Utah's Mighty Five From Vegas
From Las Vegas, discover Utah's famous five national parks, with plenty of time for hiking and enjoying the spectacular desert scenery. Explore the incredible landscapes of Zion National Park, make your way to Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, see ancient petroglyphs along the Colorado River and discover the iconic rock formations of Arches National Park. Choose a hike to suit you in Capitol Reef National Park, enjoy the views of Bryce Canyon, opt to rise early for sunrise at Bryce Point and end your trip back in the glittering city of Las Vegas.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour overview
Itinerary
Day 1 Vegas to Zion National Park
Day 1 Vegas to Zion National Park
Las Vegas - Zion National Park - Cedar City. This morning we depart Las Vegas for the three hour drive to Zion National Park. Along the way, we pass through the northern region of the Mojave Desert, through the Virgin Gorge and into the red rock landscapes of St. George, Utah. By late morning, we arrive at Zion National Park and start exploring Zion Canyon.
From roughly March until the end of Thanksgiving, access to Zion Canyon is provided by a hop-on, hop-off shuttle bus, operating on a first-come, first-serve basis. Outside of this period, private vehicles are allowed into the canyon. Regardless of the mode of transportation, we will get to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Zion Canyon.
You can choose to spend our time here hiking or utilizing the shuttle to visit the various stops. Hiking options include scaling up to Scouts Lookout for breathtaking views of Angels Landing and Zion Canyon, embarking on a longer hike through the Zion Canyon Narrows, or enjoying a leisurely walk along the flat Pa’rus Trail with views of towering cliffs. For easier hikes, consider the Emerald Pools Trail or the Riverside Walk, each taking about two hours to complete.
The length of our stay in Zion Canyon will depend on the available time and weather conditions. Depending on the time of year and daylight hours, we may also visit the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park, where we can take a walk to the Timber Creek Overlook to experience a different aspect of Zion.
After our visit to Zion National Park, we head to our hotel in Cedar City.
Accommodation: Best Western Plus Cedar City or similar
Please note: This tour departs early on day 1, so please arrive in Las Vegas the day before your tour starts. Please also note that on select departures, this itinerary is reversed, and runs in the opposite direction. All touring and inclusions remain the same.
Day 2 Canyonlands National Park
Day 2 Canyonlands National Park
Cedar City - Zion National Park - Canyonlands National Park - Moab. Today, we embark on a four hour drive to Canyonlands National Park. Along the way, we travel along the rugged Hurricane Cliffs and pass by the vibrant Tushar Mountains. Depending on the group's preferences, we might stop at Eagle Canyon Overlook, Ghost Rock, and other viewpoints along Interstate 70, showcasing otherworldly landscapes.
Following lunch in the town of Green River, we spend the rest of the day exploring the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. We see the famous Mesa Arch and other breathtaking sights including Grand Viewpoint, Green River Overlook, Candlestick Tower, an Ancestral Puebloan granary, and more.
We spend tonight in Moab, an adventure-resort town known for its array of restaurants, microbreweries, shops, and galleries.
Accommodation: Moab Valley Inn or similar
Day 3 Arches & Capitol Reef national parks
Day 3 Arches & Capitol Reef national parks
Moab - Arches National Park - Torrey. Today we start early to beat the crowds at Arches National Park. We’ll spend the morning exploring the park's timeless landscapes and unusual rock formations, most notably the natural arches eroded from solid sandstone. Depending on time and parking availability, our stops may include Courthouse Towers, Park Avenue, Balanced Rock, Double Arch, the Windows Section with Turret Arch, North and South Window, and a hike to Delicate Arch.
At around midday, we head back to Moab for lunch before making our way to Goblin Valley State Park. This park is a unique and lesser-known destination featuring more unusual rock formations and is located just outside Capitol Reef. We'll spend some time walking around these natural creations and recall movies that were filmed here.
