Utah’s National Parks are simply stunning. From lush green valleys and sandstone formations in every shade of orange to deep canyons and expansive panoramas stretching as far as the eye can see, Utah’s National Parks will take your breath away, transport you to another planet, and inspire your inner sense of adventure all in one fell swoop.
You could spend an endless number of days exploring Utah’s National Parks and still leave hoping for a return visit. But if you’ve got a week, you can experience Utah’s unbelievable beauty on an unforgettable road trip.
Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1- Fly into Salt Lake City
If you don’t live near Utah, you’ll need to fly into the region. You could also fly into Las Vegas and do this road trip in reverse. It’s great to have both options because you can search on sites like Momondo and Skyscanner for cheap flights with some flexibility. Even better if you’re using miles and points to book an award flight as there may be available seats in one starting point but not the other.
Whichever airport you fly into, you’ll obviously need to rent a car. Both Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are major airports with plenty of car rental options. Consider the time of year of your trip. Some of the parks have steep and narrow roads. If you want to do any off-roading, definitely rent a vehicle with 4-wheel drive. That being said, I went in spring and rented a basic 4-door car and had no problems. Either way, see how you can save money on your car rental with this secret and avoid making these road trip mistakes!
Once you’ve picked up the car, head southeast for the 3.5-hour drive from Salt Lake City to Moab, Utah. Moab will have everything you need from food to gas to lodging. Once you arrive, settle in and get ready for a fresh start in the morning!
Where to Stay:
I recommend the Holiday Inn Express in Moab. It’s on the main road through town, close to 2 National Parks, and comes with a free breakfast. Perfect when you’re planning a day of hiking and outdoor fun!
Pro Tip:
If you’ve landed in Salt Lake City in the morning and have a full day to get to Moab, consider a stop at Antelope Island State Park. You’ll get to see the Great Salt Lake and have a chance to spot wildlife like bison roaming freely.
Day 2- Arches National Park
If you arrived in Moab after dark, prepare yourself! The morning light reveals the orange and red rock formations surrounding the city. Waste no time and arrive at Arches National Park in time for opening. The park is just 5 minutes from downtown Moab.
Buy the America the Beautiful Pass for $80 to get entrance to any National Park for a whole year or find out ahead of time if you qualify for another way to save money on National Park entrance fees. After visiting just a few parks, the $80 pass will pay for itself.
At Arches National Park, you won’t want to miss the views from the park’s scenic drive, hiking up to Delicate Arch, or walking down into Park Avenue.
Remember to pack water and lunch/snacks for the day. Moab has plenty of places to stock up. Arches heats up even in the spring and fall. The rocky desert landscape has no cover from the sun and only a couple spots to drink from a water fountain.
When the day is done, spend 1 more night in Moab. Try some delicious Mexican food at El Charro Loco Mexican Grill and prepare for another day outdoors tomorrow.
For a detailed Arches National Park guide, check out:
How to Plan 1 Awesome Day at Arches National Park
Day 3- Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is divided into 4 districts. The Island in the Sky section of the park is by far the most visited area. After checking out of your hotel this morning, make the 20-minute ride from Moab. Again, remember to have the food and water you need for the day before leaving Moab.
Just before reaching Canyonlands entrance and visitor’s center, take a detour into Dead Horse Point State Park. The lookout at Dead Horse Point Overlook is a must-see!
After this brief stop, return to the main road and on to the entrance of Canyonlands National Park. Drive the entire scenic road through the park, hopping out to hike or take photos from the numerous scenic overlooks. Be inspired by the vast panorama of the canyon stretching outwards from Mesa Arch. Walk the easy hike along the ridge at the Grand View Point Overlook.
For more information about Canyonlands and my favorite overlook spot, check out:
How to Spend an Inspiring Day at Canyonlands National Park
By late afternoon, say goodbye to Canyonlands and begin the 2.5-hour drive to Monument Valley. If you have a clear night, look to the sky for some terrific Monument Valley stargazing.
