PARKS ROAD TRIP

Before you begin mapping your itinerary, there are a few things to need to consider:

• Which airport will you be flying into? Las Vegas and Salt Lake City are the most popular, so we’ve included drive times for those from each park below.
• How will you travel around? Before you book your flight, you might consider calling both airports about rental cars. They are very expensive and supply is low, so this might make a difference in where your adventure should begin.
• Another alternative is to rent an RV for your road trip. It will be more expensive, but can save you money on hotels, car rental and even food (if you have a kitchen in your rig).
• Order your American the Beautiful Pass if you haven’t already. It will save you money, and it will allow you to get in lines that move faster as you enter the park. Also, it covers far more than just the national parks. Finally, get it now because there is not a downloadable version available; it must be mailed.
• Pick the time of year for your visit. Small crowds and more friendly temperatures make April–May or September–October  the best time to visit Utah National Parks. We visited in Spring and found it to be idyllic, with plenty of wildlife sightings and blooming flowers on our scenic drives.
• After you plan your itinerary, make your park and/or activity reservations. Apply for the lottery for Angel’s Landing if you desire. Reservations might include Zion Adventure Company, Red Rock Astronomy, Cathedral Valley jeep rental, mountain bike rentals at Deadhorse, etc.

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE FOR YOUR MULTI-DAY JOURNEY

We’ve outlined 10 days of exploring on your Utah National Parks Road Trip, but you’ll also need a day prior and after for travel time. That is not included in this itinerary.

You might also choose to reorder the way you visit the parks. For example, if you fly into Las Vegas then you might decide to start with Zion. The park activities listed below are made to accommodate a shuffling of the order of experiences.

We’ve included our favorite side junkets, as well. If you have the time, we highly recommend extending your stay to explore beyond the national parks. It took us an entire month to visit all the side trips, and it was magical.

YOUR UTAH NATIONAL PARKS ROAD TRIP ITINERARY AT-A-GLANCE

Here is your 10-day Utah National Parks itinerary at a glance. Need to make it a 7-day Utah road trip itinerary? Remove days 3, 6 and 10.

DAY 1: ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

• Delicate Arch
• Landscape Arch
• Navajo Arch
• Fiery Furnace Viewpoint 
• Panorama Point, Balanced Rock and Courthouse Towers
• Redrock Astronomy

DAY 2: CANYONLANDS (THE NEEDLES) + ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

• Chesler Park Viewpoint
• Roadside Ruin and Wooden Shoe Arch
• Double Arch, Turret Arch, and North Window and South Window Arches
• Slickrock Trail
• Cave Spring Trail
• Pothole Point Trail
• Big Spring Canyon Overlook

DAY 3: MOAB AREA

• Dead Horse Point State Park
• Potash Road

DAY 4: CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

• Grand Viewpoint Overlook
• Green River Overlook.
• Aztec Butte
• Shaffer Canyon Overlook 

DAY 5: CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

• Cassidy Arch
• Gifford House
• Cohab Canyon
• Panoramic Point, the Goosenecks, and Sunset Point 
• Historic Fruita School, the petroglyphs, the fruit tree groves
• Hickman Bridge
• Rim Overlook

DAY 6: CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

• Cathedral Valley

DAY 7: BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

• Fairyland Loop
• Natural Bridge and Rainbow Point Overlooks

DAY 8: BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

• Navajo Loop to Queen’s Garden
• Rainbow Point or Peekaboo or Sheep Creek Hiking Trails
• Figure Eight Loop
• Rainbow Point

DAY 9: ZION NATIONAL PARK

• The Narrows

DAY 10: ZION NATIONAL PARK

• Emerald Pools
• Red Desert Adventure

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

Can’t-miss experiences at arches nps.

Website: Arches National Park

• Fiery Furnace Viewpoint
• The Three Gossips
• The Broken Arch, Sand Dune Arch, Skyline Arch balloon trail
• Double Arch
• North Window and South Window Arches

Ideal Itinerary

Arrive in Moab, grab a bite to eat and hit the sack early. You’ll be up well before the sun tomorrow.

Wake early and hike to Delicate Arch for sunrise. It will take you about 30 minutes to get to the trailhead from the park entrance. Add that calculation into your timeline once you look up the time for sunrise during your stay.

Even if you miss sunrise a few minutes like we did, it’s worth the effort because there are so few people there in the morning. If you’re lucky like we were, people will wait a good while before starting their “selfies” in front of the arch…it’s a magical time.

Eat breakfast there, grab your photos when it’s time, then head back to the car. Drive further into the park to Landscape Arch . Be sure to go the entire way on the trail because the view as you get closer is so much better.

From there add Navajo Arch to your itinerary.

Time to grab lunch outside the park. It’s hot and the park is very full now, so it’s a good time to take a break. On your way out of the park, stop to see the  Fiery Furnace Viewpoint  (it was closed for hikers when we visited),  Panorama Point ,  Balanced Rock  and  Courthouse Towers  (and see  The Three Gossips ).

In Moab, grab some lunch. We’ve got recommendations below.

Spend your evening with RedRock Astronomy , if you can. Depending on sunset times on the date of your visit, this adventure will start between 5pm and 9pm.

Morning and Afternoon

You’re going to visit another national park today — Canyonlands. The Needles section is located about 1.5 hours South of Moab.

Your visit here now because this section of Canyonlands isn’t accessible via the entrance you’ll go into to visit the “main” part of that park. Also, very few people see The Needles section of Canyonlands. It’s the ideal way to spend time that is “high peak” within Arches.

Just a note: You’re heading into No Man’s Land so pack extra water, lunch and plenty of snacks. And fuel up the car!

Option 1: A long hike and some overlooks

This is my personal favorite. Hike the Chesler Park Viewpoint trail. There are varying versions of this, but because of the long drive we suggest the short version – a 6 mile hike, round trip. It’s “moderately strenuous” so consider that in your time estimates.

Afterward, you’ll still have energy (and day light) to see Roadside Ruin and Wooden Shoe Arch

Option 2: Several shorter hikes

If you’re worried about daylight or you prefer several shorter hikes then you can stop to see R oadside Ruin and Wooden Shoe Arch .

After that, take the Slickrock Trail loop, which is 2.4 miles and takes about 2.5 hours. From this trail you can really get a beautiful view of The Needles.

Still have some time? Hike two additional easy .6 mile round trip trails: Cave Spring Trail and Pothole Point Trail . Then head to the end of the road to see views from Big Spring Canyon Overlook .

Head into Moab for some dinner (see our suggestions below) and then be sure to be in Arches about 45 -60 minutes before sunset. Why? Because Double Arch and the Windows are great this time of evening!

Take the 30-ish minute drive to the parking lot. You’re able to get to Double Arch ,  Turret Arch , and  North Window  and  South Window Arches from here. Start with Double Arch. End with the windows for sunset! It will take your breath away.

Drive Times

• From Salt Lake City Airport: 3 hours 40 minutes
• From Las Vegas Airport: 8 hours
• From Canyonlands NPS: 30 minutes
• From Capitol Reef NPS: 2 hours 15 minutes
• From Mystic Hot Springs : 2 hours 45 minutes

Where To Stay Near Arches National Park

There are no lodging options inside Arches. All the lodging (and restaurants) are in Moab, which is only about 5 minutes from the entrance.

Staying Outside The Park

• UPSCALE STAY: Moab Springs Ranch
• BUDGET-FRIENDLY: Homewood Suites by Hilton
• BOONDOCKING IN YOUR RV: Willow Springs Trail Dispersed Camping
• FAVORITE FROM OUR FRIENDS AT 2 TRAVEL DADS: Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection Hotel

Our Favorite Eats Near Arches

• Sunset Grill ; Amazing views of Moab and yummy dinner. Closed Sundays.
• Moab Brewery ; When you need a burger and beer after a long hike.
• Jailhouse Cafe ; Affectionately known as “Moab’s Breakfast Place”
• Josie Wyatt’s Grille ; Located inside the Diamond Hotel, but not your average hotel food.
• Moab Food Truck Park ; When your with a group and can’t come to a consensus.

Exploring Outside The Park

• RedRock Astronomy for taking in the amazing dark sky.
• Dead Horse Point State Park is amazing! We loved mountain biking the canyon rim with rentals from the park.
• Go white water rafting down the Colorado.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Website: Canyonlands National Park

Can’t-Miss Experiences at Canyonlands NPS

• Aztec Butte Trail
• The Needles
• Indian Creek Falls

It is most common to stay in Moab while exploring Canyonlands. There are no hotels or restaurants in the area near the park. However, if you’re in an RV, then consider moving to Dead Horse Point State Park to save commute time.

You can also grab a tent spot or yurt here, but you’ll need to figure out your plans for meal time.

We stayed in Dead Horse Point in our RV, but still drove in to Moab for dinner a few times. It’s about a 30-minute commute.

Morning/Afternoon

If you need to shorten this itinerary by a day then you can skip “Day 3” and head straight to Day 4. You’re not visiting a National Park today, but exploring an amazing state park.

You’re going to be visiting Dead Horse Point State Park today, starting with a mountain bike adventure.

Reserve your bikes from  Bighorn Mountain Biking , and pick them up inside the park right near the trailhead. You have to be at the rental pick-up location before noon, and you’ve got three hours to enjoy on the trails. We fully planned to spend all three hours out there, but as novice riders we were spent after about 2.5 hours. But, we saw everything we wanted to see in that timeframe.

The team here will give you a  trail map  and guide you on the path that suites your experience level. For those who like to plan ahead, consider the route we took: Intrepid to Raven Roll…Keep going to Big Chief (with the very best views) and then head back to home base via Pyramid.

I note for wary parents…this biking adventure allows you to bike along the rim of the canyon. I was very nervous about it, especially because my guys are new mountain biking. The truth is that the trails are not too close to the edge. I felt safe the entire time along the trails I mention above. Anxious parent? You got this!

Now, before you leave the park after your mountain biking adventure, be sure to follow the main road to the end of the park for a view of Head Horse Point. It’s a great place to have a picnic lunch.

Later Afternoon/Early Evening

If you’re visiting during spring or summer, with longer daylight hours then take a tour along Potash Road. Along this spectacular corridor you’ll find lush canyons, dinosaur tracks, ancient rock art, arches, and more.

Be sure to stop at Wall Street, so named because of the amazing canyon walls. Pull off and grab some fun views of climbers on the slickrock.

Look for the pullout with a sign that says  Indian Writing . You’ll find a 125-ft panel from the Formative Period (bring binoculars)  plus  if you keep your eyes peeled you’ll see three-toed allosaurus tracks on the north side of the road. The spotting tubes are a clue.

Further down you’ll also see a marker for the Gold Bar camping area. Find a parking spot in here for the Corona Arch trailhead. This trail is 2.4 miles and labeled moderate. It’s not too difficult, but there is an area on the slickrock that includes safety cables to help you climb, but it’s only one small section.

Afterward you can grab some dinner in Moab. If you’re staying in Dead Horse Point then be sure to look up when you get back for the evening. You’re far enough from Moab that the sky is pitch black and the stars put on a show.

You’ve already explored The Needles section of Canyonlands. Today you’ll explore the most popular section: Island in the Sky .

Much like Arches, getting up early is worth the effort. Start your day with a sunrise hike to Mesa Arch .

From there you’ll visit several overlooks. Start with Grand View Point Overlook  where you can take in the overlook and hike the easy but beautiful 1.8 mile trail.

Keep heading North on Grand View Point Road then continue North on Upheaval Dome Road to the  Green River Overlook .

Many people recommended  Whale Rock  trail to us since we were with the kids. You’ll keep going on this road to Whale Rock if you want to take on that 1 mile hike. We skipped it, though, in favor if  Aztec Butte , which is just beyond the Green River Overlook.

Aztec Butte is 2 miles, round trip..but it took us about 2.5 hours because we explored every nook and cranny along the route.

We didn’t make it all the way to the top of Aztec Butte because it was super steep and very very windy on the day we visited. It didn’t seem safe to do that last 10 yards with the kids…but WOW! It was still so beautiful.

A spur trail off the main trail takes you to ancestral Pueblo granaries are over 1,000 years old! They are a little hard to find because they are kind of “under” the trail. Don’t give up; it’s so worth it!

Finally, on your way out, visit Shaffer Canyon Overlook  near the Visitor Center.

We recommend you move this evening toward Capitol Reef. You’re going to want to get an early start tom

• From Salt Lake City Airport: 3 hours 50 minutes
• From Las Vegas Airport: 6 hours 45 minutes
• From Arches NPS: 30 minutes
• From Capitol Reef NPS: 2 hours 30 minutes
• From Mystic Hot Springs : 2 hours 55 minutes

Where To Stay Near Canyonlands NPS

There are no lodging options inside Canyonlands. Most people stay in Moab (the largest city in the area) and drive the half-hour to visit Canyonlands.

STAYING OUTSIDE THE PARK

• If you don’t want to stay in Moab, then consider a campground site or yurt at Dead Horse Point State Park .

Our Favorite Eats Near Canyonlands NPS

There are ZERO restaurants in the area. Bring your own groceries or head into Moab for good eats.

• Goblin Valley State Park , with its towering hoodoos is spectacular.
• The slots in Little Wildhorse Canyon in the San Rafael Swell are not technical and not too narrow, and very close to Goblin Valley.

CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

Website: Capitol Reef National Park

Can’t-Miss Experiences at Capitol Reef NPS

• Pies from Gifford House
• Panoramic Point, the Goosenecks, and Sunset Point overlooks
• Cathedral Valley Road

There are plenty of things to see as you enter the park, but much like Arches, you are going to come back to all of that later. First, head straight to the trailhead for Cassidy Arch.

No need to get up before sunrise, but you do want to start your day early because it can get super hot and crowded hiking Cassidy Arch . But man, is it worth it!

It was my favorite hike over all five parks in Utah. Every turn, every viewpoint, every rock…is just breath-taking. And if you’re not too scared, be sure to get a photo standing on top of the arch. It’s one of the few places you are able to do this.

After you’re done, head back to Gifford House for a few pies. Don’t wait until later, because they sometimes run out of pies in the peak season. These small pies have been making history here for decades. We left with an apple, wild berry and cherry. They will hold for you in the car just fine, but if you want to try them early then bring a fork with you.

Option 1 – Head into Torrey for lunch. After that, come back to the trailhead for Cohab Canyon , just a little South of your pie stop.

The Cohab Canyon trail is 3.5 miles, but you don’t have to do all of it to see the best parts. The first 15 minutes is very hard because of the elevation…but then it gets easier (Not easy, just easier.)

When you hit the junction with the Frying Pan Trail, be on the look out for two scenic overlooks: North Overlook and South Overlook. Don’t miss these for sensational bird’s-eye views of Fruita. After seeing those, you can head back or keep going until you reach Hwy 24 (the end of the trail) before turning back.

Use this hottest time of day to do some easy “hikes” by visiting the overlooks: Panoramic Point , the  Goosenecks , and  Sunset Point  are your must-dos.

Option 2 – Bring your lunch with you (but you still need pies – don’t skip that!) and hike the longer and more strenuous trail called Rim Overlook .

It’s 4.6 miles round trip, and the views of Fruit and the waterpocket fold are unmatched anywhere in the park. The waterpocket fold is the 10-mile “wrinkle” in the earth’s crust. Be sire to compare the left side to the right side…one of these is about 7,000 feet higher than the other!

If you’re visiting in Spring or Summer when the sun sets late, then you still have time for a few more stops like Historic Fruita School , the petrogyphs , the fruit tree groves and any overviews you missed.

If you didn’t hike the Rim Overlook then you’ll also enjoy taking the Hickman Bridge hike this evening. The Freemont River runs along the trailhead, and it’s a good place to cool off before and after the hike.

Today you’ll be exploring Cathedral Valley . This is a 4×4 road. Even though we have a 4WD truck, we heard this was a very bumpy road and didn’t want to take the risk with our primary vehicle. We opted to rent a 4WD Jeep from a nearby vendor and were very glad we did.

If you go this route then plan to pick up your Jeep in the morning. You won’t head back into the main entrance of the park, but to the Cathedral Valley road. Plan to spend about 6 hours exploring.

Highlights here include enjoying a picnic high above Cathedral Valley at the CV Overlook, Glass Mountain, Temple of the Sun (and Moon), the Bentonite Hills, and of course fording the Freemont River!

After you return your Jeep, it’s time to move to Zion for tomorrow’s adventure.

• From Salt Lake City Airport: 3 hours 30 minutes
• From Las Vegas Airport: 5 hours 20 minutes
• From Canyonlands NPS: 2 hours 20 minutes
• From Arches NPS: 2 hours
• From Bryce Canyon NPS: 2 hours 10 minutes
• From Mystic Hot Springs : 1 hour 30 minutes

Where To Stay Near Capitol Reef NPS

• There is no lodging inside the park, but Capitol Reef Resort is just outside. Pick from guest rooms, cabins, teepees or Conestoga wagons.
• We stayed at Duke’s RV Park and Campground and really liked it.
• The Noor Hotel is clean with great views and affordable.
• The Snuggle Inn is a little further out, but the rooms are huge and include a kitchen if you’re looking to save on meals.

Our Favorite Eats Near Capitol Reef NPS

• If you’re in Hanksville, Duke’s Slickrock Grill is fantastic….and across the street is Outlaw Roost , where we had drinks and dinner every night.
• Do NOT forget to pick up a pie inside the park at Gifford Homestead . Even if you don’t usually eat sweet treats, this is a must.
• In Torrey, Capitol Burger is where to fuel up! It’s a food truck, so check their FB page to see where they are parked.
• If you missed Goblin Valley and Little Wild Horse Canyon then its not too late to visit them.

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Website: Bryce Canyon National Park

Can’t-Miss Experiences at Bryce Canyon NPS

• Navajo Loop Trail to Queen’s Garden
• Rainbow Point 

While you don’t have to get up before the sun this time, consider an early start as you head out to the Fairyland Loop. Parking here (and at the Navajo Loop tomorrow) is hard to get.

Fairyland Loop  is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park and it’s one you have to do, if no other. It’s officially 7.8 miles, but we’ve heard others call it closer to 9 miles, and that’s what we experienced, too. You’ll walk through the hoodoos, see Tower Bridge , catch gorgeous views along the rim, and more.

Be warned: it’s not easy. The 2300 ft in elevation change is a doozy. But hey, even our kids were able to make it happen.

Your next hike actually starts outside the park, so plan to have lunch in one of the restaurants that line the road into the park…or in Tropic, which is the direction you’re heading.

After lunch, it up Mossy Cave . It’s a Bryce hike but it is outside the ticketing gate – super short, but oh so sweet.

We loved the water flowing here in the creek as well as at the waterfall. Be sure to hike up and see the cave (more like a grotto) and touch the moss, and then as you’re coming down, overlooking the waterfall, you’ll see Turret Arch . Even though this hike is only a mile, we were probably here about 2+ hours.

At this point, the crowds have dissipated. You can go back into the park and drive the long road through the park, checking out the overlooks, or you can decide to do that tomorrow afternoon.

The benefit of doing it today is that you can leave for your next destination tomorrow (after a long hike), but we also know from experience that by Day 7 of this journey an early evening is welcome for the family.

If (when) you take the drive, be sure to stop at  Natural Bridge  and get a selfie with the arch, and  Rainbow Point  (at the very very end) where you’re over 9,000 ft in elevation and can really see the rock layers change colors.

Today’s plan depends on a few things: Are you ready to hike another 7-ish miles, or do you want the “package” version of this hike in a short – but not easy – 3 miles? Did you drive the road to Rainbow Point yesterday, or are you doing that today? How early do you need to leave for your next destination?

One of Bryce’s can’t-miss hikes is the “ Figure Eight ” hike…but our kids would have killed us if we made them walk another 7-9 miles. Instead we hiked 2 of the three trails in the Figure Eight:  Navajo Loop to Queen’s Garden . If you’re low on time (or energy) then I recommend this approach, which is also a loop.

