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Utah has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. That’s why there are five national parks in the state (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion)! Only California and Alaska have more.

Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park are two of the top parks in the country. They are only about a 1.5 hours drive away from each other and perfect to combine into one trip. If you can take a longer road-trip include Canyonlands and Arches in your southern Utah visit.

This Zion to Bryce Canyon guide will tell you everything you need to know to visit both parks in one visit. My Zion hiking guide and Bryce hiking guide are in separate posts. You’ll find the best hikes and trail descriptions in those posts.

Zion to Bryce Canyon Guide

How Do You Get to Zion and Bryce Canyon?

Both of the parks are located in southwestern Utah in the US. There are a few different options on how to reach this area depending on where you are traveling from and if you prefer to fly or drive more.

The closest international airports are in Las Vegas, Nevada and Salt Lake City, Utah. You can spend some time in one of those cities and then rent a car and drive the remaining hours (~2 hr & 45 mins from Las Vegas to Zion and ~4 hr & 30 mins from Salt Lake City to Zion).

As you will experience the scenic side of Utah at the parks, I recommend spending a few days in Salt Lake City first to explore Utah’s biggest city. In SLC you can gain understanding about the Mormon religion, visit the Capitol, learn about the first pioneers in Utah, and climb the nearby mountains that offer great views of Salt Lake City.

Instead of driving you can take a non-stop flight on Delta to Cedar City or St. George from Salt Lake City.

How Do You Get from Zion to Bryce Canyon?

I’m all for taking public transportation. I have been known to take public transportation where locals say it isn’t possible. You can trust that when I suggest renting a car you know I thoroughly researched other alternatives first.

The St. George Shuttle runs from St. George to Springdale for Zion. It will set you back about $140 roundtrip. There is no transportation other than very expensive taxis to Bryce Canyon from Zion or from Cedar City.

It’s quite a bit more expensive, especially if you are traveling with at least one other person. It is more time consuming as well as you will need to go back to St. George or Cedar City between the parks.

When traveling from Zion to Bryce Canyon it is best to rent a car through a rental car company at the airports or through Turo. Turo is the AirBnB of car rentals. The prices were cheaper than the typical car rental company and there are no extra fees to have additional drivers approved for the trip.

Typically it is cheaper to pick-up and rent a car from the same location. With Turo you will need to do that, but even with the other car rental companies I recommend starting and ending in the same city (either Cedar City or St. George if you want to drive less or from Las Vegas or Salt Lake City).

What is the Best Zion to Bryce Canyon Itinerary?

Your Zion to Bryce Canyon itinerary will depend on how many days you have and what difficulty of hikes you would like to complete. Most people tend to start at Zion and then travel to Bryce, but you can visit the parks in either order. If you can’t visit both parks during the week I would visit Bryce Canyon over the weekend instead of Zion. Spend at least two days at Zion and at least a full day at Bryce. I was happy to have 1.5 days at Bryce.

Send me a travel planning enquiry for a personalized itinerary to fit your schedule and needs.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Zion and Bryce?

Both parks are $35 for a vehicle or $20 for an individual. Passes are valid for one week at one park. You will need to buy a separate pass for Zion and Bryce.

If you are visiting both parks and are traveling with another person it makes more sense to buy the annual America the Beautiful Pass. Two people taking the shuttle into the parks will be $40 each, or $80 (the cost of the annual pass).

You don’t need to make any reservations for the parks, simply show your annual pass on the shuttle at Bryce or at the walk in entrance at Zion. Some hikes at Zion such as Angel’s Landing, do require permits for a low cost.

The majority of the costs of traveling from Zion to Bryce Canyon come from accommodations, food, and transportation.

What Should I Bring When Traveling from Zion to Bryce Canyon?

• Snacks – The food at and around both parks is pricey. I found it helpful to have breakfast included at the hotel, and then take a lunch and snacks during the day. Some of my favorite hiking snacks include bananas, dried fruit, Clif bars, beef jerky, and dried edamame.

• Water Bottle – There are water fountains near almost every trailhead. While it is easy to fill up often, you’ll want at least a 32 ounce bottle if you are hiking for several hours. My Nalgene bottles have hydrated me around the world for years.

