Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks are two of the most beautiful red rock desert parks in the world. The towering walls of Zion and the unique hoodoos of Bryce Canyon are something everyone should see in their lifetime. But how do you see both of these parks in one trip, and how many days do you need?
Three days is the perfect amount of time to see Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Two days in Zion and one day in Bryce Canyon gives visitors enough time to do the most popular sites in the parks. The parks are a 1.5-hour drive from one another, and travelers can choose to switch locations between the two parks or use Kanab, UT as a home base. A fourth day can be added to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon because it is only a 2.5-hour drive from Zion and a 1.5-hour drive from Bryce Canyon.
I’m Cheryl and I’ve lived in Utah my whole life. My husband, Matt, and I have written 26 travel itineraries to make trip planning easy to visit the national parks of the West. We visit Zion or Bryce at least once a year and today I want to share with you the exact itinerary we give family and friends who want to visit these incredible national parks for the first time.
The Best Places to Stay at Bryce Canyon
45 Great Things To Do at Bryce Canyon
How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Zion
How to Use the Zion Shuttle System
How to Connect Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks: 11 Amazing Stops
10 Best Things to Do at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (+ Where to Eat and Stay)
Zion. Zion is Utah’s most popular national park, known for its towering red cliffs, lush green valleys, and amazing slot canyons. Zion Canyon is the highlight, which includes the famous hikes of the Narrows and Angels Landing.
Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon is a small park, famous for having the biggest concentration of hoodoos in the world. It is a surreal landscape that glows at sunrise and sunset.
Zion and Bryce Canyon are part of a trip called “Utah’s Mighty 5” which includes the five national parks in Utah. It’s common for people to visit Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands on one epic trip! 5-7 days is the perfect amount of time and you can learn how to do a trip like this on our blog post, How to Visit Utah’s National Parks: Epic 5-7 Day Itinerary.
![Epic 8-day Road Trip to Utah’s National Parks [Zion to Arches]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hPAYZzEuz98/0.jpg)
BEST HIKE: The Narrows/Riverside Walk in Zion
BEST DRIVE: Zion-Mount Carmel Scenic Drive in Zion
BEST VIEWPOINT: Bryce Point or Sunrise Point at Bryce Canyon
BEST OUTSIDE THE PARKS ACTIVITY: Tuacahn Amphitheater (St George, outside of Zion)
BEST PLACE TO EAT: Oscar’s Cafe in Springdale (outside of Zion)
THERE IS NO TIMED ENTRY FOR EITHER OF THESE PARKS
ZION AND BRYCE CANYON BOTH HAVE A SHUTTLE SYSTEM.
Learn more at Zion Shuttles and Bryce Shuttles
This itinerary is written for the first-time visitor who wants to see Zion and Bryce Canyon properly and enjoys a bit of variety as well. We’ll also share where we like to eat and stay and give you a few insider tips that only regulars know.
We think this road trip works best going from West to East (Zion to Bryce) so that is the order it is written. However, it is just fine to do it in reverse order.
Get our done‑for‑you, 5-7‑day route with exact drives, maps, and must‑see stops so you don’t waste time in traffic or miss the best views.
Inside the guide:
*Day‑by‑day plan for Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches & Canyonlands to get you to the best hikes, drives, and activities
*Details You Need: Time frames, driving routes, and where to sleep each night to reduce back-tracking
*Includes audio stories to listen to as you drive
*Best Friend Guarantee: love it or get your money back
If you only have three days to see these parks, you must see the top sites in the most efficient order. Although you can use Kanab, UT as a home base, we prefer to switch lodging locations between the parks to eliminate unnecessary backtracking.
GOOD TO KNOW: Kanab is 1 hour from the East Entrance of Zion (+ a 40-minute drive to get to Zion Canyon, the most popular area in the park) and 1 hour and 20 minutes from Bryce Canyon.