You can go either direction on this loop, but we  ended  our hike through the Queen’s Garden and I feel like that was the least strenuous direction. Don’t miss the side spur to see the Queen!

This hike includes the most important overlooks along the rim like Sunset Point , Sunrise Point , and Observation Point .

Afternoon/Evening

If you ask me, the very best itinerary option here is to drive the road (if you haven’t) and then pack it up and head to Grand Staircase Escalante (specifically Kanab) for two days before heading to Zion.

We’ve got a great article about Kanab that will show you what to do . Hike several of Utah’s best slot canyons: Peekaboo, Zebra and Buckskin Gulch. Ride a board down pink sand dunes, climb the Moqui caves…and more.

Can you add an additional week? From Kanab, it’s relatively easy to get to Antelope Canyon , Lake Powell and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Can’t extend your stay?

Hike another of the beauties in Bryce like Peekaboo Loop (if you didn’t do the Figure Eight), the Rainbow Point Hike , or Sheep Creek and Swamp Canyon Loop .

Read More: 13 BEST HIKES IN BRYCE CANYON FOR FAMILIES

• From Salt Lake City Airport: 4 hours
• From Las Vegas Airport: 4 hours
• From Capitol Reef NPS: 2 hours 10 minutes
• From Mystic Hot Springs : 1 hour 45 minutes

Where To Stay Near Bryce Canyon NPS

STAYING IN THE PARK

• The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is the only hotel inside the park. Reserve a cabin or several room types include suites and studios.
• We boondocked near the park at Tom’s Best Spring . It was fantastic!
• Try an affordable rental home with plenty of space only 6 miles from the entrance.
• This luxe rental sleeps 10 and is only 1 mile from the park.

Our Favorite Eats Near Bryce Canyon NPS

• Stone Hearth Grille was our go-to spot for steaks and meals to really fill up our belly.
• Hell’s Backbone Grill offers food from local farmers in the area.
• Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch ‘s Sweetwater Kitchen is a great lunch or dinner option, and you’re welcome to visit even if you’re not staying there.
• Grand Staircase-Escalante and Kodachrome Basin State Park are not too far. If you can add time on to your visit then I highly recommend a few days in Kanab to explore Escalante.

ZION NATIONAL PARK

Website: Zion National Park

Can’t-Miss Experiences at Zion NPS

• Angel’s Landing (though I admit to skipping it out of fear of doing it with my kids)

Today you’re hiking The Narrows of Zion. It’s an all-day event, so have a good breakfast and pack a lunch.

We hiked The Narrows in 2021 when the plague made things a little weird, so your experience may differ, but here are a few notes that will help.

• We rented shoes from Zion Adventure Company which kept our feet warm …highly recommend this
• Pre-booked tickets for the shuttle are no longer necessary. We walked right on to the shuttle in both directions with no issues (and there were 10 of us!), but I am hearing this is an anomoly.
• Parking in Springdale to get into Zion is not easy. It took forever to find a spot. Plan for that. Finding a parking spot, getting shoes for the hike, and riding the shuttle into Zion (to catch the park shuttle) took us about 2 hours.
• The Narrows is the last stop in the park shuttle
• There was a bacteria blooming at high levels in the river when we visited. It was still safe to hike, but keep your head out of the water and don’t drink it, even with a filter.
• We all agreed that the large, thick sticks worked better for staying dry than regular hiking poles would. And yes, I fell in. Kept my face out of the water but lost my phone for a while. Thankful I have the more water-resist iPhone 11. If you don’t, bring a waterproof case.
• The park is the most crowded we visited but don’t give up. The Narrows are worth it.

Unless Angel’s Landing is the reason for your visit then my recommendation is to skip it (especially if you have kids). In 2022, a permit system was enacted for the hike and only those who win the lottery will be eligible to hike it. There is a seasonal lottery and a day-before lottery. ( Permit application )

Spend the morning hiking to the Emerald Pools instead. To see all three pools is 6 miles round trip, and as you can imagine the furthest pool is the most gorgeous.

After your hike, head out of the park and grab some lunch, then meet up with the team from Red Desert Adventure . Yes, you’ll need to make a reservation ahead of time, so don’t forget that. But you’re going to LOVE a canyoneering adventure with them.

Our first two canyons were 75 feet drops, and the remaining ones were about 50 feet drops. Sometimes we went by ourselves, and other times two people went down at a time.

Even though it was a hot day, the canyons were cool and welcoming! The boys gave this day a 12 (on a scale of 1-10!)

Our guides really made a difference – and we could tell how great they were as we spied on other groups. They were fantastic with the kids…and they made sure that even though there were 10 of us we did tons of rappels – 5 total!

There were other groups of 2 that only did two rappels – I can’t even imagine! By the second one you’re a pro and ready for more more more!

• From Salt Lake City Airport: 4 hours 35 minutes
• From Las Vegas Airport: 2 hours 45 minutes
• From Capitol Reef NPS: 3 hours 10 minutes
• From Mystic Hot Springs : 2 hours 25 minutes
• From Grand Escalante (Hole in the Rock Road): 3 hours 10 minutes

Where To Stay Near Zion NPS

Staying In The Park

• Zion Lodge is a gorgeous in-park option with rooms, suites and cabins.
• Zion Wildflower is a little ways out but has adorable tiny homes and glamping tents.
• Cliffrose Springdale is a Hilton property with amazing views and gorgeous rooms.
• We boondocked at Hurricane Cliffs

Our Favorite Eats Near Zion

• There is nothing like the Classic Pad Thai at Thai Sapa .
• Cafe Soleil  offers vegan and vegetarian options.
• If you need a hearty meal after your hike, try King’s Landing .
• The Bit and Spur for live music, local beers and good eats.
• Canyoneering with Red Desert Adventur e is not inside the park (tour companies cannot run canyoneering trips there) but just outside. It was one of the highlights of our Zion adventure.
• If you ask my kids they will tell you that their favorite of all the things to do in the area was  sandboarding at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park . It’s about 45 min away.
• Snow Canyon State Park is about an hour away, and it was named the best state park in Utah. Just beware…it gets HOT here!

UTAH NATIONAL PARKS ROAD TRIP FAQ

• WHAT IS THE BIG 5 IN UTAH? This is what people affectionally call the five national parks in Southern Utah: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion. It was the name given by the state of Utah as a marketing push in 2012 – and boy did it work. You can read more about how the name came about here .
• WHAT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARK IN UTAH? Most people say Zion is the most beautiful, but I’d have to disagree simply because of the vast number of people visiting there. It’s almost impossible to see it for what it is. Capitol Reef was my favorite – for the beauty of the park and the lack of people.
• WHAT IS THE MOST VISITED NATIONAL PARK IN UTAH? Zion, which was also the state’s first national park. And the least visited? Canyonlands (Also the largest!) Which is a shame since it’s so close to Arches that you can knock them both out with one hotel stay.
• HOW CAN I SPEND 7 DAYS IN UTAH? Totally doable! Use our itinerary above for 10 days, but skip days 3, 6 and 10.
• WHAT ARE THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT ON A UTAH ROAD TRIP? Want to see more than just the national parks? Try Escalante (especially Kanab), Mystic Hot Springs, Goblin State Park and more.
• WHICH IS THE BETTER PARK: ARCHES OR ZION? Zion is the most popular and considered the most beautiful, so it might be considered “better.” I enjoyed Arches more because there were fewer people and more hiking opportunities for our entire family. I also really enjoyed the town of Moab and the other nearby attractions: Dead Horse Point State Park, Canyonlands, Potash Road, and more.
• WHERE CAN I CAMP FOR FREE IN UTAH? We did this – a lot! It’s easy with the vast amount of BLM land in the state and around the parks. A good source for where to camp is Campendium , because it lets you know about cell service, dump stations (if you’re in an RV) and more.

MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO UTAH

• BUCKSKIN GULCH:  Tips & Tricks for Navigating Utah’s Best Slot Canyon
• ST. GEORGE: 12 Awesome Things To Do In St. George Utah
• BRYCE CANYON: 13 Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon for Families
• SALT LAKE CITY: 20 Fantastic Things To Do In Salt Lake City
• UTAH NPS: 13 Epic Utah National Parks

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How to Plan an Incredible Utah National Parks Road Trip

If you’re here, that means you’re probably in the early-ish stages of planning an Utah National Parks road trip. We have good news – you’re in the right place! In the guide below, you’ll find pretty much everything you need to plan a bucket list-worthy trip to all five of Utah’s National Parks.

We’ll begin with some important logistics, like where to start and end your Utah national parks itinerary and how many days to spend in Utah, and then get into the best stops, things to do and see, sunrise and sunset spots, hikes, places to stay, and more. 

Over the last three years, we’ve been to 18 national parks. And multiple Utah national parks make it into our top five list of America’s national parks (though we haven’t visited them all…yet).

We’ve now been twice in the past few years – fall and spring – and have updated the guide below with some of our latest discoveries. 

We absolutely love Utah, and think you will too. I, Matt, have been to Utah four or five times at this point, including two trips in the past few years. The diversity of landscapes in southern Utah – which is home to the “Mighty Five” national parks – is pretty mind boggling. 

You’ll find natural arches in, well, Arches National Park. Unique rock formations called hoodoos in Bryce Canyon. The vast and surprisingly lush canyon in Zion National Park. And there’s so much more – it would take a lifetime of exploring to see everything that Utah has to offer. 

If those incredible landscapes sound like something you want to experience, you’re in the right place. In this Utah national parks road trip itinerary, we’re going to cover – in detail – how to plan an amazing road trip through Utah. 

We love Utah, and think you will too. 

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.

How Many Days Do You Need for a Utah National Parks Road Trip?

We think that you need a full 10 days to do the complete Mighty Five circuit . Less time means a lot of driving and not a lot of time dedicated to each park. With 7 days, you’d essentially only have one day for each. Which we don’t think is enough time. 

Some parks have more to see than others and are worth spending two to three days in to have the best experience.  

We’ve written this guide for someone with 10 days , which I think is the perfect amount of time to see all five national parks in Utah, and have an extra day to spend on the other things that make Utah special.

What if You Only Have 5-7 Days in Utah?

If you have a week or less in Utah, we’d strongly urge you to focus on EITHER Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, OR Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. 

When you include driving time, which totals around 10 hours or so over the course of the itinerary, 5-7 days BARELY gives you a day in each park if you were to do all five. 

Focusing your time on only a few of them will give you a little more time in each park, rather than spending less than one day in each. The key benefit of this approach is that you’ll be able to spend more time in the early morning and late afternoon, which is when the crowds are thinnest at these parks. 

Where to Start and End Your Utah Road Trip Itinerary

There are two options for getting to Utah – driving in from nearby, or flying in, renting a car, and driving. 

The two best starting points for this road trip are Las Vegas and Salt Lake City . Denver is a distant third. It’s still doable, but involves more driving.

If you don’t live nearby, like in Salt Lake City or Denver, you’ll need to fly to one of the gateways to Utah, rent a car, and drive to your first destination. 

The two easiest airports to fly into would be Salt Lake City and Las Vegas . 

From Salt Lake City, it’s going to take around four hours to drive to the start and end points on this road trip itinerary (Zion and Moab). 

From Las Vegas, it’s going to be just two and a half hours to Zion, but six and a half hours to Moab. 

The best way to do this road trip if you want to avoid long days of driving is to fly into Salt Lake City and out of Las Vegas , which is how we’ve organized the itinerary below. 

You could absolutely do it the other way around, but doing it this direction front loads the longer drive from Salt Lake City to Moab, versus having to do that drive at the end of your trip when your enthusiasm is waning and you only have your return flight to look forward to. 

You can also fly in and out of the same airport, it’ll just involve a few hours of extra driving on one end of the trip. 

Important Note : You need to check with the rental car company to make sure that it’s okay to pick up in one spot and drop off in another. You might have to pay a one way fee, but we think it’s worth it to avoid wasting a day of your vacation driving. See below in the rental car section to see what the tradeoff is between picking up / returning to the same place, and doing a one way rental.

You could fly into Denver and out of Vegas if you wanted to add on a few days exploring Colorado. It’s going to be five and a half hours of driving between Denver and Moab, but there’s plenty of things to do and see along the way. 

Good to Know : Book the earliest flight you can into Salt Lake City, and the latest flight out of Las Vegas to give yourself as much time as possible to explore. 

Tips for Your Road Trip Through Utah

Before we get to the full itinerary, a few general tips about planning a road trip through Utah. 

National Park Entrance Fees

It costs $30 per vehicle to enter each national park (good for 7 days), and you can either pay online in advance (be aware that you must print it out and bring it with you), or at one of the park’s visitor centers. 

If you are planning on visiting three or more national parks in the next 12 months, we’d highly recommend an America the Beautiful Pass , which covers entry to all national parks, national forest trailheads, national monuments, and more for 12 months. 

It costs $80, which means it pays off with three national park visits (or some combination of national parks, forests, and monuments). 

On this trip, you’re going to be visiting several national parks, which means it’s probably worth buying an America the Beautiful Pass before your trip. 

Crowds in the Utah National Parks

If you’re visiting the Utah national parks in the summer (or a weekend in the spring or fall), you’re going to experience crowds. 

There are a couple of things we’d say about crowds and how to avoid them as much as possible. 

First, get an early start, and plan on staying out late . Peak time is from about 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, which makes the hours from 7:00 am to 10:00 am and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm some of the best times to be out and about in the park. Plus, the rising/setting sun means the light will be better for pictures!

If You Want to Camp, Book Your Site Well in Advance

Camping inside the national parks is super competitive . For reservable sites, people book months and months in advance, and when there are first-come-first-served sites, they are snatched up immediately in peak season. 

The good news? There are tons of camping options outside of the parks that are affordable and accessible, and you’ll find some recommendations in the where to stay section for each park.

This is a Good Route to Test Out Van Life

If you’re not into sleeping in a tent, consider an RV or Campervan rental . It’s a good way to save money on accommodations by staying at campgrounds or RV Parks instead of hotels. For what it’s worth, we did this entire trip living in a Honda Odyssey. 

Think of it as a middle ground between camping and staying in hotels and vacation rentals. 

Escape Campervans is a good choice, and they have options for the exact route (Salt Lake City to Vegas) that the itinerary below has you on.

Book Your Accommodations Well in Advance

If you’re planning on staying in hotels and lodges, book several months in advance between May and October . That’s peak season, and things fill up FAST. 

Even outside of those months, you’ll still find that some places are full a few months in advance. You’ll find some hotel recommendations in each section to help you find the best place to base yourself to make the most of your time in each park. 

The Perfect 10 Day Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary

Now, on to the itinerary itself! 

Below, you’ll find a detailed day-by-day itinerary for a 10 day Utah national parks road trip based on our personal experience over the course of multiple trips. We’ll give you our favorite stops, the best hikes, places to stay, and more. 

Grab a cup of coffee and strap in – this is a long one, but it has literally everything we could think of to help you plan an amazing adventure.

Here’s an overview of that road trip, plus a map to help you visualize the route.

Here is the 10 day Utah national parks road trip itinerary that you’ll find – in detail – below: 

• Day 1 : Arrive in Salt Lake City, Drive to Moab
• Day 2 : Arches National Park
• Day 3 : Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky)
• Day 4 : Around Moab + Drive to Capitol Reef
• Day 5 : Capitol Reef National Park + Drive to Bryce
• Day 6 : Bryce Canyon National Park
• Day 7 : Bryce Canyon National Park + Drive to Zion National Park
• Day 8 : Zion National Park
• Day 9 : Zion National Park
• Day 10 : Zion National Park + Fly Home from Vegas

If you have a full two weeks in Utah , you’ll be able to get a little bit off the beaten path, exploring places like Kolob Canyons in Zion National Park and the Needles District in Canyonlands National Park that most visitors never even realize exist.

Below the full itinerary, you’ll find our suggestions for extending the 10 day trip. 

With 7 days , rather than trying to fit in the entire Mighty Five Circuit, we’d opt for spending 7 days exploring EITHER Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef OR Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef.

Days 1 & 2: Arches National Park

On your first day, you’ll spend most of the day in transit between Salt Lake City and Moab, which is the jumping off point for this itinerary. 

We spent five full days in Moab , and loved just about every minute of it – minus the hour-long wait to get into Arches National Park to check into our campsite. A good reminder to make sure to enter the parks early (before 9:00 am at the latest!) to avoid long lines and crowds. 

We didn’t realize it before arriving, but there are an astounding number of things to do in Moab .

Between exploring the two national parks that are a stone’s throw away – Arches and Canyonlands – to hikes outside the parks, and more adventurous activities like whitewater rafting and 4WD-ing, there’s plenty to keep you busy even if you had a full week JUST in Moab.

What to Do in Arches National Park

Here are our favorite things to do in Arches National Park. 

Sunset at Delicate Arch

On your first day, you’ll be driving from the airport and you’re probably going to be arriving mid-afternoon depending on what time your flight was (try and get the earliest flight possible!). 

Check into your accommodations for the next few days and head up to Arches National Park for that sweet, sweet golden hour light and sunset at Delicate Arch . 

It’s a 3 mile hike (round trip) that was a little harder than we thought it would be, but that didn’t stop literally a hundred people – ages 5 to 65 – from doing it.

It will probably be crowded if you’re there anytime between April and the end of October, but it’s worth it. You’ll climb up a section of rock, so you’ll want to wear your hiking shoes with plenty of grip. 

There’s one short section of the trail right before you get to the arch that’s narrow with a steep drop off, so keep an eye on your kids. 

If you do that hike at sunset, make sure to bring a headlamp for the way down. It gets dark FAST, and the last thing you want is to be hiking down the slab of rock in the dark. 

The Windows and Double Arch

Start your day off your second day with an early morning at the Windows and Double Arch, which are quite possibly our favorite set of arches in the park. And they’re so close together that you can easily see all of them (there’s four arches here in total) in about an hour or so. 

The Windows are two huge rock formations that are on the southeast side of the parking lot. There’s a nice trail that connects the North and South windows, along with nearby Turret Arch.

Make sure to walk through the North Arch and look back through the window to get a nicely framed picture of Turret Arch. 

Double Arch is on the opposite side of the parking lot, and it’s the tallest arch in the park. There are two separate (huge) arches that you’ll be looking up at.

You can climb around inside the arch and marvel at the two arches sharing the same base structure. It’s about a quarter of a mile from the parking lot on a flat, sandy trail. 

Hike the Devils Garden Trail

The Devils Garden Trail is a must-do hike in Arches National Park . The best part about this hike? You can customize it based on your experience and fitness level. 

If you do the entire loop, including the fun primitive trail on the way back, it’s going to be just under seven miles, with 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Along the way, you’ll see seven different arches, and you’ll do some light scrambling and trail finding on the primitive trail, which we thought was a lot of fun. 

You’ll want solid hiking shoes or hiking boots (Alysha loves her Columbia Newton Ridge boots , an excellent first hiking boot) with good traction for the scrambling sections, which have you making some steep climbs on rock that necessitate good footing. It’s nothing too crazy though if you’re an experienced hiker. 

If you’re not up for 7 miles in the desert, do the 2 mile hike to Landscape Arch or the 4 mile (ish) hike to Landscape, Navajo, and Partition Arches , which takes you a bit further than most of the hikers go. 

Whatever you choose, it’s going to be hot. Drink plenty of water, eat plenty of snacks, and wear sun protection. Sun exposure is no joke, particularly in the summer. 

Broken Arch and Skyline Arch

Stop for a quick picnic lunch near the Devils Garden trail (there’s a picnic area just south of the campground and trailhead), then do the short hikes out to Broken Arch and Skyline Arch. 

You can park in Devils Garden Campground ( here ) to start the hike out to Broken Arch . 

