Utah's Mighty 5: A First Timer's Guide
Utah's five national parks are Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Here is where each one sits and the town beside it.
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Utah has five national parks, and people call them the Mighty 5. They are Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Visit Utah says each one anchors a travel region, and that Utah is a hard state to beat for scenic road trips. If you are planning your first trip, this page explains what the Mighty 5 are, where each park sits, and which town sits beside it. It also points you to routes that tie the parks together.
What are the Mighty 5?
The Mighty 5 national parks in Utah are Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Each park has a gateway town that Visit Utah names.
Arches National Park and Moab
Arches National Park is in southeast Utah, 5 miles north of Moab. Visit Utah lists Moab as the town for Arches. Visit Utah also lists Moab as the town for Canyonlands National Park. You can read more on the Arches National Park page.
Bryce Canyon National Park and Bryce
Visit Utah lists Bryce as the town for Bryce Canyon National Park. The park is an alpine forest with as many red rock hoodoos as trees, in the words of Visit Utah. Bryce Canyon has one main 18-mile road that runs north-south through the park.
Canyonlands National Park and Moab
Canyonlands is Utah's largest national park. The Green and Colorado rivers split it into three major districts. Visit Utah lists Moab as the town for Canyonlands, just as it does for Arches. Plan your Canyonlands time on the Canyonlands National Park page.
Capitol Reef National Park and Torrey
Visit Utah lists Torrey as the town for Capitol Reef National Park. The Capitol Reef visitor center is in the center of the park, off Utah Highway 24.
Zion National Park and Springdale
Zion National Park is located in southwest Utah. Zion Canyon is found next to the town of Springdale, and Visit Utah lists Springdale as the town for Zion. Visit Utah says Zion is always ready to quench your appetite for outdoor wonder.
How to plan your Mighty 5 trip
For ready-made routes, see the Utah national parks road trip and the Grand Circle road trip itinerary. If you want to pair two parks, read Zion to Bryce Canyon or Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef. Coming from Las Vegas? The Las Vegas, Zion and Bryce Canyon itinerary covers that side of the state. You can also extend the trip with Zion to Grand Canyon.
Before you go, check each park's own website for current road news and trip planning details.
Sources
- Directions - Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
- Basic Information - Bryce Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
- Basic Information - Canyonlands National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
- Directions - Capitol Reef National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
- Directions & Transportation - Zion National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
- The Mighty 5 | Visit Utah