Utah may not have essentially the most nationwide parks of any state – that honor goes to California – nevertheless it definitely has the best focus.

All of Utah’s “Mighty 5” are inside straightforward driving distance of each other, that means that the state is prime for an epic nationwide parks highway journey that you may even squeeze into a brief quantity of trip time. With solely every week to spare, it is doable to get to know the distinct personalities of every of the state’s nationwide parks.

This is tips on how to plan an unforgettable drive in Utah.

The place do you have to begin a Utah nationwide parks highway journey?

You possibly can sort out Utah’s nationwide parks west to east or vice versa, relying in your beginning vacation spot. Going from west to east is usually the preferred choice as a result of Zion Nationwide Park is just some hours from the worldwide airport in Las Vegas. You would additionally begin this highway journey in Salt Lake City, heading for both Zion or Arches first.

The place ought to I hire a automobile for a Utah highway journey?

When you’re flying in to go to Utah’s nationwide parks, it’s best to hire a automobile at your arrival airport. After selecting up the automobile, head to the grocery retailer to purchase water, snacks and different provides earlier than you hit the highway, particularly should you’re searching for one thing particular. The gateway cities to Utah’s nationwide parks are small, and their shops usually don’t have as extensive of a variety. 

When is one of the best time to drive between Utah’s nationwide parks?

Late spring and early fall are one of the best seasons for highway tripping in Utah. Summer season is a well-liked time, however meaning extra automobiles on the highway and extra hikers on the paths. Winter is nice for solitude seekers, however ensure you have the know-how to drive on snowy roads and a backup plan in case of closures or worse. State highways in some areas could be shut down till Could due to heavy snowfall, notably within the excessive elevations round Brian Head, north of Zion Nationwide Park.

Cease 1: Zion Nationwide Park

The vibe: Superior canyon and iconic hikes

What to do: Zion Canyon is among the most intriguing pure wonders within the nation, and it chalks up the customer numbers to show it. See what makes Zion so extraordinary by taking over the nationwide park’s two iconic hikes: Angels Touchdown (permit required), a chain-assisted white-knuckle climb to a lofty slender plateau, and the Narrows, the place the path is the Virgin River and also you wade by way of the water because it churns by way of a towering slot canyon.

What to eat: Within the coronary heart of the canyon, the historic Zion Lodge has two locations to eat: a small cafe and a full-fledged restaurant. The meals isn’t notably memorable, however the setting definitely is, and it’s the one place to eat contained in the nationwide park should you don’t carry your individual provides. Simply outdoors Zion Nationwide Park’s south entrance, Zion Canyon Brew Pub was the primary microbrewery in southern Utah and serves up pub grub that pairs completely with its beers. Extra eating places, espresso outlets and small grocery shops abound in Springdale, the gateway city hugging Zion’s south entrance.

The place to remain: Zion Nationwide Park has two in-park lodging choices: camping or Zion Lodge. You want to ebook months upfront to get a reservation for both. Springdale has a lot of wonderful locations to remain. See if rooms can be found at Under the Eaves Inn, Red Rock Inn or Desert Pearl Inn, or head a bit farther from the canyon. In East Zion, Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort is right for households, with tons of actions for all ages. To the west, AutoCamp Zion presents a hip keep in Airstream trailers, and Under Canvas has arrange attractive luxurious glamping tents on Kolob Terrace Highway.

The drive (75 miles, 1 hour and 25 minutes): Go away Zion Nationwide Park by way of the east entrance, driving by way of the tight-squeeze Zion–Mt Carmel Tunnel, which was the longest tunnel within the nation when it opened in 1930. Proceed on Hwy 9 to Mt Carmel Junction after which head north on Hwy 89. Flip east on Scenic Byway 12, nationally acknowledged as an “All-American Highway” for its historical past and landscapes. You get a style of what’s in retailer on the subsequent nationwide park as you drive by way of redrock arches and previous intriguing rock formations formed like Crayola crayons – and coloured simply as brightly.

Wish to know extra about Zion? Here’s our guide

Cease 2: Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park

The vibe: Alien rock formations

What to do: Bryce Canyon hides its treasures from view if you first enter the park, however as quickly as you attain the rim of the plateau, a military of rock spires known as hoodoos stands at consideration within the bowl of the pure amphitheater. The paved highway by way of the nationwide park is sprinkled with scenic overlooks the place you’ll be able to cease and gawp at these mesmerizing formations. Inspiration Level and Rainbow Level are wow-worthy pull-off factors. However getting in among the many hoodoos is a should. Hike the Navajo Loop from Sundown Level, book a horse ride on Peekaboo Loop or discover a quieter assortment of hoodoos on the Fairyland Loop.

