Craving an unforgettable adventure, complete with rare natural structures and awe-inspiring vistas? Then your next road trip should be the National Park loop in Utah. Every stretch of Utah’s wild landscape reveals something different, from the dramatic mesas of Canyonlands to the surreal rock formations in Arches. 

 

The best part? Utah’s five national parks are conveniently clustered together, making it easy to visit each one in just under a week. Our user-friendly itinerary shows you how to see the 5 national parks in Utah — even on a budget. 

 

Utah's Mighty 5 National Parks at a Glance

Utah’s Mighty 5 have something for every type of adventurer. Whether you’re looking for heart-pounding hikes, magnificent water features, or landscapes that take your breath away, these world-renowned parks are well worth the trip, no matter how far you have to travel. Utah’s national parks include:

 

• Zion. This was the first national park established in Utah and is famous for its high-elevation plateaus, mesmerizing waterfalls, and diversity of hiking trails.

• Bryce Canyon. Known for its hoodoos, which are unique sphere-like rock structures, Bryce Canyon is a mecca for nature photographers.

• Capitol Reef. With historic structures from the 1900s and easy hikes to lookout points, this park offers history and wilderness wonders.

• Arches. Known for its bright red arch-shaped rock formations, forged from millions of years of erosion, Arches is a magnificent display of nature’s artistic capabilities.

• Canyonlands. Considered by many to be Utah’s Grand Canyon, Canyonlands has majestic mesas jutting out over its two massive canyons, perfect for a photo op or moment of solitude.

 

The Mighty 5 are going to dazzle you with their natural beauty. So pack your sense of wonder, and prepare to create some memories.

 

Tips for a Budget-Friendly Trip to Utah National Parks

One of the many beautiful things about the Mighty 5 is you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy them. In fact, a minimalist approach is the best way to experience the full magic of these parks. From cost-effective accommodations to affordable park pass hacks, below are budget-friendly tips for your Utah National Parks road trip.

Affordable Transportation Options

Even though there are shuttles that go to and from the nearby town of Moab, the best way to get up close and personal with the park’s features is to have your own vehicle. Here are some affordable options:

 

• Rent a car. Consider a model with AWD or 4WD to enjoy the freedom of ditching the paved road. Cars tend to come with the lowest entrance fees, as well as campsite fees if you’re staying in the parks.

• Get a campervan. Combine your transportation with accommodations in a campervan. Most are upfitted with a bed, small stove, and toilet/shower. Their small(ish) frames make them easy to maneuver and get decent fuel economy. 

• Rent an RV*. Want to sleep in your vehicle while still enjoying modern comforts? Consider an RV. With beds, seating areas, showers, flowing toilets, and heating/cooling systems, they’re like hotel rooms on wheels.
  *An RV may have a higher cost upfront but could be worth it in the long run if you take advantage of it often.

 

Road trips are fun, but some of us can only handle so much time behind the wheel. If you fall into this camp, consider flying into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City and then starting the driving portion of your Utah road trip. The national parkswill provide you with plenty of enjoyable car time. Flights to each airport vary by season, so find the airport offering the lowest airfare for your intended travel time. For our itinerary, we’ll fly into Las Vegas and make our first Mighty 5 stop at Zion National Park.

 

Budget Accommodations and Camping Spots

Accommodations can be the most expensive part of any trip. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable places to rest your head at night in and near the parks. Here are our top tips for economical stays:

 

• Find gateway communities. Hotels in the actual parks will be the most expensive. However, you can find communities just outside the park entrances with more affordable options, including hotels, motels, and vacation rentals.

• Consider camping. Each park has an on-site campground. Camping on-site lets you wake up steps away from the attractions and get an early start. Just check the park’s websites to see if reservations are required. You can also use apps such asiOverlander, Recreation.gov, and the US Public Lands app to find additional campsites.

• Hang your hat at a hostel. Hostels are affordable and provide a gathering place for travelers to socialize and swap stories. 

