Utah’s “Mighty 5” represents the five national parks in Utah, including Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park.

To see all five parks in 7 days, you’ll be driving… a LOT. That said, you’ll also see a lot. (A lot, a lot.) So if you’re okay with trading some long drives and days for amazing views and one INCREDIBLE road trip, this one’s for you!

Here’s how to see Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks in 7 days.

When to Visit Utah’s Mighty 5

Summer months are generally the busiest and warmest months to visit Utah’s Mighty 5, so for more comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds, consider spring or fall. We personally love visiting Utah in late October (and into November as you travel south).

Shoulder-season months like April, May, September, and October tend to be great for avoiding peak prices, peak crowds, and the warmest temperatures of the year.

However, if you can only plan your visit for the summer months, that’s okay! Take advantage of longer daylight hours and see more of the park than you could otherwise. Also, take advantage of early mornings and late evenings, as this will help you beat the crowds and experience some of the more popular trails and overlooks when they’re less busy (and more comfortable temperature-wise). Plan to hike first thing and last thing, then drive through the parks midday to avoid some of the crowds and heat from traveling in the summer. Weekdays are also your friend if you’re traveling during peak times!

We visited Utah’s Mighty 5 throughout September and October as part of our 2021 Travel Season: a 3.5-month road trip through Colorado and Utah. The weather was great while we were visiting, and although Zion in October was still surprisingly busy, it was a beautiful time of year to explore the park.

[[Note: We read that Zion feels pretty busy throughout all peak months (spring through fall). This is in part because you’re required to use a shuttle bus to tour Zion, which means there is less opportunity to avoid crowds.]]

Here are a few more things to consider for the best time to plan your trip to Utah’s Mighty 5!

Zion’s ‘Narrows’ hike is best in the fall: If you want to hike The Narrows during your Mighty 5 Road Trip, plan your trip for the fall, as this time of year generally has the best weather for this hike. The Narrows can be closed during the spring when the snow melts and raises the Narrows’ water level, creating unsafe hiking conditions. (Click here and scroll for past spring closures of the Narrows to help you plan your trip.)

Zion can only be driven through in the winter: During peak months (March through November and around the holiday season at the end of December), you can only get around Zion by shuttle bus. If you’d like to drive your own car through Zion, then you’ll want to visit during the winter off-season when shuttle buses are not running. Just know that visiting Utah’s Mighty 5 in the winter can mean trail closures and road closures in other parks.

Bryce’s Wall Street is best in late spring, summer, & early fall: Bryce Canyon sits at a high elevation, and snow can cause closures in Bryce during winter months and early spring. The famous “Wall Street” side of the Navajo Loop in Bryce Canyon is often closed between November and April.

Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef are typically most comfortable (and most dry) from April through May and mid-September through October: These national parks are part of the Colorado Plateau “high desert” region. Summer temperatures can exceed 100ºF, and late summer to early fall is monsoon season.

Based on all of this, we recommend visiting Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks in mid to late May or October.

Best Airports & Where to Start Your Road Trip

Salt Lake City, UT and Las Vegas, NV are the two most popular cities to fly into for a Mighty 5 Road Trip.

Las Vegas: If you fly into the Las Vegas airport, grab a rental car and drive about 7 hours to Moab. Although this drive will be long at the start of your trip, you’ll slowly make your way back to Vegas as you visit each national park and, therefore, will enjoy a much shorter drive at the end of your trip. For this reason, the Las Vegas airport seems to be the most popular airport to fly into. (Your return trip from Zion to Las Vegas will be less than 3 hours long.)

However, you could also consider flying into Salt Lake City (approximately 4 hours and 4.5 hours to Arches and Zion National Parks, respectively).

Salt Lake City: If you fly into the Salt Lake City airport, grab a rental car and drive about 4 hours to Moab. Make a loop through the 5 national parks then return to Salt Lake City. (Your return trip from Zion to Salt Lake will be about 4.5 hours.)

Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are the closest cities to the Mighty 5 and therefore make for the shortest roundtrip. (About 15 and 16 hours, respectively.) If you’re looking to minimize your drive time as much as possible, these two cities are your best bet unless you’re able to fly into a closer regional airport.

During our road trip, we were coming from Colorado, so we drove 5 hours from Winter Park, CO, to Moab, UT. (Note: Denver is another option for a big city with an airport to fly into. From Denver, Colorado, Arches National Park is about a 5.5-hour drive. Or if you live in Denver, the Mighty 5 makes an epic road trip with no flight needed!)

There are two other big cities nearby that aren’t as close to the Mighty 5 but could be great options if you’re looking to add more of the American Southwest onto your road trip.

Phoenix is about 6.5 hours to Zion National Park, and as a bonus, you’ll pass through the towns of Page and Kanab (and have easy access to sights like Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, and The Wave). Albuquerque is about a 6-hour drive to Canyonlands National Park (and you could start your loop from there). These loops are about 20 to 21 hours, respectively.

Once you’ve picked an airport, we generally recommend driving first to Arches National Park in Moab. That said, if you’re visiting late in the year, you may wish to start your road trip in Zion, so you can soon after visit Bryce Canyon National Park, which sits at the highest elevation and can be the most impacted by winter weather.

Where to Stay

To see as much of each national park as possible in 7 days, stay in or as close to each park as you can to maximize your time for exploration. We recommend treating this itinerary like a traditional roadtrip, where you stay in a different location for each stop along the way.

For Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, stay in the parks or in the nearby town of Moab.

For Capitol Reef, stay in the park or in the town of Torrey.

For Bryce Canyon, stay in the park or the nearby towns of Tropic or Panguitch.

For Zion, stay in the park or in the nearby town of Springdale.

If you want to stay in fewer locations, you can visit Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks from Moab. You can visit Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks from Kanab.

If you have more or less time for your Mighty 5 Roadtrip, keep reading for additional suggestions on the best places to stay and how to adapt this road trip itinerary to fit your plans!

Cliffs Notes

Day 1: Travel to Moab, Arches National Park: Arches Scenic Drive
Day 2: Arches National Park: Devils Garden Trail, Delicate Arch at Sunset
Day 3: Canyonlands [Dead Horse State Park]: Canyonland’s Scenic Drive, Mesa Arch at Sunrise, Upheaval Dome, [Dead Horse State Park]
Day 4: Capitol Reef National Park: Natural Bridge Trail (Hickman Bridge), 8-Mile Scenic Drive, Cassidy Arch
Day 5: Bryce Canyon National Park: Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail, 38-Mile (round-trip) Scenic Drive
Day 6: Zion National Park: Angel’s Landing, The Narrows
Day 7: Zion National Park, Travel home

Day 1: Moab, Arches National Park: Scenic Drive

On the first day of your 7-Day Mighty 5 Road Trip in Utah, travel to Arches National Park near Moab, Utah.

Arches Scenic Drive

If you have time the day you arrive, start your sightseeing in Arches by driving Arches Scenic Drive (from the Visitor Center to the Devils Garden Campground). Stop at as many lookouts as possible to get a feel for the park and see many amazing arches!

If you have about 4 hours, drive the entire scenic drive.

If you need to pick and choose which stops you make, check out our suggestions below.

• Hop out of your car at the Park Avenue Viewpoint to see the Courthouse Towers.

• Drive to The Windows (and enjoy the view of Balanced Rock on your way). Park your car when you arrive at The Windows Section and walk the .7-mile trail to North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. Walk the .5-mile trail to Double Arch.

• If you’re not going to hike to Delicate Arch, then drive to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint. Otherwise, we highly recommend hiking to Delicate Arch at sunset if possible. (It’ll be crowded, but worth it. More on this below.) If you’re planning to hike to Delicate Arch, you can skip the Delicate Arch Viewpoint.

• Drive the remainder of the scenic drive to the Devils Garden Campground, stopping to walk the .4-mile trail to Skyline Arch (this area is gorgeous at sunset).

