How To Spend 3 Days In Zion And Bryce Canyon

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Photo of a deep canyon floor flanked by tall red rock mountains in Zion National Park on a clear sunny day

Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks make for a perfect long weekend getaway or midweek escape. Why? Because they’re easy to access from Las Vegas airport, they’re very close to one another, and they’re filled with adventure hikes and unique photo spots. But how long should you spend in each park? And what should you prioritize?

In this guide we walk you through the perfect 3 days in Zion and Bryce Canyon itinerary, based on our experiences.

Our Experience

Couple hugging on a cold day in Bryce Canyon national park after sunset
Here we are at Sunset Point in Bryce not long after the sun had set

Between trips in October 2019 and December 2021 we’ve spent 6 full days in Zion and 2 full days in Bryce Canyon. So, we know the parks well. Zion is one of our favorite places to hike in the US (it really lives up to the hype) and Bryce Canyon has one of the most uniquely photogenic landscapes we’ve seen after traveling the world for 6 years. Not a bad pair!

From the experiences we’ve gained, we’re going to show you how we would spend 3 days in Zion and Bryce Canyon if it were our first time visiting. Now, the major issue is hiking. Zion’s iconic trails like The Narrows and Angels Landing take up a lot of valuable time, and we know not every visitor is a big hiker. So, later in the guide we’ll also cover a non-hikers itinerary. Read more about us.

What You Need To Know

Hiker stood on the edge of a rocky viewpoint overlooking Zion canyon below at sunset
Here’s Kristen enjoying the sunset view from Canyon Overlook in Zion

Okay, let’s get right into the thick of it. No matter how much time you want to spend in either park or whether you’re into hiking or not, here are the most important things you need to know about planning your trip:

  • Zion is 166 miles (2h 40m) from Las Vegas airport
  • Bryce Canyon is 84 miles (1h 45m) from Zion
  • You need hiking permits for some of Zion’s top trails
  • Permits are not required for Bryce Canyon’s popular areas
  • Angels Landing and The Narrows are Zion’s two iconic trails
  • Queens Garden Navajo Loop is Bryce Canyon’s top hike
  • Zion’s main canyon can only be access by shuttle March-November
  • Flash floods in the summer can cause issues at Zion
  • Zion is spread out across various regions
  • Bryce Canyon is much smaller and easier to visit
  • Zion is for hikers and Bryce is for photographers
  • Springdale is a fantastic place to stay for Zion
  • Bryce Canyon City and Tropic are best for Bryce

Entry Fees: It costs $35/vehicle to enter both Zion and Bryce Canyon for a total of $70. The price includes driver and all passengers. Alternatively, you can use an America the Beautiful Pass to enter both parks.

Remember: It’s impossible to create a one-size-fits-all itinerary for these parks because everyone will do it differently based on Zion’s hikes. For instance, you might use up an entire day hiking for 8 hours inside The Narrows. Or you might prefer to escape the crowds and go to Zion’s Kolob Canyons region instead. Our example itinerary below is based on how we would do it.

Route Map

Click or touch the map below to activate. Zoom in and out, move around the map and you’ll see icons for each day’s activities. You can also click on the “view larger map” icon in the top right to expand the map, which is much easier to see.

Map key:

  • Orange – Day 1
  • Blue – Day 2
  • Purple – Day 3
Infographic created by Where Are Those Morgans showing a 3 days Zion and Bryce Canyon road trip itinerary
Infographic we created based on how we’d spend 3 days in both parks

Day 1

The Narrows

Hiker wading through waist deep water with waterproof backpack in a narrow canyon
Here’s Mark wading through water in The Narrows

The Narrows is a truly unique hike, and we’ve never done anything like it before or since. So, we would personally spend our first day hiking to Big Springs, which is the furthest permitted point on a bottom-up day hike (which doesn’t require a permit). Wading through a narrow river slot canyon in ankle, shin and waist deep water was one of the coolest hiking experiences we’ve had.

