Driving through the National Parks in the United States is one of the most iconic road trips you can do. Crossing through extraterrestrial red valleys and monumental rock formations carved over millions of years, there is a sense of having been transported to another planet. One of the greatest feelings while traveling is when you are so captivated by what you are seeing that you can barely believe it is real. A Southern Utah road trip is filled with such moments.
But with so many incredible sights and parks to visit, it can be overwhelming to decide how to best plan your road trip itinerary. Utah is vast and each national park has an abundance of hiking trails to see. Beyond hiking though, there are some other incredible experiences to discover including canyoneering, paddle boarding the Colorado River, and watching some of the most epic sunsets.
If you are adventurous and want to discover Utah beyond the typical tourist trail, then this Utah trip itinerary is perfect for you! And to get you even more excited, other than Iceland, this was our favourite road trip ever!
How many days do you need in Utah?
We would recommend a minimum of 10 days, ideally 2 weeks, to fully experience this Southern Utah Road trip itinerary. We did 14 days in total and were able to visit most of the national parks at a comfortable pace. Although Utah primarily has 5 national parks, it also has 11 national monuments and historic sites which are also really worth visiting.
Keep in mind that since this is a road trip, reducing the number of days would mean driving really long distances every day, or skipping certain attractions.
We have seen some itineraries propose seeing all 5 national parks within 7 days but that would mean potentially driving 4-6 hours per day. For us, the true spirit of road-tripping is the sense of freedom, so rushing from site to site doesn’t sound like much fun.
Main sites and experiences on this road trip
Every road trip itinerary will include different experiences. We believe that what makes a trip truly incredible are the things you will get to experience, more than just the areas you will visit. Check out below some of our favourite bucket list moments included in this Southern Utah Road Trip itinerary:
- Climbing Angel’s Landing
- Trekking through the Narrows
- Paddle boarding Horseshoe Bend and Colorado River
- Paddle board the secret Antelope canyon
- Witnessing the sunset over the iconic Horseshoe bend
- Discovering the alternative Antelope Canyon
- Canyoneering and rappelling 230ft in Moab
- Quiet sunset at Delicate Arch
- White water rafting in Moab
- Figure 8 Trail through the Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon
- And much more!
Number of days: 14Quick Summary of Southern Utah Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1 – Las Vegas (1 night)
Day 2 – 4 – Zion National Park (3 nights)
Day 5 – 7 – Page, AZ (3 nights)
Day 8 – Bluff, UT (1 night)
Day 9 – 11 – Moab, UT (3 nights)
Day 12 – Capitol Reef, UT (1 night)
Day 13 – Bryce Canyon (1 night)
Day 14 – Las Vegas (1 night)
About this Itinerary
Our road trip around Utah was definitely one of the best we’ve ever done.
Nan and I love hiking and Utah’s abundance of epic national parks surpassed our expectations. Although this is a road trip, it doesn’t mean you should spend most of the time on the road.
For that reason, our itinerary minimizes the amount of driving per segment to usually less than 2 hours, and we tend to stay in a region for about 3 days. Because who likes packing and unpacking constantly right?
This left us with a comfortable pace to truly immerse in the beauty and activities of each region.
In this trip, we included hiking, nature viewpoints, photography, paddleboarding, rafting, canyoneering, and city life. A perfect variety of adventures that Utah can offer!
We visit all of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks and also add in some off-the-beaten-path activities that many do not know of.
Southern Utah road trip Itinerary
Below we do a full day-by-day breakdown of our Road trip itinerary including what to do, the main attractions, the driving route, and where to stay.
Day 1: Arrival at Las Vegas (1 Night)
One of the best starting points for your Southern Utah Road trip is at Las Vegas. The reason for this is that there are usually cheap and quick flights reaching Las Vegas’ international airport. We also found that renting a car from Vegas to be cheaper than from Arizona or Salt Lake City. Las Vegas, with its world-class shows, is also a very fun city to start your trip in.
🚗 Rent your car
Since this is a road trip, you will certainly need to arrange for a car rental. Two great options include Turo and DiscoverCars. What we love about DiscoverCars is that you can purchase insurance coverage directly with DiscoverCars at an affordable price that will cover you for all damages and deductibles!
Also, make sure to pick up the car at the airport so you can avoid paying the pricey taxi fees to get to the city.
🎫 Prepare for the road trip – America the Beautiful Pass
After picking up your car, head to the nearby grocery store and local REI to pick up some of the things you will need on your road trip.
First, since you will be visiting most of the National Parks in Utah, make sure to pick up the America the Beautiful National Park pass.
For around 80$, it will give you access to over 2000 recreation sites and national parks across the United States. It is valid for a year and will provide access for the pass holder and any accompanying passengers in the vehicle. This means that with just one pass, you are covered for everybody in your vehicle.
You can order it online and have it mailed to you but since we are outside of the United States, we prefer to pick up the pass from REI.
This pass will cover you for all 5 National Parks of Utah, but not for the private parks such as Dead Horse Point State Park, Monument Valley, and Horseshoe Bend.
