Salt Lake City to Zion National Park – An Epic Utah Road Trip!
- Arika Bauer
- 2 days ago
- 11 min read
Dreaming of exploring the desert landscape of Utah, but need some help with an itinerary? If you’re thinking about a trip to Zion, fly into Salt Lake City and have an epic adventure with a road trip from Salt Lake City to Zion National Park.
While you can simply drive from Salt Lake City to Zion in a few hours, if you take the scenic route to Zion National Park, you’ll spend a week-long road trip visiting each of the five national parks in Utah – Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and, of course, Zion – and all the gorgeous sandstone arches, spectacular canyon views, unique hoodoos, cool slot canyons, and beautiful waterfalls along the way.
In this post, I’ll give you all the details about my favorite stops on a Salt Lake City to Zion road trip.
Quick Drive from Salt Lake City to Zion
How long is the drive from Salt Lake City to Zion National Park?
If you’re flying into Salt Lake City because it’s one of the closest airports to Zion National Park, you can drive from Salt Lake City to Zion in about 4.5 hours straight through. You’ll still probably want to stretch your legs along the way though, and I highly recommend stopping at The Creamery in Beaver, Utah for a meal.
They have delicious mac & cheese, cheese curds, and other great food, plus absolutely amazing ice cream…the lemon pie ice cream is my favorite!
Also, I would suggest making Kolob Canyons your first stop in Zion, since it’s on the way to Springdale when you’re driving to Zion National Park from Salt Lake City. Kolob Canyons is a totally separate area of the park from the main canyon, and you can explore it via Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive which winds through the gorgeous desert landscape and provides access to overlooks, picnic areas, and trailheads, too.
An Epic Week-Long Salt Lake City to Zion National Park Road Trip
If you want to take the scenic route to Zion National Park, you’ll find so much to see along the way! Here is a brief overview of an epic itinerary for a Salt Lake City to Zion road trip:
Day 1: Drive from Salt Lake City to Moab (3.5 hr drive)
Day 2: Explore Arches National Park
Day 3: Check out Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point State Park
Day 4: Visit Goblin Valley (1.5 hr drive) then head to Capitol Reef (1 hr drive)
Day 5: Explore Capitol Reef
Day 6: Head to Bryce (2 hr drive)
Day 7: Drive to Zion (2 hr drive) and explore East Zion
Day 8: Hike The Narrows
Note: Since this road trip takes you across Utah, I recommend flying into Salt Lake City and out of Las Vegas, though you could do the 4.5 hour drive from Zion back to Salt Lake City.
And here is the entire Salt Lake City to Zion itinerary with all the details about the best road trip stops from Salt Lake City to Zion along the way.
Day 1: Drive from Salt Lake City to Moab
3.5 hour drive from Salt Lake City to Moab
Start your Salt Lake City to Zion road trip with a 3.5 hour drive from Salt Lake City to Moab. If you’re flying into Salt Lake City, I recommend arriving in the morning on your first day so you can make the drive to Moab, check into your hotel, and still have some time to explore in Moab.
Where to Stay in Moab
While there are tons of lodging options in the Moab area, I have stayed at Field Station Moab, and it’s awesome. Field Station is designed for adventurers, and they have rooms for solo travelers or couples, as well as bunk bed rooms for bigger groups, and even posts for van lifers to park.
Afternoon
Hike to Corona Arch
If you have time once you arrive in Moab, check out the hike to Corona Arch. The 3-mile round trip hike is a great way to stretch your legs after the drive from Salt Lake City. This trail takes you to a super cool massive arch, but just know that there is zero shade along the trail, so don’t try it during the heat of the day in the summer.
Evening
Moab Food Truck Park
For dinner in Moab, I highly recommend the Moab Food Truck Park which features 14 different food trucks, so there’s something for everyone. You can choose from hot dogs to tacos to sushi to pizza…and, of course, ice cream for dessert!
Day 2: Arches National Park & More Hiking in Moab
Morning
Start your day with a visit to Arches National Park to marvel at all the amazing sandstone arch formations that give the park its name! Be sure to get breakfast – Red Rock Bakery and Love Muffin Cafe are great spots in Moab – and bring some snacks along because there aren’t any concessions in the park. (So bring plenty of water, too!)
Note: From April 1 to October 31, timed entry reservations (along with your National Park entrance fee) are required to enter Arches from 7am-4pm each day. But you don’t need a timed entry pass to enter the park before 7am, so that’s great motivation to get up in time to see the sunrise in Arches!
Scenic Drive Through Arches
The best way to see as much of Arches National Park as you can is to do a scenic drive and stop at a pullout whenever you encounter a cool arch. Most of the arches in the park only require a short hike to get up close to.
In fact, you can see all of these arches in about half a day because of quick drive and hiking times:
Devils Garden
Landscape Arch
Pine Tree Arch
Sand Dune Arch
Courthouse Towers (the lookout here is so beautiful!)
