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Sample itineraries

3-Day Zion & Bryce Canyon Highlights

Day 1 — Zion National Park (base: Springdale)

Arrive via St. George or Las Vegas and park in Springdale (the visitor center lot fills by 8–9 a.m.). Ride the free Zion Canyon shuttle up the Scenic Drive: walk the Riverside Walk to the Narrows entrance, then hop off for Big Bend and the Court of the Patriarchs. Afternoon hike to Lower and Middle Emerald Pools; dinner in Springdale.

Day 2 — Zion's big hike, then east to Bryce

Big-hike day: Angels Landing if you won a lottery permit (apply on Recreation.gov; a day-before lottery is also available), or hike the Zion Narrows bottom-up from the Temple of Sinawava (rent drysuits and boots in Springdale in cooler months). Family alternative: Canyon Overlook Trail off the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway. Late afternoon, drive the switchbacks and tunnel east on SR-9 to US-89 north toward Bryce (about 2 hours); overnight in Bryce Canyon City or Tropic.

Day 3 — Bryce Canyon National Park

Sunrise at Sunrise or Sunset Point, then hike the Queen's Garden / Navajo Loop combo (about 3 miles) down among the hoodoos — the classic Bryce hike. Drive the 18-mile scenic road to Rainbow Point in the afternoon. Staying a final night? Join a Dark Ranger telescope tour in Tropic or a ranger astronomy program.

5-Day Southern Utah Parks Loop

Day 1 — St. George to Zion

Fly into Las Vegas or St. George, pick up a rental car, and drive to Springdale (1–1.25 hours from St. George). Afternoon on the Pa'rus Trail and Canyon Junction Bridge for sunset on the Watchman; ride the shuttle up-canyon if time allows.

Day 2 — Zion National Park

Full day in Zion Canyon: The Narrows bottom-up or Angels Landing (permit required via lottery), with Emerald Pools or Riverside Walk as easier options. Evening soak at Zion Canyon Hot Springs in La Verkin or dinner in Springdale.

Day 3 — Bryce Canyon via Red Canyon

Drive SR-9 east through the Zion–Mt. Carmel Tunnel to US-89 north, detour through Red Canyon, and reach Bryce (about 2 hours). Hike Queen's Garden / Navajo Loop and catch sunset at Bryce Point. Overnight near the park — and stargaze; Bryce is a certified International Dark Sky Park.

Day 4 — Scenic Byway 12 to Capitol Reef, on to Moab

Drive America's most scenic road: Byway 12 over Boulder Mountain through Escalante and Boulder (stop at Kiva Koffeehouse or hike Lower Calf Creek Falls if time allows). Continue to Capitol Reef for the Fruita orchards, petroglyph panel, and a quick Hickman Bridge or Scenic Drive stop, then on to Moab via I-70 (about 4.5–5 hours total driving without stops).

Day 5 — Arches & Canyonlands (Moab)

Early start in Arches — no timed-entry reservation needed in 2026, but arrive before 8 a.m. to beat parking crowds. Hike Delicate Arch (3 miles) and tour the Windows Section and Devils Garden. Afternoon at Canyonlands' Island in the Sky (Mesa Arch, Grand View Point) or Dead Horse Point State Park before departing.

When to visit

Season by season

Season	Weather	Crowds
Spring (Mar–May)	Ideal hiking weather: highs 60s–80s°F in Zion and Moab, cooler at Bryce (8,000–9,000 ft, snow possible into April). The Virgin River runs high with snowmelt, so the Narrows often closes in March–April.	One of the two busiest seasons — spring break and Easter weeks are packed. Book lodging 3–6 months ahead; arrive at park entrances before 8 a.m.
Summer (Jun–Aug)	Hot: 95–105+°F in Zion, St. George, and Moab; Bryce stays pleasant in the 70s–80s. July–August bring monsoon thunderstorms and serious flash-flood risk in slot canyons — always check forecasts.	Peak family-vacation crowds despite the heat. Hike at dawn, rest midday, and save evenings for Tuacahn shows, stargazing tours, and sunset drives.
Fall (Sep–Oct)	Many consider this the best window: highs 70s–80s in the low deserts, crisp nights, golden cottonwoods in Zion Canyon late October. Water levels drop, making the Narrows prime.	Busy through mid-October (especially weekends and fall break), then tapering. Lodging still books far ahead in Springdale and Moab.
Winter (Nov–Feb)	Quiet and beautiful: Zion and Moab see 40s–50s°F days with fast-melting snow; Bryce is genuinely cold (teens–30s) with snow-dusted hoodoos — bring traction devices for icy rim trails.	Lightest crowds of the year. Zion allows private vehicles on the Scenic Drive when the shuttle isn't running (most of December–February); some tours reduce hours.

