When someone mentions Utah, the first places that likely come to mind are Arches National Park and Zion National Park. And although both parks are epic, there is so much more to Utah than these two spots. In fact, many of my favorite Utah places can be found along the drive between Arches and Zion National Parks.
The route itself takes over 6 hours (576 km / 358 miles) to drive, but you need at least 6 days to truly enjoy the Majestic 5 National Parks, along with the scenic routes and stops between them. Trust me on this as someone who lives in Utah and has driven this route countless times.
Unfortunately, many travelers drive this route without stopping except for gas or a quick snack, and as a result, miss out on some incredibly scenic viewpoints. It’s the distance between each national park that makes the scenic stops even more important. Think of it as a mini road trip rather than just a drive to reach your destination.
By choosing to take Scenic Byway 12, you end up taking a slightly different route that rewards you with some of the most beautiful landscapes in the United States. And instead of completing the route in one day, give yourself 6 days to explore and fully appreciate the stops listed below.
Arches to Zion Route Overview
Moab – Arches → Dead Horse Point → Canyonlands → Goblin Valley → Capitol Reef → Scenic Byway 12 → Kodachrome Basin → Bryce Canyon → Zion
Stop 1: Arches National Park
Arches National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. It attracts over 1.5 million people in the busy season (from April through October). Important to note is that it requires a timed reservation if you plan to visit between April and October, and you can do this online ahead of time. This is to avoid the park reaching capacity.
This park is famous for its dramatic red rock formations and natural sandstone arches. The Delicate Arch sunrise and sunset hikes are among the most popular trails here – the views truly are spectacular. The hike is around 3 miles round-trip. Delicate Arch is so famous that it’s actually on the Utah license plates!
Aside from Delicate Arch, the park offers several other notable formations, including Landscape Arch, Double Arch, and Balanced Rock. The open desert scenery and unique rock formations make Arches a great starting point for this road trip.
💡Planning Utah with kids? Check out our Utah road trip with kids guide for family-friendly parks and stops!
Where to stay in Arches National Park: One of the closest hotels to the park is the 3-star Red Cliffs Lodge Moab, which is around a 15-minute drive from the park’s entrance.
Stop 2: Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point State Park is located about 30 minutes from Arches National Park and offers one of the most dramatic overlooks in Utah. From the viewpoint, you can see a sweeping bend of the Colorado River winding through deep canyon walls.
If you are driving from Colorado, you may feel like you have been following this river through much of your journey.
Dead Horse Point is on the way to Canyonlands National Park, so it can easily be visited without much diversion either before entering Canyonlands or on your way back.
If you are driving an RV or planning on camping during this road trip, Dead Horse Point offers excellent campgrounds with modern amenities and incredible sunset views.
Stop 3: Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is a massive park divided into several districts, and it is often less crowded than Arches National Park. Here, you can experience some of the best stargazing views in the region thanks to its remote desert location.
Popular viewpoints include Grand View Point Overlook, Shafer Canyon Overlook, and Mesa Arch (especially at sunrise).
The deep canyons form natural mazes created by millions of years of erosion by the Colorado and Green Rivers.
One of the most famous backcountry routes in the park is the White Rim Road, a challenging 100-mile off-road route that usually takes 3 – 4 days to complete. Most people simply view portions of this road from scenic overlooks. If you want to explore this road, a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is required for the full route.
Stop 4: Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park is known for its unusual mushroom-shaped rock formations called hoodoos. The landscape is filled with thousands of these formations, giving the landscape an almost otherworldly appearance.
This park makes a great quick stop on the way to Capitol Reef. The 3 sisters and Curtis Bench Trail are the easy level hikes, whereas the Goblin’s Lair is the most strenuous hike here.
But most people simply enjoy walking freely among the formations and exploring the valley floor.
Stop 5: Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is often considered the most underrated national park among Utah’s Mighty 5.
Interestingly, the park is considered by many to be most famous for the pie served at the Gifford Homestead rather than for the park itself. And many stop off here to enjoy delicious homemade fruit pies before or after exploring the park. It’s a really good idea – believe me!