Where to Stay:
When you arrive in Monument Valley, you’ll have only a couple of hotel options. I highly recommend The View Hotel in the Navajo Nation or the Goulding’s Lodge just 2 minutes away. With just 1 night’s stay, either one will serve you well.
Pro Tip:
Gas up as you drive back through Moab on your way out of town. Gas stations and rest stops are far and few between as you head south on US-191.
Day 4- Monument Valley
Tumbleweed blows across the open valley. Iconic sandstone monuments dot the landscape. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a scene from an old Western with a bunch of cowboys chasing down a group of thieves!
The most popular Mesas, Buttes, and Spires are along a 17-mile loop within the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. You can join a guided tour or drive yourself. I drove my small rental car with no problem. Yes, the road is rough and bumpy, but if you drive slowly and carefully, you’ll be fine. Choosing the self-driving option also allowed more time to enjoy the views and go at my own pace.
For a detailed Monument Valley Guide, check out:
Everything You Need to Know for an Epic Visit to Monument Valley
When your Monument Valley visit is finished, begin the 4.5-hour drive to Bryce Canyon National Park. Along the way, look out for Page, Arizona, home to the famous Horseshoe Bend. A short hike leads to the popular scenic overlook. Depending on what time it gets dark, you may even make it to Bryce Canyon to see the hoodoos lit up at sunset. 🙂
Where to Stay:
Bryce is a tiny town right at the edge of the National Park entrance. I highly recommend the Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn. Book a room for 1-2 nights.
Pro Tip:
You may save money by staying in less expensive Bryce for 2 nights. Bryce National Park and Zion National Park are less the 2 hours from each other. You could easily stay the 2nd night at your less expensive Bryce hotel and wake up early on Day 6 to make the drive to Zion National Park.
Day 5- Bryce National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is like descending into a fairytale land where sandstone hoodoos stare up at you from a natural amphitheater and show off their brilliant shades of orange, pink, and red. This National Park is like no other. Drive the scenic road through the park stopping at must-see overlooks like Sunrise and Sunset Points. Hike along the Rim Trail. Go down into the Canyon following the Queens Garden trail or complete the Navajo Loop.
No visit to Bryce Canyon is complete without seeing the sunrise over the hoodoos. The orange and pink hoodoos turn absolutely fiery as the sun first hits them.
To convince yourself why you should absolutely wake up to see the sunrise, check out:
25 Photos to Make You Want to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
Pro Tip:
The small town of Bryce is just outside the National Park. Scramble out of bed to see the sunrise. Then, if you want, head back to town for breakfast before a day of hiking and exploring.
Day 6- Zion National Park
Zion National Park grabs you by the senses and overwhelms you with its magnificence. You’ll understand how special Zion truly is from the moment you drive along the Mount Carmel Scenic Highway with its towering mountains on all sides. Zion offers an endless number of activities for every type of adventurer. Hike, horseback ride, mountain climb, and spot wildlife to your heart’s content.
Springdale, Utah is the park’s gateway town. You’ll find everything you need from lodging and food to tour and gear shops. Whether you checked into your Springdale hotel last night or this morning, plan to ride the free Springdale Shuttle to the National Park’s entrance. From there, you’ll catch the Zion National Park Shuttle to different points within the park. Unlike the other National Parks, there is no scenic road through the park itself. Shuttles run continuously to pick up and drop off park visitors.
For a complete Zion National Park guide, check out:
What You Need to Know for a Successful Zion National Park Visit
8 Spectacular Things to Do at Zion National Park
Where to Stay:
I highly recommend the Holiday Inn Express in Springdale. Not only was it the nicest Holiday Inn Express I’ve stayed in, it had a pool and the free town shuttle bus to Zion stopped just outside.
Day 7- Zion National Park (You won’t want to leave!)
