Utah has quickly become one of my favorite vacation destinations in the USA – seriously! The National Parks in Utah are absolutely incredible and a must-see for any outdoor enthusiast.
In August, my boyfriend and I did this exact same itinerary (which is quite ambitious to be honest) since it’s jam packed with lots of places to visit. For us, this is the ultimate national park roadtrip.
It’s hard to imagine that all of these amazing outdoor adventures can exist in one place. There were some mornings where the temperature dipped all the way down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit and just an hour’s drive away the temperature soared past 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
I truly believe you’ll have the time of your life exploring Southern Utah’s natural beauty. If these National Parks are not already on your travel bucket list, use this 7 day itinerary to get inspired and plan your Utah road trip.
Table of Contents
My One-Week Itinerary for Utah’s National Parks:
- Day 1: Drive from Las Vegas, NV to St. George, Utah (Explore Snow Canyon State Park)
- Day 2: Drive from St. George, Utah to Zion National Park
- Day 3: Explore Cedar Breaks National Mounument and drive to Bryce Canyon National Park
- Day 4: Half-day at Capitol Reef National Park and Goblin Valley State Park and drive to Moab, Utah
- Day 5: Explore Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park
- Day 6: Explore Arches National Park
- Day 7: Drive back to Las Vegas, NV before flying home
Related Posts:
Day 1 – Drive from Las Vegs to St. George, Utah
Start your vacation by flying into Las Vegas and picking up your rental car. Try to arrive in the morning or early afternoon to maximize your first day.
We rented a full-size car from Enterprise and really enjoyed their service. I recommend using Costco Rental Cars to find the best price for your trip.
Depending on where you are flying from, you may want to grab a quick bite to eat before heading to Utah. (We stopped at In-N-Out — I can’t resist their grilled cheese ).
Snow Canyon State Park
Located in the 62,000 acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Snow Canyon Park is a scenic place to visit near St. George, Utah. There are more than 38-miles of hiking trails, which is perfect for any outdoor enthusiast. Plan to spend 1-2 hours exploring Snow Canyon.
Where to spend the night in St. George?
We stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites St. George (SunRiver) which was an affordable option.
There is also a campground available at Snow Canyon State Park as well, if you prefer to spend the night camping.
Below you can check out local hotel deals available near St. George, Utah thanks for Booking.com.
If you prefer to stay closer to Zion National Park, here’s a few accommodations I recommend:
- Best Western Plus Zion West Hotel
- La Qunita by Wyndham La Verkin – Gateway to Zion
- Zions Camp and Cottages
Day 2 – Zion National Park
Get an early start by heading to Zion National Park. The drive from St. George to Zion National Park takes about one hour, so plan to leave your hotel early. (We left for Zion National Park just after 7:00am).
Zion National Park
Located near Springdale, Zion National Park is a nature preserve and it’s easily recognized by Zion Canyon’s steep red cliffs. Hiking is the most popular activity in Zion as there are many bucket list adventure trails here such as Angel’s Landing and The Narrows.
I highly recommend spending the full day exploring Zion. It’s by far my favorite national park in the USA and there are so many wonderful things to do and see here.
However, if you’re short on time, you can take the scenic drive through Zion (the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway).
Parking
Parking is very limited inside Zion National Park. In order to get a spot, I recommend arriving before 10:00am.
If the parking lot is full, there is lots of street parking available just outside the park in the town of Springdale. Then hop on the free town shuttle, which will take you to the park entrance.
Zion Canyon Shuttle
From April to October access into the canyon is by the free shuttle bus only. The Zion Canyon Shuttle stops at nine locations in the park and runs from early morning to late evening (as often as every seven minutes).
From November to mid March, private vehicles are allowed to access the canyon.
The Narrows
Located in Zion National Park, The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. This popular hike is one of the world’s best slot canyons and can be tailored to suit any ability level.
Just upstream from the Temple of Sinawava is the section of the Virgin River where this awe-inspiring hike starts. With very little direct sunlight and water flowing all around you, The Narrows is a bucket list hike for any adventure seeker.
Arrive at the park early and ride the Zion Canyon Shuttle to the last stop (approximately 40 minutes). This hike is fairly popular during the busy season and can get crowded by the lunch hour. I highly recommend arriving here before 8:00am (or earlier).
This hike is through the Virgin River, so it’s inevitable that you will get wet. I recommend wearing water shoes, quick-drying clothing and bringing hiking poles to help keep your balance when walking.
