How to Plan a Grand Canyon to Zion National Park Road Trip Itinerary

This Grand Canyon to Zion National Park itinerary combines two of the best places to visit in southern Utah and northern Arizona into one unforgettable road trip.

Soaring pink cliffs, gushing rivers and breathtaking hikes along canyon rims and ridges are all a part of this Zion to Grand Canyon National Park itinerary. The two bucket list destinations are just across state lines from each other — Zion the most visited national park in Utah and the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

While both parks are worthy of a few days exploring and hiking, it’s possible to squeeze the pair into one long weekend flying in and out of Las Vegas in Nevada or (even closer) St. George in Utah.

I recommend aiming for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on this trip as it’s closer to Zion National Park and will save at least two hours of driving. It’s also less busy than the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, which gets 90% of national park visitors. If you have your heart set on the South Rim, we’ve included an option for that, too.

Keep reading for a Grand Canyon Zion road trip guide to help you plan your route and hikes and find the best places to stay.

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Grand Canyon to Zion National Park Map

Use this Zion to Grand Canyon National Park map to find your route and pinpoint the top activities in each destination.

Renting a campervan for the road trip between Zion and the Grand Canyon is a great adventure that allows you to stay at campgrounds in the parks. The vans and jeeps from Escape Campervans are fully equipped with sleeping space for up to five people and kitchenettes with stovetops and solar-powered fridges. You can pick up a van in Las Vegas, Phoenix or Salt Lake City for a round trip or one-way route.

Learn more and reserve your travel dates

Zion to Grand Canyon National Park Road Trip

This four-day Zion to Grand Canyon itinerary begins and ends in Las Vegas, the closest major airport to the parks. If you need to condense this trip into a long weekend, you can spend just half day at the Grand Canyon North Rim checking out a few viewpoints. Reserve at least one full day for Zion to take the free park shuttle into the canyon and hike one or two bucket-list trails.

For longer trip to northern Arizona and Southern Utah, check out this 7 or 8 day Utah national parks itinerary and this 10 day Arizona and Utah road trip.

Day 1 — Las Vegas to Grand Canyon National Park

Aim to make the long drive to Grand Canyon National Park on arrival day so you can maximize the rest of your time in the national parks.

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon North Rim

From Las Vegas, it’s about 4.5 hours (270 miles) all the way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. If you aren’t staying at the Grand Canyon Lodge and don’t have enough time to visit the North Rim on this day, you’ll only need to drive as far as your hotel somewhere like Kanab (205 miles from Vegas) or Jacob Lake (230 miles from Vegas).

The North Rim is very remote and aside from the Lodge, the closest places to stay are a good 45 minutes to an hour away. It’s not really worth driving all the way into the park and back out again unless you have a least half a day to spend there.

If you have extra time on the way to the North Rim, you can stop at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada or take the route through Zion National Park and squeeze in a quick hike. Keep reading for more details on both of those options.

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim

The drive from Vegas to the Grand Canyon South Rim also takes about 4.5 hours (280 miles) or 5 hours if you divert onto historic Route 66. If you’re spending the night somewhere close like Grand Canyon Village or Tusayan, you can aim to arrive in time to catch the sunset from Mather Point or one of the lookouts along Hermit Road.

With extra time, you can stop at the Hoover Dam on the way or spend some time driving old Route 66 to Williams, stopping at a couple of retro diners and gas stations along the way.

Where to Stay

The best places to stay near the Grand Canyon South Rim are in Grand Canyon Village, Tusayan and Williams.

For the North Rim, you can stay at the Grand Canyon Lodge if you book far ahead or look for lodging in Kanab, Utah. I've stayed at the budget-friendly Aiken’s Lodge. Canyons Boutique Hotel on the higher end has vintage-style rooms.

Day 2 — Grand Canyon National Park

If you pick the Grand Canyon South Rim as your destination, use this one-day South Rim guide to plan out your hikes and sightseeing. The itinerary below is for the Grand Canyon North Rim. You should be able to fit all of these activities into one day. 

