On the Road in Utah: Visiting Arches, Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks

As this post is published, it’s National Park Week, a time to celebrate the spectacular places around the U.S. that belong to all of us. Over the last 10 years, our family has taken several road trips to visit many national parks, including iconic parks like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But one of my favorite road trips was the one we took to the Four Corners region and beyond of the Southwest. We spent 13 days exploring, making a loop from Albuquerque, New Mexico, through Colorado, Utah and Arizona and back to New Mexico. The places we visited on that trip had some of the most unusual landscapes in the U.S., particularly 3 Utah National Parks - Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. Here are some things to know and tips to help you plan a visit to see these unique national parks in Utah. 
*This post was updated January, 2024

For 2024, visitors to Arches National Park will need a timed entry ticket between April 1st and October 31st (7 am to 4 pm). At Zion National Park, permits are currently required for the Angels Landing.  Check the individual national park websites for the most current information about reservations for both entrance and specific hikes.  

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Getting There. There are plenty of ways to structure a visit to the national parks of Utah. You can explore the 5 big Utah parks: Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef in a road trip, traveling from either Salt Lake City or Las Vegas.  Another trip option would be to road trip from Las Vegas to Zion and Bryce Canyon,  then visit the Grand Canyon before heading back to Las Vegas. Or, this 8 day road trip from Colorado to Utah also includes a number of both national and state parks in Utah.

​Since we were not staying in Utah for our entire trip, we narrowed down our park list to Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion for our already action packed vacation. Looking back, I regret not adding a stop at Canyonlands National Park, after realizing its close proximity to Arches and hearing a fellow traveler tell us he thought it was more scenic than the Grand Canyon. I have learned a great deal about road trip planning since we took that first trip, and will definitely be returning to Utah for more exploration. ​
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 Learn more about the timed entry reservation system
​ at Arches National Park.  

Arches National Park. The first park we visited in Utah was Arches National Park, which we easily accessed from nearby Moab. We stayed in cabins at the Archview RV Resort and Campground (now Sun Outdoors Canyonlands Gateway), just a short drive to the entrance to Arches, which made it easy to get an early start on a hot summer day.  I always suggest stopping at the Visitor Center on your way in for helpful information, and my husband loves to chat with the rangers to get the lay of the land.

When we first entered Arches, it was like we had crash landed on Mars (especially the first photo below). With over 2,000 natural arches, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for up close viewing of these amazing sandstone formations. You can easily drive through the park in a day, and have plenty of time to see many of the more popular formations. We stopped often, taking short hikes for up close views of spots like Balanced Rock, The Windows, and Double Arch. Hiking, auto touring and ranger-led programs are all popular options for families. During the summer months, head out early in the morning to beat the crowds and the heat. I’ll definitely be back to catch one of the spectacular Arches sunsets!
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The Road Trip Survival Guide: Tips and Tricks for Planning Routes, Packing Up, and Preparing for Any Unexpected Encounter Along the Way

Bryce Canyon National Park. It took us about 4 hours to drive from Arches to the Bryce Canyon National Park area. Even though it was August, know that the weather can change quickly, as we found out when we encountered a major hail storm as we drove along Interstate 70. We spent the night at Ruby’s Inn, as close as you can get to Bryce Canyon without staying in the park. The next morning, we entered the park on a gorgeous August day, and to this day I can still remember the vivid blue sky taking my breath away. Surrounded by colorful, odd-shaped rocks called hoodoos, it’s a surreal experience as you survey the area from the overlooks at the Bryce Amphitheater. The rim is somewhere between 8,000 and 9,000 feet, and when we were there during the summer the temperatures were very comfortable. I loved that there were several options for hiking in Bryce Canyon, and would highly recommend the popular Queens Garden Trail which begins at Sunrise Point and is one of the easiest ways to enter the canyon. We combined that with the popular Navajo Trail, which took us into the main amphitheater of the canyon and through Wall Street, the only slot canyon at Bryce. The whole trail combination was less than 3 miles long. Even with younger kids, I felt that you could really explore the park and take some cool hikes. When the sun goes down, be sure to step out and experience the amazing night sky. The park offers many night-time programs, including Astronomy Programs and Full Moon Hikes. The night sky is one of the best, with the park website boasting that on a moonless night you can see thousands of  stars! A winter ranger-led snowshoe hike is definitely on my bucket list! No matter what time of year you visit, there is always something to do. Be sure to bring plenty of water, especially during the summer months.

Zion National Park. From Bryce Canyon, it took less than 2 hours to travel to Zion.  Upon arrival, we headed to Driftwood Lodge, just two miles from the Zion entrance. It was one of our favorite family-friendly hotel experiences on that trip, with huge rooms, tons of open space and spectacular views of the park from the patio. Since we visited, I understand the lodge has undergone many renovations. and they even offer a number of pet friendly rooms . Plus you can take a shuttle to the park entrance, which is helpful as parking is limited within the park and often fills up by the late morning.  Shuttle Information: read this information about the Zion Canyon Shuttle System before you visit.  

Our day began early, with a Ranger-led “Morning Meander” along the Virgin River. It was a 90 minute stroll, perfect for younger kids, and a good way to see Zion in the early morning light. Next up were the Lower & Upper Emerald Pool trails, with beautiful water views. By this point, the day was starting to get hot, so after lunch we decided to saddle up and take a horseback ride. My youngest was 7 at the time, and we still laugh over memories of her horse stopping to eat at every bush along the way. The one hour ride took us along the river to the Court of the Patriarchs. It was a good way to beat some of the heat and still be in the midst of this stunning national park. Overall, as far as hiking in Zion National Park, I personally felt like many of the hikes were a bit more challenging for us (particularly The Narrows) given the age of my youngest at the time,  but that is definitely on my bucket list for a return trip in the future.  

Tips for Visiting the Parks:

• Get up early! We’ve found that in many parks, just getting an hour head start on the crowds can make a huge difference in your park experience. We often found trails getting crowded as we were making our return trip.
• Pack lots of water along with lunch and snacks. There is nothing better than having a picnic at a beautiful scenic overlook. It’s especially important to have lots of water during the hot summer months in Utah.
• Check the park newspaper online before you go to see if there are any special programs that will be happening during your visit. I’m a planner, but I’ve found that it helps if you are trying to map out a day's worth of hiking or ranger-led activities. Plus the newspaper often has a hiking map including level of difficulty. When my kids were younger, they loved the Junior Ranger Program and it helped to make the visit more meaningful for them. 
• Before you go, it’s always a good idea to check each park website for current conditions and alerts that may impact your visit, especially during the busy summer months.  Take advantage of all the great information the parks have put together to  make your visit as stress-free as possible, especially as the number of visitors has increased.   Remember to #RecreateResponsibly.
• Download the National Park App before you go. Then save the park for offline use, which is helpful when there is spotty service out on the trails. We've found it useful for access to park alerts, self-guided driving tours, and visitor center hours. 
• Follow the national parks on their respective social media pages; it’s a good resource for up to the minute news about things like road closures and weather issues.
• Find more resources for planning a national park road trip here;  Visit Utah is  also a good resource for national park itineraries ranging from 3 to 10 days.

Remember, our National Parks are treasures to be enjoyed by all. So get out there and find your closest park. And don't forget to take advantage of fee-free days and the Every Kid in a Park pass.

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