How to Road Trip Southern Utah (Including the Mighty 5!)
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Southern Utah is a mecca for outdoor lovers and adventure seekers. From the soaring cliffs of Zion National Park to the stunning hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, this region is home to some of the most stunning landscapes on earth. And with five national parks, seven national monuments, and one national recreation area, there’s no shortage of things to see and do.
Here is everything to include on your Southern Utah road trip, including the Mighty 5 National Parks, Monument Valley, and Lake Powell.
The Ultimate Southern Utah Road Trip
I like to call this the “mini Grand Circle” road trip, as you will stay mainly in Utah and see the best of the southern Utah region. The true “Grand Circle” road trip includes a dip down into Arizona to see the Grand Canyon as well.
Before your trip, you’ll want to purchase an America the Beautiful national parks pass from REI. For just $80, the pass gives you access to all five parks for one full year. Plus, it’s valid at over 2,000 other national parks and federal recreation sites across the country.
Southern Utah Road Trip Itinerary
I did this road trip from California, so my starting point was Las Vegas. However, you could start at any park and continue in the circle, adding days as you see fit.
- Day 1: Arrive in Zion (3 hours from Las Vegas / 4 hours from Salt Lake City)
- Day 2: Zion
- Morning: Hike Angel’s Landing
- Afternoon: Hike The Narrows
- Day 3: Bryce Canyon
- Morning: Drive Zion-Mt Carmel Scenic Highway to Bryce (2 hours)
- Afternoon: Hike Queen’s Garden Loop
- Day 4: Canyonlands
- Morning: Drive through Capitol Reef (3 hours to Canyonlands)
- Afternoon: Drive Island in the Sky & Mesa Arch in Canyonlands
- Day 5: Arches
- Morning: Delicate Arch
- Afternoon: Forrest Gump Point in Monument Valley (3 hours from Arches)
- Day 6: Lake Powell
- Morning: Sunrise at the Mittens in Monument Valley (2 hours to Page, AZ)
- Afternoon: Kayak Lake Powell
- Day 7: Return (4 hours from Las Vegas / 6 hours from Salt Lake City)
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is one of the most popular parks in the United States, and the most popular in Utah. The park is known for its dramatic landscapes, including red rock canyons, cliffs, and mesas where visitors can hike, wade through rivers, and explore miles of scenic trails.
With its towering red cliffs, lush green valleys, and winding river canyons, Zion is truly a sight to behold. In fact, Zion ended up being my favorite National Park in Utah.
There’s plenty to do in the park, whether you’re looking for a challenging hike or a leisurely stroll, making it the perfect starting point for a southern Utah road trip.
Angel’s Landing and The Narrows are the most popular trails in Zion. Angel’s Landing it offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape, just be sure to get a permit ahead of time. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can wade through The Narrows, a slot canyon that the Virgin River runs through.
Zion in 1 Day
While you could easily spend an entire week exploring this park alone, you can also get a good feel for the park in just one day.
- Park at the Visitor’s Center and take the first shuttle to The Grotto (Angel’s Landing trailhead.)
- Hike Angel’s Landing (3-5 hour hike. Permit required.)
- One alternative is to hike Observation Point.
- Take the shuttle back to the Visitor’s Center.
- Rent water boots and a hiking pole from Zion Outfitters (walkable from the Visitor’s Center.)
- Take the shuttle to Sinawava Temple (The Narrows trailhead.)
- Hike The Narrows (1-5 hour hike. Turnaround at any point.)
- Drive Zion-Mt Carmel Scenic Highway. Stop at Canyon Overlook Trail, Keyhole Canyon, and Checkerboard Mesa.
What to do with More Time in Zion
If you find yourself with some extra time in Zion National Park, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. One option is to take a hike to the Emerald Pools. The trail is easy to follow and takes you through some stunning scenery.
You can skip the shuttle and rent a bike and explore Springdale in addition to more remote areas of the park.
Or for a unique way to see the park, consider going on a horseback ride. Sit back and enjoy the scenery while your trusty steed does all the work. The Canyon Rides outfit is run by an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service and the horses are well taken care of.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is especially known for its hoodoos, which are tall, thin spires of rock. Interestingly, Bryce Canyon is not actually a canyon, but an amphitheater filled with hoodoos.
