One Day in Bryce Canyon National Park
Only have one day in Bryce Canyon National Park? Want to plan out your visit with the best things to do in Bryce Canyon?
Awesome! You’re in the right place! I live in Utah and take every chance I get to explore our incredible national parks—Bryce Canyon being one of the most unique and stunning of them all. Those iconic hoodoos and sweeping amphitheaters never get old!
You might be wondering if one day in Bryce Canyon is enough. Or whether you’ll have time to hike and still catch the best sunrise or sunset. I’m here to answer all of that and help you create the perfect one-day Bryce Canyon itinerary.
In this post, I’ll walk you through everything from park entry fees to what weather you can expect. I’ll also highlight the top things to do in Bryce Canyon, share my favorite easy hikes, and give tips for navigating the park shuttle system if you visit during peak season.
Yes, one day in Bryce Canyon is totally doable—and absolutely unforgettable!
Let’s plan the perfect one-day Bryce Canyon adventure!
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Directions to Bryce Canyon National Park
Getting to Bryce Canyon National Park is actually pretty straightforward, whether you’re coming from Salt Lake City or Las Vegas.
Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon
From Salt Lake City, it’s about a 4-hour drive (roughly 270 miles) heading south through some seriously scenic parts of Utah. If you’re flying into Salt Lake, renting a car is your best bet for flexibility.
Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon National Park
Coming from Las Vegas? You’re looking at around 4.5 hours (about 260 miles), and the route will take you through parts of Zion and Dixie National Forest—so it’s a beautiful drive, too!
Either way, plan for a half-day of travel, and make sure to fill up on gas and snacks before heading into more remote areas. There aren’t a ton of services right near the park, so being prepared makes all the difference.
Best Time to Visit Byrce Canyon National Park
The best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park is in the Summer! Let me tell you why!
Weather at Bryce Canyon
The weather is perfect all summer long! Bryce Canyon is 8000 ft in elevation. Average temperatures during the summer are around 75. Which is amazing!
It starts to get pretty cold even as early as early October. It is open all year round, but this area gets a lot of snow!
Crowds at Bryce Canyon
Personally, I went during peak season on a Thursday and did not feel it was overcrowded like Zion or Arches. It was easy to get on and off the shuttles without crowds.
If you are going during the summer, the middle of the week is a better time to visit compared to the weekend for lower crowds.
Accomodations and Cities Near Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon NP is in a pretty remote area, but don’t worry, you can easily find accommodations.
Camping Near Bryce Canyon National Park
There are 2 campgrounds inside Bryce Canyon. The North campground is open year-round, and the sunset area is closed during the winter. You can make a reservation through the National Park Service.
Ruby’s Inn, located just outside of the park, has tent campsites as well.
Glamping Near Bryce Canyon National Park
There are some really cool glamping experiences near Bryce Canyon.
The Clear Sky Resort has glass domes where you can see the beautiful night sky from your bed!
Another really cool glamping site not too far from Bryce is the Whispering Pines Cover Wagon Resort. It is about 45 minutes south of Bryce Canyon.
Under Canvas is another really cool glamping site to check out near Bryce Canyon as well.
Hotels and Resorts Near Bryce Canyon National Park
There are a few hotels near Bryce. A brand new Spring Hills Suite is opening near Bryce. This will be the nicest, newest option.
Ruby’s Inn is another great option right outside of Bryce Canyon.
Bryce Canyon Admission and Hours
Bryce Canyon National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (weather permitting), so you can enjoy sunrise, sunset, or even nighttime stargazing without time restrictions.
The Visitor Center is open seasonally from 8 a.m., with hours that vary by season—typically 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Summer Hours
(May–September) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Fall Hours
(October) 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Winter Hours
(November–March) 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission
Entrance fees (valid for 7 days, including shuttle access when in service):
Private vehicle (up to 15 passengers): $35 per vehicle
Motorcycle: $30 per bike
Individual entry (on foot or bicycle): $20 per person (children 15 and younger are free)
Annual Passes
The America the Beautiful Pass is about $80. This gives you access to all National Parks for an entire year.
If you have a 4th grader, you can get the Every Kid in a Park Pass. This is an annual pass to all National Parks.
Parking at Bryce Canyon National Park
There are lots of options for parking.
Option 1
If you want to avoid driving your car into the park. This would probably be for those staying in hotels and campsites near Bryce or those in RV’s . You can pick up the park shuttle in Bryce Canyon City.
Option 2
You can park across from the visitor center and take a shuttle or there is a parking lot at every stop along the shuttle route. You can park and drive yourself if you would like.
The visitor center is not an all-day parking lot. You will have to move your car to the lot across the street, and then you can catch the shuttle.
Shuttle at Bryce Canyon National Park
One thing I was so excited about was that Bryce Canyon has a shuttle!
I was able to park my car and not have to worry about driving!