What to eat: Bryce Canyon is Utah’s solely different nationwide park (in addition to Zion) that has a historic lodge contained in the park, which has a restaurant (don’t miss the elk chili). There’s additionally a park common retailer that sells pizza, craft beer, ice cream and snacks. Bryce Canyon Metropolis is simply outdoors the nationwide park gates, however the eating places within the small city of Tropic, a brief drive to the southeast, are higher. Attempt the pulled pork at IDK Barbecue or have an aesthetic white-tablecloth dinner at Stone Hearth Grille.

The place to remain: E book far upfront to snag a spot to sleep contained in the park, both a campsite or a room at Bryce Canyon Lodge. Bryce Canyon Metropolis has a number of choices close to the park entrance, nevertheless it’s value driving slightly additional to Bryce Glamp & Camp, a scenic, secluded spot the place you’ll be able to watch the night time sky out of your mattress in a bubble dome.

The drive (125 miles, 2 hours and 40 minutes): Proceed on Scenic Byway 12, which will get much more stunning as you crest the rollercoaster hills and sail down the switchbacks. A lot of the encompassing land is a part of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, which covers almost 2 million acres. Tempting trailheads beckon, notably across the cities of Escalante and Boulder – pull over and hike you probably have time. Scenic Byway 12 ends at Hwy 24 close to Torrey, the gateway city to Capitol Reef Nationwide Park.

First time in Bryce Canyon? Here’s what you need to know

Cease 3: Capitol Reef Nationwide Park

The vibe: Hikes by way of historical past

What to do: Capitol Reef wears its previous on its sleeve, and when mountain climbing on this nationwide park, you’re following within the footsteps of many generations previous, from the little-understood Native Fremont individuals to Mormon settlers. Don’t miss the petroglyphs east of the Capitol Reef Customer Heart (accessible by way of a boardwalk) and on the hike by way of Capitol Gorge, the place historic Native rock artwork is carved a brief distance from the Pioneer Register, recording the names and dates of Nineteenth-century settlers who handed by way of this slot canyon. Within the heart of the park, Fruita was a Mormon settlement established in 1879 and is well-known for its orchards, which the Nationwide Park Service nonetheless maintains. Decide up one of many well-known fruit pies from Gifford Homestead, the place Fruita’s final inhabitants lived.

What to eat: Torrey is a brief drive from the doorway to Capitol Reef Nationwide Park, and for such a small city, it has some spectacular meals choices. At Torrey Grill & BBQ, a Culinary Institute of America graduate makes magic with smoked meats, whereas cute Wild Rabbit Cafe serves phenomenal all-day breakfasts and sandwiches. Hunt & Gather is a stunning spot for nice eating, showcasing lovingly plated dishes of native elements.

The place to remain: Capitol Reef has one developed campground, in addition to free primitive websites within the backcountry (free backpacking permit required). When you’d fairly keep inside 4 partitions, attempt Torrey Schoolhouse B&B, a 1914 schoolhouse introduced again to life as a sublime mattress and breakfast. Top-of-the-line locations to remain in Torrey is Skyview, which has rooms with sizzling tubs that look out on the redrock surroundings, geodesic domes with skylights over the mattress for nighttime stargazing, and a rooftop terrace.

The drive (155 miles, 2 hours and half-hour): Head east on Hwy 24, known as the Capitol Reef Scenic Byway, which turns north at Hanksville. When you’ve got time, detour west of Hwy 24 to Goblin Valley State Park to wander amongst its weird rock formations. On the east aspect of Hwy 24, Horseshoe Canyon is a part of Canyonlands Nationwide Park and has some of the important Native rock artwork websites in North America – it’s nicknamed the “Louvre of the Southwest.” The highway to Horseshoe Canyon shouldn’t be paved, and a high-clearance 4WD automobile is really useful. When Hwy 24 involves an finish close to Inexperienced River, be part of Interstate 70 east and keep it up till the Moab turnoff at Hwy 191. Flip west on Hwy 313 to achieve one other space of Canyonlands Nationwide Park.

