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 everything in a day. My husband and I spent one day at Bryce Canyon on our first trip to Utah in 2021, and we had plenty of time to see the best viewpoints and hike down into the Bryce amphitheater.
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 is your perfect 1-day Bryce Canyon itinerary and guide.
Bryce Canyon National Park Overview
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 otherworldly!
There is one entrance gate to Bryce Canyon and the main park road takes you along the rim of the Bryce amphitheater and to all of the main attractions.
The park is pretty long and narrow, but most people only visit the 4 main viewpoints along the rim (Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce). The lesser-visited scenic drive is located south of the Bryce amphitheater along the main park road.
I’ve annotated the zoomed-in map below with the major points of interest, but you can download a high-resolution map here.
Bryce Canyon Shuttle Information
During peak season, Bryce Canyon National Park operates a free shuttle that takes visitors to the 4 main viewpoints along the rim of the Bryce amphitheater. There is also a shuttle stop outside the park at Bryce Canyon City to shuttle visitors into the park.
The shuttle can be a convenient option since you won’t have to find multiple parking spaces inside the park.
The Bryce Canyon shuttle operates between April and mid-October and generally runs every 15 minutes. More information on the shuttle can be found on the NPS website here.
The Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
The best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park is in the spring or fall when temperatures are mild and crowd levels are lower. Bryce is a popular park so crowds and parking can definitely be an issue during peak season.
Bryce Canyon also sits at an elevation of 8000 feet, so it is colder and snowier here than the other Utah Mighty 5 National Parks. Bryce Canyon looks absolutely magical with a dusting of snow, but be prepared with winter hiking gear if you plan to hike down into the amphitheater during the winter months.
Parts of the park do close in the winter, but the main area between Sunrise and Bryce Points is open year-round.
Summer is the busiest season at Bryce Canyon National Park and it does still get very hot, so I would avoid visiting between June and August if you can. April, May, October, and November are great times to visit!
Related: Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon Road Trip: Epic 9 Days on Utah Scenic Byway 12
How to Get to Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah. If you’re looking at the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks in a line, Bryce Canyon is situated between Zion and Capitol Reef National Parks.
The most convenient airports to fly into and rent a car are Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. Bryce Canyon is equidistant from both cities, about a 4 hour drive.
Las Vegas is more convenient for visiting the Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, and Salt Lake City is more convenient for visiting Moab. Choose the airport that is the most convenient for the trip you are planning!
If you are coming from Moab and/or Capitol Reef (or heading there after visiting Bryce Canyon), I highly recommend driving Utah Highway 12 to or from Bryce Canyon National Park.
This is one of the most scenic drives in the US and there are a lot of great views and stops along the way. Google and Apple Maps won’t route you this way since it is a bit longer than taking the main highways, but you won’t regret the slight detour! You can make a great week-long road trip from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon just along this stretch of road!
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
- Grand Canyon South Rim: 288 miles / 5 hours
Fees & Passes Information
It costs $35 per vehicle to enter Bryce Canyon National Park and the pass is good for 7 days. There are no timed entry or advance reservations required.
If you plan to visit more than 3 National Parks or Monuments on your trip to Utah (or within one year), getting the America the Beautiful National Park Pass will save you money vs. paying the separate fees at each park. It costs $80 and you must order ahead of time as they will ship you a physical pass.
Bryce is the second most-visited National Park in Utah, so the lines to enter the park do get long midday and during peak season. I recommend entering the park before 9 am to ensure you get a parking spot.
Related: Capitol Reef Itinerary: How to Spend 1-4 Days at Capitol Reef National Park
How Many Days Do You Need in Bryce Canyon National Park?
One day is all you need to thoroughly experience Bryce Canyon National Park. 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.
You can even see a lot of the park with just half a day. It is possible to drive through and make a quick stop at Bryce Canyon while on a longer Utah road trip and not feel like you’re missing out on too much.
However, I would recommend spending one night near the park if you can, so you can see both sunrise and sunset across the Bryce amphitheater!
1-Day Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary
This section describes how to visit Bryce Canyon in a day.
