Last Updated on: 3rd November 2024, 02:27 pm
Utah has so many incredible locations – many of which remain relatively unknown – that it would probably take a lifetime to explore them all. With that said, this Utah Mighty 5 road trip itinerary will take you to many of the highlights over the course of two weeks.
Throughout the itinerary, you’ll encounter ‘Extending Your Trip’ sections with additional suggestions on other things to do and see in the area if you have more time (some of these detours spill out into neighboring states).
While far from ideal, at the very end, you’ll find a brief itinerary outline that covers the Mighty 5 in seven days.
Below you’ll find descriptions and itinerary suggestions for each individual National Park, but also be sure to check out our more comprehensive guides on each one to learn everything that you need to know.
A 2-Week Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in Salt Lake City (or Las Vegas)
- Day 2: Drive to Moab
- Day 3: A Day at Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky
- Day 4: Explore Arches National Park
- Day 5: Arches & Dead Horse Point State Park
- Day 6: A Day at Canyonlands’ The Needles
- Day 7: Drive to Torrey + Goblin Valley State Park
- Day 8: Explore Capitol Reef National ParkDay 8: Onward to Luxor
- Day 9: Explore Capitol Reef’s Cathedral Valley
- Day 10: Kodachrome Basin + Grand-Staircase Escalante
- Day 11: A Day at Bryce Canyon
- Day 12: Explore Zion National Park
- Day 13: Another Day at Zion
- Day 14: Head to Las Vegas + Valley of Fire
- Day 15: Fly Home
- Utah’s Mighty 5 in 7 days?
*Note: The route on the map above is just a rough suggestion, as your exact route will largely depend on which towns you plan to stay in, particularly in southwest Utah. Furthermore, the extra destinations from the itinerary extension and alteration suggestions below are absent from this map.
Day 1: Arrive in Salt Lake City (or Las Vegas)
Figuring out where to start your trip can be a bit complicated, as there are no major airports in the southern half of Utah, which is where the Mighty 5 and the most scenic State Parks are located.
As such, your two main options for starting and finishing your Utah Mighty 5 road trip will be Salt Lake City or Las Vegas, Nevada. Flying into Moab may also be a possibility depending on where you’re coming from.
The following Utah Mighty 5 road trip itinerary follows the Salt Lake City to Las Vegas route. But if you’ll be starting in Las Vegas, it shouldn’t be too difficult to follow this itinerary in the reverse order, as the driving distances will remain the same.
Obviously, you’ll need to rent a car when you land. But which type to choose? It will really depend on if you plan to do any off-road driving during your trip. If so, it’s definitely worth having a 4×4, or at least an AWD SUV.
If you’re doing a more condensed version of this itinerary and mainly sticking to paved roads, a basic sedan should be fine. But if you’d like to explore more, another option is to take private tours to the areas with rougher roads.
You can find more details about recommended vehicles in our dedicated guides to each location.
EXTENDING YOUR TRIP: If time allows, you can spend a couple of days sightseeing in Salt Lake City. Aside from exploring the city center itself, the most scenic location in the area would have to be Antelope Island, the largest island of the Great Salt Lake.
Another interesting location, meanwhile, is the Bonneville Salt Flats, which is a 90-minute drive out of town.
*If you’re doing this itinerary in reverse and finishing it in Salt Lake City, you could easily extend your travels by heading further north into Idaho or Wyoming.
During one trip, I left Salt Lake City to spend a couple of days around Twin Falls, Idaho before heading closer to Jackson, Wyoming. I then spent several days camping in Yellowstone.
WHERE TO STAY IN SALT LAKE CITY: Salt Lake City, a city of around 200,000 inhabitants, is comprised of a compact downtown area surrounded by sprawling residential districts.
The city center is home to Temple Square, home to the iconic Salt Lake Temple, in addition to the impressive Utah State Capitol Building.
I’d recommend most people try to stay in or around Temple Square if possible. Some of the highest-rated midrange hotels around here include the Marriott Salt Lake City Center, The Kimball, Homewood Suites and the Crystal Inn Hotel.