• Backpack – You’ll want some sort of day pack to carry enough food and water. I have had the same day pack for about 5 years. It has gone on so many adventures with me. It’s lightweight, water resistant, washable, and easily fits everything I need. Plus it packs down super small into itself when it is not being used.

• Hiking Boots – Previously I only hiked in hiking shoes. Right before the trip I got these Salomon hiking boots and I love them! The extra ankle support and the treads make for much more confident hiking. I did wear my hiking shoes on some hikes to switch it up a bit.

• Darn Tough Socks – Just as you need the right footwear, you also need the right socks. Darn Tough socks are on the pricier end, but are made of merino wool and are moisture wicking. You don’t want to wear cotton socks.

• Sun protection – Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are definitely needed in the warmer months.

Check my complete guide on the best hiking attire for women and my day pack hiking checklist for everything you should wear and bring to hike in Bryce and Zion.

Zion National Park – The Main Canyon

Zion National Park is located in Springdale, Utah. The park is one of the busiest parks in the country, so expect crowds. Zion Canyon is where the majority of the day hikes are located.

Does Zion National Park Have Shuttles?

Zion has two free shuttle systems.

The Springdale Shuttle makes 8 stops in the town of Springdale and one stop at the Zion Visitor Center. There are stops at or close to all the hotels and restaurants. Stop number one is at the visitor center. Stop number nine is at the Majestic View Lodge, the end of the town. Shuttles run in both directions from about 7am – 9pm. Exact hours vary by season.

Once at the park you will need to get off the shuttle, show your park pass at the entrance, and board the Zion shuttle outside the visitor center.

The Zion Shuttle begins at the visitor center and travels into the canyon. The shuttle covers the Zion Canyon scenic drive, which you can’t drive on your own when the shuttle is in operation. You need to take the shuttle in this part of Zion. It operates from March to mid-November. In the summer the shuttle runs from 6am – 8:15pm.

Long lines to board the shuttle, especially at the visitor center, are possible. It is common to wait 20 – 30 minutes. On holiday weekends waits can be even longer. At the end of the day don’t wait for the last shuttle back to the visitor center. If the shuttle is full you won’t be able to board.

Where Do I Park at Zion National Park?

If possible you’ll want to park at the visitor center to avoid paying for parking in Springdale and the hassle of taking the Springdale shuttle and then transferring to the Zion shuttle. For the number of people visiting Zion, the parking at the visitor center is extremely limited though. By 8:30am the parking lot was full.

Zion National Park Visitor Center has some nice outdoor exhibits with the history of the park, more information on the trails, and details on the flora and fauna.

Where Do I Park in Springdale?

If you don’t arrive early enough you will have to pay for parking in Springdale (if you aren’t staying at a Springdale hotel). It’s frustrating that the better parking at the park is free, but the further away parking is paid. Check the parking zone map for all the locations and prices.

Park in Zone C along the street on Lion Blvd for the cheapest parking. Make sure to park on the street and not at the lot (which is more expensive and requires putting cash in an envelope).

From Lion Blvd you can either take the shuttle from stop #3 or walk about a mile to the visitor center.

Where Should I Stay at Zion National Park?

Staying at the Zion Lodge within the park will be the most convenient. You are able to drive into the park and park at the lodge. You don’t have to worry about getting to the park each morning and many of the trailheads are literally at your doorstep.

The next closest option is in the town of Springdale. You’ll be able to park your car for free at your hotel and then take the Springdale shuttle into the park. Bumbleberry Inn and La Quinta by Wyndham at Zion Park are both located in town with great reviews. They have some of the best prices for similarly rated hotels.

Hotels in Virgin are a good alternative if you want nice accommodations at a cheaper price. The Fairfield was about $125 cheaper a night than lower rated hotels in Springdale. It’s a fairly new hotel with clean, modern rooms and a pool with mountain views. The only downside was having to drive to Springdale and pay for parking in town. It still was cheaper than staying in Springdale though.

Whatever you choose you will want to book as far in advance as possible.

Where Should I Eat in Springdale?

The town of Springdale is mostly hotels and restaurants. There are plenty of places to eat.

