An Epic Roadtrip through Utah's Mighty 5

If you’re seeking an unforgettable adventure filled with breathtaking landscapes, majestic rock formations, and the beauty of America’s national parks, look no further than the Mighty 5 Road Trip. This carefully curated itinerary will take you through some of the most stunning destinations in Utah, where nature’s artistry unfolds at every turn. From the iconic arches of Arches National Park to the dramatic canyons of Zion, each park offers unique experiences that will leave you in awe. Whether you’re hiking in the shadow of towering cliffs, gazing over vast desert vistas, or exploring hidden slot canyons, this journey promises to be a feast for the senses. Get ready to embark on an expedition filled with exploration, adventure, and unforgettable memories!

Know Before You Go

I highly recommend an America the Beautiful Pass for this itinerary. It covers the entrance fees for over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including all National Parks. If you have a 4^th grader in your crew, check out Every Kid Outdoors for a free National Park Pass instead!
Arches National Park is the only park on this itinerary requiring timed entry.
This road trip itinerary includes add-on days if you have extra time. If you start this itinerary on a Friday, you will have 16 days to work with, instead of 14. We always try to schedule part of our trip around a holiday. This strategy gets us a few more days without using any more vacation time from work.
If you are traveling during the summer, your most significant obstacle will be the unrelenting heat in parks with close to zero shade. Bring all kinds of sun protection- sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, etc.
These parks are prone to flash flooding, especially during summer. Flooding can occur even if it does not rain inside the park boundaries. Please check weather conditions before heading out.
If you click on any park name throughout the itinerary, you will be taken to a park-specific post. Those posts will offer more information on lodging, dining, cell service, and trail tips for that park.
Road trip packing/lodging tip: We make sure our midway lodging option has laundry services. This way, we only need to pack clothing items for one week instead of two.

Timed Entry Info:

Arches National Park

A timed entry ticket is required April 1st through October 31^st in addition to a park pass.
Timed entry is required from 7 am to 4 pm.
Timed entry tickets can be found at Recreation.gov. They are $2.00 per vehicle.
Tickets are released in month blocks, 3-6 months in advance.
If you miss the initial release, a second batch of timed entry tickets is released at 7 pm MST the day prior to the visit date.

Day 1

Drive or fly into Moab, Utah.

Day 2

Arches National Park (TIMED ENTRY REQUIRED)

Landscape/Pine Tree/Tunnel Arches (2.5 mi., 200+ ft)
Skyline Arch (0.5 mi., 30+ ft)
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint
Salt Valley Overlook
Petrified Dunes Viewpoint
Sunset Hike: Sand Dune/Broken/Tapestry Arches (3 mi., 200+ ft)

Day 3

Arches National Park (TIMED ENTRY REQUIRED)

North Window/South Window/Turret Arch (1.2 mi., 100+ ft)
Double Arch (0.8 mi., 50+ ft)
Balanced Rock (0.3 mi., 40+ ft)
Park Avenue Trail (2 mi., 300+ ft)
Sunset Hike: Delicate Arch Trail (3.2 mi., 600+ ft)

Day 4

Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky)

Island in the Sky Visitor Center
Mesa Arch (0.7 mi., 60+ ft)
Upheaval Dome (0.7-1.3 mi., 200+ ft)
Whale Rock (1 mi., 100+ ft)
Holeman Spring Canyon Overlook
Green River Overlook
Candlestick Tower Overlook
Buck Canyon Overlook
Orange Cliffs Overlook
Grandview Point Overlook/Trail (1.8 mi., 100+ ft)
Shafer Canyon Overlook
Dead Horse State Park

Day 5

Canyonlands National Park (The Needles)

The Needles Visitor Center
Cave Spring Trail (0.8 mi., 50+ ft)
Wooden Shoe Overlook
Pothole Point (0.6 mi., 0 ft)
Big Spring Overlook
Elephant Hill Trail (2.6 mi., 400+ ft – if you have an extra day, hike this to Druid Arch +7.4 mi rt)
Newspaper Rock
The Needles Overlook (0.5 mi., 80+ ft)

Day 6

Capitol Reef National Park

Cassidy Arch/Grand Wash Trail (6.4 mi. rt, 800+ ft)
Scenic Drive/Capitol Gorge Road (20-mile rt drive from Visitor Center)
Gifford Homestead for pie😊
Panorama Point

Optional Add-on: Goosenecks Overlook (0.3 mi. rt), Sunset Point (0.6 mi. rt)

Day 7

Capitol Reef National Park

Hickman Bridge Trail (1.8 mi. rt, 400+ ft)
Hartnet/Cathedral Valley Loop (70 mi. scenic drive)

Day 8

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Willis Creek Slot Canyon (3-6 mi., 300 ft)
Grosvenor Arch (0.2 mi., 20+ ft)
Cottonwood Narrows (3.3 mi., 200+ ft)

OPTIONAL ADD-ON DAY

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Lower Calf Creek Falls (6.2 mi., 600 ft)
Devils Garden (0.5 mi., 20+ ft)

Day 9

Bryce Canyon National Park

Sunrise Point
Navajo Loop /Queen’s Garden Trail (3 mi., 600+ ft)
Sunset Point
Southern Scenic Drive- 9 overlooks (must stops: Natural Bridge, Aqua Canyon)
Mossy Cave Trail (0.9 mi., 100+ ft)

Day 10

Zion National Park

Watchman Trail (3.2 mi., 600+ ft)
Zion-Mt. Carmel Scenic Drive
Canyon Overlook Trail (1 mi., 100+ ft)

Day 11

Zion National Park

Double Arch via Middle Fork Taylor Creek Trail (5 mi., 600+ ft)
Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive (5 mi.)
Timber Creek Overlook Trail (1.2 mi., 200+ ft)

Day 12

Zion National Park

Temple of Sinwava/Riverside Walk (2 mi., 100+ ft- Shuttle Stop 9), only do this if you are NOT doing the Narrows on Day 4
Big Bend (Shuttle Stop 8)
Emerald Pools Trail (3 mi., 600+ ft- access via Shuttle Stop 6 as an out-and-back)
Court of Patriarchs (Shuttle Stop 4)

Day 13

Zion National Park

The Narrows (~9 mi to Big Springs and back, 700 ft—Shuttle Stop 9). We recommend equipment rentals, especially if you visit in the spring when the water is very cold.