But considering how you will need a car to get around, you’ll also be fine staying a bit outside the center. In that case, apartment rentals will be the best value. Popular options include the Ellerbeck Bed & Breakfast, Cozy Condo Downtown and 3BD Home Downtown.
Day 2: Drive to Moab
The drive from Salt Lake City to Moab is about four hours, so you’ll largely spend this day driving and getting settled in at your hotel.
This itinerary includes a lot of hikes, so you’ll want to come prepared with adequate hiking shoes, hiking socks, trekking poles and other basic hiking gear. And if you’ll be doing any camping, you’ll obviously need gear for that too.
If you still have some shopping to do, I recommend Moab Gear Trader. It’s a much better alternative to both Wal-Mart, which sells cheap stuff that may break after a few uses, and the vastly overpriced REI.
WHERE TO STAY IN MOAB: Considering how Moab serves as the base for two National Parks, one State Park and plenty of other nearby attractions, you’ll likely be spending at least several nights here.
Moab is one of the most touristy towns you’ll encounter in the Southwest, so there’s no shortage of accommodation options to choose from.
I stayed at a centrally-located motel called the The Virginian Inn Moab Downtown. Overall, I had a comfortable stay and consider it a good value.
Other highly-rated accommodations for a similar price range include the Expedition Lodge, the Bowen Motel and the Rustic Inn.
DAY 3: A Day at Canyonlands' Island in the Sky
Canyonlands National Park is comprised of multiple districts, with the Island in the Sky being the most popular among them. Situated atop a large mesa, visitors can experience its top overlooks and short hikes over the course of a day. While there are additional longer hikes in the area, you’d have to extend this itinerary to complete them.
The drive from Moab takes around 45 minutes, and it would be wise to arrive as early as you can.
I recommend visiting the sites in the following order: the Shafer Canyon Overlook, Mesa Arch, Aztec Butte, Whale Rock, Upheaval Dome, Green River Overlook, White Rim Overlook and the Grand View Point Overlook. Read our dedicated guide to Island in the Sky for more details.
If you have a 4×4, you could also consider entering or leaving Island in the Sky via the Shafer Trail, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
It’s also possible to take a tour, though as you’ll be in someone else’s vehicle, you won’t be able to proceed with the Island in the Sky itinerary mentioned above. Therefore, you might want to save your tour for a different morning.
Also note that when driving up to the Island in the Sky from Moab (via the regular paved road), you’ll pass by the entrance to Dead Horse Point State Park which offers similar views. While Dead Horse Point is indeed worth visiting, it’s best to save for another day, such as following one of your visits to Arches (more below).
DAY 4: Explore Arches National Park
The main portion of Arches National Park is quite small, and you can realistically expect to do every single hike within 1.5 days.
But if you only have one full day at Arches, you can still easily see the best the park has to offer. How you go about your visit will depend on whether or not you were able to secure a Fiery Furnace hiking permit.
For this road trip itinerary, we’ll be dividing Arches into two separate days, and what follows is a suggestion on how to spend your first day:
Enter the park in the early morning (Note: a Timed Entry Permit is required during peak season). Continue all the way along the main road until reaching the trailhead for Devil’s Garden about thirty minutes later.
Either do the full loop hike (about four hours), or a shorted out-and-back version to Double O Arch (about 2.5 hours). If you have plenty of time, try the Broken Arch Hike next, though I wouldn’t consider it essential.
Next, see Skyline Arch, the Sand Dune Arch and then the Fiery Furnace Viewpoint (save the actual hike for a different day if you can).
Then hike to Delicate Arch. If you have any time or energy left over, finish the day with an easier hike, such as Park Avenue or The Windows/Double Arch.
Day 5: Arches & Dead Horse Point State Park
Begin the day with the Fiery Furnace hike. The hike took me 2.5 hours, but completion times can vary greatly depending on how lost you get. (Note: An advanced permit is required for this hike. See our dedicated guide for more info).