Capitol Reef’s landscape features cliffs, domes, and colorful rock layers formed along the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline stretching nearly 100 miles.
And pets are not allowed on hiking trails, but are permitted on a leash within 50 feet of paved or dirt roads.
Stop 6: Dixie National Forest
As you head further south, the scenery begins to change dramatically. After long stretches of desert landscape, you will finally see lush greenery, forests, and alpine lakes.
Some of the major water bodies in this region include Panguitch Lake and Navajo Lake. The Barker Recreation Area connects several fishing lakes, including the Blue Lake, Flat Lake, Yellow Lake, and Dougherty Basin.
Pine Valley Reservoir is well known for trout fishing, hiking, and picnicking, although it occasionally closes for renovation or maintenance.
Dixie National Forest is prone to wildfires during dry seasons, so it is always wise to check weather alerts and park conditions before visiting.
Stop 7: Scenic Byway 12
Scenic Byway 12 is one of the most scenic drives in the United States. It connects Capitol Reef National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park and passes through dramatic desert ridges, canyons, and mountain landscapes.
One of the most memorable sections of this drive is known as “The Hogback.”
This narrow stretch of road runs along a ridge for about two miles, with steep drop-offs on both sides and no guardrails in many sections. While it can feel a bit intimidating, the views are absolutely incredible.
From here, you also get glimpses of the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, a vast and rugged landscape filled with cliffs, slot canyons, and hidden backcountry areas.
The best viewpoint to stop at on this route would be the Head of the Rocks Overlook.
Stop 8: Kodachrome Basin State Park
Kodachrome Basin State Park borders the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument on multiple sides.
This park is dog-friendly, though pets must remain on a leash at all times.
Kodachrome Basin has three campgrounds, and make reservations in advance to reserve your spot. One of the great things about this park is that many of its trails are easy and accessible, making it a good stop if you want to stretch your legs without committing to a long hike.
Stop 9: Bryce Canyon National Park
By this point in your road trip, you may have already seen many hoodoo formations, but Bryce Canyon National Park shows them off on a much grander scale.
The Bryce Amphitheater is the main attraction and contains thousands of hoodoos packed together in dramatic formations. It is seriously amazing!
Several viewpoints around the rim provide incredible perspectives, many of which are wheelchair accessible, including the Amphitheater viewpoint. And the most popular viewpoints include the Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, Fairview Point, and Bryce Amphitheater.
While Sunrise and Sunset Points are the most famous, Inspiration Point offers a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the amphitheater – and it’s my favorite if I’m being honest.
Stop 10: Zion National Park
And your final stop!
Zion National Park offers more greenery than many of the other parks in Utah, thanks to the Virgin River that runs through the canyon. And so the scenery here is different from say, Arches.
Most people use the park shuttle system, which stops at major viewpoints and trailheads throughout Zion Canyon. And it’s a very convenient way to get around the large park.
One of the most famous hikes in Zion is Angel’s Landing. This strenuous hike climbs about 1,500 feet in elevation and includes a narrow ridge section with chains for support and steep drop-offs of nearly 1,000 feet.
Due to safety concerns and crowd control, the final section of the hike now requires a permit obtained through a lottery system via recreation.gov.
If you are traveling from the south, Zion will be your starting point, and you could follow the same route listed above, but northward toward Moab, Arches, and Canyonlands.
Where to stay in Zion National Park: Under Canvas Zion is a super unique glamping spot spread over 196 acres and bordering the national park.
Wildlife Across the Region:
Wildlife sightings are common across Utah’s state parks and national parks. Some animals you may encounter include:
- Mule deer
- Bighorn sheep
- Coyotes
- Mountain lions
- Foxes
- Bats and owls
- Falcons and ravens
- Pronghorn
- Various desert reptiles
Coyotes, bighorn sheep, and mule deer are especially common throughout the region. You should never approach or feed wildlife, as doing so is both dangerous and a violation of federal law.
Activities Along the Route:
This road trip offers a variety of outdoor activities depending on the park and the season.
