The Best 7-Day Utah National Park Road Trip
Welcome to your guide to the ultimate 7-day Utah national park road trip! Utah has five beautiful national parks, all within hours of each other, and you can explore all five within one week. Utah is home to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park.
Although these national parks are close to each other, they all have different landscapes that will leave you in awe. This Utah national park road trip itinerary brings you through each national park and gives you plenty of time to see many of their must-see attractions.
This guide will review everything you need to know for planning the best 7-day Utah national park road trip, including the must-see attractions in each national park.
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tips for Planning a 7-day Utah national park road trip:
Get to the parks early. The park entrances can have long entrance lines during peak seasons and weekends. I highly suggest getting to the park as early as possible to avoid the craziness! On days that you cannot arrive early, I recommend adding time to your Utah road trip itinerary to accommodate traffic.
Pack food when you go into the parks. The national parks do not have food options, so I highly suggest packing snacks and food to eat while you are in the park.
I recommend purchasing America the Beautiful Annual Pass which allows you into all national parks for one year for $80! You will save money in Utah by purchasing this. You can buy the pass at any park entrance or any of the places listed here.
Rent a campervan! If you have or can rent camping gear or a campervan, I highly recommend it. There are campgrounds everywhere in Utah that are close to the national parks. If you are interested in renting a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans!
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s 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 don't have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Day 1 of Your Utah National Park Road Trip
Fly into Salt Lake City International Airport, rent a car, and start your 7-day itinerary through Utah’s national parks by driving to Moab.
We flew into Salt Lake City Airport and stayed at a nearby hotel the night before we began our adventure because there weren’t any good morning flights. We picked up our rental car the following morning and drove four hours to Moab. The drive seems longer than it is at times because there isn’t much around, but before you know it, you’ll be in the cute town of Moab and spending two days there!
Before you explore Canyonlands National Park, you should know the park consists of four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers. We will only be diving into the most popular district, Island in the Sky, in this 7-day itinerary. If you want to tack on another district, you will need to add a few more days to your itinerary.
Travel tips:
Where to stay : I recommend staying in Moab. It’s about 40 minutes from the Island in the Sky park entrance and has plenty of hotels, an endless amount of restaurants, and a great grocery store with decent prices, so you are golden if you stay here!
Things to know before you go : As I mentioned above, Canyonlands National Park has four districts. Your trip to Canyonlands will depend on what districts you want to visit, so I recommend doing your research on how much time you need to explore!
Tips and Tricks : Canyonlands National Park can become very crowded which will lead to limited parking inside the park, especially on weekends. The parking lots are relatively big, so usually, you can do a loop and find a spot, but I recommend arriving at the park early. Getting to the park before 9:00 AM will give you plenty of time to explore the must-see attractions before most people enter the park.
Things to Do:
If you are starting earlier in the day and don’t plan on hiking in Canyonlands, I recommend adding Deadhorse Point State Park to your Utah national park road trip itinerary. It is a short distance from the Canyonlands park entrance and offers a beautiful overlook at the end of the park. The American the Beautiful Pass does not include state parks, so you will have to pay an entrance fee, but we loved the short side-trip! If you are short on time, skip it and head straight to the park!
Island in the Sky is the easiest district to access and is the most visited. It has beautiful pull-off spots and hiking trails with breathtaking views.
Shafer Canyon Overlook is the first stop in the park and gives you an incredible canyon view. You don't have to hike, so you can park in the parking lot and head on over to the overlook area!
Mesa Arch is the next stop and is the most iconic spot in the park! Hiking is required to view the arch, but it is an easy, 0.6-mile roundtrip hike. Because this is the iconic spot, you will not be the only one at the arch. Many people want the classic picture sitting in Mesa Arch or standing on top of it, so you may have to wait a bit to take a pic. I suggest visiting Mesa Arch for sunrise or sunset!
Aztec Butte is a 1.8-mile roundtrip hike that brings you to ancient Pueblo granaries. Although short, this trail can be steep and strenuous at times.