When finished, proceed to check out whatever hikes or overlooks you missed the previous day.
Finished with Arches, you should have plenty of time left over to visit Dead Horse Point State Park.
As mentioned, Dead Horse Point is much closer to the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands. But as it’s best to spend a full day at Island in the Sky, it makes sense to see it after your second day at Arches.
There are a few ways to go about visiting Dead Horse Point State Park depending on how much time and energy you have.
The main overlook at the park is known as the Dead Horse Point Overlook, and it’s possible to drive directly there from the Visitor Center. But to get the most out of your visit, you should walk to the main overlook, and both the East Rim Trail and the West Rim Trail will take you there.
Of course, you will ultimately need to make it back to your car – whether you parked at the overlook or at the Visitor Center. As such, you might as well do the full loop and hike both the East and West Rim.
That’s what I did, and the full trail adds up to about 4.5 miles in total and should take you a few hours, not including the extra detours.
Day 6: A Day at Canyonlands' The Needles
If you’re looking for a break from the crowds, look no further than The Needles.
While part of Canyonlands National Park, The Needles district cannot be accessed via the Island in the Sky district, and can only be reached via a 90-minute drive from central Moab.
First, head south down Highway 191 before turning right onto Highway 211. From there, simply head straight until you reach the Needles Visitor Center. On the way, be sure to stop and admire the petroglyphs of Newspaper Rock.
Next, visit sites such as the Roadside Ruin and the Cave Spring Trail. The main event of the day will be a long five-hour hike which on the AllTrails app is called the Chesler Park Loop Trail (the starting point is called Elephant Hill).
If that sounds daunting to you, try the shorter ‘Chesler Park Overlook’ trail (as it’s named on AllTrails) which is supposed to take around two hours and forty-five minutes. You could also shorten it by just turning around after an hour.
If you still have time and energy left over, return to The Needles’ main road and proceed with the Pothole Point Trail and Slickrock Trail Hikes. Finish the day by admiring the Big Spring Canyon Overlook.
EXTENDING YOUR TRIP: If you’re an ancient history and archaeology lover, further south of The Needles is a fascinating collection of Ancestral Puebloan ruins. They’re spread out across the massive, 1.36-million-acre Bears Ears National Monument.
I actually visited Bears Ears and The Needles on the same day. While I managed to pull it off, it was an exhausting and rushed day trip that I wouldn’t recommend most people attempt.
It would be a better idea to dedicate an entire day to Bears Ears, and you could also start the day with a visit to Natural Bridges National Monument (about 2 hours from Moab). Then, proceed east along Highway 95, visiting the sites in Bears Ears National Monument as described in our dedicated Bears Ears guide.
ALTERING THIS ITINERARY: If you’re going to be visiting Bears Ears, it’s also possible to head further south to the town of Mexican Hat, Utah, rather than return to Moab. If you were to do so, you’d have the option of carrying out an alternative version of this road trip itinerary.
Mexican Hat has some unique attractions of its own, such as the Valley of the Gods scenic drive and Goosenecks State Park. But it’s also one of the best bases for Monument Valley (which mostly lies in Arizona).
From the Monument Valley area, you could then head west to see Page, Arizona. After that, you could proceed toward Kanab and then the St. George area. By carrying out this alternate version of the itinerary, you’d be visiting Monument Valley and Page instead of Capitol Reef National Park and some central Utah State Parks.
Then again, if time is not an issue, you could also just head north to Capitol Reef after visiting Kanab.
Day 7: Drive to Torrey + Goblin Valley State Park
On its own, the drive from Moab to Torrey (the nearest town to Capitol Reef National Park) would take a little under three hours. But there’s a lot to do and see along the way, such as Goblin Valley State Park, Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon, Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook.
While it may be technically possible to visit them all if you depart especially early and rush through Goblin Valley, most people shouldn’t count on seeing everything in a single day.
Goblin Valley State Park is comprised of three main valleys featuring countless hoodoos which do indeed resemble goblins. Additionally, the rest of the park is home to several additional short hikes.
