Planning a trip to Utah and wondering if it’s possible to see Bryce Canyon in a day? What are the best things to do with only 1 day in Bryce Canyon?
Known for its famous amphitheater of hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park is a must-see on a road trip through southern Utah.
Bryce Canyon National Park is a compact park, so it is definitely possible to see the highlights in a day. My husband and I actually visited Bryce Canyon on a day trip from Capitol Reef National Park, and we felt like we saw everything and have no regrets!
Whether you’re short on time because there is so much to see in southern Utah or you’re debating whether or not to spend more time at Bryce vs. somewhere else, this post has all you need to know about visiting Bryce Canyon in a day!
What is So Special About Bryce Canyon National Park?
Bryce Canyon is home to the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. Hoodoos are rock formations that are formed by wind erosion.
Hard rock sits on top of soft rock (like sandstone) and the wind, rain, and other elements slowly erode the sandstone over time, leaving the tall rock structures you see today.
Another fun fact is that Bryce Canyon isn’t actually a canyon.
Canyons are cut out by rivers. Since the hoodoos in the Bryce amphitheater were formed by wind and rain erosion, it’s technically not a canyon!
Hiking in Bryce literally feels like you’re walking through a towering forest of rocks. The experience is super unique and feels like you’re on another planet!
Related: Utah Scenic Byway 12 Road Trip Itinerary | Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon
The Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon sits at an elevation of 8000 feet, so it is cooler here than most places in Utah. The best time to visit is spring and fall, however winter can be a magical time if you’re prepared for snow and cold temperatures!
Summer is the busiest season, so I’d recommend planning a trip for spring or fall to minimize crowds while also having good weather.
How to Get to Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is located in southern Utah, between Zion and Capitol Reef National Parks off of Utah Scenic Byway 12.
The most convenient airports are Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. You will have to rent a car to get around as well.
Salt Lake City and Vegas are both about 4 hours from Bryce Canyon. I highly recommend combining a trip to Bryce Canyon with at least a couple of other National Parks and/or Monuments in the area (here’s an awesome week-long trip that combines Capitol Reef, Escalante, and Bryce into an epic road trip)!
Utah’s Mighty 5 make a great road trip if you have at least 10 days to spend.
Here are drive times to Bryce Canyon from popular destinations:
- Las Vegas: 260 miles / 4 hours
- Salt Lake City: 268 miles / 4 hours
- Zion National Park: 83 miles / 2 hours
- Capitol Reef National Park: 112 miles / 2 hours
- Moab: 248 miles / 4.5 hours
- The Grand Canyon: 263 miles / 4.5 hours
Related: 15 Best Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
Where to Stay Near Bryce Canyon National Park
The best place to stay near Bryce Canyon is in Tropic or Bryce Canyon City. Tropic has more of a small-town feel and has a lot of cool bed and breakfasts. Bryce is more touristy but has more amenities.
Here are a few highly rated accommodations:
- Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel in Bryce Canyon City
- Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn in Bryce Canyon City
- Bryce Trails Bed and Breakfast in Tropic
- Bryce Canyon Inn in Tropic
Bryce Canyon does have its own hotel in the park (the Bryce Canyon Lodge), but it is very overpriced in my opinion. You’re paying for the convenience of being in the park and getting to skip the lines at the entrance, but it’s really not necessary at Bryce Canyon.
In large, overcrowded parks (like Yellowstone), paying this premium for location is worth it, but you don’t need to in Bryce! Just enter the park before 9 am and you’ll be fine.
How to See Bryce Canyon in a Day: 1-Day Itinerary
Here is my suggestion for a 1-day itinerary through Bryce Canyon National Park. Since this is such a compact park, it is totally possible to see Bryce Canyon in a day!
Try to enter Bryce Canyon National Park before 9 am if possible. The line at the gate can get pretty long midday.
It will cost you $35 to enter unless you have the America the Beautiful National Park Pass.
Visit the Viewpoints
Get your bearings by visiting the 4 main viewpoints at Bryce Canyon: Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point.
These are 4 overlooks along the rim of the amphitheater that each give a unique view. Take your time to take in each view and marvel at how far you can see!
Each viewpoint has parking, but the spots all fill up really fast, especially during the peak months and at midday. This is why I recommend doing this first thing in the morning, to increase your chances at finding parking!
Morning light is also best for photos.
