Our Epic Mighty 5 (& more) Road Trip - Ultimate Utah Bucket List!

The Mighty Five. The five spectacular national parks that decorate Utah's vast wilderness. They're awesome. They're one-of-a-kind?

And it's possible to visit them all in ONE epic trip!

Visiting all five in one trip is guaranteed to be one of the greatest and most glorious trips you'll ever take (and we're speaking from experience!).

But where to begin? What's the best route? What else should you see along the way? 

We've laid out this wild trip from start to finish and tested it ourselves.

So what are you waiting for! This is the trip of a lifetime.

Road Trip Overview

Expected Completion Time: 18 days

• Add on 2-3 days if you want to explore the Salt Lake City area. Click here for the best things to do when visiting Salt Lake. (Make sure you take time to explore the mountains in the area!)

Miles to Drive: 1,370

Major Highlights: 

• Bryce Canyon National Park

• St. George Utah

• Zion National Park

• Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim

• Lake Powell

• Monument Valley

• Arches National Park

• Canyonlands National Park

• Dead Horse Point State Park

• Goblin Valley State Park

• Capitol Reef National Park

Road Trip Schedule

Day 1: Drive from Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon National Park.

• Insider Tip: Camp in the park overnight if you want to see some of the clearest night skies you'll ever see!

Day 2: Spend the day in Bryce Canyon National Park. At the end of the day, drive to St. George to sleep. 

• Insider Tip: Get up extra early and watch the sunrise at Sunrise Point...you won't regret it! 

• Insider Tip: Hike the Bryce Amphitheater Traverse on this day for a perfect one-day tour of Bryce's best sights.

Day 3: Spend the day relaxing at your resort of choice: Paradise Village at Zion or Ocotillo Springs. OR stay in this incredible house near Sand Hollow Reservoir. 

Day 4: Spend the day in Zion National Park, then come back to the resort for a nighttime swim

Day 5: Spend another day in Zion National Park.

Day 6: Hang out at the resort, or spend the day hiking around the St. George area. Catch an evening show at Tuacahn Amphitheater. 

Day 7: Drive to the Grand Canyon North Rim. Camp overnight, or stay in a hotel. 

• Insider Tip: The North Rim Lodge is one of the best places to stay at the Grand Canyon, but make sure you book your reservation far in advance because it fills up months ahead. If you missed your chance for a reservation, camping is a great alternative. 

Day 8: Spend the day at the North Rim. Drive to Page, Arizona after sunset. 

• Insider Tip: Be sure to catch the sunset here. Seeing the sunset over the Grand Canyon is unforgettable. 

Day 9: Rent a boat, hike around, or just chill on the shores of Lake Powell. 

Day 10: Visit Horseshoe Bend first thing in the morning, then drive to Monument Valley.

• Insider Tip: Stay at this hotel/campground/RV park for great sunrise views and easy access to hiking. 

Day 11: See the sunrise at Monument Valley, take pictures at Forest Gump Hill, and drive to Moab.

• Insider Tip: You absolutely do not want to miss the sunrise at Monument Valley. Bring lawn chairs or a picnic blanket because you'll want to sit and marvel at the beauty for hours. 

Day 12: Spend the day relaxing at your Moab resort of choice and exploring Main Street. 

• Insider Tip: Click here for some of the best accommodations in Moab. 

Day 13: Spend the day hiking in Arches National Park.

• Insider Tip: Start your hiking day early! The middle of the day can be intensely hot in Arches, so the earlier your start, the better. 

Day 14: Spend another day in Arches National Park. Finish the day by watching the sunset at Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky or Dead Horse Point State Park. 

• Insider Tip: These are great tips about where to see the sunset! 

Day 15: Jeeping in Canyonland National Park. 

• Insider Tip: Book your Jeep with Canyonlands Jeep Rentals, headquartered on Moab Main Street. They have recommendations for all driver levels, from beginner to expert. Also, you don't need to be experienced to rent a Jeep and off-road! Anyone over 25 with insurance and a driver's license can take the adventure. 

Day 16: Drive to Goblin Valley State Park to explore the hoodoos. 

Day 17: Continue on to Capitol Reef National Park and spend the day there. 

• Insider Tip: Be sure to visit the orchards in the park! In late summer, you can gather fresh fruit right from the trees. Anything you eat inside the orchard is free! Anything taken outside the orchard is cheaper and fresher than you'll find at any farmer's market. 

Day 18: Spend the morning in Capitol Reef. Drive back to Salt Lake City.

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