One can see a majority of the park in several hours, but you might want to cut things short if you plan on visiting other attractions. With limited time, focus on the main Valley of the Goblins area – particularly Valley 1 and Valley 2.
The nearby Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon, meanwhile, is a popular hike that can also be combined with Bell Canyon. Hiking both canyons as a loop is 8 miles (13 km) and can take up to four hours due to its difficulty.
Apparently, some parts of the canyons can get extremely narrow, so it would be wise to do thorough research before attempting the hike.
Much closer to Torrey, and just outside the town of Hanksville, is the Moonscape Overlook, which really does look like another planet, and Factory Butte, a colorful towering formation in the midst of barren badlands.
A 4×4 is highly recommended for this excursion. If you don’t have one, consider taking a tour with Meridian Photography Tours, one of the prominent tour companies in the Torrey area. See our detailed guide for more info.
WHERE TO STAY NEAR CAPITOL REEF: At just 15-20 minutes from Capitol Reef National Park, the town of Torrey is where most people visiting the park stay. Despite being a small town, Torrey thrives on tourism, so there are plenty of options in the area.
While not exactly budget options, Capitol Reef Resort and The Noor Hotel are as close to the park as you can get, being just a 7-minute drive to the Chimney Rock Trailhead.
While I didn’t stay there, I did eat a few times at the Rim Rock restaurant across the street, and the views were fantastic.
Closer to the quaint and charming town center, meanwhile, are the Red Sands Hotel and the Broken Spur Inn, both of which are highly rated. Of course, there are a number of good Airbnb options to choose from as well.
For those interested in camping, the main developed campsite within the park is the Fruita Campground which offers picnic tables, fire pits and a few restrooms.
It’s possible to camp there with either a tent or RV (if you don’t have your own, consider renting one on a site like Outdoorsy). You can learn more about camping at Capitol Reef here.
Day 8: Explore Capitol Reef National Park
Ideally, you should set aside three days for Capitol Reef: two full days for hiking the various trails of the main part of the park, and one for driving through Cathedral Valley.
However, considering how it’s possible to shorten your tour of Cathedral Valley, most travelers should be fine with just two full days at the park.
The essential hikes to focus on are Rim Overlook/Navajo Knobs, Cassidy Arch and the Grand Wash.
Or, if you’re not able to do strenuous hikes, you could string together a few of the shorter and easier hikes (Grand Wash, Hickman Bridge, Capitol Gorge, etc.) while driving to the various overlooks and historical sites.
Day 9: Explore Capitol Reef's Cathedral Valley
Cathedral Valley is located to the northeast of the main section of Capitol Reef National Park. While often described as a loop, it’s perhaps best thought of as a long, giant U, with both ends connecting to Utah State Route 24.
The total one-way route through Cathedral Valley is 57.6 miles (92.7 km) long, plus an additional 15 miles or so with detours. Depending on how long you spend at the various landmarks, your total visit could take anywhere from 6-9 hours.
Generally speaking, you’ll want to rent a rugged vehicle for this excursion – ideally a high-clearance 4×4, or at least an AWD SUV.
But you also have the option of taking a private tour. Aside from not having to worry about potentially getting stuck, a guide can take you to various overlooks and landmarks that many visitors might otherwise miss. I can’t recommend this tour highly enough.
With that said, it’s also possible to see some of Cathedral Valley’s main landmarks without doing the full loop, while you could maybe even pull it off in a regular car!
The junction for the iconic monoliths known as the Temples of the Sun and Moon is just 15 miles down Cathedral Road from the main highway. Doing this shorter out-and-back drive would also allow you more time to do more hikes in the central part of Capitol Reef.
Day 10: Kodachrome Basin + Grand-Staircase Escalante
As with the journey between Moab and Torrey, there’s also tons to do and see between Torrey and southwest Utah. One major highlight is Kodachrome Basin State Park, which is easily one of the state’s prettiest smaller parks.
