By Judy Jewell and W.C. McRae, authors of Moon Zion & Bryce
Typically you barely must get out of the automobile to take pleasure in southern Utah. These scenic drives are completely gratifying from behind the windshield, however all supply possibilities to cease and discover gorgeous nationwide parks and monuments.
Zion-Mount Carmel Freeway
Place to begin: Zion Canyon Customer Heart
Ending level: Mount Carmel Junction (at Hwy 9 and Hwy 89)
Mileage: 24.5 miles (39 km) one-way
Driving time: 2 hours
From Zion Canyon Customer Heart, this highway climbs via a sequence of switchbacks, passes via a protracted tunnel (or a a lot shorter alternate), and offers entry to the canyons and excessive plateaus east of Zion Canyon, the place you’ll discover fewer hikers than on the canyon trails. Take the straightforward 1-mile (1.6-km) round-trip Canyon Overlook Path to see down on the Nice Arch of Zion, a “blind” arch that’s not carved during.
Even in the event you’re not up for a hike, be sure you cease and admire Checkerboard Mesa, an enormous lump of hatch-marked sandstone proper on the highway’s edge. From the east entrance to the park, the highway continues about 13 miles to its junction with Freeway 89. From right here, head north to Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park or south to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, the city of Kanab, and the southern a part of Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument.

Bryce Scenic Drive
Place to begin: Bryce Canyon Customer Heart
Ending level: Rainbow Level
Mileage: 36 miles (58 km) round-trip
Driving time: 3-4 hours
As you head out from the guests heart, don’t be instantly tempted by the turnoff for the amphitheater: proceed south and climb 18 miles (29 km) and 1,100 ft (335 m) to Rainbow Level. Right here you’ll get an outline of a lot of the park. A brief stroll away, Yovimpa Level appears out onto the cliffs and terraces of the Grand Staircase. Flip the automobile round and take your time coming again. (All websites will now be on the precise facet of the highway, making turns straightforward because you’re not turning in opposition to visitors.). Cease to {photograph} the Pure Bridge and the panorama from Farview Level.
After about 15 miles (24 km), cease to take a look at the views of the hoodoo-studded amphitheater from Bryce Level and Inspiration Level. Head to the lodge for a chew to eat and the half-mile stroll on the Rim Path to Dawn and Sundown Factors. For one final view, flip in to Fairyland Level; the entry highway is simply earlier than you allow the park (however after the pay station).
Freeway 12
Place to begin: Junction of Hwy 89 and Hwy 12, close to Panguitch
Ending level: Junction of Hwy 12 and Hwy 24, Torrey
Mileage: 123 miles (198 km) one-way
Driving time: 4 hours-1 week
This “All-American Street” from Freeway 89 close to Panguitch to Freeway 24 in Torrey packs in additional parks, monuments, and geology than simply about some other highway within the nation. Go via pink rock arches in Purple Canyon, skirt the sting of Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park, get inside shut vary of Kodachrome Basin State Park, and proceed east via the northern fringe of Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument, crossing the Hell’s Spine Bridge and the slender Hog’s Again to Boulder. The highway turns north to cross over Boulder Mountain, with views of the Colorado Plateau, and virtually lands within the lap of Capitol Reef Nationwide Park. You’ll move cliffs, rock spires, petroglyphs, and views of the Grand Staircase. There are many possibilities to get out and discover.

