Utah's Mighty Five: Family Road Trip (7–10 Days)
Five parks, easy hikes & short drives, built for families.
All five Utah national parks designed for families, easy canyon hikes, dramatic views, and short drives between parks.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
26 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Utah Mighty 5: every stop pinned in order.
Zion · Bryce · Capitol Reef · Canyonlands · Arches · Utah
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
Utah Mighty 5 in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 7 days in Utah Mighty 5, one step at a time
- The Zion Narrows closes whenever the North Fork of the Virgin runs over 150 cfs (about 39 cfs today), and the park warns against drinking the water or submerging your head because of toxic cyanobacteria. Source
How 7 days in Utah Mighty 5 split up
Plan 7 days for Utah Mighty 5. Starting point: Las Vegas. Best season: Mar–May. Drive total: ~500 mi. Utah's five national parks, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches, sit within 300 miles of each other and can be visited in a logical loop. Visiting all five with kids requires choosing the right hikes (there are plenty of easy ones) and timing your arrival at each park to avoid midday heat. Spring (March–May) and fall (September–October) are ideal.
Day 1: Las Vegas arrival & drive to Zion
3 stops · Day one
Day 2: Zion National Park
4 stops · Days two & three
Day 3: Zion: the Narrows from the bottom
3 stops
Day 4: Bryce Canyon National Park
4 stops · Day four
Day 5: Capitol Reef National Park
4 stops · Day five
Day 6: Canyonlands: Island in the Sky
4 stops · Day six
Day 7: Arches National Park
4 stops · Day seven
Las Vegas arrival & drive to Zion
Fly into Las Vegas (2.5 hours from Zion) or Salt Lake City (4.5 hours from Zion). Drive through the Virgin River Gorge on I-15, a taste of canyon country before you even arrive. Pull off at any overlook.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive from~2.5 hr to Zion · Virgin River Gorge · DriveFly into Las Vegas (2.5 hours from Zion) or Salt Lake City (4.5 hours from Zion). Drive through the Virgin River Gorge on I-15, a taste of canyon country before you even arrive, and pull off at any overlook.
- Springdale Riverwalk
Walk the Virgin River · kids play in the water · ViewpointArrive in Springdale and walk the Riverwalk along the Virgin River, where kids can play in the water. Pick up groceries before you head into the park, because restaurants inside Zion are expensive.
Downclouding / CC BY-SA 4.0Stay in SpringdaleJust outside the park entrance · lodgeStay in Springdale, just outside the Zion entrance. You can walk to the park shuttle, and groceries here are far cheaper than restaurants inside the park.
Zion National Park
Zion is the most visited of the five parks, and it deserves it. The shuttle system eliminates traffic, making it surprisingly easy to navigate with kids.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Riverside Walk
2 mi RT · paved · strollers OK · HikeThe Riverside Walk is 2 miles round trip, completely paved, through the Zion Narrows to the Virgin River's edge. Wheelchairs and strollers manage it, and kids wade in the river at the end.
Canyon Overlook Trail1 mi RT · 163 ft · best morning hike · HikeThe Canyon Overlook Trail is 1 mile round trip with 163 feet of gain to a stunning Zion Canyon panorama. There are some drop-offs, so hold hands with younger kids. It is the best morning hike in the park.
Emerald Pools Lower Trail1.2 mi · hanging-garden waterfalls · HikeThe Emerald Pools Lower Trail is 1.2 miles to hanging-garden waterfalls, with dripping cliff walls and a clear pool below. It is perfect for young kids.
- Second night in Springdale
Stay put for two Zion days · lodgeStay a second night in Springdale so you have two full days in Zion. On Day 3, older kids love the bottom-up Narrows (easy version), rent dry suits from Zion Adventure Company and wade upriver as far as you want.
Zion: the Narrows from the bottom
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Zion Adventures · Narrows dry-bib rental
Springdale · pick up the evening before · activityFor the bottom-up Narrows with older kids, rent the spring and fall dry-bib package (bibs, neoprene socks, canyon shoes and a hiking stick) from Zion Adventures in Springdale. Pick it up the evening before so you can be on an early shuttle. In summer the lighter footwear package is enough.
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The Narrows bottom-upWade upriver from the Riverside Walk · turn back when ready · HikeFrom the end of the Riverside Walk, wade up the Virgin River between walls that close in overhead, and turn around whenever the kids have had enough. The route closes when the river runs over 150 cfs, and the park warns against drinking or dunking your head in the water because of toxic cyanobacteria, so check the Zion conditions page that morning.
- Third night in Springdale
Same base, no repacking · lodgeA third night in Springdale, so tomorrow starts fresh for the 1.5-hour drive to Bryce Canyon.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce isn't really a canyon, it's a series of natural amphitheaters filled with hoodoos, spires of red and orange limestone. The best family hike is down into the canyon floor.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Sunrise Point rim walk
1 mi · flat · hoodoo views · ViewpointBryce isn't really a canyon, it's a series of natural amphitheaters filled with hoodoos, spires of red and orange limestone. Start with the flat 1-mile Sunrise Point rim walk with hoodoo views, easy with any age kids.