Current as of August 2026

Permits & reservations

Angels Landing (Zion)Permit required year-round via lottery on Recreation.gov ($6 application). Seasonal lotteries open Feb 13, Apr 1, Jul 1, and Oct 1 for the following season; a day-before lottery runs 12:01 a.m.–3 p.m. MT. Hiking to Scout Lookout requires no permit.

The Wave / Coyote Buttes North (near Kanab)64 people per day via two Recreation.gov lotteries: an advance lottery four months out, and a daily lottery (16 people) drawn two days ahead — you must be physically within the Kanab/Page geofence to apply. Odds are low; have backup plans like Coyote Buttes South or White Pocket.

Fiery Furnace (Arches)Permit or ranger-led tour required (tours mid-April–September). 2026 pricing: $10/person self-guided, $16/person ranger-led. Since March 1, 2026, permits must be picked up in person at set times; afternoon tours sell only at the visitor center.

Arches entry — good newsNo timed-entry reservation is required in 2026; the pilot program was dropped (announced Feb 18, 2026). Enter anytime with the standard fee. NPS may reinstate it if congestion returns, so re-verify each season.

Zion Narrows top-down, The Subway & wilderness routesWilderness permits required, issued via Recreation.gov seasonal and daily lotteries. The bottom-up Narrows day hike from the Temple of Sinawava requires no permit.

Packing tips

What to bring

Spring

Layers (mornings 30s–40s, afternoons 70s), rain shell, sturdy hiking shoes, sun hat and sunscreen, 2–3 liters of water per person per day. For the Narrows, rent drysuits and canyoneering boots in Springdale — snowmelt water is frigid.

Summer

Sun protection is everything: wide-brim hat, UPF shirt, electrolytes, and 3–4 liters of water per person for any hike. Start at dawn, and pack a light rain layer for monsoon storms. Never enter slot canyons when storms threaten anywhere upstream.

Fall

Layers again — warm days, cold nights; Bryce mornings can be below freezing by October. Neoprene socks or rented Narrows gear for river hiking; headlamp as days shorten. Prime photography season: bring extra batteries.

Winter

Insulated jacket, hat, and gloves; waterproof boots plus microspikes for icy trails at Bryce and shaded Zion routes. St. George and Moab stay mild enough for hiking most days. Check road and shuttle schedules before you go.

Getting here & around

Airports, rental cars & the Zion shuttle

Airports

Las Vegas (LAS) — largest nearby hub with the most flights and cheapest fares. About 2 hours to St. George, 2.5–3 hours to Zion; most road trips start here.
St. George (SGU) — closest to Zion (about 1 hour). Regional jets on American, Delta, and United connections; rental cars on site, but fares run higher than LAS.
Salt Lake City (SLC) — major Delta hub; best if starting from the north or visiting Moab first (3.5–4 hours to Moab).
Moab / Canyonlands (CNY) — small field 16 miles north of Moab with limited regional service; handy for fly-in Moab trips.

Zion shuttle (2026)

The free, mandatory shuttle runs up Zion Canyon Scenic Drive March 7 through late November (plus late December) — private vehicles are barred whenever it operates. First shuttle 7:00 a.m.; last shuttle down 6:15–8:15 p.m. depending on season. No tickets needed. A separate free Springdale line connects town stops to the pedestrian entrance — parking in town is usually easier than the visitor center lot. New for 2026: as of June 7, oversized vehicles are rerouted off the Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway entirely.

Rental car notes

A car is essential — no public transit links the parks (Zion→Bryce ~2 hrs, Bryce→Moab ~4.5 hrs, Moab→St. George ~5 hrs).
Sedans handle all paved park roads including Byway 12; choose a high-clearance SUV for washboard backroads like Hole-in-the-Rock Road or Cottonwood Canyon Road — rental agreements often exclude unpaved-road damage.
Book early for spring and fall; Las Vegas has the deepest inventory and best rates.
Fuel up before remote stretches (services are sparse between Escalante and Hanksville), and download offline maps — cell coverage is unreliable outside towns.