The direct drive from Moab to Bryce Canyon National Park is 279 mi (449 km), and should have a drive time of 4 hrs 43 mins in normal traffic.
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Moab is known for the some of the best biking, four-wheeling, and hiking in the country. Next, keep in mind that Bryce Canyon is all high deserts and gets extremely cold during late fall, early spring, and most winter months; where Arches is lower in elevation and will keep you out of the extreme cold temperatures.
Bryce and Arches are both stunning. But Arches offer more variety. You can see a good portion of Bryce just from overlooks. And while the view of the hoodoos is otherworldly, if you're not a huge hoodoo fan, the view can start to grow monotonous.
The Southern Utah national park's beauty lent itself to making the park the second most popular park in the country, with over 5 million visitors per year. According to Travel Lens, Zion easily beat out other Utah national parks, though that is not to say Utah's parks should be slept on.
Drive, hike, ride horses and ride along rugged dirt roads. Three days and two nights in Bryce Canyon National Park will allow you time on America's favorite byway, trails that will quickly fill up your camera and a western nostalgia for the books.
We recommend at least 2 full days/ 3 nights for the Moab area. One day for Arches National Park and half a day to a day for Canyonlands National Park, plus the Dead Horse Point State Park. In addition, you can also take a short rafting tour, as we did. 3 days/4 nights would make your visit more relaxing.
There are so many possibilities on what to see and do if you have just 1 day in Moab. But if this is your first trip and you want to make the absolute most of it, I suggest that you visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks as well as Dead Horse Point State Park in one day.
Moab is located along Utah's Eastern border less than 50 miles from Colorado. Nearby metros are Salt Lake City to the north, Denver in the east, and Las Vegas out west. The surrounding national parks of Arches and Canyonlands, as well the La Sal Mountains make Moab an epicenter for the ruggedly awesome wilderness.
Can you do Bryce Canyon and the arches in one day? Yes, but barely, and it isn't recommended. It takes roughly 4 hours and 50 minutes to drive from Bryce Canyon National Park to Arches National Park, which would leave you with very little time to explore either park.
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is one of the park's most iconic historic structures. The Lodge and its surrounding motel structures are located a short walk from the park's iconic Bryce Amphitheater, and offer 114 rooms including lodge suites, motel rooms, and cabins. Reservations are highly recommended.
If you're only interested in seeing the highlights of Bryce Canyon and doing the scenic drive, one day is enough. If you plan to do some hiking too, I recommend spending 2 days in Bryce Canyon instead.
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.
Shoulder Season: February and NovemberFebruary (for springtime adventures) and November (for autumn fun) can be the best time to visit Moab and the national parks.
The entrance of Arches is located 5 miles (8km) north of Moab, along highway 191. Arches National Park is normally open year-round, 24 hours a day. The park is very busy between March and October.
Best Time To Visit MoabPeak tourist season is March 15 through May Sept and Oct. still busy in the summer but not as crazy as spring and fall. The summer slows a bit because temperatures can easily average 105 degrees.
If you're looking for challenging hikes through narrow canyons and along steep cliffs, Zion may be the better choice. If you're more interested in exploring unique rock formations and stunning arches, Arches may be the better choice.
Getting Around Moab, UTIf you're staying in the center of downtown, you'll likely be able to walk to restaurants and coffee shops throughout your visit, rather than dealing with parking.
Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park are approximately 80 miles apart and one can be reached from the other in under 2 hours by car, about 1 hour and 40 minutes without traffic. The fastest route between the two parks starts on Route 12, takes you south on Interstate 89 and then west on Route 9.
Should I Spend More Time in Zion or Bryce Canyon? Chances are, if you're heading to Bryce Canyon, you're probably also wanting to visit Zion National Park at the same time. These parks are only two hours apart, making it easy to see both! Zion definitely needs more time than Bryce Canyon.