Utah Big 5: The Mighty Five National Parks Road Trip
Five parks. Five very different kinds of magic.
Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches & Canyonlands in one epic loop. The most photogenic 700 miles in America.
“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!”
22 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Every stop is a real pin, in order.
Utah's Mighty Five · Southern 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.
5 of the stops on these 6 days.
Plan and book your 6 days in Utah Mighty 5, one step at a time
How 6 days in Utah Mighty 5 split up
Utah holds five national parks within a 350-mile arc, a density that doesn't exist anywhere else in the lower 48. Travelers call them Utah's Mighty 5, and you'll also hear the Big 5 national parks or simply Mighty Five Utah, all names for the same lineup: the slot canyons of Zion National Park, the hoodoo amphitheaters of Bryce Canyon National Park, the secret waterpocket fold of Capitol Reef National Park, the 2,000-plus spans of Arches National Park, and the mesa-top desert of Canyonlands National Park. Each one looks like a different planet.
Day 1: Las Vegas → Zion · Angels Landing
3 stops · Day one
Day 2: Zion · The Narrows & Emerald Pools
3 stops · Day two
Day 3: Zion → Bryce Canyon · Hoodoos & Sunrise Point
4 stops · Day three
Day 4: Bryce → Capitol Reef · Hickman Bridge & Scenic Drive
4 stops · Day four
Day 5: Capitol Reef → Arches · Delicate Arch at Sunset
4 stops · Day five
Day 6: Canyonlands · Mesa Arch Sunrise & Return
4 stops · Day six
Las Vegas → Zion · Angels Landing
Pick up the rental in Las Vegas and head northeast on I-15. Three hours later you're descending into Zion Canyon through the Carmel Tunnel, a 1.1-mile slot through solid sandstone that opens onto Switchback Road and the most dramatic park entrance in the West.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Drive from
~2.5 hr · I-15 north · DrivePick up the rental in Vegas and cruise northeast on I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge, then descend into Zion Canyon through the Mount Carmel Tunnel, a 1.1-mile slot carved through solid sandstone with the most dramatic park entrance reveal in the West.
- Angels Landing (with permit)
5.4 mi RT · 1,488 ft gain · HikeThe iconic chains hike. 5.4 miles round-trip up Walter’s Wiggles to a knife-edge ridge with 1,000-ft drops on both sides, with chains bolted into the rock to keep you on it. Lottery permits required since 2022 (apply on recreation.gov). Strenuous but unforgettable, and a full day on its own after the drive in.
Jared / CC BY 2.0Stay in SpringdaleCliffrose · Cable Mountain Lodge · lodgeThe Cliffrose sits steps from the Zion shuttle stop, so no parking stress in summer. Riverside rooms, pool, fire pit. Book four-plus months ahead for shoulder season.
Zion · The Narrows & Emerald Pools
Day two is all Zion, the part most road trips skip by rushing. Take the early shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava and walk the Riverside Walk to the mouth of The Narrows. From there the river IS the trail, you wade upstream between 1,000-ft sandstone walls. Most hikers turn around at Wall Street (about 3.5 miles in); give it the whole morning.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- The Narrows bottom-up
Up to 9.4 mi RT · 5–7 hrs · wade the Virgin River · HikeWalk upstream between 1,000-ft sandstone walls; there is no trail, the river IS the trail. Most hikers turn around at Wall Street (3.5 mi). Rent dry pants and grippy boots from Zion Outfitter. No permit needed. Give it the full morning, which is exactly why Zion deserves two days instead of being crammed in with Angels Landing.
inkknife_2000 (7.5 mil / CC BY-SA 2.0Emerald Pools Trail~3 mi loop · waterfalls · easy afternoon · HikeAn easy afternoon after the Narrows. The Lower, Middle, and Upper Emerald Pools loop links three spring-fed pools and seasonal waterfalls under the Navajo sandstone cliffs, about 3 miles if you do all three.
Jared / CC BY 2.0Second night in SpringdaleCliffrose · Cable Mountain Lodge · lodgeA second night at the south gate lets you hit the Narrows early and dry out over dinner in Springdale. Same easy walk to the shuttle.
Zion → Bryce Canyon · Hoodoos & Sunrise Point
Leave Springdale early. The drive to Bryce is 90 minutes northeast through Mount Carmel and Red Canyon, a scenic preview of what's coming. Arrive by mid-morning, drop bags at the Bryce Canyon Lodge or in Tropic, and head straight to Sunset Point.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive Zion → Bryce~1.5 hr · UT-9 to US-89 · DriveLeave Zion by 9 AM and head northeast through Hwy 89 to Red Canyon. The Red Canyon tunnels feel like a preview of what’s coming. Elevation gain: 6,500 ft.