Day 2: Arches National Park: Devils Garden Trail, Delicate Arch

Today is a full day in Arches National Park!

If you didn’t have time to drive Arches Scenic Drive yesterday, you might want to start your day with that today. Otherwise, let’s get to hiking!

Our top recommendations for things to do in Arches National Park are to drive the scenic road, hike the Devils Garden Trail, and take a sunset hike to Delicate Arch.

Devils Garden Trail

The Devils Garden Trail is a 7.9-mile loop. This is the longest and probably most difficult trail in Arches National Park. This is especially true if you opt for the full trail, including the primitive side. For your effort, you’ll be rewarded with seeing the most arches of any trail in Arches: 7 total.

The Devils Garden Trail starts at the Devils Garden Campground, which is the furthest point on Arches Scenic Drive. You can choose to hike the entire 7.9-mile loop, or you can hike 1.8 miles to Landscape Arch (the longest arch in Arches), or you can hike 4.2 miles to Double O Arch (and on your way, pass some of the most gorgeous landscapes).

RTL Tip: Start early and hike counter-clockwise, so you hike the Primitive Trail first by staying right at the fork.

The Primitive Trail in Arches National Park is an incredible trail with amazing views but also difficult route finding, rock climbing, and steep slopes. This half of the Devils Garden Trail does not have traditional mile markers or clear paths to follow. Instead, you follow cairns. You may have to climb around, or wade through, a pool of water.

We loved exploring this part of Arches National Park, but we also got lost while hiking through it (and almost had to turn back and hike an additional 5 miles because of it).

So if you’re committed to the Primitive Trail, hike it first with plenty of daylight, energy, and water. If you’re not sure whether or not you want to hike The Primitive Trail, then hike clockwise (stay to the left at the fork) and see the majority of the arches first.

Since most of the arches along the Devils Garden Trail are on the marked section of the trail, you can see 6 arches without stepping foot on the Primitive side! After you enjoy this section of amazing arches, then you can decide whether you want to continue on to the Primitive Trail.

We most loved Partition Arch, Landscape Arch, and the scenery on the way to Double O Arch. We thought the overlook for Dark Angel was better than walking up to it, so if you do opt to hike the Primitive Trail, we recommend skipping the Dark Angel side trail.

Delicate Arch at Sunset

Delicate Arch is one of the most popular trails in Arches National Park and one of the most iconic viewpoints. Hiking to Delicate Arch during golden hour is stunning!!

The Delicate Arch Trail is a 3-mile round trip hike that includes 480 ft of elevation gain. There is a bit of an uphill climb at the beginning of the hike, and you will have some exposure to heights (plus very little shade).

As one of the most popular things to see in Arches, this hike will likely be busy, but it’ll also be beautiful and, at times, feel like another world entirely!

Bonus: Corona Arch

Have time for one more hike before you hop in the car and head to your next national park? Before you leave Moab, check out Corona Arch (about 20 minutes away).

Corona Arch rivals the arches of Arches National Park but is WAY less busy. And bonus: It’s a dog-friendly trail. There are a few steep sections along this trail and at least one spot (a ladder) that requires either an agile dog or someone who can carry the pup. But this is a truly amazing hike and a great trail when you need a break from national park crowds. Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend it if you’ve got time!

Dog-friendly? Arches National Park is not dog-friendly. (Pets are not allowed on any hiking trails.) The Corona Arch Trail is dog-friendly.

Day 3: Canyonlands [& Dead Horse State Park]

You’ll drive about 30 miles to national park number two on your Mighty 5 Road Trip: Canyonlands National Park.

While having dinner at a restaurant in Moab, we sat next to a gentleman who was on a motorcycle trip through the area. As we were swapping stories and suggestions, he told us Canyonlands was a must-see and actually his favorite park in the area.

While we can’t say it’s also our favorite, that’s only because The Mighty 5 includes 5 truly incredible parks. Canyonlands is gorgeous, unique, and much quieter than most others on this list. (Which is a pro in our books!)

