Utah Trip Guide
Utah's Mighty 5 in one week.
Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands — a doable seven-day road trip, bookended by our Park City and St. George stays so you land, decompress, and go.
5
Parks
7
Suggested days
~14 hrs
Total driving
The route
One loop, five parks, two basecamps.
Fly into St. George (or Las Vegas — same drive time) and head clockwise: Zion → Bryce → Capitol Reef → Arches → Canyonlands. Park City works as a fly-in bookend if you're routing through Salt Lake.
1. Zion National Park
Day 1–2Towering red-rock cliffs, hanging gardens, the Virgin River
- Drive
- 2 hrs from St. George
- Must-do
- Angels Landing at sunrise, then wade The Narrows
2. Bryce Canyon National Park
Day 3Alien hoodoo amphitheaters at 8,000 ft — pack a jacket
- Drive
- 1.5 hrs from Zion
- Must-do
- Sunrise at Sunrise Point, hike the Navajo/Queens Garden loop
3. Capitol Reef National Park
Day 4Quietest of the five — orchards, petroglyphs, the Waterpocket Fold
- Drive
- 2.5 hrs from Bryce
- Must-do
- Scenic Drive, Hickman Bridge, fresh pie in Torrey
4. Arches National Park
Day 5–62,000+ arches in a compact loop — moody light, easy access
- Drive
- 2.5 hrs from Capitol Reef
- Must-do
- Delicate Arch at sunset, Devil's Garden trail
5. Canyonlands National Park
Day 6–7Vast canyon country — Island in the Sky is the day-trip district
- Drive
- 40 min from Arches (Moab)
- Must-do
- Mesa Arch at dawn, Grand View Point, Shafer Trail overlook
Your basecamp
Land soft. Decompress. Go big.
Book a Park City condo for a Wasatch bookend, or a St. George home as your Zion/Bryce launch pad. Both come with our in-house concierge — restaurants, permits, dawn-patrol timing.
Common questions
- How long do you need to see Utah's Mighty 5?
- Seven days is the sweet spot. Five works if you skip Capitol Reef; ten lets you add slot canyons, Lake Powell, or a Park City decompression stop.
- What's the best base for the Mighty 5?
- St. George is the closest launch point for Zion and Bryce — about two hours to Zion. Park City works as a fly-in / fly-out bookend if you're arriving via Salt Lake City.
- When should I visit?
- April–May and September–October have the best weather and thinnest crowds. Summer bakes Arches and Canyonlands; winter is quiet but some scenic roads close.
- Do I need permits?
- Angels Landing (Zion) requires a lottery permit. The Wave and slot canyons in nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante also need permits. Ask the concierge — we handle timing.