You’ll also be passing through the massive Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. But considering how big the National Monument is, it’s best to consider each of its landmarks as their own distinct attractions.
It contains no less than three slot canyons: the Zebra Slot Canyon, Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon, and Spooky Gulch. Some of them can even be combined into a single hike.
Note, however, that the canyons are often filled with water. And you won’t really know how deep the water is until you get there!
Other nearby attractions that are part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument include Devil’s Garden, which is known for its interesting rock formations, the Escalante Natural Bridge, and the Golden Cathedral.
EXTENDING YOUR TRIP: As mentioned, there’s so much more to see in this area than one can possibly fit into a single day. If time allows, you might want to consider adding an extra day to this part of your itinerary, which would allow you to visit Kodachrome Basin in addition to as many sites as you can throughout the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
One option is to spend a night in the town of Escalante. The town is home to hotels like Slot Canyon Inn and Cowboy Country Inn.
Otherwise, you could stay near Kodachrome Basin or Bryce Canyon and still use those towns or parks as bases for exploring the Grand Staircase-Escalante region (more below).
WHERE TO STAY NEAR BRYCE CANYON: The next National Park on this itinerary is Bryce Canyon, for which you have several different options to use as a base.
Just about twenty minutes away from Kodachrome Basin is the town of Tropic, where you’ll find several hotels. Highly rated options include Bryce Pioneer Village, Bryce Country Cabins and Bryce Canyon Country Inn. As their names suggest, Tropic also makes for an ideal base for visiting Bryce Canyon.
Not far away, meanwhile, is Bryce Canyon City, home to popular hotels such as Bryce View Lodge and the Best Western.
If you’re looking for a single base from which you can visit Bryce Canyon, Zion and Kodachrome Basin (not to mention plenty of other destinations), consider staying in Kanab.
Kanab is an hour and twenty minutes from Bryce Canyon, an hour and forty-five minutes from Kodachrome Basin, and 70 minutes from Zion National Park. It also offers easy access to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and numerous places in Arizona.
In the past, I’ve stayed before at Travelodge by Wyndham Kanab, a basic hotel that was perfect for resting after long days out in nature. They also provide free breakfast. Other popular options close to the center include Comfort Suites and the Hampton Inn.
Day 11: A Day at Bryce Canyon
The smallest of the Utah Mighty 5, Bryce Canyon National Park is nonetheless hailed by many as the most beautiful thanks to its iconic orange hoodoos. Most people, however, stick to the same few viewpoints and hikes, meaning it’s not that hard to leave the crowds behind.
While many itineraries for a day in Bryce Canyon largely focus on the Amphitheater’s Navajo Loop Trail, hiking enthusiasts should have plenty of time left over for the lesser-known Peekaboo Loop, arguably Bryce Canyon’s top activity.
A good point to start your day would be at Sunset Point, which overlooks the park’s stunning Amphitheater area. After making the short walk to Sunrise Point, you can then descend into the popular Queen’s Garden Trail. It directly connects to the Navajo Loop trail, which will ultimately take you back to Sunset Point (assuming you began at Sunrise Point).
The two trails combined are about 5 km and should take you a couple of hours to complete. These two trails also directly connect to the Peekaboo Loop Trail, which is arguably Bryce Canyon’s best.
However, after admiring the Inspiration Point and Bryce Point overlooks, you also have the option of descending into the Peekaboo Loop Trail via Bryce Point. On its own, the Peekaboo Loop Trail is about 5.5 miles (8.4 km) and takes a little over three hours to complete.
If you still have time left over when finished, go and check out some additional overlooks, such as Rainbow Point.
EXTENDING YOUR TRIP: As mentioned above, the town of Kanab is a good base for visiting Bryce Canyon. But you can also use Kanab as a base for several nights for more day trips. You can either head to Kanab following your trip to Kodachrome Basin (1 hr 45 min) or head there following your tour of Bryce Canyon.
