Utah has always been one of my dream destinations in the US. Its dramatic landscapes intrigued me, appearing almost otherworldly. From stunning arches to gorgeous hoodoos and miles of salt flats, the Beehive State seemed like a land of endless wonders. In 2023, I finally made it to Utah to explore two of its “Mighty Five” national parks.
Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks are renowned for their breathtaking rock formations and challenging hikes. However, we weren’t in the mood for strenuous activities, so we planned a relaxing, slow-paced getaway to soak in the beauty and marvel at the geological wonders.
Our adventure was a 3-day road trip from Las Vegas to Utah. It began on a Friday night (to make the most of our time) and wrapped up on Monday at noon.
Reaching Zion & Bryce Canyon National Park
The closest city to Zion National Park is St. George, Utah, which has a regional airport connecting to a few major cities across the US. However, ticket prices are typically quite high. While the national park is accessible by bus from St. George, the journey is time-consuming and involves multiple transfers, making a car the most convenient choice to reach the park.
Additionally, there is no shuttle service connecting Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. However, both parks offer shuttle services within their boundaries, which can save time otherwise spent searching for parking.
We chose Las Vegas as our starting point because it’s the closest airport city and offers affordable flights and rental car options. We rented a car from Avis, near Harry Reid International Airport, for a total cost of $287 for three days.
Our Itinerary Summary
We wanted to keep this trip as relaxing as possible, so we limited our daily driving to no more than 4 hours. This gave us ample time to explore each park and discover hidden gems along the way.
- Day 1: Arrived in Las Vegas at night, drove halfway (1h 20m), and stayed overnight in Moapa Valley.
- Day 2: Explored Zion National Park (2h 3m) and continued to our stay in Bryce Canyon City (1h 54m).
- Day 3: Explored Bryce Canyon National Park (10m drive to visitor center) and stayed overnight in Hurricane (2h 21m).
- Day 4: Drove back to Las Vegas (2h) to catch our return flight to Seattle.
Zion & Bryce Canyon National Park FAQs
Before diving deeper into our itinerary, let me answer a few commonly asked questions based on my experience.
Can you visit both parks in one day?
Yes, it’s possible, but it can be quite tiring. The drive itself takes time (4-5 hours one-way), and exploring the parks—especially Zion, which involves more walking and hiking—requires energy. You might also feel rushed, which could take away from the experience. I recommend dedicating a full day to each park to truly enjoy their beauty and make the most of your visit.
Which one is better, Zion or Bryce Canyon?
Honestly, both! Each park has its own unique charm and is absolutely worth visiting. Zion captivates you with its towering cliffs, riverwalks, tiny spring-fed waterfalls, and hanging gardens. On the other hand, Bryce Canyon leaves you in awe with its surreal rock formations, known as hoodoos. If you ask me, don’t choose—visit both!
What is the best time to visit Zion Y Bryce Canyon National Park?
The summer months are the best time to visit these national parks, with mild temperatures ideal for hiking. We visited Zion and Bryce Canyon in July, and the weather was perfect! The days were moderately warm, making outdoor activities enjoyable, while the nights were pleasantly cool.
Is there an entrance fee?
Both parks have ticketed entry, which can be bought at the visitor center. I recommend buying the America the Beautiful NPS Annual Pass to save money. The pass covers up to 4 visitors per vehicle and is very convenient if you love exploring national parks.
Here’s our complete itinerary including details about our spendings to help you plan your Ultimate Zion & Bryce Canyon getaway.
Zion National Park Guide
Zion National Park was a two-hour drive from our hotel in Moapa Valley. We wanted to make the most of our time at the park, so we opted for the park shuttle to explore different points. For that we parked our car in Springdale, the closest shuttle stops to Zion National Park and boarded the Park Shuttle. Here’s a list of spots we explored within the park:
Zion Canyon Visitor Center
Our first stop was the visitor center, where we bought our NPS pass and gathered information about the best spots to visit. We were also hoping to spot California Condors, so we kept an eye out for rangers who could guide us to the right locations.
The visitor center is located near Springdale and offers stunning views of the mountains and the Virgin River. You can also explore interpretive displays and visit the gift shop for souvenirs.
Riverside Walk from Temple of Sinawava
We boarded the shuttle from the visitor center, which dropped us at the Temple of Sinawava—the starting point of the Riverside Walk trail that leads to the famous Narrows. The walk along the riverside was delightful, allowing us to immerse ourselves in nature. We spotted plenty of squirrels scurrying around, several native birds, beautiful hanging gardens, and tiny streams trickling down the rocky cliffs.
The trail was easy, with little to no elevation gain, making it enjoyable and relaxing. After almost reaching the Narrows entrance, we decided to turn back. On our way, we found a serene spot by the river to dip our feet—it was incredibly soothing. I didn’t want to leave this magical spot, but Abhi eventually had to drag me back to the shuttle stop. 😭
Big Bend Viewpoint
Our next stop was Big Bend Viewpoint, one of the best spots for non-hikers to marvel at the towering cliffs as they curve along the river’s flow. From here, you can also catch a glimpse of the thrilling Angels Landing and might even spot climbers and hikers enjoying their adventure.