Queens Garden Trail1.8 mi one-way · 320 ft descent · HikeThe Queens Garden Trail is 1.8 miles one-way (take the shuttle back) and descends 320 feet into the hoodoo forest. Older kids love scrambling through the formations. It is the best trail in the park.
Navajo Loop via Thor's Hammer1.3 mi · 521 ft · Wall Street slot · HikeThe Navajo Loop via Thor's Hammer is 1.3 miles with a 521-foot descent through Wall Street's slot canyon. The stairs going down are steep but doable for kids 6 and up.
Stay in Bryce Canyon CityBest Western Ruby's Inn · lodgeStay in Bryce Canyon City just outside the park, or at the Best Western Ruby's Inn. Bryce has some of the darkest skies in America, with free ranger stargazing talks in summer, kids often see the Milky Way for the first time here.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is the least-visited of the five parks and arguably the most serene. The Fruita Historic District has a working orchard where you can pick fruit in season.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Fruita Orchards
Pick & eat fruit free June–October · ViewpointCapitol Reef is the least-visited of the five parks and arguably the most serene. The NPS-maintained Fruita heritage orchards (cherry, peach, apple, pear) let you pick and eat fruit free in season (June–October). Kids go wild for this.
Grand Wash4.4 mi RT · almost flat · no permit · HikeGrand Wash is 4.4 miles round trip through a canyon slot, almost flat and requiring no permit. The narrows section in the middle is genuinely dramatic.
Capitol Gorge Trail2 mi · the Pioneer Register · HikeThe Capitol Gorge Trail is 2 miles to the "Pioneer Register," signatures carved into the canyon walls by 19th-century settlers. It is history the kids can touch.
Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY-SA 2.0Stay in Torrey, UTQuiet town · big sky views · lodgeStay in Torrey, UT, good restaurants, a quiet town with big sky views. Stop at the Gifford Farmhouse for fresh pies and a cold drink, genuinely delicious after a morning hike.
Canyonlands: Island in the Sky
Island in the Sky is a 6,000-foot mesa with 1,000-foot cliffs dropping to the canyon floor. The views are vertigo-inducing and completely accessible from the car.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Grand View Point Overlook0.1 mi · most expansive view · ViewpointIsland in the Sky is a 6,000-foot mesa with 1,000-foot cliffs dropping to the canyon floor. Grand View Point Overlook is 0.1 miles from parking, the most expansive view in the park, canyon layers to the horizon. Best at sunrise or sunset.
- Mesa Arch
0.5 mi loop · cliff-edge arch · HikeMesa Arch is a 0.5-mile loop to a fragile sandstone arch perched at the edge of a cliff. The sun rises through the arch in the morning, popular for photos but genuinely spectacular.
Upheaval Dome0.8 mi · crater rim · HikeUpheaval Dome is 0.8 miles to the crater rim. Scientists still debate whether it is a meteor impact or a salt dome, so the kids get to weigh in.
Stay in Moab, UT35 min from the park · best dining · lodgeStay in Moab, UT, 35 minutes from Island in the Sky. It has the best dining and family lodging in the area, and it is your base for both Canyonlands and Arches.
Arches National Park
Arches has more natural arches than anywhere else on earth (over 2,000). The paved scenic drive visits the highlights; add two hikes to complete the experience.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Windows Section
1 mi loop · walk-through arches · HikeArches has more natural arches than anywhere else on earth (over 2,000). The Windows Section is a 1-mile loop through North and South Windows, two massive arches you can walk through. Turret Arch views are stunning in the afternoon light. It is the best family hike in the park.
Balanced Rock0.3 mi flat loop · 3,577-ton rock · ViewpointBalanced Rock is a 0.3-mile flat loop around the iconic 3,577-ton balancing rock. Kids always ask "why doesn't it fall?"
- Delicate Arch
3 mi RT · 480 ft · the symbol of Utah · HikeDelicate Arch is 3 miles round trip with 480 feet of gain, the symbol of Utah. It is doable for kids 8 and up. Morning or evening only in summer, since sun exposure on the slickrock is serious. Arches is not requiring a timed-entry reservation in 2026, though it has run advance timed entry April–October in past years, so check recreation.gov before you go.
Famartin / CC BY-SA 3.0Getting home: Grand Junction or Salt Lake CityGJT ~1.75 hr · SLC ~4 hr · or one more Moab night · DriveFrom Moab, Grand Junction (GJT) is about 1 hour 45 minutes away, the easiest evening flight after Arches. Salt Lake City (SLC) is about 4 hours, so for an SLC flight add one more night in Moab and drive in the morning. Book the Fiery Furnace ranger walk months ahead on recreation.gov if you want it on this day.
