A Bea-Utah-Ful Road Trip: Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks

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Utah is unbelievable! The nature there is so extreme, wild, big and bea-utah-ful, you’ll want to keep going back for more. From any perspective: photographer, outdoors enthusiast, geology geek, extreme sportsperson or even Plein air artist, Utah’s “Mighty 5” National Parks should be on your destination list!

With so many astounding landscapes, so close together, you can cover the best of Utah’s National Parks in an express, 9-day road trip. We’re here to show you how it’s done. Stick around to the end for a downloadable, print-ready copy of this itinerary.

For an alternate Southwest USA itinerary, check out this Las Vegas to Santa Fe route. Additional tips and tricks for general road trip planning are located here, along with more road trip destination inspiration, at this link.

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Important notes for your Utah road trip

We learnt a few very big lessons on our Utah National Parks road trip. They were mostly relating to choice of vehicle. Heed these important notes before you embark on your road trip and you’re sure to have an easier, less stressful time than we did.

Vehicle choice

Choice of vehicle is everything! There are lots of less explored sights in Utah’s National Parks because they are accessed by unmaintained roads that need 4WD access. Make sure you drive or rent a 4WD with high clearance and you know how to drive it. Even something as simple as pulling off the road to get a photo can turn ugly if you don’t have the right vehicle – more on our experience later in this post.

Renting the right vehicle

I highly recommend paying the extra to book the exact vehicle category you want. Most rental companies won’t guarantee you a 4-wheel-drive. Howerver, by booking and pre-paying for a vehicle in the right category, you have a much better chance of getting what you need. This is especially so during the holidays when there are lots of people travelling.

If you do choose to chance it with “pick-of-the-lot” – double-check your vehicle specs. We made the terrible mistake of assuming our Jeeps was 4WD – apparently not (it was 2am after a long day). There was a small sticker on the windshield that said “2WD”. However, we didn’t see it until days later. If you’re unsure about the capability of your rental car, ask before it’s too late!

Off-season travel

Off-season is a great time to see Utah’s National Parks, but be prepared for some limitations. There will be roads, trails, hotels, restaurants and other services that are closed for the season. You will also have less choice and accessibility to attractions. On the flip-side, you will benefit from fewer crowds and lower prices.

National Parks entrance fee

Save money on entry to National Parks by buying an annual pass (called America the Beautiful) to save money. At USD80 it is a great deal considering each individual Park charges $10-35 for a minimum 7-day entry ticket (based on private vehicle prices).

Utah road trip itinerary

Day 1 – Las Vegas & Valley of Fire State Park

Fly to Las Vegas, the closest major airport to southern Utah. Pick up your rental car and you are on your way.

First stop: Valley of Fire State Park. After an hour’s drive, get out and stretch your legs in this beautiful desert landscape. Don’t miss the fantastic, 4000-yr old petroglyphs and sculpted red rock formations. Note, there is a $10 State Park entry fee per vehicle for Valley of Fire State Park (not included in your National Park’s pass).

Once you’ve seen Valley of Fire State Park, jump back in the car and make your way to Springdale, outside Zion National Park. Check into your accommodation in Springdale just outside the Park. We loved Flanigan’s Inn, which provided a really comfortable and welcoming stay really close to the entrance of the Park. Given there is only one road into the Park from Springdale, staying close to the entry means you can get ahead of the morning rush.

Overnight: Springdale

Driving distance: Las Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park 78km (49mi) 1hr. Valley of Fire State Park to Springdale (right outside of Zion National Park) 207km (129mi) 2hrs 20mins.

Day 2 – Zion National Park

Spend a full day in Zion National Park. Start early by grabbing breakfast and a packed lunch before hopping on the Park shuttle. Adventurous spirits can’t go past the lure of Angel’s Landing hike (if you can get a permit). The earlier in the day you start, the better (even in winter). It’s a popular trail and the up-canyon hike is a killer in the desert sun.

Whatever you choose to do in the Park, make sure you hit the Canyon Overlook Trail a couple of hours before sunset, for impressive views before the Canyon walls begin to cast shadows across the valley. Check out my Zion National Park day trip guide for more details.

Overnight: Springdale

Driving distance: Local driving distance depends on accommodation location and chosen activities.

Day 3 – Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks

Spend the morning seeing more of what Zion has to offer, then after lunch, drive to Bryce Canyon National Park. Aim to get into the Park an hour before sunset, and enjoy last light from the Rim Trail and aptly named Sunset Point.

Driving distance: Zion National Park to Bryce 136km (85mi) 1hr 50mins

Day 4 – Bryce Canyon & Capitol Reef National Parks

Spend a half-day exploring Bryce Canyon National Park before making your way to Capitol Reef National Park. Be sure to take Scenic Byway 12 for a very scenic drive. Along the way you’ll witness some of the stunning landscapes of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Though you can make it between the National Parks in under 3hrs, I recommend allowing a full afternoon to enjoy the views from various overlooks and pull-offs along the road.

Check into your accommodation in Torrey (the closest town servicing Capitol Reef). We stayed at Capitol Reef Resort to be as close to the Park entrance as possible. The Resort has modern, comfy rooms with a decent restaurant and great views of the rock formations.

If there is any daylight left after you check-in, head directly to Sunset Point down a 0.65km (0.4mi) trail—the shortest in the Park—to enjoy the spectacle. If not, save this for the end of Day 5.