Navajo Loop + Queens Garden2.9 mi loop · Wall Street · Hike2.9-mile loop that drops you into the amphitheater through the iconic Wall Street section, a narrow corridor between 200-ft hoodoos. The most-photographed switchback in the park.
Sunset Point · BryceStay for golden hour · ViewpointBryce sits east-facing at 8,000 ft elevation, so the entire hoodoo amphitheater turns coral-pink in the final 20 minutes before dusk. Pair it with a 5:30 AM return for sunrise from the same overlook.
- Bryce Canyon Lodge
Inside the park · book ahead · lodge1924 historic lodge inside the park; walk to Sunrise Point at 5:30 AM without unparking. Original log construction. Book a year in advance for summer.
Bryce → Capitol Reef · Hickman Bridge & Scenic Drive
Drive northeast on Highway 12, itself one of the most spectacular roads in America. The road climbs over Boulder Mountain (9,200 ft) and drops into the desert toward Capitol Reef, with a stretch through the Hogback ridge where the highway is one lane wide with drop-offs on both sides. Two-and-a-half jaw-dropping hours.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Tony Webster / CC BY 2.0Drive Highway 12~2.5 hr · scenic byway · DriveHwy 12 is the destination, not just the route. The road climbs over Boulder Mountain (9,200 ft) and drops into the desert toward Capitol Reef. Multiple pullouts for jaw-dropping views.
- Hickman Bridge Trail
1.8 mi RT · natural arch · HikeA short interpretive trail to the 133-foot Hickman natural bridge. Self-guided brochure at the trailhead points out petroglyphs and pioneer relics along the way.
Scenic Drive + Fruita OrchardsSelf-pick fruit Jun–Oct · ViewpointThe historic Fruita orchards, planted by Mormon settlers in the 1880s, still produce apples, peaches, pears, and cherries. Pick what you can eat for free, pay by the pound for take-home.
Tony Webster from Minn / CC BY-SA 2.0Stay in Torrey, UTCapitol Reef Resort · lodgeCapitol Reef Resort sits just outside the park entrance, with Conestoga wagons, teepees, and standard rooms. Restaurant on-site means no driving for dinner.
Capitol Reef → Arches · Delicate Arch at Sunset
Drive to Moab via Hanksville and the I-70, about 2.5 hours of high desert. Arches requires a timed-entry reservation from April through October, so book yours weeks in advance on recreation.gov. Spend the afternoon on the easy stuff: Double Arch, Windows Loop, and the start of Devil's Garden.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Ken Lund from Reno, Ne / CC BY-SA 2.0Drive to Moab~2.5 hr · via Hanksville/I-70 · DriveEast on UT-24 through Hanksville (last reliable gas), north on I-70, then south on US-191 into Moab. Hanksville to Moab is empty desert, so fill the tank.
- Windows + Double Arch
Easy 1 mi loop · arch density · ViewpointThe highest density of arches in the park, in a 1-mile loop. North Window, South Window, Turret Arch, and Double Arch are all reachable in under an hour.
Ken Lund from Reno, Ne / CC BY-SA 2.0Delicate Arch at sunset3 mi RT · 480 ft · slickrock · HikeStart the hike two hours before sunset. The 3-mile slickrock route ends at the iconic freestanding arch, the symbol of Utah’s license plate. Watch it glow copper, then descend carefully in fading light.
Stay in MoabDay 4 + 5 base · lodgeMoab is the gateway to both Arches and Canyonlands. Two nights here lets you do Delicate Arch sunset + Mesa Arch sunrise without re-locating.
Canyonlands · Mesa Arch Sunrise & Return
Set the alarm for 4:30 AM. Canyonlands' Mesa Arch faces directly east, and at sunrise the underside of the arch glows orange while the canyon below sits in cold blue shadow. Photographers line up an hour before; you don't need to be that early, but be in position 20 minutes before official sunrise.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Mesa Arch sunrise0.5 mi RT · be there 20 min early · Hike4:30 AM alarm. Mesa Arch glows orange-red at first light as the underside catches the sunrise, a 20-second window of the most-photographed sunrise in the canyon country.
Brendan Harmon / CC BY-SA 3.0Grand View Point Trail2 mi RT · best canyon overlook · ViewpointThe southernmost point on Island in the Sky. A 2-mile flat trail along the mesa edge with the most expansive view in Canyonlands, 1,800 ft drops on either side.