Some of the most popular activities include:
- Hiking – there are so many hikes in each park listed above
- Mountain biking (mainly in Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, and Zion)
- Stargazing in dark sky parks – this tour in Bryce Canyon National Park is excellent
- Kayaking and rafting along the Colorado River – this whitewater rafting trip on the Upper Colorado River looks like a lot of fun
- Fishing in alpine lakes within Dixie National Forest
- Scenic photography at overlooks and viewpoints
Even if you are not planning long hikes, many of these parks offer short walks and viewpoints that allow you to enjoy incredible scenery without extensive trekking.
Gas Stops Along the Route:
Moab is the first and most important place to fill up on gas before beginning this journey. After Moab, the next option is Green River, though it may not always be necessary to stop so soon.
Beyond that point, gas stations become more limited until you approach the Zion area.
Additional gas stations can be found at:
- Sinclair station at 40 UT-95
- Sinclair station at 840 UT-12
- Several stations near Bryce Canyon City
- Hatch
- Alton
One convenient stop is the Chevron station in Mount Carmel, where you can also grab quick snacks, use restrooms, or pick up basic supplies.
When to Drive this Route:
This route can be traveled year-round, but weather conditions and seasonal closures may affect certain trails or viewpoints.
If you are planning a specific hike, check ahead to see if:
- Permits are required
- Trails are temporarily closed
- Weather conditions may affect accessibility
During summer, temperatures can become extremely hot with very little shade. It is best to start hikes early in the morning or later in the evening.
Carry insect repellent if planning sunset hikes, and try to stay on paved paths, solid rock, or sandy washes. Stepping on fragile desert soil can damage delicate ecosystems that take hundreds of years to regenerate.
If you encounter wildlife, maintain a safe distance and never approach animals.
Always follow Leave No Trace principles: pack out your trash, respect nature, and leave the landscape better than you found it.
Renting a Car in the United States
The most important thing you will need if renting a vehicle in the United States is a valid driver’s license. No company will allow you to do so without one.
And if you are traveling from a non-English-speaking country (i.e., your license is in another language), you might want to get an international driver’s license to make the rental process easier.
Drivers typically need to be at least 21 years old to rent a car in the U.S., though some companies might require a minimum age of 25. Young drivers under 25 may incur a surcharge.
Each company has different terms and conditions, so you should be fully aware of them. This is where options like RentalCover rental car insurance may come in handy,
Additionally, you will also likely need a valid credit card, as most rental companies will want to keep a credit card on file as a holding deposit. If you have a debit card, you will be charged a holding fee. Please note that some companies do not accept a debit card.
Some other points worth noting before renting a car here are that you CAN take your rental car across states, and most rental cars are automatic, and if you require a manual (stick shift), then you need to book it in advance.
🚗 TOP TIP 🚗 We always book our rental car through Discover Cars – which is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
Travel Insurance for the USA:
At first glance, skipping travel insurance may seem like a great way to save some money. However, if you end up losing your luggage, having your flights cancelled, or getting sick – it is a decision you’ll probably regret. Thinking nothing will happen is definitely a mistake, and without travel insurance, it’s one that will end up costing you – big time.
✅ Our fix: Shop around for budget-friendly travel insurance based on your trip length and destination while paying attention to what it covers. We like to use Auras Travel Insurance for our trips!
Thanks for Reading!
I really hope you enjoyed my road trip guide on driving between Arches National Park and Zion National Park. It really is one of the most epic and memorable drives in the United States. And I just know that when you drive it for yourself, you’ll fall in love with it as much as I have.
Author Bio: Rama Tirumala is the founder of Crazy Cubs Lazy Mom, where real-life parenting chaos meets practical, experienced travels. She is experienced in both travel technology and hands-on family travel with 2 boys across the U.S and beyond. On her blog, she writes about practical itineraries, destination strategy, and travel logistics with kids. And her aim is to help parents plan meaningful trips without overcomplicating them. You can also follow her on Instagram here.
Last Updated on March 24, 2026 by snaphappytravel