North Kaibab Trail

There are several short hikes you can do throughout the day at various lookouts, which I’ll detail below, but if you want to experience hiking down into the canyon, the North Kaibab Trail is where to go.

The trail runs for 14.2 miles one way to the canyon floor and is used by super fit hikers who do the rim to rim hike between the North and South rims. For a day hike, you can just travel a mile or two down and back up or aim for a turn-around point like the Supai Tunnel (3.4 miles round trip) rest stop, which has drinking water and a toilet. Remember that hiking up is much more difficult than going down and can take twice as long.

Parking at the trailhead fills quickly, so do this first thing in the morning.

Bright Angel Point

Bright Angel Point Trail and lookout is most people’s first glimpse at the North Rim. The short and steep paved path (0.5 mile round trip) is near the Grand Canyon Lodge and North Rim Visitor Center and leads to a panoramic view. This is also a great spot to watch the sunset or sunrise if you’re in the park for either.

Transept Trail

From Bright Angel Point, you can continue along the rim a little ways on the Transept Trail to a less-busy lookout that juts into the canyon. The Transept Trail follows the rim of a side canyon for a couple of miles (4 miles round trip), but you can turn around at any point for a shorter walk.

Point Imperial and Cape Royal Scenic Drive

Set aside half a day for a scenic drive in the park to several lookouts with different vantage points of the canyon. The route spans about 30 miles round trip along Point Imperial Road and Cape Royal Road, which lead to their namesake viewpoints.

Point Imperial is the highest North Rim overlook at 8,803 feet, with views of the Painted Desert and Marble Canyon. On Cape Royal Road, you’ll want to pull over at the Vista Encantada lookout to picnic, Roosevelt Point for a short forested trail, Walhalla Overlook for ancestral Puebloan ruins, and Cape Royal to walk a paved path (0.8 miles round trip) with views of the Angel’s Window rock feature and Colorado River.

This is how to spend 2 days at Grand Canyon National Park

Where to Stay

I recommend staying another night in Kanab to enter Zion National Park from the east side tomorrow. You could also drive through Zion this afternoon and spend the next two nights in Springdale, Utah.

Search for hotels near Zion on Booking.com

Day 3 — Grand Canyon to Zion National Park

If you stay in Kanab, you’ll only have about a 30-minute commute to the east entrance of Zion National Park, but it’ll take over an hour to get all the way to the canyon floor and visitor center. Luckily, the drive from Grand Canyon to Zion on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway has some of the best scenery in the park.

Just be sure to arrive super early if you plan to do a long and popular hike like Angels Landing or the Narrows, as you have to ride the free shuttle and parking at the visitor center fills up early in the morning. Paid parking is available in the neighboring town of Springdale, but you may need to ride a bus to the national park if parking near the entrance is full.

Here’s how to spend one day at Zion National Park.

Zion-Mount Carmel Highway

The eastern route into Zion National Park, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and its 1.1-mile tunnel are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The road cuts around pink cliffs and swerves along switchbacks as it descends to the floor of the canyon. There are a few spots to pull over along the way to snap photos of checkerboard hills, a canyon overlook, and a giant arch forming in a cliff.

Canyon Overlook Trail

The Canyon Overlook Trail (1 mile) starts from the east side of the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel and leads to a breathtaking view of Zion and Pine Creek canyons. It’s a moderate but short uphill climb with a big payoff at the end. This is one of few Zion hikes that don’t require a ride on the shuttle, but parking is limited near the trailhead and it’s often challenging to find a spot.

Angels Landing Hike

Angels Landing is one of the most famous hiking destinations in Zion. The West Rim Trail to Angels Landing (5.4 miles) gains 1,488 feet of elevation, with a famous narrow ridge with chain assists leading to the final canyon overlook. Since the trail gets crowded, you need to have a permit to hike the final section up the ridge. Angels Landing reservations are distributed through a seasonal lottery system.

