How to spend 2 days in Bryce Canyon National Park

Ever since I first saw photos of the towering orange hoodoos and spires, I’ve dreamed of visiting Bryce Canyon National Park. Last year, I finally got to visit and spent 2 days in Bryce Canyon exploring the park’s numerous hiking trails and scenic viewpoints.

It’s a place of unparalleled beauty, spectacular sunrises, and geological wonders. Although the park is smaller than its neighbour, Zion National Park, there is still so much to see and do.

Two days in Bryce Canyon will give you enough time to see the main sights and hike some of the park’s gorgeous trails without feeling rushed. I’ve put together this 2-day itinerary to help you plan your own trip and see the best of Bryce Canyon, from epic hikes to breath-taking view points. I also cover:

Key information you need to know about the park
The best time to visit Bryce Canyon
Where to stay and where to eat
Other places to explore nearby if you want to extend your trip

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In this guide

What you need to know about Bryce Canyon

Before we jump in to the 2-day Bryce Canyon itinerary, here are a few important things you should know to help you plan your trip:

Entrance fee

It costs $35 per vehicle (or $30 for motorcycles and $20 for pedestrians) for a 7-day pass to enter Bryce Canyon. If you plan to visit the park at least twice in a year, you might want to consider purchasing an annual pass for $40.

Do you plan on visiting multiple national parks in the next 12 months?

If so, I’d recommend buying the America the Beautiful National Park Pass. It costs $80 for the year and gives you access to all 63 national parks (plus hundreds of other national park sites). Even if you’re just planning to visit two more national parks within 12 months of visiting Bryce Canyon, it makes more sense to buy this pass instead of the 7-day Bryce only one.

How to get there

Bryce Canyon is located in southwest Utah in-between the two major cities of Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. If you’re flying into one of these airports, they’re both approximately 270 miles away from the park so plan for about 4 hours of driving time.

A lot of people choose to pair a visit to Bryce Canyon with a trip to Zion National Park as they’re only 2 hours apart. If you’re travelling from Las Vegas, Zion is actually en-route to Bryce Canyon. If you’re thinking about combining the two parks, I’ve got a 3-day road trip itinerary with all the details.

How to get around

By car

The easiest way to get around Bryce Canyon is by car. If you’re flying into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City, I highly recommend hiring a car from the airport as it’s a lot easier than having to Uber to one of the other car rental locations in the city.

I personally use Auto Europe as they have great rates. You can compare all the major companies in a grid format that shows the prices for different car sizes by provider. If you need any help, their 24/7 customer service is very good.

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If you’re only visiting Bryce Canyon, I would suggest saving some money by booking a sedan instead of a SUV. The roads are accessible and well maintained so you really don’t need a SUV for this trip.

By shuttle bus

Bryce Canyon has a great shuttle bus system which runs daily in peak season (mid-April to mid-October). Buses run every 10 to 15 minutes from 8am until 6pm (8pm in the summer months). They’re free to use – all you need to do is show your park entrance receipt or your America the Beautiful Pass. Here is a map of the shuttle routes.

Bryce Canyon Shuttle Bus Map — Source: NPS

If you’re planning to visit during the summer months, I highly recommend using the shuttle service. There is normally heavy traffic and finding a parking spot can be a nightmare. The bus route stops at the main hotels in Bryce Canyon City so you could either leave your car at the hotel and use the shuttle bus, or you could drive in and park and then use the shuttle bus to get to the main overlooks and trailheads.

Although there aren’t any automobile restrictions on the main road, vehicles that are 20ft/ 6m or longer are not allowed to park in the Bryce Amphitheater shuttle service area during shuttle hours. You have to park at the shuttle station or the additional parking lot across the road from the Visitor Center.

Accessibility

Due to the rocky and uneven terrain, the majority of the park is not wheelchair accessible. The Sunset Campground has two sites with wheelchair access and a small section of the Rim Trail between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point is paved and accessible. There is accessible parking at all of the scenic overlooks and public facilities.

Visiting Bryce Canyon with pets

Pets are not allowed on the hiking trails. During our time in Bryce Canyon, we saw a few people try to start a hike with their dogs only to be told by one of the rangers that this wasn’t allowed. If you do have pets, they are allowed on leash in the paved areas (i.e. park viewpoints, the Shared-Use path, the Rim Trail between Sunset and Sunrise Points, and park campgrounds) but they can’t join you on any of the Bryce Canyon hikes.

The best time to visit Bryce Canyon

The park is open all year round but April through to October is considered to be peak season. I would personally suggest planning a trip on either side (March or November) to avoid the crowds if you can.

Summer

It can get extremely busy during the summer months making the trails crowded and parking very difficult. If you plan to visit Bryce Canyon in the peak season, get accommodation booked in advance as lodgings in and around Bryce Canyon fill up fast.

