4 days in Utah’s parks: Zion & Bryce
- Length
- 4 days
- Base
- Springdale → Bryce Canyon City
- Best time
- Apr–May · Sep–Oct
- Stops
- 12
If you have four days and fly into Las Vegas, do not try to see all five Utah parks: do two properly. Zion and Bryce are 85 miles apart and could not be more different — one a deep canyon you look up from, the other an amphitheater of orange spires you look down into. This loop gives each a full day and returns you to Vegas for the flight home.
Hour by hour
Day 1 · Las Vegas to Zion
Morning
Drive north on I-15
About 2 h 45. Stock up on water and picnic food in St. George. You lose an hour crossing into Utah (Mountain Time).
Afternoon
Pa’rus Trail and the visitor center
An easy, paved riverside walk from the visitor center; pick up shuttle times and the Narrows flow report.
Sunset
The Watchman from Canyon Junction
The classic photo, from the bridge over the Virgin River.
Sleep: Springdale
Day 2 · Zion Canyon
First shuttle
The Narrows or Angels Landing
Wade up the Virgin River from the Temple of Sinawava (if the river is open), or climb Angels Landing with a lottery permit — Scout Lookout without one.
Afternoon
Riverside Walk and Emerald Pools
Easy trails to rest your legs, with the canyon walls glowing in the late light.
Evening
Dinner in Springdale
Walkable restaurants along the main road; the town shuttle runs in season.
Sleep: Springdale
Day 3 · To Bryce Canyon
Morning
Zion–Mount Carmel Highway
The switchbacks and the 1.1-mile tunnel, then the short Canyon Overlook trail on the far side. Bighorn sheep on the slickrock.
Midday
Red Canyon
Two arch tunnels through red rock on Scenic Byway 12, a foretaste of Bryce.
Late afternoon
Rim Trail, Sunset to Sunrise Point
An easy walk along the rim of the Bryce Amphitheater. Bryce Point for the last light. See our Bryce guide.
Sleep: Bryce Canyon City
Day 4 · Bryce at dawn, back to Vegas
Sunrise
Sunrise Point
The hoodoos light up orange from the top down. Bring a warm jacket: Bryce sits around 8,000 feet.
8:00
Navajo Loop and Queens Garden
Down among the hoodoos through Wall Street, up through Queens Garden: about 3 miles, the best hike in the park.
Afternoon
Back to Las Vegas
About 4 hours via Kanab and I-15.
If you only have one day
From Las Vegas, pick Zion only: leave at 6 am, take the first shuttle you can, walk the Riverside Walk to the mouth of the Narrows and the lower Emerald Pool, and drive back after sunset. It is a long day (about 330 miles round trip) — two days is far better.
The stops on a map
Where to sleep
Springdale
The town at Zion’s gate, with the park shuttle and walkable restaurants. Book early for spring and fall.
Hotels in Springdale partner linkBryce Canyon City
A cluster of lodges at the park entrance, and The Lodge at Bryce Canyon inside the park.
Hotels in Bryce Canyon City partner link
Budget, roughly
No made-up totals: prices move with the season and the day. Here is what costs what, from $ (cheap) to $$$$ (splurge), and where you can save. Our USA budget guide has typical ranges.
Lodging
$$$$
Springdale is the expensive night; Kanab, an hour away, is cheaper if Springdale is full.
Park entry
$$$$
Zion and Bryce both charge the non-resident surcharge: one $250 pass covers the car and everyone in it.
Car
$$$$
Pick up and drop off at Las Vegas airport: no one-way fee.
Food
$$$$
Picnic lunches on the trails, dinners in town.
Permits
$$$$
Angels Landing lottery fee is small; the Narrows needs no permit for the bottom-up day hike.
Utah in 4 days: your questions
Can you do Zion and Bryce in 4 days?
Yes: two nights in Springdale and one in Bryce gives each park a proper day.
How far is Bryce from Zion?
About 85 miles, roughly 1 h 45 without stops, through the Zion–Mount Carmel tunnel.
Is it worth adding Arches?
Not in four days: Moab is another 4–5 hours further. See our 7-day Mighty 5 road trip instead.
When is the best time for Zion and Bryce?
April–May and September–October. See when to visit Zion.
Written by Kylian Dev · Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Times are indicative; opening hours change with the season.