Regardless, the America The Beautiful Pass is definitely worth it. To give you an example: entrance into Zion National Park is 35$ per vehicle. In this itinerary, we will be going to Zion twice so that is already 70$. For 10$ more, you are covered for all the other parks for the rest of the road trip itinerary.
Finally, this road trip wouldn’t be complete without snacks. Make sure to go to the grocery store to pick up snacks for the road as well as for your hikes.
🏠 Where to stay
Click here for some of the top hotels in Las Vegas
Day 2: Zion National Park (3 nights)
From: Las Vegas, Nevada To: Hurricane, UT
Driving time: 2h20 (149 miles)
🛣️ Drive towards Zion National Park
As you head towards Zion National Park, you will have the choice of a few cities to stay at near Zion.
The closest to Zion National Park would be inside Zion or Springdale. However, due to its prime location, it is also the busiest and most expensive. If you stay in Springdale, they offer a free shuttle service to reach many of the main points of the city. This helped to reduce the amount of cars on the road, but we still felt like there were a lot of traffic jams in Springdale.
The next closest city is Hurricane. Located around 35 minutes drive from the Zion Visitor’s Centre, Hurricane provides far more affordable accommodations and is a lot easier to drive. We elected this option and drove into Springdale very early every morning in order to find available parking. Since we were starting our hikes at 7 am, we had no difficulty finding parking at the Visitor’s centre.
The final option is St-George, however, we wouldn’t recommend it as much since it is around 1-hour drive away from Zion National Park.
🏨 Check in to your hotel
If you are not sure where to base yourself when visiting Zion, and you don’t want to spend a fortune on hotels, check out this post where we compare the best places to stay near Zion.
Spend the afternoon getting settled in and grabbing an early dinner as you will be spending the sunset hours at Yant Flats.
⛰️ Evening – Yant Flats
Drive time: 45 minutes (23 miles) each way
Duration of hike: 1 hour each way
Hiking distance: 3.4 miles roundtrip, mostly flat
The Yant Flats are known as “Candy Cliffs” because of their unique rock formations that have been sculpted by the forces of nature over millions of years. The result is an otherworldly landscape of orange and white swirls that makes you feel like you stepped onto another planet.
This was one of the most unique landscapes we’ve ever witnessed and it is also quite off-the-beaten path. If you head there for sunset, it is usually quite empty.
Note: The drive there is on a narrow mountain bumpy road so make sure to drive slowly. You do not need a 4×4 though.
Day 3: Zion National Park – Angel’s Landing
From: Hurricane To: Zion National Park
Driving time: 35 minutes (23 miles) to Zion Visitor’s Centre each way
🛣️ Drive to Zion National Park
Wake up very early in the morning and try to reach the Zion visitor’s centre before 7 am. The reason for this is that there are limited parking spots at the visitor’s centre and the shuttle buses that enter the National Park start from there.
During the peak season (March – October), the roads through Zion National Park are closed to private vehicles and only the designated shuttle buses can be used. If the visitor’s centre is full, then you can park on the Springdale streets.
In order to get to the trailhead of the Angel’s landing hike, you will need to take their shuttle bus from the Visitor’s Centre. Angel’s landing is towards the end of the route, at Stop #6 called The Grotto, which is about 8km from the visitor’s centre.
The shuttle through Springdale and Zion National Park is free to ride. To get more information about the shuttle times and stops, check out the official National Park page.
🌄 Morning – Angel’s Landing Hike
Hiking trail: Angel’s landing
Duration of hike: 5 hours
Distance of hike: 4.2 miles (but with a lot of elevation gain)
Difficulty: Moderate
🛑 Important Note: Due to the high popularity of the Angel’s Landing trail, it is now required to enter a lottery draw to try to obtain an entry permit pass. To learn more about this process, check out Angel’s landing reservation page. If you do not succeed in getting the permit, then you can check out some of the other hikes that do not require a permit. These include The Narrows, Canyon Overlook, Emerald Pools, and the Watchman Trail.
Angel’s Landing, rated as one of the most dangerous hikes in the United States, was definitely high on our bucket list. It is a 1,500-foot-high rock formation in Zion National Park, and the only way to get up is along its ridge, bordered on both sides by sheer cliffs, scrambling along the chain links.
It’s definitely one of those ‘not for the faint of heart’ hikes, but ended up being one of our favourite hikes of the entire trip!
Make sure to start this hike early as the trail gets very crowded by around 10-11 am. Since the trail is quite narrow at certain points, waiting in line with the crowds on the edge of a cliff is certainly not something you want to do. Due to the exposure, it also gets quite hot by noon.
Note: I would consider this hike moderately difficult. There is a lot of uphill at the beginning to reach the top of the ‘fin’. After that, it is not too strenuous but does have a lot of exposed cliff areas. So if you have a fear of heights, make sure to reflect if this hike is suitable for you. As a point of reference, Nan has a big fear of heights but she was able to do this trail.
