The Ultimate 5-day Road Trip Itinerary to Zion, Bryce and Horseshoe Bend
Thinking about a trip to Southern Utah and Arizona? If so, my best piece of advice would be… DO IT!
This vacation exceeded all of my expectations and I can’t stop thinking about when I can go back. The views are amazing, the people are incredibly nice, and the food is out of this world.
Drive through Zion National Park
Now that I’ve (hopefully) convinced you to go on this trip, it’s time to start planning! Luckily for you, I did tons of research before my getaway and planning is half the fun for me, so I’ve included every last detail to help make your trip an unforgettable one. We’ll visit Zion, Bryce, Horseshoe Bend, and discover hidden sand caves - all while staying in a glamping tent for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This itinerary includes a perfect mix of outdoor activities and downtime to unwind. I’ve also included alternative options for those that prefer a vacation packed with adventure or one that’s more relaxing.
Have any questions? Leave a message in the comments below!
Overview:
Tips for the Drive
Glamping at East Zion Resort – Orderville, UT
The Narrows – Zion National Park, UT
Horseshoe Bend – Page, AZ
Moqui Caverns – Kanab, UT
Wall Street, Queens Garden Loop Trail, Sunrise & Sunset Point – Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Canyon Overlook Trail – Zion National Park, UT
Prepare for Your Drive
Snacks
Spare Key
Ice Chest - Pro Tip: freeze a one-gallon bottle of water a few days before and use that to keep your food and drinks cold. It’s the perfect hack to avoid dealing with melting ice over the long drive.
Alcohol - If you plan on having a drink back at your tent or hotel, keep in mind that liquor is only sold at ABC stores in the state of Utah, and you might have to travel far to the nearest location.
Download Podcasts and Music - For areas of the drive where cell service is spotty
Download Google Maps Offline - This will allow you to use Google Maps even without cell service. Click HERE for download instructions.
Pre-made Breakfast Items - Make breakfast burritos at home and pack in your ice chest to warm up before early morning hikes. You’ll be happy you did this!
You can also check out my 8 Not So Obvious Travel Essentials post for other great tips!
DAY 1: CALIFORNIA TO UTAH
Tips for the Drive
Head out early in the morning to avoid any city traffic. The drive from Los Angeles to Orderville, Utah is approximately 7.5 hours, not including stops. Keep in mind that your destination is Mountain Standard Time, one hour ahead of Pacific Standard Time.
Another alternative is to fly into Las Vegas and drive 3.5 hours to Orderville. It’s the closest major airport to Zion.
Where to Stop for Lunch
About 6 hours into your drive, stop at River Rock Roasting Company in La Verkin, Utah for lunch. It’s on the side of the road so you won’t need to go out of your way to get there. They serve local beers and pizza, but the views are the real star here. Grab a seat in their outdoor patio and take in the first of many views you’ll enjoy on this trip.
View from the patio at River Rock Roasting Co.
Where to Stop for Groceries
From La Verkin, it’s a 30-minute drive to Springdale, Utah where you’ll stop at Sol Market for groceries as options are limited in Orderville. Sol Market has a deli section for fresh cut meats and cheeses, but they do not have a butcher counter.
Another option for groceries is Lin’s Market in Hurricane, which is right before La Verkin. I recommend stopping here instead since it’s a larger store with more options than Sol Market.
Here’s a quick grocery list:
Water
Ice
Sandwich Items - You’ll pack a sandwich for most of your hikes
S’mores - What’s a glamping trip without S’mores?!
Food for Grilling - If you plan on cooking back at the tent
Scenic Drive Through Zion to Orderville
About 5 minutes after you pass Sol Market you will reach the gates to enter Zion National Park. You have to drive through Zion in order to get to Orderville. You’ll be required to pay an entrance fee to get into the park. The park costs $35 per vehicle and the pass is good for one week. If you plan on visiting multiple national parks, you can purchase a National Parks Annual Pass for $80.
What most people (myself included) don’t know is that this drive is absolutely INCREDIBLE. I’m so glad that I stayed in Orderville and had to drive the Mt. Carmel Highway to get to my destination. Give yourself plenty of time to drive through the canyon - it’s stunning and you don’t want to be rushed. There are pullouts and scenic viewpoints on the side of the road where you can stop. If you’re staying near the West Entrance of the park near Springdale, do yourself a favor and drive through the park at least once. You won’t be disappointed!
