Among the Utah Mighty Five, Bryce Canyon is by far the most famous and most visited, either because it proudly presents itself as one of the most beautiful national parks in the Southwest, or because its location is strategic so it can be included in the classic road trip from Las Vegas to visit parks and other more specific Utah road trips, such as the one to or from Moab along Utah Scenic Byway 12.
Previously, I provided information regarding the road trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, and in this article, I would like to give you some specific tips on how to organize a drive from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon and talk about travel distance, route options, organized tours, and any intermediate stops that you should include in the road trip.
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From Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon: Distance and Travel Time
The length of the trip from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon is often underestimated when organizing a road trip, especially by those who have little time and want to visit as many parks as possible. The shortest route is in fact 261 miles long and it takes about 4 hours, without breaks. Moreover, it is not the most beautiful route, which – as we will see – takes even longer.
Considering that a satisfactory visit to Bryce Canyon would take at least 3 hours, it makes sense that the departure from Las Vegas must be early enough, especially if you will also need to take into account the additional miles needed to reach the next overnight stop usually on the way to Page (Kanab, for example) or Moab (Boulder or Escalante, for example). This also applies to those who travel in the opposite direction, i.e. from Bryce Canyon to Las Vegas coming from Page or Moab. Finally, keep in mind that, due to the time difference between Nevada, Arizona and Utah, one hour is lost on the trip from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon.
The Shortest Route: I-15 N
Depart from Las Vegas, take the dull I-15 N (on this route, you will cross St. George), and get off at Exit 95 towards Panguitch/Circleville. From here, drive a few miles on the UT-20 to the junction with the US-89. Past Panguitch (Panguitch’s Main Street offers a modest tribute to the Far West), you enter the beautiful UT-12, cross the Red Canyon, and finally reach Bryce Canyon.
Alternative route with an overnight stay in St. George
If you have time to spare and would like to spend more time visiting the area between Nevada and Utah before reaching Bryce Canyon, you can plan your trip this way:
Day 1
- Depart from Las Vegas in the morning
- Visit the Valley of Fire (about 50 miles away from Las Vegas. It takes about 1 hour to get there). Ideally, you should visit the state park in the late morning at the latest to avoid the summer heat. Another option that allows you to stay out of the heat is to just drive through it so that you get an idea of the park, but obviously the more time and energy you dedicate to visiting the Valley of Fire (maybe going on a couple of trails) the better;
- Travel via I-15 N to St. George (distance 93 miles, about 1 hour and 40 minutes). If there is extra time in the afternoon, I suggest visiting one of the natural attractions in the city or in the immediate surroundings of St. George (for example, the hidden Sand Hollow State Park or the Snow Canyon).
- Overnight stay in St. George
Day 2
- Depart from St. George and drive on I-15 N heading north. On the way, I suggest taking a detour to Kolob Canyons (Exit 40 of I-15) for a quick but incredibly scenic tour of this remote section of Zion National Park.
- In this variation of the route, instead of taking Exit 95, take Exit 57 to Cedar City. Stay on the main road that cuts through the town until the junction with E Center St, turn right and continue on UT-14 until the junction with UT-148 N (left, towards Cedar Breaks/Panguitch/Parowan).
- From Cedar City, it takes about 35 minutes to get to Cedar Breaks National Monument, a hidden gem of Utah, which, as you read in the article, is a nice preview of what you will see at Bryce Canyon. Visiting this park won’t take you long, since you can also focus on the 4 vantage points along the UT-148.
WARNING! The UT-148 is closed from November to May!
Ignore this alternative route if you are traveling in this area during the low season.
- To get from Cedar Breaks National Monument to Bryce Canyon, continue on UT-143 S to Panguitch (from there, follow the directions of the short route). Alternatively, from Bryce Canyon, you can turn around on UT-14 and drive back to the intersection with US-89 N. Once you reach the intersection, turn left and drive to the intersection with UT-12. From there, follow the route as indicated in the previous paragraph.
- Visit Bryce Canyon and stay overnight in or near the park.
The Best Route: Scenic Highway 9
In addition to UT-148, which takes you to Bryce Canyon via Cedar Breaks during the high season, there is UT-9, a much more scenic route than I-15 N, that passes through a different area. Here’s how to get there:
- From Las Vegas, you have to get to St. George on the usual I-15. Shortly after St. George, take Exit 16 towards Hurricane and stay on UT-9. When you get to La Verkin, make sure to turn right at the traffic lights into the W 500 N to stay on the correct road and not return to the interstate.
- This is where the scenic UT-9 begins and it takes you on an unforgettable itinerary through the “outer section” of Zion National Park. This is such a beautiful road that we decided to dedicate an article to it. Read it carefully and take note of stops and things to see. Remember that a section of this road is part of Zion National Park and is therefore subject to a fee (included in the annual national parks pass).