🏞️ Evening – Kolob Canyon viewpoint
Driving time: 36 minutes (27 miles) each way from Hurricane
Hiking trail: Timbercreek overlook trail in Kolob Canyon
Duration of hike: 15 minutes each way
Distance of hike: 1 mile roundtrip
Difficulty: very easy
Parking: free
Kolob Canyon offers visitors a more remote and rugged experience than other parts of Zion National Park. Unlike Angel’s Landing and the Narrows, there are only a few visitors here, allowing you to quietly enjoy the beautiful sandstone cliffs.
It is an amazing spot, reached by a very short 15-minute hike, where you can overlook the entire Northern Zion Valley. There are also several other longer hikes in the area if you are interested.
Make sure to bring warm clothes as it gets very windy there
🏨 where to stay
You will be spending the 3 nights in Hurricane, UT or if you have the budget for it, Springdale.
Day 4: Zion National Park – The Narrows
From: Hurricane To: Zion National Park
Driving time: 35 minutes (23 miles) to Zion Visitor’s Centre each way
🛣️ Drive to Zion National Park Visitor’s Centre
Similar to the day before, make sure to arrive at the Zion National Park Visitor’s Centre before 7 am. You will take the same national park shuttle bus all the way to the last stop #9, called Temple of Sinawava, to start the Narrows hike. This takes around 45 minutes to reach and is 12.4km from the visitor’s centre.
🥾 Rent the Narrows Equipment package
We would recommend that you book the Narrows equipment package including hiking sticks, 5mm neoprene socks, and hydro canyoneering boots. Some packages also include Dry pants, similar to those that fly fishermen wear.
We didn’t end up getting the package and really paid the price for it. Within 30 minutes, our feet were freezing and we couldn’t get our body heat back up. We toughed it through but were shivering almost the entire hike.
Don’t make the same mistake as us. The water in the Narrows is cold!
🌊 Morning – The Narrows
Hiking trail: The Narrows
Duration of hike: 4-8 hours (but can be shorter)
Distance of hike: 6-10km (but you are trekking through water so it is slower)
Difficulty: Moderate
The Narrows is Zion’s second iconic hike. You will be trekking through ankle to knee-deep water within the towering walls of the slot canyon. It is one of the most unique experiences you can have in Utah, however, we didn’t get to fully enjoy it since we were poorly equipped for the hike.
The Narrows are a total length of 15 miles but the distance you hike is totally up to you since it is a there-and-back hike. Most will be doing this from the bottom-up direction and go as far as Wall Street or the Big Springs, then turn back. Reaching Wall Street takes around 3 hours each way.
Note: Make sure to check the weather at the Park Ranger’s Visitor’s Centre before embarking on the hike. Since the Narrows are slot canyons, there is a significant danger of flash floods when the forecast predicts rain. Also, since you will be hiking in the canyon, sunlight rarely reaches the water. For that reason, both the water and air get quite chilly.
🏨 Where to stay
After hiking the Narrows, you will be pretty tired. Spend the evening resting and enjoy a warm meal. You will spend your night in Hurricane again.
Day 5: Page, Arizona – Canyon X and Horseshoe Bend (3 nights)
From: Hurricane, UT To: Page, AZ (-1Hr time zone)
Total driving time: 2h15 (135 miles)
🏜️ Afternoon – Canyon X
Canyon X is a breathtakingly beautiful slot canyon located in Page, Arizona, USA. The canyon is part of the Navajo Nation and is only accessible through guided tours with authorized Navajo guides. It is considered one of the lesser-known slot canyons in the area, which makes it a perfect destination for those looking for a more intimate and exclusive experience.
We chose to see Canyon X instead of the very busy Antelope Canyon to avoid the crowds. In Canyon X, you will see beautiful orange and red hue narrow slot canyons carved into incredible swirls and waves through millions of years of wind and water erosion.
Tour company: Taadidiin Tours or National Park Express Canyon X
Tour duration: 1.5 hours
Driving time to reach Canyon X: 14 minutes (12 miles) each way from Page, AZ
🌅 Evening – Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is one of the most recognized and quintessential landmarks of Utah, as it is often depicted in the National Geographics. Here, you will witness one of the most breathtaking sunsets as the orange glow lights up the unique horseshoe curve of the Colorado River.
As it is one of the most known locations in Utah, it is usually quite busy at sunset time. However, the area is surprisingly large and you will always be able to find a quiet corner to enjoy the experience.
Driving time: 10 minutes (4.8 miles) each way from Page, AZ
Time required: 2 hours
Parking: Entrance fee of 10$ per vehicle. Check out the official Horseshoe Bend website for more information.
🏨 where to stay
You will be spending 3 nights in Page, Arizona. We recommend the Sleep Inn and Suites Lake Powell or Rodeway Inn Lake Powell in Page, Arizona.