Friendly reminder to drive slowly and carefully through the park as there’s a lot wildlife in the area.
Check In To East Zion Resort
Once you drive through Zion, it’ll take 25 minutes to arrive at East Zion Resort in Orderville, Utah. You’ll arrive in the evening with plenty of time to get settled, make dinner or enjoy s’mores.
The glamping tents at East Zion Resorts are perfect for this type of getaway. I cannot recommend this place enough! Everything was perfect and the experience was truly one-of-a-kind. They’re clean, spacious and have everything you’ll need including a grill, firepit, hot stove, dishes, and AC/ heat. The resort also has a pool and 2 jacuzzis that are open most of the year.
East Zion Resort is also a great basecamp since it’s central to Zion (25-50 minutes), Kanab (30 minutes), Bryce (1 hour) and Page (1.5 hours). They also have accommodation options for every traveler - glamping tents for the outdoorsy type, yurts for a little more luxury, tiny homes, and even treehouses!
For more details about East Zion Resort, check out 3 Reasons Why You Should Go Glamping at East Zion Resort.
Other Options for Day 1:
Valley of Fire State Park - It’s between Las Vegas and Utah. This was on my list of places to see, but we didn’t get a chance to visit.
Virgin Trading Post - A unique souvenir shop with a petting farm. It’s after La Verkin before you get to Springdale. I did this on my way home on Day 5 as detailed below.
Canyon Overlook Trail - You’ll pass this on the way to Orderville once you’re in Zion. I did this on Day 4 of my trip.
DAY 2: THE NARROWS - ZION
The Narrows hike in Zion was one of the highlights of my vacation! This hike is breathtaking and will really set the tone for the entire trip. The hike mainly consists of trekking through water and rocks in a slot canyon, which is a narrow canyon with high walls that have formed over millions of years due to erosion caused by rapidly flowing water.
Since this hike will take up most of your day, get an early morning start, have a good breakfast (this is where your pre-made breakfast burritos will come in handy), and start making your way over to Zion no later than 7am. The drive from Orderville to the Visitor Center is about 50 minutes. There, you’ll catch the shuttle to the trailhead, which is another 45-minute ride.
If you’re renting gear, give yourself extra time to pick up your rentals. I rented from Zion Outfitter, which is conveniently located just outside the park and walking distance from the Visitor Center.
I’d recommend planning on spending about 6 hours roundtrip on this hike. The best views are a couple hours in and you won’t want to miss that!
After a day of hiking, treat yourself to a late lunch and a cold beer at Zion Brew Pub, which is a short walk from the Visitor Center where the the shuttle will bring you back to. I really enjoyed their chimichurri fries! Ask for a table in their outdoor seating area to enjoy another lovely view of Zion.
Zion Brew Pub is technically outside of the park, but it’s just a few steps from the gates. You can actually leave your car at the Visitor Center and walk over. This is also a perfect time to return your rental gear to Zion Outfitter as it’s directly across from the restaurant.
After lunch, you can head back to East Zion Resort to freshen up and relax after a long day.
For full details and tips about this hike, including gear rentals and shuttle stop info, check out Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit The Narrows.
Other Options for Day 2:
Riverside Walk at Zion Narrows: For those who want a less strenuous hike, you can hike the first mile of The Narrows, which is called Riverside Walk. This part of the hike is before you enter the Virgin River and is a mostly paved path, with the exception of some sandy sections of the walkway. This hike is roughly 2 miles roundtrip.
Zion Lodge Shuttle Stop or Emerald Pools - If you still have energy after conquering The Narrows, get off on the Zion Lodge shuttle stop on the way back to the Visitor Center. This is where you can hike the Emerald Pools Trail, which is an easy 3-mile roundtrip hike. You can also just get off at this stop and hang out on the lawn at the lodge where deer are usually spotted in the evenings!
DAY 3: HORSESHOE BEND & MOQUI CAVERNS
After yesterday’s hike, you can spend this day recovering while still doing some sight-seeing. Sleep in, enjoy breakfast at the tent, and in the late morning drive 1.5 hours to Page, Arizona to visit Horseshoe Bend.
Wow, Horseshoe Bend is impressive! It’s a 1,000 ft deep canyon of the Colorado River in the shape of a horseshoe. What I was also blown away by were the rock formations you’re surrounded by at the lookout point.
It’s an easy 0.5 mile walk walk from the parking lot to the outlook. Expect to spend roughly one hour total at Horseshoe Bend. Keep in mind that Page is PST.