Try to enter Bryce Canyon National Park before 9 am if possible for this itinerary. This will maximize your time in the park and help you avoid lines at the entrance gate.
I also recommend packing a lunch and plenty of snacks with you. The Bryce Canyon Lodge does have a restaurant and general store, but the lines at peak meal time can get long and waiting can interrupt your time in the park.
Morning: Queen’s Garden & Navajo Loop Hike
Start your day by doing the best hike in Bryce Canyon National Park: the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop!
This is the ultimate day hiking experience in Bryce Canyon. 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.
The total distance is 3.1 miles with 649 feet of elevation gain.
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. Keep going until you reach the Navajo Loop junction. From here, you have 2 options for the hike back up:
- Wall Street: Fantastic, towering slot canyon side of the trail.
- 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.
Turn left for the Wall Street side or turn right for the Thor’s Hammer Side. We chose the Wall Street side on our visit.
You know you’re almost finished with the hike when you get to the Navajo Switchbacks. This is the most strenuous portion of the hike, but it goes pretty fast. The Navajo Switchbacks end at Sunset Point to complete the hike.
We absolutely loved this trail, and were in such great spirits that the climb back out of the canyon didn’t even feel that difficult!
Midday: Visit the 4 Viewpoints
After your hike, grab some lunch and get ready to visit the main viewpoints along the rim of the Bryce amphitheater. You’ve already seen Sunrise and Sunset Points, so now it’s time to visit Inspiration and Bryce Points.
You can hike to each one via the Rim Trail, but I suggest taking the free park shuttle to save time and energy.
Afternoon: Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive
Next, hop back in your car and head 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 and visited) is the first 3 miles, but the rest is a lesser-visited area of the park.
The scenic stops don’t require much walking and have pull outs to park your car. Rainbow Point, Yovimpa Point, Natural Bridge, and Agua Canyon are the can’t-miss stops along the drive.
As you drive south, the elevation change increases. Rainbow and Yovimpa Point sit at 9000 feet above sea level! This area of the park closes in the winter due to snow.
The Scenic Drive is a great way to ditch the crowds at Bryce Canyon and end your day.
If you’re staying near Bryce Canyon, grab dinner nearby and consider catching the sunset from Sunset Point. I also highly recommend watching the sunrise in the morning before you head out for your next destination.
Where to Stay at 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 with 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 National Park does have its own in-park lodge, the Bryce Canyon Lodge. This lodge books up very quickly and is expensive, especially in peak season. If you have the budget and the convenience of staying inside the park is worth it to you, this can be an excellent place to stay.
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.
I hope this post explained how to see Bryce Canyon in a day! We absolutely loved this park and I hope you do too.
-Megan
More Information on Utah
UTAH ROAD TRIP: Visit Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante, and some incredible Utah State Parks with this epic 9-day Utah Scenic Byway 12 road trip itinerary.
CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK: Visit Utah’s most underrated National Park located just 2 hours east of Bryce Canyon. Check out my 1-4 day Capitol Reef itinerary, the top things to do in Capitol Reef, and the best hikes in Capitol Reef.
GRAND STAIRCASE ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT: Nestled on one of the most scenic highways in the US, Grand Staircase is a massive National Monument that is home to incredible waterfalls, slot canyons, and remote outdoor adventures. It typically gets overshadowed by the Mighty 5 National Parks, but it is just as impressive.
ZION NATIONAL PARK: Visit Utah’s most popular National Park. Hike the famous Angel’s Landing, the Narrows, and do the scenic drive. Zion is still on my list of parks to visit, and is currently experiencing lots of overcrowding issues. I plan to visit during the off season when we get a chance!
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: Explore over 2000 sandstone arches in this incredible National Park that neighbors Canyonlands. Check out my guide to the best things to do in Arches National Park or the ultimate 1, 2, or 3 day Arches itinerary.
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK: Continue your visit in Canyonlands by checking out the 15 best things to do in the Island in the Sky District or my guide on driving the Shafer Canyon-Potash Road Loop.
