Utah’s Mighty 5 in 7 Days
Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands in one week, Las Vegas to Salt Lake City.
- Distance
- About 820 mi
- ≈ 1,320 km, rounded
- Time
- 7 days
- at a comfortable pace
- Best season
- May · late Sep–Oct
- Start → finish
- Las Vegas → Salt Lake City
Utah has five national parks, and they line up almost perfectly along one road trip: the slot canyons of Zion, the hoodoo amphitheater of Bryce, the orchards and domes of Capitol Reef, the stone arches of Moab and the canyon-on-canyon views of Canyonlands. Linked by Scenic Byway 12 and Highway 24, two of the most beautiful roads in the West, they make a week that feels much longer than seven days.
Day by day
- 1
Day 1 · Las Vegas to Zion
Pick up the car early and drive north on I-15; stop at a supermarket in St. George for water and picnic food. Afternoon on the flat Pa’rus Trail, sunset over the Watchman from the Canyon Junction bridge.
about 165 mi · 2 h 45Sleep: Springdale
- 2
Day 2 · Zion Canyon
First shuttle into the canyon: the Narrows from the Temple of Sinawava if the river is open, or Angels Landing if you won the permit lottery (Scout Lookout without one). Riverside Walk and Emerald Pools when your legs give out. See our Zion guide.
Sleep: Springdale
- 3
Day 3 · Zion–Mount Carmel Highway to Bryce
Out through the tunnel, a short climb to Canyon Overlook, then the red tunnels of Red Canyon. Rim Trail from Sunset to Sunrise Point in the afternoon light; Bryce Point at sunset.
about 85 mi · 1 h 45Sleep: Bryce Canyon City
- 4
Day 4 · Scenic Byway 12 to Capitol Reef
Navajo Loop and Queens Garden at dawn, then Byway 12 through Escalante and over the Hogback, a narrow ridge with drops on both sides. Arrive in Capitol Reef for the Fruita orchards and the Hickman Bridge trail.
about 125 mi · 2 h 45Sleep: Torrey
- 5
Day 5 · Capitol Reef to Moab
The petroglyph panel and the Scenic Drive into Capitol Gorge in the morning, then Highway 24 east through the Mars-like badlands near Hanksville. Delicate Arch at sunset if you still have energy. See our Arches guide.
about 145 mi · 2 h 30Sleep: Moab
- 6
Day 6 · Arches & Canyonlands
Arches before 8 am (no timed entry in 2026, but the gate backs up mid-morning): the Windows, Double Arch, Landscape Arch. Afternoon in Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky — Grand View Point, then Dead Horse Point State Park for the gooseneck at sunset.
about 90 mi in loopsSleep: Moab
- 7
Day 7 · Moab to Salt Lake City
Mesa Arch at sunrise if you skipped it, then north on US-191 and US-6 through Price Canyon to Salt Lake City for an evening flight.
about 235 mi · 4 hSleep: Salt Lake City or home
Short on days? Part of this route also works as a short trip, planned hour by hour:
Best month for the Mighty 5
May is our pick: the waterfalls in Zion still run, Bryce has lost its snow, and the desert floor has not yet reached summer heat. Late September and October are just as good, with cooler hiking and golden cottonwoods along the rivers. June to August is doable but hot at Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef — hike at dawn. In winter, Bryce (around 8,000 ft) can be snowbound and Byway 12 occasionally closes; the Narrows needs a drysuit.
What to book ahead
- Lodging in Springdale and Moab: the two towns fill up first in spring and fall.
- Angels Landing permit: seasonal lottery or day-before lottery on recreation.gov. Without it you can still hike to Scout Lookout.
- The America the Beautiful pass (online before you leave, or at the first gate). Non-US residents pay $250; it covers the $100 per-person surcharge at Zion and Bryce. Check the maths with our pass calculator.
- Fiery Furnace (Arches) if you want that maze: ranger tour or self-guided permit, both on recreation.gov.
- A one-way car rental: Las Vegas to Salt Lake City usually carries a drop-off fee; compare it with a loop back to Vegas.
Shorter or longer
Just Zion, Bryce & Capitol Reef
4–5 days
Drop Moab, loop back from Torrey to Las Vegas via Highway 24 and I-70/I-15. Or see our 4-day Utah parks itinerary.
Add Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon
9–10 days
From Moab, continue south to Monument Valley and Page, then the Grand Canyon’s South Rim and back to Vegas: that is our Grand Circle.
Goblin Valley and Little Wild Horse Canyon
+1 day
Between Capitol Reef and Moab, a detour south of Highway 24 to a valley of mushroom-shaped rocks and an easy slot canyon.
Great Basin on the way north
+1 day
A loop through Nevada’s quiet Great Basin adds caves and bristlecone pines, but it is a long detour from Salt Lake City.
Where to sleep along the way
Book the nights that matter first — inside or next to the parks, and in towns hosting a festival — then fill in the rest. Free cancellation keeps the plan flexible.
- Springdale (Zion)Hotels ↗
- Bryce Canyon CityHotels ↗
- Torrey (Capitol Reef)Hotels ↗
- Moab (Arches & Canyonlands)Hotels ↗
- Salt Lake CityHotels ↗
Partner links · Trip.com
Our hand-picked hotels on this route
Road trip questions
Can you see all 5 Utah national parks in a week?
Yes, at a steady pace: one day in Zion, one evening and one morning in Bryce, half a day each in Capitol Reef and Canyonlands, and a full day in Arches. You see the highlights, not the backcountry.
Which is the best order for the Mighty 5?
West to east, from Las Vegas: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, then Arches and Canyonlands from Moab, ending in Salt Lake City. Reverse it if flights from Salt Lake City are cheaper for you.
How far is it between the Utah national parks?
Roughly 85 miles from Zion to Bryce, 125 from Bryce to Capitol Reef on Byway 12, 145 from Capitol Reef to Moab, and Arches and Canyonlands are 30 minutes apart. All distances on this page are approximate.
Do you need a 4x4 for the Mighty 5?
No. Every stop in this itinerary is on paved roads. Unpaved roads such as the Burr Trail’s eastern switchbacks or Cathedral Valley need high clearance and dry weather.
Written by Kylian Dev. Distances and drive times are without stops or traffic; add 25% for a realistic day.