After Horseshoe Bend, head back to Kanab and stop at Wild Thyme Cafe for lunch. The food here is amazing and they use fresh ingredients from their on-site garden! If you like ribs, you don’t want to miss theirs.
Remember the hidden sand caves I previously mentioned? It’s finally time to visit them! Once you wrap up lunch, stop by the Moqui Sand Caverns in Kanab, which are just off the side of the road. This was such an unexpected and fun experience! The caves are dark with contrasting light shining in through the windows that overlook the highway. This is not to be confused with the Moqui Sand Cave up the road as it’s completely different and more of a tourist attraction. Fun fact: the caverns are actually manmade and were used in the 70s to harvest sand for glassmaking.
Once you’re done, this evening is perfect for enjoying the pool or jacuzzi back at the resort.
For more tips about Horseshoe Bend, check out A Guide to Horseshoe Bend in Arizona.
For details on how to find the Moqui Sand Caverns, check out Discover These Hidden Sand Caves in Kanab.
Other Options for Day 3:
Kayak Lake Powell to Antelope Canyon: Leave earlier and go to Lake Powell in the morning and rent kayaks at WazUpKayaks. Although tours of Antelope Canyon are temporarily cancelled due to COVID-19, you can still enter parts of the canyon by water, which is a 5-mile kayak ride. I didn’t get a chance to go as we were wiped from the day before, but a friend of mine went a few days after and loved it! She went to Lake Powell in the morning and Horseshoe Bend at sunset.
Belly of the Dragon - This is another cave hike near Kanab.
Wirepass Canyon or Buckskin Gulch - These are slot canyon hikes near Kanab.
DAY 4: BRYCE CANYON & CANYON OVERLOOK TRAIL at ZION
I always like to have at least one day during my trip that’s flexible with a lot of free time, and today is that day. Pack a lunch and head to Bryce Canyon National Park by 8am avoid the mid-day heat. It’s about one hour north of Orderville in the opposite direction of Kanab.
The park is known for it’s orange-colored hoodoos, which are tall pillar-like rock formations. In fact, Bryce has the largest collection of hoodoos in the entire world! It’s such a remarkable park and one of my favorite hikes of the entire trip.
We spent about 2.5 hours hiking at Bryce from Wall Street to Queen’s Garden, which was about 3 miles roundtrip. Once you’re done with your hike, you can enjoy your lunch back at the car or on one of the benches at the lookout points. After Bryce, you’ll have a large window of time where you can relax back at the resort or add in another activity.
Before sunset, head to Zion to hike Canyon Overlook Trail. Since this hike is near the East Entrance of the park, it will only take 25 minutes to get there. This hike is 1 mile roundtrip, but you can expect to spend about an hour there as the views at the top are spectacular. You’ll arrive right in time to watch the sun set behind the canyon.
On your way back to the resort, stop at Thunderbird Restaurant for dinner. It’s a reto diner known for their homemade pies. Their chicken alfredo and brisket burger were fantastic!
For more details on the hikes at Bryce, check out Tips for Bryce Canyon: Wall Street & Queen’s Loop Trail.
Other Options for Day 4:
Horseback Ride at Bryce or near Zion - There are many options in the area and sunset seems like the perfect time!
Spa at Cable Mountain Lodge - For some pampering, visit the spa at Cable Mountain Lodge in Springdale.
DAY 5: DRIVE TO CALIFORNIA - STOP IN VIRGIN AND ST. GEORGE
As always, the last day of vacation is always the hardest. *sigh* After you check out at East Zion Resort, you’ll take your last scenic drive through Zion to head home. *sigh again* However, you can make some stops along the way to help with those vacation withdrawal symptoms you’ll start to feel.
First, stop at Virgin Trading Post/ Fort Zion, which is right after Springdale. This place is a gem! It’s a unique family-owned souvenir shop complete with a petting farm and western-themed buildings for photo ops. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped onto the set of an old Western film. The best part is…you can also purchase carrots at their store to feed the llamas!
After Virgin Trading Post, stop in St. George for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. It’s only 35 minutes away.
The final stretch of the drive home takes 5.5 hours. You can also stop in Las Vegas to break up the drive. Or, if you’re like me, you’ll already start thinking about when you can come back and do it all over again. Hope you enjoyed your Savory Escape!
If you visit a Savory Escape recommendation, tag @savory_escape in your photos so I see your adventures!