With just a day in Zion, you’ll probably have to choose between this hike or The Narrows, but you can squeeze in both with a half-day more. The trailhead is at the Grotto, stop 6 on the free park shuttle.

The Narrows and Riverside Walk

Another bucket-list Zion hike, The Narrows begins where the Riverside Walk (2.2 miles) footpath ends, literally in the Virgin River. On the hike, you’ll walk, wade and swim in the river as the soaring canyon walls close in tighter and tighter.

The entire strenuous hike is about 9.4 miles roundtrip, but you can turn around at any point for a shorter option. Local outdoor outfitters in Springdale have boots, hiking poles, and other gear you can rent for the trek.

Flash flooding and river conditions can make this hike dangerous, so be sure to check the Zion National Park website for alerts before you take off. The trailhead is at Temple of Sinawava, the final stop on the park shuttle route.

Emerald Pools Trails

Consisting of lower, middle and upper tiers, the Emerald Pools and waterfalls are a popular excursion to fill the remainder of your day or for folks looking for a hike a little less intimidating than Angels Landing or The Narrows.

The easy Lower Emerald Pools Trail (1.2 miles) leads to a waterfall you can walk under. The Middle Emerald Pools Trail (2.2 miles) is just above it, but the climb gets much steeper. The upper pool adds another mile onto the hike. The trails also connect to the Kayenta Trail (2 miles), so you can make a loop to see all three in a little more than 3 miles. The Zion trail maps will help you plot the right course.

Access the Emerald Pools path from the Zion Lodge, shuttle stop 5, or the Kayenta Trail from The Grotto, stop 6.

These are the 5 Utah national parks you have to visit

Where to Stay

Springdale is the closest town to Zion National Park with plenty of hotels to pick from. There is a free shuttle that runs between Springdale and the Zion visitor center.

Search for Zion National Park hotel deals on Booking.com

Day 4 — Zion to Las Vegas

The drive from Zion to Las Vegas takes about 3 hours, so if you’re flying home on this day, take that into account. You could also spend the night somewhere like St. George to cut the drive time down a little. If you have extra time or a full day, consider adding on a few of the activities below.

Extra Zion Activities

If you have an extra couple of hours for Zion but don’t want to ride the shuttle again for any hikes you missed yesterday, you could explore a couple of the trails close to the visitor center instead. Some options include the Pa’rus Trail (3.5), an easy and paved walk along the river that’s perfect for all ages and abilities, and the Watchman Trail (3.3) is a moderate uphill hike to a lookout of the lower canyon.

Kolob Canyons

The less-crowded Kolob Canyons section of the park is about 45 minutes from the Springdale-Zion area. With half a day, you could head up here to drive the scenic 5-mile Kolob Canyon Road and hike the Timber Creek Overlook Trail (1 mile).

Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park is just off the route heading back to Vegas, about an hour outside the city. It’s known for its striking red and orange landscape and is the perfect spot to spend a couple of hours to half a day.

For a quick visit, you can just pass through the park on the Valley of Fire Highway and take an hour or so to drive the scenic Mouse’s Tank Road through the red rock landscape. With half a day in the park, add in a couple of short hikes like the White Domes Loop (1 mile), Rainbow Vista Trail (1 miles) or Fire Wave Trail (1.5 miles). My favorite is the White Domes Loop, where you’ll hike through a short slot canyon and see huge rock features in shades of yellow, pink and orange.

This is how to plan a trip to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park

Zion to Grand Canyon Road Trip Tips

Use this Grand Canyon to Zion National Park guide to plan out the details of your trip. We’ve included tips for where to stay, what to pack, and when to visit these bucket list parks.

