Planning a road trip through Utah's five legendary national parks?
You're about to experience some of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth. But here's what most visitors miss: while the parks showcase nature's grandest architecture, the real adventure happens in the spaces between, especially in Moab, where two of the Mighty 5 meet.
This guide maps your journey through Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands, with insider knowledge on how to experience each park and why Moab deserves more than a quick photo stop.
Planning Your Mighty 5 Road Trip
Best Time to Visit: Spring (March-May) and fall (September-October) offer ideal weather and manageable crowds. Summer brings extreme heat but extended daylight hours. Winter provides solitude and snow-dusted landscapes, though some roads close seasonally.
How Long You'll Need: Plan 7-10 days minimum. Most visitors rush through in five days and regret it. The parks sit relatively close together—drives between them range from 1.5 to 4 hours—but each deserves at least a full day.
Route Options:
- The Classic Loop (clockwise from Las Vegas): Zion to Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef to Moab (Arches and Canyonlands), then return via I-70
- The Reverse Route (from Denver or Salt Lake City): Start in Moab, end in Zion
- The Moab-Centered Trip: Fly into Grand Junction, spend 3-4 days exploring Arches and Canyonlands thoroughly, then venture to the western parks
Stop One: Zion National Park
Drive Time from Las Vegas: 2.5 hours
Towering 2,000-foot sandstone cliffs in brilliant reds and creams announce your arrival in Utah's canyon country. Zion's Virgin River carved this narrow gorge over millions of years, creating one of America's most photographed landscapes.
Must-Do Experiences:
- The Narrows: Wade upstream through a slot canyon with 1,000-foot walls closing in overhead
- Angels Landing: The 5.4-mile trail with chain-assisted scrambles rewards brave hikers with panoramic views
- Canyon Overlook Trail: Short, accessible hike showcasing Zion's signature geology
Insider Tip: The park requires timed entry permits April-October and runs a mandatory shuttle system. Book permits the day they become available.
Where to Stay: Springdale sits at the park entrance with hotels, restaurants, and gear shops. Book months ahead for peak season.
Stop Two: Bryce Canyon National Park
Drive Time from Zion: 1.5 hours via US-89 and UT-12
Don't let the name fool you. Bryce isn't actually a canyon but a series of natural amphitheaters filled with thousands of hoodoos (spire-shaped rock formations) in shades of orange, pink, and cream. Sunrise here ranks among nature's finest performances.
Must-Do Experiences:
- Navajo Loop Trail: 1.3-mile descent into the amphitheater, passing through Wall Street's towering corridor
- Sunset Point to Sunrise Point Rim Walk: Easy, paved path offering multiple angles on the hoodoos
- Stargazing: Bryce holds Dark Sky Park status with some of America's clearest night skies
Insider Tip: The elevation here (8,000-9,000 feet) makes spring and fall mornings chilly. Pack layers even in summer.
Stop Three: Capitol Reef National Park
Drive Time from Bryce: 2 hours via UT-12 (Scenic Byway 12)
Capitol Reef might be the Mighty 5's best-kept secret. This 100-mile wrinkle in the Earth's crust, called the Waterpocket Fold, creates a landscape of hidden canyons, petroglyphs, and historic orchards where you can pick fruit in season.
Must-Do Experiences:
- Scenic Drive: 8-mile paved route into Capitol Gorge with optional hiking
- Hickman Bridge Trail: 2-mile round trip to a 133-foot natural bridge
- Fruita Historic District: Pick apples, cherries, or peaches from orchards planted by Mormon settlers
Insider Tip: This park sees far fewer visitors than its famous neighbors, making it ideal for those seeking solitude.
Stop Four: Moab—Gateway to Arches and Canyonlands
Drive Time from Capitol Reef: 2.5 hours via UT-24 and I-70
Now you've reached the heart of Utah's adventure country. Moab isn't just a stop on your road trip. It's where the real exploration begins. As the only town in America nestled between two national parks, Moab offers something the other Mighty 5 locations can't: the chance to go beyond scenic overlooks and actually get into the landscape.
Why Moab Deserves Extra Time
Most Mighty 5 itineraries give Moab a single day, maybe two if you're lucky. That's barely enough to see Delicate Arch and Mesa Arch before rushing to your next destination. But Moab's landscape rewards those who slow down and venture off paved roads.
