Road Trip Itinerary: Zion National Park To Bryce Canyon

Best Hikes In Zion

Zion has some of the best hikes out of all the National Parks. My favorites are Angels Landing and The Narrows.

Angels Landing requires a permit. You can get permits in advance (recommended), or the day prior (not ideal, but possible). Read more about Zion permits here.

The Narrows does not require a permit. I highly recommend renting gear from Zion Outfitters as the water can be cold. I rented neoprene socks and hiking shoes for the cold water for $32 and was glad I had them.

The best sunset and sunrise spots in Zion are from the top of The Watchman, Observation Point and Canyon Overlook.

• Angels Landing (4.9 miles)
• The Narrows (8.9 miles, can do as much or as little as you want)
• Emerald Pools (3 miles)
• The Watchman (3.1 miles)
• Observation Point (7 miles)
• Canyon Overlook (0.9 miles)

Recommended Itinerary

If you only have one day in Zion National Park, I recommend hiking Angels Landing, The Narrows and Canyon Overlook for sunset.

For a detailed one day Zion National Park itinerary check out this post.

One Day Itinerary:

• Morning: Angels Landing
• Afternoon: The Narrows
• Sunset: Canyon Overlook

With two or more days in Zion National Park I would add The Watchman hike for sunrise, Observation Point (this will require a 4×4 vehicle or a private shuttle to get to), and an afternoon exploring the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.

You can ride the shuttle along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during the summer months. From November – February private vehicles are allowed on the road.

I recommend stopping at Emerald Pools and Court Of The Patriarch’s for short hikes with great views.

Two Day Itinerary:

• Sunrise: The Watchman
• Morning: Hike to Observation Point
• Afternoon + Evening: Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

For a comprehensive travel guide and itinerary for Zion check out this post.

Where To Stay

Within Zion there are 3 campgrounds and one hotel accommodation – Zion Lodge.

Just outside Zion’s main entrance is the town of Springdale. This is a really convenient place to stay and is literally steps from Zion. I recommend Bumbleberry Inn, The Lodge At Zion Country or this 2 bedroom vacation rental.

Route From Zion To Bryce + Best Stops

The best route from Zion to Bryce Canyon National Park is along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway to US-89 North and Scenic Byway 12.

The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway will take you out the east entrance of Zion, and has several scenic lookouts along the way. You’ll also travel through the famous Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel.

When you arrive at the Mt Carmel Junction you can take a left and continue to Bryce Canyon, or you can take a right for a quick detour south to Kanab.

Kanab

The drive to Kanab will add about 30-minutes (each way) to your road trip. In Kanab, you’ll find several great hikes and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.

Hikes Near Kanab

I recommend Peek-A-Boo Canyon. The road to the trailhead can have very deep sand and requires a 4×4 vehicle. You can also join a guided tour which provides transportation to the slot canyon.

For an easier hike that doesn’t require a 4×4 vehicle, consider Sand Caves, instead.

The Wave is another great option for hiking. Permits are required, and can be difficult to get so I recommend planning in advance. Day-of permits are possible, but almost unheard of.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes National Park

For $25 you can rent a sand board or sand sled and ride the dunes at Coral Pink Sand Dunes National Park.

There are also several great hiking trails in the park like the Coral Pink Sand Dunes Trail (0.8 miles) or you can extend your hike to 2.2 mile loop trail.

Even if you just drive through Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park it’s worth seeing.

Mammoth Cave

Continuing north again, Mammoth Cave is located off of US-89 on your road trip from Zion to Bryce Canyon. There are 4 cave chambers and they were all created by lava!

This is a fun (free!) activity if you’re not spooked by dark spaces or have any claustrophobia. The trail through the caves is a fairly easy one, but I recommend bringing a headlamp because it can get dark in the caves.

This stop will take you on a 30-minute detour off US-89, before looping back around to pick up the highway a little farther north.

Red Canyon – Dixie National Forest

Shortly after turning onto Scenic Byway 12 (UT-12), you’ll enter the Red Canyon area of Dixie National Forest. Stop by the visitors center and get your picture taken with the Smokey Bear statue and pick up some maps before taking a few hikes.

I recommend hiking through hoodoos at Losee Canyon, or seeing some neat sculpted rock formations along Birdseye Trail.

Just prior to arriving at Bryce Canyon, this route will take you through Red Canyon Arch – an iconic spot on Scenic Byway 12 – so be sure to have your camera ready!

Bryce Canyon National Park Guide

For being only two hours away, Bryce Canyon is surprisingly different from Zion. Because it sits at higher elevation, Bryce Canyon is usually 10° cooler than Zion.

It’s also famous for its red striped hoodoos which fill the amphitheater (not actually a canyon), whereas Zion is known for it’s lush green canyon valley.

Bryce Canyon a much smaller National Park, which means it’s feasible to see the highlights with only one day at Bryce Canyon.