It’s a cool hike, which is why it’s on this list duh, and you’ll pass through a couple of cool canyons on the way back from Broken Arch. It’s about 1.8 miles round trip, and is basically flat. This is a good sunset hike too if you’re staying at Devils Garden Campground since you can leave from camp without driving anywhere. 

Skyline Arch is also worth seeing. You get there via a pull off just south of the campground, and it’s a short, easy hike out there. 

Where to Stay in Moab near Arches National Park (and Canyonlands)

You’re going to stay in Moab for the first three nights of this itinerary. You should try to stay in one place for all three nights UNLESS you’re camping, in which case we’d try to find a site in Arches for the first night. 

Pssst ! Make sure to read our guide to the best places to stay in Moab to find the perfect home base for exploring this incredible area.

Hotels in Moab

We were planning on staying in a hotel in Moab for a night to shower and take a break from the weeks of sleeping in our van, but later decided to stay at a campground for an extra night instead. 

There were exactly three places on our list of hotels that we wanted to stay in. 

• The first is Moab Springs Ranch , which has a range of rooms from bungalows to more lodge-style rooms, and has a great coffee shop onsite (Horsethief Coffee). Unfortunately, they were sold out for our dates (book early, people!), but we would have chosen to stay there given the opportunity.
• The second, which is a place we booked then later canceled, is the Expedition Lodge . It’s in a great location along the main drag in Moab, and it looks nice. It’s motel style, which was what we were looking for during the summer of 2020, and it has some nice retro touches like the mint green mini fridges in the rooms. They also have some unique room configurations, like two queen bunk beds, which are nice for a traveling family (nobody likes sleeping on the cot on a hotel room floor). Oh, and there’s a pool, which is always a bonus.
• The last option was Moab Under Canvas , which is less a hotel, more glamping, but still fits here. This is your chance to stay under the stars while still maintaining some semblance of the comforts of a hotel. It looks incredible.

Camping In and Around Moab

If you’re looking to camp, you’ve actually got a fair number of options both inside Arches and Canyonlands, and just outside the national parks. 

• Inside Arches, there’s only one campground – Devils Garden . It’s reservable in advance ( learn more here ), and it’s a really nice campground. We stayed there for three nights, and it’s a great base for exploring Arches for a couple of reasons. First, it’s at the trailhead for Devils Garden, so you can get an early start to beat the crowds and heat (staying outside the park means a 45 minute drive to the trailhead). Second, being inside the park means you’ll avoid the crazy lines at the entrance to the park. We waited an hour to get in one day because we had to leave the park to get ice for our cooler.
• Inside Canyonlands , you have only one option in the Island in the Sky District (which is the part of the park you want) – Willow Flat Campground . It’s first-come-first-served, and only has 12 sites. Unless you show up early AND get lucky, you’re probably out of luck. You could also camp at Dead Horse Point State Park , which is close to the entrance of Canyonlands, and is worth a visit in its own right, particularly for a spectacular sunset over the canyons. 

Outside the park, there are a surprising number of campgrounds on BLM land that are all first-come-first-served. There are two major areas where you’ll find them. 

• The first group are along Highway 128 northeast of Moab on the Colorado River, and they are competitive and you’ll need to show up relatively early for the first few campgrounds. They’re in an incredible location along the river and deep inside a gorgeous red rock canyon. Goose Island, Grandstaff, and Big Bend are the nicest based on our drive through the canyon.
• The other area is along Highway 279 northwest of Moab – check out Gold Bar Campground , which is near the trailhead for Corona Arch. 

Day 3: Canyonlands National Park

On your third day in Moab, head out to Canyonlands National Park , which is a very different experience than Arches. 

While Arches is about feeling small standing under the towering rock formations littered around the park, Canyonlands is about feeling miniscule while looking out over the deep fissures in the earth created over thousands (millions?) of years of tectonic plate action. 

There are three sections of Canyonlands: Island in the Sky (closest to Moab, most accessible), the Needles District, and the Maze (technically I think there’s a fourth called the Rivers, but I’m not quite sure about that one).

With just one day, you should focus on Island in the Sky , which is the most accessible part of the park coming from Moab. However, if you have more time, a trip down to the Needles District is worth your time. 

What Not to Miss in Canyonlands National Park

Here are some that we enjoyed in the Island in the Sky part of Canyonlands National Park. 

Early Morning at Mesa Arch

Start your morning at Mesa Arch just after sunrise. It’s a really short hike out to a low arch, through which you get a nice glimpse of the vastness of Canyonlands. 

Why just after sunrise, you ask? Because at sunrise, there will be hundreds – yes, hundreds – of photographers vying for the best position to take that picture-perfect shot of the natural bridge with the sunstar on the bottom. I bet you’ve seen it before – it looks like this: 

I took that around sunrise at Mesa Arch, where we’d arrived an hour before sunrise and still didn’t get a spot. Instead of jostling for position, we took a seat on a rock overlooking the arch and watched the sun rise, then I ventured down when the crowds started to thin. 

Here’s the behind the scenes view of the sea of photographers that you don’t see in the pictures on Instagram. 

The point is that going after sunrise is a much more pleasant experience. 

Hiking in Canyonlands

After experiencing Mesa Arch, head out on a hike in Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky District. 

Here are three options for various levels of hiking experience and fitness. If you’re up for it, you could totally do a couple of the shorter ones together as part of a little circuit along Canyonlands’ main thoroughfare. 

Aztec Butte (1.7 miles / 250 ft. elevation gain): This is a cool hike that has two distinct parts that form a “Y” shape. First, take the right fork to climb to a nice viewpoint over Canyonlands. Then on the way back, take the left fork and check out the ancestral Puebloan structures, which are pretty cool. DON’T TOUCH THE STRUCTURES – leave them be. 

White Rim Overlook (2 miles / 200 ft. elevation gain): A short and sweet hike to an incredible overlook that really illustrates the scale of Canyonlands. It’s a short, well-marked hike out to a little “peninsula” (for lack of a better word – there’s no water, but it’s a peninsula shaped part of the canyon rim). Follow the rock piles, known as cairns. 

The Gooseberry Trail (5 miles / 1,500 ft. elevation gain): This hike is no joke. You basically climb straight down the wall of the canyon to get to the lower plateau, which takes you to a nice overlook of the canyon forged by the mighty Colorado River. Just remember, the first part of the hike is a descent…which means what goes down must come back up. Try to get an early start so that you’re not out there in the heat of the day. 

Grand View Point Overlook

Next, head out to Grand View Point , which is another short stroll along the rim of the canyon that we DEFINITELY think you should do, no matter what. It’s mostly flat, with a little bit of up and down, but the end viewpoint is going to be well worth the small effort to get there. 

The Scenic Drive

Grand View Point is at the end of the road, which means you can make the drive back towards the visitor center a scenic drive by stopping at all the viewpoints along the way. 

The first stop, if you didn’t already tackle it, is the White Rim Overlook . We loved this short hike, and it’s worth mentioning again. 

Make sure to also stop at the Buck Canyon Overlook and, our favorite viewpoint on the drive, the Shafer Canyon Overlook , which has amazing views of the canyon, and of the steep switchbacks of Shafer Canyon Road, which descend from the rim down to the plateau via tight switchbacks that I would be too terrified to drive myself. 

It’s also worth venturing out on the road that leads to Upheaval Dome, aptly named Upheaval Dome Road . 

The turnoff is a little ways south of Shafer Canyon Overlook. Willow Flat Campground, the main campground in this part of Canyonlands, is out there, but stay on Upheaval Dome Road to get to Upheaval Dome, Whale Rock, and Aztec Butte – three great short hikes just off the road. 

Day 4: Exploring Around Moab

Spend the morning and afternoon around Moab, exploring what we think are two of the best hikes in the area – neither of which are inside a national park – and then make your way over to Capitol Reef National Park. 

Things Not to Miss Around Moab

Here are some things we really enjoyed near Moab (that aren’t within national park boundaries).

Corona Arch

We did the hike out to Corona Arch at sunrise, and sat on a rock watching the light creep down, illuminating the arch about an hour after sunrise. Because of the rock walls here, we actually think the best time to be here is just after sunrise. 

It’s only 2.5 miles long (round trip), but there are some sections of scrambling along slickrock, and a ladder that you have to climb. As long as you’re prepared with sturdy footwear, you should be fine, but you should know what you’re getting into before you leave the parking lot. 

The arch itself is enormous, and is one of the more impressive arches we saw in Moab, including the ones in Arches (Delicate Arch and Double Arch might be the only two ahead of it). 

The trailhead is along highway 279, just a twenty minute drive northwest of Moab.  

Just down the road from Corona Arch is another amazing hike that most people probably skip since it’s not inside one of the nearby national parks – and that’s Jeep Arch .

You’ll park in the small dirt parking lot along the road. We were there mid-morning after our hike to Corona Arch, and we were only the second car in the parking area. 

This hike is a bit longer at 3.6 miles (1,000 ft. of elevation gain), and it is COMPLETELY exposed. No shade to speak of, except right at the base of the arch. 

You’ll start by hiking up through the water pipe, which we didn’t realize on our way out and ended up hiking up to the railroad tracks, crossing the tracks, and then scrambling down the other side. Only to look through the other end of the pipe and say “ah, that’s the way you’re supposed to go.”

From there, you’ll follow a trail that is somewhat well marked by cairns across the rocky landscape, surrounded by the towering red rock walls of the canyon. It’s a loop, and after doing it both directions, we really don’t think it makes a huge difference which direction you go. 

We will say that the arch will sneak up on you. We were very worried that we were going the wrong way because the map showed the arch just ahead of us, and we couldn’t quite see it yet.

It’s carved into the towering canyon wall, and if you squint, it looks a little bit like a jeep, hence the name (Matt’s not convinced). 

Sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park

After a day of exploring Moab, head out to nearby Dead Horse Point State Park for sunset. Dead Horse Point is on the way back to Moab, which makes it a perfect last stop of the day before retiring to your hotel or campground for the night. 

You’ll need to pay the entrance fee, since it is a Utah State Park and is not covered by your America the Beautiful Pass. It’s $20 a vehicle as of 2021 – double check the up-to-date fees here . 

If you’re up for it and have some extra time before sunset, it’s worth doing one of the short hikes along the west rim. Our pick would be to park at the main parking lot and hike out to the Rim Overlook, and back along the rim to the parking lot, with a short detour to the Shafer Canyon and Meander overlooks along the way.

It’s about 2.5 miles there and back, and it’s flat. 

After that, pick your spot, plop down, and watch the sunset over the canyon. 

Day 5: Capitol Reef National Park

Be honest – before you started researching for this trip, had you ever heard of Capitol Reef National Park?

We hadn’t either. 

But I understand why. Sandwiched between Arches and Canyonlands to the east, and Bryce and Zion to the west, it is the runt of the litter. Not that it isn’t a great stop and well worth your time, it’s just that the rest of the national parks in Utah are spectacular. 

The most unique part of Capitol Reef in my book is the amount of green you’ll see. Coming from Moab, it’s pretty surprising to drive around a corner with red rocks towering above you and see… an orchard? Several orchards, actually.

And you can freely walk through them and eat the fruit in the late summer too! You have to pay if you want to take it to eat later though. 

What Not to Miss in Capitol Reef National Park

Here are some things not to miss in Capitol Reef National Park. 

Capitol Reef Scenic Drive

Stop at the visitor center to grab a map and a hiking guide, then it’s time to tackle the 10 mile scenic drive out to Capitol Gorge . 

Take your time on the drive – it’s a gorgeous road through the red rock formations that are Capitol Reef’s specialty. 

Eventually, you’ll arrive at the end of the paved road, where there’s a small parking lot and picnic area. If you continue on the dirt road, you’ll end up at the trailhead for Capitol Gorge , which is the beginning of a short one mile stroll through the towering canyon along the original path into the Fruita Valley. 

Be careful with weather in the summer – afternoon thunderstorms and rain showers can cause flash floods, and you definitely don’t want to be stuck in the gorge during a flash flood. 

Head back the way you came, making a right onto the dirt road that will take you to the Grand Wash Trailhead. 

Cassidy Arch

Head to the Grand Wash trailhead, which includes a short drive on a well-maintained dirt road, to hike to Cassidy Arch . 

In high season, you might have to wait a few minutes to get a parking space, since the lot is small and the dirt road makes it hard if not impossible to park on the side of the road. The wait will be worth it – you’ll climb the wall of the valley to an arch that you can actually walk on! 

It’s a steep climb up some stairs for the first bit of the trail, but it mellows out as you wind between the cairns (those are the little rock piles that mark a lot of the trails) up to the arch.

It’s a pretty stunning hike, as you’ll get views of the surrounding valley and beyond as you make the ascent. All in all, it’s a three mile hike with 660 feet of elevation gain. 

You should know that it will be hot in the afternoon, so bring tons of water, snacks, sunscreen, and a hat for sun protection. 

Hike Hickman Bridge + Rim Overlook Trail

We really enjoyed the hike to Hickman Bridge , which is another natural bridge (which is similar to an arch, but slightly different). It’s a short one mile hike up, and it’s another spot where the trail actually takes you up and through the arch, which is pretty cool. 

From the Hickman Bridge, it’s another 2 miles to the Rim Overlook , which is an incredible hike that takes you to a high point on the canyon walls and looks over the entire valley. It was one of our favorite spots not only in Capitol Reef, but on our entire Utah road trip. Well worth the effort. 

All-in, if you go all the way up to the Rim Overlook, it’s going to be between 5 and 6 miles, with a moderate elevation gain of about 1,000 feet. 

Fruita and the Barn

Post-hike, head to Fruita and hit the Gifford House for a fresh baked fruit pie as a reward for finishing the morning hike. They don’t have gluten free options, so we ended up skipping the actual pies, but the historic Gifford House is worth a stop regardless. 

It’s a good representation of the original Mormon Settlement in Fruita Valley, though it has definitely been updated and renovated since it was built in 1908. Grab a mini pie and take it out to the picnic area outside. 

Don’t miss walking up the road towards the campsite to get a picture of the Fruita Barn with the red rocks in the background – I love the contrast between the dry red rock canyon, and the lush field (with horses, if you’re lucky) where the barn stands. Super unique. 

Sunset Point for… Sunset

A little over an hour before sunset, head out to Sunset Point / the Goosenecks for the second most breathtaking panorama in the park (don’t worry, you’ll tackle the best viewpoint tomorrow morning). 

The Goosenecks are an okay view of the river winding through the valley below, and they’re basically at the parking lot. 

But the star of the show is Sunset Point , which has a view across the Fruita Valley with all sorts of interesting terrain as far as the eye can see.

It’s spectacular about a half hour before sunset, when the golden light brings out all the different colors in the surrounding landscape, particularly the red in the canyon walls. Here are a few pictures for you from our trip, if you’re not convinced. 

Where to Stay at Capitol Reef National Park

There are really not many options near Capitol Reef – you can either camp inside the park, or stay in the nearby town of Torrey, Utah. 

Camping in Capitol Reef

The best option, by far, is Fruita Campground , which is the only place to stay inside the park that you can reserve in advance. It’s a super nice campground, set in between red rocks and orchards.

We were discussing whether it was the nicest campground we’d stayed in on our four month road trip, and it’s definitely in the top five. Check availability here .

You could also stay at Cathedral Valley Campground , which is near the Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon, but it’s a journey to get there and it’s super remote with no amenities.

That being said, it’s free, so there’s that. Make sure you have a 4WD, high clearance vehicle or you’re going to have a bad time.

Hotels near Capitol Reef

You’ll have to head to nearby Torrey to find a place to stay that isn’t camping. It’s only about a 15 minute drive to the park entrance, so it’s a perfect stopover before heading onwards to your next stop, Bryce Canyon National Park.

As far as hotels and resorts go, the leaders of the pack are Capitol Reef Resort – which is also the closest place to stay near the park (and their two bedroom cottages have a kitchen) – and Red Sands Hotel .

Vacation Rentals near Capitol Reef

If you want a vacation rental with more space and access to a kitchen, there are a couple of good options around Torrey . 

For couples, we like this cozy house .  

For families and groups who need a bit more space, look at this modern two bedroom flat .

Days 6 & 7: Bryce Canyon National Park

We spent two and a half days in Bryce Canyon, and I didn’t quite realize just how compact this national park is. Unlike places like Yellowstone and Yosemite, where you can literally drive for hours and still not leave the park, there’s essentially one 19 mile road that makes up the entirety of Bryce Canyon National Park. 

Bryce Canyon really isn’t that big, so we think that a day and a half is enough to see the highlights.

For that reason, if you’re time constrained and only have ten days, I’d only spend one day in Bryce Canyon National Park , plus a portion of the next morning before driving to Zion.

If you’ve got more than 10 days, this is the first place I’d add time (an extra day would be perfect). 

One thing you should know for Bryce that I didn’t know before my trip: the best light for photos is in the morning . 

In the afternoon, the sun is on the opposite side of the canyon from most of the interesting stuff, which leads to long shadows that really mess with your pictures because of the extremes of light and dark in the photo. 

In the morning, the sun lights up the hoodoos and other formations, making them that much more spectacular.

The Best Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park

Here are five things not to miss in Bryce Canyon National Park. 

Sunrise at … Sunrise Point

Start your time in Bryce Canyon with sunrise at Sunrise Point . This is a popular spot, so get there early. 

You’ll have views of the hoodoos to your right, which is the direction you want to be facing, and the horizon on the left, which is where the sun will come up.

Again, it bears repeating, make sure to watch the rising sun light up the hoodoos – most people will be looking at the horizon to watch the sunrise, which would be a mistake!

As the sun comes up, it brings out all the different hues of the hoodoos, making for some spectacular photos.

Sunset Point and Thor’s Hammer

Next, walk along the rim to Sunset Point , which is another good viewpoint to see the hoodoos from a slightly different angle.

Hike down a little ways to get a good view of Thor’s Hammer , a unique rock formation that looks like the Marvel hero’s signature hammer.

Hike the “Figure 8” Loop

After you’ve taken ALL the photos, you should embark on our favorite hike in Bryce Canyon – the Queen’s Garden / Navajo / Peek-a-boo Loop, which we’ll call the “Figure 8” loop because it sounds cooler and is less of a mouthful. 

It’s a six mile hike with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. You’ll start at Sunset Point and end along the rim near Sunrise Point. 

Make sure you’re fueled up with coffee and breakfast before heading out. To really take in the beauty and scale of Bryce Canyon, you HAVE to get below the rim. This hike takes you through canyons, between hoodoos, and to viewpoints with sweeping views of the magnificence of this park. 

You’ll start by descending Wall Street – a set of (very photogenic) steep switchbacks that take you down, down, down into the canyon. Try to get started early, because this spot gets very, very congested. 

You’ll wander through the canyon for a bit before you reach a junction – veer right to tackle the peek-a-boo loop, ending back at the exact point you veered right. From there, you’ll climb back up to the rim of the canyon via the Queens Garden trail, which is not an easy hike, especially if it’s hot, but it’s totally doable for most people. 

After the hike, take a break from being in the sun and eat some lunch to refuel, either a picnic lunch, or at the Bryce Canyon Lodge are your best options. 

The Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive

One thing you definitely shouldn’t miss in Bryce Canyon is the scenic drive along the 19-mile road that runs from one end of the park to the other. It’s a good afternoon activity, and it will only take you about an hour or so. 

Make sure to check out Natural Bridge and Bryce Point , our two favorite stops, and stop at any viewpoints along the way that catch your eye.

You’ll want to start this drive at least two hours before sunset, before the sun drops behind the canyon wall and takes all the color out of the hoodoos for the night.

Where to Stay Near Bryce Canyon National Park

There’s exactly one place to stay in the park (plus two campgrounds – scroll down to read about those) – the Bryce Canyon Lodge . The location is great, but it’s going to be expensive and it’s a little dated. That being said, it’s a solid choice if you want to stay in the park and aren’t on board for camping. 