Overnight: Torrey

Driving distance: Bryce to Torrey via UT-12, 182 (113mi) 2hr 30mins without stops.

Day 5 – Capitol Reef National Park

Take in Capitol Reef National Park with a full day of scenic driving and leisurely hikes. Begin with the Scenic Drive, and then explore the various canyons and valleys on foot. We experienced winter storms during our day in the Park, so our hiking was limited. The weather cleared long enough for an enjoyable hike to Hickman Bridge. This trail has great views of the Park’s namesake “Capitol Dome”.

Overnight: Torrey

Driving distance: Local driving distance depends on accommodation location and chosen activities.

Day 6 – Capitol Reef National Park & Moab

Cruise the exquisite UT-24 from Torrey, through Capitol Reef and on towards Moab. The section between Torrey and Hanksville is possibly the best Scenic Byway I have ever had the pleasure of driving. This is one case of the journey (or part thereof) being equal to the destination, so allow more time on this road to really enjoy it.

There aren’t many official pull-offs on this road, so be careful where you decide to stop for photos. Cars tend to hurtle along this remote highway and we got bogged on the side of the road. We are eternally grateful to friendly passers-by and the helpful people of Hanksville who hauled us out of the muck on Thanksgiving Day.

Check into your Moab accommodation which will be your base for the final days of your trip. We stayed in the Fairfield Inn and Suites to be closer to the two Park entries, with a short drive into town for restaurants etc. Although this is more pertinent in summer months when traffic jams into the Parks are more likely.

Overnight: Moab

Driving distance: Torrey to Moab 251km (156mi) 2hrs 35min without stops.

Day 7 – Canyonlands National Park

Next on your Utah road trip, head to the Island in the Sky section of Canyonlands for a full day of short hikes overlooking incredible vistas. Make your way along the Scenic Drive, taking advantage of the many overlooks and tackling the trails to get an overview of what Canyonlands is all about.

If you only do one trail, make sure it’s the Grand View Point Overlook—it’s fairly easy and the views are unbelievable. Dead Horse Point is a highly recommended spot for sunset however I can’t give you any personal recommendation because we experienced a very stormy end of day in the Park.

Overnight: Moab

Driving distance: Local driving distance depends on accommodation location and chosen activities.

Day 8 – Arches National Park

Your final Utah National Park for this road trip is Arches National Park. The Park has become so popular that you now need to book in advance for the high season from April 1 to October 31. Make your way around all of the paved park roads in the Park, ensuring you visit The Windows Section, Devil’s Garden and Delicate Arch Viewpoint.

If you’re fit and prepared to return in the dark, take the Delicate Arch Trail for the most amazing end to your day. Time your departure to reach Delicate Arch a good hour before sunset. There will be a queue for photos under the Arch when you get to the top and you’ll want to get some daylight photos of the rock formation. I recommend staying beyond sunset for a little twilight too. Make sure you have a flashlight or headlamp and warm clothing with you for the climb down from Delicate Arch.

Overnight: Moab

Driving distance: Local driving distance depends on accommodation location and chosen activities.

Day 9 – Departure

Departure day. You may be flying out of Salt Lake City (SLC), Grand Junction (GJT) or even Denver (DEN). There is an airport in Moab (CNY) that only offers flights to Denver. So if you are sick of driving at this point, you can take this short-haul to Denver and make your way home from there.

We chose to drive through to Denver, which I wouldn’t recommend in the colder months. We were travelling Thanksgiving Week (end of November) and storms shut the Vail Pass for several days leading up to our departure and we only just got through to make our flight.

Drive distance:

Moab to Salt Lake City 376km (238mi) 3hrs 46mins.

Moab to Grand Junction 182km (113mi) 1hr 45mins.

Moab to Denver 570km (354mi) 5hrs 30mins.

Places to eat, drink & be merry

As I mentioned, we travelled at the end of November when a lot of businesses were already closed for the season. In some places, such as Torrey, this left us with very few options but to dine in our hotel restaurant. That isn’t necessarily a problem, just something to be prepared for.

Springdale

King’s Landing Bistro – delicious upscale food, ingredients sourced locally.

Escalante

Escalante Outfitters Café – breakfast, lunch and coffee along UT-12 – they were not only open when everyone else was closed but they made great coffee and sandwiches.

Torrey

Rim Rock Inn & Restaurant – casual dining with a local vibe.

Hanksville

Duke’s SlickRock Grill – Help us say thanks to the people of Hanksville for getting us out of the mud. Support local businesses, including Duke’s, where we ate a fresh and filling breakfast after our wayward adventure.

Moab

Moab Garage Co– lunch – Great breakfast, sandwiches and coffee.

Sweet Cravings Bakery + Bistro – Casual breakfasts and great value packed lunches. Food allergy aware.

Desert Bistro – Delicious, upscale dining that I highly recommend as a treat after a day of hiking.

Utah National Parks road trip map

Utah road trip playlist

Steal my Southwest Road Trip Spotify playlist curated for your Utah National Parks road trip. It’s a genre-fluid playlist filled with music that has been written about the landscapes and locations you’ll be visiting, and/or by artists from this region of the USA. You’re sure to discover a couple of unexpected favourites.

Are you planning a Utah National Parks road trip? Was this guide helpful? Feel free to leave any feedback or questions in the comments below.

Peace, love and inspiring travel,

Madam ZoZo

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