In summer you can do it in regular hiking gear, but any other time of year you’ll need to hire waterproofs to stay warm. We got the dry pants package at Zion Outfitter. But more importantly, you must take a sturdy wooden pole or you won’t get far. Remember you can turn around at any point, whether it’s 30 minutes or 4 hours into the hike. It took us 8 hours total to hike the whole thing.

The Watchman

Sunset view over the Virgin River with colorful clouds over the water and red rock mountains
This was the stunning sunset we watched at Canyon Junction Bridge

Head back to Springdale, return your waterproofs and grab a late meal in town. There’s a bunch of great places to eat in Springdale, which is another reason we recommend staying there. Let your food go down and recharge after The Narrows, then head up Watchman Trail in time for sunset. Alternatively, walk the Pa’rus Trail to photograph Canyon Junction Bridge at sunset. We enjoyed both.

Alternative Options

Unique tunnel like rock formation with orange light glowing and shallow emerald colored pools in The Subway in Zion National Park
This was what we found at the end of hiking The Subway (wow!)

How far you hike into The Narrows is probably the biggest decision you’ll make when you visit the two parks. If you only hike it for an hour or two instead of 8 hours (or don’t hike it at all), you have the rest of the first day free. We’d suggest driving to Kolob Canyons to hike Taylor Creek Trail and Timber Creek Overlook (easier hikes), or hiking The Subway (which is awesome) instead with this permit.

Day 2

Angels Landing

Photo of a hiking trail leading up a narrow rocky ledge high up above long drops into a canyon below at dawn in Zion National Park
We took this amazing photo of Angels Landing at sunrise when we were the only two hikers on the trail

Start by hiking up to Angels Landing with this permit. We strongly recommend applying for a pre-9:00am permit so you can summit before it gets busy. The only time we’ve even been scared on a hike was when we climbed Angels Landing during the day in October before permits were required. So we set off in the dark second time around, summiting as the only 2 people at sunrise. And it was immense.

Emerald Pools

Photo of a hiker walking along a narrow path next to a tall red rock cliff wall like a half-tunnel
Here’s Kristen walking underneath the wispy waterfall dropping into Lower Emerald Pool

At the bottom, continue hiking on Kayenta Trail and connect to Emerald Pools Trail. This is one of the most popular family friendly hikes in Zion so it’ll likely be busy in the mid-morning. But it turned out to be better than we expected, so make sure you see all three of the pools and waterfalls before heading back into Springdale for lunch.

Canyon Overlook

Hiker walking through a cave on a sunny day in Utah
This was Kristen walking back to our car after hiking to Canyon Overlook

After lunch, drive through Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel and park in the lot immediately on the far side. If there are no spaces, park on the roadside further ahead. We had issues parking in October but it was quiet in December. Once parked, hike the easy trail to Zion Canyon Overlook for a magnificent view. We’d say this is the best bang for your buck hike in Zion, so don’t miss it.

Sunset Point

Couple sat on a bench in Bryce Canyon National Park waiting for the sun to set
Here we are waiting for the sun to set on a cool October evening

If you have time, stop at Many Pools on the way out of Zion. Otherwise, set your GPS for Bryce Canyon Sunset Point and hit the road. It’s likely getting close to sunset now, so make sure you’re at the viewpoint to watch the sunlight slowly turn to shadows inside Bryce’s amphitheater.

Alternative Options

Photo of two hikers sat next to each other looking out at a far reaching view over a vast canyon floor with towering red rock cliffs to either side
Here we are enjoying the incredible view from Canyon Overlook

You could hike Angels Landing between 9:00am-12:00pm or after 12:00pm instead of going up early. This would allow you to hike the other trails first. Another alternative is to spend more time in Zion, hike Canyon Overlook for sunset (our favorite time for the view) and drive to Bryce Canyon in the dark. The sunset at Bryce isn’t as good as the sunrise, so this is a feasible option.

 

Day 3

Sunrise Point

Bryce Canyon amphitheater at sunrise with burning red light illuminating the hoodoos
This was our amazing sunrise over the amphitheater

Waking up early might not sound like fun, but the sunrise over Bryce Canyon amphitheater is mesmerizing. It’s easily up there with our favorite photo spots in the US, so we encourage you not to miss it. Just make sure you check the weather report to make sure it’s going to be clear first, so you don’t wake up early for nothing!