At only 20 miles long and about 10 miles wide, Bryce Canyon is Utah’s smallest National Park. Despite its small size, there is still plenty to do in the park, including hundreds of miles of hiking trails.
I loved Bryce’s unique and accessible beauty. Don’t miss Wall Street, the iconic switchback path down into a hoodoo forest.
Bryce Canyon in 1 Day
Although it is small, Bryce could easily fill up a few days if you had them. But you can still get to know the park in one afternoon.
- Park at the Bryce Canyon Shuttle Lot.
- Take the shuttle to Bryce Point overlook.
- Take the shuttle to Sunset Point.
- Hike from Sunset Point down Wall Street, to the Queen’s Garden Trail up to Sunrise Point. (1-3 hours)
What to do with More Time in Bryce
If you find yourself with some extra time in Bryce Canyon National Park, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. Similar to Zion, one option is to explore the park via horseback.
Bryce is quite accessible on horseback and several trails are reserved for horseback. The same Canyon Rides outfit runs the horseback rides in Bryce, and the horses and mules are well taken care of.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park is known for its water pocket fold, a 100-mile-long fold in the earth’s crust. The park is also home to several historical sites including petroglyphs carved into the rocks.
Capitol Reef National Park is Utah’s least-visited National Park. In my opinion, that’s because it is not as accessible as the other parks.
I drove through Capitol Reef. From the drive, I was not impressed with this park’s scenery, and honestly, the orchard and petroglyphs that you can access from the pull-offs did not wow me.
However, I would go back to Capitol Reef. I’m not one to write off an entire place based on one brief experience. The real appeal of the park takes time to experience. Whether that be hiking through the water pocket fold in the backcountry, or trekking to the remote Cathedral Valley, I will be back to give it the time it deserves.
But if you are limited on time, this is one that I would skip or drive through.
Capitol Reef in 1 Day
Unfortunately, Capitol Reef is difficult to experience just passing through on a mini Grand Circle road trip. For this reason, I used it as a stopover between sunrise at Bryce and an afternoon at Canyonlands.
- Stop at Gifford House and get a pie at Fruita Homestead
- Walk to Hickman Natural Bridge
What to do with More Time in Capitol Reef
If you find yourself with more time to explore Capitol Reef, take the drive down to Cassidy Arch.
To experience the real magic of the park, circle back two hours off the Grand Circle to the northern side and see Cathedral Valley, The Walls of Jericho, and the Temple of the Sun.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is known for its canyons which are comparable to the Grand Canyon. Visitors can explore the park by hiking, camping, whitewater rafting, and mountain biking. Several scenic drives offer breathtaking views of the landscape.
Canyonlands National Park is another park that definitely requires more time to experience fully. However, unlike Capitol Reef, you can still experience awe and wonder by driving through.
Four districts divide Canyonlands including Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze.
The most accessible and most visited is Island in the Sky. This sector is driveable and is right on the Grand Circle route. Don’t miss the iconic Mesa Arch.
Canyonlands in 1 Day
After spending the morning in Capitol Reef, I drove three hours to Island in the Sky.
- Drive to Schafer Overlook
- Drive to Mesa Arch (half-mile hike to the arch)
- Drive the switchbacks down Schafer Road to the bottom of the canyon. (4WD required)
What to do with More Time in Canyonlands
There are plenty of activities to keep you busy if you find yourself with some extra time in Island in the Sky. Driving White Rim Road is a popular choice, as it takes you down into the canyon. This does require a permit as a limited number of cars are allowed on the road.
Other hikes include loops around Mesa Arch and Upheaval Dome.
Arches National Park
As its name suggests, Arches is known for more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. The park also features a variety of other geological features, including fins, Balanced Rock, and petrified dunes.
In the past, the National Park Service implemented a timed entry system for Arches National Park. Check ahead of time for specific entry requirements.
The first stop on any visit to Arches National Park should be Delicate Arch. This iconic landmark is perhaps the most famous of all the sandstone arches in the park, and it’s easy to see why. The arch stands at a height of over 60 feet and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Arches in 1 Day
- See the panoramic Petrified Dunes
- Hike to Delicate Arch
- Hike to The Windows and see Delicate Arch from afar
- See Double Arch at The Windows
What to do with More Time in Arches
There are also a number of other hiking trails throughout Arches National Park that are worth exploring.
