Red rock national parks loop
This is leg 2 of 4.
Travel leg · Utah Mighty Five
Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef
Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef sit about 112 km (70 mi) apart in a straight line, with Capitol Reef to the north-east. It is leg 2 of 4 on our Utah Mighty Five itinerary, an 8-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 112 km · 70 mi
- Est. road distance
- 135–157 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 30 min – 2 h 30 min
- Direction
- Heading north-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Utah Mighty Five itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 135–157 km (84–98 mi) of road and 1 h 30 min – 2 h 30 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
You will need a car, and most travelers fly into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City and drive the loop. Distances between parks are real, and services thin out in places. Check road, weather and park conditions before each leg and keep the tank filled.
Open Bryce Canyon → Capitol Reef directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Capitol Reef
Give it a full day: Fruita's orchards and petroglyphs, the Scenic Drive, and one short canyon hike, then dinner in Torrey.
Capitol Reef Visitor Center
Orientation, trail maps and info on the Waterpocket Fold geology.
Gifford Homestead
Restored pioneer farmhouse selling small fruit pies and cinnamon rolls.
Fruita Orchards
Historic orchards where you can pick cherries, apricots, peaches and apples in season.
Hickman Bridge Trail
Two-mile round trip to a 133-ft natural bridge with views of Capitol Dome.
Rim Rock Patio
Casual patio bar with beer, pizza and red-cliff views just west of the park.
Fremont Petroglyphs
Boardwalk along Highway 24 with Fremont-culture rock art figures.
Before you leave Bryce Canyon
One full day covers it: sunrise at the rim, a hoodoo hike, and the scenic drive to Rainbow Point.
Sunrise Point
Rim overlook facing east over the Bryce Amphitheater's densest hoodoos.
Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden Trail
3-mile combo descending through Wall Street's slot to Queen Victoria hoodoo.
Fairyland Loop Trail
8-mile loop through quieter hoodoos and Tower Bridge, fewer crowds than the main trails.
On this curated route
Where Bryce Canyon → Capitol Reef sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon is the same 112 km in a straight line, heading south-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in July, when Capitol Reef averages highs 6°C warmer than Bryce Canyon.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Canyon high | 1° | 3° | 8° | 13° | 19° | 26° | 28° | 26° | 22° | 14° | 7° | 0° |
| Capitol Reef high | 6° | 7° | 12° | 17° | 23° | 31° | 34° | 32° | 27° | 19° | 11° | 5° |
| Bryce Canyon rain | 23 | 24 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 31 | 33 | 26 | 31 | 17 | 21 |
| Capitol Reef rain | 19 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 11 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 18 | 20 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Capitol Reef month guides.
Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef: questions travelers ask
How far is Bryce Canyon from Capitol Reef?
Bryce Canyon is about 112 km (70 mi) from Capitol Reef in a straight line, with Capitol Reef to the north-east. By road, we estimate 135–157 km (84–98 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef?
An estimated 1 h 30 min – 2 h 30 min, assuming 135–157 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef?
Our Utah Mighty Five itinerary includes this leg. Utah Mighty Five runs about 8 days across 5 stops, best in Mar – May.
Onward from Capitol Reef
- Capitol Reef to Arches 153 km
Getting to Bryce Canyon
- Zion NP to Bryce Canyon 81 km
- Zion to Bryce Canyon 81 km
Guides for both ends
- Bryce Canyon travel guide
- Bryce Canyon weather best time to visit
- Capitol Reef travel guide
- Capitol Reef weather best time to visit
Capitol Reef by month
Plan Bryce Canyon → Capitol Reef with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.