Daily temperatures range from 23 to 27°C (75 to 80°F) and normally drop to around 10°C (50°F) at night. Bryce Canyon doesn’t get as hot as some of Utah’s national parks but many of the trails are quite exposed so you’ll need sun protection.

Spring and fall

April, May and October are good months to visit Bryce Canyon. It’s still busier than March or November but it’s a much more pleasant experience. The temperatures are cooler (normally 7 to 16°C/ 45 to 60°F) than the summer months, especially in the mornings and evenings so you’ll need to wrap up warm!

Winter

If you want to avoid the crowds, plan to visit from November to March. The majority of trails and viewpoints are still open but it’s a lot quieter. We went in November and it was very cold in the morning but by the afternoon, we were hiking in t-shirts! From December onwards, the weather does get much colder and there’s often a good amount of snow on the trails. The hoodoos look stunning with the blanket of snow!

If you choose to go in winter, be aware that the Wall Street section of the Navajo Loop is closed due to its steep switchbacks, along with part of the Rim Trail from Inspiration Point to Bryce Point. It can get icy on the trails in winter so pack traction devices such as spikes or crampons and check the trail conditions in advance.

Where to stay during your 2 days in Bryce Canyon

To make the most of your two day trip to Bryce Canyon, you’ll want to stay as close to the park as you can. There are a few options both inside and outside Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon Lodge is the only hotel within the park, but there are a handful just north of the park’s entrance in Bryce Canyon City.

Where to stay inside Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon Lodge

Bryce Canyon Lodge is the only hotel inside the park and has a lovely rustic charm. This does mean that it often books out a year in advance. It is located right in-between Sunset and Sunrise Points meaning you’ll have Bryce Amphitheater on your doorstep. So there’s no excuse to miss sunrise!

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North Campground

This is one of two campgrounds and is the only one that is open all year round. It operates on a first-come, first-served basis so you need to show up early in peak season if you hope to get a spot. It’s located on the rim of the amphitheater close to the Rim Trail and Fairyland Loop trailhead.

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Sunset Campground

You can reserve a spot at Sunset Campground up to 6 months in advance. It’s open May to October and is slightly bigger than North Campground. It’s located opposite Sunset Point so you can easily get to all the main trail heads.

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Where to stay in Bryce Canyon City

Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn

This Southwestern-themed hotel is a good option if you’re staying outside of the park. It’s got a few different restaurants to choose from and the good thing is that they’re open in the off-season too.

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Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand

We stayed here during our trip and it was a great choice. It doesn’t have quite the same character as its sister hotel, Ruby’s Inn, but it was comfortable and modern and had all the amenities we needed.

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Ruby Inn’s RV Park and Campground

If you are travelling in your own RV then this is a good place to stay. There are 250 shady and open campsites which have electric and water, and full hook-ups. There are also cabins and tipis.

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Other options

If you’re planning a last minute trip to Bryce Canyon, Panguitch and Tropic are good options if all of the hotels in Bryce Canyon City are fully booked. They are a bit further from the park but they have a number of budget and mid-range hotels.

How to spend an epic 2 days in Bryce Canyon National Park

Day 1

If possible, aim to arrive as early as you can to maximize your 2 days in Bryce Canyon.

Stop by the Visitor Center

You might want to start by popping into the Visitor Center to check on the latest trail conditions and get an overview of the park. It can be tempting to skip this when you don’t have a lot of time, but the staff are very knowledgeable and can help you plan your day based on the weather (i.e. avoid certain trails if it’s really hot or do them later in the day). There are normally a few different ranger-led activities each day so check with the Visitor Center what’s happening while you’re in Bryce Canyon.

Hike the Fairyland Loop Trail

If you only have 2 days in Bryce Canyon, I highly recommend hiking Fairyland Loop trail on of the days. With all of the pale pink and white badlands, deep orange hoodoos, and Bristlecone pine trees, it does feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy-tale!

It’s one of Bryce Canyon’s longer hiking trails (8 miles/ 12.9 km) with a lot of elevation change (1716 feet/ 523 meters). As a result, it’s quieter than other trails so it’s a good hike to do on the day you arrive. Leave the more popular trails for day 2 when you can get up early and beat the crowds!

This hike takes about 4 – 5 hours to complete. You can hike the trail clockwise or counter clockwise as either way you have to descend into the canyon and climb back out at the end. We decided to do it counter clockwise and started by walking along the rim all the way to Sunrise Point and then went down into the canyon. You’ll pass Chinese Wall and the beautiful Tower Bridge, a natural window in the rocks, which is a short little detour from the trail.

