The Perfect Bryce Canyon 2-Day Itinerary
Bryce Canyon National Park is the land of the hoodoos! This beautiful park is in Southern Utah and is one of the most visited national parks in the US, for good reason. Although it is not the only place you can see hoodoos in the country, Bryce Canyon National Park has the most in a concentrated area. And yes, the views of its hoodoos are beautiful!
Although you can spend a few days exploring the park, you can see most must-see attractions in Bryce Canyon National Park in 2 days. Spending 2 days in Bryce Canyon National Park gives you plenty of time to enjoy the scenic drive, stop at its many overlooks, hike its trails, and maybe even go on a guided tour! This guide has everything you need to know about the best things to do in 2 days in Bryce Canyon National Park!
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Tips for Spending 2 Days in Bryce Canyon National Park
Start your day early. Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States and can become very crowded, especially in the summer. The parking lots in the park are also pretty small and fill up quickly. I recommend arriving at the park as early as you can to avoid sitting in a long line of traffic at the park entrance.
Use the Bryce Canyon National Park shuttle if the park is busy. Because Bryce Canyon National Park experiences heavy crowds, it can be difficult to find parking in the small parking lots. Luckily, the park offers a free shuttle that brings you to many of the must-see sights. It is easy to use and operates during the peak season (April to October). If you do not want to drive into the park and deal with parking, the free shuttle is perfect for you!
Start or end your day with hiking. Some of the most popular attractions in Bryce Canyon National Park are hikes, so the trails become crowded quickly. Navajo Loop is one of the most beautiful and popular hikes in the park, so I recommend starting or ending your day hiking it to avoid most crowds. The park also becomes hot in the summer, so hiking in the morning or evening allows you to avoid hiking in the midday heat.
Pack food and water. Bryce Canyon National Park does not have any places to buy food in the park, so I recommend packing your lunch, snacks, and water. Doing so will also help you avoid traffic coming back into the Bryce Canyon National Park. If you drive your car through the park, you can pack a cooler with everything you need! There are a few restrooms throughout Bryce Canyon National Park with water fountains, so you can fill up your water bottle as you explore the park.
Pack layers. As you drive through Bryce Canyon National Park, you gain elevation, ending at over 9,000 feet high, which means the weather can vary throughout the park. I recommend packing a few layers to accommodate the change in temperature and weather!
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they do not have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
How to Get to Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in the southwest corner of Utah near Zion National Park. The closest airports to Bryce Canyon are Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City International Airport in northern Utah. Both airports are about four hours from Bryce Canyon National Park.
I highly recommend renting a car to drive to Bryce Canyon National Park because there is not a direct bus route to the park from either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City.
Where to Stay Near Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce is the town closest to Bryce Canyon National Park and has everything you need for your visit, including food and accommodations. It is not a large town, but it covers the basics of what you need. Because it is the closest town to the park, the accommodations are on the pricier side. If you do not mind staying further out, there are cities and towns near Bryce Canyon National Park with accommodations for every budget!
If you have or can rent camping gear or a campervan, I highly recommend it because there are campgrounds close to Bryce Canyon National Park. If you want to rent a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans!
Best Hotels
Best Campgrounds
What to Pack for Bryce Canyon National Park
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
Day 1 of the Bryce Canyon 2-Day Itinerary
The first day of your 2-day itinerary in Bryce Canyon National Park explores the scenic drive and many popular viewpoints and hikes along it! I recommend starting your day early to give yourself plenty of time to see everything the park offers and get in before most crowds. Get ready for a full day of exploring and enjoying the beautiful hoodoos.
Sunset Point and Sunrise Point
Once you enter the park, Sunset Point and Sunrise Point are the first overlooks to explore. These are some of the most popular viewpoints because they have beautiful views of the Bryce Amphitheater. Sunrise Point has views of Thor’s Hammer and the Silent City, while Sunset Point has views of Wall Street.
Although you can drive to both overlooks, I recommend hiking the easy, flat one-mile trail that links them. It is a great way to avoid the hassle of parking and enjoy more beautiful views!
If you want to enjoy a beautiful sunrise, these two locations are perfect! If you want to skip sunrise, no problem! Sunrise Point and Sunset Point are beautiful no matter what time you visit.
Tip: If the park is crowded when you enter and you want to hike Navajo Loop, I recommend parking at Sunset Point first. It will allow you to secure a parking spot since the parking lot fills up quickly. You can easily walk along the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point and start the Navajo Loop from Sunset Point.
Navajo Loop
If you want to get up close and personal with hoodoos, Navajo Loop is the perfect hike! Navajo Loop is the most iconic hike in Bryce Canyon National Park, for food reasons! The 1.4-mile hike begins at Sunset Point and travels down into the canyon, passing Wall Street, Twin Bridges, Thor’s Hammer, and many hoodoos.
