All you need is one week to see some of the most beautiful National Parks. In just 7 days, you can see five national parks — Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches! We’ve traveled this route ourselves and loved how much bang for your buck you get in just around 700 miles. Keep on reading for a 7-Day Utah Road Trip Itinerary, complete with where to stay the night, what to do in each park, and more!
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🚗 About This Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip
Fly Into: Las Vegas, Nevada
Fly Out Of: Salt Lake City, Utah
# of Days: 7
Average Daily Drive Time: <3 hours
Total Driving Distance: 700-800 miles
Best Time to Do: Spring or Fall
We recommend flying into Las Vegas, Nevada, renting a car to head east, and ending your trip in Salt Lake City, Utah. If you need a different flight path on the way out, Grand Junction, Colorado, is another option near Moab. You can do this trip from West to East if driving in from a nearby state, but if you’re flying in, we recommend starting in Las Vegas.
💡 If you wanted a round-trip flight, the most direct drive to Las Vegas from Moab is six and a half hours.
With five parks and entry fees of $25 to $35 each, we highly recommend investing $80 in the America the Beautiful Pass if you’re a US citizen. This will save you some money and cover any other parks you want to visit for an entire year. For non-US citizens, this pass costs $250, so it depends on how many parks you plan on visiting in the next 12 months.
🎫 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.
Utah Might Five Route Map
How to use this map: We have saved the locations from this guide on this map. You can save this map to your Google Maps by pressing the star icon. In your Google Maps, click the menu icon and then Saved Maps, where this map will appear.
📰 7-Day Utah Mighty Five Itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Las Vegas, Drive to Zion
Day 2: Zion National Park
Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park
Day 4: Capitol Reef National Park
Day 5: Canyonlands National Park
Day 6: Arches National Park
Day 7: Drive to Salt Lake City & Fly Home
Day 1: Fly to Las Vegas, Drive to Zion
Drive: Las Vegas, Nevada → Zion National Park
Driving Time: 2.5-3 hours
Fly into Las Vegas, aiming to land before midday so you can reach Zion National Park by evening. Pick up your rental car, grab groceries or snacks for the week, and enjoy the scenic 3-hour drive into southern Utah.
If you arrive with daylight to spare, ease into the trip with a quick stop at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center to get oriented and check for any upcoming ranger programs.
For a relaxed first outing, stroll part of the Pa’rus Trail, a flat, scenic path that’s perfect after a travel day. Wrap up your evening with sunset views near the Watchman Trail, or hike it if you’re feeling up for a short climb. Then head to your accommodations and settle in for the night.
💡 Note: If you want to do the famous Zion Narrows Hike the following day, we recommend picking up your gear on day 1 so you can start early, since the hike can get really busy.
Where to Stay in Zion
- Inside the Park: Zion Lodge, Watchman Campground, Lava Point Campground (open May-September), and South Campground.
- Hotels: Best Western Plus Zion Canyon, Cable Mountain Lodge, and Hotel De Novo Springdale are some of the top spots in Springdale.
- Glamping: Zion Wildflower Resort, Zion View Camping, and Under Canvas Zion are some of the top glamping spots near Zion.
- VRBO: One of our favorite platforms to book homestays is VRBO.
- Free Stays: If you’re traveling in a van, there are tons of free spots around Zion listed on iOverlander.
Day 2: Zion National Park
End of Day Drive: Zion National Park → Bryce Canyon National Park
Driving Time: 2 hours
Full Itinerary: How to Spend One Day in Zion National Park
Today is all about exploring Zion National Park. Start early to beat the crowds and heat by catching one of the free shuttles from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Ride it all the way to the final stop, the Temple of Sinawava, while enjoying canyon views along the way.
From there, walk the scenic Riverside Walk to the entrance of The Narrows. If you’re prepared and up for a 7-hour adventure, you can hike into the Narrows; otherwise, head back on the shuttle.
Hop off at Zion Lodge to hike the 90-minute Emerald Pools Trail, a moderate route with waterfalls and classic red rock views. Take a break at Zion Lodge for lunch before returning to the visitor center.
In the afternoon, drive the scenic Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, stopping at viewpoints along the way. Don’t miss the short but rewarding Canyon Overlook Trail for one of the park’s best views.
End the day with a 2-hour drive to Bryce Canyon National Park, where you’ll explore tomorrow. If you arrive before dark, keep an eye out for the iconic Red Canyon Arch on Route 12 along the way, about 15 minutes from the Bryce Canyon visitor center. Once you arrive, settle into your lodging.
Where to Stay in Bryce Canyon
- Inside the Park: Bryce Canyon Lodge, North Campground, or Sunset Campground (closed in winter).
