I grew up taking a magical trip to Disney World almost every year, but our family didn’t really travel anywhere else that wasn’t road-trippable. When I had my own kids, I knew I wanted to expand their horizons and visit new travel destinations, like the many U.S. national parks. We still take Disney vacations, but we also visited Yellowstone for my animal-loving kid, walked among towering trees in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and took a winter break cross-country road trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. However, our favorite national parks trip so far has been our spring break Utah family road trip to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon.
Utah is a special place to experience natural wonders: from epic sunrises to red rock mountains to otherworldly hoodoos. I think we each said, “Wow” about 100 times (nearly as many times as we said, “I need a snack break.”). Here’s everything we did on our Utah national parks family road trip, what I’d do again, what I’d skip, and what I’d add if we had more time.
Quick Trip Stats
📍 Parks: Zion + Bryce Canyon
🗓️ Days: 5*
👨👩👧 Kids’ ages: 9 & 12
🚗 Starting point: Las Vegas
*Given the travel time, I would have ideally spent a full week exploring.
Getting to Utah
We live in the Midwest, so the most budget-friendly direct flight was to Las Vegas (LAS). You can also fly into Salt Lake City (SLC). Zion National Park was an easy 2.5-hour drive from the LAS airport in a small rental SUV (it’s nearly a 4-hour drive from Salt Lake City). From the East Coast, you’re looking at about a 5- to 6-hour flight to Vegas. From the West Coast, Los Angeles is about a 6-hour road trip straight to Zion.
Why Zion and Bryce Canyon Are the Perfect Family Road Trip Combo
For a Utah national parks road trip with your family, Zion and Bryce Canyon are only about 90 miles apart. So we were able to check off these two of the ‘Mighty 5 Parks’ in Utah in our timeframe. For reference, the Mighty 5 are:
- Zion National Park (Springdale)
- Bryce Canyon National Park (Bryce)
- Capitol Reef National Park (Torrey)
- Arches National Park (Moab)
- Canyonlands National Park (Moab)
We used Zion as our home base and took a day trip to Bryce. If you have more time, consider adding a day to Bryce Canyon or a few days at another national park. You could stop at Capitol Reef National Park on the way to Canyonlands and Arches (about a 4- to 5-hour drive from Zion/Bryce). Alternatively, you could head about 4 hours southeast to visit the Grand Canyon.
Best time to visit Zion and Bryce Canyon
National parks have experienced a travel boom since 2020, with more and more families seeking unplugged vacations. So it helps to travel to Zion and Bryce during the shoulder season with kids (March-May and September-November). Our April spring break timing was ideal to combine hiking, pool swimming, and only moderate crowds. The summer can be hot and crowded, with daytime temperatures exceeding 100 degrees.
Visiting Zion National Park With Kids
Tips for visiting Zion National Park with kids
- Start early, especially if visiting during peak times and the warmer season. This is where my Disney World rope drop experience kicked in. We were in line for the Zion Canyon shuttle before they started running at 7 a.m. By the time we finished our hikes midday, the lines to enter the park were long—while we just had to walk to our hotel and spend the afternoon in the pool.
- Pack layers. It will be cool if you start early, so pack layers. In early April, we were in sweatshirts, hats, and gloves in the morning and t-shirts and swimsuits by the afternoon.
- Pack plenty of water and snacks. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated, so make sure you and your kids are taking plenty of water and snack breaks. Many of the shuttle stops have clean bathrooms and water bottle filling stations.
Kid-friendly hikes in Zion National Park
We used the Zion shuttle service for all hikes while visiting the park. E-bikes are available to rent as well. Shuttles conveniently stopped about every five minutes, so we never had to wait more than 10 to 15 minutes, and it was easy to navigate stops based on our plans. These were our favorite family-friendly hikes in Zion with my kids, ages 9 and 12.
Easy: Riverside Walk / Narrows entry
Distance: 2.1 miles out and back
On day one, we took the shuttle to the Riverside Walk, a mostly flat and paved hike that leads to The Narrows. Even if you don’t plan to do the popular water hike, it’s very cool to see where it begins. Plus, it’s stroller-friendly if traveling to Zion with a toddler (the Pa’rus Trail is another popular stroller-friendly hike that you can do without taking the shuttle).