Staying Outside the Park

If you’re looking for more options, you’ll need to look outside the park to the towns of Bryce and Tropic . 

The best place to stay to be close to the park is in the town of Bryce . It’s as close as it gets to the entrance of the park, and you’ve got a few options. Unfortunately, the selection isn’t great. 

The Best Western Plus Canyon Grand is, by far, the best place to stay. I know what you’re thinking – “really Matt? Best Western? That doesn’t seem like you.” I hear you, believe me. I had the same reaction. But this is a NICE Best Western.  

Tropic, Utah is another place you could stay, and it’s about 15-20 minutes outside the park entrance, which means it’s about 30 minutes from Sunrise Point, which is where you’ll start the next morning. Generally, Tropic is going to be the cheaper option between the two, but also the less convenient option. 

Camping in and Around Bryce Canyon

There are two campgrounds inside the park. 

Sunset Campground is the bigger of the two campgrounds inside the park. You’ll need to book well in advance, or be prepared to check the availability daily for a cancellation, which is how we ended up getting a spot for a night.

The location is great, right across from Sunset Point, which will mean you can walk over and skip dealing with the parking nightmare that is that parking lot in the morning. Oh yeah, and the bathrooms are heated, which I’ve never encountered before at a campground. 

North Campground is basically right on the rim of the amphitheater, which also means that you will be able to leave the car at camp and walk to the two best hikes in the Bryce Canyon National Park (more on that in a second). There are 99 sites, and for 2023 (May through October) you’ll need to reserve in advance. 

The best option for camping (and RV sites) outside the park is Ruby’s RV Park and Campground , which is where we stayed for the rest of our time in Bryce Canyon because we couldn’t get a reservation in the park. 

Days 8 – 10: Zion National Park

Zion is the park I’ve spent the most time in on road trips growing up, and finally we made it back in the spring to marvel at both the canyon itself, and the ingenuity that went into constructing the Mt. Carmel – Zion tunnel, and the trail up to Angels Landing. 

Both were built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps , and are amazing feats of engineering, especially when you consider they were made almost a century ago. 

Zion is one of the best national parks in the country, let alone Utah, so you’re ending your trip on a high note. 

There’s tons to do and see, and two days in Zion is not nearly enough time to see all there is to see, but you can get a great taste of the park that will leave you hungry to return and spend more time exploring the canyons, rivers, and hanging gardens that make Zion a special place.

The best thing to do in Zion National Park, by far, is hiking. And there are two iconic hikes in the park that you should tackle – one on each day. 

They are the Narrows and Angels Landing – you’ll do Angels Landing on Day 1, then the equally-iconic Narrows of the Virgin River on Day 2. In between, there are some great shorter hikes to tackle. 

A note here for RVs and trailers: if your vehicle is higher than 11’ 4” or wider than 7’ 10”, you’ll have to pay a $15 “escort fee” to pass through the Zion-Mt Carmel tunnel (which you’ll have to do to get into the park from the east) which basically means that a ranger will stop traffic in the tunnel and make it one-way so that you can pass through to avoid accidents. More information can be found here .

The Best Things to Do in Zion National Park

Here are some of our favorite things to do in Zion National Park. 

Hike Angels Landing

Get an early start on your first day in Zion to make your way out to Angels Landing (shuttle stop is the Grotto ). It is, along with the Narrows, one of the best and most unique hikes in Utah if not the entire western United States.

It’s only 5.4 miles long, but it’s a steady climb of over 1,500 feet, which is going to feel like A LOT at this elevation and temperature. Seriously, the trail starts flat for about a quarter of a mile, but then it starts climbing steadily for the rest of the hike up to Angels Landing. 

You need to pack plenty of water (more than two liters per person), sunscreen, and a hat. If you’re afraid of heights, the tail end of this hike is going to test your willpower. You’ll need to do some scrambling and climbing with the help of chains, but the sweeping views at the top will make it all worth it. 

However, you should know that we stopped before the serious part of the chains started. There are essentially two sections of chains – one that traverses the side of a ridge, and another that makes the ascent to the summit. We did the first section, and turned around before the second section. 

It had rained the day before, which created a fine sand that coated every rock surface on the hike. We weren’t super comfortable with our footing as we were traversing the first set of chains, and the unbearable crowds didn’t help with the anxiety. Know that it is perfectly okay to stop and turn around if you’re not feeling comfortable. We did, and we regret absolutely nothing. 

I mean it when I say to start early. It gets hot in Zion, and the last thing you want is to be stuck at one of the sections with chains waiting for a slow group to go up or down while you, quite literally, roast in the desert sun. 

It’s going to take you most of the morning and part of the afternoon to do this hike. Afterwards, head to the Zion Lodge to eat lunch – either a pre-packed picnic, or a meal at the lodge’s cafe – and relax before tackling some other short hikes in the afternoon. 

Note : in 2023, you need an advance reservation to hike to Angels Landing. It’s meant to control crowds, which we experienced and literally said to each other on the way down “they should really permit this hike.”

Sunset at the Watchman

This was one of our favorite hikes in Zion, though we did it at sunrise, when the light wasn’t at its best thanks to the towering rock wall behind you that blocks the sun from lighting up the Watchman. 

That’s why we have it here, at sunset instead.

It leaves from the visitor center, and climbs pretty gently to a mesa that is directly across the valley from the Watchman, one of the most famous rock formations in the park. It’s a good spot to pack a picnic and a couple of beers after a long day of exploring. 

Hike The Narrows

Today, hop on the shuttle early and head up the canyon to the Temple of Sinawava stop to do the ten mile hike (roundtrip) to the Narrows. 

This hike is through a canyon and river, which means it is CRUCIAL that you check with the rangers about conditions and flash flood warnings before you start the hike . In the spring, heavy water flow from snow runoff might mean that this trail is closed. 

Seriously, flash floods in canyons are no joke. Stop by the visitors center to make sure you’re good to go. 

Don’t let that scare you – the hike through the Narrows is the #1 Zion experience that I think you should have on your trip.

The hike follows the Riverside Walk for the first bit, then continues on when that trail ends. You’ll pass through narrow canyons, deal with knee-high water, and do some bouldering en route to Big Springs, where the hike ends and you’ll turn around to head back the way you came.

It’s going to take you five to six hours, maybe more. To make it as smooth as possible, bring plenty of water, tons of snacks, proper footwear (not flip flops – either hiking sandals like Chacos , or real hiking shoes), a dry bag , and a pair of trekking poles for stability.

After that, recharge for a second and catch your breath. Maybe take a nap. It has been a whirlwind of a couple of days!

East Zion Scenic Drive

The eastern side of Zion National Park is one of the more unique landscapes in the country. Checkerboard Mesa, in particular, is pretty impressive. It’s a huge, textured cone-like formation that has checkerboard textures all over its surface.

The drive through the eastern side of the park, from the East Entrance to the tunnel, is spectacular. You should do it in the late afternoon if you can, so that you’re well-positioned to do the Canyon Overlook Trail at sunset. 

The Canyon Overlook Trail

Parking for this one is a bit of a pain due to all the people vying for a very limited number of spots. You’ll need to park along the road and walk to the trailhead. 

The hike itself is short, but a little steep, and takes you up to a spectacular view out over the canyon. Below, you’ll see the road switchbacking its way up to the tunnel, and the iconic, impressive rock formations of Zion Canyon across the valley below. 

Last light on the canyon from the setting sun is amazing, and it’s worth hanging out up here for a bit until after sunset. 

Where to Stay near Zion National Park

Unlike a place like Capitol Reef, where it’s hard to find a place to stay that’s close to the park, Zion has some great options nearby in Springdale, Utah . 

Whether you’re looking for a campground or you want a comfortable hotel, there are plenty of great places to stay near Zion.  

Inside the park, your options are splurging on a lodge room or private cabin at the iconic Zion Lodge , or snagging a campground at either Watchman Campground (we stayed here and it’s great) or South Campground .

Both are walkable to the visitor center, which is where you’ll need to catch the shuttle if you’re here between March and November. 

In Springdale , which is immediately outside the entrance to the park, you’ve got a wide range of options, from budget to bougie. Here are some picks based on what you’re looking for. 

• On a budget : I have stayed at the Holiday Inn Express , and it’s nicer than most Holiday Inns, and there’s a shuttle that will take you to the park entrance right outside the front door. The Best Western is another option, and it’s slightly closer to the park  entrance.
• Mid-Range : I love the cottages at the Red Rock Inn Cottages , and that’s where we would have stayed if we weren’t camping. Flanigan’s Inn is an eco-friendly hotel with nice rooms, a beautiful property, and a great onsite restaurant. The Desert Pearl Inn is a good choice if you need a kitchen (and the rooms all have nice patios overlooking the pool).
• Best of the Best : The Cable Mountain Lodge is the best place to stay near Zion thanks to its location RIGHT OUTSIDE the park entrance. It’s a nice boutique hotel, so it’s not the cheapest, but it’s worth every penny for the location alone. In the same complex, there’s a small grocery store, a coffee shop, a brewery, and an outfitter that rents bikes and gear for the Narrows if you need it. 

You could also stay in a vacation rental in Springdale , which there are plenty of. That’ll give you more space to spread out and relax, which is particularly helpful if you’re traveling with a group. Nobody wants to cram four people in a small hotel room with two queen beds. 

For a once-in-a-lifetime glamping experience, stay at Zion Under Canvas . It’s a little further out – 45 minutes from the South Entrance – but it’ll make up for the distant location with the superb facilities.

They have a range of options – from simple “safari tents” that are basically a bed with a shared bathroom (they’re single-occupancy and nice, though) to “Stargazer” (private bathroom and deck!) and Suites. Some even come with a separate kids tent – perfect for families.

Psst ! We have a whole guide dedicated to helping you find the perfect place to stay at Zion National Park – you can read it here . 

What to Do with More Time in Utah

Here are three things to add to your Utah itinerary if you are lucky enough to have some extra time. 

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Time required : 1 full day

Before heading to Bryce, it’s well worth a stop in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument , home of some of the best slot canyons in Utah that don’t require a permit lottery to access.

The best way to do it is to tackle one or two of the hikes (if you’re ambitious) on the way to Bryce Canyon, staying overnight either in nearby Boulder, Utah, or completing the hikes and heading into Bryce at the end of the day. 

There are at least three hikes that are worth your time in this area, and which ones you choose basically depends on your ability to navigate a long dirt road with some questionable spots for passenger vehicles and your willingness to navigate tight spots in slot canyons. 

The road to get to the trailhead for Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Canyons is a 26-mile long dirt road called “Hole-in-the-Rock Road”. It’s passable in a passenger vehicle, but you’ll need to take it slow and it’s going to take you about an hour. I’d recommend a 4WD, high clearance vehicle to get to the second two hikes on the list. 

We skipped them all because Homer, our Honda Odyssey, was sick of unpaved roads after some misadventures in the Pacific Northwest. 

Here are those three hikes, with a short description of each. 

• Lower Calf Creek Falls (6 miles roundtrip): This is right along Scenic Byway 12, which means you don’t have to survive a dirt road to get to the trailhead. It’s a lovely hike through a surprisingly green canyon to a 126 foot waterfall, Lower Calf Creek Falls, which is in a grotto-like setting. Bring a swimsuit on a warm summer day to take a dip in the pool underneath the falls.
• Zebra Slot Canyon : This trail is not always accessible, since the entry point fills with water after storms. But if it hasn’t rained in a while, it’s a worthy five mile trip. I haven’t personally done it, but I’ve seen plenty of pictures on Instagram of the wave-like textures in the Zebra slot.
• Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons : This hike includes a 15 foot climb on rock walls, and a 20 foot descent with assistance from a rope, along with some very tight spots (12-18 inches wide) through a slot canyon. We didn’t make it here because the 26 mile long dirt road scared us and our minivan off, but I’ve heard from family members and friends who have done it that it’s amazing. The reward is two of the best slot canyons in Utah, which means it’s a busy trail. Be careful in slot canyons if there’s an incoming rainstorm – flash flooding is no joke.

If you’re looking for an awesome overnight backpacking trip, look no further than the 11.5 mile journey to Coyote Gulch . It has quite a bit of elevation gain, which makes it a little much for a day hike. But the destination is pretty epic. Permit information here . 

If you’re not up for the 26 mile drive on a dirt road, do the hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls on the drive from Capitol Reef, then head to Bryce Canyon National Park that night. 

Add a Detour into Arizona

Time required : 3-4 days

If you’ve got two weeks and you’re looking for a great addition to your Utah road trip adventure, a mini Arizona road trip would be a great option. 

Zion is just two hours away from Page, Arizona, which is home to two amazing natural wonders – Horseshoe Bend (you’ve probably seen it on Instagram) and Antelope Canyon . 

Horseshoe Bend is a giant picture-perfect bend in the Colorado River that makes for an amazing sunset location, while Antelope Canyon is one of the most picturesque slot canyons in the Southwest, but is only accessible by guided tour (check out this company , which is Navajo-owned). 

On the way to Page, make a stop at Paria Canyon to hike to Buckskin Gulch. The Wave is also here, in Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, but you’ll need to apply in advance to get a permit to hike it. More information here .

After Page, continue on to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, and spend two days at the Grand Canyon in constant awe over the natural beauty and scale on display. Make sure to drive Desert View Road at sunset , hike the South Kaibab Trail , and catch sunset at Hopi Point along Hermit Road while you’re there.

From the Grand Canyon, it’s a four hour drive west to Las Vegas. You’ll pass by Hoover Dam along the way, which is worth a stop for the sheer scale of the dam. 

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Sitting just north of Zion (an hour and a half drive) is Cedar Breaks National Monument. It’s even higher than Bryce Canyon at 10,000 feet above sea level, which means the ecosystem is very different from most of the places you’ve seen so far in Utah. It’s most similar to Bryce Canyon, with its orange-tinted rocks and ponderosa pine forests. 

It’s also shaped kind of like Bryce, forming an amphitheater, but unlike Bryce you can’t hike below the rim because it’s steep and dangerous. As a result, there aren’t a whole lot of long hikes here, so a half day is probably enough time. 

Similar to Bryce, morning is the best time to be here for the light since the sun sets behind the canyon and mid-afternoon it’s shrouded in darkness. While you’re there, make sure to hike both  the South Rim Trail and the Alpine Pond Trail . Both are short and relatively easy. 

How to Plan a Shorter Utah National Parks Itinerary

If you have less time in Utah, like we mentioned above, rather than trying to fit in the entire Mighty Five Circuit, we’d opt for spending 7 days exploring EITHER Zion and Bryce OR Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef.

The first itinerary might look something like this (you’ll want to fly in and out of Las Vegas for this one).  

• Day 1 : Arrive in Las Vegas, drive to Zion
• Day 2 : Zion National Park
• Day 3 : Zion National Park
• Day 4 : Bryce Canyon National Park
• Day 5 : Bryce Canyon National Park
• Day 6 : Day trip to Grand Staircase-Escalante (Calf Creek Falls)
• Day 7 : Drive Back to Las Vegas

If you’re more interested in spending your time in and around Moab (which is where you’ll find Arches and Canyonlands), here’s what it might look like. 

• Day 1 : Arrive in Salt Lake City / Moab
• Day 3 : Arches National Park
• Day 4 : Canyonlands National Park
• Day 5 : Around Moab
• Day 6 : Capitol Reef National Park
• Day 7 : Drive Back to Salt Lake City / Moab

The Best Time to Visit the Utah National Parks

In general, we think fall and spring are the most pleasant times to be in Utah (we were there in October and April, and it was lovely). 

Visiting in the Fall and Spring (March – May / September – October)

Fall and spring in southern Utah, which is where the national parks are, are fairly similar. We’ve been in both October and April over the past year, and both were very pleasant times to be there. However, the weather is certainly more unpredictable than the summer – it was 80 degrees and sunny one day, and then snowed the next day on our trip in April. 

On our road trip to the Mighty Five in the fall (October), we found temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s during the day, and between 50 and 60 degrees at night. This varies by park – Bryce Canyon is at 8,000 feet above sea level, and is much cooler than Arches and Canyonlands, for example. 

The parks are still busy, so you’ll need to reserve things early – it’s actually still considered high season.

Visiting in the Summer (June – August)

Summer is crowded and blazing hot. In the United States, a lot of families plan summer vacations because that’s when the kids are out of school. The result? Parks are packed, camping reservations are few and far between, and good luck getting a parking spot at the most popular trailheads in the park. 

Usually, the weather is the most predictable in the summer, where it’s often warmer and drier than other times of year. There’s also going to be afternoon thunderstorms, which are a phenomenon that we’ve run into multiple times in the southwest and in Colorado. 

Summer isn’t the best time to visit Utah’s Mighty Five national parks. You’ll find unbearable temperatures in the heat of the day, often reaching over 100 degrees, which basically means you can’t do much during the middle of the day. You’ll need to plan on being out early in the morning and late in the afternoon and drink plenty of water. 

That being said, I’ve been on two separate versions of a Utah road trip in the summer growing up, and I’m still here. It’s doable, but not preferable. 

Visiting in the Winter (November – February)

In the winter , the parks are basically empty, but it’s going to be freezing cold. You might even get a little bit of snow, which is a particularly beautiful way to see the Mighty Five in Utah. Pack a warm jacket (we basically wore this jacket every night on our road trip) and some long underwear and you’ll be fine. 

It’ll be in the 30’s and 40’s during the day, and drop below freezing at night. You might even get treated to a nice dusting of snow covering the parks, which is stunning. If you’re planning on visiting in the winter, I’d avoid camping (although we’ve camped in Yellowstone when it was below 20 degrees before) and plan on staying in hotels and vacation rentals along the way. 

The best part? You won’t have to brave the crowds – you’ll have the major sights virtually all to yourself. The worst part? Some roads and hikes might be closed due to snow and ice, so you might miss out on an experience or two. 

Matt is the founder and main writer behind Wheatless Wanderlust, which he started back in 2018 as a way to share his gluten free travel guides with his fellow Celiac travelers.

Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up.

He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip.

This has been by far the most imformative review I have ever had the pleasure of reading on any vacation. Awesome, Thank you so much for the detailed description and personal tips. This is helping us plan for our trip next summer, I’m taking some of your advice and hope for a great trip with out teenage boys. Thanks again

Hey Paul, thanks for the kind words! Glad you found it helpful – we plan (and pay for) all of our own trips, so we do our best to include all of those important tidbits that come from personal experience on a route. You’re going to have an amazing trip next summer. Cheers!

Hello Matt and Alysha – this site is amazing and full of info. My hubby and I and another couple are thinking of visiting Utah from Wisconsin. Our plan is to drive from home so no flying. We are all retired. If we visit in April are hotel/motel reservations still necessary? My thoughts are traveling ‘on the fly’ so to speak and when we are tired we stop and get a hotel room. Possible? Thanks.

Hey Pam! April is actually high season for the Utah parks, so yes you will probably want to reserve in advance. With the huge rise in number of visitors at national parks over the past couple of years, it’s really tough to do it “on the fly” these days between hotel reservations and park entrance permits (those haven’t quite hit the Utah parks yet, but I imagine they’re coming at some point!). Enjoy!

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Utah National Parks Road Trip: All 5 Parks & More [Map Included]

If you’re an outdoorsy person and love National Parks , scenic drives , outdoor activities like hiking, biking and climbing then visiting the parks in Utah is the right road trip for you. This Utah road trip will focus on the Big Five Utah National Parks (Utah’s mighty 5) as well as an epic state park and a few extra stops too.

Get ready to explore geological wonders , natural bridges, slot canyons and diverse landscapes on this Utah National Parks road trip!

We will cover: Arches National Park | Canyonlands National Park | Capitol Reef National Park | Bryce Canyon National Park | Zion National Park | Grand Escalante

Plus a few other awesome stops on your trip!