North Window
South Window
Turret Arch
Afternoon
Mill Creek Hike in Moab
After you’re done exploring Arches, head to an oasis in the desert on the Mill Creek hike. This short trail (just 2 miles round trip) leads you to a beautiful waterfall cascading down the sandstone cliffs…and it even has a pool you can jump in!
Day 3: Explore Canyonlands & Dead Horse Point State Park
Before you leave Moab to continue on your Salt Lake City to Zion National Park road trip, spend the day visiting another national park and take in an amazing view at a state park.
Morning
Canyonlands for Sunrise
Start the day early to catch sunrise at Canyonlands National Park! You can hike to the iconic Mesa Arch (just a half mile round trip) to catch the glow of sunrise through the arch. This arch is very popular, so expect some crowds, but it’s absolutely worth it.
After you’ve soaked in the sunrise, you can explore more of the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands. A couple other nice easy hikes include the White Rim Overlook and Grand View Point.
Afternoon
Dead Horse Point State Park
Once you’ve had your fill of Canyonlands, head to Dead Horse Point State Park, which is just 15 minutes away from the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands. You can hike along both the East and West Rim Trails at Dead Horse Point State Park, but make sure to head to the overlook (which requires basically no hiking) for the best view of the Colorado River curving through the multicolored sandstone buttes. This is a breathtaking spot to finish your day by watching the sunset!
Day 4: Visit Goblin Valley then Drive to Capitol Reef
1 hour 30 min drive from Moab to Goblin Valley
1 hour drive from Goblin Valley to Capitol Reef
Plan to do a decent amount of driving today as you make your way west on your Salt Lake City to Zion Road trip, but you can split it up with some fun stops to stretch your legs.
Morning
Visit Goblin Valley
Start with an hour and a half drive to Goblin Valley State Park for a pit stop. Goblin Valley is literally a rock playground where the whole family can spend a few hours running around and climbing on the rocks. My kiddos and I just love this place!
But keep in mind that Goblin Valley gets extremely hot in the dead of summer, so if you’re doing this road trip then, have plenty of water with you and maybe plan to spend less time here.
After exploring Goblin Valley, continue driving west to Capitol Reef National Park. I recommend stopping in Hanksville for lunch at local favorite Outlaw’s Roost, where you can build your own tasty burritos, tacos, and rice bowls.
Afternoon
Hike to Hickman Bridge
When you arrive at Capitol Reef, I suggest enjoying the lovely hike to Hickman Bridge natural arch. It’s just a 2-mile round trip so it’s a quick intro to the area and a nice hike to stretch your legs before you settle down in your hotel for the night.
Where to Stay in Capitol Reef
I really enjoyed my stay at Skyview Hotel in the town of Torrey, which is conveniently located just a 15 minute drive from Capitol Reef. Skyview has a cool atmosphere featuring “design inspired by the destination,” and it offers amazing views of the surrounding landscape. We stayed in a wonderful modern hotel room, but luxurious glamping domes are also an option if that’s more your vibe.
Day 5: Explore Capitol Reef
Take this day to stay in one place on the scenic route to Zion National Park and check out all that Capitol Reef National Park has to offer (plus, have the best burgers ever for lunch!).
Morning
Sulphur Creek Canyon Hike
Start the day with this awesome hike past three waterfalls! Though the trail is kind of dry and hot for about a mile until you hit Sulphur Creek, it gets a lot better after that. Follow the stream all the way through the canyon with rock cliffs soaring all around you.
Local tip: The Sulphur Creek Canyon hike is 6 miles one way, so you’ll either need to park an extra car at the end as a shuttle if you’re with a group or try to hitch a ride back to the trailhead.
Afternoon
Fuel Up & Chill Out
After you’ve worked up an appetite on your hike, you absolutely must go to the Capitol Burger Food Truck for lunch! Trust me, mouth-wateringly delicious, burgers are definitely the perfect post-hike meal.
Spend your food coma relaxing on the property at Skyview or take a scenic drive along Utah State Route 24 through the park. Make a quick stop at the historic Fruita Schoolhouse and cross the lovely wooden boardwalk to see some ancient petroglyphs.
Evening
Sunset at Goosenecks Overlook & Panorama Point
Cap off your day in Capitol Reef with a breathtaking sunset view with minimal hiking. Panorama Point is literally right off the road, or you can head just a tenth of a mile down the trail to Goosenecks Overlook. If you still have a bit of energy left, you can also hike just a little farther (0.3 miles one way) to Sunset Point to take in a stunning view of the Waterpocket Fold.
Day 6: Drive to Bryce Canyon & Hike
2 hour drive from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon
Continue on your Utah road trip from Salt Lake City by heading from Capitol Reef to spend a day in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Where to Stay in Bryce
When I visited Bryce Canyon with my kids, we made Clear Sky Resort our home base, and we absolutely loved this place. It’s very well-located for exploring Bryce, and the amenities are awesome. In fact, at Clear Sky Resort, your accommodations are in a glass dome so you can stargaze right from bed…it’s absolutely magical!
