The National Parks in Utah are some of the prettiest US National Parks. The 5 Utah National Parks, also known as Utah’s Mighty 5 offer stunning scenery, and fairly good weather year-round for visiting. If you’re looking to plan the perfect Utah National Parks road trip, we suggest having at least 10-14 days for your roadtrip. The national parks in Utah are so amazing and you could really spend a whole month exploring all Utah has to offer. We’ve put together a 10 day road trip itinerary where you can see all of Utah’s mighty 5, including the best hikes in each national park, best things to do and where to stay near each national park.
Utah National Parks Road Trip
We recently traveled from Portland to Utah in our campervan to explore some of Utah’s national parks. We could really spend a whole month there exploring Utah but here is the perfect 10 day road trip itinerary. Since there is so much to see at all of these parks, and throughout Utah, we recommend having at least 10 days to really explore. If you are short on time, we suggest only focusing on 2-3 parks to maximize your time, otherwise you’ll be spending most of your time driving from park to park.
Where to start your Utah roadtrip
If you’re not from nearby Utah, we suggest you fly into either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. From there, it’s easy to get to all of the Utah National Parks. Since we drove our campervan from Portland, we went through Salt Lake City. If you’re needing to rent a van or RV for your trip, check out Outdoorsy, it’s like airbnb for RVs and other travel trailers, where you can search by type of RV, dates, and other amenities.
Another option would be to fly into Las Vegas, and drive up to Zion from Las Vegas. The itinerary will be the same, regardless of the starting city.
Rent a campervan for your roadtrip
Utah mighty 5 roadtrip map
Utah National Parks Itinerary
Day 1: Salt Lake City to Zion National Park (4.5 hours)
Pick up your campervan or RV and drive from Salt Lake City to Zion National Park. Depending when you arrive in Utah, we recommend driving straight to Zion so you can find a place to stay, and maximize your time in Zion National Park.
Zion National Park is located between St. George and Springdale, Utah. It is the most popular national parks in Utah, and can be extremely busy all year round! Zion is an extremely big park with lots to see. So we recommend staying at least one full day and a night in Zion. Depending on what time you get to Zion, you can do a short hike or some exploring, but then the next day will be filled, so get there with plenty of time.
Be aware that for most of the year, you are required to ride the shuttle in Zion. There is no access by cars from April to October on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. The shuttle runs frequently from the visitors center.
Rent a campervan for your Utah roadtrip
Days 2-3: Zion National Park
Zion National Park entrance fee: $35
Zion is the busiest national park in Utah, and is busy year round. You’ll want to spend at least 2 days in Zion National Park. Since you arrived yesterday, we recommend getting up early and exploring Zion first thing in the morning. Parking can get very crowded later in the day, so it’s wise to get a head start. Start the morning at Angels Landing hike, one of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park.
If you plan to hike the Narrows, you will need to plan for a whole day. The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion National Park. If you hike the Narrows, you must hike through the water, and you will get your feet wet. If you hike the Narrows in the cooler months, be prepared with a drysuit and booties. This is a great post if you’re interested in hiking the narrows.
Best Hikes in Zion National Park
- Riverside walk (2.2 miles, easy)
- Pa’rus trail (3.5 miles, easy) dog friendly
- Weeping rock trail (.4 miles, easy)
- Canyon Overlook Trail (1 mile, moderate)
- Angels Landing (5.4 miles, strenuous)
- The Narrows (9.4 miles, strenuous)
Things to do in Zion National Park
- Checkerboard mesa
- Zion Canyon scenic drive
- Horseback riding
- Sunset jeep tour
Where to stay near Zion National Park
Zion Canyon Campground and RV resort– located Springdale. Tent sites start at $49/night and RV sites start at $59/night
South Campground or Watchman Campground– both located in Zion Canyon. Campgrounds are $30/night, but fill up fast
Zion National Park Lodge – the only accommodations located inside Zion National Park
Dog friendly trails inside Zion National Park
There aren’t a ton of options for dogs inside Zion National Park. Hiking in the park with pets is allowed only on the roads and Pa’rus Trail.
Day 4: Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park (1.5 hours)

Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon
- Sunset to Sunrise (1.0 mile, easy)
- Rim Trail (1.0 – 11.0 miles, easy)
- Bristlecone Loop (1.0 mile, easy)
- Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop (2.9 miles, moderate)
- Fairlyand loop (8 miles, strenuous)
Things to do in Bryce Canyon
- hiking
- wrangler guided horseback riding
- snowshoe or cross-country ski in the winter
Where to stay near Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon Resort – nice and close lodging to explore Bryce Canyon
Best Western Plus Rubys Inn – nestled right along the red rock cliffs of Bryce Canyon National Park, with tons of amenities
Dog Friendly trails in Bryce Canyon
Day 5: Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef National Park (2.5 hours)
Best hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
- Capitol Gorge (1.0 mile, easy)
- The Grand Wash (2.2 miles, easy)
- Chimney Rock Loop (3.6 miles, strenuous)
- Frying Pan Trail (2.9 miles, strenuous)
Things to do in Capitol Reef
- hiking
- road tours
- canyoneering
- bike tours
- visit the Gifford Homestead
Where to stay near Capitol Reef
Pets inside Capitol Reef National Park
Pets are allowed in campgrounds, on the trail from the visitor center to the Fruita campground, and on the Fremont River Trail from the campground to the south end of Hattie’s Field. Pets are not allowed on other hiking trails.
Day 6: Capitol Reef to Moab (2.5 hours)
Things to do in Moab
- hiking
- whitewater rafting
- zip-lining
- rock climbing
- paddle-boarding
- jet-boating
- mountain biking
- hot air balloon rides
- Moab giants dinosaur park
Where to stay in Moab
Springhill Suites by Marriott Moab – the nearest hotel to Arches National Park
Moab Valley RV Resort and Campground – camping just steps away from Moab’s most scenic sights, with RV and tent sights available
Under Canvas – upscale safari tents and mountain views
Day 7: Visit Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park
Canyonlands National Park entrance fee: $30
Best hikes in the Canyonlands Island in the Sky
- Mesa Arch (.5 miles, easy)
- Grandview Point (2 miles, easy)
- Neck Spring (5.8 miles, moderate)
- Gooseberry Trail (5.4 miles, strenuous)
Best Hikes in Canyonlands The Needles
- Cave Spring (0.6 miles, easy)
- Slickrock Trail (2.4 miles, easy)
- Chesler Park Viewpoint (6 miles, strenuous)
- Big Spring Canyon to Squaw Canyon (7.5 miles, strenuous)
Things to do in Canyonlands National Park
- backpacking
- boating
- horseback riding
- star-gazing
Where to stay near Canyonlands
Island in the Sky campgrounds – only 12 campsites, first-come, first-served, open year round, sites are $15/night.
Dog friendly trails in Canyonlands
Best Hikes in Dead Horse Point State Park
- Dead Horse Point Overlook Trail (400 feet, easy)
- Colorado River Overlook (1 mile, easy)
- The West Rim Trail (5-6 miles, moderate)
Where to stay near Dead Horse Point
Kayenta and Windgate campgrounds – $40/night for RVs
Pet friendly trails in Dead Horse Point State Park
Days 8-10: Arches National Park





Best Hikes in Arches National Park
- The Windows (1 mile, easy)
- Double Arch (.5 mile, easy)
- Delicate Arch (3 miles, strenuous)
- Double O Arch (4.5 miles, strenuous)
Things to do in Arches National Park
- backpacking
- canyoneering
- horseback riding
- rock-climbing
- star-gazing
The 8 Best Hikes in Arches National Park
Where to stay near Arches National Park
Springhill Suites by Marriott Moab – the nearest hotel to Arches National Park
Moab Valley RV Resort and Campground – camping just steps away from Moab’s most scenic sights, with RV and tent sights available
Under Canvas – upscale safari tents and mountain views
After you’re done exploring Moab, drive back to Salt Lake City


Things to know before you visit Utah’s National Parks
Best time to visit Utah’s Mighty 5
Spring and Fall are the most popular times to visit due to the good weather. Summer brings super hot weather to all the Utah parks. Winter can have cooler weathers, potentially snow and maybe road closures, but less crows
Arrive Early
No matter when you visit the Utah National Parks, they will most likely be busy. Prepare to get to the parks early to avoid crowds. Sunrise is a great time to explore the parks. Remember the parks are open 24/7 so you don’t need to wait until the open to enter.
Get a Parks Pass
An annual National Parks pass is $80, you can purchase online or at the park when you get there. The pass is good for one year from purchase date, and you’ll save money if you visit 3 parks throughout the whole year. We bought our pass at our first park of the trip, which was Zion National Park.
Plan out where you will stay
Due to the high volume of visitors in the Utah National Parks, campgrounds can fill up fast. If you know your route and where you will be camping, its best to book your accommodation ahead of time. Since we were in our camper van, we winged it. While we were in Zion, we found some great BLM land, and it couldn’t have been better. But you never know how full and busy things will be when you’re there.
Search for a RV for your Utah roadtrip
Road trip packing tips for Utah
Hiking gear
Camping gear
Road Trip Accessories
Utah is truly a beautiful place with so many parks to explore. You need at least 10 days to explore all of Utah’s National Parks. We hope this guide helps for planning your Utah roadtrip.
Have you visited any of the Utah National Parks? Which of the Utah’s mighty 5 is your favorite and why?
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