Table of Contents

Map Of The Ultimate Utah National Park Road Trip

Utah is also a great place to take an RV road trip! If you don’t have an RV you can rent one. Click here for great RV Rental options for your Utah road trip .

There are so many great things to do in Utah so the longer you can make your trip the better!

We’ll begin the ultimate Utah road trip in Moab. This is a great recreation area where you can do all the outdoor adventure you could possibly ask for as well as being a great home base to visit 2 of the Big Five Utah National Parks: Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park . There are more things to do in Moab than you would have time for! Here are our recommendations on things to do when you visit Moab.

Things To Do

We had no idea how much we were going to love this! There are some awesome jeep trails throughout Moab – we really enjoyed the Fins and Things trail or you can check Hells Revenge trail!

The nice thing is you can rent a jeep from one of the many rentals in Moab and head out on your own. Or if you aren’t sure what you are doing you can get a guide too. We highly recommend that if this is your first time!

Rent An OHV

Moab is essentially an oasis in the middle of the desert. The scenery is gorgeous and could be a destination just to take amazing scenic drives. You can also drive right in the scenery by renting an OHV or dirt bike at one of the many rental places on the main road in Moab. Check out these two 4×4 Driving Tours: Arches National Park or Canyonlands National Park

The OHV’s (Off Highway Vehicles) can also be driven on the streets of Moab as long as you follow some local laws.

Mountain Biking

If biking is more your thing, bring your own, or again you can borrow from one of the many Moab bike rentals along main road. There are some of the best bike trails in the entire country in Moab and have different levels of difficulty for all abilities. Definitely a great spot to bike.

Take a half day mountain bike tour!

Rock Climbing

Moab also offers rock climbing. You’re free to do it on your own, or hook up with one of the many guide companies in the area.

You can even climb inside Arches National Park as long as you pay attention to the rocks you are climbing. For the details on that check out https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/rockclimbing.htm .

Take a rock climbing trip in Moab!

As for rafting in Moab, the Colorado River offers pretty much all you could ask for. From slow river floats to Class IV rapids, you’ll see it all. You can choose from half day or full day rafting options leaving from Moab.

You can also kayak and SUP the river.

Helicopter Tour

If you want to see more remote areas and amazing rock formations, you may want to check out this Arches Backcountry Helicopter Flight . This tour is a 20-30 minute flight that departs from Canyon fields Airport. Talk about breathtaking views!

Sound and Light Show with Dinner

For a more relaxed evening activity, check out the Sound and Light Show with Dinner . Enjoy a calm ride down the Colorado River while watching an amazing show that details the canyon’s creation. Don’t miss this unique experience!

Corona Arch

Another great hike in Moab is Corona Arch. This is about a mile and a half roundtrip that includes ladders and some steep rock scrambles. You’ll end up under Corona Arch which is just amazing.

Highway 128 Scenic Drive

Another great thing to do in Moab is to take the scenic drive on Highway 128. Your drive time can range from a few minutes to a few hours on this beautiful road. We stopped a few times where the road was near the Colorado River to check it out and toss some stones in the river.

Dead Horse Point State Park

Even though the name doesn’t make you think happy thoughts this is a gorgeous state park and worth checking out for sunset.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is just a few miles north of Moab. Being one of the Big 5 National Parks, it’s a must-visit when in Moab. We really liked the park for the hiking trails as well as climbing near the arches and the beautiful red rocks.

It’s also incredibly busy and now requires a timed entry ticket to get in from April to October. If you want to maximize your time in the park, we have the perfect itinerary guide for you. It will show you a 1 day itinerary for Arches and a few bonus day activities.

There’s a single road that goes through the park that is 18 miles long, so you could see the whole thing in a day if that is all you had. I’d recommend giving yourself 2 or 3 days to see more of the park and to do some hiking while there.

Best Hikes in Arches National Park

Delicate Arch

There are several hikes that we really enjoyed in Arches. The most iconic being Delicate Arch. This hike is about 3 miles roundtrip and felt like it was uphill the whole way. It culminates at Delicate Arch which is just an amazing structure.

You can get right under the Arch for a great picture even though you’ll be the size of an ant in the picture. This is a must-do on the Utah road trip.

Another fun hike is the Windows section. It’s really a short hike that gets you up close and personal with several fantastic arches. We were able to do some climbing and rock scrambling here, which the kids loved.

Fiery Furnace

To hike Fiery Furnace, you either need a special permit or do the Ranger-led hike. This is because several people have gotten lost on the trail and that’s no good in the desert. We opted for the Ranger-led hike since we were first timers.

It was about $16 per adult and $8 per child (there are age restrictions as well), so it wasn’t cheap, but it was worth it. For one, we all made it out alive and secondly, we got some great information about the geology we were seeing. Check out their site for more info on the Ranger-led hike.

Landscape Arch, Devils Garden trail and Double Arch are other great hikes to check out in Arches. You can read more about hiking in Arches here: Best Hikes in Arches National Park

Check out these great tips on hiking with kids .

Canyonlands National Park

Stop #2 on the Utah road trip and another one of Utah’s Big Five National Parks close to Moab is Canyonlands National Park. There are 2 ways to get into Canyonlands from Moab. You can head north and visit the Island In The Sky which is an amazing place to drive through and check out all the amazing overlooks and grand views during the drive.

You can also head south from Moab and drive about an hour and a half to the southern section of Canyonlands National Park . In this section of the park you’ll find The Needles district. We did a couple of hikes in The Needles including Cave Spring and Slickrock.

Cave Spring was a fun, short hike that had a few ladders to scale throughout the hike. Slickrock was a bit more strenuous as it was 2.5 miles and very hot when we visited in October.

Mesa Arch and Grand View Point are a couple other great hikes to do in Canyonlands.

Where To Stay In Moab

RV Options:

The main road in Moab has several hotels, motels and resorts to choose from. We stayed at the OK RV Park at the southern end of the city during our Utah road trip. This was a nice place to stay and had full hook-ups and also has a deal through Passport America . I’d stay there again.

Sun Outdoors Moab Downtown Campground , Up the Creek Campground , and Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway are all good options for staying in the city of Moab.

There is also a ton of BLM land on the outskirts of Moab that offer free or very cheap dry camping (no hookups at all). This is a great way to stay on the cheap for a few nights while you explore. Here’s more information on where you can find the BLM land.

Rent an RV ! Utah is a super RV friendly state. Click here to learn more about renting an RV in Utah .

Hotel Options:

SpringHill Suites By Marriott . We keep driving by this hotel and I wish we were staying there! It is in a good location just outside Arches and right before you get into the city.

VRBO Options:

There are a lot of VRBO options throughout the city and some even offer the chance to stay in an RV! If you want a place downtown with the space to sleep 10, check out this modern downtown house that also offers trailer parking.

If you plan to spend time any time in Salt Lake City, Utah be sure to check out this post: Best Airbnb Salt Lake City .

Where To Eat In Moab

Along with many of your usual restaurants, Moab has a few unique ones as well. We really liked The Moab Brewery. They had a good selection of their own brews (despite Utah’s strange liquor laws), as well as many vegetarian options and a decent kids menu. Definitely worth a stop.

Moab is the perfect place to stay to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Park!

Goblin Valley State Park

Continuing on the Utah road trip, the next stop will be Goblin Valley State Park. This is a super cool state park that is a perfect place for kids. The park has several hikes, a small campground, a disc golf course, and the best part is the valley itself.

The parking lot for the valley sets the scene as you get out of your car and look down over the valley you see thousands of hoodoo structures below that are all in the form of little trolls, hence the name Goblin Valley.

The park is very relaxed in that they allow climbing on all the structures, which was a welcome treat for the kids. We played hide-and-seek and explored for hours.

The other thing we really liked about Goblin Valley was the dried up riverbed that runs through the park. It was about 5 feet deep and zig zagged it’s way through the valley. We hiked it for quite a way and it seemed we were in a giant maze.

The valley also has rock climbing along some of the cliffs at the back of the valley. Again, you can hook up with a guide group to get you set up properly. Check out this 4-hour Canyoneering Adventure !

For more information on Goblin Valley, check out their website .

Where to Stay

As for where to stay or where to eat when visiting Goblin Valley, your options are pretty limited. There is the campground in the park which has tent sites and a few RV sites, but all of those are without water or electricity at the sites, but there are flush toilets, showers and communal water available for campers.

They also have 2 really cool Yurts available for rent. These have heat and a/c as well as beds, furniture and a great porch to relax on. They looked really cool.

We stayed just outside the park on BLM land which was free and provided a great place to stay while only being minutes from the park. The BLM land had fire pits and was situated near some mountains that we hiked and explored. The night sky was amazing here since there weren’t any city lights for miles around. This is boondocking with no hookups so be prepared for that.

There aren’t many in the area. You could either make this a stop on your way from Arches to Capitol Reef and then continue on to Capitol Reef or you could stay in a cabin here (which is about 45 minutes from Goblin Valley State Park): Duke’s Slickrock Cabins.

Where to Eat

You’ll have to bring what you want to eat as there aren’t any restaurants or stores in the park or anywhere close. The closest town is Hanksville which is about a half hour away and has a few small restaurants and even a couple motels. This would be your closest option for food and other accommodations.

Capitol Reef National Park

After visiting Goblin Valley State Park, head towards Capitol Reef National Park . This was our favorite out of all the Utah National Parks on our Utah road trip. Between the hikes, off-road driving, fruit picking and scenery, it is hard to beat. We actually almost didn’t go since it is a little bit off the main road but we are so glad we did and wish we would have stayed longer!

Capital Reef National Park is defined by the Waterpocket Fold which is an almost 100 mile long warp in the Earth’s crust. It is a monocline formation with the step-up in the rock layers. It is pretty amazing.

There is a tour that leaves from Salt Lake City if you stay in that area and want a private tour of Capitol Reef National Park!

Best Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park

Cassidy Arch

This is a longer day hike but worth it since you can actually walk out on the Arch! The trail takes you up to the arch and it is a difficult hike with a few spots that had me gripping the kids hands to make sure they stayed close to us.

You’ll climb almost 700 feet up as you make your way 1.7 miles to the Arch. And then 1.7 miles back down – which is easier but you still hit a few spots that are nerve wracking with kids. All that aside, we still recommend going! When you get to the arch there is a nice area where you can sit and have a snack and the kids can safely run around and explore (not on the arch but overlooking it).

Capitol Gorge Trail

We had heard this was a good trail to do but we weren’t prepared for the amazing views and drive to get there! It is in the park but you actually leave the main road and drive on a dirt road to get back to the trailhead. It is tight drive but popular so the road is well defined. Just keep an eye on the weather since you DON’T want to be driving on here if it is raining since it can get flooded.

Once you come to the trailhead you walk on a dried up riverbed with huge gorges on each side of you. It is so cool! Once you get to the end of the trail (about 1 mile in) you can choose to walk up the mountain to see the Tanks – these are water pools at the top of the cliff. Honestly it isn’t worth it to climb up there to see the tanks but it is worth it just to have the fun of climbing up the mountain.

You will also see historic inscriptions on the canyon walls that are over a hundred years old and if you are walking back around sunset you may end up with bats flying around your hat as you walk back to your car through the canyon walls. It was one of those cool yet scary situations – I didn’t want a bat to get caught in my hair!

Hickman Bridge

This is a very popular hike and for good reason. The views are amazing as you are hiking to the bridge. It is about a 1.8 mile hike roundtrip with an elevation gain of 400 feet.

Once you reach the bridge you can walk up and behind it or view it from the bottom. It is a very cool natural structure and you just hope when you are there isn’t the day it crumbles and falls!

We found an amazing BLM location that meant we were 6 miles from the park entrance and a short distance from the main road (This is important to us with our big rig since we don’t want to get a situation we can’t get out of) and it was FREE camping ! We even ended up having good enough 3G Verizon coverage that we could work from the RV.

This allowed us to stay longer then we thought we were going to. Getting in was a little stressful since there were a lot of rocks and divots – but as long as we took it slow we were OK.

We would recommend it for a place to stay on your Utah road trip. The location was great and the views were beautiful too! This is the exact location .

Camping Near Capitol Reef National Park

Next to the Gifford House is the Fruita Campground. They have 64 RV/tent sites along with 7 walk-up tent sites. There are no hookups at this campground but they do have a potable water fill as well as a dump station in the campground.

Plus you are in the park which would be awesome. They also have apple picking here if you come in season. Here are some great apple picking tips .

If you don’t mind driving in to the National Park, Flying U Country Store & RV Park is located in Joseph, Utah about 90 minutes from the park entrance.

Hotel Options Near Capitol Reef National Park

If you’re looking for a hotel stay when visiting Capitol Reef, there are several resorts just up the road. Capitol Reef Resort is just a few more miles up the road and offers nice rooms, pools and other amenities.

Town of Torrey

About 10 miles up the road and 4 miles from the boondocking site is the small town of Torrey. They do offer more hotels, RV parks, restaurants and shopping but just know it is a very small town.

Where to Eat Near Capitol Reef National Park

We stopped for ice cream at Slackers in Torrey and also had dinner at the pizza place: Red Cliff Restaurant. It is a small dining room but the pizza and service was great and if it is warm outside they had a nice patio area!

You can also get ice cream cups in the the National Park at the Gifford House and yummy apple pie!!

Capital Reef and Goblin Valley were definitely our favorite places to visit on our Utah road trip. I don’t know if it was because they were less busy, the openness, the amazing views, the fun hikes, or all of the above!

Bryce Canyon National Park

The cool thing about the Utah National Parks is that they are all unique in their own way. None of the parks feel like each other and they all have their own unique flair. When you come into Bryce Canyon National Park your first stop is the Visitor Center.

We like to make that our first stop so we can ask the rangers what they recommend. They know the park the best and we have always been happy with the suggestions they have made.

However, if you want to take a tour with a local guide, check out this 3-hour Sightseeing Tour.  Another tour option if you are staying in the Salt Lake City area is this Private Bryce Canyon National Park Tour . A third great option if you are staying in the Las Vegas area is this tour that includes both Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park .

Also note when you are in Bryce they highly recommend you take the shuttle service vs. driving your car. There is very limited parking throughout the park and the shuttle runs consistently. We don’t normally like to go this route since with kids we like having immediate access to our car if we need it.

But the first day there we did do the shuttle and it worked out great. The next time there we drove our car and had no problem finding parking. We were there in October which is off season – so my guess is parking is out of control during the busy season and the shuttle would make sense.

Best Hikes in Bryce National Park

Navajo loop trail/queens garden trail.

This was definitely our favorite hike in Bryce and the one the ranger recommended. She actually recommend that we do “Wall Street” first and walk down there vs. walking up. This was a great suggestion and made the hike that much better for our family.

The people walking up looked exhausted!! Wall Street is a combination of switch backs that takes you down into the canyon. It was such a fun trail. We started at Sunset Point (you can start from either end of the trail).

Once in the canyon you are walking among the beautiful hoo doo’s that are such crazy and cool looking rock formations they almost don’t seem real. You also walk through holes in the formations and gradually make your way back up. I say gradually but it is definitely a tiring hike on the way up. Luckily the views are great and there are multiple places you can stop to take a breather or grab a quick picture.

For more information on this combo hike click here.

Mossy Cave Waterfall

This is a short hike at less then 1 mile roundtrip and is actually located at a location where you have to leave the main national park and go a few miles to get to the trailhead. For that reason it is less busy but totally worth the trip.

You hike to a fork where you can either go view the waterfall or the cave. You can easily do both and we definitely recommend that. The waterfall is beautiful and the cave was really cool!

View Points

You can drive the whole road of the park and make spots at the pullouts along the way for a variety of different views and observation points. Even though we did start to feel like they all were really similar and we didn’t really need to stop at every pull out. The one we do recommend is: Inspiration Point.

It is a short hike straight up the hill to get to the point but the views are worth it and it is also a great place to catch a sunset! The other place is Sunset Point which gives you another amazing view of the hoodoos or Sunrise point on the other side. They really are a sight to see. Bryce was spectacular with all of its sandstone cliffs and unique structures.

RV/Camping Near Bryce National Park

Bryce Canyon has 2 campgrounds right in the park. The North Campground has 99 sites in a mix of RV and tent sites with no hookups. There is a General Store in the area that offers laundry, showers, snacks and supplies.

There is also Sunset Campground, which is a mile and a half further into the park and consists of 100 sites. Again, no hookups at this campground either.

For more information on camping in Bryce Canyon click here.

We did not stay at one of these but instead stayed in Panguitch which was about a 30 minute drive from Bryce on Hwy 89: Paradise RV Park . We stayed for 2 reasons. 1 there were full hookups and after boondocking with no hook ups for over a week we were ready for hookups and 2 it was only $100 for the whole week! That is really cheap for an RV park. To get this price we did use our Passport America card again.

The town of Panguitch has a few restaurants, grocery stores, etc. It is by no means large but had what we needed.

Both Circleville RV Park and Duck Creek Village RV are about an hour from the National Park if you don’t mind driving in a bit.

Hotel Options Near Bryce National Park

The town of Bryce is located right outside the entrance and there are plenty of hotels and restaurants to chose from. The one that stuck out to us was Ruby’s Inn which is a hotel, RV resort, and campground.

It looked like they also offered activities like horseback riding, mountain biking and ATVing. I’m not sure who Ruby is, but she pretty much has the town of Bryce locked down!

Where to Eat Near Bryce National Park

We stopped for a quick dinner at the Canyon Diner (which is also part of Ruby’s conglomerate), which is a cafeteria style fast food joint. The food was OK but it offered a quick dinner for a reasonable price, so that worked for us!

Our top recommendation and where you can get great pizza at an amazing price is The Pizza Place in Tropic. One of the lady’s who worked at a gift shop in Bryce told us about it and we were so glad she did. The pizza was yummy and the price was right (more like normal small town prices vs. National Park town prices).

We did have to drive about 15 minutes from the park on Hwy 12 and if you blink you will drive right through the town. But we would definitely go back and highly recommend it.

Next time we come through Bryce I really want to stay in the National Park. The park has a great walking/biking trail and we liked the vibe inside the park. It would be fun to stay at the campground and be able to ride our bikes to the trail, visitor center, restaurants, etc. in the park.

Zion National Park

The last stop on the Utah road trip is  Zion National Park in southern Utah. We actually visited from the same campground that we stayed at for Bryce – because like I mentioned it was $100 for a week for full hookups! That meant we had to drive an hour to get there but it was a pretty easy drive and the campgrounds we found around Zion were expensive! And everything we found looked like there weren’t really many boondocking options especially for a large rig like ours (39 feet).

This meant when we got there we entered through the tunnel. This tunnel is no joke! It is about a mile long and feels like it goes on forever as you drive through the mountain. Quite an entrance!

We have heard it can get really back up since they only let one way go at a time. Luckily we only had to wait about 15 minutes.

For more information on the tunnel including vehicle restrictions and specifics on the special permit, please click here.

Once in we kind of got the feel that we were at Disney World. There were signs all over the place, LOTS of people, and only a shuttle service – so you didn’t even have the option to drive your car in the park. I have mixed feelings about the setup. I am glad so many people are visiting but we were definitely missing the more relaxed feel of Capitol Reef!

If you want to book a tour that includes both Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, check out this option!

Best Hikes in Zion National Park

The narrows.

The first thing we did was meet up with Arika from Zion Adventure Photog! They have a photography company where they will take your family pictures as you explore part of the park. How cool is that?! We met Arika and took the shuttle to the famous Narrows Zion hike that takes you in the water as you walk through the gorge with super high walls on each side.

It was cold but so fun to do this hike and have Arika capture it for us. She took amazing pictures and we love having family pictures that show us out doing what we love to do! Arika was great with the kids and I think the pictures do an amazing job of telling how great she was and how much fun we had.

If you are in Zion you should definitely plan on doing the Narrows. We love unique hikes and this is one of them. If you want you can rent water shoes and wet suits from a location outside of the park.