Day 6: Page, Arizona – Paddle boarding Colorado River
From: Page, AZ To: Lee’s Ferry, AZ
Driving time: around 53 minutes (45 miles) each way from Page, AZ
One of the very unique activities we wanted to do in Utah, which is rarely included in other’s itineraries, was to paddle board down the Colorado River through Horseshoe Bend.
Starting close to Glen’s Canyon Dam, you paddle down along the current of the Colorado River, surrounded by the towering canyon cliff walls of Marble Canyon. This was one of the most special experiences we had in Utah and other than the group of 4 people we departed with, we didn’t see anyone else along the way. Talk about off-the-beaten-path!
As you float through the canyons, you will also have the chance to stop off and do some short treks and even see some ancient petroglyphs. We also found a rock outcrop where we were able to try out some small cliff jumps. Navigating through the twists and turns of the Colorado River, you truly feel like the first explorers to discover this land!
Time required: around 6 hours (can be shortened by backhauling you less far upriver). We chose our starting point to be 20km from Lee’s Ferry.
How to do it: Check out this post about how to organize your kayak/paddleboarding trip down the Colorado River through Horseshoe Bend. We detail the entire experience, tons of helpful tips, and exactly how to organize the trip!
Company: Kayak Horseshoe Bend for Backhaul service and equipment rental. Alternatively, you can rent your equipment with Lake Powell paddleboards or Lake Powell vacations but you will still need to arrange for backhaul service.
🏨 where to stay
You will be spending your night back in Page, AZ.
Day 7: Page, Arizona – Paddle boarding Antelope Canyon
From: Page, AZ To: Antelope Point Launch Ramp, AZ
Driving time: 15 minutes (9 miles) each way from Page, AZ
Everyone knows about Antelope Canyon, but did you know there is a ‘secret’ way of reaching an off-the-beaten-path and less frequented section of that canyon? By renting a kayak or paddle board, you can paddle through a beautiful water-filled slot canyon toward the starting point of the hike.
From there, you leave your watercraft on the shore and hike up to several kilometres into the red-orange canyon. Although it is not as beautiful as the original Antelope Canyon, the uniqueness of the adventure of getting there makes it a very special spot to visit.
The main tourist Antelope Canyon can get so busy that you will feel like you’re in a Disney World ride lineup. If that doesn’t sound like fun to you, then this alternative is perfect! We hiked through the canyon several kilometres and although there were others around, it still felt remote.
How to do it: To do this, you will need to rent your paddle board from Lake Powell paddleboards or Lake Powell vacations. Some companies will deliver the paddle board to the launch ramp whereas others require you to pick it up from their office. After reaching the boat launch, and paying for your parking, head out west (left). You will paddle for around 45 minutes following the cliff wall until you see a large slot canyon entrance. Don’t worry about missing it as there will certainly be others heading there. After 15 minutes of paddling through the canyon, you will reach the shore. Leave your watercraft there and hike to your heart’s content. Make sure to bring water shoes or sandals for this part!
Company: If you would prefer a fully guided experience to ensure your safety and not getting lost, then you can check out this excellent guided kayak tour in Antelope Canyon.
Time required: around 4-6 hours
🏨 where to stay
This will be the third and final night in Page, AZ.
Day 8: Bluff, UT – Valley of the Gods / Monument Valley (1 night)
From: Page, AZ To: Bluff, UT
Driving time: 2h40 (172 miles)
Today, we leave Page Arizona behind and head towards the Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley. We used Bluff as the home base since it was close to both sites and also shortened the drive to Moab for the next day.
📸 Morning – Forest Gump Point
As you drive towards Bluff, you will have the option of visiting Monument Valley, Forest Gump Point, and Valley of the Gods (in that order). Make sure to stop at Forest Gump Point to capture the famous photo of Monument Valley. This location was also featured in the movie Forest Gump, hence the name.
There will be 2 small gravel parking lots where you can stop your car (free). I would recommend going to the one higher up the hill as we saw many tour buses stop at the one lower down the hill.
Once there, check for cars and once it’s clear, you can run onto the road to capture the photo. Be VERY CAREFUL though as this is a highway and there are cars coming from both directions. At one of the parking lots, there is also a local Navajo lady selling handcrafted jewelry.
Time required: 10-20 minutes
🌄 Afternoon – Valley of the Gods
Valley of the Gods is located about 20 minutes drive before Bluff, UT. We recommend first heading to your accommodation in Bluff to check in to your hotel and then heading back out to the Valley of the Gods for sunset. This is what we did and the sunset there was epic!
The valley, filled with towering pinnacles, buttes, and huge expanses, offers similar scenery to Monument Valley but without the restrictions and costs imposed by the local tribes.
Here you can drive through 17 miles of dirt road winding through the valley and stopping wherever you want to explore the cosmic terrain. Valley of the Gods is visited by only a fraction of the people who tour Monument Valley which makes it an ideal spot to enjoy the nature off-the-beaten-path.
We also saw many other visitors staying there overnight in their tents or campervans which we would love to do one day. Keep in mind that if you are doing the full loop, you will be exiting the park around 4 miles south of the entrance.