Zion National Park has a couple famous hikes like Angels Landing and the Narrows. Angels Landing is a strenuous and steep hike to reach the lookout over Zion Canyon. The Narrows treks through the Virgin River and is open only when the water levels and current are safe. Unfortunately, it was closed when I went.
If you’re physically fit and not afraid of heights, I highly recommend giving Angels a try! It’s a tough climb and descent and you absolutely have to be careful. But, the view and the accomplishment are worthwhile rewards.
For a complete Angels Landing Guide, check out:
Climbing Angels Landing Hike at Zion National Park
Day 8- Fly home from Las Vegas
Check out of your hotel in Springdale. Tearfully, say goodbye to Zion and make the 2.5-hour drive to Las Vegas. Plan to return your rental car at the airport. Then, head for home with unforgettable memories from your fantastic Utah National Parks road trip!
Have more time?
- Plenty of visitors add a few days to their trip to see the Grand Canyon. You could fit this in after Monument Valley or Zion National Park.
- Antelope Canyon is a natural wonder between Monument Valley and Bryce and Zion National Parks. Why not plan extra time in the area to take a guided tour?
- Spend 1-2 days in Las Vegas. After a week of outdoor fun in Utah’s National Parks, a posh Las Vegas hotel, fine food, and some nightlife might be the perfect way to end your vacation.
So, what are you planning to see and do on your Utah National Parks road trip itinerary? What tips can you share about this itinerary?
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Climbing Angels Landing Hike at Zion National Park
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I don’t know when Utah will happen in my life. You have triggered my travel pangs to the place. The itinerary is well detailed but at the same time I could not choose one over the other.
Luckily, Indrani, you can see and explore these parks with just a week. Plenty of time to visit other places in the USA, too.
What a remarkable landscape. Utah National Parks is one of the prime reasons I want to visit USA for. This post makes it look very do-able…thanks for this.
Thanks for reading, Punita.The Utah National Parks would have to be up there in the top 5 or 10 USA experiences to have.
We briefly ventured in to Utah when we lived in Arizona and did visit Monument Valley, which is gorgeous. But we’d love to go back and Arches NP, Canyonlands NP and Moab are all on our Utah bucket list. Thanks for this itinerary. We’ll keep it in mind when we get around to finally planning our Utah trip.
Hope you can plan it soon, Jennifer! Arches and Canyonlands are great! 🙂
Sounds like a very busy week. There are so many amazing National Parks in Utah I am always torn between the epic road trip and a deep dive explore of one or two parks. Sounds like you put together a trip that you get to see everything and perhaps, make a choice what to come back to and explore later.
It was busy but so much fun, Jen. If I had to pick one to go back to for a deeper dive, I’d go with Zion. It’s so majestic. Truly a one of kind National Park.
This is awesome and a must save because I would love to see many if not all of these places.
You’d love a Utah road trip, Holly! Gorgeous part of the USA.
What a beautiful place! More I see photos such as this and read articles on Utah more I want to go now. I once was browsing thru a book on all the national parks of US. It is just truly amazing.
Thanks, Nisha. Yes, the U.S. has so much open space to explore in its National Parks. There are so many gorgeous spots to explore. Hope you make it soon!
Such great tips! We love Utah but have quite a few parks to check out still. We’ve only made it to Arches and Zion, but I’d love to explore them all sometime, especially Canyonlands! Your photos are great and make me want to plan another road trip out there again soon!
Thanks, Jenna. 🙂 Canyonlands, I think, is a hidden gem. You hear so much about the other parks, but then Canyonlands just quietly captivates and overwhelms you. Hope you can make out west again soon.
I love Utah’s National Parks! Fabulous itinerary, thanks for putting each of these parks into an itinerary we can do in a week 🙂 We were in Utah two years ago now though didn’t have nearlly enough time to properly explore the state. We hit up a couple of State Parks which were in our area, and then did Arches, but Bryce, Zion and Monument Valley are still on the list. Going for at least a full week next time!
Aren’t they so great, Meg?! Everyone really needs to spend some time out there and even with a week can have a great experience. Hope you make it back in the near future!
Totally just what I need! This roadtrip is on my bucketlist. I really hope I can do it this 2017. Saving this and thanks for sharing. Can you also share with me the car rental cost? I am not sure I can use my friends car for the whole week so I might rent.
You’ll love this road trip, Carla. It’s really fantastic. So my car rental cost was a bit different because we rented one in NYC and drove across country first. But, I recommend making a car rental reservation with any site (Kayak, Car Rentals, etc), then tracking your reservation with Autoslash. Autoslash is my secret weapon for saving money on car rentals. They’ll search for a better price continuously and let you know when they find one. As long as it’s not a last minute reservation, I all but guarantee they’ll find you a better price. I’ve done better every single time, as have my readers, family, and friends. Good luck!
This kind of trip has been on my bucket list forever now. You’ve given me so many great ideas! I’ve always wanted to go to Bryce, but there’s so much more!
Utah is a treasure trove, Lauren. Bryce is just the beginning! Hope you can take a road trip soon!
Thanks for the great write up. I’ll have a couple days to spare. Did you feel that any of these parks were rushed at all? Would you stay at any other than Zion for an extra day?
Thanks!
Hi Matt,
Thanks for reading and great question! I absolutely would have spent more time at Zion to do a bit more hiking. It’s such a beautiful park, though, it’s hard to leave no matter how many days you’re there. Enjoy!!! 🙂
I’m so much into going but how can I find travel mates? I am not looking for dating just people whom I can trust to travel with.
where can I find them and plan the trip together?
One woman would be just fine
THanks so much for reading. I’d look for Facebook groups with like-minded travelers looking for travel buddies and go from there. 🙂 Don’t underestimate solo travel, though. It’s such an opportunity for personal growth.
This is exactly what I needed! I am taking my mom and one of her friends (in their 70s) and my 12 yr old son on this trip in May. Your itinerary and tips are really going to help. Do you have any suggestions for hikes for seniors? They are both in good shape, but they don’t need to do anything too rocky.
Thanks for reading, Dana! How exciting to be planning a Utah National Parks trip. So, I loved this trip so much that my mom and several older relatives did this trip after me following my itinerary. They were all in their 60s-70s and were able to hike on most trails I talk about in the posts on each individual park, with the exception of the last bit of Angel’s Landing in Zion. I’d say more than trail difficulty (which is clearly marked by the National Parks Service), the key was starting early. The heat was more of a concern, with much of the parks’ landscape being dry, with few trees to take cover. Hope that helps and you have a fantastic trip! 🙂
Thank you so much!
I do have another question- I saw that you would have stayed longer in Zion if you could….you would pick an extra day in Zion over Arches? Just checking before I decide..
Hi Dana,
I’m so glad you’re finding the guides helpful. 🙂 I would absolutely spend the extra day in Zion over Arches. There’s so much about Zion to take in. The more time there the better.
Let me know if you have more questions. Happy to help.
Jackie
Am thrilled to find your blog! Your week-long tips for traveling through the Utah canyons has been so helpful.
We just booked and will explore these canyons this coming June! I am a teacher as well and won’t retire for 6 more years. My husband and I LOVE to travel, but are starting to worry about spending money on traveling rather than saving for retirement. We have never used miles and points b/c we don’t travel that often, but I’m wondering if we should start. I know nothing about it.
Thank you!
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks so much for reading! I love to have fellow teachers following along. 🙂 I’m glad the Utah tips are helpful. The National Parks out in Utah are just incredible. My whole approach to miles and points is making the money you’re already spending on bills and everyday life work harder by giving a return in the form of travel rewards. If you’re interested in learning a bit more, check out my free basics course at theglobetrottingteacher.teachable.com/p/travel-hacking-basics There’s no obligation of anything and it’ll give you the basics. Whether you take 1 trip a year or many, miles and points can help you save money on travel costs. Enjoy Utah!!