Whale Rock is an easy 0.8-mile roundtrip hike that climbs up on a rounded sandstone that looks similar to a whale leading you to beautiful views over Upheaval Dome. There are handrails to help you get to the top of the dome, too.
If you want to hike the Syncline Loop, you will need to add a day to your itinerary or skip many of the other hikes in this itinerary to give you enough time. It is a strenuous 9-mile roundtrip hike and is for experienced hikers. It is VERY difficult to follow but brings you to the Upheaval Dome, providing beautiful views.
Green River Overlook Road is a 1.5-mile road that brings you to Green River Overlook. Hiking is not required to get the beautiful canyon views that seem to go on forever!
Along the main scenic drive, Candlestick Tower Overlook, Buck Canyon Overlook, and Orange Cliffs Overlook are beautiful overlooks that offer stunning views without hiking!
The final and BEST stop is Grand View Point. It was by far our favorite spot in Canyonlands National Park! It is an easy 2-mile roundtrip hike that brings you to the edge of the canyon, and the views are AMAZING. The Grand View Point is the perfect sunset spot if you feel comfortable hiking back when the light is fading.
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Day 2 of Your Utah National Park Road Trip
It is time to wake up early and head to Arches National Park for the second day of your Utah national park road trip! Arches National Park has so much to see, and everything is B-E-A-Utiful! Since there are a lot of attractions in the park, I am only going to name the ones that were the most iconic, in my opinion. There are beautiful overlooks every few feet, so definitely stop at every spot if you have time!
Travel tips:
Timed Entry: Arches National Park has implemented a timed entry system to help manage traffic and crowds from April through October. You must reserve a timed entry ticket before heading into the park. I recommend getting one as soon as you can!
Where to stay: Similar to Canyonlands, I recommend staying in Moab. It is less than 20 minutes away from the park entrance and has everything you need in it.
Things to know before you go: It will get HOT quickly in Arches National Park, so be prepared to drink lots of water, eat lots of snacks, and wear a lot of sunscreen. There is barely any shade in the park, so we drank over a gallon of water a day when exploring. We also brought a lot with us when we hiked.
Tips and Tricks: Arches National Park is one of the most visited national parks, and parking is limited during peak season. The parking lots are relatively big, so usually, you can do a loop and find a spot, but I recommend arriving in the park early. Getting to the park before 8:00 AM will give you plenty of time to see some of the most popular sites before everyone else arrives.
Things to DO:
Park Avenue Trail is an easy, two-mile roundtrip hike that brings you to the bottom of a canyon and offers an up-close and personal experience to massive monoliths that will make you feel small in the best way!
If you do not want to hike the Park Avenue Trail, you can view the Courthouse Towers from the Courthouse Towers Viewpoint!
Delicate Arch is one of the most iconic spots in Arches National Park. There are three ways you can view this beautiful arch. The first two viewpoints (Upper and Lower) are located at the end of the road and are the easiest ways to view Delicate Arch because they only require short hikes. The third is the most difficult and requires a 3.2-mile roundtrip hike, but it allows you to get up close and personal with the arch. If you want to see Delicate Arch in its prime, I recommend visiting for sunrise.
Balance Rock is another iconic attraction in Arches National Park. A large rock sits on top of another and seems to be barely balancing, and it is a beautiful and unique sight! You can follow the short 0.3-mile roundtrip trail to loop around Balanced Rock and get an up-close and personal experience with it!
Sand Dune Arch stands out from many of the arches in the park because it is between sandstone fins! It is one of my favorite arches because it is so unique! Sand Dune Arch only requires an easy 0.3-mile roundtrip hike, making it the perfect stop to add to your itinerary! If you want to tackle a longer trail, you can add Broken Arch and Tapestry Arch to create a 2.7-mile loop!
The final attraction in Arches National Park is a strenuous and long trail, Devils Garden Loop. Now, don’t let that scare you away! You don’t have to hike the entire 9-mile trail to get views. The beginning of the hike is well maintained and offers views of many beautiful arches. After that though, the trail is only recommended for experienced hikers. If you want to hike the entire trail, I suggest starting earlier in the morning to avoid the sun when it is the highest and hottest and planning 4-6 hours for the hike.