The Island in The Sky District is the easiest and most popular area of Canyonlands to visit. That said, if you have a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle or time for backpacking or boating, you may also wish to explore The Needles, The Maze, or The River.

Since The Island in The Sky District is the closest to Moab, that’s what we recommend exploring along your 7-Day Mighty 5 Road Trip. Start with Canyonland’s Scenic Drive.

Note: Canyonlands get about half the annual visitors that Arches (and even Capitol Reef National Park) get. This is the park to visit if you’re looking for solitude!!

Canyonland’s Scenic Drive

You can drive the entire mesa top of the Island in the Sky District along this 34-mile roundtrip scenic drive. Stop at as many lookouts as you have time for.

If you need to pick and choose which stops you make, check out our suggestions below.

• Drive, then hike to Mesa Arch (best at sunrise).

• Drive, then hike to either the first or second overlook of the Upheaval Dome.

• Drive to the Green River Overlook.

• Drive to the Grand View Point.

• Stop at the Shafer Trail Viewpoint of Shafer Road (on your way to exit the park).

Mesa Arch at Sunrise

One of the most popular things to do in Canyonlands National Park is to hike to Mesa Arch at sunrise. This short .5-mile hike is relatively flat and leads to a beautiful view of an arch resting on a cliff.

Mesa Arch is most popular at sunrise, but if you can’t make it that early, that’s okay! The view of the La Sal Mountains from Mesa Arch is gorgeous any time of day. And while it’s also busy, the short trail means people come and go fairly quickly. Hang around for a bit, taking in the view, and you’re sure to get a beautiful shot.

Upheaval Dome

You have two options to view The Upheaval Dome thanks to two different overlooks. You can hike .8 miles to the first Upheaval Dome overlook or 1.8 miles to both overlooks. From the first overlook, you’ll have a clear view into Upheaval Dome, plus you’ll get to read signs about the dome and what created it.

At the second overlook, you’ll get another view of Upheaval Dome and Upheaval Canyon. The picture below is from the second overlook, where you feel like you get to see directly into the dome.

What you’ll see at the overlooks on the Upheaval Dome trail is ultimately a mystery… was the two-mile-wide depression caused by a salt dome or a meteorite?

According to the national park service, recent findings support the dome having been created by a meteorite fracturing the rock on impact… but what do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Bonus: Dead Horse State Park

After your visit to Canyonlands National Park, make a quick stop at Dead Horse State Park. This state park is only about 20 minutes from Canyonlands, so it’s a great, easy addition to your day. And while it’s gorgeous any time of day (we were visiting in the afternoon), Dead Horse State Park looks especially picturesque for sunset.

Dog-Friendly? Canyonlands National Park is not dog-friendly. Pets are allowed at Dead Horse State Park.

Day 4: Capitol Reef National Park

Next, make your way to Capitol Reef National Park (about a 2.5-hour drive from Canyonlands).

Three of the most popular things to do in Capitol Reef National Park include an 8-mile scenic drive of the Waterpocket Fold, a hike to Cassidy Arch, and the Hickman Natural Bridge Trail.

But because Capitol Reef is generally a less-visited park (when compared to the others in the Mighty 5), you won’t have to worry as much about navigating crowds throughout the day.

You can mix and match and start with whichever activity excites you most!

Natural Bridge Trail (Hickman Bridge)

One of the best things to do in Capitol Reef National Park is to hike the Hickman Natural Bridge Trail. As its name suggests, this 2-mile trail leads you to a 133-foot natural bridge.

In our opinion, the drive through Capitol Reef and the hike to Cassidy Arch are more scenic than the hike to Hickman Bridge. So if you only have time for one or two things, we suggest those activities instead.

That said, we did enjoy how relatively short and easy this trail was. And this natural bridge is amazing to take in from close. So if you want to stretch your legs after your long but beautiful drive to Capitol Reef, consider this hike on your way into the park.