- UT-9 ends at Mount Carmel Junction, where it intersects with US-89. At the intersection, turn left and drive until you reach UT-12 on your right. From there, drive a few miles and you’ll approach Red Canyon and then Bryce Canyon.
As you can see below, compared to the shorter route which there are fewer miles to drive, but – since UT-9 is not an interstate – the route has more curves and you must drive at a moderate speed and slow down when necessary.
Moreover – unlike the first case – it is unthinkable not to make a few intermediate stops to admire the scenery or go on a short side trip. It goes without saying, therefore, that the travel time can reach almost 5 hours! In my opinion, those who want to travel this route to reach Bryce Canyon should seriously consider staying overnight in St. George (or Hurricane or La Verkin), to really enjoy this route and arrive at Bryce Canyon at a decent hour. If you don’t have time for an intermediate stop overnight, you’ll want to leave Las Vegas early enough in the morning to arrive at Bryce Canyon in the early afternoon at the latest.
Tips for an overnight stay at Bryce Canyon
Tips for an overnight stay in St. George
Drive from Las Vegas to Zion and Bryce Canyon
Between Las Vegas and Bryce Canyon, there is Zion National Park, which is a real gem. Let’s see how you can visit it as you travel between the two destinations.
Zion and Bryce Canyon in one day: Is it possible?
I know, I know. It is very tempting. When you reach Springdale while you drive along the scenic UT-9, you’ll be practically at the gates of Zion. What am I saying? UT-9 goes through Zion for a long stretch, and as a result, you will be required to pay the entrance fee for Zion. However, UT-9 is not the Zion Scenic Drive, which is the main road in the park that all the trails start from (which is only accessible by shuttle bus during the high season).
That’s right. As you may have guessed, when you drive along UT-9, you will only get a quick glimpse of the beauty of Zion that deserves to be fully enjoyed rather than being glanced at during a brief visit. So you’ll ask can’t I also visit Zion while I’m there? Wouldn’t it be better for me to interrupt my trip on UT-9 and go down Zion Scenic Drive for a few hours and postpone my arrival at Bryce Canyon for a few hours?
I have answered that question here too, but before you open the link, I can already tell you that the answer is no. If possible, avoid visiting two national parks in one day. If you want to visit both parks starting from Las Vegas, follow the itinerary I suggest below.
Recommended Itinerary
In this case, it is also ideal to leave St. George, to give Zion all the attention it deserves (the distance between the city and the park is 1 hour). However, since there is “just” a 2 hour and 30 minute drive between Las Vegas and Zion, you can also decide to leave directly from there.
- Depart from Las Vegas or St. George;
- Drive along the first stretch of UT-9 (see above) to the entrance to Zion Scenic Drive;
- Take a tour of the park by shuttle bus or car (depends on the time of year you visit). The minimum time needed to visit Zion in my opinion is 3 hours, but if you enjoy hiking, keep in mind that there are trails that can take more than half a day. Read my article on the best things to do in Zion National Park to better plan your visit.
- If you left from Las Vegas and/or are particularly tired after visiting the park, you may decide to stay overnight in Springdale, which is not far at all from the park entrance. If you spent the night in St. George and you’re still energetic after visiting the park, you can decide to drive further towards Bryce Canyon by traveling on the last stretch of UT-9 and staying in one of the towns recommended in the link below.
Tips on where to stay between Zion and Bryce Canyon
Itinerary Map
Las Vegas to Bryce: Bus Tours
From Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon
If you’re in Las Vegas but don’t have the opportunity, time, or desire to travel independently by car, you can always rely on an organized tour. There is an interesting package that includes:
- Pick-up at the hotel and drop-off
- Transportation in an air-conditioned minivan
- Admission to Bryce Canyon
- Breakfast and packed lunch
The tour lasts 12 hours and 30 minutes and departs from Las Vegas at 7:00 am. The guided tour to the park lasts 3 hours, which, in my opinion, is more than enough time to visit it.
More information about the tour
From Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon with a stop at Zion National Park
If you really can’t give up the idea of visiting both Zion and Bryce on the same day, you can join this tour leaving from Las Vegas. Since you’ll be visiting two national parks in just 24 hours, you’ll have to expect somewhat more superficial excursions and, in general, a not-so-relaxing experience. The main advantage – besides the rare chance to see two natural beauties of this magnitude in such a short time – is that you won’t have to drive for so long. The tour includes:
- Pick up at the hotel and drop-off
- Transportation in an air-conditioned minivan
- Admission to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park
- Lunch and snacks