Hanging round in Capitol Reef? Here’s what to do there

Cease 4: Canyonlands Nationwide Park: Island within the Sky district

The vibe: Epic views

What to do: Canyonlands is Utah’s largest and least-visited nationwide park. Few vacationers enterprise to its most distant areas (and people who do require appropriate autos and self-sufficiency), and Canyonlands’ quieter nature is usually a welcome break from Utah’s busier parks. It’s divided into 4 districts, essentially the most accessible of which is Island within the Sky, close to Moab. This space stretches out atop an imposing mesa hundreds of toes above the Colorado and Inexperienced Rivers, the highly effective forces that sculpted this land into sheer canyons and needle-like pinnacles. The scenic drive by way of the Island within the Sky district dawdles previous a lot of overlooks. Get a 360-degree hen’s-eye view of the panorama from the humbly named Grand View Level the place the paved highway ends.

What to eat: Moab’s most important road is lined with nice eating places the place you’ll be able to gasoline up for a time out, and the city is only a 40-minute drive from the Island within the Sky Customer Heart. Within the northern a part of Moab, Proper Brewing has a wonderful beer backyard the place you’ll be able to chill and luxuriate in a burger and a Utah-made brew.

The place to remain: The Island within the Sky district has one campground. Extra campsites on Bureau of Land Administration (BLM) land are scattered alongside Hwy 313, the principle highway into the nationwide park, in addition to alongside Hwy 128 and the Colorado River south of Arches Nationwide Park. For lodge lodging, keep in Moab for a simple journey. Field Station is one among our prime picks for location, value and adventure-seeking ambiance, housed in a well-renovated roadside motel.

The drive (29 miles, 40 minutes): Canyonlands and Arches are about as shut as two nationwide parks might be, and it’s only a 30-minute drive from the Island within the Sky Customer Heart to Arches Customer Heart. When you can’t get sufficient of the views, take a detour to Dead Horse Point State Park for much more memorable vistas. Take Hwy 313 to Hwy 191 and drive south for just a few miles to the turnoff for Arches Nationwide Park.

Wish to see much more of Canyonlands? Here’s what you need to know

Cease 5: Arches Nationwide Park

The vibe: Arches galore

What to do: The primary draw of Arches is true in its title, and nowhere on Earth has extra of any such rock formation than this nationwide park. Delicate Arch is essentially the most iconic, enshrined on Utah’s license plates, and plenty of extra might be seen alongside the park’s most important paved highway on quick hikes and from easy-to-reach viewpoints. On the finish of the highway, the Devils Backyard Path packs a number of arches into a simple or adventurous hike, relying on how far you wish to go, together with 306ft Panorama Arch, one of many longest on the earth.

What to eat: There’s nowhere to eat inside Arches Nationwide Park, so usher in provides from Moab or gasoline up on the town earlier than or after a day of arch admiring. Discover a wide range of crowd-pleasing, budget-friendly choices at Moab Food Truck Park or reserve a desk at Desert Bistro, probably the greatest eating places on this a part of the state, for sport and seafood in an 1892 former dance corridor.

The place to remain: Arches has one campground contained in the park (ebook far upfront), and campers may discover a lot of websites on BLM land simply outdoors the park boundaries. In any other case, Moab makes for a wonderful base camp, with loads of inns alongside its most important road and past. Secluded south of city, ULUM Moab presents luxurious glamping tents with views of its very personal arch.

The drive: Spherical off your Utah nationwide parks highway journey by heading again to Salt Lake Metropolis (235 miles from Moab) or Las Vegas (460 miles from Moab). The quickest however least fascinating strategy to get to Las Vegas is to take the interstates (I-70 north of Moab after which I-15 south), however you probably have time, take the lengthy highway south from Moab, stopping on the Needles district of Canyonlands Nationwide Park, trying out film-famous Monument Valley on Navajo land and testing your luck by making an attempt to get a allow for the Wave – some of the sought-after hikes within the Southwest – in Kanab.

Want extra data about Arches? Here’s our guide for first-time visitors

Suggestions for EV drivers

Regardless of how distant some components of the state are, Utah is a superb place for an EV highway journey, particularly to the nationwide parks. Some campgrounds and plenty of inns, together with Zion Lodge contained in the nationwide park, have EV chargers for visitors. Tesla has a number of Superchargers throughout the state, notably alongside I-15 and I-70, together with in St George (about 45 miles from Zion Nationwide Park’s south entrance), Inexperienced River and Moab (near Arches and Canyonlands Nationwide Parks) and Blanding (about 70 miles from Canyonlands’ Needles district). 

A difficult stretch for EV drivers is the journey between Capitol Reef Nationwide Park and Moab. The Capitol Reef gateway city of Torrey has chargers, as does Inexperienced River, however you may have to be cautious about what number of locations you discover in between.