I wrote a full post about my experience hiking The Narrows which includes extra tips and equipment recommendations.
After exploring The Narrows, take a break for lunch. You can enjoy a picnic in Zion or grab a bite to eat outside the park in the town of Springdale.
Angel’s Landing
The Angel’s Landing Trail in Zion National Park is without a doubt one of the most exhilarating hikes of my life. Despite its intimidating path, this hike is one of the most famous in Zion and the national park system.
I recommend wearing shoes with good traction as the sand on the rocks can become slippery. You will also want to bring a hydration pack so you don’t have to worry about reaching for your water bottle on the trail.
This hike is not suitable for children or those with a fear of heights. However, I saw lots of families hiking here with kids despite the warnings.
I wrote a full post about my experience hiking up Angel’s Landing which includes my best tips for this hike.
More fun things to do near Zion National Park:
- East Zion: Slot Canyon Exploration and UTV Tour
- From Springdale: Zion National Park Scenic Hiking Tour
- East Zion: 1-Hour White Mountain Horseback Tour
Day 3 – Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park
Wake up early and drive to Cedar Breaks National Monument. We weren’t sure if we would have enough time to visit Cedar Breaks, but we are so happy that we stopped here.
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar Breaks is a natural amphitheater, stretching across 3 miles and has a depth of over 2,000 feet. The view is absolutely breath-taking and I recommend spending about 20-30 minutes here to enjoy it.
After visiting Cedar Breaks, drive to Bryce Canyon. The drive from Cedar Breaks to Bryce takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is known for its crimson-colored hoodoos, which have been formed by the freezing and thawing of water and wind over millions of years.
Hiking in Bryce Canyon is the best way to see and experience its incredible geography. There are plenty of day hikes to do in Bryce, ranging from 1-mile loops to adventurous 11-mile round trip journeys.
Peekaboo-Queens Garden Loop
This is the most popular trail in Bryce and I recommend this hike if you only have one day to spend in the park. This hike is actually a combination of three trails, which offers the best views of Bryce Canyon.
From the Sunset Point trailhead, you can follow the trail east over the rim into Bryce Canyon. You will then see the Navajo Loop trail sign to the right. Follow the route descending down the switchbacks into Wall Street.
Continue along the trail which will lead to the Peekaboo Loop. If you’re short on time, you can head straight to the Queens Garden from the Navajo Loop. However, if you continue along the Peekaboo Loop, you can take the Queens Garden trail later, which will lead to Sunrise Point.
More fun things to do near Bryce Canyon:
- Bryce Canyon National Park: 3-Hour Sightseeing Tour
- Bryce Canyon: 3-Hour Horseback Ride in Red Canyon
- Bryce Canyon: Horseback Ride in the Dixie National Forest
Where to spend the night near Bryce Canyon?
We stayed at Stone Canyon Inn in Tropic, Utah. This is less than a 15-minute drive from Bryce Canyon.
Campgrounds are also available inside Bryce Canyon National Park, which is a great option if you want to experience sunrise at Bryce Canyon.
Below you can check out local hotel deals near Bryce Canyon National Park thanks for Booking.com.
Other hotels and accommodations I recommend when visiting Bryce Canyon include:
Day 4 – Capitol Reef National Park and Goblin Valley
Get an early start by driving through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This is a beautiful route to get to Capitol Reef National Park.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is filled with layers of golden sandstone, canyons and incredible rock formations. Popular sights in the park include Chimney Rock pillar, the Hickman Bridge arch, Goosenecks overlook and Capitol Reef.
If you’re short on time, I recommend the Goosenecks Trail which doesn’t take long. Otherwise, you can drive through the park and stop at various vista points to enjoy the view.
After visiting Capitol Reef National Park, continue driving towards Goblin Valley State Park.
Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley is by far one of the strangest and most unique places to visit in Utah. It feels like you are literally driving into the middle of nowhere to get to this park, but definitely worth a visit!
The park features thousands of hoodoos and hoodoo rocks, referred to as “goblins”. These mushroom-shaped pinnacles are a sight to see, and its landscape is often compared to Mars. Plan to spend about an hour exploring here and make sure to bring plenty of water as it’s quite hot during the summer months.
After visiting Goblin Valley, head to Moab, Utah where you’ll be spending the night. Campgrounds are available at Goblin Valley too if you prefer to enjoy the evening there.
More fun things to do near Moab, Utah:
- Moab: Hell’s Revenge 4WD Off-Road Tour by Kawasaki UTV
- From Moab: Colorado River Half-Day Rafting Trip
- From Moab: Half-Day Arches National Park 4×4 Driving Tour
Where to spend the night in Moab, Utah?