Best Hikes In Bryce Canyon

• Sunset Point to Sunrise Point Trail (1.2 miles)
• Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail (3 miles)
• Rim Trail (10.7 miles, can be done in shorter sections)
• Mossy Cave Trail (0.9 miles)
• Bristlecone Loop Trail (1 mile)

I highly recommend hiking Sunset Point to Sunrise Point Trail and the Navajo Loop to Queens Garden Trail. Mossy Cave Trail is located just outside of Bryce Canyon’s main entrance, and during spring it’s possible to see a waterfall on this hike.

Read more about Bryce Canyon Hikes here.

Best Viewpoints In Bryce Canyon

There is one primary road through Bryce Canyon – the Southern Scenic Drive. The free Bryce Canyon Shuttle runs on the first half of this road, but if you want to see all of it you’ll need your own vehicle to access the portion of the road south of Bryce Point Access Road.

I recommend driving straight through from the park entrance to Rainbow Point. On your return you can stop at each of the overlooks – they’ll all be on your right side on the return which makes pulling in and out much easier since you don’t have to cross on-coming traffic.

Viewpoints that you absolutely must see are:

• Rainbow Point
• Yovimpa Point
• Agua Canyon
• Natural Bridge

My favorite is Natural Bridge, which has a beautiful view of a natural arch framing the canyon. It’s easy to see from the parking area and doesn’t require any hiking.

Recommended Itinerary

While it’s very feasible to see the entire park in one day, I recommend staying for two days so you’re able to catch a sunrise in Bryce Canyon and hike into the amphitheater to see the hoodoos.

One Day Itinerary:

• Morning: Explore Southern Scenic Drive
• Afternoon: Hike Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail
• Evening: Enjoy sunset at Yovimpa Point

Two Day Itinerary:

• Morning: Sunrise hike Sunset Point to Sunrise Point Trail
• Afternoon: Mossy Cave Hike
• Evening: Explore Bryce Canyon Lodge and General Store. Participate in a Dark Ranger astronomy program.

For a comprehensive travel guide and itinerary for Bryce Canyon check out this post.

Where To Stay

There are two campgrounds within Bryce Canyon National Park, as well as one hotel accommodation – The Lodge At Bryce Canyon.

Just outside of Bryce Canyons main entrance, in the town of Bryce Canyon City, there are a few options. Ruby’s Inn and Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel are popular options and are conveniently located next to stops for the free Bryce Canyon shuttle.

Best Time To Visit Zion And Bryce Canyon

The best time to visit Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks is typically in the spring (April-May) and fall (September-October). My favorite time to visit is in early October because the weather is tolerable (it’s WAY too hot during the summer) and there are much fewer crowds.

Spring (April-May)

• Weather: Comfortable temperatures in both parks, with highs in the 60s-80s°F in Zion and 50s-70s°F in Bryce.
• Crowds: Moderate—tourism starts picking up, but it’s not as crowded as summer.
• Pros: Zion has beautiful wildflower blooms.
• Cons: Some higher-elevation trails in Bryce may still have snow or muddy conditions.

Summer (June-August)

• Weather: Zion gets very hot, with daytime highs reaching 100°F or more, while Bryce, at a higher elevation, stays cooler with highs in the 70s-80s°F.
• Crowds: Summer crowds are bad at both parks, but Zion is far worse. I recommend making hotel reservations very far in advance.
• Pros: All trails are usually accessible, and both parks have full services.
• Cons: Crowds are at their peak, and Zion’s heat can make hiking challenging, especially in exposed areas.

Fall (September-October)

• Weather: Mild weather, with highs similar to spring. Nights in Bryce can get chilly.
• Crowds: More visitors than in spring, but generally less packed than summer.
• Pros: Zion has lovely autumn foliage along the Virgin River and higher elevations.
• Cons: Limited shuttle services as the season progresses (in Zion). Nights can be cold in Bryce.

Winter (November-March)

• Weather: Zion stays relatively mild in the winter (50s°F), but Bryce gets cold, often below freezing, and sees snow.
• Crowds: Crowd levels in both parks are at their lowest
• Pros: Minimal crowds. Snow-covered hoodoos in Bryce are especially scenic.
• Cons: Some trails in Bryce may be closed or icy. Limited park services and shuttle options.

Additional Road Trip Planning Resources:

Headed to Utah? Check out these additional road trip planning guides to make the most of your trip.

• Las Vegas To Grand Canyon To Zion National Park Road Trip
• Salt Lake City To Arches National Park Road Trip Itinerary
• Road Trip From Zion To Arches National Park
• Road Trip From Bryce Canyon To Capitol Reef National Park
• Best Hotels Near Arches National Park And Moab
• Nearest Airports To Zion National Park – Picking The Right One For Your Trip