Can you drive your own car through Bryce Canyon?

From mid-April to November, Bryce Canyon National Park offers a free shuttle service to all the major viewpoints in the park. You aren't required to use the shuttle here like you are at some other parks (like Zion and the Grand Canyon), meaning you can still choose to drive your own car if you want.



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If you're visiting the amphitheater, take the shuttle because parking will be difficult to find. But if you're watching a sunrise, you'll need to drive and park by the Amphitheater because the shuttle doesn't start running until 8:00 am. For the Scenic Drive, you'll need to drive your car.

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Like many national parks, Bryce gets crowded from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Parking at popular lots, like the visitor center or lodge, is incredibly difficult in the middle of the day. I recommend arriving before sunrise to take in the glowing hoodoos in the morning light.

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Several days throughout the year have been designated as fee free days at your national parks including Bryce Canyon National Park. On these days, entrance fees will not be charged, however, camping and other use fees will still be collected. To find out the fee free days visit the Fee Free Days website.

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Bryce's Scenic Drive Bryce Canyon National Park has one main road through the park, from the visitor center up to Rainbow Point. The 18-mile (each way) drive takes about 3 hours in total and gains 1,221 feet up to Rainbow Point, the highest point in the park at 9,115 feet.

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Since southern Utah is a bit of a haul from any major cities, many visitors make Bryce Canyon part of a larger Utah road trip. Though it's a smaller park and some people will spend less than a full day in Bryce Canyon, I recommend spending one to two full days here to really explore all that the park has to offer.

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There's no option for more entrances into Bryce Canyon. So, sadly, Bryce Canyon offers only one entrance for the public. It's at the north end of the park and controls all the traffic in and out of the park.

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While the shuttle is not required, it does provide the most predictable way to enjoy the park's iconic Bryce Amphitheater area of the park while also helping reduce congestion and both noise and air pollution.

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That depends on the type of experience you are looking for. If you're interested in exploring the unique hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park is the better option, as it offers a variety of trails and viewpoints. On the other hand, Zion National Park has more adventurous hikes and back-country opportunities.

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Both of these Parks offer great outdoor activities for all ages. For canyoneering and rappelling, Zion beats Bryce. You'll find world-class hiking in either Park, but in Zion you can find yourself hiking through streams or on sandstone ledges, like Angels Landing – one of the scariest hikes in the world!

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The Direct Route is safe - that said, you'll face sharp turns in the form of switchbacks. Switchbacks are roads with sharp ascents and descents cutting back one on another, so it's good to be prepared for this before you set off on your trip. If you're scared of heights, there's no need to be concerned.

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Riding the Free Bryce Canyon Shuttle The Bryce Amphitheater Shuttle runs regularly on 15 minute intervals from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with extended hours to 8 p.m. in summer, and brings visitors to areas of interest, viewpoints, and trailheads within the Bryce Amphitheater area of the park.

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Be sure to stay safe by following these guidelines: Choose appropriate footwear: Wearing shoes or boots not designed for hiking is the number one cause of rescues and injuries that require hospital visits at Bryce Canyon National Park.Wear hiking boots with good ankle support and lug traction.

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If you're planning a trip to Bryce Canyon, it is important to take into consideration your tolerance for crowds and unpredictable weather. By and large the busiest time to visit the park are the summer months (June through September). In fact, sixty percent of park visitors come during this time.

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