Once in Kanab, you can visit surrounding sites such as the Toadstool Hoodoos, Old Paria (both part of Grand Staircase-Escalante) and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
Kanab also gives you access to the Vermillion Cliffs (The Wave & White Pocket), Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim), Buckskin Gulch, Dixie National Forest, Marble Canyon and more.
As mentioned above, if you decided to skip central Utah after Moab to visit Monument Valley instead, you can easily visit Kanab after your visit to Page, Arizona.
WHERE TO STAY NEAR ZION: Zion National Park is home to numerous campgrounds, which you can learn more about here. Just outside the park, meanwhile, is the town of Springdale, which features plenty of hotels and amenities.
High-rated hotels here include the Holiday Inn Express and the Cliffrose. Staying in this area will also give you access to the Springdale Line of the Zion shuttle which can bring you right up to the park, meaning there’s no rush to secure parking.
But you’ll also be fine staying well outside the park. Not only would this save you money, but a single town could serve as a base for multiple destinations, depending on how long you’re willing to drive each day.
St. George, the biggest city in southwest Utah, is one good option, and it’s about 70 minutes from Zion National Park. I’ve spent a few nights at the Red Lion Hotel, which was one of the better deals I’ve found in the Southwest. Another good option that won’t break the bank is the St. George Inn & Suites.
While St. George has a lot of amenities, one major downside is that it’s about 2 hours and 20 minutes from Bryce.
The smaller town of Hurricane is only 30-40 minutes away from Zion and features a number of quality Airbnbs. And that’s where I stayed during my recent visit. But it too is a bit far from Bryce.
You can also use Kanab as a base for Zion, as it’s also just about 70 minutes away from the park. However, if your final destination is Las Vegas, note that it’s about a 3 hour and 10-minute drive there from Kanab. The ride from St. George, in contrast, takes less than two hours (not including any stops).
Day 12: Explore Zion National Park
Zion National Park is Utah’s most-visited park, largely due to two particular hikes that are some of the country’s most unique: Angels Landing & The Narrows.
Despite both hikes being packed and hectic, they’re still well worth experiencing. Note that Angels Landing requires an advanced permit, while The Narrows does not. The permit can only be obtained through a lottery system and not everyone will get the chance to do this hike.
If you’re lucky enough to be granted a permit, then you’ll obviously want to hike The Narrows on a different day.
The first two miles of the full Angels Landing hike take you up to Scout Lookout. And from there, the official Angels Landing portion begins, which is about a half-mile each way. The hike is known for its metal chains which you’ll need to grab onto to make it to the top.
While not quite as scary or challenging as it’s often hyped up to be, you’ll definitely want to sit this one out if you have a fear of heights.
Hiking Angels Landing won’t take up your entire day, so either before or after, you can hike to the Emerald Pools which should take about 90 minutes in total. See our detailed guide for more.
But what if you failed to obtain an Angels Landing permit but still want to try more hikes besides The Narrows? Past Scout Lookout, you can hike further along the West Rim Trail without a permit. The views are excellent, while you’ll hardly encounter any crowds.
The Observation Point trail is another option, as it offers similar views to Angels Landing and no permit is required.
Day 13: Another Day at Zion
There are two ways to hike The Narrows: top down or bottom up. Doing the hike bottom up is the most popular method by far. But what exactly does that mean?
Essentially, hiking The Narrows bottom up entails getting off at the Temple of Sinawava shuttle stop and then hiking against the current. When finished, you’ll simply turn around and retrace your steps.
As you’ll be hiking with the current on your way back, the return journey is considerably easier and quicker.
As far as how long the hike lasts, that’s largely up to you. You’re free to stop and turn around at any point. But lots of hikers finish their journey at an area of the canyon known as Wall Street. In my case, it took me about three hours to reach Wall Street, and then about two for the return journey.
Technically, the furthest you’re allowed to go without a special permit is an area called Big Springs. But at around 5 miles from the starting point, relatively few hikers make it that far.
As mentioned, unlike Angels Landing, no permit is needed to hike The Narrows (a permit is required, however, for doing the hike top down).