 

No matter which type of accommodation you choose, you’ll find the best rates during the off-season. December through February and July through August are considered off-season for the Mighty 5. Just be prepared for potentially extreme weather.

 

Purchase the America the Beautiful Annual Pass

Since you plan on visiting all five parks on one trip, you might want to buy an America the Beautiful Annual Pass. It’s $80 and covers either one private vehicle or four per-person fees for every visit while it’s valid. If you’re traveling with friends, you can split the cost for significant savings. Considering each park has its own entrance fee (listed below) ranging from $20 to $35, you’ll save money with an America the Beautiful Pass even if you only visit a few parks.

 

 

Stay Informed of Park Alerts, Closures, and Permits During Your Utah Road Trip

Driving out to a park or feature only to learn that it’s off-limits is a waste of time and gas. So, save yourself the trouble and money by checking the National Park Service website. It has up-to-date information on closures, safety alerts, and permit requirements. You can also find contact information for road construction and conditions for every U.S. state in our National Park Guide to get updates in real time from a real person.  

 

Utah National Parks Itinerary Example

Thanks to their proximity, the Mighty 5 can be covered in one week, with one day at each park and some travel time bookending your adventures. Here is our suggested itinerary:

 

• Las Vegas to Zion: 2.5 hours; 160 miles (or 3.5 hours; 275 miles from Salt Lake City)

• Zion to Bryce Canyon: 2 hours; 85 miles

• Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef: 2.5 hours; 120 miles

• Capitol Reef to Arches: 2.5 hours; 145 miles

• Arches to Canyonlands: 35 minutes; 30 miles

• Canyonlands to Lake Powell (bonus stop): 8.5 hrs; 336 miles

• Lake Powell to Las Vegas: 8 hrs; 319 miles

 

If you have extra time, you could easily spend two days in each location. However, if you plan on sticking to our itinerary, we’ve got you covered with the must-see features at each park.

 

Our Complete Utah National Park Itinerary for Unparalleled Adventure

Ready to dive into Utah’s awe-inspiring wilderness? Below are some of the must-see spots and activities in the Mighty 5. If there’s a specific type of feature you’re hoping to see, you can explore our guide to America’s National ParksNational Park Guide for more park insights. Filled with helpful visitor information, hundreds of photos, and detailed maps of main attractions, you’ll have everything you need for your adventures. So pack your hiking shoes, Utah state map, and your sense of wonder, and let’s hit the road.

 

Day 1: Zion National Park: Utah’s Not-So-Hidden Treasure

Zion National Park was the first national park established in the Beehive State, making it the perfect place to kick off your road trip. Utah national parks have a 100-year+ history, and it all began with this destination, known for its breathtaking hikes, scenic drives, and beautiful bike paths. The park boasts diverse natural landscapes, including sandstone cliffs, high-elevation plateaus, and its unique hanging gardens — vegetation that literally springs up from cliff walls.

 

Nothing gets the blood pumping like a little cold plunge, so start your trip with a hike through the Narrows. More of a water-wading exercise than a hike, this “trail” will have you traversing the Virgin River between canyon walls. It’s refreshing, invigorating and cold! Which is why not all hikers tackle the full 9.4 miles of it. Feel free to take it as far as you can.

 

Want a birds-eye vantage point of the park’s stunning features? Travel to Angel’s Landing. With 1,200-foot drop-offs and parts of the trail where you’ll need to hold onto a chain attached to a rock, this path is best for experienced hikers. But, with panoramic views of the park from a 1,488-foot elevation, it’s well worth the trek. Note: Permits are required to hike Angel’s Landing. 

 

If you’re looking for a hike that’s right for all experience levels, head to Emerald Pools. This short hike will take you past three natural ponds and weave between multiple waterfalls. Keep things simple by visiting the lower pool, featuring two small streams that cascade down a cliff. Or make your way up to the middle and upper pools for more impressive water features, including water spraying off a 300-foot rock wall at the upper pool. Every pool offers a social media-worth photo op with a waterfall in the background.