Now, I know some of you might be wondering why I skipped some of the most iconic arches. Well, my friends, that is because I want you to visit The Windows, Turret Arch, and Double Arch at the end of the day. These arches are the perfect spots to watch the sunset. And the best part? They only require at most 1-mile roundtrip hikes to each of them.
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Day 3 of Your Utah National Park Road Trip
Time to pack up your stuff and begin the 2.5-hour drive to Capitol Reef National Park for the next day in your Utah national park road trip! I recommend grabbing food-to-go in Moab because there won’t be many places to stop on the drive.
Travel tips:
Where to stay: I recommend staying in Torrey. It is a short drive from the park entrance and has a few hotels. The grocery store is relatively small, and there are a few good restaurants!
Things to know before you go: Hiking is, in my opinion, necessary in Capitol Reef National Park if you want to experience the park. Most of our favorite things in the park involved a hike, so I recommend giving yourself plenty of time to hike. With that being said, these trails, similar to others in Southern Utah, do not have shade. You will be in direct sunlight for most of the hikes, so make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks with you!
Tips and Tricks: There are two things to know. 1. You only need to pay the park entrance fee if you want to drive and explore Capitol Reef Scenic Drive (which I highly recommend). 2. Be prepared for any kind of weather. The weather in Capitol Reef National Park can change instantly. At the beginning of our day in the park, it was a beautiful, 80° day with a cloudless sky. During one of our longer hikes, the wind picked up quickly and brought in rain clouds. We were heading down when they rolled in, so we were lucky! Everything happened so fast, and it suddenly down poured. Then it was back to a beautiful day! THEN the clouds rolled back in as we approached sunset, and it rained AGAIN.
Things to DO:
Capitol Reef National Park is the most underrated national park in Utah! It is less known, so most people visiting Utah skip it, but I think allocating a day to the park in your 7-day Utah national park road trip itinerary is well worth it!
Hickman Natural Bridge is the first stop in Capitol Reef National Park and is one of the most popular hikes in the park. It is an easy, 2-mile roundtrip hike that brings you to a stone bridge that is 125 feet tall and 133 feet long. It is an incredible sight!
Just past Hickman Natural Bridge is the beginning of the scenic drive. This beautiful 8-mile long road brings you to some of the most beautiful overlooks and hikes in the park! NOTE: Most of this drive is prone is flash flooding, so PLEASE make sure you check the weather before you explore here.
The scenic drive travels through the historic town of Fruita. If you like cinnamon buns, make sure to stop at the Gifford House! People rave about their baked goods.
Cassidy Arch is the next stop on the scenic drive and is my favorite spot in the park! The trail is a strenuous, 3.5-mile roundtrip hike that brings you high up on a cliff to a beautiful arch. This hike is not for the faint of heart. It is sketchy, and you gain the elevation quickly. If you don’t want to hike, you can view Cassidy Arch from a viewpoint at the beginning of the road.
The last stop on the road is Capitol Gorge. This road is not paved, so a 4x4 is recommended to explore the area. There is also an easy, 2-mile roundtrip hike, leading to Golden Throne, Pioneer Register (150-year-old Pioneer inscriptions), Water Tanks, and Capitol Gorge.
After exploring the scenic drive, it is time to head back to Route 24 and explore the last few viewpoints in the park, Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point. These two viewpoints are next to each other and require very short hikes. Goosenecks Overlook and Sunset Point are perfect spots to watch the sunset!
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Day 4 of Your Utah National Park Road Trip
You are halfway through your 7-day Utah national park road trip itinerary and have two more beautiful national parks to visit! It is time to start the 2.5-hour drive to Bryce Canyon National Park and explore the land of hoodoos!
Travel tips:
Where to stay: I recommend staying in Bryce. It is a small town outside the park entrance and has a few hotels. There is a grocery store and restaurants, so you don’t need to travel far for food. There are alsoplenty of other small towns nearby that have lodging options!