Considering the uniqueness of the hike and how wet you’ll get, you’ll need to take special steps to get adequately prepared. See our detailed guide to learn more.
Day 14: Head to Las Vegas + Valley of Fire
From St. George, it’s about an hour and 45 minute drive to Las Vegas, while it’s just about two hours from Hurricane. Of course, you could easily end your trip on this day by booking a flight out of Las Vegas in the afternoon or evening.
But if you still have some time to spare, you’ll be passing by Nevada’s excellent Valley of Fire State Park on the way to Las Vegas. You can see most of the park over the course of several hours, and it’s well worth the extra stop.
EXTENDING YOUR TRIP: If you’ve made St. George, Utah your base for Zion, but still aren’t quite ready to head to Vegas, there are plenty of day trip options near the city.
The area is home to no less than three Utah State Parks, including Snow Canyon State Park, Sand Hollow State Park and Gunlock State Park, among various other natural wonders.
St. George is also probably the best base for the highly underrated Cathedral Gorge State Park in Nevada.
WHERE TO STAY IN LAS VEGAS: Tourists into gambling, nightlife and an all-around typical Las Vegas experience tend to stay on or near the Strip. This area is home to a myriad of hotels and casinos, many of which are household names, such as Mandalay Bay or Luxor.
Las Vegas, however, is a fast-growing city with new residential areas being built each year, and much of the greater metropolitan area feels surprisingly normal.
Some good choices outside of the strip area include Tahiti All-Suite Resort, South Point Hotel or Aloft Henderson, just to name a few.
Day 15: Fly Home
It’s here that this Utah Mighty 5 road trip itinerary finally comes to an end. But that doesn’t mean your travels have to stop . . .
EXTENDING YOUR TRIP: If your flight happens to be late at night, you could spend a morning/afternoon at Red Rock Canyon. Or, you could simply enjoy a more typical Las Vegas experience, if that’s what you’re into.
But if you have more time and are able to continue traveling, Las Vegas serves as the gateway to Death Valley. While you could visit the sites along Badwater Road as a day trip from Las Vegas, those wanting to do more thorough explorations should base themselves in Pahrump, Nevada, about an hour west of Las Vegas.
Be sure to check our comprehensive Death Valley itinerary for more info.
When finished with Death Valley, you could then explore the Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, and a whole lot more.
Utah's Mighty 5 in 7 days?
Trying to visit each one of Utah’s Mighty 5 in a single week is not recommended. If you only have a week, it would be better to choose two or three parks and spend more time in each.
But if you’re traveling from the other side of the world and may never get the chance to visit Utah again, it’s understandable that you’d want to see every National Park. What follows is a brief outline:
Day 1: Arrive in Salt Lake City in the morning or afternoon and immediately drive to Moab (about 4 hours)
Day 2: Visit Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky
Day 3: Visit Arches National Park, followed by a drive to Torrey, Utah (about 3 hours)
Day 4: Explore Capitol Reef National Park, followed by a drive to Bryce Canyon (about 2 hours)
Day 5: Explore Bryce Canyon National Park, followed by a drive to Hurricane or St. George (about 2.5 hours)
Day 6: A Day at Zion National Park
Day 7: Head to Las Vegas for your flight
Obviously, you could extend this itinerary in any way you like based on the longer itinerary above.
Additional Info
As the name suggests, the above Utah Mighty 5 itinerary features five National Parks. Rather than pay for each one separately, be sure to buy an ‘America the Beautiful’ Annual National Parks Pass before or at the beginning of your trip.
These cost $80 for the year. In most cases, you’re already saving money by just visiting four National Parks/Monuments anywhere in the country within a full year.
What’s more, is that only one person in your vehicle needs to have the pass. Additionally, seniors can buy the pass for just $20. So if you have someone over 62 in your party, just have them get the annual pass and everyone else will be set.
As for where to get the pass, you can purchase it in person at most National Parks or Monuments. But you can also order it in advance online.
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