Side story: As we found the perfect spot to watch the sunset, we suddenly noticed a blurry wall of beige heading towards us. We weren’t sure whether the desert was playing visual tricks on us so we ignored it. After another 5 minutes, it was evident that it was heading towards us. It was a sandstorm, and it was heading straight through our location. We ran back in the car and braced for the high winds and sand. In the end, it passed after a few minutes and made for quite a memorable souvenir of Utah!
Entrance fee: free
Driving distance within the Valley: 17 miles loop
Time required: 2 hours
🪨 Alternative – Monument Valley
Monument Valley is a great alternative if you have the extra time. It is one of the most iconic symbols of the American West and also represents the sacred land of the Navajo people.
For this reason, there are certain restrictions and costs to visiting the valley. At the moment of writing, it costs 8$ per person for entry. You are only permitted to drive on their designated 17-mile route and cannot go off-road or venture off-trail for hiking.
The Navajo reserve does offer many very exciting tours though that bring you by jeep or horseback up close to the towering buttes and mesas.
Entrance fee: 8$ per person
Time required: you can easily spend 2-4 hours there
For more information about Monument Valley, check out their website.
🏨 where to stay
We stayed at Willow Street Cottages in Bluff, UT for the night. It was a lovely mini house and included both a kitchen and a washer/dryer. This was ideal for us since we were at the mid-point of our trip and we needed to wash our hiking clothes.
If you are interested in staying within Monument Valley, you can check out Goulding’s Lodge, which is stunning!
Day 9: Moab, UT – Dead Horse Point State Park (3 Nights)
From: Bluff, UT To: Moab, UT
Driving time: 1h42 (100 miles)
🚚 Afternoon – explore Moab town and Food truck park
Driving to Moab from Bluff should take under 2 hours so you should reach there by around noon. Since this will be too early to check in to your hotel, spend part of the afternoon exploring the town of Moab.
Also, make sure to stop by the Moab food truck park to enjoy some delicious street food! They have Tacos, Hot dogs, shaved ice and ice cream, smoothies, pizzas, waffles, and much more!
Once you’ve grabbed a couple of interesting food items, they have multiple picnic tables where you can sit to enjoy your meal. This whole food truck park is outdoors so it creates a very festive and communal environment.
After exploring the town, head over to your hotel to check in.
🐴 Evening – Dead Horse Point State Park
From: Moab, UT To: Dead Horse Point State Park
Driving time: around 40 minutes (29 miles) each way
Entrance fee: 20$ per vehicle (to verify the prices and hours: Dead Horse Point website)
Time required: 2 hours
Parking: included free in the entrance fee
Dead Horse State Park is an incredible place for photography.
Not only is it less visited, and thus you may have the place all to yourself, but it is also like a compressed version of the Grand Canyon. It is also easy to drive to and you can get to the viewpoints with minimal hiking, making it very accessible.
We visited Dead Horse State Park close to sunset and spent two hours exploring all the beautiful canyon viewpoints. Most of the trail is flat so it makes for a very relaxing hike.
🟡 Alternative – Mesa Arch
If you have the extra time, you can also head over to Mesa Arch, another one of the famous viewpoints of Utah that is often photographed during sunrise or sunset.
It is located about 24 minutes drive from the entrance of Dead Horse Point State Park and is located within Canyonlands National Park.
The hike is quite short at only 0.6 miles roundtrip so it can be an easy stop. For more information about Mesa Arch, check out the official site trail information.
🏨 where to stay
Spend the next 3 nights in Moab, Utah. We would recommend the Aarchway Inn or Hyatt Place Moab.
Day 10: Moab, UT – Canyoneering Moab
With Moab’s rugged and picturesque landscape comes the opportunity to really explore off-the-beaten-path. To discover the remote areas, you have the option of venturing out by UTV, hot air balloon, mountain biking, or even canyoneering.
For us, canyoneering seemed to present a great adventure as you get to scramble, climb, hike, and rappel into the epic canyons, reaching places that cannot be seen without the use of technical equipment.
We chose to do the Zig-Zag trail which was rated as moderate difficulty, taking a total of 5-7 hours. Throughout the day, we climbed over the slickrocks of Moab reaching incredible viewpoints with no other tourists in sight. Our guide Kai was there to help us all the way, ensuring our safety and teaching us the techniques of traversing through this rugged terrain.
It was amazing being able to access these places that without a guide, we would have deemed impossible. But just with the correct knowledge, and our kit of ropes and carabiners, we were able to use what was around us to freely navigate.
Then we reached our first challenge, a 30-foot rappel. After she explained to us how to do it, it turned out to be quite easy. This was followed by a 60-foot rappel where we needed to swing to the side to avoid landing in a pond. Although slightly harder, we succeeded without too much difficulty.
The final obstacle was a humungous 230-foot cliff that we had to rappel down. As we hung above the nothingness, our hearts racing with adrenaline, we couldn’t help but smile with the feelings of excitement. It was just us 3, no one else around, a truly off-the-beaten-path adventure.