Things to know before you go: The weather in Bryce Canyon National Park can vary greatly in one day. The drive into the park gains a lot of elevation, with the endpoint being over 9,000 feet high, and you can expect a temperature drop.
Tips and Tricks: As I said above, the weather in Bryce Canyon National Park can change quickly, so I recommend bringing a few layers of clothes to accommodate the temperature drop. Also, the parking lots are small, so I recommend heading into the park early. We saw all of the overlooks in a half day because we were in the national park before most people. It gave us plenty of time to hike during the other half of the day!
Things to DO:
Similar to the other national parks, there are a lot of viewpoints in Bryce Canyon National Park. I only note a few that were my favorite, but I recommend stopping at every single one in the park because they are all worth a stop!
Fairyland Point is the first stop in Bryce Canyon National Park but is before the park entrance. It is the starting point for a beautiful hike that brings you up-close and personal with hoodoos. Fairyland Loop is a strenuous 8.3-mile roundtrip hike that snakes down into the canyon. Because of its mileage, it is not as crowded as other trails. If you don’t want to hike, you can enjoy the beautiful views from the overlook.
Sunset Point and Sunrise Point are the first overlooks past the park entrance and are some of the most popular because they have beautiful views of the Bryce Amphitheater.
If you want to get up-close and personal with hoodoos, Navajo Loop is the perfect hike for you! The 1.4-mile roundtrip hike begins at Sunset Point and travels down into the canyon, passing some of the most well-known hoodoos. Navajo Loop is considered one of the best hikes in Southern Utah, and it will have crowds. You can also add the Queen’s Garden Trail for an incredible 3-mile roundtrip hike.
Inspiration Point is the next attraction in the park and is on the same road as Bryce Point. Inspiration Point is less popular than Bryce Point, but both have similar, beautiful views. These are fantastic spots for sunset because they offer amazing views, and everyone will be at Sunset Point, and it will be less crowded.
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. There is an easy, 1-mile roundtrip hike, Bristlecone Loop, that links both overlooks, or you can drive to each one.
Mossy Cave is technically in Bryce Canyon National Park, but it is in Tropic. It is a short 10-minute drive from the park entrance, so I recommend allocating time to hike this trail! Mossy Cave is an easy, 1-mile roundtrip hike that brings you through a hoodoo canyon to a cave and a waterfall.
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Day 5 - 6 of Your Utah National Park Road Trip
The day has come that you have all been waiting for in your 7-day Utah national park road trip itinerary! It is time to make the 1.5-hour drive to the iconic Zion National Park. The next two days of your Utah national park road trip are in Zion National Park, so get excited!! If you want to spend an extra day in another park, you can do that, too!
Travel tips:
Where to stay: I recommend staying in Springdale. Springdale was our favorite town we stayed in while we were in Utah and has many hotels. We stayed at the Bumbleberry Inn and loved our time there! There are a lot of great restaurants and cute shops you will want to visit. There is also a big grocery store that has a variety of food. I was able to find plenty of food to accommodate being vegetarian and gluten-free, which I appreciated! There are also plenty of towns further out if you don't mind being not as close to the park entrance.
Things to know before you go: Zion National Park ALWAYS has crowds, no matter what day of the week you go. We went on a Wednesday and Thursday, and it was very crowded. I don’t even want to imagine how it is on weekends! Also, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private cars most of the year. Because of this, you have to take the shuttle to see all of the attractions off the road. The shuttle starts at the Visitor Center and travels to the end of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.
Tips and Tricks: As I said above, Zion National Park always has crowds, so the parking lot at the Visitor Center can be full by 9:00 AM. I highly recommend parking at the Visitors Center before 8:00 AM to secure a spot. If you are staying in Springdale, you can also take the shuttle from downtown Springdale to the Visitors Center and then catch the Zion shuttle from there. You can also rent bikes which is another great option for seeing the park if you don’t want to use the shuttle.