- Hotels: Best Western PLUS Bryce Canyon, Best Western PLUS Ruby’s Inn, and Bryce Pioneer Village are three highly-rated hotels near the park entrance.
- Glamping: Bryce Canyon Escalante Glamping offers glamping within 15 miles of the park.
- VRBO: One of our favorite pages to book homestays is VRBO.
- Free Stays: Dixie National Forest Dispersed Camping and Red Canyon Boondock Camping.
Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park
End of Day Drive: Bryce Canyon National Park → Capitol Reef National Park
Driving Time: 2 hours 6 minutes
Full Itinerary: 1 Day in Bryce Canyon National Park: Itinerary & Ultimate Guide
Today you’ll explore Bryce Canyon National Park, famous for its otherworldly hoodoos. At over 7,000 feet in elevation, mornings can be chilly, so dress in layers.
Start early with sunrise at Sunrise Point, arriving early to watch the hoodoos light up. Then take the short Rim Trail walk to Sunset Point for more sweeping views of the amphitheater. From here, hike the popular Navajo Loop Trail, which combines with the Queens Garden Trail. This 1.5–2.5 hour route descends among the hoodoos and is the park’s #1 must-do trail.
Take a midday break for lunch, we went to Valhalla Pizza, then stopped by the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center to learn more about the park. Here, you can see what we consider one of the best park films we’ve seen to date!
In the afternoon, drive the scenic Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive, stopping at viewpoints like Rainbow Point along the way. If you’re up for more exploring, consider a quick hike such as the Bristlecone Loop Trail or the Mossy Cave Trail.
Wrap up the day driving to Capitol Reef National Park via Utah Scenic Byway 12, one of the most beautiful routes in the state. On the way, you’ll pass highlights like Kodachrome Basin State Park, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Try to make this drive while there’s still daylight to take in the views.
🔉 We recommend downloading the NPS App and going to Tours for a free driving tour of Bryce Canyon, you can follow!
Where to Stay in Capitol Reef
- Inside the Park: Fruita Campground is the only established campground in Capitol Reef. You also can stay at either of the free Primitive Campgrounds (Cathedral Valley and Cedar Mesa).
- Hotels: The Rim Rock Inn, Days Inn, and Motel Torrey are three popular hotels in Torrey, Utah.
- Glamping: Capitol Reef Resort and Broken Spur Inn & Steakhouse are two glamping properties that let you stay the night in a Conestoga Wagon!
- VRBO: One of our favorite pages to book homestays is VRBO.
- Free Stays: Beas Lewis Flat Road (20-minute drive) or Cathedral Road BLM (right outside the north entrance).
Day 4: Capitol Reef National Park
End of Day Drive: Capitol Reef National Park → Canyonlands National Park (Moab, UT)
Driving Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Full Itinerary: How to Spend 24 Hours in Capitol Reef National Park
Today, you’ll be exploring Capitol Reef National Park, one of the quieter national parks in Utah. This park is known for the dramatic Waterpocket Fold, a nearly 100-mile-long wrinkle in the Earth’s crust.
Start early with the park’s top hike, Hickman Bridge Trail. This short but moderately challenging trail is best at sunrise and fills up quickly, so an early start is key.
After your hike, head to Gifford House in the Fruita District for fresh pie or a quick snack. Then explore the nearby Fruita Rural Historic District, known for its historic orchards, pioneer-era buildings, and Fremont River Trail.
If you’re up for another hike, tackle the 2-hour Cassidy Arch Trail for sweeping views. Prefer something easier? Stop by Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point for quick viewpoints instead.
After lunch near the Capitol Reef Visitor Center, spend the afternoon driving the scenic Capitol Reef Scenic Drive. You can also add a short walk along the Capitol Gorge Trail to see petroglyphs and narrow canyon walls up close.
End the day with a 2-hour drive to Moab, your base for the next two parks, Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park!
Where to Stay in Canyonlands
- Inside Canyonlands: Willow Flat Campground (first-come, first-served) and The Needles Campground (reservations here) are the two park campgrounds.
- Hotels: Scenic View Inn & Suites, Wingate by Wyndham Moab, and The Virginian Inn Moab Downtown are three popular hotels in Moab, Utah.
- Glamping/Camping: Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway and Up the Creek Campground are two campgrounds near the parks. Under Canvas Moab is one of the top glamping spots.
- VRBO: One of our favorite pages to book homestays is VRBO.
- Free Stays: There are tons of free spots around Moab, Utah, listed on iOverlander.
Day 5: Canyonlands National Park
End of Day Drive: N/A
Driving Time: 0 (Just within the park)
Full Itinerary: How to Spend One Day in Canyonlands National Park
Next up is Canyonlands National Park! Although the park has four districts, we recommend focusing on the most popular and the most accessible one, Island in the Sky, for a one-day visit.