Additionally, there is a free park shuttle that goes between all of the viewpoints around the Bryce amphitheater. You can park in the overflow lot by the Visitor’s Center and hop on and off the shuttle at each viewpoint.
The shuttle only operates between April and October, and the full schedule can be found on the NPS website here.
Our favorite viewpoints were Sunrise and Sunset Points!
Hike the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop
Once you’ve gotten your bearings and admired all the hoodoos in the Bryce amphitheater from afar, it’s time to get up close and personal with them and do some hiking!
For the ultimate day hiking experience, I recommend the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop trail. Queen’s Garden is an out-and-back trail and the Navajo Trail is a loop, but you can combine these trails into a longer, loop hike.
You’ll hike down into the amphitheater, walk among the hoodoos, and hike back out on the other side. You’ll traverse the steep Navajo Switchbacks on your way out!
Starting at Sunrise Point, take the Queen’s Garden Trail down into the amphitheater. Make sure to grab a photo of the Queen’s Castle on your way!
Keep going until you reach the Navajo Loop junction. From here, you (used to) have 2 options for the hike back up:
- Wall Street: Fantastic, towering slot canyon side of the trail. It closes in the winter, but is now closed until further notice due to rock fall
- Thor’s Hammer & Two Bridges: Thor’s Hammer is the tallest and most photographed hoodoo in Bryce Canyon and Two Bridges is a unique rock formation that you’ll see on this side of the trail
Turn left for the Wall Street side (if it’s open when you go) or turn right for the Thor’s Hammer Side. Wall Street was open when we went in May 2021, so that’s the way we chose!
You know you’re almost finished with the hike when you get to the Navajo Switchbacks. When you’re done, you’ll end up at Sunset Point. Make the short walk back to Sunrise Point to complete the loop.
If you took the Wall Street side, I highly recommend a short detour back down the other side to see Thor’s Hammer!
The entire loop is 3.1 miles with 649 feet of elevation gain. We absolutely loved this hike, and were in such great spirits that the climb back out of the canyon didn’t even feel that difficult!
Related: The 5 Best Day Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
Do the Scenic Drive
After your hike, grab lunch and set out for the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive.
It’s 18 miles one way down the main park road and has 9 scenic stops. The Bryce Amphitheater area (where you just hiked) is the first 3 miles, but the rest is the lesser-visited Southern Scenic Drive.
The whole drive will take you about 2 – 3 hours round trip depending on how long you spend at each spot. It’s a great way to end your day in Bryce Canyon!
If You Have More Time
If you have more time to spend in Bryce Canyon, you can add on some longer, less popular hikes through the hoodoos.
- Fairyland Loop: 7.9-mile, challenging loop through the Bryce amphitheater with 1500 feet of elevation gain. The trailhead closes in the winter months, but the trail can also be started from Sunrise Point if the official trailhead is closed.
- Peekaboo Loop: 5.2-mile, challenging loop with 1500 feet of elevation gain. This loop is a bit shorter than the Fairyland Loop, so the elevation drop happens very quickly. The trailhead begins at Bryce Point.
Bryce Canyon in a Day FAQs
How Many Days Do You Need at Bryce Canyon?
One day is all you need at Bryce Canyon. You’ll be able to see the viewpoints on the rim of the Bryce amphitheater, hike down into the canyon, and do the scenic drive through the park.
How Crowded is Bryce Canyon National Park?
Over 2 million people visit Bryce Canyon each year. While that sounds like a lot (and it is!), Bryce doesn’t have horrible overcrowding problems like Zion and other popular parks.
The viewpoints and popular trails will be crowded, but the park shuttle alleviates a lot of the parking problems.
June, July, and August are the busiest months, so avoid planning your trip during the summer if you’re worried about crowds. April, May, and September are fantastic times to visit!
Do You Need a Reservation or Permit for Bryce Canyon?
You do not need a reservation or a permit for Bryce Canyon National Park.
You’ll just need to pay the $35 entrance fee (good for 7 days) unless you have the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass.
I hope this post showed you that it is possible to see Bryce Canyon in a day! Please let me know if you have any questions about this itinerary in the comments below!
-Megan
More Information on Utah
Check out my other posts on Utah to make the most of your trip!
- Utah Scenic Byway 12 Road Trip Itinerary | Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon
- The Ultimate 1-4 Day Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary
- 15 Best Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
- The 5 Best Day Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
- How to Get to Factory Butte & Moonscape Overlook in Hanksville, Utah
