Capitol Reef National Park

Road trips are a way of travel that excite us the most. Nothing beats getting into a car, putting on great music, and driving through the unknown. This time we decided to spend majority of this trip in Utah. In this guide you can find our itinerary showing how we spent our time exploring this gorgeous state.

Follow this itinerary for an incredible, ultra-detailed 1-week road trip in some of the most beautiful landscapes in America. Complete with hike recommendations & drive times, you'll visit all 5 Utah National Parks (Arches, Canyonlands, Capital Reef, Bryce Canyon, & Zion), plus some bonus State Parks along the way. No hike is the same and there is lots to see, so grab your camera, hiking boots, favorite road trip snacks, and get ready for an amazing adventure! This trip was planned for a week in mid-November but could be adapted for any 7 day travel window, making minor adjustments in timing and apparel for each season, or even extended at the beginning or end for time in Salt Lake City and/or Las Vegas. In addition to seasonal differences, note that many schedules are built around specific sunrise and sunset times. Be sure to check the times for both and make adjustments for your own trip. This itinerary requires a car to travel between each destination. 🧳Trip summary Day 1 - Fly in + Dead Horse Point State Park Day 2 - Arches Day 3 - Canyonlands + Capitol Reef Day 4 - Capitol Reef Day 5 - Bryce Canyon + Zion Day 6 - Zion Day 7 - Zion + Fly out Why this guide? 📒 Hyper-detailed itinerary. This isn't your basic list of suggested activities & restaurants. Your days will be covered down to the minute, including time allotted for travel between activities and recommended transportation options. 🎟️ Advance ticket purchase recommendations. Avoid the lines - and disappointment - by booking tickets ahead of time. You'll be guaranteed entrance and will enjoy walking straight in, past any lines for ticket purchases. Special call outs for combo tickets to bundle and save will also be included where available! 🧾 Location-specific packing list. This won't be a comprehensive list (surely you've remembered your socks), but it will cover some key items to toss in your bag for a truly great experience at your destination. 🏆 Honorable mentions. Unless you booked a one way ticket (jealous!), you've only got a limited time to explore. The suggested itinerary includes my opinions of the best choices for first time visitors with general interest. Feel free to swap those out with any of the honorable mentions. ✨ And finally... If you are looking for a more tailored experience with a unique twist based on your interests, travel dates, and more, a custom itinerary may be best. I look forward to helping bring your vacation vision to life!

The United States currently has 63 protected areas known as national parks that are operated by the National Park Service. I’m on a mission to see as many of them as I can. I’ve been to 28 so far. Following is a list of where I’ve been in chronological order. To learn more about my journey, please visit darkskyoverland.com.