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Adventuring With Friends

Road Tripping: Las Vegas To Zion And Bryce Canyon

/ Utah / By

Utah is well known for its diverse landscape and multitude of national parks. While visiting all 5 parks in Utah is a great trip, the time required to do so and truly appreciate each park can be daunting. However, a quick trip from Las Vegas can bring you to two of the popular parks, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. A great group trip satisfies all of its participants – a little time in Las Vegas for a concert or show and a trip to the national parks can be the perfect blend. I have now done the trip from Las Vegas to Zion and Bryce National Parks twice, a little different each time. Read along for tips and highlights! 

The road trip

Aside from seeing a show and wasting some money gambling, flying into a popular city such as Las Vegas has the added benefit of a variety of flight options and increased chance of finding discounted flights. This fall, a few girlfriends and I went to Las Vegas to see a Shania Twain concert, which was amazing. However, I am not a Las Vegas girl, and therefore convinced my friends that if we were making this trip, we needed to visit some national parks as well. After spending 2 days in Vegas, we drove to Zion National Park, which is between 2.5 and 3.5 hours depending on where you stay – East or West of Zion – and approximately 4 hours total from Bryce Canyon National Park. 

Where to stay

There are several options for lodging when planning this trip. Near Zion National Park there are two main areas to stay: in Springdale by the West entrance to Zion, or Orderville by East Zion. 

On my most recent visit to Zion we stayed in East Zion at “Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort” in Orderville.  This was a bit further of a drive from Las Vegas, approximately 3.5 hours, and did require driving about 45 minutes through the park to get there; however, I actually really loved this spot and highly recommend it. The resort has a real “camp vibe” (without needing to lug all your own gear). There were multiple options for lodging. We stayed in a cute yurt with 3 beds, but there were also cabins and a “covered wagon” yurt option. There was a main lodge with breakfast included every day, a convenience shop, as well as a recreation area with a pool, hot tub, and tennis court. Each site also had its own outdoor space with a picnic table and fire pit. There wasn’t a lot else in the area, but it felt more camp-like than staying at a hotel, motel, or airbnb. The added benefit was that by staying in East Zion you are almost halfway to Bryce, making the 1.5 hour trip for a day visit very easy! Ultimately, the 45 minute drive into the park was scenic and enjoyable and totally worth it. 

Springdale is probably the more conventionally convenient and popular spot to stay. This is the closer option while driving from Vegas, approximately 2.5 hours. Springdale is a typical national park town, there are multiple hotels, motels, and airbnbs. The entrance to Zion National Park is essentially the main road through Springdale. The park Welcome Center and first shuttle stop is conveniently located just inside this western entrance, walkable from the outskirts of town.  Additionally, there is a shuttle system through Springdale bringing you directly into the park if you should choose to use it. There are a multitude of restaurants and touristy shops in the town of Springdale, a fun small town to walk through. This is a great option, however it is a little further from Bryce, so you may consider staying in a different place when you visit Bryce. On my first visit I stayed in Springdale for two nights, then drove to Bryce and stayed in a Best Western just outside the park there for two nights. This was great, but the town outside of Bryce had fewer restaurants or bars and was not as accessible by walking. Ultimately the trip from Springdale to Bryce, 2 hours, is short enough that I feel 2 different hotels are really not needed if you are willing to get up early to make the drive!

Zion National park

Zion National Park is listed as one of the top ten most visited national parks. It’s easy to understand why, as Zion is truly one of the most beautiful parks I’ve ever been to. It is also a very accessible park for elderly and less experienced hikers. To enjoy this park fully, I think 2 or 3 full days is needed. Being one of the most popular parks means crowds. I recommend planning your trip around busy times. Summer is known for being incredibly busy, as well as for scorching hot temperatures. Fall or spring is ideal, another consideration is to plan around the shuttle schedule. A well oiled shuttle system is in operation and required from March to November, and weekends February to March. My most recent trip was in early September while the shuttle system was in use. It was much easier to use than I expected, and entirely free. We parked our car at the Welcome Center and took the shuttle for the rest of the day. Parking can be limited so getting to the park early is a must. One other tip we learned was parking at the History Museum, then taking a short stroll along Pa’rus Trail back to the Welcome Center to catch the shuttle. The shuttle does drop you off back at the History Museum later in the day. All in all, I found the weather and crowds in September to be ideal. 

Hiking in Zion is incredible. From challenging fear inducing climbs to leisurely strolls, Zion offers a little something for everyone. 