This viewpoint is also a prime location to spot California Condors. We decided to sit here for a while, hoping to catch sight of one. However, after waiting for about 30 minutes without any luck, we decided to head to our next stop for the day.
The Zion Grotto
We made a quick stop at the Grotto to admire the stunning view of Angels Landing rising majestically above the Virgin River. It is the starting point of the Angels Landing Trail (West Rim Trail) and is also a great spot for picnics.
Zion National Park Lodge
Our final stop in the park was the Zion National Park Lodge, one of the park’s most iconic historic landmarks. The lodge offers unparalleled views of the majestic sandstone cliffs, making it the perfect spot to unwind.
We rested under the shade of a tree, soaking in the breathtaking scenery while indulging in some delicious cakes we bought from the food cart at the entrance. After a relaxing break, we took the shuttle back to Springdale, retrieved our car, and headed to our stay for the night in Bryce Canyon City.
Driving to Bryce Canyon City from Zion National Park
The drive from Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon was absolutely breathtaking, and we chose the perfect time to do it—during the Golden Hour! We ascended via the Mt. Carmel Highway Scenic Drive, where every turn revealed jaw-dropping views.
One of the highlights was the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, a long tunnel connecting the two parks. Both entrances to the tunnel had several pullout spots for pictures, but our favorite was the East Tunnel Entrance.
We also stopped at the Checkerboard Mesa View Area to admire the incredible rock formations. Another viewpoint we loved was the Red Canyon Arch in Dixie National Forest, which looked even more stunning bathed in the golden hour light.
Stay at Bryce Canyon City
We stayed in Bryce View Lodge in Bryce Canyon City for the night. This historic lodge is one of the best places we’ve stayed in the US. You can read my complete stay experience and honest review here.
Our hotel was just a 10-minute drive from the Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Center, and we had an exciting activity planned for the night. Bryce Canyon is one of the top stargazing destinations in the USA and is officially recognized by the International Dark Sky Association.
Dark Ranger Telescope Tours
At 9:30 PM, after checking into our hotel, we headed to the Dark Ranger Telescope Tours to experience the magic of the night sky. For over three hours, we marveled at millions of stars, constellations, and distant galaxies. Seeing the Milky Way River with our naked eyes for the first time left us utterly speechless. It was an unforgettable experience! You can read all about our stargazing adventure here.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is perched on the high plateau of the Grand Staircase and is home to the largest concentration of hoodoos on Earth. This stunning park features several viewpoints that are easily accessible by car or via the FREE park shuttle. Here are the overlook points and top spots we explored during our visit.
Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive Overlooks
Here’s a list of scenic overlooks we visited in Bryce Canyon, each offering unique perspectives of the hoodoos within the Bryce Amphitheater. From the northernmost Sunrise Point (8,100 feet) to the southernmost Rainbow Point (9,115 feet), every stop was mesmerizing.
- Sunrise Point – Our first stop after the visitor center, this viewpoint offered incredible views of the Bryce Amphitheater.
- Sunset Point – At our second stop, we took a short hike to the entrance of the strenuous Wall Street trail. From here, we spotted many iconic hoodoos, including the famous Thor’s Hammer.
- Inspiration Point – This viewpoint featured two perspectives. The Lower Inspiration Point was located right next to the parking area. The Upper Inspiration Point was a short hike from the parking, offering an unobstructed view of the hoodoos below.
- Natural Bridge – This stop featured a breathtaking view of an 85-foot arch carved out of red sedimentary rock over millions of years.
- Rainbow Point – The final stop on our scenic drive, this is the park’s highest point. It provided a bird’s-eye view of the Bryce Amphitheater and the vast Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Bryce Canyon Visitor Center
Our final stop at Bryce Canyon was the Visitor Center, where we took a leisurely stroll around the prairie and did something truly special—we adopted a prairie dog and named it Dexter, after my beloved guinea pig Dexter. We also browsed the gift shop and picked up souvenirs for our family.
On our way out of the park, we couldn’t resist stopping at the iconic park entrance sign for some memorable photos with the welcome signboard.
We spent nearly five hours exploring every nook and cranny of the park. The scenic drive through Bryce Canyon was smooth and stunning, and I was amazed at the elevation we gained in just a few miles. With a long drive ahead of us, we made our way to Hurricane, where we stayed for the night.
On our way from Bryce Canyon to Hurricane, we stopped to explore a few unique spots that deserve their own spotlight. I’ve shared all the details about these hidden gems in a separate guide. You can check out my
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My final thoughts and budget
Overall, our goal was to enjoy a relaxing getaway and explore the beauty of the area at our own pace—and we succeeded! From soaking in a hot tub while surrounded by nature to marveling at jaw-dropping natural wonders, Bryce Canyon and Zion proved to be the perfect destinations for a slow and rejuvenating vacation.
Our total expenses for the trip came to approximately $1,500 for two people. This included round-trip flights, accommodations, car rental, fuel, and food. The food was quite affordable, and we also packed a few ready-to-eat meals to save time during our park visits. For the best deals, we booked our hotels through Booking.com and secured the best car rental rates with Avis.
If you’re looking for a day-trip tour recommendation, here’s one I recommend that covers all the top spots in the two national parks.
Leave me a comment or DM me on Instagram if you have any questions about the two national parks. I’ll be thrilled to help you plan your ultimate getaway. 😍