Queens Garden Navajo Loop

Series of switchbacks leading down into a narrow sandstone canyon with hikers on a trail
These are the cool switchbacks leading down into Navajo Loop

Straight after the sunrise, head down Queens Garden Trail which is conveniently located just a few steps away. Slowly walk through the maze-like amphitheater and don’t forget to take a ton of photos. Queens Garden is more open with desert vegetation, then Navajo Loop has slot canyons and fun rock formations like Thor’s Hammer to discover.

Bryce Scenic Drive

Ponderosa Point sign marker in Bryce Canyon showing elevation of 8904 feet
Viewpoints in Bryce get up into the 8,900’s in elevation

Once you’re back up to the rim, hop in your car and drive down Bryce Canyon Road. Personally, we drove all the way to the end and then stopped at each viewpoint on the way back. But you could stop at each point on the way down instead. Our favorites were Rainbow Point, Ponderosa Canyon, Bryce Point and Inspiration Point.

Alternative Options

Tall and thick orange hoodoo needles made of sandstone in Utah with deep blue sky behind
This was our view looking back up from Queens Garden Trail

The other major hike in Bryce Canyon is called Fairyland Loop Trail, which is longer and more challenging but much quieter. You could skip the sunrise and scenic drive and hike both the popular trails instead.

Need help planning your trip to Zion?

Our popular Zion travel guidebook helps you with planning every aspect of your visit, including the unmissable hikes, where to eat and stay, itinerary ideas and map!

View Zion Guidebook
Where Are Those Morgans Zion travel guidebook

Non-Hikers Itinerary

Day 1

Hiker sat on rocks overlooking a huge valley with mountains in Utah
Here’s Mark enjoying the impressive view over Kolob Canyons from Timber Creek Overlook

After breakfast, start with a drive over to Kolob Canyon. Go all the way to the end of the road and walk out to Timber Creek Overlook. It’s really easy and it leads to dramatic views. Next, head back to Springdale and shuttle into the main canyon. Without too much effort you can walk to Lower Emerald Pool and Kayenta Trail, before stopping in at Zion Lodge for lunch and a beer.

Hop on a shuttle up to Temple of Sinawava and take the Riverside Walk so you can see the beginning of The Narrows. Next, shuttle all the way down to Canyon Junction Bridge and enjoy the views before walking back to the visitor center on Pa’rus Trail. Finally, head out into Springdale for dinner.

Day 2

Sunset over Bryce Canyon with shadows and light contrasting heavily
Intense lights and shadows contrasting as the sun began to set

Drive through Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel and park on the far side. We know this is a non-hikers itinerary, but we recommend giving Canyon Overlook a go if you’re able to hike a short and relatively easy trail. Even if you take it slowly, this one is worth the effort.

Next, stop for a quick look around at Many Pools and Checkerboard Mesa. Grab lunch at Thunderbird Restaurant and then drive up to Bryce Canyon. Take an easy stroll around the rim and stay out to watch the sunset.

Day 3

Doorway cut out of sandstone to create a hiking trail in a sunny sandy landscape
We walked through this doorway on the Queens Garden hike

Start at dawn with one of the best photo spots in Bryce Canyon aptly named Sunrise Point. Then grab breakfast and hop in your car to drive down Bryce Canyon Road. Take it easy and stop at all the roadside pullovers for different perspectives of the surrounding landscape. If you feel like you can, try hiking down Queens Garden even if just a small portion so you can immerse yourself into the hoodoos.

When To Visit

Photo of Zion Outfitter building not long after sunrise with tall red rock mountains and a clear blue sky behind
We hired our waterproofs for The Narrows from Zion Outfitter in Springdale

Okay, so when is a good time to plan your Zion and Bryce Canyon itinerary? Well, we visited both parks in October and Zion again in December. And the difference was staggering. Zion was jam-packed in October, which meant trails were busy, restaurants were full and hotels were expensive. Whereas in December is was the complete opposite.