The nice thing about the Narrows is you can go in and hike as far as you want and turn around. You don’t have to hike the whole thing – which is 16 miles and you need a permit to do it. You walk on the Riverside Walk for one mile from the Temple of Sinawava before you get to the Virginia River and start to walk in the water. As you can see this hike is going to take some preparing but it is worth it.

We did it in our Keens with nice picture clothes on 🙂 and brought a backpack with a change of clothes for when we were done. Being that we went in October it was COLD but I have heard no matter when you go the water is cold but it would obviously be warmer if the temperate was in the 90’s and not the 60’s. I have also of people going in the winter and loving it (with wet suits on).

Learn more about the Narrows hike here.

Book your own sessions with Arika from Zion Adventure Photog !

Emerald Pools

The second hike we did – on a different day was the Emerald Pools hike. This hike was OK we didn’t like that the views weren’t that good on the hike. There are 3 pools, Lower Emerald Pool, Middle Emerald Pool and Upper Emerald Pool that are fed from the Virgin River.

These are 3 separate hikes, but can be done all at the same time. It is about 3 miles round trip.

It was fun when we got up to the top pool and we really liked the part where you walk under the wall that has water falling down from it! Before this hike we had fun walking around the grounds by the Zion Lodge. It had a large grassy area, a cafe on the porch (that sold beer) and other things :). It was really cool that they had a place like this in the middle of the park!

For more information on hiking in Zion, including maps, check out their website . One of the hikes I know we want to come back and do when the kids is older is Angels Landing – it looks amazing but not for young kids!

I also think we need more days in Zion to really explore the park. We will be back!

Camping Near Zion National Park

Like I mentioned we stayed at the Paradise RV Park which was about 1 hour away. If you are looking for camping/RVing closer to the park there were a few options but like I had mentioned they are more on expensive side. There is also camping at the campgrounds inside the National Park.

Learn more about lodging options here .

If you want to splurge a bit, Glampers Inn RV Park is only about 30 minutes from the National Park in Hurricane, Utah and offers a really cool atmosphere and fun amenities.

Hotels Near Zion National Park

If you are looking for a hotel you would want to look into the city of Springdale . It is literally right outside of the park – like you could walk into the park from the city. The main road has a variety of hotels where you could stay.

Where To Eat Zion National Park

The city of Springdale had a lot of really cool restaurants but was also very busy. Instead of waiting for 30 minutes for a table we opted for the Subway. Which worked out great for us! If you want more of a restaurant experience Springdale will have you covered.

If you want to keep exploring Southern Utah also check out the town of Mount Carmel for some more great outdoor activities and hikes.

We had an amazing time visiting Utah and all of the National Parks. My sister and her family enjoyed driving down the east side of the state and didn’t see as many of the National Parks but really enjoyed the remoteness of that part of Utah too.

There are also a few other places we would like to come back to explore: Salt Lake City, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Monument Valley.

Update : Check out our post on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and our video below on Monument Valley!

Here is our video of when we got to go back to Monument Valley:

The most challenging part for us while being in Utah was getting beer and wine! Utah has a law that they can only sell beer that has a 3.5% alcohol content. But still costs the same . . . Plus you can’t buy it at the grocery store so you have to find a liquor store.

If you like to have your beer and wine be sure you stock up before you head into the state!

If you haven’t yet we highly recommend taking a road-trip through Utah you could literally spend months exploring this park. But even if you only have a 2 weeks you could still see a lot of this amazing state!

Other places to visit in Utah:

We have now visited Grand Staircase-Escalante and it was awesome! You can take one of the most scenic byways in the US to get here – Hwy 12. We did it with our RV – it was scary at times but also totally doable!

Lake Powell, Page, Arizona , Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon are just a few ways that you can continue your road trip in and beyond Utah. Including the gorgeous Antelope Canyon.

Being able to see Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Arches and Zion National Park in the Colorado Plateau all in one trip is simply amazing and makes it one of the best United State road trips.

Rent an RV ! Utah is a super RV friendly state. Click here to learn more about renting an RV in Utah . Note – if you do rent a larger RV you may also want to get a rental car so you can get to some of the harder to reach hikes and locations.

Any other stops you’d recommend for a Utah road trip? What is your favorite part? If you want to continue your road trip head down to Las Vegas – always a fun spot!! Or go north for all the fun things to do in Salt Lake City !

To learn more about us, Start Here !

We can definitely see how Utah made this list of Best Us Family Vacations !

Take a look at all of our Utah National Parks posts: 

11 Utah Mountain Biking Trails Youll Want To Check Out

7 Arches National Park Hikes You Don’t Want To Miss

Best Hikes In Canyonlands National Park [Maps Included]

8 Of The Best Hikes In Capitol Reef National Park

Top 11 Awesome Things To Do in Bryce Canyon National Park

15 Awesome Things To Do In Zion National Park [Plus Where To Stay]

12 Amazing Things To Do In Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

12 Epic Things To Do In Page, AZ

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59 thoughts on “Utah National Parks Road Trip: All 5 Parks & More [Map Included]”

This reminds me of our first RV trip with our young kids. We absolutely love Utah!! What time of the year did you visit?

We visited in October. It was a great time to visit. Not to hot and not to cold! Perfect weather for hiking.

I’m going to be honest….I didn’t realize Utah was so beautiful. Wow, those parks are terrific. Very nice pics and blog too.

Thank you! It really is a beautiful state!

Wow! This seems to be a bucket list road-trip! So many impressive sights to discover! Beautiful pictures!

It really was a bucket list trip and doing them all in one road trip lets you see how different each one is even though they are in generally the same area.

We have been wanting to do more US and stateside travel including road tripping to National Parks. Utah is high on the list. I really can’t wait to actually start going and seeing them! I just got my US National Parks passport too! I need to start filling it up with stamps!

Sounds cool! You’ll love Utah and the other US National Parks. Get those stamps! 🙂

We loved Utah and are going back this summer! If you make it back to Moab, we recommend staying at ACT Campgrounds. Also, Dinosaur Monument is a little out of the way, but it is worth the trip. Happy Travels!

Thank you for the suggestions because I know we’ll be back!

Thank goodness for this!! Bookmarked this for my national parks roadtrip in 2018. Sharing your map solves half of my problems. Thank you!!!

Awesome! Glad you found the map useful!

To be honest hiking, biking and climbing are not things I do regularly. I keep telling myself to add a little of those activities, but it has not come to pass as yet. That being said this article has inspired me a lot. All three appear to be fun activities to have with your family or friends. The selection you have made are all worth the trip, but I personally like Zion National Park.

Utah definitely inspires to do those outdoor activities even if you normally don’t do them. Yes, Zion is amazing!

I am really hoping that I can make it out to Utah and check out some parks. I have a friend out that way and we have been talking about it. Very nice and detailed information too. Will have to keep and share.

It is an amazing state!

Utah is so gifted with such amazing national parks. A lot of these I’ve missed the last time I went way back in 2007. Arches is definitely on my list.

The parks are all so cool! Arches was really neat and we loved Moab!

This is epic, thanks for highlighting the route 🙂 We briefly drove through Utah last year though really didn’t have much time – I decided that Arches was the park I wanted to visit only having time to take in one – and it was spectacular! Loved it! I’m only disappointed that we didn’t spend more time in Utah to take in the rest. Next time!

You could spend months in Utah exploring everything it has to offer!

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Can I ask how old your youngest was at the time of your visit? We have 4 kids and I’m wondering if we should wait to do this trip when everyone enjoys the hiking. My youngest is turning 4.

Our youngest was 4 at the time. He did great on the hikes we went on, which most of them weren’t too long (3 miles or less). We also would bring our Ergo backpack carrier, so he could jump in there when he got tired.

I didn’t know that Moab was the base of two of the five national parks. My family is thinking of going to Moab this summer for a weekend of fun. I’m not quite sure what we could do there with four kids. I think I’m going to have to do some research on tours and other fun things we can experience there.

Moab is an amazing place and there is a lot to do there! Enjoy!

Great list! Zion and Canyonlands are my favorites, Zion for the hiking and climbing, Canyonlands for the far-reaching vistas and solitude. What dramatic scenery! Thanks for the info.

Thanks for checking it out. Those parks are excellent!

Thanks for such a great detailed post! We visited some of these parks last year with our kids and we were blown away by the beauty of the national parks in the USA. Our only regret was not allowing more time to explore more of them – we missed Arches and Capital Reef! Did your kids join any of the Junior Ranger Programs? We discovered these at the second park we visited and our kids loved completing the activities and collecting the Junior Ranger Badges. It also provided extra motivation to complete some of the hikes!

You’re spot on with not having enough time for these parks because we felt the same way. We didn’t do the Junior Ranger programs here because of not having enough time. There’s always next time!

What a great list! While I’m planning a child-free tent trip to these places, I still found your post helpful. I’m so excited to see these beautiful sights!

Awesome! Enjoy your trip!

We’re headed down to Zion National Park this summer and it looks like the Grand Canyon is just a couple of hours away https://www.zionponderosa.com/blog/2018/04/national-parks-and-monuments-near-zion/ I had no idea there were so many parks around. I may try Bryce Canyon instead- it’s tough trying to decide after reading your post!

Yeah, there are a ton of great places in a relatively close proximity. To be honest, you can’t go wrong with any of them! Enjoy your trip!

This is place is in my bucket list for some time. And finally I am planning 5 days trip to 5 National-parks in September. I am not going to hike much as we have 18 months old with us. Do you suggest some view points that don’t need much hike and How about he tour trips of national park. Lastly will it be good idea to visit Utah with 18months old?

There are plenty of spots to pull off and take in the view without having to hike. Bryce has several great lookouts close to the parking lots and Zion has a shuttle bus that takes you to the different locations throughout the park.

Going with an 18 month old should be just fine. We always used an Ergobaby backpack carrier ( https://amzn.to/2LzKWsC ) to carry our kids on hikes and it worked our really well. The Ergo is comfortable and versatile for kids of all ages and sizes. Hope that helps!

Planning a 12 trip the last week of Sept. Was planning with bf…but Now I’m alone. *cry* but I’m still gonna do my trip. Last year I went to Canada and Whitewater rafted for the first time. (I’m 63) My problem is…I have a small chihuahua and I’ve heard no dogs allowed in parks. Or at least…only a FEW trails. I was wondering if you knew if I could put my dog in her doggy back pack. Did you happen to see any dogs? It’s bad enough I have to do this wonderful trip alone…I’d hate not being able to bring my pup!

Unfortunately, most US Parks are a no dog policy which is unfortunate. Good for you for still planning on taking the trip. You’ll have a great time!

What an awesome blog post Craig and Bryanna, we spent several months visiting Bryce, Zion and The Arches this summer and loved every second of it. Bryce was our favorite possibly because we visited it in April when there was no-one around so we were able to get around the park easy enough and enjoy all the hikes that Bryce has to offer.

I’ll bookmark this post for another trip for sure.

Thanks! It is such a cool area!

So if you had to pick one park to go see due to not having an rv, which one would you choose? We have 4 kids 7 to 13. We are moderately active. I coach rec sports, husband trims trees for work, and the kids well are in sports that I coach football & basketball. They have played soccer but not really my thing to coach. haha. If you can’t pick one, which top two would you recommend.

That would be hard :). You could do Arches and Canyonlands from the same location and if you like the idea of things to do outside of the National Parks then Moab is a good area. We really enjoyed Capitol Reef and Goblin Valley but you are kind of out in the middle of nowhere. You could do Zion and Bryce from the same location as well. If you like more people and a busier feel Zion will definitely give you that! Hope that helps!

Thank you for sharing your blog about your Utah Parks trip. My wife and I plan on visiting the parks next fall beginning the 1st of October. We will use your suggestions to plan our route. Thanks again!

That’s awesome! Have a great trip!

Loved reading your blog! We’re planning a 10 day road trip to Utah in April (over Easter) and thinking of renting an RV (did a similar trip to California a few years back and loved it). How accessible are the roads in the National Parks with an RV? We’re a little nervous about getting around the parks and parking, as we won’t have a separate vehicle. I’m aware that we may have to ride a shuttle in Zion and Bryce? What about the other parks?

Yes, Bryce and Zion you’ll park in the designated parking lots (all which have over sized vehicle parking) and shuttle throughout the park. As for Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands, you shouldn’t have a problem getting an RV in and throughout the park (large tour buses drive throughout the park). As long as the RV you rent isn’t too big (I’d say stay at or under 32′). That said, it’s a very popular area and parking lots fill quickly during busy times. Check their website for info on that. Have a great trip!

Utah is my absolute favorite state – so beautiful! I’d highly recommend hiking Peek-a-Boo and Spooky slot canyons when you go back. Go up Peek-a-Boo and return via Spooky. There are a few spots in Peek-a-Boo where the kids will need a boost up (my hubby hauled my short body up!). And there’s one tough spot in Spooky – read up on that one. But really – do it. Just do it, if you haven’t already. It’s my fave hike ever!

We’ll be heading back there soon, so I’ve added your suggestion to our list. Thank you!

Thank you for taking the time to write this blog. I’ll be traveling there this April and plan on following your suggestions.

Awesome! Have a great trip!

We’d love to visit the parks in Utah, but my hiking ability is very limited due to bad knees. It doesn’t seem as if I’d be able to really see much without hiking after reading about the things to do and see. Are there any Jeep trips or alternative ways of seeing the arches and beautiful scenery?

Yes there are! There are a variety of tours that are offered through the National Parks. Plus most of them you can drive to viewpoints and then get out and walk a few hundred feet to a beautiful lookout!

By some of the comments, I assume it is not feasible to do this via automobile and staying in hotels, no camping (tent or RV).

You can totally do it with a car and hotels! Under each section we give recommended hotels. There isn’t much around Goblin Valley but you could do that as a one day stop between Moab and Capitol Reef.

Wonderful Info for Utah road trip and details included. However I have two- three questions: 1- how many days was your trip? 2- How much did you spend on the trip- overall a rough amount? 3- Is it okay to go during 4th July weekend or it would be over crowded at parks and expensive for hotels?

Hi! We have a list at the bottom of the post of how many days we recommend. We actually didn’t spend much since hiking is free :)! It would most likely be crowded on July 4th . . .

This is a great plethora of information for Our trip next summer!!! We are thinking of renting an RV, but I am wondering if you ever wished you had a small car for the daily drives into the park? Or did you drive the rv into the parks? Thank you!

We have always had a car with us. But you see RV’s in the park all the time! If you aren’t going to rent a car I would recommend getting a small RV – 25 feet or under so you can easily park in the lots at the National Parks.

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RV ROAD TRIP 2020: UTAH NATIONAL PARKS + COLORADO, ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO

Posted by girlinchief | Mar 14, 2021 | Featured Post , Travel | 0 |

The year 2020 will be etched in all our memories for obvious reasons. For us, it’s also the year V and I went on an epic road trip where we explored nine US national parks across Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. This was our first ever RV road trip in the USA and we came back as huge fans of RV travel.

Why We Chose an RV for Our Road Trip

We did our first ever RV/campervan road trip, honeymooning in New Zealand back in 2011. At that point, we had no idea that RV travel or van life as it is popularly known, would become such a big craze that it is now. All these years of living in the US, we kept thinking about RVing across North America but never really got to doing it. Remembering our experience in New Zealand (we were novices then), we thought, “Nah, let’s just go with the usual car and hotel thing.”

Then COVID hit. All of a sudden, getting out of Dallas, with a house on wheels started to sound really good. There is no doubt that RVing is one of the easiest and safest ways to travel right now. No crowded planes or questionable hotel rooms required – an RV gives you the freedom to explore and the peace of mind of having your own space. Also, IMO, it is the best way to enjoy the beauty of the United States – its national parks.

Choosing our RV Road Trip Destination

When the opportunity came up for me to plan our RV road trip, I was super excited. I immediately started looking up the best road trip destinations, the best places to explore keeping in mind we had only 12 days in total (including driving from and back to Dallas).

One thing we knew for sure was that whatever route we chose, our trip would be centered around national parks and not cities. We had a couple of strong contenders in terms of destinations, but we kept coming back to Utah national parks and Arizona (Grand Canyon National Park, Horseshoe Bend etc.), since these were places we’d been wanting to explore for quite sometime. As with all our travels, I started planning our route on Google Maps and decided that I wanted us to do a combined Utah National Parks Road Trip and National Parks in Arizona and New Mexico . This USA road trip also includes some time in Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park. When I mapped everything out, I was happy to learn that it would be busy but doable in 12 days.

Renting an RV for our RV Road Trip

I searched several sites and ultimately decided to rent our RV on Outdoorsy. Outdoorsy is similar to Airbnb, except it’s for RV rentals. What that essentially means is that on Outdoorsy, you rent directly from RV owners.

If you’re looking to rent an RV, this is the best way to go. You can use this link for $50 off your RV rental .

How to Rent an RV on Outdoorsy

We rented our RV on Outdoorsy and it was an easy and seamless process. Here’s how it goes:

• Create an account on Outdoorsy.
• Search for any RV by choosing a pickup location (where will your adventure start?) and entering the pickup date and drop off date (just like a hotel booking).
• Customize your search by selecting how many people you need the RV to sleep, price and vehicle type (Our RV was a Class C Motorhome, sleep 6, but it was perfect for us two). You can also customize your search by looking for RVs that include delivery as well as have the instabook option. Instabook just means being able to book the RV without prior approval from the owner.
• Once you find the RV you want, send a message to the RV owner with any questions you may have such as does the RV rental come with any extras like bedding, pots and pans? Make sure to ask if they have all the essentials you’ll need. The RV we rented didn’t have any, so it took us several hours to gather the items we needed and then load the RV. If you are starting your RV trip away from home, it might be helpful if the RV includes some basic things you’ll need.
• Once you have talked to the owner and agreed to everything, the owner will then approve your booking which gives you the green light to reserve the RV and pay the deposit.
• Once everything is clear, you can go ahead and pick up your RV or the owner can deliver it to you, whatever is agreed upon.
• During pickup/delivery, the RV owner will give you a thorough tour of the RV and answer any questions you may have.

When Did We Take This RV Road Trip

We took this RV Road trip during the first week of October, 2020.

What was the Weather Like?

Our RV road trip included five states in total: Texas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. The weather was perfect for the kind of things we wanted to do on this trip – mainly exploring national parks and hiking. The weather was typical of a desert. The afternoons were warm with temperature ranging from early 70s to early 80s. The mornings and nights were cold with temperature ranging from early 50s to late 30s. I think this was the perfect time for an RV road trip in this part of the USA. Any other time of the year would be either too hot or too cold.

Planning an RV Road Trip

• I spent weeks watching YouTube videos, reading blogs about RV trips and researching everything we needed to know about RVs and going on an RV trip.
• I booked an RV on Outdoorsy and asked all the necessary questions to make sure we had everything we needed.
• I packed enough clothes for 12 days. Because of the nature of this trip, our clothing mostly included active wear.
• I made a rough itinerary and wrote down all the sites that I wanted us to visit and the hikes we would do.
• I researched RV parks, but I did not book any ahead of time because I wasn’t sure where we would end up on each day. I had a flexible itinerary meaning all the stops I wanted us to make were noted, however where we were going to park and sleep was left blank. This worked well in our favor, however it is recommended to book busy RV Parks ahead of time especially during the holidays and peak season as they fill up very quickly. Even though this was not really peak season for Utah and other states we visited, we found RV parks were mostly reserved. I guess that’s because RVing is really popular right now owing to COVID-19.
• I also planned a rough menu for all our meals for 12 days. This helped me decide on things I wanted to prepare beforehand and carry with us as well as our grocery shopping. Our RV had a big enough fridge and freezer so we stocked well. Because of COVID, eating out was not in our plan.
• We loaded up the RV and headed out to explore!

