Utah National Parks

Take a road trip through the “Mighty 5” National Parks in Utah including Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion.

You can start this road trip from Salt Lake City or Las Vegas (flights may be cheaper from Vegas).

Full Itinerary: Coming soon!

Length of Time: 7-10 Days (More if you want to spend some time in Vegas)

Best times to visit:
Spring and Fall are best for moderate temperatures and lower crowds. Summer can be more crowded and hot but it’s still great if you come prepared and avoid doing hikes in the heat of the day. Winter can also be beautiful when the area is dusted in snow, but there can be some road closures.

Things to Do

Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Capitol Reef National Park
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Monument Valley
Antelope Valley

Places to Stay

Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel (nice hotel with a pool and family suites available)
Bryce Valley Lodging (air-conditioned log cabins)
Clear Sky Resorts – Bryce Canyon (unique star-gazing domes with family suites available)
Red Cliffs Lodge (beautiful resort on the Colorado river with multi-room family suites)
Scenic View Inn & Suites Moab (clean, modern hotel with classic hotel rooms or tiny homes)
Also consider renting or bringing an RV and camping! There are many campgrounds around.

Budget Considerations

Activities: Buy the America the Beautiful pass that gives you access to all National Parks for one fee.
Flights: Compare flight costs flying into Vegas, Salt Lake City, or St. George, Utah. Flying into St. George gets you closest to the National Parks, but flying into Vegas may be cheaper (unless you blow too much money in Vegas!)
Car Rental: If you can’t drive yourself to the area, you will require a car rental for this trip.

Kid-Friendly Places to Eat

Sandbar Lounge in Moab near Canyonlands and Arches NP – come for the incredible views! The menu is limited but has some good items.
Tamarisk Restaurant – off of I-70 on the Green River. Good food selection.
Zion Canyon Brew Pup – food and beer close to Zion NP
Balcony One – good food options and a kids menu near Zion NP
Some areas don’t have a lot of options. There are sometimes restaurants or places to grab snacks inside the National Parks, such as Red Rock Grill at the Zion NP Lodge.

Tips from Parents

Parents say doing the Utah National Parks is best either with toddlers who can ride in a back carrier, or older kids and teens that can hike and appreciate the beauty (even if they don’t show it ;) Doing this trip with an energetic 5 year old who wants to climb every rock and not stay on marked trails will make it more difficult.
If you’re going during a busy time of year (Spring Break, June-July) the most popular areas in these parks can get very crowded! We recommend getting to these parks early in the morning to beat the crowds and find parking.
Some of the hikes you may want to do in these parks do not have a lot of shade. Make sure you hike with hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and plenty of water. Try to avoid the middle of the day.
Check the weather if you’re visiting in the Spring or Fall. One day could be hot and another cold!

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