Recommended regional trip length:
Plan six days to fully experience the three national parks:
Add an additional day for each of the following:
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The Complete Bryce Canyon Trip
Planning a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park? Explore these local-favorite destinations in the Bryce Canyon region to make the most of your trip!
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The Complete Capitol Reef Trip
Planning a trip to Capitol Reef National Park? Explore these local-favorite destinations in the Capitol Reef region to make the most of your trip!
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The Complete Zion Trip
Tucked into the southwest corner of Utah, Zion National Park is the centerpiece for a 6-day red-rock vacation that includes a little bit of everything that makes the state such a marvel to experience.
Where to Stay
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Boulder
Boulder, Utah, is a remote, charming town full of scenic beauty. This gateway to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park offers relaxation and outdoor adventure.
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Cedar City
There are plenty of things to experience in Cedar City, Utah thanks to nearby ski resorts, a national forest, great national parks and a superb arts scene.
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East Zion
Welcome to the east side of Utah's Zion National Park. Visitors who stay on this side of the park enjoy what is often referred to as the quiet side of the park, and they also have much closer access to other destinations such as Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and even the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
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Escalante
Between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon national parks and perched on the edge of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, the town of Escalante offers access to some of the most beautiful parts of Southern Utah.
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Kanab
Kanab, Utah is classic American West, surrounded by towering Navajo sandstone cliffs and vistas of sagebrush. Kanab's self-proclaimed title, "Little Hollywood," is fitting for its many abandoned film sets.
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Springdale
As the gateway to Zion National Park and nestled along the North Fork of the Virgin River, Springdale is an ideal place to get outfitted for adventure not only in Zion, but to numerous other parks, monuments, and recreation areas of the western Colorado Plateau and desert southwest.
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St. George
St. George is perfect for family adventures, luxury spas, extensive shopping, championship golf and nearby outdoor recreation assets.
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Torrey
Torrey's proximity to Capitol Reef National Park, the mountains of Fishlake and Dixie National Forests, Scenic Byway 12: Utah's All-American Road, sublime desert landscapes to trout-filled alpine lakes, make Torrey an outdoor lover's perfect hub for some of the most spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities in the state.
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Butch Cassidy's West
For movie buffs, this scenic tour of the state of Utah comes alive with nostalgia for Robert Redford’s iconic film, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," and some of Butch Cassidy's real-life haunts.
Highlights
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Grafton Ghost Town
- Snow Canyon State Park
- Sundance Mountain Resort
02
Base Camp Kanab
From the vermilion, white and pink cliffs and wide expanses of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, to the twisting sandstone bottlenecks of Buckskin Gulch, even the vertigo-inducing views of Zion National Park if you've never been, this six-day itinerary will show you why Kanab is the perfect base camp for adventure.
Highlights
- Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument
- Lake Powell
- North Rim Grand Canyon
- Zion National Park
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Southwest Silver Screen
See silver screen cowboys and real ones, too. This five-day itinerary will take you to famous film backdrops and to the real Old West.
Highlights
- Moab-Area Film Locations
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
- Goblin Valley State Park
- Snow Canyon State Park
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Iconic Classics Southwest
If you’ve only got two days on the open roads of Utah, spend it at two of our most iconic national parks, Bryce Canyon and Zion. We don't use “iconic” lightly. These are two of The Mighty 5® — the standard bearers of Utah, the giants whose splendor has inspired humans for centuries.
Highlights
- Angels Landing
- Bryce Canyon Stargazing
- Boulder Mountain
- Explore Southwestern Utah
05
Away from it All
Many stop by Cedar Breaks National Monument to peer into its colorful amphitheater. Separate yourself from the crowd by arriving early and racing the sunrise to the Ramparts. Later, drop deep into the backcountry of Bryce Canyon’s spire-filled basin, where few tourists ever venture — an amphitheater of peace. Then, at night, admire the stars in the pristine darkness of Bryce Canyon’s 9,000-foot elevation.
