Make sure to check each park for entry requirements and potential fees. Here are some possible itineraries (click the links to jump to the matching itinerary within this article):
The largest airports located near the parks would be the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake and the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. There are smaller, regional airports in St. George, Utah, and Cedar City, Utah, but departures and arrivals are more limited.
The Salt Lake City International Airport is the largest airport in Utah, and may be the most convenient option when traveling to Utah. However, it is important to note that all of the national parks will require additional travel, so it may be helpful to rent a car.
There are two potential options you may want to consider when trying to visit the Mighty Five in one go: Starting up north or starting down south. Driving from Salt Lake to the city closest to the southernmost park would take about 4.5 hours. From Salt Lake to the city closest to the northernmost parks, it would take about 3 hours and 40 minutes.
Click “More options” on the map above to see more details and change destinations on Google Maps.
If you want to start your trip down south, you can drive over 310 miles from Salt Lake to Springdale, Utah (where Zion National Park is located), which takes just under 4.5 hours on the fastest route, according to Google Maps. One benefit of starting down south is that you would end up closer to Salt Lake by the end of the trip, if that’s where you’re planning to leave from.
There are several well-known hotel chains in Springdale, but there are also other vacation rental options, depending on your preferences and travel style.
📍First stop: Zion National Park
To drive from Springdale to the Visitor Center at Zion National Park, it would take roughly 10 minutes.
According to the park’s website, Zion National Park is home to plenty of activities — like backpacking, camping, climbing, hiking, and more. You can visit the Virgin River Narrows, hike the park’s many trails, or even go on guided horseback riding trips.
After visiting Zion National Park, you may elect to return to Springdale to find some food, or continue on to Bryce Canyon City, which would take you closer to the next stop.
📍Second stop: Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is roughly two hours away from Springdale, Utah. It would be possible to check out of your Springdale accommodations, drive to Bryce Canyon City, and check out the park.
Or, you may choose to travel to Bryce Canyon City right after visiting Zion, and spend the night there before going to the national park. There are a few well-known hotel chains in the area, as well as RV parks and other vacation rentals.
In Bryce Canyon National Park, you may choose to see the Bryce Amphitheater, drive the Southern Scenic Drive, or go on some hikes in the park.
Depending on how long you spend in the park, you could drive roughly two hours to the next location, or spend the night in Bryce Canyon City.
📍Third stop: Capitol Reef National Park
If you spend the night in Bryce Canyon City, it would take roughly two hours to drive about 120 miles to the next destination of Capitol Reef National Park. Accommodations near this park are more limited, so find an option that works best for you.
Once at Capitol Reef National Park, there are hikes, outdoor activities, and scenic drives available.
📍Fourth stop: Canyonlands National Park
The next stop on this itinerary would be two parks accessible from Moab, Utah. From the area of Capitol Reef National Park to Moab, it would take roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes to drive about 160 miles.
The visitor center for Canyonlands National Park is about 33 miles away from Moab, which is a roughly 40-minute drive. Canyonlands has hiking trails at the Islands in the Sky, ranging from easy to strenuous. There are also trails in the Needles area, also ranked from easy to strenuous.
📍Fifth stop: Arches National Park
Arches National Park is also located close to Moab, and would take about 10 minutes, depending on where in Moab you’re staying.
When in the park, you may decide to hike to see the Delicate Arch, or view it from a distance from several viewpoints within the park. There are several other hikes and scenic viewpoints within Arches National Park.
📍Final destination: Salt Lake City
This itinerary would take you back to Salt Lake City, where you could opt for more sightseeing around the state’s capitol, or choose to head out from the Salt Lake airport.
Click “More options” on the map above to see more details and change destinations on Google Maps.
If you want to start your trip up north, you can drive roughly 240 miles from Salt Lake to Moab, Utah (near Arches and Canyonlands), which takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes on the fastest route, according to Google Maps.
One benefit of starting with the northernmost parks is that you would start your trip with a shorter drive, and be able to be close to two parks from one location. However, if you are flying out of Salt Lake City, you would have to drive about 4 hours to get back from southern Utah at the end of the trip.
📍First stop: Arches National Park
Once in Moab, the closest park would be Arches National Park — roughly a 10-minute drive away, depending on where in Moab you choose to stay.
When in the park, you may elect to hike to see the Delicate Arch or view it from a distance from several viewpoints within the park. There are several other hikes and scenic viewpoints within Arches National Park.
📍Second stop: Canyonlands National Park
Another park that is a short drive from Moab is Canyonlands National Park. The visitor center for Canyonlands National Park is about 33 miles away from Moab, which is a roughly 40-minute drive.