 

Zion National Park Lodging

Depending on your need for creature comforts, you can camp in the park or stay at a hotel just outside. Options include:

 

•  Watchman Campground This campground is inside the park and has tent and RV sites. It’s conveniently located and walkable from the visitors’ center and the Zion shuttle system. Rates vary by season and site type but are generally affordable. 

• Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale/Zion National Park With a shuttle that takes guests to the Zion National Park Visitor’s Center and a free hot breakfast, this hotel creates the perfect launch point for a day’s worth of hiking.

• Zion Ponderosa Ranch Located in the park, Zion Ponderosa Ranch offers a variety of accommodation types. Their most affordable options include Conestoga Wagons (great for glampers), their cabins, and their tent sites. All guests enjoy access to a pool, tennis courts, a mini golf course, and more recreational activities.

 

Whether you’re looking to rough it, need modern amenities, or want something in between, there’s an option for you in Zion National Park.

 

Day 2: Bryce Canyon National Park: Where Stone Spheres Touch the Sky

Reach new heights (literally) at Bryce Canyon National Park, which has the highest elevation of the Mighty 5. Bryce is known for its unique natural stone features, called hoodoos. Hoodoos are tall, slender rock formations that look like spheres jutting up toward the sky. 

 

Perhaps the most famous place to view the hoodoos is the Bryce Amphitheater, a 12-by-3-mile depression filled with these striking features. For an unforgettable sunrise, visit Sunrise Point just before dawn. The rising sun, stretching its rays over the hoodoos, creates what can only be described as a light show as the formations take on various shades of purple, pink, and orange.

 

Don’t miss some of the park’s most iconic rock formations, including:

 

• Queen Victoria: named for its resemblance to a London statue of its namesake queen

• Thor’s Hammer: named after the God of Thunder, and the icon for the Utah Geological Survey logo

• Wall Street: a narrow trail lined with tall hoodoos reminiscent of NYC skyscrapers

 

Thanks to its singular, 36-mile main road that does a full loop around the park, Bryce Canyon can easily be enjoyed without even stepping out of your car (but we recommend you do).

 

Bryce Canyon National Park Lodging

Both inside and outside of the park, you’ll find well-priced, friendly accommodations. Below are options for campers and hotel lovers alike:

 

• North Campground With one hundred sites, including those for RVs, campers, and tents, this campground is ready to accommodate a variety of traveler types. It’s also close to the visitor’s center and a general store, so information and supplies are readily available.

• Bryce Canyon Lodge If you want more modern accommodations without leaving the park, head to Bryce Canyon Lodge, the only lodging inside the park. The property has a main structure with hotel rooms, plus rustic Western cabins. Keep in mind, as a part of the lodge’s efforts to spotlight the park’s natural attractions, this property does not have Wi-Fi or TV.

• Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn Located just one mile from the park’s entrance in Bryce Canyon City, this option has a free breakfast to fuel up for the day, along with mountain bike rentals for exploring the park. 

 

If you’re willing to drive approximately 15 minutes further from the park, you’ll find more options in the town of Tropic, complete with charming restaurants and coffee shops on Main Street.

 

Day 3: Capitol Reef National Park: The Land of History and Harvests

Find natural and cultural treasures at Capitol Reef National Park, the smallest of the Mighty 5. Though it might be small in scale, it’s large in significance. Capitol Reef is home to the Waterpocket Fold, some of the last lands cartographers charted in the lower 48 — meaning it just barely made it into our Utah atlas.

 

As a former settlement for Mormons in the early 1900s, the park still contains several historic buildings, including a schoolhouse, a farmhouse, and a working orchard, within the Fruita District (listed on the National Register of Historic Places). For a healthy snack, you can pick your own fruit at the orchard in the late summer and fall — such as apricots, cherries, and pears. Take a step back in time at the Gifford homestead, a renovated farmhouse that serves as a cultural demonstration site, depicting rural Utah living in the early 1900s.

 

As for the natural gems, Goosenecks Overlook offers sweeping views of the valley and creek. It’s a short 600-foot trail, perfect for hikers of all fitness levels. Another short, easy hike is Sunset Point. This trail leads to views of the Waterpocket Fold, sandstone cliffs, and Goosenecks Overlook. 