We came back to The Narrows in full waders, which we rented on day two. But, to be honest, it was a little too intense for our crew. The water became chest-high for the adults about 30 minutes into the hike, and flooded my 12-year-old’s waders. My husband had planned to carry my 9-year-old through the deepest section, but the footing just felt too unsteady to attempt safely. We turned around but were still able to see some stunning views. The best time for the Narrows hike is from late spring to early fall. Visiting in April was just a little too early in the season.
Easy/Moderate: Emerald Pools
Distance: 3-mile loop
My 12-year-old and I did this hike on our last morning, so we only hiked to the lower pool, but it had fabulous views and the chance to walk under a waterfall. We would’ve done the full 3-mile loop, which connects the lower, middle, and upper, if we had more time.
Moderate/Difficult: Scout’s Lookout
Distance: 3.8 miles out and back
This was the hardest trail we hiked—and also our favorite. We trekked up to the base of Angel’s Landing (if your family is the super-adventurous sort, you can enter the lottery for a permit to Angel’s Landing, but you don’t need a permit to climb Scout’s). The Scout’s Lookout hike starts with gradual climbs but does include some switchbacks and steeper climbs. For younger kids not appropriately afraid of heights, I’d skip. For older kids, the views are stunning and worth it! There were *a few* tears from my 12-year-old near the top. However, both of my kids were so proud of themselves upon finishing.
Epic Drive: Zion-Mount Carmel Highway
If heading to Bryce from Zion, you’ll get to drive down Highway 9, connecting the South Entrance to the East Entrance of Zion National Park. To say the views are epic is an understatement. It was hard for our driver (my husband) to keep his eyes on the road. You’ll also travel through the mountain on the 1.1-mile tunnel. You can stop along the way, but this drive does get packed midday, so expect standstill traffic if traveling at peak times.
Where to stay and what to do in Zion National Park with kids
I can’t say enough positive things about our accommodations in Zion during our Utah national parks family road trip. We had a one-bedroom suite at Cable Mountain Lodge. My kids each had their own pull-out bed in the living room (no fighting), while my husband and I had a king-size bed in a private bedroom with views of the mountains and the pool.
We used the in-room kitchen to make some home-cooked meals (i.e., mac and cheese for the kids). There’s a small grocery store just across the parking lot. We ate dinner (twice!) at the delicious Zion Canyon Brew Pub and grabbed coffee each morning from nearby Perks Coffee. But the real perk? No need to deal with parking, you can walk right into Zion National Park, just steps from the hotel.
At night, my kids skipped rocks in the Virgin River behind the hotel, and grabbed ice cream from the Bumbleberry Gift Shop and Bakery and Hoodoos up the main road in Springdale. If traveling with younger kids, consider a stop at the highly-rated Thunder Junction All Abilities Park, less than an hour from Zion in St. George, and a possible stop to or from the LAS airport.
Visiting Bryce Canyon With Kids
Tips for visiting Bryce Canyon with kids
- Pack layers: While Zion is known for higher temperatures later in the day, Bryce is known for its surprising drop in temperatures in the morning/evening.
- Wear hiking boots: My kids wore sneakers for most of Zion’s hikes, but you’ll be happy if the family is wearing hiking boots for the red, sandy terrain of Bryce Canyon.
- Know your limits: For most hikes, you’ll be heading down (easier) and then up the ascent (harder). Conserve your energy, pack water and snacks, and take breaks as needed to enjoy the day.
- Shuttles begin in May: We visited before the shuttle service was available, but were able to find parking in one of the many lots.
Kid-friendly hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park
Easy: Rim Trail
Distance: 5.5 miles (but you can choose your distance)
We spent the first part of our day meandering atop the Rim Trail, with a paved section between Sunrise and Sunset Points. This mostly flat trail with epic views of the canyon. The paved section is stroller-friendly, with a low-risk assessment for toddlers.
Easy: Mossy Cave Trail
Distance: 0.8 miles
The Mossy Cave Trail is one of the few Bryce Canyon hikes that begins with a climb, then heads down a descent. Waterfall fans (hi, it’s me) will love this short hike that also includes an overhanging grotto that has icicles in the spring or moss in the summer, hence the name.