If this sounds too intense for you, there are countless other trail options, each with its highlights. Some navigate through slot canyons, others through water-filled canyons, and some like ours feature huge canyon rappels. You are sure to find one that suits your level! Make sure to also check out our post about 7 important things to know about canyoneering in Moab!
Tour Company: Desert Highlights
Duration: 5-7 hours
Activity difficulty: moderate-difficult
Other alternative outdoor adventure tours in Moab:
- ATV tour through Hell’s Revenge in Moab, with over 2000+ 5 Star reviews!
- Hot air balloon ride over Moab
- Off-road jeep tour with over 285+ 5-star reviews!
🏨 where to stay
Spend the night back in Moab, Utah.
Day 11: Moab, UT – White water rafting Moab + Arches National Park
Today, you will be white water rafting in Moab and then visit one of the most famous parks of this Utah Road Trip, Arches National Park.
🚣 Morning – white water rafting Moab
Another day another adventure! Other than canyoneering and off-road touring, Moab is an ideal destination to do some white water rafting. We opted for this to see the park from another perspective and also to rest our legs after an intense day of canyoneering.
In this section of Moab, the rapids are usually only class I and II, which is mild, so this activity is suitable for people of all ages. We rented a two-person raft but also joined a big family of 10 who all fit on their large raft. It is absolutely beautiful seeing the pinnacles and cliffs from the perspective of the rushing river.
Book your White water rafting half-day tour now!
Location: Moab, UT
Duration: half-day, 4 hours
🏞️ Afternoon – Arches National Park
🛑 Important Note: Arches National Park now requires visitors to get a timed entry permit to enter the park from April 3rd to October 3rd. This measure was implemented to help control the traffic and crowds visiting the national park. To learn more about this and to reserve, check out the Arches National Park Reservation page.
Drive time: 10 minutes (5 miles) each way
Duration: half a day to a full day
Arches is one of the most unique national parks in Utah and that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. What makes Arches National Park so special is well, you guessed it, all the rock arches there. In fact, there are over 2000 naturally formed arches in the park, the densest concentration of natural arches in the world!
You can easily spend an entire day exploring the park. What is also very convenient about Arches is that most of the main sights can be easily accessed by car, with ample parking space, and then just a short hike.
Most spots even have paved walkways so it is also wheelchair accessible. Make sure not to miss seeing the longest arch (Landscape Arch), the tallest arch (Double Arch), as well as the most famous arch (Delicate Arch).
We decided to embark on the 2-3 hour roundtrip hike to Delicate Arch to witness the sunset. Once there, you will notice it gets quite crowded. However, if you are quite agile, you can navigate across the slope of the bowl-shaped valley to reach a far quieter area.
Be very careful as you hike across though since it is quite slanted and the rock can be slippery. Also, make sure to bring some headlamps as you will likely need to do the 1 hour return hike in the dark.
Hiking trail: Delicate Arch Trail
Hiking distance: 3 miles roundtrip
Duration of hike: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: easy-moderate
For more information about Arches National Park, opening hours, traffic status, and parking status, check out the Arches official website.
🏨 where to stay
Spend the night back in Moab, Utah.
Day 12: Capitol Reef National Park + Cassidy Arch (1 night)
From: Moab, UT To: Escalante, UT
Driving time: 4 hours (219 miles) with stops along the way
Today will be the longest drive day of the entire trip, at around 4 hours. However, the drive will not be boring at all.
Along the way, you will be driving through Capitol Reef National Park, Goblin Valley State Park, The Mars Desert Research Station, the famous scenic Route 12, Hickman’s Natural Bridge, and finally Gifford Homestead.
Although we didn’t have the time to stop at many of these locations, we wanted to mention them anyway so you have additional ideas for things to do.
🥧 Gifford Homestead for apple pie
Driving time: 2.5 hours (147 miles) into the total 4 hours of driving
Opening hours: 9am-12pm, then 12:45pm-4:30pm (they do close for a lunch break so try to arrive before that!)
Time required: 30-60 minutes
Gifford Homestead, in Capital Reef National Park, is a farm located within the Fruita Valley. The original home was built in 1908 and served as a farm, smokehouse, and agricultural field. Today, the Gifford homestead serves as a historical museum that also sells locally produced goods as well as their well-known pies.
Not only is this location beautiful, a lush farm surrounded by the red rocks of Utah, but it is also an amazing pitstop to try out their delicious pies! We made sure to arrive as early as possible as the pies do tend to sell out.
They had the choice of fruit pies with apple, peach, cherry, and rhubarb. Don’t forget to pick up a little pot of ice cream to pair with the pie!
🚶 Afternoon – Cassidy Arch
Driving time: 10 minutes (2.9 miles) from Gifford Homestead
Once you’ve finished your pie, head south for around 10 minutes to reach the Cassidy Arch trailhead, within Capitol Reef National Park. Cassidy Arch is a 3.4-mile out-and-back hike that will bring you through some truly out-of-this-world landscapes and finish at an incredible rock arch that you can stand on top of!