8-Mile Scenic Drive

This 8-mile scenic drive was my favorite thing to do in Capitol Reef National Park! You get a feel for just how expansive this park is as you pass beautiful views of Capitol Reef’s ‘Waterpocket Fold’ (the defining geologic feature of the park).

Give yourself about two hours for this roundtrip drive.

Cassidy Arch

On the return of your drive, we recommend taking a right to the “Grand Wash” to hike Cassidy Arch. This trail is about 3 miles roundtrip.

The trail to Cassidy Arch is moderately strenuous, with beautiful canyon views.

But one of the real treats of this hike comes when you arrive at Cassidy Arch: you can say you’ve stood on top of an arch! (Safely!) You may also get to watch people rappel the arch, which could be a fun way to enjoy Capitol Reef if you have more time or are looking for a fun and different way to enjoy this national park.

Dogs are not allowed on hiking trails in Capitol Reef National Park, so we, unfortunately, had to leave Lincoln behind at our rental in Moab. That means we couldn’t explore quite as long as we would have liked to.

We heard great things about hiking the Sunset Point Trail during golden hour. If you’ve made this trek, please leave us a comment below and let us know your thoughts and favorite things to do in Capitol Reef!

Day 5: Bryce Canyon National Park

There are two final national parks to see along your Mighty 5 Road Trip. And alongside Arches, these are the most popular Utah parks, so expect crowds! And beauty. But definitely also crowds. (Deep breaths while you’re on the Zion buses.)

Drive about 3 hours from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon along Scenic Byway 12. Since you’re driving east to west, driving in the morning is best to avoid having the sun in your eyes while driving.

Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail

One of the most popular hikes in Bryce Canyon is the 2.9-mile Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail.

Normally, we’d suggest starting your day in a new national park with its scenic drive, as that’s our favorite way to get our bearings and get to know a new park. However, you’re probably ready to hop out of the car and stretch your legs! So consider starting with this hike when you enter the park.

Our recommendation is to park and begin your hike at Sunset Point. Walk counterclockwise so you’re walking “Wall Street” first. Wall Street is one of the most picturesque views in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Read more of our suggestions for visiting Wall Street and Bryce Canyon National Park here!

Dog-friendly? The walk between Sunrise and Sunset Point on the Rim Trail is actually dog-friendly. The rest of this trail is not.

38-Mile (round-trip) Scenic Drive

Driving Bryce’s 38-mile scenic drive is the easiest way to see Bryce Canyon National Park in one day. Stop at as many of the 13 viewpoints along the way as you can. It’s spectacular!

We particularly loved Rainbow Point and the Natural Bridge Overlook.

Day 6: Zion National Park

You might be thinking we’ll start today touring Zion via its scenic drive, but that’ll only be the case if you’re visiting during the off-season.

From March through late November, only shuttle buses have access to this drive. So make your way to the Zion National Park Visitor Center, where you’ll park your car and prepare to board a bus.

Note: This parking lot fills up quickly. Arrive early, or be patient. You can also park in Springdale and ride the free shuttle into the park. Read more about visiting Zion National Park here.

Angel’s Landing

Two of the most popular things to do in Zion National Park are walking The Narrows and hiking Angel’s Landing.

If you’re nervous about heights, we recommend starting with Angel’s Landing (or skipping it altogether and hiking the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail instead).

That way, you can also hike the Narrows in the afternoon. If you’re visiting during the summer or early fall, the water may be a welcome relief from the heat.

Angel’s Landing was not only my favorite thing to do in Zion National Park, but it’s one of my top 5 favorite hikes of all time!

Highly recommend this hike if you’re up for a challenge and comfortable with heights!

The Narrows

While hiking Angel’s Landing was my favorite thing to do in Zion National Park, hiking The Narrows took top billing for friends we were traveling with.

This is another activity where you feel like a big kid, wading through water at the base of Zion Canyon. There are some places you’ll be able to walk along the shore, but in many places, you have to walk straight through, and that’s part of the fun of hiking the Narrows… just dress accordingly!