Things to Note when Planning an RV Road Trip to National Parks

• You have to pay to enter every national park so make sure you purchase an Annual National Parks Pass (America the Beautiful Passes) at the first national park you visit. It cost $80 and is an awesome deal if you plan to visit more than one national park. It is valid for a whole year from the date of purchase. We bought one on this trip and will be able to use it until October 2021.
• The National Parks Pass does not apply to state parks. You will need to pay a separate fee to enter which costs between $10 to $20 per vehicle.
• When you get to an RV park late at night and the front desk is closed, you will find a notice board at the entry that lists all the open RV spots and the cost. Each spot will have an envelope which contains a map, Wi-Fi information and all the details you need to do. All you need to do is pick an RV parking spot, grab the corresponding envelope and go park there. In the morning when the office opens, you can go in and pay.
• There are some apps that we used for looking up RV sites while on the go – RV Parky , Campendium , Free Campsites and of course the Search on Google Maps.
• If you’re not able to find an RV park reservation, don’t fret. There are always free camping options for RVs AKA boondocking or dry camping. These are either on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land or dispersed camping locations. Essentially, “dispersed camping” is camping outside of a designated campground. This can mean driving up a forest access road to a pullout where you can park your RV. It can also mean backpacking into the mountains and finding a flat spot to pitch your tent. The important thing to bear in mind here is that you will need to be completely contained in your RV since you’ll not get any kind of hook-ups or amenities. So if you decide to boondock a night, make sure your RV has enough water for you to survive, your grey/black water tanks are not full, and you have everything you might need. During our 12-day RV road trip, we managed to get RV park reservations only four times. But, dispersed camping quickly became our favorite way to camp overnight, specifically because it involved less preparation. I didn’t have to scour  recreation.gov  or other apps for reservations, pay various fees to hold my spot, call campgrounds first thing in the morning to ask about availability. But it’s important to be prepared both from a safety and comfort standpoint.

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico

This road trip was a mix of both a Utah National Parks road trip and some parts of the Southwest because we road tripped through Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and visited all the National Parks in Utah.

Below is a detailed day by day itinerary which includes what we did on each day, where we drove from and to as well as the distance, drive time and RV park/boondocking spot we stayed at.

State abbreviations to note:

• Texas – TX
• New Mexico – NM
• Colorado – CO
• Utah – UT
• Arizona – AZ

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 0

TO DO – RV lesson 101 from the owner and load up the RV

When booking our RV from Outdoorsy, I asked the RV owner if she offered drop off and pickup, and she agreed to do so for $100 extra.

I also asked her if she would be kind enough to drop off the RV the night before so that we could load it up at no extra charge, and she agreed. Yay!

This was perfect because we spent all evening packing and loading up the RV. This helped tremendously, especially as we had to load the RV with all our clothes, and food and essentials that we would need for our Utah National Parks RV road trip.

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 1

TO DO – Finished loading up the RV and hit the road

Drive – Dallas to Amarillo

Distance/Drive Time – 341 miles / 5.5 – 6 hours

RV Park – Boondocked at Amarillo Travel Information Center

RV Park Cost – Free

We woke up very early this morning and quickly loaded up the RV with the last things we needed. It took a little longer than we expected, and we ended up leaving the house a little later than I hoped. 

We were so excited to be in the RV. The drive was pretty comfortable. For the first night, we boondocked at the Amarillo Travel Information Center.

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 2

Drive – Amarillo, TX to Bayfield, CO

Distance / Drive Time – 477 miles / 8 hours

RV Park – Bayfield RV Park, Bayfield CO (booked on the way)

RV Park Cost – $65 (approx.) / night

We got to Bayfield RV Park pretty late in the evening. We found the board that listed which RV sites were still available. We grabbed an envelope that included a map, Wi-Fi password and whatever important things we needed to know. We then drove to the RV spot we picked and parked. My husband hooked up the RV and we were ready to have dinner and enjoy our night in the RV.

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 3

TO DO – Durango, CO and MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, CO

DRIVE 1 – BAYFIELD, CO TO DURANGO, CO

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 20 MILES / 30 MINUTES

DRIVE 2 – DURANGO, CO – MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, CO

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 36 MILES / 40 MINUTES – 1 HOUR

DRIVE 3 – MESA VERDE, CO – MOAB, UT

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 124 MILES / 2.5 – 3 HOURS

RV PARK – MOAB VALLEY RV RESORT, MOAB UT

RV PARK COST – $48 APPROX / NIGHT

The next morning, after breakfast and the usual RV chores like emptying/filling tanks, we walked around the RV park before getting back on the road.

We’d been to Colorado before but it was our first time in this area of ‘the colorful state’. We decided to spend some time exploring the small town of Durango. This is where the famous 19th-century Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad steam train starts from. We did not do this train ride this time, but it’s definitely on our travel to-do list.

After strolling though the cute historic district of Durango, we headed to our first national park on this RV trip – Mesa Verde National Park. This national park was not originally on our list, but being BIG national park fans, we didn’t want to miss it especially since we were so close. Plus, my husband is a huge history + architecture buff and Mesa Verde National Park really got him interested.

I love the diversity of the US National Parks. Some parks draw visitors because of their exquisite natural beauty. Mesa Verde National Park’s   draws aren’t towering waterfalls or prime wildlife viewing. So what are the best things to do in Mesa Verde National Park? Mesa Verde is a great place to hike and enjoy nature but the park’s allure is the nearly thousand-year-old cliff dwellings that make up the United States’ largest archaeological preserve. The park is known for its well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. This park can be easily explored while driving the loop roads and stopping at the various overlooks. The most popular Cliff Palace trail can be done with a guided tour only (to protect the dwellings). Although the cliff dwellings were closed for the season (October through early April), overlooks offer spectacular views, and there is still plenty to see and do in the park.

We picked a park map from the ticket booth and decided to drive the six-mile Mesa Top Loop Road that winds past archaeological sites and overlooks, including Sun Point Overlook with panoramic canyon views.

The highlight of the drive for us was our stop at Sun Temple which gave us an incredible view of Cliff Palace. 

After an awesome day exploring Mesa Verde, we started driving toward Moab, UT – to start our mega RV trip to Utah’s Mighty Five. What do I say about this gorgeous state – the moment we entered Utah, we were greeted by stunning views of red rock canyons dipped in golden sunset hour light.

We parked our RV safely on the side of the road for a tea break while watching the glorious sunset – you get to experience this only while road tripping in an RV.

We checked into our RV park quite late at night, had a quick dinner and went off to sleep. Our plan was to enter Arches National Park before sunrise – to escape the crowds and of course, catch the sunrise.

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 4

TO DO – ARCHES NATIONAL PARK + CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

DRIVE 1 – MOAB VALLEY RV RESORT – ARCHES NATIONAL PARK VISITOR CENTER

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 3 MILES / 10 MINUTES

DRIVE 2 – ARCHES – CANYONLANDS (ISLAND IN THE SKY)

DISTANCE/DRIVE – 27 MILES / 30 MINUTES

DRIVE 3 – CANYONLANDS – HANKSVILLE, UT

DISTANCE/DRIVE – 117 MILES / 2 – 2.5 HOURS

RV PARK – DUKE’S SLICKROCK CAMPGROUND AND RV PARK, HANKSVILLE, UT

RV PARK COST – $70 APPROX / NIGHT

Like I said, our plan for this day was to reach Arches National Park before sunrise. We woke up in the wee hours of the morning and simply drove to the Arches Visitor Center (4 am to be precise). Because we had not hooked up our RV the previous night, we could simply wake up and drive without wasting any time. Fortunately, our RV park was just a 10-minute drive to the Arches visitor center. Our plan was to park our RV at the visitor center, sleep in for some more time if we felt the need, get up, get ready, have our morning tea and then, enter the park. So, that’s what we did.

You know what they say – The treasures are left where most aren’t brave enough to go or too early for most of us to get up for. This is absolutely true for Arches National Park. The beauty of the red sandstone arches at sunrise is absolutely breathtaking. In fact, the views in all the Utah National Parks are meant to be best experienced either at sunrise or sunset. When the sun is overhead, it gets too hot and everything just turns hazy.

Have you ever been to a place where around every corner you are like “OMG LOOK! Woaaaaaah. It’s so pretty!” . That was Arches National Park for us. Out of the five national parks V and I visited in Utah, we LOVED Arches National Park the most! It was simply breathtaking! Not to say the other national parks weren’t, however, it was just… different. Everything seemed more epic in Arches and the sunrise was BEAUTIFUL.

We spent half a day at Arches National Park hiking different trails as well as enjoying the scenic drive. Our favorite was of course the Delicate Arch hike. I will do a separate post on the best hikes in Arches National Park.

Arches National Park has a very scenic drive, and we could see the beautiful rock formations as we drove through in our RV. We drove up to each trail we wanted to hike, parked our RV, hopped out and explored.

After spending the first half of our day at Arches, we headed toward Canyonlands National Park. We did not plan on hiking a lot in Canyonlands. Canyonlands is the largest national park in Utah and is undeniably beautiful. The park offers beautiful views that allow you to see for miles . Island in the Sky is the district that is easiest to access and is the most visited district. It has beautiful pull-off spots and hiking trails that bring you to breathtaking views. Once we entered the park, it was time to explore!

Like always, we grabbed a park map from the visitor center, and started following the directions for the various overlooks marked. If you are looking to get a few good hikes in at Island in the Sky, I recommend allocating 1 day in Canyonlands National Park. But if you are looking to simply drive around and see everything that is easily accessible, you only really need a couple of hours. To be honest, this national park is not impressive midday especially if you already explored Arches National Park, but I imagine it would be a sight to see during the golden hour!

Nevertheless, we did see quite a few magnificent canyons and geographical features. Some of our favorite stops were the Shafer Canyon Overlook and Grand View Point.

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 5

TO DO – FRUITA CAMPGROUND AND CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK + SCENIC HIGHWAY 12 AND DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST

DRIVE 1 – HANKSVILLE, UT – FRUITA CAMPGROUND, UT/CAPITOL REEF

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 99 MILES / 1.5 – 2 HOURS

DRIVE 2 – CAPITOL REEF – TOM’S BEST SPRING IN DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 117 MILES / 2.5 HOURS

RV PARK – BOONDOCKED AT TOM’S BEST SPRING IN DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST (DISPERSED CAMPING NEAR BRYCE CANYON)

RV PARK COST – FREE

After all that hiking in Arches National Park the previous day (especially the Delicate Arch hike), our legs were on fire. Honestly, getting on and off the RV was a task. We were literally sliding off the RV when we had to get off. It was funny. 🙂

So, we decided to keep this day a little more relaxed. But in my opinion, hiking is necessary in Capitol Reef if you want to truly experience the park. Unfortunately, we had no strength. But we did drive through the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive which I highly recommend too.

But my most favorite part of Capitol Reef was the Fruita Campground. Fruita Campground is the only developed campground in Capitol Reef National Park and easily the most stunning campground I have ever seen. It’s located in Fruita, the park’s historic district. The campground was long run on a first-come-first-serve basis, but as of early 2018, campsites at the Fruita Campground can be reserved ahead of time for the months March through October. We really wanted to stay here overnight, but the park was absolutely booked through the next six months.

Even if you can’t manage to grab a campsite here, I would still suggest you go check this place out. We reached here early in the day and were instantly charmed! Fruita Campground is a land of contrasts – I’m talking a lush oasis within a red rock desert. In the late 1800s, this fertile valley was settled by pioneers that planted thousands of fruit trees.

The Fruita campground is located within the orchards and guests are free to pick the fruit.

There is also a small historic homestead that sells fresh homemade fruit pies and cinnamon rolls.

The campground is like something out of a fairytale. The verdant landscape sits in the shadow of towering red cliffs with a river to play in, a sunset hike overlooking the valley, and deer grazing in the orchards at dusk and dawn.

If you’re into stargazing, this area is considered an International Dark Sky Park. I think if you do manage to stay here overnight, you should thank your lucky stars!

Some things to bear in mind while visiting Capitol Reef National Park:

• If you’re driving a car, I recommend grabbing food-to-go in Moab because there won’t be many places to stop on the drive. Whereas, if you’re RVing, you of course have nothing to worry in the food department but make sure you have enough gas.
• Be prepared for any kind of weather. The weather in Capitol Reef can change instantly. At the beginning of our day in the park, it was a beautiful, 80° day with a cloudless sky. As the day progressed, the wind picked up quickly and brought in rain clouds. We were heading down when they rolled in, so we were lucky! Everything happened so fast, and it suddenly down poured. Then it was back to a beautiful day! 

Capitol Reef National Park is the most underrated national park in Utah, in my opinion. It is less known, so most people visiting Utah skip it, but I think allocating at least half a day to the park in your southern Utah road trip itinerary is well worth it!

The next park on this trip was Bryce Canyon National Park. We took the State Route 12 or Scenic Byway 12 to reach Bryce Canyon. I would highly recommend driving this route for the most spectacular landscape you would ever see.

This is 122.863 miles (to be exact) of pure driving bliss. Welcome to Utah’s Scenic Byway 12, also known as “A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway.” What’s more, this stretch of pavement is also designated an All-American Road. Only one-third of America’s scenic byways get this distinction, and it’s given because these roads offer unique features that you can’t find elsewhere making these byways tourist destinations unto themselves.

Scenic Byway 12 connects U.S. 89 near Panguitch on the west with S.R. 24 near Torrey on the northeast. It is not the quickest route between these two points, but it’s the best. Hitting the road, we had a destination in mind. That destination quickly took a backseat to the journey as we climbed into the Dixie National Forest from Torrey.

There were lots of beautiful places and overlooks to stop and admire on this epic road. A stop at the scenic overlook near the road’s summit at about 9,000 feet put everything into perspective. We could see distant lands, the Henry Mountains, Grand Staircase–Escalante and the shimmering red rock of Capitol Reef National Park all enveloped together.

The sheer diversity of geography you find here is incredible and unique to Utah and the United States. You can enjoy the highway over the course of your vacation as you make stops along the way, or you can drive the entire expanse in one 65 m.p.h. whirlwind of beauty in a day.

We tried contacting some RV parks this evening but to no avail. So we went ahead with what had become our go-to option – boondocking. We searched for some locations and finally settled for a dispersed camping site in Dixie National Forest. This wasn’t too far from our next destination – Bryce Canyon National Park.

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 6

TO DO – BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, UT

DRIVE 1 – TOM’S BEST SPRING IN DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST, UT – BRYCE CANYON, UT

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 10.6 MILES / 16 MINUTES

DRIVE 2 – BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, UT – OLD HIGHWAY 89 DISPERSED CAMPING, UT (NEAR ZION)

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 61.3 MILES / 1.5 HOURS

RV PARK – OLD HIGHWAY 89 DISPERSED CAMPING, UT (NEAR ZION EAST ENTRANCE)

WOW! We were half-way through our RV trip and time was running by fast. Each day was turning out to be more epic than the earlier. After Arches National Park, it was Bryce Canyon National Park that I was most looking forward to. Obviously, it did not disappoint.

As was the norm on this trip, we started our day early in the morning. Breakfast was done and we were ready to explore the land of hoodoos!

Similar to the other parks, there are a lot of viewpoints and trails in Bryce Canyon National Park. The first viewpoint you’ll come across after the park entrance is the Inspiration Point. This was our first hoodoo experience, and we were in awe ! Inspiration Point gives you a beautiful view of the Bryce Amphitheater and mountains in the east. The view goes on for miles and is really incredible!

If you want to truly experience Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos up close and personal , the Navajo Loop is for you! This is what we chose to do first thing before it got crowded and hot.

It is one of the most popular and best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, and for a good reason! The 1.4-mile loop begins at Sunset Point and hikes down to the floor of the hoodoos passing by some of the most well-known hoodoos, such as Thor’s Hammer, Wall Street, and Twin Bridges. Hiking Navajo Loop is one of the best things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park.

From Sunset Point, the Navajo Loop immediately descends into the canyon . It is a relatively steep decline, but there are switchbacks that help. After the switchbacks end, the trail has a gradual decline to the canyon floor. This is where you get to really experience the beauty of the hoodoos! Once you pass by Wall Street, Twin Bridges, and Thor’s Hammer, the ascent begins back to the rim. Luckily, the switchbacks make the elevation gain relatively easier on the legs.

There are other similar hikes like the Fairyland Loop but this trail is much longer than the Navajo loop. So we decided to skip it and instead walked on the Bryce Canyon rim to take in all the gorgeous views.

This was another boondocking night, just 20 minutes away from the Zion National Park entrance.

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 7

TO DO – ZION NATIONAL PARK, UT

DRIVE 1 – OLD HIGHWAY 89 DISPERSED CAMPING TO ZION EAST ENTRANCE

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 15 MILES / 20 MINUTES

DRIVE 2 – ZION NATIONAL PARK TO FREDONIA, UT

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 37.6 MILES / 45 MINUTES

RV PARK – WHEEL INN RV PARK, FREDONIA AZ

RV PARK COST – $30 APPROX / NIGHT

We made it to the final national park part of the Utah Mighty 5…and what a mighty national park Zion is! The moment we hit the Mount Carmel Junction, we could not take our eyes off the majestic canyon walls surrounding us. Zion National Park is truly beautiful!

Fun Fact: Zion is Utah’s first national park!

We have an interesting story here. I won’t be exaggerating if I said that we got to experience Zion National Park by sheer luck and chance. You ask why? Well, Zion National Park was always on our itinerary but because of COVID-19, the park had different rules which made it almost impossible for us to visit this wonder. It’s important to note that once you get inside the park, you need to park your vehicle at one of the designated parking spots near the entrance and then take a park shuttle to explore the various trails and hikes. Normally, these shuttles are free and on a first-come-first-served basis. But due to COVID, the park required us to book our shuttle tickets in advance (for a small $1 fee) and for a fixed 1-hour window. This is where our luck played a part. We could not manage to get our shuttle tickets since everything was sold out. However, V still decided we should head to Zion ad try our luck. So we parked our RV at the visitor center and walked up to the park ranger checking shuttle tickets at the boarding spot. We told him that we could not manage to get any shuttle tickets and if there was any way we could still get on the shuttle. The awesome park ranger smiled, pulled out two shuttle tickets from his pocket and handed them to us. Someone had to cancel their plan and were nice enough to donate their tickets. It was clearly our lucky day! 🙂

Zion National Park is ALWAYS crowded no matter what day of the week you go. We went on a Friday and it was super busy.

While you can hop on the shuttle that take you through the Zion Scenic Drive, a trip to Zion National Park can’t be complete without experiencing the amazing hiking. Zion is spectacular from the shuttle bus, you definitely need to see it from one of the many hiking trails.

The trails vary in difficulty, from a paved, level walk along the river, to a straight-up hike that climbs up almost 1,500 feet.

Some of these hikes even have sheer drops on either side!

Our choice of trails and hikes was kind of limited owing to many closures or unsafe conditions at some of Zion’s best and most trafficked trails. Given what was open, we chose to do the Emerald Pools Trail and the Riverside Walk up to the Narrows . We could not however hike the Narrows since there was water contamination at the time we went. We’d love to come back in the future!

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 8

TO DO – WIREPASS TRAIL TO BUCKSKIN GULCH, UT + LAKE POWELL + HORSESHOE BEND, AZ

DRIVE 1 – WHEEL INN RV PARK, FREDONIA TO WIREPASS TRAILHEAD, UT

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 53.9 MILES / 1.5 HOURS

DRIVE 2 – WIREPASS TRAIL, UT TO LAKE POWELL, AZ

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 41.4 MILES / 1 HOUR

DRIVE 3 – LAKE POWELL TO HORSESHOE BEND, AZ

DISTANCE / DRIVE TIME – 5.4 MILES / 10 MINUTES

STAY – HOTEL IN PAGE, AZ

STAY COST – $40 APPROX

Being in Arizona, we really wanted to visit the Antelope Canyon on this trip. Unfortunately, the Navajo Nation where the Antelope Canyon is located was closed due to COVID restrictions (for good reason). But that didn’t stop us from finding a slot canyon to hike through. We couldn’t experience the Antelope Canyon but we found the next best thing, thanks to our neighbors at the RV park. They had hiked the Wirepass Trailhead to Buckskin Gulch Slot Canyon near Kanab, UT and were totally convinced that it was better than Antelope Canyon and we’d love it. So we decided to check it out.