 

If you are feeling adventurous, you can leave the beaten path and explore the Temple of the Sun and the Moon. The area is named for its two massive sandstone monoliths (the “Sun” is 5,822 feet tall and the “Moon” is 5,665 feet tall). But, it’s 17 miles down a dirt road, far from the main sites, so you’ll need an all-wheel-drive vehicle to get there.

 

Capitol Reef National Park Lodging

You’ll find a mixture of cultural and rugged charm amidst your lodging options here, including:

 

• The Fruita Campground Situated in the center of the historic orchards and along the Fremont River, this campground can certainly be described as scenic. Each of its 71 sites has a picnic table and above-ground fire pit or grill. The cost is $25 per night per site.

• The Days Inn in Torrey Offering a familiar brand and modern amenities, this hotel is just 4.6 miles from the park's entrance. It has an indoor pool for cooling off after a day of hiking and offers guests one free breakfast item.

• AirBnb in Torrey Several types of accommodations are available on Airbnb in Torrey, ranging from shipping container homes to classic A-frames and domes. If you’re traveling with a large group, consider a rental home.

 

If you’re looking for an authentic small-town feel, Torrey is worth a visit, even if you don’t plan on staying there. With a population of less than 300 people, it doesn’t get more quaint than Torrey.

 

Day 4: Arches National Park: A Natural Structures Exhibit 

Arches might be one of the most recognizable and photographed parks in the Mighty 5. Created by millions of years of erosion, the prominent arch-shaped rock formations have a piercing red color caused by the iron oxide in their sandstone that turns red when exposed to air. There are more than 2,000 of these natural stone arches in the park of varying sizes. However, if you only have time to visit a few, we’ve recommended our must-see arches for you. 

 

We’ll start with the pinnacle of the park, Delicate Arch. The arch is named for its extremely thin structure and lack of nearby supporting arches. The hike to Delicate Arch is not for the faint of heart (or foot). It’s only 1.5 miles out, but that’s entirely on slick rock, with almost no sun protection. Consider making this hike in the very early morning or at sunset to avoid overheating.

 

The Fiery Furnace, a labyrinth of slender trails weaving between sandstone walls, is another must-see site in Arches. To avoid the permit requirement, you can book the ranger-led tour (it’s the safest way to visit the arch and the most educational). However, if you’re really short on time, just head to the Windows Section — it has three large arches, all within a one-mile radius and accessible via interconnected trails.

 

Note: all visitors must make a timed entry reservationas part of an effort to mitigate congestion. 

 

Arches National Park Lodging

Due to its desert landscape and nearly non-existent shade, Arches is not very hospitable. However, there is one campground within the park and several accommodations in nearby Moab.

 

• Devils Garden Campground This is the only campground inside of Arches. It has drinking water, flushing toilets, picnic tables, and grills. It’s recommended that you reserve far in advance for the busy season (March 1 to October 31) since spots fill up quickly. From November 1 to February 28, it’s first-come, first-served.

• Lazy Lizard Hostel Commune with fellow campers and swap hiking tales at the Lazy Lizard Hostel. Guests can use the shared kitchen, as well as the BBQs. You have the option of a dorm (the most affordable), which sleeps 4 to 8 in bunk beds, or a private room.

• AirBnb in Moab There are also a handful of AirBnbs in Moab, with vibes as eccentric and charming as the town itself. From tiny homes to rustic townhouses, most rentals are set against the backdrop of Arches to the north or a mountain range to the east.

 

There are additional low-cost hotels and motels on Main Street in Moab, including chains and eclectic, small inns.

 

Day 5: Canyonlands National Park: An Island in the Sky

With its massive canyons, mesas, and arches, Canyonlands National Park is often compared to the Grand Canyon. Once you see the dramatic, sprawling views, you’ll understand why. It’s located a 45-minute drive south of Moab (with limited lodging nearby), so give yourself some time to travel to and from this rock-structure wonderland. 