Afternoon
Bryce Canyon
Hiking a few of my favorite trails in the park is the perfect way to make the most of one day in Bryce Canyon. As you get close to Bryce, stop just outside the entrance to the park to stretch your legs on the short and easy 1-mile round trip Mossy Cave Trail. The trailhead is also only 5 minutes from the town of Tropic so you can grab some food before or after your hike at The Pizza Place.
Then head into Bryce Canyon National Park itself and make your way straight to Sunset Point for truly exceptional views. Finally, you can get in a bit more hiking on the Navajo Loop Trail, a 1.5 mile round-trip hike that takes you down to the canyon floor and back.
Day 7: Drive to Zion & Explore
2 hour drive from Bryce Canyon to Zion
Finally, you’ll finish your southern Utah national parks road trip by driving a couple hours from Bryce to Zion.
Where to Stay in Zion
The list of awesome places to stay near Zion is long, but my absolute favorite is Zion Wildflower. The resort is in the town of Virgin, UT, only 15 mins from the Springdale entrance to Zion, and it’s set up on a hill with fabulous views of the surrounding mesas.
Zion Wildflower offers a variety of glamping accommodations from charming bungalows to covered wagons to single-pole tents. Find out all about why my kiddos and I loved our stay at Zion Wildflower so much here!
Afternoon
East Zion
Begin exploring Zion with a quick stop at the Visitor Center right inside the park entrance to get your bearings. Then for a great intro to the park, I suggest driving through the Mt. Carmel Tunnel to East Zion. Here you can park at one of the pullouts for a short hike along Clear Creek, then head to Canyon Overlook to enjoy a spectacular sunset from one of the best views in Zion.
Local tip: Rent your gear for The Narrows hike today at Zion Outfitter before it closes, so you can get an early start in the morning. If you’re hiking in summer, you just need to rent the boots and a walking stick, but in cooler seasons (especially April or October and November), you’ll likely need a full-body drysuit, special canyoneering shoes, and neoprene booties along with the walking stick.
Day 8: Hike The Narrows in Zion
Finish up your Salt Lake City to Zion road trip with an epic day in Zion! Today it’s time for the famous Narrows hike, and you can even add on another awesome hike afterwards, too.
Morning
The Narrows
The Narrows is one of the most iconic and unique hikes in Zion National Park, so it should absolutely be on your itinerary when you visit. Start on the paved Riverside Walk to get to the beginning of The Narrows. Once you enter the canyon, you’ll wade in the Virgin River as the tall sandstone walls close…it’s such an incredible experience!
I highly recommend hiking The Narrows first thing in the morning to try beat the crowds. Pack a lunch and plenty of water and plan to hop on the first Zion shuttle if you can (if you’re visiting during shuttle season).
When the water is running so high that conditions are unsafe, the park will close The Narrows. Some alternate options for hiking include Riverside Walk, Scouts Lookout, or Emerald Pools instead.
Evening
Watchman or Pa’Rus Trail
If you have extra energy after your Narrows hike, I highly recommend hiking the Watchman Trail for a totally different perspective on Zion. It’s about 3 miles round trip with 500 feet of elevation gain, and at the top, you’ll find incredible views down into the canyon below.
For an easier evening stroll, you can start at the Visitors Center and take a walk on the paved Pa'Rus Trail which starts at the Visitor Center. The Pa’Rus Trail runs along the Virgin River and offers great views of The Watchman from down below.
Best Time of Year for a Salt Lake City to Zion Road Trip
I would recommend planning your Salt Lake City to Zion National Park road trip sometime between April and mid November. Spring and fall typically offer pleasant temps in the Utah desert, though you could encounter rain or even snow early and late in the season.
While you can do this Salt Lake City to Zion itinerary in the summer, you should prepare for pretty extreme heat, and you will most likely have to avoid some of these hikes during the heat of the day (the ones with water might be okay). During summer in the desert, you should only hike early in the morning and later in the afternoon or evening to avoid the potentially dangerous heat of mid-day. Always bring more water with you than you think you could possibly need and add electrolytes or bring some salty snacks, too.
Salt Lake City to Zion Road Trip Packing List
Here are a few of the most important things to bring on your Salt Lake City to Zion road trip. so you can explore all the cool outdoor spots along the way:
Light, breathable clothing
Layers to stay warm if visiting in the cooler months
Swimsuit (especially in summer)
Hiking sandals, like Tevas or Chacos (I love my Tevas!)
Breathable hiking shoes
Small day pack (to carry other items on the list)
Water bottle
Snacks
Sunscreen
Sun hat
Sunglasses
Obviously isn’t everything you’ll need for a week-long trip, but hopefully it will keep you from forgetting the most crucial items for hiking in the desert.
This Salt Lake City to Zion National Park itinerary makes for an awesome road trip through some of the best destinations in Utah. Hope you enjoy your adventure across my favorite state!
Happy Adventuring,
Arika