If you arrive in the early morning, I recommend doing this hike before it gets too hot. If you arrive later in the day, consider switching the order of this itinerary and driving the Scenic Highway first. You can then do this hike later in the afternoon when it’s cooler. Make sure you leave plenty of time if you’re planning to do this later in the day as the sun sets earlier in the canyon.

Travel tip

If this hike is too long or challenging, you could hike part of the Rim Trail instead which offers beautiful views over the amphitheater. For more information, check out my guide to Bryce Canyon’s hiking trails.

Hiking the Fairlyland Trail in Bryce Canyon

Drive the Scenic Highway

After the hike, jump back in the car and drive along the main road, dubbed the Scenic Highway. This 36-mile round trip runs alongside the canyon rim and has over a dozen scenic overlooks along the way. The overlooks are on the east so drive all the way to the highest points in the park, Yovimpa Point or Rainbow Point, and then drive back up, stopping at the different overlooks on the way. This way all the overlooks will be on your side of the road, making it easier to stop.

If you have time, you can get out of the car at Yovimpa Point or Rainbow Point and do the short but pretty Bristlecone Loop. The trail is just one mile long (1.6 km) trail with minimal elevation change (200 feet/ 61 meters). It takes you through a forest of fir and spruce trees which eventually lead to an expansive vista overlooking Grand-Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Watch the sun set over Bryce Canyon Amphitheater

Bryce Canyon has the greatest concentration of hoodoos in the world. Looking out over the amphitheater from the rim as the sun sets is mesmerizing.

Most people head to Sunset Point and I don’t blame them. The views are beautiful and it’s named Sunset Point for a reason. However, it does get very crowded and you may find yourself in a sea of selfie sticks as you try and find a spot along the rim. Inspiration Point is a good alternative to Sunset Point but is also very popular.

One thing we discovered during our 2 days in Bryce Canyon is that the position of the park makes it hard to watch the sun fully set. The canyon rim actually runs north to south and all the lookouts face east. This is great for sunrise but not for sunset as the sun dips behind the canyon before it has fully set.

Another option is to go to Bryce Point which looks east and north so depending on the conditions, you can see more of the sunset.

Day 2

Watch sunrise at Inspiration Point

Bryce Canyon is known for its soft lighting and warm glow that radiates off the red and oranges hoodoos as the sun rises. It truly is the most magical experience. Even if you’re not an early bird, don’t miss this. Trust me, you will regret it if you spend 2 days in Bryce Canyon and don’t see a sunrise.

As I mentioned earlier on, the majority of the rim overlooks face east which is perfect for sunrise. There are lots of lovely spots along the rim but Inspiration Point has three levels that provide unobstructed views over the Bryce Amphitheater. Wrap up warm as it can be very cold at sunrise.

Sunrise at Inspiration Point in Bryce Canyon

Hike Navajo Loop and the Queen’s Garden Trail

As you’re up early, this is the best time to do one of the popular hikes in Bryce Canyon. This combination loop is actually made up of two separate trails – Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail. They’re great trails with incredible scenery so I recommend combining them into one loop so you can see everything.

Out of all of the things we did during our 2 days in Bryce Canyon, the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Combination Loop was my favourite (closely followed by Fairyland Loop). This trail gets very busy and is quite exposed so it’s quieter and cooler to hike in the morning right after sunrise.

The combination loop is 2.9 miles (4.6 km) with an elevation change of 600 feet (183 meters). If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to stop a lot to take photos so expect to take 2 to 3 hours to complete this hike. You can start from Sunrise Point or Sunset Point. Clockwise direction is recommended by the NPS but you can hike it in either direction. We actually did counter clockwise, starting at Sunset Point and finishing at Sunrise Point.

If you’re visiting during off season, Wall Street is often closed but you can take the Two Bridges instead. You’ll walk among some of the most incredible hoodoos, including Queen Victoria – one of the hoodoos in the ‘garden’ which resembles the queen and her throne!

Hiking the Navajo and Queen's Garden Loop in Bryce Canyon

Have lunch at Bryce Canyon Lodge

After the hike, head to Bryce Canyon Lodge for lunch. If you’re visiting out of season, the Lodge will be closed so pack your own lunch or buy some from the General Store and find a spot along the rim to sit and enjoy the view.

Explore the Rim Trail

Depending on what time you need to leave to head home, squeeze in a leisurely walk along part of the Rim Trail. It’s an out-and-back trail. In the peak season, you can walk from Bryce Point to Fairyland Point and then catch the shuttle back; however, in the off season you may want to walk half way and then turn back.

If you aren’t leaving until later in the evening or you’re staying overnight and leaving the next morning, you could fit in another of Bryce Canyon’s amazing trails. Peek-a-boo Loop (5.5 miles) or Hat Shop Trail (4 miles) are both great options if you have time and energy!