I highly recommend hiking Navajo Loop for sunrise to enjoy it with fewer people. No matter what time of day you hike the Navajo Loop, you will fall in love with the beautiful views!
Bonus hike: If you want to extend your hike, you can combine Navajo Loop with Queens Garden for a stunning 3-mile hike! In my opinion, this hike has some of the best views in Bryce Canyon National Park. If you have the time, I highly recommend adding Queens Garden!
Inspiration Point and Bryce Point
If you want to explore more beautiful overlooks, you are in luck! Inspiration Point and Bryce Point are two stunning viewpoints that rival the beauty of Sunrise Point and Sunset Point. Both only require a short walk from the parking and have expansive views of thousands of hoodoos.
If Inspiration Point is busy, you can walk along the nearby rim and enjoy more views. You can even hike from Sunset Point along the flat Rim Trail from Inspiration Point.
Natural Bridge
As you continue the drive through Bryce Canyon National Park, you can enjoy many stunning overlooks. I recommend stopping at each to enjoy the views, but if you are short on time, I recommend prioritizing the Natural Bridge viewpoint because it is one of the most beautiful and unique overlooks in the park.
The Natural Bridge is an 85-foot arch surrounded by hoodoos, and yes, it is as beautiful as it sounds! You cannot hike to it, but the view from the overlook will leave you in awe of its beauty!
Yovimpa Point and Rainbow Point
The last viewpoints in Bryce Canyon National Park are some of my favorites because they are very different from the others. Yovimpa Point and Rainbow Point are over 9,000 feet high and offer incredible views that seem to go on forever.
It is a great place to view Bryce Canyon’s Grand Staircase of rock layers! Various informational areas at the overlooks provide additional information on the beautiful landscape if you want to learn more about it!
Instead of driving to both viewpoints, I recommend hiking the easy, 1-mile Bristlecone Loop since it links them together. The trail offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape, so you will not be disappointed!
Sunset at Your Favorite Viewpoint
If you want to watch the sunset in the park, I highly recommend doing so from your favorite viewpoint! When we visited Bryce Canyon National Park, I loved watching the sunset along the Rim Trail near Inspiration Point. Many people will visit Sunset Point, so it is nice to be away from some of the crowds.
Day 2 of the Bryce Canyon 2-Day Itinerary
The second day of the Bryce Canyon 2-day itinerary explores a few areas outside the park entrance but are technically still in the park. Each area is breathtaking, and they have some of the most beautiful views in Bryce Canyon National Park, in my opinion. I recommend starting your day early again to give yourself plenty of time for exploring and avoiding most crowds. Get ready for beautiful views and fun trails!
Mossy Cave
I recommend starting your day at the hidden waterfall in Bryce Canyon National Park. Mossy Cave is technically in Bryce Canyon National Park but is outside of the park entrance in the town of Tropic. It is a quick 10-minute drive from the park entrance, making it easy to add to your itinerary!
Mossy Cave is an easy, 1-mile hike that brings you through a hoodoo canyon to a cave and a waterfall. The cave is cool, but the real star of the trail is the waterfall. Although it is not the biggest waterfall, it does not lack beauty. The waterfall sits at the bottom of a canyon and is stunning!
The Mossy Cave area has become increasingly popular, but the parking lot is small. I recommend arriving first thing in the morning to secure a parking spot and enjoy the beautiful views with fewer crowds!
Fairyland Point
Now it is time to head back near the park entrance to an overlook many people often skip. Fairyland Point is the first stop in Bryce Canyon National Park but is before the park entrance. Although the views from the overlook are breathtaking, I recommend allocating the day to hiking its beautiful hike, Fairyland Loop, which gives you an up-close and personal experience with hoodoos!
Fairyland Loop
Fairyland Loop is one of the most beautiful hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park and rivals the beauty of Navajo Loop. It is a strenuous 8.3-mile loop that snakes down into the canyon, giving you an up-close and personal experience with hoodoos. Do not let the mileage deter you from hiking this trail! Yes, it is strenuous, but it is worth it!
If you do not want to conquer the entire loop, you can hike along the Rim Trail to enjoy the beautiful hoodoo views. No matter which way you decide to enjoy Fairyland Loop, you will fall in love with this beautiful spot in Bryce Canyon National Park!
Tour
If you have extra time or do not want to hike Fairyland Loop, I highly recommend booking a tour! You can find many fun tours around Bryce Canyon National Park that are perfect for the entire family. The top two tours I recommend are horseback riding and ATVing.
The 3-hour horseback riding tour is with a knowledgeable guide that brings you to the nearby Dixie National Forest to explore the beautiful landscapes. The guided ATV tour brings you along the rim of Bryce Canyon National Park for an hour, allowing you to enjoy a fun adventure with gorgeous views. You cannot go wrong with either tour!
If you are visiting Bryce Canyon National Park for 2 days, this guide is the perfect place to start planning! It has everything you need to know about the best Bryce Canyon 2-day itinerary!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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