Summers are hot in southwest Utah. It’s also the busiest and most expensive time to visit places like Zion and Bryce Canyon, so we would personally avoid months like July and August if possible. We know families with kids might not have any other choice, but if you do have flexibility we’d suggest visiting between November-April when it’s quieter.

Remember, late spring and early summer is when water levels are high and flash floods are more common in Zion. The water level was pretty low inside The Narrows and The Subway when we hiked them in October, which made them safer. Read our guides on the best time to visit Zion and visiting Zion in the winter to learn more.

Where To Stay

Sunrise over tall red sandstone mountains from a hotel at dawn
This was a sunrise view we had from a hotel in Springdale

Springdale, Virgin, La Verkin and Hurricane are the places you should consider staying near Zion National Park. La Verkin and Hurricane offer cheaper lodging because they’re less convenient, and Virgin has unique luxury glamping accommodations. For us, Springdale is the best place to stay near Zion because it has lots of hotels and restaurants on the park’s doorstep, and it also had a great vibe. Read our guide on where to stay near Zion to learn more.

Here are three excellent lodging options in Springdale:

Bryce Canyon City and Tropic are the two best areas to book accommodation for Bryce Canyon. There are more alternatives, but we recommend starting with those two areas because they’re more convenient for the itinerary and they offer better quality lodging.

Here are three popular hotels in Bryce Canyon City and Tropic:

Tip: Head over to our sister site Best Hotels Anywhere to read our guides on the top rated hotels in each place near Zion.

Camping

Tourist cooking food on a small gas stove at a campground bench on a sunny day
Here’s Mark cooking up a storm at Sunset Campground

If you can’t find any hotel availability or prices are too high, why not try camping at Zion and Bryce Canyon instead? We’ve camped at both parks and although the nights in October were colder than we expected, they were both great campgrounds because they were perfectly located for exploring.

We have a fond memory from Watchman campground in Zion: we were starving after spending 8 hours hiking The Narrows and Mark decided it was a good idea to boil potatoes on our tiny stove for a classic British dish of bangers, mash and beans. It took ages and Kristen was not a happy camper!

Here are the campgrounds:

Both parks sell out of their advanced campground reservations within minutes of going on sale, so you need to be online and ready to book at the exact time they go live. If they’re all sold out, take advantage of our no strings 30 day free trial for The Dyrt Pro and get alerts about campground cancellations so you can snag a last minute spot.

Where To Eat At Both Parks

Healthy meal of potatoes chicken and salad on a tray on a table
This was Mark’s dinner at Camp Outpost in Springdale

Springdale is filled with excellent places to eat, and some even stay open year round so you won’t struggle for food around Zion. It has a chilled outdoorsy vibe which we loved after spending all day hiking. But Bryce Canyon isn’t so great for food. We think Tropic is the better place to plan your meals nearby.

Restaurants Near Zion

Restaurants Near Bryce Canyon

The Morgan Conclusion

Photo of two hikers in winter clothes on a sandy trail with orange sandstone formations behind on a sunny day in Bryce Canyon National Park
Here we are hiking Queens Garden Navajo Loop Trail

We think planning a Zion and Bryce Canyon itinerary is easy once you know how much hiking you want to do. That’s the key point. Three days is a great amount of time if you plan to take on some of the more popular hikes like The Narrows, but leave others like The Subway for a later visit. Two days in Zion and one day in Bryce Canyon is about right for a first time visit for the average person.

But if you don’t intend on hiking any major trails and want to know if you can see the highlights of both parks in 2 days, the answer is yes. A day in each park would be enough for non-hikers. With that said, you’ll need 4 or even 5 days if you want to do Angels Landing, The Narrows, The Subway, all other popular hikes in Zion and still go to Bryce Canyon. It all depends on how much you want to hike.

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We hope our Zion and Bryce Canyon itinerary helps with planning your visit to Utah!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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14 thoughts on “How To Spend 3 Days In Zion And Bryce Canyon”

  1. Mark and Kristen, what fabulous and thorough descriptions plus a multitude of resources you offer your blog readers. Thank you so much for doing the work, so we don’t have to.

