1 Day in Bryce Canyon National Park: Itinerary & Ultimate Guide

24 hours in Bryce Canyon National Park is more than enough time to hit all of the iconic highlights and, if you get an early start, even explore a few of its lesser-known corners. But what’s really worth it, and what can you skip? We explored most of Bryce Canyon National Park during our recent road trip through Utah, and this one-day itinerary covers the best things to do in Bryce Canyon, along with important information on where to stay, when to visit, expected costs, and more!

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Table of Contents

❓Is One Day Enough for Bryce Canyon National Park?

Having extensively explored this park over several days, we can confidently say that Bryce Canyon’s absolute must-sees within the main amphitheater area can be distilled into a single, memorable day. However, for those with more time, the park offers an abundance of trails and viewpoints, making it easy to fill two, three, or even more days of travel.

Please respect the outdoors and Leave No Trace! Before embarking on your outdoor adventure, review the seven principles of Leave No Trace, which include planning ahead and preparing, traveling and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in), leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of others. Abiding by these principles helps keep these places beautiful so others can enjoy them for years to come!

📝 One Day in Bryce Canyon Itinerary

In this itinerary, you’ll find a mix of short hikes, scenic overlooks, and scenic drives concentrated in the main Bryce Amphitheater area of Bryce Canyon National Park. This is the “hub” of the park, and is where Bryce’s infamous hoodoos are located.

🤔 What’s a hoodoo? Glad you asked. A hoodoo is a tall, oddly shaped rock formation that has been formed over time through erosion. They can be found all over the world, but Bryce Canyon has the highest concentration!

Catch the Sunrise Over the Hoodoos

Kick off your Bryce Canyon adventure by watching the sun rise over the hoodoos! Since Bryce Canyon National Park is open 24 hours, you can enter the park as early as you like. Once you’re in, head to Sunrise Point, just a 4-minute drive from the Visitor Center.

As the sun slowly rises over the horizon, the colorful, textured hoodoo-filled landscape lights up in front of you. You’ll understand why they deemed this spot Sunrise Point! Make sure to check the exact sunrise time during your visit, plan to get there at least 45 minutes early to get a good spot, and bring warm layers.

😴 Not an early riser? No problem. Whenever you’re up, head into the park and start your day in Bryce Canyon by taking in the hoodoo views at Sunrise Point!

Walk to Sunset Point

After soaking in the incredible sunrise, next up is an easy stroll along the Rim Trail to Sunset Point. This paved walk is only 0.5 miles (0.8 km) one-way and should take you roughly 10-15 minutes. As you follow the path, you’ll be treated to continuous jaw-dropping views of the main Bryce Amphitheater, bathed in the warm morning light!

Hike Queen’s Garden & Navajo Loop Combination Trail

Now that you’ve seen Bryce Amphitheater from above, it’s time to descend into the hoodoos themselves! From Sunset Point, you’re going to set off on Bryce Canyon’s #1 trail on AllTrails—Navajo Loop & Queen’s Garden Combination Trail.

Although it can be traveled in either direction, as you’re already at Sunset Point, start on the Navajo Loop. Then, there are two paths to choose from to go down into the heart of the amphitheater. We recommend taking Wall Street if it’s open; otherwise, take Two Bridges.

From the bottom, you’ll connect to Queen’s Garden Trail, which leads you past unique formations like Queen Victoria before heading back to Sunrise Point.

This popular loop is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) long with about 653 feet (199 meters) of elevation change. Expect to take 1.5-2.5 hours to complete it at a moderate pace, be prepared with sturdy hiking shoes, and pack 2-3 liters of water per person.

🥾 Trail Extension: Tack the Peekaboo Loop onto your hike for even more hoodoo views. This will bring your overall hiking time to 3-4 hours. Follow Figure 8 Combination Hike for guidance on how to combine all three hikes in one!

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Learn about the Park at the Visitor Center

Before breaking for lunch, stop by the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center to learn a bit about the park! Beyond practical amenities like restrooms and water refills, the Visitor Center houses a fantastic museum with tons of facts about the park.

Here, they also show what we consider one of the best park films we’ve seen to date! This film beautifully illustrates Bryce Canyon’s changing seasons and explains how its unique flora and fauna adapt, providing some useful context to back what you’re seeing in the park.

📅 Check the Calendar: While at the Visitor Center, check the Ranger Programs for that day to see what events are going on. You can also check their online calendar of events in advance.

Break for Lunch

After your hoodoo-filled morning, it’s time to recharge over lunch. If you’ve packed a lunch, you can find picnic tables at spots like the Visitor Center, Sunrise Point, and Sunset Point. If you’re craving something hot, head over to Valhalla Pizzeria and Coffee Shop, located near the Bryce Canyon Lodge inside the park. We went here for a fresh pizza and some coffee and were energized for the rest of the afternoon!

