Red rock national parks loop
This is leg 1 of 4, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Utah Mighty Five
Zion to Bryce Canyon
Zion and Bryce Canyon sit about 81 km (50 mi) apart in a straight line, with Bryce Canyon to the north-east. It is leg 1 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
- 81 km · 50 mi
- Est. road distance
- 97–113 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 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 50–80 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 97–113 km (60–70 mi) of road and 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 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.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in 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.
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon Dining Room
1920s rim lodge dining room, the only sit-down restaurant inside the park.
Inspiration Point
Three-level viewpoint looking straight into the Silent City hoodoo maze.
Bryce Point
Southern end of the amphitheater with the widest panorama of the hoodoos.
Before you leave Zion
Plan 2 days in Springdale: one for Angels Landing or the Narrows, one for shorter canyon hikes and the east side.
On this curated route
Where Zion → Bryce Canyon sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Bryce Canyon to Zion is the same 81 km in a straight line, heading south-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in January, when Bryce Canyon averages highs 5°C cooler than Zion.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zion high | 6° | 7° | 12° | 16° | 22° | 30° | 32° | 30° | 26° | 18° | 11° | 5° |
| Bryce Canyon high | 1° | 3° | 8° | 13° | 19° | 26° | 28° | 26° | 22° | 14° | 7° | 0° |
| Zion rain | 32 | 36 | 32 | 26 | 18 | 7 | 34 | 32 | 25 | 32 | 23 | 35 |
| Bryce Canyon rain | 23 | 24 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 31 | 33 | 26 | 31 | 17 | 21 |
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 Bryce Canyon month guides.
Zion to Bryce Canyon: questions travelers ask
How far is Zion from Bryce Canyon?
Zion is about 81 km (50 mi) from Bryce Canyon in a straight line, with Bryce Canyon to the north-east. By road, we estimate 97–113 km (60–70 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 Zion to Bryce Canyon?
An estimated 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min, assuming 97–113 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 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 Zion to Bryce Canyon?
Our Utah Mighty Five itinerary includes this leg. Utah Mighty Five runs about 8 days across 5 stops, best in Mar – May.
Onward from Bryce Canyon
- Zion NP to Bryce Canyon 81 km
- Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef 112 km
Guides for both ends
- Zion travel guide
- Zion weather best time to visit
- Bryce Canyon travel guide
- Bryce Canyon weather best time to visit
Bryce Canyon by month
Plan Zion → Bryce Canyon 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.