The Capitol Reef Scenic Drive
Place to begin: Capitol Reef Customer Heart
Ending level: Capitol Gorge
Mileage: 21 miles (34 km) round-trip
Driving time: 1.5-2 hours
Head into the guts of the park on this quick however completely scenic tour. As you set off from the Capitol Reef guests heart, you’ll move the early settlement of Fruita; cease right here coming or going (or each) for pie and ice cream on the century-old Gifford Farmhouse or fruit from the U-pick orchards. The highway climbs out of the Fremont River valley beneath a tall escarpment with tilted layers of rock. Cease to stroll into the dry channels of the Grand Wash or proceed on to Capitol Gorge (as soon as the world’s important freeway, now a mountaineering path that passes between tall sandstone partitions and results in petroglyphs and early settler signatures carved into the rock partitions).
Notom-Bullfrog Street
Place to begin: Hwy 24 at jap fringe of Capitol Reef Nationwide Park
Ending level: Bullfrog Marina, Lake Powell
Mileage: 70 miles (113 km) one-way
Driving time: 3 hours
The views of the jap fringe of the Waterpocket Fold are a spotlight of this drive. The partially paved highway goes from the jap fringe of Capitol Reef to Bullfrog Marina in Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation Space. The drive itself is lengthy and sluggish however lovely. Think about taking the entire day to discover the comparatively uncrowded hikes up dry washes and into slot canyons.
From Bullfrog, take a automobile ferry throughout the lake to Halls Touchdown and comply with the straightforward path to Pure Bridges Nationwide Monument, or head again north on a paved highway to Hanksville and Goblin Valley State Park.

Suggestions for Driving in Utah’s Parks
In the course of the summer time, persistence is the important thing to driving in Utah’s nationwide parks. Roads are sometimes crowded with slow-moving RVs, and visitors jams are usually not unusual.
In the event you’re touring on again roads, particularly within the Grand Staircase-Escalante space, be sure you have loads of gasoline, even when it means paying high greenback at a small-town gasoline pump.
Summer time warmth within the desert places an additional pressure on each automobiles and drivers. It’s value double-checking your car’s cooling system, engine oil, transmission fluid, fan belts, and tires to verify they’re in high situation. Carry a number of gallons of water in case of a breakdown or radiator bother. By no means depart youngsters or pets in a parked automobile throughout heat climate; temperatures inside may cause deadly heatstroke in minutes.
At occasions the desert has an excessive amount of water, when late-summer storms incessantly flood low spots within the highway. Anticipate the water degree to subside earlier than crossing. Mud storms can fully block visibility however are usually short-lived. Throughout such storms, pull fully off the highway, cease, and switch off your lights in order to not confuse different drivers. Radio stations carry frequent climate updates when climate hazards exist.
If stranded, keep together with your car except you’re constructive of the place to go for assist, then depart a word explaining your route and departure time. Airplanes can simply spot a stranded automobile (tie a bit of fabric to your antenna), however an individual strolling is harder to see. It’s greatest to hold emergency provides: blankets or sleeping luggage, a first-aid package, instruments, jumper cables, a shovel, traction mats or chains, a flashlight, rain gear, water, meals, and a can opener.
Touring by RV
Touring the Southwest’s nationwide parks in an RV is a time-honored custom, and vacationers could have no downside discovering RV leases in main cities like Denver, Salt Lake Metropolis, and Las Vegas, which function gateways to the parks of Southern Utah. The parks have good campgrounds, and cities like Moab and Springdale have some very spiffy campground choices with extras like swimming swimming pools and fine-dining cookouts. Notice that some parks restrict RV entry—throughout excessive season, no autos are allowed in Zion, the place shuttle buses have changed personal autos alongside the scenic Zion Canyon Street. In Bryce, autos measuring 20 ft/6 meters or longer are restricted from the Bryce Amphitheater space throughout shuttle hours.
Maps
The Utah Division of Transportation prints and distributes a free, repeatedly up to date map of Utah. Ask for it while you name for data or while you cease at a customer data workplace. Benchmark Maps’ Utah Street and Recreation Atlas is loaded with lovely maps, recreation data, and world positioning system (GPS) grids. In the event you’re planning on intensive backcountry exploration, be sure you ask domestically about situations.
In the event you’re on the lookout for USGS topo maps, you possibly can obtain them at no cost at www.topozone.com.
Seeking to discover Utah’s parks on an extended journey? Take a look at our 9-day Utah road trip itinerary.