🍕 Business Hours: Valhalla Pizza is open every day from 7 AM to 8 PM.

Drive the Southern Scenic Drive

After lunch, it’s time to explore Bryce Canyon from the comfort of your car. This leisurely journey along the Southern Scenic Drive, an 18-mile (29 km) road through the park, typically takes 2 to 3 hours, including stops.

The initial 3 miles (4.8 km) wind through the Bryce Amphitheater area before leading into what’s considered the true Southern Scenic Drive, the last 15 miles (24 km) with 9 main pull-offs and viewpoints:

Swamp Canyon
Farview Point
Piracy Point
Natural Bridge
Agua Canyon
Ponderosa Canyon
Black Birch Canyon
Rainbow Point
Yovimpa Point

While glimpses are available from your car, the most breathtaking views typically require you to park and walk a bit to the viewing areas. Take your time at each stop to appreciate the unique differences—no two hoodoos are the same!

🤳🏼 Download the NPS App on your phone and go to Tours for a free driving tour of Bryce Canyon!

Go on a Relaxed Afternoon Hike

Once you’ve finished the scenic drive, here are our three favorite easy hike options to explore a bit more of the park, without sending your step count skyrocketing:

Bristlecone Loop was our favorite short trail in the park! Located on the south side of Bryce, this high-elevation loop trail offers views of the Grand Staircase and even the Grand Canyon on clear days. Expect to take just 30 minutes to 1 hour on this 1.2-mile (1.8-km) trail. Just know that there are no hoodoo views on this hike!
Mossy Cave Trail was our 2nd favorite short trail in the park. This peaceful hike will take you along the water, across two bridges, and to a manmade waterfall and a small cave. This out-and-back trail took us just under an hour and stretched 0.9 miles (1.4 km). You’ll still get some hoodoo views on this trail.
The Tower Bridge Trail is a 2-hour section of the much longer Fairyland Loop, our overall favorite trail in the park. This trail will take you past iconic hoodoo formations like Tower Bridge, without having to invest the 4-5 hours that Fairyland Loop requires.

Grab Dinner in Town

After your full day of exploring, head back to your accommodations to make some dinner or enjoy dinner out in one of the nearby towns. The closest options will be in Bryce Canyon City or Tropic. We opted for dinner in our campervan, but here are two top-rated spots we found:

Ebenezer’s Barn and Grill Dinner Show is a western-themed dinner theater in Bryce Canyon City where you can enjoy an American dinner with a fun live country show!
Stone Hearth Grille is an American eatery in Tropic with a pleasant outdoor patio where you can enjoy views of the surrounding landscape.

Watch the Sunset from Bryce Point

As your day winds down, head back into the park to watch the sunset from easily the best overlook in all of Bryce Canyon—Bryce Point. Affording you 300-degree views, you’ll get to see the changing light transform the vast amphitheater of hoodoos into a canvas of oranges, reds, and purples. As this parking lot tends to fill up, especially in the summer, feel free to take the shuttle here.

🌄 Check Sunset Time: Check the exact sunset time and plan to arrive at least 30-45 minutes early to secure a good spot. Depending on the time of year, sunset could be before or after dinner—feel free to switch the order if necessary.

Optional: Go Stargazing

Bryce Canyon is an International Dark Sky Park, making it an amazing stargazing and astrophotography spot! If you’re not heading out at the end of the day, bring a blanket, some snacks, and your camera to a spot like Inspiration Point, Fairyland Point, or any pull-off along the Southern Scenic Drive well after sunset.

The highest visibility will be during clear, moonless nights. This is when stars, the Milky Way, and even meteor showers are most visible! We had luck with a combination of a clear sky and a new moon. Don’t hesitate to ask rangers around what time stars start to become visible during your visit, so you can time it right.

If you’re planning a visit in June, Bryce Canyon traditionally hosts an annual Astronomy Festival for one weekend every June, so don’t miss it if you’re travelling in June!

Check out 13 Best Things to Do in Bryce Canyon in 2025 for even more things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park!

⛅ When to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park

Choosing the best time to visit Bryce Canyon often depends on your preferences for weather, crowd levels, and facility access, as each season offers a unique combination of these factors. Here’s a breakdown of each:

Winter in Bryce Canyon – For a truly magical, quiet experience, winter transforms the hoodoos into a snowy wonderland, but some roads and facilities may be closed. Always check the current forecast and road conditions before your trip.
Summer in Bryce Canyon – While most people visit during the summer for pleasant days (60s-80s F), be prepared for frequent afternoon thunderstorms in July and August and more crowds.
Spring and Fall in Bryce Canyon – The shoulder seasons of spring and fall (we visited in late April) offer a fantastic balance of fewer crowds and comfortable temperatures, though snowstorms aren’t unusual as early as October, and nighttime temperatures fall below freezing from October through May.