The Riverside Walk and the Narrows are two halves of the same hike. The paved Riverside Walk goes for about a mile, then dead ends because the canyon gets so narrow there isn’t room for a sidewalk. That’s where the Narrows hike begins. This will take you around 2-4 hours. The Riverside Walk is 2 miles roundtrip and is a paved and easy trail; the Narrows varies in length and goes through a river.
The Riverside Walk is absolutely gorgeous: cottonwood trees contrasted with red rock walls. Hanging gardens, waterfalls, the Virgin River, and possible deer or bird sightings await. Many people enjoy a picnic while viewing the river here (no picnic tables though). Even if you don’t plan on hiking the Narrows, try to do this.
The Narrows is one of the most unique hiking experiences we’ve ever done. You are sandwiched between thousand-foot red rock walls as you wade through the Virgin River, sometimes chest-deep! It’s absolutely stunning and really fun.
Turn around whenever you like. Here are common places to turn around, along with the round trip mileage from the Temple of Sinawava (mileage includes the Riverside Walk):
We like to set a timer for the amount of time we want to hike and then turn around. The canyon is so fascinating it’s hard to know when to stop exploring. Keep in mind that you are quicker on the way back because you aren’t working against the current. Read our post, Riverside Walk and the Narrows at Zion National Park to learn how to do this awesome hike.
GOOD TO KNOW: You must use the Zion Shuttles to access Zion Canyon. Zion Canyon contains the most popular sites in the park including the Narrows, Angels Landing, Emerald Pools, and Zion Canyon Lodge. You can learn more on our blog posts How to Use the Zion Shuttle System and What to Expect at Each Shuttle Stop of the Zion Canyon. You get off at Shuttle Stop #9, the Temple of Sinawava, to do the Narrows.
Free PDF: which shuttle to take, where to park, and what to do at each major stop
Inside the guide:
*Zion Canyon & Springdale shuttles explained in plain English
*Exact parking + timing so you avoid full lots and long lines
*Simple map you can follow even without cell service
*What to do at each main stop so you don’t waste time guessing
Depending on your energy level, you can choose to do another hike or see a ghost town.
Kolob Canyons is a series of towering slot canyons (our favorite is the South Fork Trail; 2.6 mi roundtrip hike). It’s much less crowded and yet it still has wonderful scenery. However, if you’re not going to hike, or if you’re not staying on the west side, it’s probably too long of a drive just for the viewpoint. NOTE: Kolob has its own exit off the I-15 freeway. Once in Kolob, it’s a short drive to the top overlook, Kolob Canyons Viewpoint (about 10 minutes).
Grafton Ghost Town is a cool little place. It has been called the most photographed ghost town in the West. It’s Instagram-worthy due to the church, a few other buildings, and a cemetery, all with Zion in the background. To get there, leave Springdale and turn left in Rockville (there will be a sign for Grafton). Head out on the dirt road about 12 minutes to the end.
Add some variety to your trip by catching an evening show! The Tuacahn Amphitheater offers Broadway-quality plays that take place under the stars with a backdrop of Utah’s beautiful desert and red rock. They sell out so book your tickets as soon as you know your travel dates. There are many other great activities to do in nearby St. George, UT. Learn more at How to Spend 1 Day in St George.
Sleep: Spend the night at the Zion Canyon Lodge, in Springdale, La Verkin, Hurricane, or St. George.
IMPORTANT: If hiking isn’t your thing, we suggest combining Day 1 and Day 2 of your Zion Itinerary. Do the Riverside Walk (Day 1) and the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel (Day 2) on your way into Bryce Canyon.
Start your day by catching the Zion Shuttle and heading back into Zion Canyon. You can choose the easier Emerald Pools Hike (great for children) or the adventurous and scary Angels Landing!
