Utah's Mighty 5 Road Trip: A 7-Day Itinerary

Utah's five national parks — Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands — sit on a single loop of roughly 500 miles. Seven days is the sweet spot: enough to hike the classics in every park without spending the whole trip in the car. This itinerary runs west to east, from the slot canyons of Zion to the arches outside Moab, with the best hike in each park timed for the right light and the right temperature.

The route at a glance

Day	Park	Main hike	Overnight
1	Zion	Emerald Pools	Springdale
2	Zion	The Narrows	Springdale
3	Zion → Bryce	Canyon Overlook, Navajo Loop & Queen's Garden	Bryce Canyon City
4	Bryce Canyon	Fairyland Loop	Bryce Canyon City
5	Capitol Reef	Hickman Bridge	Torrey
6	Capitol Reef → Arches	Cassidy Arch, The Windows	Moab
7	Canyonlands & Arches	Mesa Arch, Delicate Arch	Moab

Day 1: Arrive in Zion — Emerald Pools

Most people fly into Las Vegas, about 2.5 hours from Zion. Check into Springdale, the town right at the park's south entrance, and ease in with the Emerald Pools Trail (2.2 miles round trip, easy–moderate). It links three pools below the cliffs of Heaps Canyon, with seasonal waterfalls spilling over the overhang at the Lower Pool.

From March 7 to November 28, 2026, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is shuttle-only. Park in Springdale or at the visitor center and ride the free shuttle to Zion Lodge.

Day 2: The Narrows

Zion's signature hike walks up the Virgin River itself, between walls up to a thousand feet high. Take the first shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava, follow the paved Riverside Walk for a mile, then wade upstream. Wall Street, where the canyon closes in to a slot, is about 5 miles round trip; strong hikers can continue to Big Spring, the limit without a permit.

The route closes when river flow tops 150 cfs, and flash floods are deadly — check the forecast and flow at the visitor center that morning. Rent canyoneering shoes, neoprene socks and a walking stick in Springdale.

Day 3: Canyon Overlook, then Bryce Canyon

Leave Zion through the east side and stop for the Canyon Overlook Trail (1 mile round trip), a short cliffside walk to a view straight down Zion Canyon. Since June 7, 2026, vehicles over 7 ft 10 in wide, 11 ft 4 in tall or 35 ft 9 in long can't use the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway at all, so check your RV or trailer size before planning this route.

Bryce is 1.5 hours away. In the afternoon, hike the Navajo Loop & Queen's Garden (2.7-mile loop) from Sunrise Point: down among the hoodoos on the gentler Queen's Garden side, up the Navajo switchbacks, and back along the rim for sunset at Sunset Point. The rim sits at 8,000 feet, so take the climb out slowly.

Day 4: Fairyland Loop and the Bryce rim

The Fairyland Loop (7.6 miles, strenuous) is Bryce's quieter big hike, dropping into Fairyland Canyon, passing Tower Bridge and climbing back through hoodoo gardens. It has little shade and no water, so carry at least 2 liters. In the afternoon, drive the 18-mile road out to Rainbow Point, stopping at the viewpoints on the way back. Bryce has some of the darkest skies in the country: stay out after dark on a moonless night.

Day 5: Scenic Byway 12 to Capitol Reef

The 2.5-hour drive on Scenic Byway 12 is an attraction in itself, crossing the narrow Hogback ridge and climbing over Boulder Mountain. In Capitol Reef, hike the Hickman Bridge Trail (1.8 miles round trip) to a 133-foot natural bridge, then spend the afternoon in Fruita's historic orchards and at the Fremont petroglyphs by the road. Stay in Torrey and fill up the tank — services are sparse from here to Moab.

Day 6: Cassidy Arch, then Moab

Start early with the Cassidy Arch Trail (3.3 miles round trip, moderate), a steep climb out of Grand Wash to a massive arch named after Butch Cassidy. The Scenic Drive requires a $20 fee, and Grand Wash is a flash-flood route, so skip it if storms are forecast.

Drive 2.5 hours to Moab. In the late afternoon, walk The Windows & Double Arch (1.3 miles total) in Arches National Park: five big arches in about a mile of walking.

Day 7: Mesa Arch at sunrise, Delicate Arch at sunset

Drive 40 minutes to Canyonlands' Island in the Sky for sunrise at Mesa Arch (0.7-mile loop), when the underside of the arch glows orange. Arrive at least 45 minutes early to get a spot. Continue to Grand View Point and the Green River Overlook for the canyon country views.

Rest through the midday heat, then finish the trip with the Delicate Arch Trail (3 miles round trip, moderate) at sunset. There's no shade on the climb, so carry 2+ liters, and stay well back from the edge of the bowl at the top.

2026 park fees and rules

• Entrance fees: Zion and Bryce Canyon $35 per vehicle, Arches and Canyonlands $30, Capitol Reef's Scenic Drive $20. One America the Beautiful pass ($80) covers all five for a year.
• Non-US residents pay an extra $100 per person at Zion and Bryce, unless they hold the $250 nonresident annual pass.
• Arches has no timed-entry system in 2026, so arrival time is what gets you a parking spot. Aim to be at the trailheads by 8 a.m. in spring and fall.
• The Zion shuttle runs March 7 to November 28, 2026, plus December 26 to January 2.

When to go

Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are ideal: mild days, cool nights, and The Narrows usually at its best in fall. Summer brings 100°F+ days in Zion, Moab and Capitol Reef, and July–September storms bring flash floods to slot canyons. Winter is quiet, with snow on the Bryce hoodoos, but some roads close and nights are freezing.

What to pack

Carry a gallon of water per person per day, a wide-brim sun hat, a sun shell and a fleece for the cold nights at Bryce. A hydration backpack and a water filter make the long, dry hikes much easier. Our free hiking checklist covers the rest.

Hike it with GPS routes

Every hike in this itinerary is in our Utah's Mighty 5 GPX Route Collection: GPX files that work offline in AllTrails, Gaia GPS or on your watch, plus a printable route guide with maps, elevation profiles and a trail passport. The Utah Trip Planning Guide adds 3 and 5-day versions of this route, where to stay, seasons and a fillable planner, and the Utah Trip Pack bundles both for $19.99.

Information current as of September 2026. Conditions, fees and shuttle dates change — check each park's page on nps.gov before you travel.

Cover photo: Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, by Robbie Shade, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for Utah's Mighty 5?

Seven days is ideal: enough for the best hike in every park without living in the car. Five days works if you move fast, and ten gives you rest days and time for longer hikes.

What order should you visit Utah's national parks?

West to east: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, then Arches and Canyonlands from Moab. Flying into Las Vegas and out of Salt Lake City (or the reverse) avoids backtracking.

How much are Utah national park entrance fees?

Zion and Bryce Canyon are $35 per vehicle, Arches and Canyonlands $30, and Capitol Reef's Scenic Drive $20. The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers all five for a year. Non-US residents pay an extra $100 per person at Zion and Bryce unless they hold the $250 nonresident pass.

Do you need reservations for Arches or Zion in 2026?

Arches has no timed-entry reservation in 2026, so arrive early for parking. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is shuttle-only from March 7 to November 28, 2026. Angels Landing still requires a permit.

When is the best time for a Utah national parks road trip?

Spring and fall have mild days and cool nights. Summer often passes 100°F in Zion, Moab and Capitol Reef, with flash-flood risk from July to September. Winter is quiet, with snow at Bryce and some road closures.