The short answer
Use 10 days from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City, or reverse it, with two nights near Zion, Capitol Reef, and Moab. Give Zion two full days, Bryce one, Capitol Reef one and a half, Canyonlands one, Arches one, and protect transfer time on Highway 12. Add days for backpacking, the Needles, or summer heat.
The 10-day route
| Day | Base and park | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springdale, Zion | Arrive, park, orient, and walk Pa’rus or Watchman area |
| 2 | Springdale, Zion | Shuttle canyon day with one major trail |
| 3 | Bryce Canyon | Drive east, rim walk, hoodoo descent, cold sunset |
| 4 | Torrey, Capitol Reef | Highway 12 slowly, then Fruita and petroglyphs |
| 5 | Torrey, Capitol Reef | Scenic Drive plus Hickman Bridge, Cassidy Arch, or orchards |
| 6 | Moab | Transfer to Island in the Sky, sunset overlook |
| 7 | Moab, Canyonlands | Island in the Sky full day or Needles with a different base |
| 8 | Moab, Arches | Early main road, Delicate Arch or Devils Garden |
| 9 | Moab | Second Arches trail, Colorado River, or weather recovery |
| 10 | Salt Lake City | Depart with a safe highway buffer |
Choose direction from flights and heat
Las Vegas to Salt Lake City
This places Zion first, follows Highway 12 east, and ends after Moab without a long backtrack.
Salt Lake City to Las Vegas
This can put a harder Moab hiking block first and finish with Zion logistics close to the final airport.
Round trip
A loop back to the same airport adds substantial driving. Price one-way car fees against the extra hotel, fuel, and lost day.
Place the reservation-dependent days first
Zion
Reserve Angels Landing if desired and understand the seasonal shuttle. The shuttle itself does not use a general boarding ticket.
Arches
There is no timed entry in 2026, but Fiery Furnace, Devils Garden campground, and other activities have separate reservations.
Camping
Watchman, North, Fruita, and Moab-area campgrounds use different release windows. Book the exact campground, not “Utah parks camping.”
Pick a season for the whole route
Spring
Excellent hiking temperatures come with Zion crowds, wind, lingering Bryce snow, and occasional flood risk.
Summer
Bryce mornings can be cool while Zion and Moab become dangerously hot. Monsoon storms affect slots and dirt roads.
Fall and winter
Fall offers strong balance. Winter is quiet but brings short days, icy trails, closed services, and snow on Highway 12.
Make five parks feel like five places
Choose one defining landscape in each park: Zion’s canyon, Bryce below the rim, Capitol Reef’s Fruita and fold, Canyonlands’ district scale, and Arches’ fins and openings.
Build the route on one map
Use Map My Parks to compare official alerts, campgrounds, visitor centers, fees, and activities across all five parks, then open each park’s current conditions page before the transfer.
Use four bases instead of changing rooms every night
Springdale, Bryce Canyon City or Tropic, Torrey, and Moab form a clean lodging chain. Two-night stays in Springdale, Torrey, and Moab reduce repeated packing and create second mornings close to trailheads.
Springdale
Walk or shuttle to the Zion entrance when possible and avoid moving the car during peak canyon hours.
Torrey
Buy groceries before late arrival and remember that Capitol Reef’s remote road alternatives have no services.
Moab
Separate Arches, Island in the Sky, and Needles drive times. A Moab room is not equally close to all three.
Common questions
How many days do I need for the Mighty 5?
Ten days is balanced. Seven is possible with shorter hikes and fewer second mornings.
What order should I visit?
Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches follows a natural Las Vegas-to-Salt Lake route.
What is the best month?
Late April, May, late September, and October often balance access and temperature, with weather variability.
Can I do all five in five days?
You can enter all five, but most days become transfers and overlooks rather than meaningful park visits.
Do the Mighty 5 require reservations?
Rules are activity and year specific. In 2026, Zion has Angels Landing permits and Arches does not use general timed entry.
