If you’re having déjà vu, (look we already picked up some French😉) you’re not alone. This two week Utah road trip itinerary is a combination of our one week eastern and western national park itineraries. We thought it’d be helpful to have all the details in one place and timeline recommendations for each destination. Plus, we’ve added more awesome things to do in each national park and new photos.

If you have 2 weeks to travel around the stunning state of Utah, you can visit all 5 national parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands) and really get a sense of the area. This Utah road trip national park itinerary is ordered from west to east because that’s how we traveled through the state, but you can easily reverse the order. You’ll find lodging options for each area (including free camping spots), food recommendations, and of course lists of our favorite activities. We’ve written specific posts about all five of Utah’s national parks so you can get even more details there.

We hope you enjoy this ultimate Utah road trip itinerary.
Happy planning!

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Days 1-5 at Zion and Bryce Canyon

Where to stay in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks

The first thing you’ll need to decide on your Utah road trip is whether to stay at one place between Zion and Bryce or move locations. Since there’s ample free camping outside both places we moved and this is our recommendation. You’ll avoid wasting valuable time driving. Plus, you can catch sunrise and sunset at Bryce Canyon which is an incredible experience.

The Parks: The campgrounds inside Zion and Bryce Canyon are highly competitive. We’re talking Star Wars movie release level lines waiting for the next camper to leave. If you have your heart set on camping in the parks, make a reservation or get there super early in the morning. Zion and Bryce also have lodges with various accommodations.
Free Camping: There are plenty of free camping spots within 30 minutes of Zion and Bryce.
Hotels and Commercial Campgrounds: Zion has an entire village just outside its south entrance in Springdale, UT. You can even ditch your vehicle and catch a shuttle into the park. Check-out the Zion Canyon Visitors Bureau for options. The county tourism site has lodging details for Bryce.
If you really want to stay in one location, here are some possibilities. Just be sure to allow extra time for traffic near and inside the parks.

Where to eat in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks

Fort Zion Restaurant & Virgin Trading Post: This is a fun stop for more than just a hanger cure. In addition to homemade ice cream and juicy burgers (according to Tom), there’s a petting farm and a small village of humorous old west storefronts including the Virgin Jail and Miss Molly’s House of Negotiable Affection.
Fruit stand outside the south entrance of Zion: We stopped at this stand daily on our way out of the park. Great for quickly grabbing fresh produce. It’s on the left side of the road heading towards Zion’s south entrance. Just make sure to bring $ as it’s a cash only operation.
Other places to eat near Bryce: Confession time. We were super budget travelers and didn’t eat out at all during our time in Bryce. Well, unless you count post-sunrise viewing coffee and a donut from the park store. Personally, I think that a 5am wake-up warrants an extra coffee and a donut, but that doesn’t exactly count as a great food recommendation. So I’ll leave this one to the pro’s and share Eater’s list of best restaurants around Bryce. We’ll definitely be hitting up a few of these next time we’re in the area.

What to do in Zion National Park

We recommend spending three full days in Zion National Park. Here are some things to keep you busy during your visit to this majestic desert oasis:

• Hike right through the Virgin River in the Narrows.
• Conquer your fear of heights at Angel’s Landing. If hiking along a narrow ridge that has 1,000 foot drop-offs on both sides isn’t your thing, you can always stop at Scout’s Lookout and take in the views from there.
• Drive through the tunnels and see Checkered Mesa on the east side of the park.
• Visit the Human History Museum.
• Get away from the crowds in the serene Kolob Canyons.
• See old settlement cabins on the trail to Double Arch Alcove.
• Trek to the Emerald Pools.

Find out more about these awesome things to do in Zion National Park here.

What to do in Bryce Canyon National Park

Two days in Bryce Canyon will allow you to see much of the park. Here are some of our favorite experiences:

• Watch sunrise at Sunrise Point. This was one our favorite experiences from all our 2017 travels.
• Watch sunset at…you guessed it…Sunset Point. Don’t worry, the names in the park get more interesting from here on out.
• See the hoodoos up-close on the Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop Trail.
• Hike through rock tunnels on the Peekaboo Loop Trail (our favorite trail in the park).
• Ride a horse through the hoodoos.
• Drive to the end of HWY 63 and stop at the uniquely named viewpoints. Seriously, who doesn’t want to see something called Piracy Point?
• Visit Red Canyon just outside the national park.
• Take in one of the longest views in North America on the Bristlecone Loop Trail. On clear days you can see all the way to the Grand Canyon.
• Check-out a waterfall in the desert on the Mossy Cave Trail.

Get more details about the best of Bryce Canyon here.