- Return: Grand Junction or Vegas
GJ 1.5 hr · LV ~6 hr · DriveGrand Junction (1.5 hr east) is the closest commercial airport. Vegas (6 hr southwest) closes the loop if you started there. Refuel in Moab before either leg.
Spotted Wolf Canyon (Vegas leg)I-70 west · 5 min stop · ViewpointIf you are driving back to Vegas, stay on I-70 west past the Hanksville turning and the interstate goes straight through the San Rafael Reef. Spotted Wolf Canyon is the cut itself: layered desert cliffs either side of the road, and the best five minutes of the drive home. Take the Vegas leg for this one; the drive up from Capitol Reef on day five joins I-70 east of here and turns the other way.
Book the 5 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 calling. We check every booking site, put your points and card perks against the cash price, and email you this plan back with the best room we can find for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookAngels Landing (Zion) opens on its own calendar
The chains-route lottery for Zion's Angels Landing, seasonal and day-before draws.
| Permit | Required: Angels Landing (Zion) Official page |
|---|---|
| Application window | seasonal lotteries plus a day-before lottery |
| Odds of drawing | Seasonal lottery moderate; day-before harder |
| If your application is denied | Enter the day-before lottery, or hike to Scout Lookout (no permit, same views minus the chains). |
| Trip starts from | Springdale, UT, flying into Las Vegas (LAS) |
What 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
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
Specific to Utah Mighty 5
What we actually learned on the road.
Buy the America the Beautiful pass
$80 covers all five parks for a full year. Even one-time visitors break even after 3 parks, and you'll wave through entry stations instead of paying $35 each. Buy at the first gate.
Reserve Arches timed entry weeks ahead
Arches uses a timed-entry system April through October. Slots release 3 months in advance and 1 day in advance. Get the 3-month one; same-day spots vanish in seconds.
Angels Landing is a lottery
You can't just show up. Enter the seasonal lottery on recreation.gov ($6 per group, refundable if you don't win). Day-before lottery exists as a backup but is wildly oversubscribed.
Stay in gateway towns
Springdale (Zion), Tropic (Bryce), Torrey (Capitol Reef), and Moab (Arches + Canyonlands) all sit right outside the parks. Hotels inside the parks are 5x the price and book a year out.
Sunrise beats sunset, usually
Bryce sunrise and Mesa Arch sunrise are non-negotiable. The desert light is golden, the crowds are gone, and trail temps are 30°F cooler. Set 4:30 AM alarms; you'll thank yourself.
Carry more water than you think
Arches and Canyonlands hit 100°F in summer. Park rangers recommend 1 liter per person per hour on trail. Refill at visitor centers; most have filling stations, all have hose taps.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
Utah Mighty 5: the questions people ask most.
Yes, and without rushing. This 6-day version gives most parks a full day plus two days in Zion, so you can do both Angels Landing and The Narrows instead of choosing. The route is geographic so you're never backtracking. Tight on time? You can compress Zion to one day and run it in 5; with 7 days, add a slot-canyon day in Escalante.
We'll find the cheapest way to do this trip.
Tell us your dates and we price the plan you just built: every booking site, the hotels direct, and your own points and card perks against the cash price. You get it back by email with a link for each night and what it saved you.
- It is free. The hotel pays us, not you. You pay their normal price.
- Nothing is charged and nothing is held. You decide at the end, or you walk away.
- Beds near trailheads are the part that runs out. Everything else can wait.
The figures below are estimates from local nightly rates, so you know the ballpark before you ask. The real number comes back once we have checked what is free.
- 5 nights, sites along the route
5 × $22$110
- Angels Landing (Zion) permitBooked separately on Recreation.gov, and on its own timeline. The fee is small but the window is the part that matters.
- 5 nights, rooms along the route
from $91 a nightfrom $455
- Angels Landing (Zion) permitBooked separately on Recreation.gov, and on its own timeline. The fee is small but the window is the part that matters.
Yulia, ExplorOFF founder★★★★★5.0 from 20+ guided tripsGoogleAirbnbFrom$4,3502 people, 5 nights- Everything in Glamped, plus a local guide
- Airport pickup, every drive, all the gear
- Weather turns, they rewrite the day
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.
Booking Utah Mighty 5
Everything below is booked with the operators direct. We earn a commission on some of them, which is what keeps the itineraries free to read.
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What adventurers say about us.
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."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
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.
What other travelers are saying
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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.
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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.
“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!”