Angels Landing:  Zion is perhaps most well known for the thrilling and dangerous “Angels Landing”. If you are not familiar with this hike, it is a 5 mile total out and back hike with the last half mile being a chain section where at any time there is a shear drop to your left, right, or both. Starting in 2020, this hike is lottery permit only, which helps limit dangerous traffic. This hike is not for the faint of heart – if you have any inkling of fear of heights in you, it will be magnified. As of 2022, a rumored 17 persons have died on this hike. However, having completed this hike on my second trip, I can confidently say it was worth it. I will never do it again, but the feeling of accomplishment and adrenaline was incredible. The first 2 miles up is quite steep, with the infamous Walter’s Wiggles switchbacks, but if you take it slow it is completely doable. If you choose to make the hike but not complete the chains section, there is a great view point a little further up known as “Scout’s Lookout”. 

Observation Point: If you are looking for an equal if not better view in the park without the intense fear factor, I would recommend “Observation Point.” There are two main trails, the East Mesa Trail and the East Rim Trail. The East Rim Trailhead, located near Weeping Rock, is currently closed due to rockfall and has been for quite some time. The East Mesa Trail, located near the East Entrance to Zion, is 7 miles round trip and is a great option. This brings you through some beautiful canyons and out to a great view of the entire park, you can even see Angels Landing from this viewpoint. An added bonus of the East Mesa Trail is starting at higher elevation, making the climb less intense!

The Narrows: Another famous hike in Zion, “The Narrows” is unfortunately one I have not been able to complete. This is a hike through the slot canyons following the Virgin River through the “narrowest section of Zion Canyon.” While not as obviously frightening as Angels Landing, the Narrows is also dangerous due to the risk of flash flooding. However, it is said to be one of the most beautiful and unique hikes; I certainly regret not having done it and would plan to go back just to hike it. Even walking “Riverside Walk” which follows the river to the mouth of The Narrows is an enjoyable time, and offers views for those who are unable to make the trek in the water. 

Canyon Overlook: Just over half a mile out, Canyon Overlook is a quick spot for great views. With very little elevation, this is an easy hike to panoramic views and give even the least athletic among you a chance to complete a small hike. The entrance is located just inside the East entrance. On my recent trip, we chose to visit this spot at sunset – the views were immaculate and we even saw a professional photographer shooting an engagement session! 

Honorable mentions: The “Court of the Patriarchs” is a short but steep uphill trek to a great view. Just over 1 football field in length (100 yards), you can hike up to see the 3 Patriarch Mountains: Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. The “Emerald Pool Trails” take you to 3 small pools of water. The amount of water depends highly on the season you are visiting, and can in my opinion make or break the beauty of this hike. We hiked the Middle and Upper Emerald pools while waiting for our time slot for Angels Landing, and unfortunately the pools were not very full. However there were views of the canyon along the hike which were beautiful. 

Bryce Canyon national park

Located approximately 1.5 hours east of Zion, Bryce Canyon National Park offers one of the most unique landscapes. Known for its towering hoodoos and deep valleys, visiting this national park feels like you’ve left earth and traveled to a distant planet. In my opinion, this is a park you can experience in one full day. 

One of the main ways to see this park is the main drive which brings you to multiple scenic overlooks with short “hikes.” If you are an early riser, “Sunrise Point” offers beautiful views; the sun hitting the orange rock is an experience you won’t regret tearing yourself out of bed for! Even if you’re getting to the views a little later, they are still incredible. I would recommend hiking down into the canyon from Sunrise Point via the “Navajo Loop Trail.” Following this trail to Queen Victoria’s Garden, you can hike back up the famous “Wall Street” of steep orange switchbacks. Along the way you’ll appreciate the hoodoos up close, as well as hike through small tunnels built into the rock! Then hike back along the rim of the canyon from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point, and continue into the park via car. I recommend driving the entire length of the park, there are multiple stops along the way with unique and interesting sights! Some examples are the “Natural Bridge,” a natural orange stone arch, “Inspiration Point,” named aptly for the awe it inspires, and “Rainbow Point,” at which we actually saw a rainbow! I feel that this park is somewhat underappreciated, which is likely due to its close proximity to the incredible Zion Canyon, however it truly offers some of the most unique and awesome views. Although I have traveled to many national parks, I have had a photo of Bryce Canyon as my phone home screen for 5 years!

Bonus Side trip

During my most recent trip from Las Vegas to Zion and Bryce, we left Vegas in the morning and spent the day exploring the Hoover Dam and Valley of Fire State Park. While not entirely on your way, I highly recommend it. The Hoover Dam is just under 1 hr from Vegas, and in my opinion is a dam good time! It’s actually incredible to see the size of it, learn the history behind it, read stories about the men and women who built it, as well as understand the science behind it! After spending some time using your brain, head to Valley of Fire Nevada State Park. This park takes you through another unusual landscape, with rolling hills, strange rock formations, many small overlooks and short hikes. Having only a few hours to drive through on your way to Zion was perfect for this park. Check out “Elephant Rock” a rock formation that looks kind of like an elephant if you squint, and scramble up some rocks for incredible views. 

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