The Narrows is one of the most popular hikes at Zion National Park, so prepare for crowds no matter what time you’re visiting. If you have time tomorrow before heading home, you may want to hike The Narrows then when you can arrive first thing.

Otherwise, like most hikes, crowds will thin out the further you trek!

This is an amazing, unique, beautiful hike, and pictures just don’t do it full justice. Absolutely recommend seeing The Narrows and exploring the canyon for as long as you can!

Dog-Friendly? No. Most trails at Zion National Park are not dog-friendly. (According to the National Park Service website, the Pa’rus Trail, which begins at the Visitor Center, is the only dog-friendly trail in Zion.)

Day 7: Zion National Park

It’s the final day of your 7-day road trip touring Utah’s Mighty 5, and depending on your travel plans for heading home, you may wish to spend your final morning in Zion National Park.

Consider hiking Angel’s Landing or The Narrows if you haven’t yet (or going back for a second time if you loved these hikes). Or consider the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail or Observation Point Trail.

Then make your way back home by car or plane, and marvel at the adventures you’ve had over the last 7 days. What an epic road trip!

More Time: 10-14 Days

If you have more time for your Mighty 5 Road Trip, consider spending an extra day or two at each of the parks you’re most excited about.

We actually think this amount of time is okay for Arches and Bryce Canyon National Park. Don’t get us wrong, there’s ALWAYS more to see, but if you only have a few extra days to add to your week, we’d personally suggest extra time in Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National Park.

We’d also say to consider an extra day between parks so you can explore more of Utah (such as scenic byway 12 or Southern Utah near Kanab) without feeling as rushed to get from one park to the next.

Coming soon, we’ll share our recommendations for a full American Southwest Road Trip Itinerary!

Less Time: Arches, Canyonlands, + Capitol Reef

If you have less than 7 days for your road trip, we recommend just focusing on Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks. Plan another visit to see Zion, Bryce Canyon, and everything else Southern Utah has to offer.

3 Days: Zion + Bryce 

If you’ve got just 3 days to explore, consider focusing only on Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. Here are our recommendations for hiking Angel’s Landing and The Narrows in Zion. And here’s our suggested itinerary for one day in Bryce Canyon National Park!

While Working Full-Time

In 2021, we spent 3.5 months on a road trip through Colorado and Utah while working. Within that, we spent two months in Colorado and 1.5 months in Utah. (Visiting Colorado next? Check out our Ultimate Colorado Road Trip Itinerary here!)

While in Utah, we spent one week in Moab, one week in Salt Lake City, and one month in Kanab. While in Moab, we visited Arches National Park the day we got into town and two days after work. We also hiked Corona Arch after work. We spent our weekend exploring Canyonlands and Capitol Reef.

While in Kanab, which is a Road Trip Locals destination through and through as there is SO much to do in Southern Utah, we spent full days off exploring Zion and Bryce Canyon. Here are 8 other jaw-dropping things to do and see near Kanab!

More recommendations coming soon if you’re planning to visit Utah’s Mighty 5 while working full-time!

Planning a One-Way Trip

If you’re planning a one-way trip, starting at one airport/location and ending at another, we’ll soon share recommendations for more things to do and see on the way!

Las Vegas to Salt Lake City

Coming soon!

Salt Lake City to Las Vegas

Coming soon!

Phoenix

Phoenix airport is only an hour further than Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, and along the way, you could add great stops in Arizona, such as Sedona or the Grand Canyon North Rim. More suggestions coming soon!

Keep planning your trip to Utah

Here are 10 jaw-dropping things to see near Kanab, Utah.

Here’s how to see Bryce Canyon National Park in one day!

Here’s your guide to hiking Angel’s Landing and The Narrows in Zion National Park (and what to know before you go).

Heading to Colorado next? Check out this Ultimate Colorado Road Trip Itinerary!

Please leave us a comment below

We know there’s a ton to do and see in these national parks, so let us know below: Which hike, activity, or overlook is YOUR favorite? We'd love to hear about your adventures too!

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