Where to Stay Near Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks

If you want to base yourself in one location for a Grand Canyon to Zion National Park trip, Kanab, Utah, is your best bet. It’s about 80 miles from the Grand Canyon North Rim and just 30 miles from Zion’s east entrance. If you’re following this itinerary, I would recommend staying there for the first couple of nights as you transition between the Grand Canyon and Zion, but staying somewhere like Springdale, or St. George in Utah on the west side of Zion for the final night to save yourself the extra driving.

If you don’t mind switching hotels, the closest you can get to the North Rim is the Grand Canyon Lodge or North Rim Campground in the park. Outside the park, there are only a couple of scattered accommodations in the 80 mile stretch between the national park and Kanab.

For Zion, the nearest hotels are in Springdale, just outside the park entrance. For more options, check out these closest towns to Zion National Park.

Search for hotel deals near Zion National Park on Booking.com

Where to Fly Into for a Grand Canyon to Zion Road Trip

The closest major airport to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park is in Las Vegas. It’s about 3 hours from Zion and 4.5 from the North Rim. The St. George Regional Airport is even closer, an hour from Zion and less than 3 from the North Rim, with flights on a few major airlines. 

Zion National Park to Grand Canyon National Park Drive

The drive between the visitor centers in Zion to Grand Canyon North Rim takes a little under 3 hours. On the way, you can take the breathtaking Zion-Mount Carmel Highway for colorful rock hills and canyon views.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon to Zion National Park is closer to 5 hours, and you can either take a scenic route by Marble Canyon and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument or go through Page, Arizona, to stop at Horseshoe Bend and tour Antelope Canyon.

This Arizona Utah road trip idea squeezes Zion, Grand Canyon, Page and Bryce Canyon into four days. It’s the perfect itinerary to see other national parks while driving this Grand Canyon to Zion route.

What to Pack for Zion and the Grand Canyon

Pack seasonally appropriate outfits for a Zion and Grand Canyon trip that are comfortable for long drives in the car and walking or hiking in both parks. Layers are a good idea in every season, as temperatures can swing 30 degrees in a day. The rim of the Grand Canyon can be surprisingly cool on summer evenings, especially if it is windy.

If you plan to hike any trails with incline and decline, like the North Kaibab at the Grand Canyon North Rim or Angels Landing at Zion, be sure to bring hiking boots or sneakers with good traction and ankle support. I wear these Columbia hiking boots in the national parks.

This packing list with national park and camping necessities will help you prepare for your trip to the Grand Canyon and Zion.

How Many Days to Spend at the Grand Canyon and Zion

Because of the driving distance from the Grand Canyon to Zion National Park, I would recommend at least 3 or 4 days to be able to spend a full day in each park. On a short trip, visiting the Grand Canyon North Rim will save you a couple hours of driving. Of the two, give more time to Zion National Park if you enjoy hiking. You could visit the Grand Canyon North Rim in half a day if you just want to check out a couple of the viewpoints. It is possible to visit the Grand Canyon and Zion on a long weekend if you only spend a day in each park.

If you have extra time on your trip, you can also spend a day in Las Vegas.

Grand Canyon and Zion National Park Tours

These tours between the Grand Canyon to Zion National Park make it easy to sit back and enjoy the scenery as you leave the driving to someone else. Plus, you’ll get to see the best spots in both the Grand Canyon and Zion with a professional guide.

This Zion, Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon tour includes a professional guide and departs from Las Vegas.

This Zion, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon and Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas squeezes a ton of bucket list activities into 3 days.

This small group Zion and Bryce Canyon day trip leaves from Las Vegas.

Grand Canyon and Zion Weather and Seasons

At Zion National Park, daytime summer temps average in the 90s to 100, with lows in the 60s. Monsoon season starts in late summer and brings a threat of flash floods in the canyon. Fall and spring have highs that average in the 60s to 80s and lows in the 40s to 50s. Average winter temperatures top out in the 50s and lows in the 30s.

The Grand Canyon North Rim is only open with full services between May 15 and October 15. Summer highs average in the mid-70s and lows in the 40s. The spring and fall shoulder months average about 10 degrees cooler for highs and lows.