For breakfast I recommend booking a hotel with breakfast included so you don’t spend extra time or money going to a restaurant in the morning.

You may want to consider bringing a lunch everyday. With the shuttle system it can take awhile to get in and out of the park. Heading back to Springdale for lunch can eat up a lot of your day. I typically took a bagel from breakfast every morning. Some mornings I also took peanut butter and other times I put beef jerky on my bagel.

The Zion Lodge offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well and is a more convenient place to stop during the day. Unless you are staying at the lodge, it’s best to head to Springdale for dinner so you don’t need to worry about catching the last shuttle out of the canyon.

Meme’s Cafe is a nice, casual dinner spot. I had the veggie delight crepe and it was really good and I liked the added bonus of having a healthy dinner! The staff is very friendly and there are nice views from the outdoor patio tables.

Camp Outpost was another good spot with an interesting variety of items on the menu. I had the shrimp tacos.

What is There to Do at Zion?

• One of the best things to do at Zion is to go hiking. With some of the most well known hikes in the country it is a hiker’s paradise. Check out the top hikes at Zion.

• Drive a UTV to East Zion and hike in a slot canyon. This combined tour takes you away from the crowds at the main canyon.

• You can also take a horseback ride through the slot canyons in East Zion.

• For a completely different perspective, take a helicopter tour over the park.

• Explore areas with a trained professional that you wouldn’t be able to on your own during a half day canyoneering adventure.

Zion National Park – Kolob Canyons

Kolob Canyons is a lesser visited section of Zion National Park. It’s about a 50 minute drive from the main canyon. It makes the most sense to visit after arriving or before returning to St George or Cedar City.

Upon arrival you will need to park at the visitor center and show your park pass. It usually isn’t too busy as it is a quick stop for most people. There are port-a-potties in the parking lot. Then you will drive to whichever trailhead you chose and park at the designated lot. Some of the trailheads have pit toilets. Taylor Creek is a great trail nearby.

There are no shuttles in this section so you can also drive the scenic drive on your own.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon is located in Bryce Canyon City, Utah. The town and park are both smaller than Springdale and Zion. For some puzzling reason not quite as many people visit Bryce. The hiking at Bryce through the hoodoos is incredible. The park has the largest collection of these unique rock formations of anywhere on earth!

Does Bryce Canyon National Park Have a Shuttle?

Bryce Canyon has a much better shuttle system than Zion. There is only one shuttle which goes to both Bryce Canyon City and Bryce Canyon National Park. The free shuttle has multiple stops in town and at the park. There’s no transferring shuttles or waiting for two shuttles.

While the shuttle is free, you do need to have a park pass to board. You don’t need to show your pass when boarding in the park.

Stops go in numerical order. For example if you are boarding at Inspiration Point (stop #9) and wish to go to Bryce Point (stop #8) you will have to ride the shuttle for an entire loop. You could also get off at stop #7 and get on a shuttle going in the opposite direction. Sunset Campground is stop #7 and #10. Stops with two numbers like this means the shuttle stops in both directions.

The shuttle runs from the beginning of April to the end of October. It goes from 8am – 6pm daily (until 8pm in the summer). It usually comes about every 15 minutes. Track the shuttle online in real-time.

Where Do I Park at Bryce Canyon National Park?

Parking is free throughout Bryce at the visitor center, lodge, and most of the viewpoints/trailheads. If you are planning on hiking along the shuttle route, be considerate to other visitors, leave your car behind. This cuts down on congestion and frees up spaces for visitors who are driving themselves and only making quick stops at the viewpoints.

It’s easiest to stay right in Bryce Canyon City where you can hop on a shuttle outside your door and leave your car parked at your accommodations. If you aren’t staying in Bryce, park at the shuttle station.

Where Should I Stay at Bryce Canyon National Park?

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon, within the park, is a short walk to several of the main trailheads. Both cabins and lodge rooms are available.

In addition to the campground, in Bryce Canyon City three properties are available right in town: Ruby’s Inn, Bryce View Lodge, and Best Western Plus Grand Hotel. We stayed at the cheapest property, Bryce View Lodge. The same breakfast is included at Ruby’s Inn and access to the pool and hot tub is also available. The amenities are all the same, but you just have to walk to Ruby’s Inn for everything. The hotel rooms were also nice so I saw no reason to stay at a pricier place.