    My friend and I are planning a trip in October to Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon Southern Rim and Valley of Fire ( as you suggest with such difficulty winning the lottery for the Wave), Plus, we want to spend a few days in Sedona.

    We enjoy hiking but in our 70s, we hike less vigorous trails than our energetic spirits would like. I am an amateur photographer and am beyond excited about our up and coming trip.

    Were flying in from Boston and plan to be in the area for about 10-12 days. Any suggestions on where to go first and where to fly in and out of. Of course, we will be renting a car. Any advice you have will be appreciated.

    Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm for traveling!

    Reply
    • Hi Ellen, thank you for getting in touch and it sounds like a fantastic trip you have planned. We are more than happy to help! You could do this trip in so many ways but we would suggest flying into Las Vegas and flying out of Phoenix. Start with Valley of Fire on the way to Zion from Las Vegas, then go to Bryce Canyon, before driving through Kanab to Page. The Wave is exceptionally photogenic so definitely try to win a permit (you can do daily lottery 2 days in advance). If not continue to Page for Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon (book this in advance). Next you drive down to South Rim and then Sedona is not too far from the Grand Canyon. After Sedona it is just 2 hours to Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. This is the most efficient route for the spots you want to see. You could always do it in reverse as well. October is a great time to do this trip because temperatures are comfortable, hotels have more availability and better rates, and it is less crowded than summer. Hope this helps and you have a wonderful time!

      Reply
  2. I really loved reading your post, quite insightful. I know the amount of time you might have invested in typing all of these. I really hope I get to travel like you.

    Reply
  3. With only a day to do both, it sounds like Zion is a pretty intense hiking area. Would we be better if doing a couple of hikes in Bryce and just grabbing the scenic view points in Zion? For the record we are not hardcore hikers.

    Where would u recommend staying in Bryce?

    Thx!

    Reply
    • Hi Bev, yes if you only have one day it’s a better idea to drive through Zion. Take the shuttle bus into the main Zion canyon just to look around, maybe even hike one of the smaller quicker trails like Emerald Pools. Drive up to the tunnel but park as soon as you get through the other side and hike Zion Canyon Overlook, it’s really short and easy but leads to a fantastic viewpoint. Then you can continue on to Bryce, hike Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop, then watch sunset on the rim and stay at Best Western Plus which has the best hotel rating in Bryce. Hope that helps and have a great trip!

      Reply
    • @Mark and Kristen Morgan, thanks for the insight! Looking forward to this trip! We are heading there on our way to Vegas, driving from Alberta. Any pointers on things to see on the way? Coming via Montana

      Reply
      • That will be a fantastic drive down! Glacier National Park (although you’ve probably already been and it’s similar to parts of Alberta), Yellowstone and Grand Teton are both well worth driving through even if you don’t have time to stop, SLC is a great city to explore, Bryce Canyon and Zion as we discussed for sure, also try stopping at Valley of Fire state park not far from Las Vegas and hike Fire Wave. Capitol Reef is another nice stop before Bryce if you have extra time, you can then drive the picturesque UT-12 to Bryce. Even though we’ve done all those places a few times, talking about it makes us want to go again! Have fun!

        Reply
  4. Would it make sense to drive from Vegas to Bryce Canyon just to get the further driving done. So Day 1- Fly to Vegas and drive to Bryce, Day 2- Bryce Canyon and drive to Zion, Day 3- Zion, Day 4- Zion, Day 5- Drive back to Vegas

    Reply
    • Hi Jen – Yes that definitely works, ideally you would arrive into Bryce for sunset, then do sunrise in the amphitheater and spend the day hiking before driving over to Zion. If you can hike Zion Canyon overlook around sunset that would work perfectly. Then you have 2 full days for the main Zion canyon with The Narrows, Angels Landing etc. And if you have time on your way back over to Vegas – drive through Valley of Fire state park and hike Fire Wave. Have a great trip!

      Reply
    • Thanks, Dick – Great recommendation and coincidentally just a week before you left this comment we revisited Zion and spent a full day hiking in Kolob Canyon (and we also got permits for The Subway nearby!). The areas outside of the main Zion canyon are fantastic for getting away from the crowds.

      Reply

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