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Visiting the National Parks in Utah is certainly a bucket list trip. The national parks in Utah are so impressive they were nicknamed the Utah Mighty 5. The exact details will depend on the amount of time that you have available and how much hiking or just sightseeing from the car but you can use this post as a guide. For details of sights to see along your drive you can check out this post on the best scenic drives in Utah and the top places to visit in Utah that aren’t national parks.

Getting there

Depending on where you are coming from, you have a few options as far as getting to the Utah Mighty 5. Las Vegas and Salt Lake City ares the closest international airports. With so many direct flight options, this is likely your best bet. However there is an airport in St. George, Utah which would be closer. It currently has flights on Delta through SLC, American through PHX, and United through LAX and DEN. Regardless of how you fly, the itinerary will likely be the same.

To learn how to book cheap flights using Google flights, check out this post here. Or if you would rather travel for free, learn more about travel hacking in this post.

Utah Mighty 5 Itinerary – Salt Lake City

If you are planning to start your trip in Salt Lake City and you want to add on some additional hikes near the city, check out this post here.

Utah Mighty 5 Itinerary – Las Vegas

If you are planning to start your trip in Las Vegas, these 15 tips are perfect for those visiting for the first time.

First Stop – Zion National Park

Zion National Park is arguably the most impressive of the Utah Mighty 5. But rather than save the best for last, sometimes it’s a good idea to go ahead and get started so you don’t arrive here exhausted. Zion National Park alone could be a whole week long trip, so keep that in mind as you are making your Utah Mighty 5 itinerary.

Zion National Park – Where to stay

When looking for hotels, you can stay inside the park for top dollar or in Springdale, UT (still pricey) or Virgin, UT (a little farther away but less spendy). If you are a Marriott person, like myself, you may want to check out the Springhill Suites in Springdale or the Fairfield Inn in Virgin.

To learn how to earn Marriott points to help stay for free, check out this post here.

Zion National Park – What to Do

Due to COVID-19, Zion National Park is currently operating with advance shuttle reservations only. The only hike available if you have not booked a shuttle would be the Zion Canyon Overlook hike. To learn more about the shuttle, click here.

Depending on the time of year that you are visiting, you can either see all of Zion from your car or park at the visitor center and take the shuttle down the canyon.

There are so many amazing hikes to do while in this park. Keep in mind, many of the slot canyons require a permit (The Subway, The Narrows from the top down, Mystery Canyon, etc.), so plan ahead. The most iconic of the hikes is Angel’s Landing and at peak times during the year you will find lines to start this hike.

• Angel’s Landing – 4.1 miles, 1617 feet of elevation gain – has very narrow dropoffs on each side with chains and cables to help support you. If you want to make this hike even more challenging, you can add in The West Rim Trail
• The Narrows – can be as long as you want it to be as you start and end at the same place so you decide when you turn around, this hike is in/through water – I did it with Keen’s and neoprene socks, regardless of if you purchase alternate hiking apparel or rent it, you want something other than your main hiking shoe as you will be wet and you want don’t want to do any other hikes in wet shoes
• The Subway – So cool it got its own dedicated post here

If you are looking for an adventure but nothing too crazy, check out the Zion Canyon Overlook Trail. This is 1 mile with 442 ft of elevation gain. There is not much parking near this trail so keep that in mind as you plan.

If you have some extra time, consider a detour to Kanab. Unlike the next few places that you will visit, Kanab offers a restaurant scene and there are tons of things to do in Kanab that are more off-the-beaten path but still very impressive.

Second Stop – Bryce Canyon

While often overshadowed by the neighboring Zion, Bryce Canyon is impressive in its own right. When driving between Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, you will drive right through Red Canyon so hopefully you will do the drive in the daytime.

Bryce Canyon National Park – Where to stay

As far as hotel options and the surrounding “town”, the area surrounding Bryce is much less developed than the area around Zion. Bryce City has a few hotels, none of which are very fancy, and limited food options. I have stayed at both the Best Western as well as Ruby’s Inn.