If properties are booked in Bryce Canyon City, the nearby town of Tropic is your next best option.

Where Should I Eat in Bryce Canyon City?

For breakfast eat where the whole city eats, Ruby’s Inn! Breakfast is included here with the three hotels in town. Thus why everyone is eating here! Our voucher recommended coming earlier to breakfast, but I found around 8 – 8:30am was the busiest. Maybe everyone took the voucher advice to heart! Breakfast here is a large buffet. I enjoyed it and thought it had a good selection of hot and cold items.

Places to eat for lunch and dinner are in short supply. As I recommended for lunch at Zion, I would say the same for Bryce. Fill up on the breakfast buffet in the morning and then pack a lunch with you to enjoy at the park. Especially if you are spending a couple days at Bryce you won’t be missing out by not going out to eat for lunch.

Restaurants are fairly overpriced and nothing to write home about! I didn’t try Ruby’s Inn for lunch or dinner, but they do have a buffet for both. The Canyon Diner across the street feels like you are going back to your high school cafeteria. It’s decent enough food. There’s Ebenezer’s Barn and Grill which does a dinner and show. That looked fun! There’s also the Lodge in the park that serves food.

That wraps up the food options in Bryce!

Where Should I Eat in Tropic?

Nearby the town of Tropic has a few more restaurant selections. You’ll need to drive, but the Showdown Restaurant was worth it! While I wouldn’t say it was the best meal ever, it was definitely my favorite spot to eat in the Bryce area. The free popcorn and live music in the indoor/outdoor restaurant added a lot to the experience too!

What is There to Do at Bryce Canyon?

• The hikes at Bryce Canyon are magical! I was in awe of the hoodoos around every bend.

• If you aren’t up for a lot of hiking the best way to learn about and see the wonders of the park is on a sightseeing tour which combines a bus tour with some short hikes.

• The Visitor Center with a small exhibit area and a short video is worth a visit to learn about the history, flora, and fauna of the park.

• See incredible scenery along the rim and in lesser visited areas on an ATV tour.

• Take a horseback ride on the trails at the park.

• You don’t want to miss the stars at night. You can venture out on your own or sign up for a guided telescope tour.

Where Else Should I Visit on a Trip from Zion to Bryce Canyon?

There’s plenty to see and do at Zion and Bryce Canyon, but if you are looking to extend your trip or visit some places nearby on the way here are a couple more suggestions.

Dixie National Forest

Dixie National Forest takes up a huge area in southern Utah. As Red Canyon is only about 15 miles outside of Bryce Canyon City, it is the perfect stop between Cedar City and Bryce Canyon. It’s not as busy as Bryce Canyon, but has beautiful scenery. You’ll find hoodoos, red cliffs, and ponderosa pines filling the landscape.

Park at the Red Canyon Visitor Center that has bathrooms, water fountains, and information. Short trails like the Golden Wall, Birdseye, and Pink Ledges start from the visitor center.

Cedar City

With direct flights from Salt Lake City, Cedar City is the perfect place to start and end your trip.

Although it is a small city there is a lot to do. The Frontier Homestead State Park is a steal at only $4 a person. Inside there are stagecoaches from the early pioneer days, as well as a rotating exhibit and a section on Utah’s national parks. Outside is full of historic buildings that you can go inside and learn about what they were used for. There really is a lot to see and learn here. Plus there are a lot of interactive activities that will engage children.

The downtown area is nice to walk around, check out the murals, visit museums, and attend the Shakespeare Festival in the summer. There are also many good places to eat. Bristlecone Coffee is a nice spot for a healthy breakfast or lunch. Woodfired Pizzeria makes delicious pizzas.

Abbey Inn provides the best accommodations in Cedar City. The rooms are very nice and the breakfast was excellent. The hot items were freshly cooked. A nice indoor pool and hot tub rounds out the perfect stay.

Hopefully this Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park guide prepares you for what will surely be an epic hiking trip in southwestern Utah! If you have any other questions about Zion and Bryce please leave them in the comments.