Other activities to do in Bryce Canyon

You can fit a lot into 2 days in Bryce Canyon but if you have an extra day or two here are some more fun things to add to your itinerary:

Mossy Cave Trail

Mossy Cave is located outside of the park, in-between Bryce Canyon City and the town of Tropic. The trail is less than a mile long but it has a little bit of everything – a small waterfall, hoodoos and, as the name suggests, a mossy cave. In winter, the grotto fills with beautiful icicles.

It’s one of the easiest hikes in Bryce Canyon and is perfect for families with only 200 feet (61 meters) elevation change. Parking is limited and there aren’t any options for overflow parking so aim to first thing in the morning or in early evening.

Backcountry camping

If you enjoy backcountry camping, consider hiking Bryce Canyon’s longest trail, Under-the-Rim. This 23-mile long trail leads you into the beautiful backcountry, meandering through forests and meadows. In order to protect the environment and delicate ecosystem, camping is only permitted in the designated campsites. Permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis up to 48 hours in advance at the Visitor Center. It costs $5 per person (cash only) with a maximum of 6 campers per site. You can find more information on the NPS website.

Join a ranger activity

There are often various ranger activities each day, from talks to guided walks which cover geology, wildlife, history and even astronomy. Some activities require reservations. In summer, they host stargazing tours, while in winter they lead snowshoeing hikes. Pop into the visitor center to find out what’s on or look in advance online on the NPS website.

Stargazing

Bryce Canyon was recognized as an International Dark Sky Park by the NPS and International Dark-Sky Association back in 2019. The park is a wonderful place for stargazing, whether that’s through one of the ranger astronomy programs or on your own. The park usually runs an Astronomy Festival in June so keep an eye out for that if you’re visiting around that time.

Go horseback riding

If you’ve had enough of hiking, you can always book a horseback riding tour to explore more of Bryce Canyon from the saddle. Canyon Trail Rides is the only provider who is allowed to conduct rides in the park. They take place every day from April to October and costs start at $70.

Where to eat in Bryce Canyon

When I was planning our trip to Bryce Canyon, I remember reading a travel guide that said: ‘you come to Bryce for hoodoos, not haute cuisine.’ Bryce Canyon Lodge is said to serve some lovely food but that was closed when we visited in November (most restaurants and cafes are shut in winter so you’ll need to plan ahead and reserve a table as there is more demand than supply). The hotel restaurants in Bryce Canyon City are pretty average so you may want to look further afield. We ate at the Cowboy’s Smokehouse Café in Panguitch when we first arrived in Bryce Canyon and the food was actually very good.

The General Store just outside of the park entrance is open all year round and offers basic groceries and grab-and-go food for lunch. I would highly recommend buying some food from there and making your own lunch the night before so that you don’t have to exit the park to go and get food.

Location details

Here are the locations of the places listed above. You can save the map by clicking on the star next to the title so you can use it to plan your own itinerary.

Two days in Bryce Canyon: Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Bryce Canyon?

Two days in Bryce Canyon will give you a good amount of time to see the main sights and hike a couple of trails. If you’re an avid hiker you may want to add on an extra day to hit a few more trails. We spent 2 full days in Bryce Canyon and managed to fit a lot in. That being said, I would have loved one more day to watch another sunrise and do more hikes!

Is one day enough in Bryce Canyon?

If you only want to see the highlights and don’t want to do much hiking then one day may be enough for you. However, I would suggest spending at least two days in Bryce Canyon to give yourself more time to explore. It also means you can catch a sunrise on your second day which is such a magical experience.

Which is better, Zion or Bryce?

We visited both parks during our short Utah road trip and they were both magical – but in very different ways. Bryce has an otherworldly beauty and it’s probably one of the most enchanting national parks I’ve visited in the US so far. I personally liked the fact that it was a bit smaller and I left feeling like I had seen a lot of the park.

Zion is larger and I feel like we only scratched the surface. It’s also much more accessible than Bryce Canyon which does make it a lot busier. Even in November it was packed on the trails and parking was near impossible to find. There are so many great outdoor activities in Zion which make it a really fun destination for adventure junkies!

I’ve written a guide to Zion National Park with more information. I’d personally say try to visit both parks on a longer trip as they both have so much to offer.

Can you see Zion and Bryce Canyon in one day?

Theoretically you could visit both Zion and Bryce Canyon in one day as they’re less than 2 hours apart. However, you wouldn’t be able to see very much of either park so I would suggest spending at least one day in Bryce Canyon (two ideally) and two days in Zion.

Final thoughts

I hope this guide helps you plan your own itinerary to Bryce Canyon National Park. We visited Bryce Canyon as part of our Utah road trip. If you’re planning your own road trip to Utah, I highly recommend visiting Bryce Canyon along with Zion National Park and Capitol Reef National Park if you have time. Here are a few guides to get you started: