Standing there, gaping at this monstrous and inhumane spectacle of rock and cloud and sky and space, I feel a ridiculous greed and possessiveness come over me. I want to know it all, possess it all, embrace the entire scene intimately, deeply, totally…
Edward Abbey
Here’s the perfect mini adventure crossing two of Utah’s national parks off your bucket list! Because there’s such a short drive from Zion to Bryce Canyon, you can maximize your time exploring, not driving. These two parks can make a great weekend getaway, or, because there’s so much to do, you can stay for longer – easily.
Zion National Park
Arrive as early as possible. You cannot drive through the entire park, and to visit certain areas you’ll need to rely on Zion’s shuttle services. You can get on the shuttle from the visitor center, and their parking lot fills up rather quickly. I repeat, arrive as early as possible!
As with any other national park, it depends on the amount of time you’re staying and your hiking abilities to determine how you can spend your time.
If you’ve only got a day or two in Zion:
Experienced Hikers: Angel’s Landing (5.4 miles/4 hours) or The Narrows (Up to 9.4 miles/up to 8 hours).
Inexperienced/Casual/Accessible Hikers: Riverside Walk (2.2 miles/1.5 hours) or Lower Emerald Pool (1.2 miles/1 hour).
IMPORTANT: There was recently a large flood and rock fall throughout Zion National Park. Please check the national park website (<- link) ahead of time for the most current information about what is open.
Zion Nightlife
For any astronomy buffs or aspiring astro-photography peeps, you can catch some great stuff in that big, old night sky. During the summer, there are incomparable views of the Milky Way. With the stunning landscape, it makes for sensational drama for your photography.
Zion to Bryce Canyon
The drive from Zion to Bryce Canyon is super easy. It’s 72 miles and around 1.5 hours. There are plenty of accommodations along route 89 you can stay at to split up the journey or use as a base in between the two parks.
RV Parks: Bauers Canyon Ranch RV Park – The Riverside Ranch RV Park, Motel & Campground
Campgrounds: Bryce Zion Campground – The Riverside Ranch RV Park, Motel & Campground
Hotels: Whispering Pines Covered Wagon Resort – Alton Lodge
I am not sponsored by any of these accommodations.
Bryce Canyon
Home to those famous hoodoos!
Unlike Zion, you can use your own transportation throughout the park.
Personally, I’m a sucker for the informative, scenic drive first before picking what I’d like to do. However, I knew I wanted to see the hoodoos and immediately opted for the rim trail for that gorgeous amphitheater view.
The rim trail is paved from sunrise to sunset points.
For those up close hoodoo views, and a chance to grab some epic shots, hike the Navajo Loop Trail (1.3 miles/1-2 hours) and/or Queen’s Garden Trail (1.8 miles/1-2 hours).
Bryce canyon Nightlife
Bryce Canyon, like Zion, has some phenomenal views of the Milky Way and night sky. It would be totally worth it to hang around after the sun sets to check out how clear the Milky Way looks.
Zion to Bryce canyon: Recommended Apps
National Park Service App (<- link) – perfect for finding information about all of your favorite national parks. My particular favorite feature is they share which trails/viewpoints are best for sunrise and/or sunset.
Google Maps – you can download maps for offline use. This is incredibly helpful when driving in/around US National Parks as the service tends to be a bit crappy.
Photopills (<- link) If you’re interested in checking out the night sky and want a better idea of the time and placement of the Milky Way, Photopills is my go-to app.
Have you traveled from zion to bryce canyon?
Check out the blog for more road trip (<- link) and hiking (<- link) inspiration!
Never Miss An Adventure.