 

The most accessible part of the park is the Island in the Sky, so if you’re short on time, we recommend just visiting this region. This is where you’ll find the famous Mesa Arch, an irresistible feature for visitors. It naturally frames the canyons below it and the La Sal Mountains in the distance, resulting in a picture-perfect scene at sunrise.

 

For another spectacular photo opportunity, head to Grand View Point. Situated at the edge of the Island in the Sky Mesa, this point offers panoramic views of river-forged canyons, distant mountains, and White Rim Road, a popular 4WD road that snakes around the canyon floor.

 

Canyonlands National Park Lodging

This park is remote, and the nearest affordable hotels are all back in Moab. If you’d like to stay in the park, you can camp at the Willow Flat Campground in the Sky District. However, it only has 12 sites, and they’re first-come, first-served, so arrive early in the day if you plan on booking a site.

 

Day 6: Moab: Kick Back and Connect with Locals

If you need a day to recuperate before getting back in the car, spend a day in the town of Moab. Known for its eclectic shops, friendly residents, and all-around free-spirited vibe, it’s the perfect place to spend the day strolling, shopping, and savoring delicious food. You’ll find a collection of restaurants on Main Street with large outdoor patios that are perfect for chilling out when the weather’s nice. 

 

Be sure to check out the antique and thrift stores full of funky treasures, too. Stop into the Gallery Moab to see impressive works of art depicting the area’s inspiring scenery. See the entire town and surrounding parks from up above and book a ziplining tour. Once the sun sets, enjoy a RedRock Astronomy tour. A guide will take you to a designated dark sky site about 20 minutes out of town and set up a telescope for views of the stars. 

 

Day 7: Lake Powell: Refresh and Reflect on Your Utah National Parks Trip

Once you’ve taken in all the memorable sights of the Mighty 5, it’ll be time to leave the night sky for city lights and return to Vegas. But first, take a detour to Lake Powell and unwind on the water for the day. This massive man-made reservoir allows kayaking, boating, and water sports. You can launch your vessel of choice from Antelope Point Marina or use our state recreational atlas to find other boat launch points. 

 

Once you’ve had your fill of lounging on the water, pack it back up and head to the City of Sin. If you’d like to help keep the Mighty 5 going strong, the non-driving members of your party can spend their ride leaving positive Yelp reviews for each one (that’s right — you can review national parks), as well as the businesses you visited during your stay.

 

Plan Your Utah National Park Road Trip with Rand McNally Publishing

Connect with nature in a way you never have before with a trip through the national parks of Utah. A road trip map from Rand McNally Publishing can help you find your way through these iconic destinations. Our laminated, heavy-duty maps let you mark them with trip notes and then wipe them clean for your next journey. Plus, with clearly marked highways and points of interest, we’ll make sure you stay on track…and help you wander off it when you feel like it. 

 

Utah’s national parks are one (or five) of the reasons the U.S. is regarded as one of the most beautiful countries, and with two major airports just a short drive away, they’re easily accessible to adventurous travelers. Explore the wild and wonderful terrain of Utah with one of our trusted atlases by your side and enjoy the trip! 

Utah National Parks Road Trip FAQs

Have more questions about what to expect on your trip? We’ve got all the answers for you.

How many days do you need to see national parks in Utah?

One day per park is enough to see the highlights. If you have more time, you could easily fill two days (or more) in each park.

What’s the best month to visit Utah national parks?

April and May are some of the best months to visit the Utah national parks. The summer heat hasn’t arrived yet, and neither have the crowds. Meanwhile, you can witness the flowers blooming and the last of the spring foliage.

How can I see the 5 national parks in Utah?

The best way to see the five national parks in Utah is by vehicle — either a car, campervan, or RV. These will allow you to drive up close to each feature and even camp in any of the park’s campgrounds for a reasonable daily fee.

How far apart are Utah’s 5 national parks?

It depends on the order in which you visit the parks. You can travel as little as 35 minutes from one park to the next or as much as three hours.