I’m trying to plan a trip for my family to Utah in March and this itinerary is perfect and saves me a lot of time! It got me so excited. Thank you!! With one day at each park would you say it’s sort of rushed or is that definitely enough time to see what you’d like at each place?
Hi Leah,
Thanks so much for reading and glad the itinerary is helpful for you! It depends on how much you want to go off-the-beaten-path or not? I was definitely glad to stay in Zion for a couple days. Arches and Canyonlands were fine for the day. For Bryce Canyon, I did a day and a half. I was glad to do the drive through the park on the afternoon of my arrival for the sightseeing. The next day was for hiking and was fine for my April visit. (Keep in mind for a March visit (like mine in April), Bryce may still have snow in spots closing off some of the hiking trails.) Hope that helps and you have an amazing trip!
HI-
We are planning a trip this summer ( I too am a teacher) and I was wondering about the rental car. We have been told that it is more expensive to return it to another airport. We could fly into Vegas or SLC but we thought we had to do a loop because of the rental car. Did you run into this?
Thanks
Hi Robbi,
Thanks so much for reading. I love chatting with fellow teachers about their travel plans. 🙂 To be honest, we drove back and forth across the country as part of our adventure. However, I have rented a car and returned it to another location. It depends on the location and time of year so fees vary. I use a website called Autoslash to track my car rental reservations. Make a reservation with any website. Then enter the details at Autoslash. They’ll let you know if they find a cheaper price. I’ve always saved money with them. Hope that helps! Have a great trip!
We weren’t able to fit Moab and canyonlands into our Great Southwest Adventure instead opting for a round trip out of Vegas and doing the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon. My biggest tips would be to stay IN the parks if you can to be right in the middle of the action (but you can’t use points) and if you’re going to hike The Narrows rent the water boots and poles from the adventure shop in Springdale. Water sandals weren’t sufficient. Makes me want to go back!
Thanks for reading and for the tips, Angie! Sounds like you had a great trip. 🙂 Hope you can make it back to visit Moab someday.
Great write up, thanks for sharing. We are planning a trip this fall maybe October, coming from Vermont, and are looking forward to hit the road again. We did the Big Sur, and route 66 a couple of years ago, great time. One question, did you have to make any lodging reservations on your trip? And if not, did you have any problems finding lodging close to where you were exploring and hiking?
D
Thanks so much for reading, Don. I did make lodging reservations, but they were all fairly last minute. So for example, we were in Moab/Arches NP already when I booked the hotel for Bryce NP. So, we didn’t just show up but it was spontaneous. We also traveled during spring break time so I was more mindful that just arriving with nowhere to stay could be problematic because of the busier time of year. As for the drive across country to get to Utah, we just found places along the way. Hope that helps and happy travels! 🙂
Wow. What a great resource for planning this trip. What is a better time? Late April or Late September. Thanks for the article.
Thanks for reading, Steve. Honestly, they’d both be great times to go. Weather-wise, it should be more moderate compared to the high temps in summer. Crowd-wise, both times are during the regular school calendar. If I had to choose, maybe late September. Maybe you’ll see the leaves starting to turn a little in Zion NP and it’s probably more comfortable hiking the Narrows in Zion if that’s on your list. Have a great trip! 🙂
Thanks!
Great itinerary and sounds great even with teenage kids, which is my plan. Would this trip work for roundtrip from Salt Lake City? How far is Zion, last stop, back to SLC? I am flying in and the car isn’t my concern but roundtrip tickets from same airport tend to be cheaper.
Thanks for reading, Lizzie. It’s a great trip for teenagers! Zion to SLC is about 4 1/2 hours by car. Not bad, but still may be worth it to search multi-city itineraries flying into SLC and out of Las Vegas, for example. 🙂