The national parks showcase nature's architecture. Moab lets you climb, crawl, and carve through it.
Arches National Park
Distance from Moab: 5 miles
Over 2,000 natural stone arches punctuate this red-rock wonderland, more than any other place on Earth. The park's scenic drive connects short hikes to iconic formations, but your car won't show you the network of trails threading through fins, balanced rocks, and hidden alcoves where most visitors never venture.
Essential Sights:
- Delicate Arch: Utah's most famous landmark, best seen at sunset
- Devils Garden: 7.2-mile trail passing eight arches
- Balanced Rock: Roadside wonder that photographs beautifully at any hour
Park Logistics: Arches requires timed entry April-October (7 AM to 4 PM). These permits sell out weeks in advance. Evening entry (after 4 PM) requires no reservation but means you'll miss golden hour at most viewpoints.
Canyonlands National Park
Distance from Moab: 32 miles (Island in the Sky district)
Utah's largest national park sprawls across 527 square miles of layered canyons, mesas, and buttes carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers. The Island in the Sky district (the most accessible section) sits atop a mesa 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain, offering views that stretch for miles.
Essential Sights:
- Mesa Arch: Sunrise here is legendary—arrive early for the famous shot
- Grand View Point: Walk to the mesa's edge for 100-mile views
- Upheaval Dome: Mysterious crater possibly formed by meteorite impact
Park Logistics: Unlike Arches, Canyonlands requires no timed entry, making it easier to visit on short notice.
What the Parks Can't Show You
Both Arches and Canyonlands limit visitors to paved roads and established trails, and for good reason. The fragile desert ecosystem can't sustain off-trail hiking at scale. But surrounding these parks lie thousands of acres of BLM land where the real backcountry begins.
This is slickrock country. The Navajo sandstone that creates Arches' famous formations extends for miles beyond park boundaries, offering terrain that UTVs were designed to conquer. We're talking about routes that climb sandstone domes, descend into hidden canyons, and navigate obstacles that would stop any street vehicle.
The Moab Off-Road Experience
Think of Moab's off-road trails as the adventure that fills in everything the parks' scenic drives miss out on. While other visitors line up for the same overlook photos, you'll be discovering:
Terrain You Can't Reach Any Other Way:
- Ancient petroglyph panels hidden in canyon alcoves
- Wind-carved caves and natural tunnels
- Overlooks above the Colorado River are accessible only by 4x4
- Dinosaur tracks preserved in stone for 150 million years
The Trails That Define Moab
Hell's Revenge: This isn't hyperbole. The trail's named for its relentless sandstone climbs and descents. The slickrock here feels like another planet, with petrified sand dunes creating natural ramps, bowls, and obstacles. Mickey's Hot Tub (a sandstone depression), Hell's Gate (an off-camber descent), and panoramic views of the La Sal Mountains make this Moab's most iconic ride.
Fins N' Things: Rolling slickrock terrain with technical sections that challenge your skills without punishing mistakes. The fins—vertical rock formations—create natural obstacles and photo opportunities. Less crowded than Hell's Revenge but equally scenic.
Poison Spider Mesa: This trail climbs from the Colorado River to overlooks 1,000 feet above, passing through varied terrain from sandy washes to rock ledges. It's technical enough to keep experienced drivers engaged but forgiving enough for first-timers with professional guides.
The Moab Discovery Tour Advantage
This is where the national park experience and backcountry adventure intersect. While Arches and Canyonlands offer impressive views from the rim, Epic's Moab Discovery Tour takes you into the landscape's hidden layers.
In four hours, you'll:
- Navigate terrain that would take days to reach on foot
- Discover petroglyph sites most visitors never see
- Explore wind caves and sculpted formations off the tourist path
- Experience short technical sections that showcase Moab's geology up close
- Return with stories beyond "we saw Delicate Arch"
Why Climate Control Matters in Moab
Summer temperatures in Moab regularly exceed 100°F. Traditional UTVs leave you exposed to heat, dust, and sun for hours. Epic's climate-controlled tours run in enclosed Polaris Xpedition vehicles with air conditioning in summer and heat in winter, letting you focus on the experience rather than enduring the elements.