We headed there once again for sunset and other than 2 or 3 families, we had the place all to ourselves. First, you hike through the Grand Wash Trail before seeing a clearly marked sign pointing you toward the Cassidy Arch trail.
You will zig-zag your way up until you reach the summit. Here is where the terrain turns into slick rock with beautiful bands of red, white, and orange. The rocks were smooth and bubbly and made us feel like we were walking on Mars!
Head a little further and you will reach the main Cassidy Arch.
To get this photo, we set up a tripod with a 30-second timer and had to sprint to get to the Arch on time! We do not recommend doing it this way and hopefully, someone will be there to take the photo for you!
📖 For a full guide on how to do this hike and what to expect from the experience, check out our Cassidy Arch hiking guide!
Hiking Trail: Cassidy Arch Trail, in Capitol Reef National Park
Hiking distance: 3.4 miles out and back
Duration of hike: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: easy-moderate
🏨 where to stay
Finish off your day by checking in to your hotel in Escalante. This will bring you closer to Bryce Canyon and shorten your drive for the next day.
We would recommend staying at Prospector Inn for a simple but affordable accommodation. When I researched other hotels in the area, they were all from 200-400$ per night.
Since we were simply staying the night after visiting Cassidy Arch, we preferred to choose a more budget-friendly hotel. For more options of where to stay, check out our guide to hiking Cassidy Arch.
Day 13: Bryce Canyon – Hiking (1 Night)
From: Escalante, UT To: Bryce Canyon
Driving time: 1 hour (48 miles)
👣 Morning – Hiking in Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon presents you with a vast alien-like landscape filled with Hoodoos. What we really loved about Utah is that every single national park has something unique. No two national parks there have similar scenery.
So when we arrived in Bryce Canyon, we were amazed by the countless intricately carved rock spires in multiple shades of bright orange and white. Here you will have the opportunity to embark on one of several hikes.
Make sure not to miss seeing the sunset and sunrise points, the switchback amphitheatre, as well as winding in between the pinnacle hoodoos! Make sure to only look at them from above, but also hike on the trails among them. For a list of hiking trails by difficulty, check out the official Bryce Canyon website.
We chose to embark on the Figure 8 trail which combines the Navajo + Peekaboo + Queen’s Garden trail. This hike will bring you through the most famous sites of Bryce Canyon and will have you finish at the sunset point, hopefully, timed perfectly for sunset hour!
Note: Parking is limited in Bryce Canyon. We arrived at 8 am and found parking right at the trailhead but the spaces were starting to fill up. If you don’t find space in your preferred parking lot, they also offer a shuttle service within the park.
Hiking Trail: Figure 8 trail (Navajo + Peekaboo + Queen’s garden trail
Hiking distance: 6.4 miles
Duration of hike: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: moderate
🏨 where to stay
We chose to stay in Panguitch, UT to reduce the final day’s driving time back to Las Vegas.
It is a very small town and will offer more affordable accommodation than staying right within Bryce Canyon. We stayed at the Panguitch House which was lovely and they also offered a delicious breakfast.
Day 14 – Las Vegas (1 Night)
From: Panguitch To: Las Vegas, Nevada (-1Hr time zone change)
Driving time: 3h30 (237 miles)
On your final day, you will be heading back to Las Vegas.
Spend the afternoon freely exploring the strip or shopping at the outlet malls. If you get the chance, make sure to go to the ‘Chinatown’ of Las Vegas. It is about 10 minutes drive from the main Strip.
We had some of the most delicious Asian food there! We would highly recommend checking out Chanko Shabu & Izakaya for Japanese food and Kushi BBQ skewer for delicious Asian grilled meat skewers.
If you are flying out tonight, then head to the airport. If not, then you can go watch one of the famous shows in Las Vegas.
🏨 where to stay
Click here for some of the top hotels in Las Vegas
Alternative experiences in Utah
Although our Southern Utah road trip itinerary is already filled with many exciting activities, there are always additional great things to experience. Here are some of the other main activities and experiences that you might be interested in adding to the itinerary:
- Visit the Wave
- Monument Valley – Tribal Park Loop 17km scenic drive
- Toadstool Hoodoos
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- Mexican Hat
- Mesa Arch
- Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
- Moab ATV tour
- Dixie National Forest
- Grand Canyon in Arizona
How to modify the itinerary if you only have 10 days in Utah
If you only have 10 days, that means you will need to remove about 4 days of activities from the current itinerary. Although we loved all our experiences in Utah, if we had to choose to remove 4, it would be:
- The Narrows hike in Zion National Park
- Paddleboarding Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona
- White water rafting in Moab
- Bryce Canyon
By removing these 4 days of activities, you will be able to complete the itinerary in 10 days. Overall, the driving times per day will remain mostly the same and under 3 hours, other than the last day when you will depart from Escalante to Las Vegas (4h50).
Important Travel tips for Utah
- Book your accommodation early as Utah is a very popular tourist destination. The hotels around the main National Parks are also limited!