Book the 6 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the checking. We find what is still open near each trailhead and email you this plan back with a booking link for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Utah Mighty 5
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
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For the driving days
Specific to Utah Mighty 5
What we actually learned in the Mighty Five.
Buy the America the Beautiful pass
The $80 annual pass covers all 5 parks (vs $175 if bought separately, or $35 per vehicle each park). Buy it at the first entrance, it is a huge saving on a Mighty Five trip.
Avoid July–August
Canyon floors hit 105°F. If you must go in summer, hike before 9am and after 5pm. Spring (March–May) and fall (September–October) are ideal.
Arches timed entry not required in 2026
Arches is not requiring timed entry in 2026. It has run advance timed entry April–October in past years, selling out within minutes of release, so check recreation.gov before you go.
Ride the Zion shuttle
Private vehicles are banned on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive in season. The shuttle is free and efficient, and it makes the park surprisingly easy to navigate with kids.
Sunscreen, often
Red rock reflects UV. Reapply every 90 minutes on canyon hikes, and carry plenty of water for the kids.
Book gateway lodging early
Springdale (Zion), Bryce Canyon City, Torrey (Capitol Reef), and Moab (Arches & Canyonlands) fill fast in spring and fall. Reserve early, especially for weekends.
Utah Mighty 5: questions before you go
Utah Mighty 5 with kids: the questions people ask most.
Seven days is the minimum and 10 days is ideal. That gives you two nights at Zion plus a day each at Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands (Island in the Sky), and Arches, with short drives between parks and time to dodge the midday heat.
The most family-friendly hikes are the paved Riverside Walk and Emerald Pools Lower Trail in Zion, the Queens Garden Trail in Bryce, Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge in Capitol Reef, Mesa Arch and Grand View Point in Canyonlands, and the Windows Section in Arches. Most are short, with plenty of easy options for younger kids and a few longer hikes (Delicate Arch, Navajo Loop) for older ones.
Spring (March–May) and fall (September–October) are ideal. Avoid July and August, when canyon floors hit 105°F. If you must go in summer, hike before 9am and after 5pm and carry plenty of water.
Not for Arches in 2026, it is not requiring timed entry this year, though it has run one April–October in past years, so check recreation.gov before you go. The Fiery Furnace ranger walk still books months ahead. Zion uses a free shuttle (no reservation needed in most seasons). The other parks do not require timed entry.
Each park charges $35 per vehicle, but the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers all five (vs $175 if bought separately). Buy the pass at your first park entrance for a big saving.
Fly into Las Vegas (2.5 hours from Zion), then loop Zion → Bryce Canyon → Capitol Reef → Canyonlands → Arches. The five parks sit within 300 miles of each other, and the full loop from Las Vegas is roughly 500 miles.
Base in Springdale for Zion (walk to the entrance), Bryce Canyon City for Bryce, Torrey for Capitol Reef, and Moab for both Arches and Canyonlands. These gateway towns fill fast in spring and fall, so reserve early.
Early. In peak season the busiest trailhead lots, including Delicate Arch at Arches, tend to max out by about 7 AM, and the small Zion Canyon Visitor Center lot fills soon after sunrise. Base in Springdale and ride the free town shuttle to the Zion pedestrian entrance instead of driving in. Arches is not requiring a timed-entry reservation in 2026, but it has in past years, so check recreation.gov before you go. Starting each park at dawn also gets the kids onto the trails before the midday heat builds on the slickrock.
Yes. Tell us your dates and we check what is still open for the plan on this page, then send it back with a booking link for each night and the total. Nothing is charged and nothing is held, and you pay the normal rate.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 7-day route. Same 18 stops.
- 3 nights, a campsite near Springdale
- $105
- 1 night, a campsite near Bryce Canyon City
- $30
- 1 night, a campsite near Torrey
- $25
- 1 night, a campsite near Moab
- $25
- Rental car, 7 days
- $420
- Gas, about 755 miles
- $150
- 3 nights, a room in Springdale
- from $885
- 1 night, a room in Bryce Canyon City
- from $185
- 1 night, a room in Torrey
- from $190
- 1 night, a room in Moab
- from $235
- Rental car, 7 days
- $420
- Gas, about 755 miles
- $150
- A private local guide, rooms and campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked October 2026
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All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
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Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
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One tap. It goes straight to Yulia and Margarita.
You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
The WaveCoyote Buttes North · Arizona / UtahPermitLotterybrutal odds
Half Dome CablesYosemite NP · CaliforniaPermitOpens Mar 1fair odds
Mt. WhitneyInyo NF · CaliforniaPermitOpens Feb 1tough odds
Angels LandingZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
The SubwayZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
Mount St. Helens Summit ClimbGifford Pinchot NF · WashingtonPermitReservationtough odds
How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.