We stayed at the Moab Valley Inn for three nights, which is conveniently located to Canyonlands, Arches and Dead Horse Point. You may choose to camp at any of these parks as well if you prefer.
Below you can check out local hotel deals near Moab, Utah thanks for Booking.com.
Other hotel accommodations I recommend when staying near Moab include:
Day 5 – Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point
Wake up early and head straight to Canyonlands to enjoy the sunrise at Mesa Arch (this is one of the nicest spots to view the sunrise).
The drive from Moab to Mesa Arch is around 45-50 minutes, so do plan ahead. There is a parking lot nearby the trailhead, so you don’t have to travel far from your car to get to Mesa Arch.
Canyonlands National Park
The rivers divide this park into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the rivers themselves. There are so many wonderful hiking trails in Canyonlands and it’s impossible to experience it all in one day.
I recommend visiting the Mesa Arch trail to watch the sunrise in the morning, then heading to the Grand View Point trail, which offers incredible panoramic views.
Head back into town for a late breakfast / or early lunch. You can also enjoy a picnic at Canyonlands if you prefer to explore more there.
You will want to take a break in the early afternoon when the temperature is hot and the trails are busy. This will give you time to rest so you have plenty of energy to stargaze at Dead Horse Point in the evening.
Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point features a dramatic overlook of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park.
You may also recognize this park from the popular movie Thelma & Louise. The Grand Canyon scene where they drive the car off the cliff was actually filmed at Dead Horse Point. Fun fact!
This is the perfect spot to watch the sunset. I also recommend sticking around to stargaze here. It’s recognized as an International Dark Sky Park and is one of the best spots to see the Milky Way.
I was literally in awe looking at all the stars in the sky – it’s truly a miracle to witness.
More fun things to do near Moab, Utah:
- From Moab: Full-Day Canyonlands and Arches 4×4 Driving Tour
- Moab: Sound and Light Show with Dinner
- Moab: Self-Drive 2.5-Hour Hells Revenge 4×4 Guided Tour
Day 6 – Arches National Park
Sleep in a little this morning, especially if you were up late stargazing at Dead Horse Point.
If you want to get up early to watch the sunrise, I recommend heading to the Windows trail at Arches National Park to see the sunrise.
Arches National Park
This park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, giant balanced rocks and more incredible formations. Arches can get quite busy throughout the day, so I recommend arriving early.
Aim to do a couple of trails here. My favorites are the Devil’s Garden trail and Delicate Arch. The Delicate Arch trail is best to visit at sunset, so head to Devil’s Garden first.
Devil’s Garden
You will see several arches on the Devil’s Garden trail, including Landscape Arch which is one of the largest natural spans in the world.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can take the Primitive Trail, which is a tough alternative route to or from Double O Arch.
Delicate Arch
Watching the sunset at Delicate Arch is a must. Make sure to bring plenty of water with you since this is considered a difficult hike. (Unfortunately it started raining while we were at Delicate Arch, so the sun was hiding behind the clouds).
More fun things to do near Moab, Utah:
- Colorado River Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner
- From Moab: Half-Day Arches National Park 4×4 Driving Tour
- From Moab: Half-Day Canyonlands Island in the Sky 4×4 Tour
Day 7 – Las Vegas
You made it through a week of enjoying Utah’s National Parks and knocking off some amazing hikes from your bucket list. Now it’s time to end the trip by relaxing (or partying) in Las Vegas.
I recommend staying near the center of the Las Vegas Strip so you can easily get around. We stayed at Bally’s, which was the perfect location to visit the surrounding hotels and attractions.
The key is to stay at a hotel near the shows or attractions you want to visit. Trust me, you don’t get anywhere fast walking around in Vegas.
We went on the Higher Roller at the LINQ, which is the tallest observation wheel in the world. It was beautiful to see the Vegas lights from above. Make sure to book your tickets online to get a discount.
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Las Vegas (besides drinking or gambling), I wrote a whole post sharing my favorite FREE Vegas activities. You can click on the link to check it out.
If you’re planning to spend the night in Las Vegas, below you can check out deals and local hotels thanks to Booking.com.
Related Posts:
- Visiting Las Vegas for the first time: 10 rookie mistakes to avoid
- Las Vegas on a budget – 30 ways to save money
- Las Vegas Explorer Pass review: Is it worth it?
My must-have hiking accessories:
Click the product to shop