- Be careful with the several time zone changes that occur during this trip. This particularly affects when you go from Las Vegas to Hurricane, then from Hurricane to Page, AZ, then from Page to Monument Valley (they have their own time zone), then Utah back to Las Vegas
- We used our cellular data to search “local time in X” in order to be certain and not miss our activity start times. To ensure you have cellular data, you can purchase it on Airalo.
- Since you will be visiting most of Utah’s parks, it is worth it to buy the America the Beautiful National Park pass. For around 80$, you and your entire vehicle’s passengers will be covered for all of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks as well as a ton of other parks nationwide. The pass is valid for 12 months.
- Always check the weather since most of this region is at risk of flash flooding. Please verify on www.weather.gov/slc/flashflood every morning before hiking. Even if the region you are in is not raining, if the neighbouring town has heavy rain, the rain will funnel down the slick rocks and slot canyons and can still be a hazard on your hike. Make sure to consult with the visitor’s centre before starting your day’s activities.
This post is part of our series about Utah. If you want to learn more about Utah, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:
7 Things to Know before Canyoneering in Moab (2024)
Cassidy Arch Hiking Guide: Uncover Capitol Reef’s Hidden Gem
Kayak Horseshoe Bend: Ultimate Guide to Kayaking the Colorado
Where To Stay NEAR Zion: Comparison of Towns Near Zion
FAQ
where to start your road trip?
We recommend starting your trip in Las Vegas instead of Salt Lake City. The main reason for this is that Las Vegas usually has cheaper international flights than Salt Lake City. Furthermore, Las Vegas is located only 2.5-hour drive from the first part of the itinerary, Zion. Contrarily, Salt Lake City is a good 4.5 hours drive away.
Another reason is that Las Vegas has an abundance of options for car rentals at an affordable price. We also enjoyed spending some time in a bustling and lively city before spending 2 weeks in the nature of Utah.
Which direction to do the Southern Utah Road Trip?
Counter-clockwise! We decided to take our road trip in a counter-clockwise direction since we wanted to start our trip with the highlights and also start with the most challenging hikes (Angel’s Landing, Narrows).
This also allowed us to save the longest driving day (Moab to Escalante) towards the end of the trip, when we were grateful to rest up our legs!
Do you need a 4×4 to do the Road Trip?
We ended up renting just a car and were able to navigate through the entire itinerary without difficulty. A 4×4 vehicle is not needed as you will not be doing any major off-roading.
We would’ve loved to rent a campervan and have the option of sleeping in the middle of the National Parks. As mentioned in the itinerary, we saw campervans spend the night at the Valley of the Gods which would’ve been amazing!
Best time to visit Utah?
The Ideal months to visit Utah are April, May, June, and then September, and October. During these months, the temperature is milder and the crowds are no longer at their peak.
Since Utah attracts millions of travelers every year to its National Parks, traffic and over-tourism have become a challenge. This is also seen in how Angel’s Landing and Arches National Park are currently restricting the number of visitors by using the permit entry time reservations.
We went from the end of September to the beginning of October and had a perfect time!
Is Utah road trip expensive?
Overall, we did not find Utah too expensive to visit. However, in order to save money, you need to book in advance and be smart about where you book your accommodations.
For example, we opted to stay in Hurricane instead of Springdale to visit Zion National Park. Our AirBnB ended up costing around 100$ per night instead of what would’ve easily been 200-300$/night in Springdale. Overall, the average hotel stay in Utah away from the main tourist areas can be for around 100-140$ per night.
The main expenses of the trip were on activities including the paddle boarding backhaul service including rental (around 310$ for two), Canyoneering tour (408$ for two), White water rafting (140$ for two), and the car rental (we paid 650$ with Turo for 2 weeks rental).
Since you will be purchasing the America the Beautiful National Park pass for about 80$ total, this will allow you to visit all the main national parks for ‘free’. So if you are mostly visiting the Main 5 National Parks of Utah to do hiking, and not the guided tours and expeditions, then you will save a lot of money as well.
Is Utah road trip safe?
We felt Utah was very safe to travel. Not only are all the town accustomed to tourists, but the people are also very friendly. The main risk of traveling through Utah is flash floods or injuring yourself during a hike.
Do you need an international driver’s license to drive in Utah?
You do not need an international driver’s license to drive in Utah as a tourist. As long as you are over the age of 16, and have a valid driver’s license in your home country, your license should be valid in Utah.
However, if your driver’s license is not written in English, then you will be required to get an international driver’s permit.
Recap: Southern Utah Road Trip Itinerary
So there you have it!
This was our incredible 2-week itinerary traveling through the beautiful National Parks of Utah and adding in some rarely mentioned adventurous activities.
Utah is absolutely filled to the brim with incredible experiences and other than touring the Izu Peninsula in Japan, was one of our favourite road trips to date. If you are in any way interested in beautiful landscapes, outdoor adventures, hiking, or photography, then Utah is the perfect place for you!