🚗 How to Get to Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is located next to Bryce Canyon City, Utah. Driving is the easiest way to reach the park, and is how we came in, but other options exist:

By Car – Located 4 hours from Las Vegas to the south or Salt Lake City to the north, Bryce Canyon is reached primarily via I-15 connecting to US-89, which then leads to scenic Highway 12 and ultimately Utah Highway 63 into the park.
By Plane – The closest major airports are Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Salt Lake City, Utah, both requiring a 4-hour drive to the park. From either airport, you can rent a car into the park.
By Public Transport – Public transport to Bryce Canyon from outlying cities is virtually nonexistent, though private shuttle services or bus tours from Las Vegas can be arranged. The park shuttle does connect Bryce Canyon City with the park, with a stop outside of Ruby’s Inn Campground, so parking in town and shuttling into the park is an option.

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🏨 Where to Stay Near Bryce Canyon National Park

If you’re just staying one night in Bryce Canyon, you have a few options within and outside the park, from free BLM land to in-park camping to hotels in town. Here’s the breakdown!

How to Stay Inside Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park Campgrounds — Bryce Canyon has two campgrounds within its grounds, North Campground (open year-round) and Sunset Campground (closed in winter). Reservations can be made via recreation.gov, and sites cost $30/night for groups up to 6. No hookups at either.
Bryce Canyon Lodge — The Bryce Canyon Lodge is the only lodging in the park with hotel-like accommodations. Prices per room vary between $90 to $150 per night.

Options Outside of Bryce Canyon

Free Campgrounds — Dixie National Forest Dispersed Camping and Red Canyon Boondock Camping are two free campgrounds on public land within a 15-minute drive from the park. We stayed at Dixie and loved it!
Paid Campgrounds — There are a plethora of paid campgrounds and RV parks just outside the park, like Ruby’s Inn Campground and RV Park, The Riverside Ranch, and Bryce Canyon Log Cabins. These are great options if you’re looking for electric hookups.
Hotels — If you’re looking for a very comfortable stay, consider this Best Western just 4 minutes away from the park, or Bryce Pioneer Village, 15 minutes from the park.

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💰 Budget for One Day in Bryce Canyon

Depending on your travel style, the cost of a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park can vary. Your main costs for just a day in the park include the park entrance fee, your accommodations, and if you eat out. Here’s a breakdown of the main costs so you know what to expect. Factor in your personal gas and food expenses at the end.

🎫 Consider investing in the America the Beautiful pass for $80 like we did if you’re planning on travelling to several parks within the year.

Fee	Cost	Notes
Park Entrance	$35/vehicle	Both North and Sunset Campgrounds within the park cost $30/night. Prices for private campgrounds like the ones we listed above come at a bit higher price, but do offer more amenities like hookups.
Paid Camping	$30-$70/night	If you’re looking for the most comfort, expect to pay $90 and up per night for a lodge, hotel, or adjacent accommodation.
Lodge or Hotel	$90-$300/night	Parking within the park is free with entry, but can fill up quickly in the popular season. Even if staying in Bryce Canyon City, most hotels include parking. Some people might need to pay, but it’s rare.
Park Shuttle	Free	This is included with your park admission fee.
Parking	Free	Both North and Sunset Campgrounds within the park cost $30/night. Prices for private campgrounds like the ones we listed above come at a bit higher of price, but do offer more amenities like hookups.
Lunch or Dinner Out	$20-30 per person, per meal	Expect to pay between $15 and $25 for your average lunch or dinner meal in and around the park. Save money by making your own meals.

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🪧 Learn More: Protect the Hoodoos

Hoodoos don’t last forever; they lose 2-4 feet every 100 years on average! This process can be sped up if visitors even walk up to the base of a hoodoo, weakening the clay slopes protecting its foundation. As visitors, the most impactful way we can help is by sticking to the trails and adhering to Leave No Trace Guidelines.

You can learn more about the hoodoos themselves by participating in the Hike the Hoodoos program, a fun initiative that incentivizes exploring the park’s trail system with a special reward upon completion. We also encourage all ages to participate in the Junior Ranger Program, where you can be sworn in as a Junior Park Ranger by completing Bryce Canyon’s activity booklet and learning about the park through a presentation, movie, or exploring the museum.

If you wish to go a step further, consider financially supporting conservation organizations like the National Parks Conservation Association or the Bryce Canyon Association. The latter supports education, programming, research, and infrastructure within Bryce Canyon specifically. You can support them by buying from their Visitor Center Bookstore or by becoming a friend of the park. 💚

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1 Day in Bryce Canyon National Park: Itinerary & Ultimate Guide

❓Is One Day Enough for Bryce Canyon National Park?