For those looking for a challenge, the Devils Garden Trailhead offers a 7-mile round trip hike that passes by several of the park’s best-known landmarks, including Landscape Arch and Double O Arch. Or, for something a bit shorter, try the 1.5-mile round-trip hike to Balanced Rock.
If you have time at night, Arches is an International Dark Sky Park. Find a spot to stargaze.
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is best known for its striking red buttes and mesas. The area is home to the Navajo Nation and has been featured in a number of movies and television shows.
Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park. Therefore, it is one of the few places your Parks Pass will not work. Prepare to pay at the entry station on the main road into the scenic drive.
The public is welcome to stay at a paid hotel or campsite and can drive the 17-mile scenic drive. Any further exploration requires a Navajo guide.
Monument Valley in 1 Day
On your way into Monument Valley, stop at Forrest Gump Point. Be sure to hire a guide if you want to do any hiking.
- Photograph Forrest Gump Point (GPS 37°06’09.5″N 109°59’21.1″W)
- Sunrise at Monument Valley Viewpoint (at The View Hotel parking lot)
- Drive 17-mile drive
What to do with More Time in Monument Valley
If you find yourself with some extra time while visiting Monument Valley, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy. For a truly western experience, you can take a horseback ride through the valley.
Jeep tours are also available and provide an up-close look at the towering sandstone formations.
History buffs will want to check out John Ford Point, named after the famed director who filmed several Westerns in the valley.
Lake Powell
Situated on the Colorado River, Lake Powell has over 2,000 miles of shoreline on the border between Arizona and Utah. It is known for its dramatic scenery, turquoise waters, and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.
The drive from Monument Valley to Page, Arizona is a quick two hours. It was very easy to catch the sunrise at Monument Valley and be in Page to check out a kayak that same morning.
The natural beauty of Lake Powell is breathtaking, and I was happy to find that my Parks Pass gave me entry here too!
There is so much to do at Lake Powell, you could spend a week here in itself. The most iconic activity that came to my mind was kayaking the gorgeous slot canyons.
Lake Powell in 1 Day
Page, Arizona has several kayak outfitters and rental companies. For most, you will meet in Page and drive down to the marina to pick up your rental.
- Breakfast at Canyon Crepes Cafe
- Sign rental agreement in Page
- Pick up kayak at Wahweap Boat Ramp
- Kayak Ice Cream Canyon (3-6 hours from Wahweap)
What to do with More Time at Lake Powell
If you find yourself with some extra time at Lake Powell, there are plenty of ways to stay occupied. One option is to rent a jet ski and explore the many coves and inlets that make up the lake.
Or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can try your hand at wakeboarding or water skiing.
There are also plenty of hiking and biking trails in the area so that you can take in the stunning views of the lake and surrounding desert landscape.
What to do with More Time on a Southern Utah Road Trip
As you can tell, southern Utah is full of natural beauty. And with so much to see, it’s easy to find yourself with some extra time on your hands. Here are a few ideas for what to do with that extra time along the Grand Circle route:
- See the dinosaurs brought to life and take a selfie with a t-rex at Moab Giants.
- Take a guided rock climbing tour in Moab.
- Explore the slot canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
- Rent ATVs and ride the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
Southern Utah Road Trip FAQ
At a minimum, you could drive through and see all five of Utah’s National Parks in three days. However, the longer you have the more you will be able to experience each park. Seven days is a good minimum for getting to experience a few features of each park.
Zion. It is accessible and undeniably gorgeous from any view.
Capitol Reef. Its most-visited parts are not that impressive. But if you have time to visit the backcountry, it is incredible.
Yes. You can drive from one entrance to another through Zion and Capitol Reef. Bryce, Arches (reservation required), and Canyonlands are out-and-back routes from the same entrance.
Yes. Each park has an entrance fee. If you are visiting multiple times, or if you are visiting three or more parks, purchasing a National Parks Pass will cover entry and save you money.
No. But in the past, a prepaid reservation was required to enter Arches National Park. Check entry requirements ahead of time.
I hope this southern Utah road trip guide was helpful to you! If you enjoyed it, check out a video preview of everything I mentioned on my Utah Instagram Highlights and give me a follow. If you ever have a question you can DM me or drop it in the comments below.
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