We then cruise along the Fremont River, pass by the unique monolith of Factory Butte, and reach Capitol Reef National Park. Time permitting, we’ll explore the Grand Wash Narrows, a deep sandstone chasm, or Hickman Bridge, a 133-foot natural bridge, before stopping at Panoramic Point. Finally, we head to Torrey for the evening
Accommodation: Broken Spur Inn or similar
Day 4 Bryce Canyon National Park
Day 4 Bryce Canyon National Park
Torrey - Capitol Reef National Park - Bryce Canyon National Park - Bryce City. We spend the morning exploring more of Capitol Reef, with stops and short hikes that might include Cohab Canyon, Cassidy Arch, Chimney Rock, or Sulphur Creek. Heading onto Scenic Highway 12, we enjoy the views of one of the United States' most celebrated routes. The scenic allure of Highway 12 is largely due to its passage through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. As we navigate this route, we'll cross the narrow Hoggs Back and travel through the canyons of Calf Creek. We pass the Gray Cliffs and the Kaiparowits Plateau, where paleontologists have recently uncovered many exciting dinosaur fossils. The journey continues to Bryce Canyon National Park for a short hike to Mossy Cave, and then it's on to our accommodation in Bryce City.
Accommodation: Ruby’s Inn or similar
Day 5 Back to Vegas
Day 5 Back to Vegas
Bryce City - Las Vegas. Consider getting up early to enjoy sunrise from Bryce Point. It’s a popular spot and absolutely stunning! Our morning agenda includes various hiking and sightseeing opportunities. For those seeking a more challenging hike, we offer an extended trek through the Bryce Amphitheatre, either on the Queen’s Garden Trail or the Peekaboo Loop. Those who prefer a leisurely pace can enjoy a stroll between Sunrise Point and Sunset Point. Similar to Zion, Bryce also features a seasonal shuttle bus service, allowing visitors to explore different viewpoints. Whether you choose to hike or sightsee, you'll have ample time to discover this enchanting landscape filled with unique hoodoos, arches, windows, and spires.
After lunch we begin our return journey to Las Vegas, passing through Red Canyon and stopping in the East Section of Zion National Park. Here we can admire the distinct sandstone monoliths and towers, different from those in Zion Canyon. Our tour comes to an end on arrival back in Las Vegas at approximately 18:00.
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Prices & Dates
Hotels
Located in the town centre, this relaxed hotel in a low-rise redbrick building is a 10-minute walk from the Southern Utah Museum of Art and 4.8 km from Cedar City Regional Airport. The casual, warmly decorated rooms offer free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, along with microwaves, mini-fridges, and tea and coffee makers. Guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast and nightly barbecues, loaner bikes, and fresh produce from the hotel's garden. Additional amenities include a fitness room, an ice cream shop, a seasonal outdoor pool and hot tub, a furnished terrace, a life-sized chess board, and an outdoor movie theatre.
This modest hotel is 10 kilometres from Arches National Park and 50 kilometres from Dead Horse Point State Park. The straightforward rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, minifridges, and Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy a continental breakfast, and additional amenities include an indoor/outdoor pool, a hot tub, a gym, and a picnic area with BBQ grills, along with coin-operated laundry facilities and a business centre.
Located 6.5 kilometres from Capitol Reef National Park, this rustic, Western-themed hotel is 53 kilometres from Boulder Mountain. The warmly decorated rooms, styled in a Southwestern manner, offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and views of the park or canyon, along with minifridges and coffeemakers; microwaves are available on request. A hot breakfast buffet is served in a relaxed, wood-paneled steakhouse, and additional facilities include a bakery/café, a beauty salon, an indoor pool, and a hot tub.
Situated off UT-63 N, this rustic, lodge-style hotel is 6.4 km from both the iconic stone formations in Bryce Canyon National Park and the Bryce Wildlife Adventure museum. The relaxed rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and desks, along with microwaves, mini fridges, and coffee makers. Amenities include a cowboy-themed buffet restaurant, a baseball court, and indoor and seasonal outdoor pools. There's also a convenience store, a 24/7 coin-operated laundry, and mountain bike rentals are available.
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