Canyonlands has hiking trails at the Islands in the Sky area, ranging from easy to strenuous. There are also trails in the Needles area, also ranked from easy to strenuous.
📍Third stop: Capitol Reef National Park
To get to Capitol Reef from Moab, it would take roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes to drive about 150 miles.
Once at Capitol Reef National Park, there are hikes, outdoor activities, and scenic drives available.
📍Fourth stop: Bryce Canyon National Park
From the area of Capitol Reef National Park to Bryce Canyon, it would take over two hours to drive about 120 miles.
There are a few well-known hotel chains in the area, as well as RV parks and other vacation rentals, depending on your travel style.
In Bryce Canyon National Park, you may choose to see the Bryce Amphitheater, drive the Southern Scenic Drive, or go on some hikes in the park. Depending on how long you spend in the park, you could drive roughly two hours to the next location, or spend the night in Bryce Canyon City.
📍Fifth stop: Zion National Park
From Bryce Canyon to Springdale, Utah, it would take about 1 hour and 45 minutes to travel about 84 miles.
According to the park’s website, Zion National Park is home to plenty of activities — like backpacking, camping, climbing, hiking, and more. You can visit the Virgin River Narrows, hike the park’s many trails, or even go on guided horseback riding trips.
📍Final destination: Salt Lake City or Las Vegas
Zion National Park is located in southern Utah, and depending on how long you’ve been traveling for, you may not want to drive back up to Salt Lake — but first, check with your car rental company to see whether there are additional fees to return a car to another location.
If you choose to keep driving south, the Las Vegas airport would be a shorter drive, roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes away from Springdale, Utah, depending on traffic.
The Salt Lake City airport is more than 300 miles away, and it would take over 4 hours to drive from Springdale to this airport.
Click “More options” on the map above to see more details and change destinations on Google Maps.
Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is located less than 200 miles away from the city closest to Zion National Park. It would take roughly 2.5 hours (depending on traffic) to drive from this airport to Springdale, Utah, and start your trip to Utah’s Mighty Five parks.
📍First stop: Zion National Park
To drive from lodging in Springdale to the Visitor Center at Zion National Park, it would take roughly 10 minutes.
According to the park’s website, Zion National Park is home to plenty of activities — like backpacking, camping, climbing, hiking, and more. You can visit the Virgin River Narrows, hike the park’s many trails, or even go on guided horseback riding trips.
After visiting Zion National Park, you may opt to return to Springdale to find some food, or continue on to Bryce Canyon City, which would take you closer to the next stop.
📍Second stop: Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is roughly two hours away from Springdale, Utah. You may prefer to drive to Bryce Canyon City the same day after you visit Zion, or you may choose to wait until the next day.
There are a few well-known hotel chains in the area, as well as RV parks and other vacation rentals, depending on your travel style.
In Bryce Canyon National Park, you may want to see the Bryce Amphitheater, drive the Southern Scenic Drive, or go on some hikes in the park. Depending on how long you spend in the park, you could drive roughly two hours to the next location, or spend the night in Bryce Canyon City.
📍Third stop: Capitol Reef National Park
If you spend the night in Bryce Canyon City, it would take roughly two hours to drive about 120 miles to the next destination of Capitol Reef National Park. Accommodations near this park are more limited, so find the option that works best for you.
Once at Capitol Reef National Park, there are hikes, outdoor activities, and scenic drives available.
📍Fourth stop: Canyonlands National Park
The next stop on this itinerary would be Moab, Utah, from which you could have closer access to two parks. From the area of Capitol Reef National Park to Moab, it would take roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes to drive about 160 miles.
The visitor center for Canyonlands National Park is about 33 miles away from Moab, which is a roughly 40-minute drive. Canyonlands has hiking trails at the Islands in the Sky, ranging from easy to strenuous. There are also trails in the Needles area, also ranked from easy to strenuous.
📍Fifth stop: Arches National Park
Arches National Park is also located close to Moab, and would take about 10 minutes, depending on where in Moab you’re staying.
When in the park, you may decide to hike to see the Delicate Arch or view it from a distance from several viewpoints within the park. There are several other hikes and scenic viewpoints within Arches National Park.
📍Final destination: Salt Lake City
This itinerary would take you to Salt Lake City, where you could opt for more sightseeing around the state’s capitol, or choose to head out from the Salt Lake airport.
For some travelers, it may be easier to book a guided tour. Depending on which options you pick, a tour may include transportation to all the parks as well as accommodations — but the prices may vary.
When booking a tour, keep in mind that different companies may offer different activities. Some tours cost roughly $4,000 and others over $7,000, so choose the option that is best for you and your travel style.
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