Highlights
- Cedar Breaks National Monument
- Bryce Canyon Stargazing
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Cathedral Valley
06
Larger Than Life: Winter in Southwestern Utah
This desert is dramatic. In a really good way. Experience the towering heights of Zion, the depths of Buckskin Gulch, the dunes of Snow Canyon, the sunset over Gooseberry. Southern Utah’s wilds are wearing their winter splendor.
Highlights
- Zion National Park
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
- Mountain Biking on a Red Rock Mesa
- Hike Zion's Most Iconic Trails
National Designations
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Bryce Canyon National Park
An alpine forest with as many red rock hoodoos as trees. At dawn and dusk, mule deer graze the forested plateau along the road into Bryce Canyon.
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Capitol Reef National Park
Even considering Utah’s many impressive national parks and monuments, it is difficult to rival Capitol Reef National Park’s sense of expansiveness, of broad, sweeping vistas, of a tortured, twisted, seemingly endless landscape, or of limitless sky and desert rock.
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Cedar Breaks National Monument
Hidden within the mountains above Cedar City is the brilliant geology and vibrant environment of Cedar Breaks National Monument. The geologic amphitheater and surrounding environs are home to cool hiking trails, ancient trees, high elevation camping, and over-the-top views along the “Circle of Painted Cliffs.”
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Dixie National Forest
This forest stretches for 170 miles across southern Utah. Visitors can experience its brilliant red spires and cliffs by car or by hiking one of the nature trails in the canyon.
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Glen Canyon and Lake Powell
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers more than 1.2 million acres of unparalleled opportunities for land- and water-based recreation.
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Grand Staircase-Escalante
The allure of the Grand Staircase region — the bulk of which is contained in the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument — is phenomenal. Sun-drenched Utah backcountry spreads out well beyond the visible horizon from the road, whether you’re traveling along the The All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12, or on Highway 89.
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Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Considered sacred in Navajo culture, Rainbow Bridge is a symbol of deities responsible for creating rain, the essence of life in the desert.
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Zion National Park
Whether you are trying to catch your breath while climbing the trail to Angel's Landing or watching the shadows constantly change the mood of the Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park is always ready to quench your appetite for outdoor wonder.
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"Every pilgrimage to the desert is a pilgrimage to the self. There is no place to hide, and so we are found. "
– Terry Tempest Williams
State Parks Red Rock & Sand Dunes
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Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Coral Pink Sand Dunes are open for hiking and kid-friendly playing. About 90-percent of the dunes are open for OHV riders, an attraction for which this state park has become ever popular.
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Kodachrome Basin State Park
Kodachrome Basin covers 2,240 acres of canyon country and is surrounded by Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument on three sides.
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Quail Creek State Park
Quail Creek State Park welcomes day-trippers and overnighters to boat, camp, fish or paddleboard at Quail Creek Reservoir.
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Sand Hollow State Park
Beachside camping, boating and OHV trails are all within easy reach at Sand Hollow State Park. Plan your trip to this local favorite today!
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Snow Canyon State Park
Located at the edge of the Mojave Desert, Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, Snow Canyon State Park explodes with dramatic geology perfect for your outdoor adventure — and photo opportunities.
History & Culture
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Anasazi State Park Museum
The Anasazi State Park Museum near Boulder, Utah is the former site of one of the largest Puebloan communities in the region. Learn more and plan a visit!
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Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
The Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is located at Wide Hollow Reservoir. This small reservoir is popular for boating, canoeing, and fishing.
Lakes & Reservoirs
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Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
The Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is located at Wide Hollow Reservoir. This small reservoir is popular for boating, canoeing, and fishing.
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Fishing Otter Creek State Park
Surrounded by the Parker Mountains to the east, Monroe Mountain to the west and the Sevier Plateau to the southwest, Otter Creek State Park is a popular, yet remote, spot for boating, camping, birdwatching, riding ATVs and especially fishing.
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Glen Canyon and Lake Powell
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers more than 1.2 million acres of unparalleled opportunities for land- and water-based recreation.