Distance: 2.9 miles
The Navajo Queen’s Garden Loop is the park’s most popular hike and begins at Sunset Point, where we started down into the canyon. Your kids have to experience walking among the towering hoodoos and may get a kick out of the park’s most famous hoodoo, Thor’s hammer. However, our kids were not into having a big climb on this day, so we didn’t spend as much time as I would’ve liked on this trail. Pro tip: If driving to Bryce from Zion, stop for lunch first before embarking on the Navajo Loop.
Family-friendly accommodations in Bryce Canyon National Park
We only planned a day trip to Bryce Canyon, but we did get to experience the historic Ruby’s Inn for a meal. The hotel itself has decent reviews if looking for a convenient option with a pool. For us, the restaurant and shop were a fun stop with plenty of kid-friendly eats like a buffet with mac and cheese, chicken fingers, and mashed potatoes. For a unique Bryce stay with kids, check out the domes at Clear Sky Resort for epic stargazing after sunset or the suites at Under Canvas for a glamping adventure. VRBO and AirBnb also offer many highly-rated, family-friendly options with a home-away-from-home feel near the park.
What to Pack for a Utah National Parks Road Trip With Kids
- Sun protection essentials: Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen.
- Layers: Temps in both parks fluctuate wildly.
- Water and snacks: We had each kid carry their own water bottle (remember plastic refillable water bottles are lighter than a steel Owala, for example).
- Backpacks/slings/belt bags: My husband carried a backpack with a Camelbak hydration pack and extra water bottles. Each of my kids and I had a sling bag for snacks and water bottles, etc.
- Hiking boots: My 9-year-old hiked everything in sneakers, but Bryce Canyon got them very dirty. Hiking boots are a good investment if you plan to take more than one trip or have multiple kids, so you could pass down sizes. Pro tip: Wear your hiking boots on the plane so you don’t have to pack them. Zion has gear rentals available, as well.
- First aid kit: Basics like Band-Aids, hand sanitizer, wipes, and bug repellent are good to have.
- America the Beautiful Pass ($80): Gets you into any national park versus paying for individual admissions. If your kids are school-age, every fourth grader in the U.S. gets a free national park pass for their family for the Every Kid Outdoors program, which can save you the $80 cost for the America the Beautiful national park pass.
FAQs for a Utah National Parks Family Road Trip
What is the best time of year to visit Zion and Bryce Canyon with kids?
The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are considered the best times to visit as a family. We took our Utah national park road trip in the spring, which had perks like fewer crowds and moderate temperatures. However, we weren’t able to properly explore certain hikes like The Narrows in Zion.
How far apart are Zion and Bryce Canyon?
The two parks are about 90 miles apart—less than a 2-hour drive. Note that park entrance stations can back up for entry during peak times.
Is Zion or Bryce Canyon better for families with young children?
The shuttle system makes Zion very accessible for families with young children. But both parks have kid-friendly hikes. Additionally, every national park has a Junior Ranger program to get kids of all ages excited to visit the park.
Which is nicer, Bryce or Zion?
While Bryce has incredible hoodoos, Zion’s red rock cliffs and landscape are simply jaw-dropping. Zion has been our family’s favorite national park to visit, thus far, and the shuttles make it easy to explore.
What is the best age to take kids to the Utah national parks?
I think there’s a reason fourth grade is the year for the Every Kid Outdoors national park pass program. Around ages 8-10, kids have the wearwithal to hike and the energy to explore, while parents don’t have to worry (as much) about them stepping too close to the edge of a cliff.
What We Wish We Knew About Visiting Zion and Bryce
Honestly, the biggest takeaway from our Utah national parks road trip was that we wanted to stay longer—and return. A few more days would have given us more flexibility to stop at hidden gem hikes along our way between Zion and Bryce. We also would’ve liked to stay a night in Bryce Canyon to experience the legendary stargazing. In fact, we tried to extend our stay, but Cable Mountain Lodge was booked. Instead, we had to stick to our plan of one night in Las Vegas before our flight home, which was a stunning (derogatory) contrast to the unplugged, back-to-nature feel of our Utah trip.
So would we do it again? Absolutely. Maybe when the kids are a little older, we’d all be tall enough to hike deeper into The Narrows—and I can work up my courage to do Angel’s Landing, maybe.
Read More: Adding national parks to your family’s travel bucket list? Consider these destinations, too.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for nearly a decade, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.