This matters more than you might think. That three-hour tour in July? In an open UTV, you'll drink a gallon of water and still arrive dehydrated and covered in dust. In a climate-controlled vehicle, you'll actually enjoy the ride and arrive ready for your next adventure.
Planning Your Moab Days
Most Mighty 5 itineraries allocate one day in Moab. Here's why that shortchanges your trip:
Day One: Arches National Park sunrise at Mesa Arch or Delicate Arch, afternoon in Canyonlands' Island in the Sky district. This covers your "must-see" park obligations.
Day Two: Morning Moab Discovery Tour to experience terrain the parks don't access, afternoon exploring Moab's downtown galleries and restaurants, sunset from Dead Horse Point State Park.
Day Three (if time allows): Full-day UTV rental for a self-guided adventure on Hell's Revenge or Fins N' Things, or morning Poison Spider Mesa tour followed by an afternoon Polaris Slingshot drive through the national parks' scenic roads.
The Self-Guided Option
Prefer to explore at your own pace? Epic's rental UTVs come pre-loaded with GPS-mapped routes, trail tips, and points of interest. You'll know which overlooks offer the best photos, which sections require extra caution, and where to find hidden gems other renters miss.
The pro-level vehicles (Polaris RZR Pro R models with long-travel suspension and superior articulation) handle Moab's terrain the way it was meant to be experienced. These aren't weekend warrior machines. They're the same UTVs serious off-roaders choose for Moab's most challenging trails.
After Moab: Returning West or Heading Home
Continuing Your Mighty 5 Journey: If you started in Las Vegas and went clockwise, you've now completed the circuit. The drive from Moab back to Las Vegas via I-70 and I-15 takes about 6.5 hours.
Alternative Routes:
- From Moab to Denver: 5.5 hours via I-70 through the Colorado Rockies
- From Moab to Salt Lake City: 4 hours via I-70 and US-6
Mighty 5 Road Trip Essentials
What to Pack:
- Layered clothing for temperature swings (desert mornings are cold, afternoons scorching)
- Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, long sleeves
- Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support
- Hydration system or water bottles (one gallon per person per day minimum)
- Headlamp for early starts and night photography
- Camera gear with extra batteries (cold mornings drain batteries fast)
Where to Stay:
- Springdale (Zion): Cable Mountain Lodge, Cliffrose Lodge
- Bryce Canyon: Ruby's Inn, Best Western Plus
- Torrey (Capitol Reef): Capitol Reef Resort, Torrey Schoolhouse B&B
- Moab: Multiple options from budget motels to upscale resorts; book early for peak season
Booking Strategy: Reserve Moab accommodations first—they sell out fastest. Springdale and Bryce book up 3-6 months ahead for peak season. Capitol Reef area has fewer options but also fewer visitors.
The Trip You'll Actually Remember
When you return from Utah's Mighty 5, your photo gallery will look like everyone else's: Delicate Arch at sunset, Mesa Arch at sunrise, Bryce's hoodoos, Zion's cliffs. These are beautiful, iconic images.
But the stories you'll tell aren't about standing at crowded overlooks with a hundred other tourists. They're about the moment your UTV crested that slickrock dome and you saw the La Sal Mountains stretched across the horizon. The ancient handprints you found in a hidden alcove. The technical descent that made your hands grip the wheel a little tighter. The wind caves where you could actually step inside the landscape.
That's what separates tourists from adventurers in Utah's canyon country. The parks show you where millions of years of geology led. Moab lets you feel it beneath your tires, see it from angles Google Earth can't capture, and understand why this landscape draws people back year after year.
The Mighty 5 road trip gives you the overview. Moab gives you the experience.
Start Planning Your Mighty 5 Adventure
Ready to go beyond the overlooks? Epic's team can help you plan the perfect Moab portion of your road trip, whether you're looking for guided tours that maximize limited time or multi-day rentals for deeper exploration.
The parks are crowded. The backcountry is waiting. And unlike most of Utah's canyon country, Moab's trails are open year-round meaning your adventure doesn't have to wait for perfect weather or shoulder season windows.
Your Mighty 5 road trip starts at the parks. Your stories start in Moab. Contact us today 435-220-2653.