Wirepass Trail to Buckskin Gulch is about an hour from Page, AZ. It was a task to get through, having to drive 8 miles off road but wow it was worth it! It would seem that a 4WD vehicle is needed to get to the trailhead, but we made it (very nervously and things falling off, drawers opening) in our RV.

Since not many people are aware of this slot canyon, it wasn’t crowded unlike the Antelope Canyon where I’ve heard you have to literally rush through because you’re part of a tour and it’s super trafficked. And this hike is free! We just had to pay $6 cash for parking.

At Wirepass, we hiked 1.7 miles on a river bed until the trail met Buckskin Gulch’s miles and miles of canyons we hiked through. You could walk as little as 4 miles to 16+ miles on this hike! This trail is a DREAM. Every corner you turn is more unbelievable. I tried to take pics to capture it, but there’s just no comparison to experiencing it. Wire Pass is an absolute must if you’re anywhere close to Utah/Arizona.

This hike was definitely one of the highlights of our entire RV trip.

With that, we bid goodbye to Utah and headed to our next destination – Arizona.

We were super excited to be able to see Horseshoe Bend finally. Before that we made our lunch pit stop at Lake Powell.

It was finally time for Horseshoe Bend. Horseshoe Bend is just a short 15 minute drive from Page Arizona. Google Maps has the location of Horseshoe Bend accurately labeled so it was easy to navigate there. 

We happened to reach Horseshoe Bend perfectly in time for the sunset. Sunset and sunrise are both great times to visit if you want some amazing pictures. But it was super crowded during sunset, so I’d suggest going during sunrise instead.

Hiking to Horseshoe Bend from the parking lot is super easy.  It’s not really a hike but more of a walk. The trail from the parking lot is only about .6 miles so 1.2 miles round trip.  The hardest part of the whole hike is the first part where you have to go up a huge hill from the parking lot. 

The rest of the hike was easy.

We went during sunset and in October, so it wasn’t that hot.  We didn’t really need the water we had brought with us. 

However, if you are doing the hike in the middle of the day or during summer, you should probably bring water and sun protection.  Right before you start the trail there are huge signs warning against heat exhaustion here.

Just how crowded was it at Horseshoe Bend?  It was impossibly crowded and I don’t think anyone talks about how crowded it is. 

There’s literally people hanging off every edge. 

All those Instagram pictures of girls perching on the edge by themselves, enjoying the view, so not the case.  Also, it’s not really that easy to look down without practically hanging off the edge. With a fear of heights, I literally took a glance and stepped back. If you want to enjoy a peaceful moment alone here I would come at sunrise.

All in all, I would say this was more of a bucket list item checked off our list.

This night we stayed in a hotel in Page, AZ (our RV did not have enough water). We heated our dinner in the RV and ate in our hotel room. I have to say though, having a nice long shower in the hotel felt great. 🙂

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 9

TO DO – GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, AZ

DRIVE 1 – PAGE, AZ TO GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 217 MILES / 3.5 HOURS

DRIVE 2 – GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM TO KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST DISPERSED CAMPING

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 10.5 MILES / 15 MINUTES

RV PARK – KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST DISPERSED CAMPING

When you talk about National Parks in the United States, there is no way you can skip the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

For millions of years, the Colorado River has carved its way through the Colorado Plateau, forming this expansive, awe-inspiring landscape that we call the Grand Canyon. And it certainly is grand.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon, there is more to do than just look out over the canyon from the Visitor Center. Walk along the rim, catch the sunrise, take a helicopter flight, tour the viewpoints by bicycle, or hike below the rim – there’s something for everyone.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the most accessible and most popular section of the canyon to visit. So that’s what we decided to explore.

We parked our RV at the Visitor Center parking and walked the entire South Rim. I think I know why the Grand Canyon is so popular among tourists within and outside the United States. This is one National Park where you can experience the most amazing, larger than life landscape without even hiking.

There are dozens of viewpoints along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Each of these viewpoints offers a spectacular view, some better than others. Some offer panoramic vistas, some are less crowded, and some make perfect spots to catch a sunrise or sunset.

There are three sections to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon: Desert View Road, Grand Canyon Village and the Hermit Road .

When we visited, the Desert View Road was closed. So, we explored the Grand Canyon Village and hopped on the shuttle to see all the viewpoints along the Hermit Road.

Fun fact: The Grand Canyon is the second most visited National Park in the United States. The first is Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

This evening we boondocked right outside the Grand Canyon National Park, in the Kaibab National Forest so we could come back to the South Rim bright and early to catch the sunrise.

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 10

TO DO – GRAND CANYON SUNRISE + WALNUT CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT + PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK

DRIVE 1 – KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST CAMPING TO GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM

DRIVE 2 – GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM TO WALNUT CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 230 MILES / 3.5 HOURS

DRIVE 3 – WALNUT CANYON TO PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK, AZ

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 69 MILES / 1.15 HOURS

DRIVE 4 – PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK, AZ TO GALLUP, NM

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 68.6 MILES / 1 HOUR

RV PARK – USA RV PARK, GALLUP, NM

RV PARK COST – $42 APPROX / PER NIGHT

We reached the Grand Canyon South Rim at 4 am to catch the sunrise over the Canyon, lighting it up in warm hues of reds, pinks and oranges.

This is something I would definitely recommend doing. While it may be difficult to roll out of bed that early, you’ll share the view with just a handful of other visitors. It was surreal.

Feeling satisfied, we headed on to our next destination – Petrified Forest National Park.

But what is a road trip without any impromptu stops?! On our way to Petrified Forest National Park, we stumbled upon a hidden gem – The Walnut Canyon National Monument.

Just outside Flagstaff’s city limits, Walnut Canyon National Monument is a gorgeous display of geological cliff formations with curved limestone walls and ledges filled with a diverse ecosystem. Carved by Walnut Creek over about 60 million years, the canyon offers an amazing combination of stunning scenery and varied animal and plant life.

It also offered a great place to live for the ancient people of the high desert. As gorgeous as the natural scenery of the canyon is, its most interesting features are the cliff dwellings built into the alcoves of the steep canyon walls.

Walnut Canyon National Monument  preserves these cliff dwellings, along with the unusual ecosystem of the canyon, making it a must-see for anyone visiting northern Arizona.

Tip: Don’t forget to take water because you’ll be tackling 240 steps into the depths of the Canyon and back up.

Our final destination in Arizona was the Petrified Forest National Park.

Let me be upfront with you. Petrified Forest National Park is not everyone’s cup of tea. This National Park is not all that popular and you’ll know why when you visit. The scenery isn’t the best, and the whole park can be done in a few hours. But, it is definitely unique.

Petrified Forest is a great place to learn about history and science, but as I said, this is no Grand Canyon.

Petrified Forest National Park was one of the easiest parks to get through. You can usually complete the whole park within a few hours. Also, all the attractions are located on the main petrified forest road. 

We saw one of the world’s largest and most vibrantly colored assemblies of petrified wood, historic structures, and archaeological sites.

It was difficult to believe that more than 200 million years ago, flourishing trees and vegetation covered much of this area of Northeastern Arizona. But volcanic lava destroyed the forest, and the remains were embedded into sediment comprised of volcanic ash and water. Erosion set the logs free millions of years later, revealing the petrified wood – made mostly of quartz.

But there’s more than wood to the Petrified Forest’s history. You can see remnants of more than 13,000 years of human history at the park, including Puerco Pueblo – a nearly 800-year-old, 100-room dwelling, a diverse, extensive collection of prehistoric pottery fossils and even a protected section of historic Route 66.

All in all, Petrified Forest is a national park that I feel like is worth to add to your itinerary only if you are already on highway 40 or like me, you’re obsessed with US National Parks and want to visit each one of them. 

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 11

TO DO – WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK, NM

DRIVE 1 – GALLUP, NM TO WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK, NM

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 347 MILES / 5 HOURS

DRIVE 2 – WHITE SANDS TO LINCOLN FOREST NATIONAL PARK, NM

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 53.7 MILES / 1 HOUR

RV PARK – THE CAMP AT CLOUDCROFT RV PARK AND CAMPGROUND

RV PARK COST – $50 APPROX / NIGHT

Want to travel somewhere that is incredibly peaceful, not filled with tourists and reminds you of how UNBELIEVABLE our world is?! White Sands National Park is that place!

We’d been to New Mexico before but not to the White Sands National Park. Did you know this is America’s newest National Park?It’s such a unique place in the American landscape that it’s absolutely deserved to become a National Park.

White Sands National Park is about an hour outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and mostly surrounded by Holloman Air Force Base and the White Sands Missile Testing Grounds.

It’s the world’s largest gypsum dune field!

Even if you’ve visited other sand dunes before, I guarantee White Sands will be different. Unlike typical silica sand, gypsum feels cold and sticky no matter what the temperature is outside. It’s also bright white and from a distance can look more like snow – I can’t stress that enough, though you can probably tell from the photos. Wear your sunglasses, folks!

Because it’s sticker than silica sand, it does get packed hard in some places. You’ll notice this on much of Dunes Drive and also at the bottom of the big dunes (especially if you take a tumble when sledding!).

We did the Dunes Drive which is a 45 minutes roundtrip drive through one of America’s smallest National Parks. 

White Sands sledding is the big draw for most visitors and you won’t want to miss it! You can buy the sled and wax from the Visitor Center. We couldn’t get one so V tried to do some sledding using a frisbee. 😀

Something we wanted to but didn’t  get to due because of timing was stick around the park for a sunset stroll with a park ranger. We’ve heard that sunset in White Sands National Park is amazing! The daily schedule is available  here .

This was the final evening of our USA RV road trip before we headed home the next morning. We drove through the beautiful Lincoln National Forest and booked ourselves into a lovely RV park. Rest of the evening was spent by the campfire, stargazing with beer, pizza and talking about the days past.

Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary + Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico – Day 12

TO DO – DRIVE BACK TO DALLAS

DISTANCE/DRIVE TIME – 545 MILES / 8.5 HOURS

We reached home super tired after a full day of driving but also super happy with how epic this road trip turned out to be. There could not have been a better way to do this road trip than in an RV.

We can’t wait for our next RV trip, exploring other US National Parks.

If you’d like to see day by day updates from this RV trip, do check out my Instagram story highlights – RV Trip .

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Utah National Parks Road Trip: 10 Day Road Trip Through Utah’s Mighty 5

The National Parks in Utah are some of the prettiest US National Parks. The 5 Utah National Parks, also known as Utah’s Mighty 5 offer stunning scenery, and fairly good weather year-round for visiting. If you’re looking to plan the perfect Utah National Parks road trip, we suggest having at least 10-14 days for your roadtrip. The national parks in Utah are so amazing and you could really spend a whole month exploring all Utah has to offer. We’ve put together a 10 day road trip itinerary where you can see all of Utah’s mighty 5, including the best hikes in each national park, best things to do and where to stay near each national park. 

Utah National Parks Road Trip

We recently traveled from Portland to Utah in our campervan to explore some of Utah’s national parks. We could really spend a whole month there exploring Utah but here is the perfect 10 day road trip itinerary. Since there is so much to see at all of these parks, and throughout Utah, we recommend having at least 10 days to really explore. If you are short on time, we suggest only focusing on 2-3 parks to maximize your time, otherwise you’ll be spending most of your time driving from park to park. 

Where to start your Utah roadtrip

If you’re not from nearby Utah, we suggest you fly into either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. From there, it’s easy to get to all of the Utah National Parks. Since we drove our campervan from Portland, we went through Salt Lake City. If you’re needing to rent a van or RV for your trip, check out Outdoorsy, it’s like airbnb for RVs and other travel trailers, where you can search by type of RV, dates, and other amenities.

Another option would be to fly into Las Vegas, and drive up to Zion from Las Vegas. The itinerary will be the same, regardless of the starting city.

Rent a campervan for your roadtrip

Utah mighty 5 roadtrip map

Utah National Parks Itinerary

Day 1:  Salt Lake City to Zion National Park (4.5 hours)

Pick up your campervan or RV and drive from Salt Lake City to Zion National Park. Depending when you arrive in Utah, we recommend driving straight to Zion so you can find a place to stay, and maximize your time in Zion National Park.

Zion National Park is located between St. George and Springdale, Utah. It is the most popular national parks in Utah, and can be extremely busy all year round! Zion is an extremely big park with lots to see. So we recommend staying at least one full day and a night in Zion. Depending on what time you get to Zion, you can do a short hike or some exploring, but then the next day will be filled, so get there with plenty of time.

Be aware that for most of the year, you are required to ride the shuttle in Zion. There is no access by cars from April to October on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The shuttle runs frequently from the visitors center.

Rent a campervan for your Utah roadtrip

Days 2-3: Zion National Park

Zion National Park entrance fee: $35

Zion is the busiest national park in Utah, and is busy year round. You’ll want to spend at least 2 days in Zion National Park. Since you arrived yesterday, we recommend getting up early and exploring Zion first thing in the morning. Parking can get very crowded later in the day, so it’s wise to get a head start. Start the morning at Angels Landing hike, one of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park.

If you plan to hike the Narrows, you will need to plan for a whole day. The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion National Park. If you hike the Narrows, you must hike through the water, and you will get your feet wet. If you hike the Narrows in the cooler months, be prepared with a drysuit and booties. This is a great post if you’re interested in hiking the narrows .

Best Hikes in Zion National Park

• Riverside walk (2.2 miles, easy)
• Pa’rus trail (3.5 miles, easy) dog friendly
• Weeping rock trail (.4 miles, easy)
• Canyon Overlook Trail (1 mile, moderate)
• Angels Landing (5.4 miles, strenuous)
• The Narrows (9.4 miles, strenuous)

Things to do in Zion National Park

• Checkerboard mesa
• Zion Canyon scenic drive
• Horseback riding
• Sunset jeep tour

Where to stay near Zion National Park

Zion Canyon Campground and RV resort – located Springdale. Tent sites start at $49/night and RV sites start at $59/night

South Campground or Watchman Campground – both located in Zion Canyon. Campgrounds are $30/night, but fill up fast

Zion National Park Lodge – the only accommodations located inside Zion National Park

Dog friendly trails inside Zion National Park

There aren’t a ton of options for dogs inside Zion National Park. Hiking in the park with pets is allowed only on the roads and Pa’rus Trail.

Day 4: Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park (1.5 hours)

Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon

• Sunset to Sunrise (1.0 mile, easy)
• Rim Trail (1.0 – 11.0 miles, easy)
• Bristlecone Loop (1.0 mile, easy)
• Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop (2.9 miles, moderate)
• Fairlyand loop (8 miles, strenuous)

Things to do in Bryce Canyon

• wrangler guided horseback riding
• snowshoe or cross-country ski in the winter

Where to stay near Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon Resort – nice and close lodging to explore Bryce Canyon

Best Western Plus Rubys Inn – nestled right along the red rock cliffs of Bryce Canyon National Park, with tons of amenities

Dog Friendly trails in Bryce Canyon

Day 5: bryce canyon to capitol reef national park (2.5 hours), best hikes in capitol reef national park.

• Capitol Gorge (1.0 mile, easy)
•  The Grand Wash (2.2 miles, easy)
• Chimney Rock Loop (3.6 miles, strenuous)
• Frying Pan Trail (2.9 miles, strenuous)

Things to do in Capitol Reef

• canyoneering
• visit the Gifford Homestead

Where to stay near Capitol Reef

Pets inside capitol reef national park.

Pets are allowed in campgrounds, on the trail from the visitor center to the Fruita campground, and on the Fremont River Trail from the campground to the south end of Hattie’s Field. Pets are not allowed on other hiking trails.

Day 6: Capitol Reef to Moab (2.5 hours)

Things to do in moab.

• whitewater rafting
• rock climbing
• paddle-boarding
• jet-boating
• mountain biking
• hot air balloon rides
• Moab giants dinosaur park

Where to stay in Moab

Springhill Suites by Marriott Moab – the nearest hotel to Arches National Park

Moab Valley RV Resort and Campground – camping just steps away from Moab’s most scenic sights, with RV and tent sights available

Under Canvas – upscale safari tents and mountain views

Day 7: Visit Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park

Canyonlands National Park entrance fee: $30

Best hikes in the Canyonlands Island in the Sky

• Mesa Arch (.5 miles, easy)
• Grandview Point (2 miles, easy)
• Neck Spring (5.8 miles, moderate)
• Gooseberry Trail (5.4 miles, strenuous)

Best Hikes in Canyonlands The Needles

• Cave Spring (0.6 miles, easy)
• Slickrock Trail (2.4 miles, easy)
• Chesler Park Viewpoint (6 miles, strenuous)
• Big Spring Canyon to Squaw Canyon (7.5 miles, strenuous)

Things to do in Canyonlands National Park

• backpacking
• horseback riding
• star-gazing

Where to stay near Canyonlands

Island in the Sky campgrounds – only 12 campsites, first-come, first-served, open year round, sites are $15/night.

Dog friendly trails in Canyonlands

Best hikes in dead horse point state park.

• Dead Horse Point Overlook Trail (400 feet, easy)
• Colorado River Overlook (1 mile, easy)
• The West Rim Trail (5-6 miles, moderate)

Where to stay near Dead Horse Point

Kayenta and Windgate campgrounds – $40/night for RVs

Pet friendly trails in Dead Horse Point State Park

Days 8-10: arches national park.

Best Hikes in Arches National Park

• The Windows (1 mile, easy)
• Double Arch (.5 mile, easy)
• Delicate Arch (3 miles, strenuous)
• Double O Arch (4.5 miles, strenuous)

Things to do in Arches National Park

• rock-climbing

The 8 Best Hikes in Arches National Park

Where to stay near Arches National Park

After you’re done exploring Moab, drive back to Salt Lake City 

Things to know before you visit Utah’s National Parks

Best time to visit utah’s mighty 5.

Spring and Fall are the most popular times to visit due to the good weather. Summer brings super hot weather to all the Utah parks. Winter can have cooler weathers, potentially snow and maybe road closures, but less crows

Arrive Early

No matter when you visit the Utah National Parks, they will most likely be busy. Prepare to get to the parks early to avoid crowds. Sunrise is a great time to explore the parks. Remember the parks are open 24/7 so you don’t need to wait until the open to enter.

Get a Parks Pass

An annual National Parks pass is $80, you can purchase online or at the park when you get there. The pass is good for one year from purchase date, and you’ll save money if you visit 3 parks throughout the whole year. We bought our pass at our first park of the trip, which was Zion National Park. 

Plan out where you will stay

Due to the high volume of visitors in the Utah National Parks, campgrounds can fill up fast. If you know your route and where you will be camping, its best to book your accommodation ahead of time. Since we were in our camper van, we winged it. While we were in Zion, we found some great BLM land, and it couldn’t have been better. But you never know how full and busy things will be when you’re there.

Search for a RV for your Utah roadtrip

Road trip packing tips for Utah

Hiking gear

Camping gear

Road Trip Accessories

Utah is truly a beautiful place with so many parks to explore. You need at least 10 days to explore all of Utah’s National Parks. We hope this guide helps for planning your Utah roadtrip.

Have you visited any of the Utah National Parks? Which of the Utah’s mighty 5 is your favorite and why?

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Tip and Tarah are the founders of Fit Two Travel. Since getting married in 2013, they have traveled to 26 countries and 22 states together. They are true Oregonian natives, and love to explore the outdoors, enjoy the food and drink, and spend time with their 2 dogs. They help others plan their international and local trips.

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