The shuttle only hits part of the park. If you want to do more intense hikes you will have to drive.
Stops on the Bryce Canyon Shuttles
| Stop One: Shuttle Station (outside park in Bryce Canyon City) | Free all-day parking and ticket sales—no trails directly here, but a convenient start point for catching the shuttle |
|---|---|
| Stop 2–5: Old Bryce Town, Best Western Plus Grand, Best Western Ruby’s Inn, Ruby’s Campground | Locations for lodging or staging; no official park trails from these stops |
| Stop 6: Visitor Center | Info, restrooms, museum, park film. From here you can start Rim Trail hikes toward viewpoints |
| Stop 7: Sunset Campground | Used mostly for lodging access—no direct trailheads |
| Stop 8: Bryce Point | Access to Peekaboo Loop (~5 mi), Under‑the‑Rim Trail, Hat Shop Trail, and a segment of the Rim Trail connecting to Inspiration Point (approx. 1.5 mi) |
| Stop 9: Inspiration Point | Makes a great jump‑off for the Rim Trail toward Sunset Point (~0.7 mi) or back to Bryce Point |
| Stop 10: Sunset Campground (Northbound) | Another campground-access point—no designated trails |
| Stop 11: Sunset Point | Trailheads for Navajo Loop (~1.3 mi), Queen’s Garden + Navajo Loop combo (~3 mi), and is the paved start of the flat Rim Trail toward Sunrise Point (~0.5 mi) |
| Stop 12: Bryce Canyon Lodge | Stay in the park? This is your stop—but no trailhead here |
| Stop 13: Sunrise Point | Access to Queen’s Garden Trail (~1.8 mi), Queens + Navajo combo, and Tower Bridge hike (~3 mi) |
| Stop 14: Visitor Center (Northbound) | Alternative access back to Visitor Center amenities |
| Stop 15: Ruby’s Campground (Northbound) | Return stop near Ruby’s Inn & campsite—no trailhead here |
One Day in Bryce Canyon
I thought I would put together a few questions you might have, which will help you plan your Bryce Canyon National Park trip.
Can you Drive a Car through Bryce Canyon?
Yes, you can drive through Bryce Canyon. There are parking lots at each stop. In off off-season, this is your only option as the shuttle doesn’t run.
How Many Days do you Need at Bryce Canyon?
1 day is plenty of time to do Bryce Canyon.
We were able to see everything we wanted in about 3 hours. We did not go on any long hikes. We only did the shuttle stops and viewpoints.
Do you Need a Reservation for Bryce Canyon?
No, you can enter without a reservation.
What is the Closest City to Bryce Canyon?
Bryce Canyon City is the closest city. It is not too big. Panguitch is about 30 minutes away.
Best Hikes at Bryce Canyon National Park
I injured my back, and hiking on a steep incline isn’t the best. So we decided to just hike around the Rim Trail and the Sunset to Sunrise Trail.
If you look at the picture above you can see the easiest hikes in Green and Harder hikes in Yellow and Blue.
The Queen’s Navajo Combination Loop is the most popular hike at Bryce Canyon National Park.
Tours at Bryce Canyon
There are so many cool tours at Bryce Canyon National Park. Whether you want to go on a helicopter ride or a horseback ride, there really is something for everyone.
Tours at Bryce Canyon
- Bryce Canyon Helicopter Ride
- Bryce Canyon Horseback Ride
- Bryce Canyon ATV Tour
- Bryce Canyon City Wagon Ride
- Bryce Canyon E-Bike Tour
- Astro Photography Tour (Stars)
Going on a tour will make your Bryce Canyon experience so amazing!
Bryce Canyon Visitor Center
Our first stop was the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center. There is a little museum and souvenir shop. You can talk to park rangers, get a map!
Bryce Canyon Visitor Center Museum
The museum at the Visitor Center is pretty fun. There are hands-on activities for kids to enjoy.
Junior Ranger Booklet
If you are a fan of National Parks, you will probably already know about the Junior Ranger Program.
If not, I will tell you why I am a big fan. The Junior Ranger Program allows kids and adults to fill out a fun booklet while exploring the park.
Once you are finished, you can return to the visitor center and get a cool Junior Ranger badge. We collect them from every park.
Bryce Canyon Souvenirs
There are lots of souvenirs at the Visitor Center! I am a huge fan of getting something to remember each national park I visit.
I usually collect bags, but there are so many cool things to collect! It is fun to look around and find the perfect souvenir.
Are you Ready to go to Bryce Canyon National Park?
Bryce Canyon is such a fun and beautiful place to visit. We really enjoyed our time there and I know you will too!
Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the most amazing Utah national parks. (Arches, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef, Bryce, and Zion National Park.) You will not be disappointed. The West Coast National Park offers so much!
Utah’s national parks are amazing!
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