Bryce Canyon National Park – What to do

Depending on the timing of your visit, consider doing a horseback ride if you are going April 1-October 31 (departure times at 8a, 9a, 2p, & 3p). Alternatively (or in addition), consider hiking either Peakaboo Loop or Navajo/Queens Garden Trails. With more limited time you can hike (or really just walk) from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point.

• Peakaboo Loop – 5.2 miles, 1,453 feet of elevation gain
• Navajo/Queens Garden Trail – 2.6 miles, 623 feet of elevation gain
• Sunset Point to Sunrise Point – 1.1 mile, 82 ft of elevation gain

Third Stop – Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef is likely the most overlooked of the Utah Mighty 5 national parks so the surrounding area is also the least developed. Unless you are able to spend time in the backcountry of Capitol Reef, you very well may be unimpressed by this park.

Capitol Reef National Park – Where to Stay

Capitol Reef National Park has the most limited amenities of your Utah Mighty 5 road trip. You aren’t going to find any of the major hotel chains in the surrounding area and the food options are equally as slim.

Capitol Reef National Park – What to do

Much of Capitol Reef can be seen from the car but if you do want to do a short hike, I would recommend Hickman Bridge. It’s a relatively short hike with a great reward at the end. An additional option for easy hiking in Capitol Reef is the Grand Wash hike. There is minimal elevation gain but it is still very beautiful.

There are many more available hikes and if you are looking for more of a secluded/remote feel, I would certainly recommend checking them out. However, as far as absolute impressiveness, I would say that the more accessible parts of Capitol Reef are the least impressive out of all of the Utah Mighty 5. If this is your first time visiting the national parks in Utah, I would allocating the least amount of time here.

Fun tip: If you have a [very capable] 4WD/high clearance vehicle and you check the road conditions in advance, consider driving the Cathedral Valley Loop which is in the backcountry in and near Capitol Reef. Do not attempt this drive without reading this blog post and checking on road conditions (we have gotten our Wrangler stuck here in the past).

Fourth Stop – Canyonlands

Canyonlands is the other less popular of the Utah Mighty 5 national parks because the neighboring Arches National Park always overshadows it. However, it is home to the Mesa Arch which you have likely seen featured in a variety of places – like a Windows desktop background. There is also a significant amount of off-roading that can be done in this park. With Arches so close, the Moab area has become quite the destination with many nice hotels and restaurants in the area.

Canyonlands National Park – Where to stay

You will likely find that Moab is the nicest town along your trip through the Utah Mighty 5 national parks. There are legitimate “foodie” restaurants as well as nicer hotels in Moab, including some regular hotel chain options. After the amenities (or lack thereof) near Capitol Reef and Bryce, Moab will be a welcome treat. Due to the proximity of both Canyonlands and Arches, you can choose one home base hotel or Airbnb for your visit to both parks.

Canyonlands National Park – What to do

Canyonlands consists of three areas. The most commonly visited is Island in the Sky, but there is also the Needles district and the Maze district. For a shorter visit into this park, I would recommend sticking with the Island in the Sky. The Mesa Arch trail is short and definitely worth doing. Keep in mind that a very popular time to hike this trail is during sunrise and you need to arrive early to secure a spot for your pics.

Fifth Stop – Arches

To complete your tour of the Utah Mighty 5, your last stop will be Arches National Park. Arches is the home of the Delicate Arch featured on the license plate as well as a variety of other lesser-known arches.

Arches National Park – Where to stay

Due to the proximity of both Canyonlands and Arches, you can choose one home base hotel or Airbnb in Moab for your visit to both parks. You will likely find that Moab is the nicest town along your trip through the Utah Mighty 5 national parks. There are legitimate “foodie” restaurants as well as nicer hotels in Moab, including some regular hotel chain options. After the amenities (or lack thereof) near Capitol Reef and Bryce, Moab will be a welcome treat.