Days 6-8 at Capitol Reef

Where to stay in Capitol Reef National Park

The Park: There’s one developed campground in Fruita with 71 sites. Most sites are reservation only for much of the year so as usual, book early.
Free Camping: Free BLM camping can be found to the east and west of the park. There’re also boondocking spots in the National Forest south of the park.
Hotels and Commercial Campgrounds: There are other lodging options including hotels, resorts, cabins, and Bed and Breakfasts in the areas surrounding Capitol Reef. Here’s a great site for finding a place to stay. Just be sure to check distances, as some of these are bit far from the park.

Where to eat in Capitol Reef National Park

Chuckwagon General Store Deli: We went here looking for coffee and found a fresh tasty deli counter. You can grab lunch to go or eat there.
Mesa Farm Market: Located 24 miles east of the Capitol Reef visitor center, this market has it all. In addition to produce they offer salads, artisan breads and baked goods, cheese, yogurt, fresh juices, and more.
Other places to eat near Capitol Reef: The Capitol Reef tourism dining page lists lots of other tasty establishments.

What to do in Capitol Reef National Park

• Hang out by the natural water “tanks” in Capitol Gorge.
• Gaze upon the crooked landscape and funky rock formations along the Chimney Rock Loop Trail.
• Stand on top of Cassidy Arch (named after the infamous Butch Cassidy).
• Hike to Hickman Bridge natural rock formation.
• Take a trip through time in Fruita and learn about the history of the area’s early settlers.
• See petroglyphs and pioneer registers on the rock faces.
• Take in the stunning views at Panorama Point and Goosenecks Overlook.

Find out why you don’t want to miss Capitol Reef National Park here.

Days 9-14 at Arches and Canyonlands

Where to stay in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks

Arches and the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands are fairly close together so you can stay at one location near Moab. You will want to move locations for the Needles district of Canyonlands, but we’ve included recommendations for that as well.

The Parks: The campgrounds inside Arches and Canyonlands are small and fill quickly, so our advice is to book as early as possible if you want to stay in the parks.
Free Camping: It’s easy to find free camping on the abundant BLM land around Moab. Of course, arrive early in the day so you’re not searching for a site in the dark. Some of the BLM campgrounds have fees so check them out ahead of time. Here’s a link to the free camping site we use and the other fee-based BLM campgrounds. Our recommendation for the Needles section of Canyonlands is this surreal free camp spot aptly named Hamburger Rock.
Hotels and Commercial Campgrounds: If you prefer hot showers and indoor plumbing, the Moab Tourism website is a great resource for finding all lodging types.

Where to eat in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks

Moab Brewery: Gelato and beer, how can you go wrong?
Zax Pizza: Three words: Pizza. Lunch. Buffet.
La Hacienda: Flavorful Mexican food with big portions.
Moab Farmer’s Market: Re-stock your road trip snack supply at the local farmer’s market. Last summer it was held on Friday evening at the Swanny City Park.

What to do in Arches National Park

Start your time in eastern Utah with two days exploring the trails and unique sandstone formations that Arches National Park is famous for:

• Take in sunrise at the Windows and Turret Arch area.
• Make the short trek to Double Arch (also in the Windows and Turret Arch area).
• Hike to (and stand under) Delicate Arch.
• Visit Balanced Rock.
• See 7 different arches on the Primitive Trail (including the world’s largest arch).
• Go on a ranger guided tour through the Fiery Furnace.

Get the full 2-3 Day Arches National Park itinerary here.

What to do in Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is a large park with different distinct regions so we recommend spending three full days here to soak up all the amazing scenery and expansive views.

Island in the Sky District

• Stop at Mesa Arch.
• See canyons for days from the Grand View Point Overlook trail.
• Visit ancient ancestral Puebloan granaries at Aztec Butte.
• Gaze into the mysterious Upheaval Dome.
• Catch another Sunrise at Dead Horse Point State Park.

Needles District

• Stop at Newspaper Rock on your way to the Needles and see hundreds of petroglyphs—some carved 2,000 years ago.
• Climb ladders on the Cave Spring Trail.
• Hike over diverse desert terrain to Chesler Park and the needles.
• See the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers.
• Look for “puddle dwellers” at Pothole Point.
• Take in four viewpoints on the Slickrock Foot trail.

Find more things to do in Canyonlands National Park here.

Have you done a Utah road trip? Did you visit any of the national parks? What was your favorite thing to do?

Related Posts:

• Utah Road Trip Itinerary – 1 Week in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks
• Utah Road Trip Itinerary – 1 Week in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
• 13 Road Trip Essentials (Make sure to have everything you need for your road trip adventure)

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