Start early by catching the sunrise at Mesa Arch. This short loop is one of the park’s most iconic views, with the morning light glowing through the arch. Although we highly recommend making it for sunrise, you can do this gorgeous, 20-minute loop once the sun is up, too.
Next, head to White Rim Overlook Trail for a moderate hike with sweeping canyon views. If you prefer something shorter, opt for Grand View Point Trail instead. Then, take a midday break for lunch, cooling off at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center. There’s an impressive overlook right across the street from the center, too!
In the afternoon, hike the 1-hour Aztec Butte Trail to see ancient granaries and some of the park’s best viewpoints. If you’d rather keep things easy, opt for quicker stops like Grand View Point (45-minute trail), Orange Cliffs Overlook (Pulloff), Buck Canyon Overlook (5-minute trail), Candlestick Tower Overlook (Pulloff), or Shafer Canyon Overlook (10-minute trail).
End the day with sunset at Green River Overlook—one of the best viewpoints in the park, in our opinion! Then return to Moab for dinner and a well-earned rest. We can recommend 98 Center Moab for some excellent Vietnamese cuisine or Antica Forma for phenomenal Neapolitan-style pizza. Remember, no drive tonight as Arches National Park is so close! Up to you if you want to switch your accommodations or stay where you are.
Where to Stay in Canyonlands
- Inside Canyonlands: Willow Flat Campground (first-come, first-served) and The Needles Campground (reservations here) are the two park campgrounds.
- Hotels: Scenic View Inn & Suites, Wingate by Wyndham Moab, and The Virginian Inn Moab Downtown are three popular hotels in Moab, Utah.
- Glamping/Camping: Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway and Up the Creek Campground are two campgrounds near the parks. Under Canvas Moab is one of the top glamping spots.
- VRBO: One of our favorite pages to book homestays is VRBO.
- Free Stays: There are tons of free spots around Moab, Utah, listed on iOverlander.
Day 6: Arches National Park
End of Day Drive: N/A
Driving Time: 0 (Just within the park)
Full Itinerary: How to See Arches National Park in One Day
Wrap up your road trip at Arches National Park, one of the most popular National Parks in the entire system! Home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, this park holds the record for the highest concentration of natural stone arches on Earth!
Start early with sunrise at Delicate Arch. You can either hike the 3.2-mile round-trip Delicate Arch Trail for the iconic up-close view or opt for the shorter Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail. If hiking in the dark, bring a headlamp or flashlight and plan to arrive before sunrise.
Next, head to the Windows Section to explore the Double Arch Trail and the Windows Loop. The Windows Section gives you a lot of bang for your buck in that there is a high concentration of arches in just one small area.
Continue along the park road with quick stops at Park Avenue Overview and Courthouse Towers Viewpoint. Then, take a break for lunch near the Arches Visitor Center or Panorama Point.
After lunch, visit Landscape Arch and Double O Arch via the Double O Arch Trail in about 2-2.5 hours. For a shorter hiking option, you’ve also got Sand Dune Arch Trail (15 minutes) and Broken Arch Trail (45 minutes).
End the day with sunset at Balanced Rock, an easy, no-hike viewpoint. If you still have energy, stick around after dark because Arches National Park is a designated dark sky park. This makes it perfect for stargazing once the sky is dark enough.
Where to Stay in Arches
- Inside Arches: Devils Garden Campground (reservations necessary March 1 to October 31; the rest of the year, it is first-come, first-served).
- Hotels: Scenic View Inn & Suites, Wingate by Wyndham Moab, and The Virginian Inn Moab Downtown are three popular hotels in Moab, Utah.
- Glamping/Camping: Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway and Up the Creek Campground are two campgrounds near the parks. Under Canvas Moab is one of the top glamping spots.
- VRBO: One of our favorite pages to book homestays is VRBO.
- Free Stays: There are tons of free spots around Moab, Utah, listed on iOverlander.
Day 7: Drive to Salt Lake City & Fly Home
Drive: Moab → Salt Lake City
Driving Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
The time has come to make your way back home! After breakfast in Moab, begin the drive to Salt Lake City for your flight home. The trip takes just under 4 hours, but it’s smart to allow extra time for stops along the way.
If you have a later departure, squeeze in one last adventure near Moab, like hiking to Corona Arch or visiting Dead Horse Point State Park for a final round of canyon views before heading to the airport.
If you end up following this 7-day Utah Mighty Five Itinerary, we’d love to know how your trip was! Let us know in the comments of this article!
📰 Related Articles
- Zion National Park Travel Guides
- Bryce Canyon National Park Travel Guides
- Capitol Reef National Park Travel Guides
- Canyonlands National Park Travel Guides
- Arches National Park Travel Guides
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