Arches National Park – What to do

The Delicate Arch hike is one of the most common and for good reason. The arch is incredibly impressive. While this trail is only about 3 miles, there is no shade and can get very hot. The Devil’s Garden trail is another popular option. Depending on how far you want to go will impact the length of the trail. The Fiery Furnace requires a ranger guide and is on my list to do but I haven’t yet had the time. For a complete review of the 13 best hikes in Arches National Park, check out this post here.

Tips for the West

If you are not originally from the west, welcome to the desert! Because this is potentially new terrain, here are some important tips for when you visit the Utah Mighty 5:

• Drink more water than you normally would. It’s the desert! When hiking, I like to use a hiking pack with a water bladder like this one.
• In addition to water, when you sweat you lose electrolytes, remember to replace these as well.
• Chapstick is your best friend as it is dry.
• Visiting a few national parks? Your best “bang for your buck” might be to buy a national parks pass. It’s good for one year and costs $80. You want to decide this with the very first park you visit to make sure you get the most use out of it. Basically, if you visit at least three of the mighty five then the national parks pass is worth it.
• Sunscreen is important even in the winter. Utah has DOUBLE the national average of melanoma incidence for a reason. Apply and re-apply.
• No matter what, make sure someone (who isn’t on the hike with you) knows where you are if you are going on a hike. You likely will not have cell service, so don’t plan on it.
• LEAVE THE TRAIL BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT – similar to leave no trace, except you can always help make things better. Pick up trash, follow trails (and avoid the “social trails”), and be a good human being.
• Remember that uphill hikers have the right of way
• Dress in layers as the temperature fluctuation is no joke
• Regular sneakers may cut it for many hikes, however consider getting some hiking shoes/boots for better traction.
• Always check in with rangers for latest information on trails, road conditions, etc.
• The “All Trails” app available for both iOS and Android is super helpful for finding hikes. You can also use the routes with your phone on GPS and download trail maps before you leave.

Don’t Forget to Arrive Early

I’ve been to the Mighty Five many times and most people like to visit the parks between 8:00 am and 10:30 am. So, if you do this then you’ll spend your precious time waiting to get into the park and then waiting again for the shuttle (if you’re visiting Zion).

Instead, try to get to the parks as early as possible. I like to arrive before 7:00 am, especially if I visit during summer. This way I can quickly find a spot and hit the trail as soon as possible. I also love that you can go hiking in the early morning without 10,000 people snapping selfies all around you.

Yes, getting out of bed early can be challenging. But, it’s worth it when you get there and hardly anyone is around.

Best Time to Visit the Mighty Five

The fall and the spring are the two best times to visit the Mighty Five. The weather is perfect and you’ll be able to avoid the hordes of tourists that invade the park in the summer.

Summer also means extremely warm weather, expensive hotels, and annoying traffic jams as everyone tries to make their way into the parks at the same time.

Alternatively, winter is another good time to visit if you don’t mind cold weather. The parks will be quiet but you also might have to deal with a significant amount of snow, particularly in Bryce Canyon.

If I had to pick, I think October is one of the best months to visit the Mighty Five. Temperatures are mild, there are fewer people around, and you can see stunning fall foliage in Zion.

What to Bring on the Trail

If you want to gear up for an incredible hiking adventure then must-haves include a 18-30L daypack to hold all of your water (bring a water bladder) and snacks.

You’ll also want a sun hat, sunscreen, chapstick, sunglasses, hiking poles, neoprene socks, and sturdy hiking shoes to help you tackle that rugged terrain.

If you plan to do some stargazing, or want to take beautiful photos of the Milky Way, then be sure to bring a headlamp too. The desert is beautiful at night but can get very dark since there is minimal light pollution.

Planning a trip to Utah soon? Let me know in the comments!

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

• Best Hikes in Utah
• Easy Hikes near Salt Lake City
• Best Scenic Drives in Utah
• 21 Places to Visit in Utah that aren’t National Parks
• 11 Things to do in Kanab
• Driving the Cathedral Valley Loop

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