Things to DO:
If you are coming in from the east entrance, Canyon Overlook will be the first stop in the park. Parking is very limited, so I suggest parking in a pullover area as soon as you see an opening. We walked about 5 minutes to get to the trail, but it was worth it because there were no openings closer to the trailhead. Canyon Overlook is an easy, 1-mile roundtrip hike that leads to a breathtaking canyon view.
After you are in the park and on the shuttle, it is time to explore the beautiful attractions off of Zion Canyon Scenic Drive! The Narrows is a classic Zion hike that provides a fun experience walking through an iconic canyon in the river. The hike begins at the Riverside Walk and continues into The Narrows, where you start to get your feet wet. You can hike as far as you want before turning around to head back.
Emerald Pools is another classic hike to small but beautiful waterfalls. The 2-mile roundtrip hike starts near the Zion Lodge and brings you to Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools. In the spring, the waterfalls are gushing. We visited in the summer, so the waterfalls were small but still beautiful!
Canyon Junction Bridge is the perfect spot for sunset. It is one of the most photographed spots in Zion National Park! It does not require a hike, and it can be very crowded before sunset. I recommend getting there early if you want to take the classic sunset photo of the Watchman.
The Pa’rus Trail is the most accessible hike in Zion National Park and is the only one that allows bikes and pets. It is a beautiful and easy 3-mile roundtrip hike along the Virgin River that links Canyon Junction Bridge and the Visitor Center.
If you are craving an adrenaline-pumping hike, Angels Landing is for you! This 6-mile roundtrip hike is considered one of the most dangerous hikes in the US. Angels Landing has vertical drop-offs on either side of the trail, so it is not for the faint of heart. Because Angels Landing is considered one of the best hikes, it attracts many people, and during peak season, you can see what looks like an ant line going up the trail. I recommend getting to the trailhead (begins at the Grotto Picnic Area) as early as you can to avoid crowds and the hot sun.
Note: Because Angels Landing is one of the most popular hikes in the Zion National Park, the park is piloting a lottery permit system to decrease the congestion on the trail. You can apply for a permit before your trip during windows of days or the day before.
Another long but rewarding hike is Observation Point. The 7-mile East Mesa Trail requires a 4wd or all-wheel drive vehicle to get to the trailhead. If you don’t have one, you can park on the road before it gets rocky and walk to the trailhead. The trail is relatively easy and only gains about 650 feet of elevation.
Note: The traditional trail is closed (starting at Weeping Rock) because of a rockfall and is likely not to open for a few years, so the only way to access Observation Point is via East Mesa Trail.
If you want to get away from the crowds, Kolob Canyon is for you! Kolob Canyon is tucked in the northwest corner of Zion National Park and is the least-visited area. It is about a 45-minute drive from Springdale and offers a beautiful 5-mile scenic drive with viewpoints and trailheads. At the end of the scenic drive, there is a short and beautiful 1-mile hike to Timber Creek Overlook
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The final day of your incredible 7-day Utah national park road trip has arrived! After eating your last breakfast in Springdale and maybe even catching the sunrise at Canyon Overlook or Canyon Junction Bridge, it is time to say goodbye to Zion National Park and make the 2.5-hour drive to Harry Reid International Airport to fly home.
If your flight is later in the day, you can explore Las Vegas a bit or take a quick detour to Valley of Fire State Park. Valley of Fire State Park is a beautiful and hot state park that offers viewpoints and hikes, such as Pink Canyon, The Fire Wave, and the Beehives. It is a great way to break up the drive to Las Vegas, so if you have time, I highly recommend adding it to your Utah road trip itinerary.
What to Pack for a Utah National Park Road Trip
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.
If you want to plan the best 7-day Utah national park road trip itinerary, this guide is the perfect place to start! It has everything you need to create an epic Utah national park road trip, including the must-see attractions in each of the national parks in Utah!
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!
More Utah Travel Inspiration!
Easy Hikes in Zion National Park
The Best 3-Day Bryce Canyon and Zion Itinerary
The Best Things to Do in Arches National Park
The Best Things to Do in Canyonlands National Park
The Best Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
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