Emerald Pools. 1 to 2.6 miles of hiking, depending on your route. The Emerald Pools are nice, but typically, they are quite small and not emerald in color. Although the hike is named after the pools and you get to walk under a misting waterfall, the highlight here is being surrounded by sheer red rock walls. You must go to the Upper Pools for the best views.
Just think of this as a triangle. You can do the whole triangle or any side of the triangle you would like. And you can do it in any order or direction. The entire triangle is 2.6 miles of paved trails with mild/moderate elevation changes, though it does get steeper going from Middle Pools to Upper Pools. For more, visit our article How to Do the Confusing Emerald Pools Hike.
Angels Landing is 5 miles, 1500 ft elevation gain; permit required. This is one of the most famous hikes in the world. Some people come to Zion solely for this hike. There are two main reasons to hike Angels Landing: the incredible view it provides looking straight down the canyon, and the thrilling experience of the Hogsback. I’ve hiked this 6 times and it never gets old! However, it is intense, especially when you reach the Hogsback, where you hold on to chains as you walk across a narrow ledge with a 1000-foot drop below you. Read more at How to Hike Angels Landing.
The Zion-Mt Carmel Highway extends from Springdale to the town of Mt Carmel on the east side of the park. You’ll encounter six switchbacks, a one-mile tunnel, and then wind through some amazing desert scenery. You’ll need your own car to do this and there are restrictions on RVs.
Some of our favorite stops along this 45-minute drive include
Sleep: Spend the night at the Bryce Canyon Lodge, Ruby’s Inn, or in Bryce Canyon City. Learn more at Best Places to Stay at Bryce Canyon.
GOOD TO KNOW: There is a 15-20 degree temperature change between Zion and Bryce Canyon! Zion sits at 4,000 ft elevation and Bryce at 8,000 ft.
Today you are going to experience Utah’s smallest and mightiest national park! The first time I saw the Grand Canyon, I gave it an “8” because I didn’t think it was as beautiful as Bryce Canyon.
Start your day with a famous Bryce Canyon Sunrise. There’s a lot of debate as to where the best place to watch a sunrise is, but we believe that Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, and Bryce Point are all great. You can read more about it in our blog post, Where to Watch a Sunrise and Sunset at Bryce Canyon.
What makes the sunrise so amazing at Bryce is not just seeing the sun rise on the horizon but the light and shadows on the hoodoos as the sun changes positions in the sky. It’s one the best sunrises I’ve ever seen (and I am a professional travel writer, that’s saying something)
Approx. 3 mi loop, moderately strenuous. This hike is the best bang for your buck in the park. It’s short, not too difficult, and will get you in the Bryce Amphitheater, where you can walk among the hoodoos! Start this hike from SUNSET Point. It’s actually a combination of two trails, but it’s the most common way of doing it. The trail provides stunning views of the hoodoos and a nice variety of looks.
Right next to Sunset Point, take the path for the Navajo Loop. After the switchback, try to spot Thor’s Hammer to your left. You can then continue into the canyon one of two ways. We recommend Wall Street, but either path is fine; both have switchbacks down into the canyon.
GOOD TO KNOW: There are water spigots, restrooms, and picnic tables at the trailhead.
Just make sure when you get to the bottom of Navajo Loop that you follow the signs for Queens Garden Trail. Then, make sure to take the little side trail to see the Queen. Walk to the interpretive sign (as shown in the photo) and spot the Queen. The sign tells you about the Queen and shows you how to find her. NOTE: She sits perched on top of a hoodoo, and she’s smaller than you think!
IMPORTANT: Bryce Canyon also uses a shuttle system. This shuttle is OPTIONAL but we like it! Read more about it Bryce Shuttles: All You Need to Know.
This 18-mile road takes 30-40 minutes to drive if you don’t make any stops. But… it takes most people 2-3 hours to do this drive properly because there are some great lookouts, including:
This little strip mall (Old West-themed) is across the street from Ruby’s Inn. They have a rock shop, Native American Art, and some fun things for kids, like a jail. It might be a nice place to visit after dinner as they also have an ice cream and candy shop that is quite popular. Ebenezer’s Barn and Grill Dinner Show is also a fun choice. For around $50, you are treated to an old west cookout with all the fixins (steak, chicken, potatoes, salad, cornbread, coffee, dessert), and you get to watch Bryce Canyon Wranglers perform covers for some famous cowboy songs, plus a few originals.
The rim of the canyon isn’t the best spot for sunsets because the sun sets at your back as you face the canyon, and since the hoodoos are lower than the canyon rim, they quickly get swallowed up in the shade.
But there is one place in the park that has a west-facing wall. And that place is… Mossy Cave.
The Mossy Cave section of the park is not linked to the main Amphitheater. You can read more about how to do this on our blog post, Where to Watch a Sunrise and Sunset at Bryce Canyon.
PRO TIP: The parking lot here is small, and people are starting to catch on that this is a cool thing to do. There is a larger overflow parking lot further down the road if the closest parking lot is full.
Optional Stop-Star Program. Bryce Canyon does some incredible evening programs. Bryce, as well as other national parks in Utah, is known for being one of the vanishing “dark spots,” meaning it’s an amazing place to see the stars. We attended a program a few years ago, and the ranger took us outside and used a special flashlight to show us the constellations in the sky and the great stories behind them. It was unique and I’ve never done anything else like this within a national park. Here are some details on some of the evening programs offered. You can check out what is going on during your visit at the NPS website.
Sleep: You can choose to stay at the same place you stayed last night.
The North Rim gets 1/10th of the visitors as the South Rim, plus you don’t have to drive too far out of your way to get to it if you are visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon. It’s 2.5 hours from Zion and 1.5 hours from Bryce. You can easily see the North Rim on a day trip from Kanab.
You can read all about how to spend a day at the North Rim on our blog post, 10 Best Things To Do at the North Rim (+Where to Stay and Eat), but highlights include:
IMPORTANT: The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is only open mid-May through mid-October!
Get our done‑for‑you, 5-7‑day route with exact drives, maps, and must‑see stops so you don’t waste time in traffic or miss the best views.
Inside the guide:
*Day‑by‑day plan for Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches & Canyonlands to get you to the best hikes, drives, and activities
*Details You Need: Time frames, driving routes, and where to sleep each night to reduce back-tracking
*Includes audio stories to listen to as you drive
*Best Friend Guarantee: love it or get your money back
–What to Wear. It will most likely be hot when you visit. A hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
are a must! Bring a jacket after the sun sets. It gets cool in the desert.
–What to Bring. A good water bottle or Camelbak and your camera.
–For Your Safety. Bring salty snacks too! It’s amazing how much you sweat in
the desert and your electrolytes need to be replenished too.
-Road Conditions. A regular car is all you need to navigate these parks. Some roads have RV restrictions, including the Zion-Mount Carmel Scenic Drive.
-Cell Phone Service. These parks are in remote areas. Don’t count
on having great reception.
-Services Within the Parks. Neither of these parks have gas stations within them
but both have a couple of restaurants at their lodges.
–Don’t Bring Your Doggo. With the exception of trained service animals, dogs are not allowed on trails or in buildings. Kennels are available in the gateway towns.
The two most common airports for this road trip are Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. We recommend using whichever is cheapest, including your car rental.
For some fun stops as you travel between Zion and Bryce, check out How To Connect Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks: 11 Amazing Stops
Visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon is an amazing experience. We hope that this blog post has been a good resource to help you start planning your trip.
If you want to make your trip planning a breeze, check out our easy-to-follow, step-by-step itineraries for Zion and Bryce Canyon. If you are thinking you want to add Utah’s other parks like Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef, we have a Utah’s National Parks Road Trip Bundle with guides to each of these parks plus driving routes for how to efficiently piece this amazing trip together.
Itinerary includes:
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