Perfect One Day in Bryce Canyon Itinerary For First-Timers

Only have one day in Bryce Canyon National Park, and not sure where to start? 

Below, I’ve put together a well-planned itinerary to see Bryce’s highlights, everything from the bright-colored hoodoos to the natural amphitheater’s spires. I’ll show you how to make the most of your time without feeling overwhelmed.

I ended up detouring to Bryce Canyon National Park on my way from Zion National Park to Salt Lake City. I’m so glad I did! It’s one of the most unique national parks in America, in my opinion.

Being one of the smallest national parks in the United States, one day or even less is perfectly enough time to get a good overview. Just start early.

This adventure begins at Sunrise Point, then some hikes to get a good look at some crazy rock formations called hoodoos. To wrap things up, I highly recommend heading to Sunset Point to catch, you guessed it, a gorgeous sunset!

There are several other must-see spots that I’ll clue you in on, as well as helpful tips on where to stay and other things to do outside the park.

Sample One Day in Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary

This easy-to-follow day trip to Bryce Canyon organizes all the must-see viewpoints and trails into an efficient route. I’ve broken it down into a sample suggested itinerary by time and will dig deeper into the details below.

Morning

• Start the day before sunrise to catch the first light hitting the red rocks at Sunrise Point.
• Walk from Sunrise Point to the Queen’s Garden Trail to get an up-close view of the hoodoos.
• Optional Hike: Connect the Queen’s Garden Trail with the Navajo Loop Trail for an even more active morning. Walk the Rim Trail back to Sunrise Point.

Early Afternoon

• Picnic lunch at one of the many tables throughout Sunrise Point.
• Drive 8 minutes to Inspiration Point for a hoodoo-filled canyon.
• Return to the rim and drive 5 minutes down to Bryce Point.
• Check out Natural Bridge for a natural arch carved out of orange rock.
• Head down the scenic road, past the Agua Canyon viewpoint, until hitting the turnoff for Rainbow and Yovimpa Points.

Late Afternoon

• On your way back through the park, stop at Paria View 
• Go for a hearty meal at The Lodge at Bryce Canyon.
• Finish your day at Sunset Point.

Recommended lodging options for the night

• 📍Luxury: Bryce Pioneer Village
• 📍Mid-Range: Bryce Trails Bed and Breakfast
• 📍Budget: Ruby’s Inn

Quick Facts To Visiting Bryce Canyon

Spread across 56 square miles in Southern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is a landscape of orange creamsicle spires, pink cliffs, and otherworldly vistas. Home to the largest collection of hoodoos in the world, the iconic Bryce Amphitheater, and a unique experience of cross-country skiing thanks to its elevation, this park is a small, yet mighty addition to America’s National Park scene.

Quick Facts	Details
Entrance Fee	$35 per vehicle, $30 motorcycle, and $20 individual. Valid for one week. Or the America the Beautiful annual national park pass for 80$.
Operating Hours	Open 24 hours year-round, though some roads are closed for winter.
Visitor Centers	Bryce Canyon Visitor Center (Just past the park entrance): Open 8 am – 8 pm May to September
Park Entrances	Main entrance off of Highway 63 near the town of Tropic. Additional access roads from Route 12.
Main Activities	Hiking, Scenic driving, horseback riding, camping, stargazing
Number of Campgrounds	2 (North Campground and Sunset Campground)
Number of Hotels	📍Within the Park: Bryce Canyon Lodge 📍Luxury: Bryce Pioneer Village 📍Mid-Range: Bryce Trails Bed and Breakfast 📍Budget: Ruby’s Inn
Best Time to Visit	Late spring and early fall for milder weather and fewer crowds. Summers are busiest.
Nearest Cities	Cedar City (75 miles), St. George (120 miles) Use DiscoverCars to find rental car deals
Nearest Airports	Cedar City Regional Airport (82 miles, 1 hour 40 mins) McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas (270 miles, 4 hours 30 mins) Use Expedia to find the best flight prices.

Know Before You Go!

• The elevation gains are no joke! It has an average elevation between 8,000 to 9,000 feet. So come prepared, and don’t forget to pack your hiking essentials.
• No Need to Make Reservations: You don’t have to reserve to enter. However, campsites and accommodations can fill up fast, especially during the peak season.
• Hop on the Free Shuttle: To reduce traffic and protect the park, a free shuttle service runs from April to October. It stops at major viewpoints and trailheads.
• Cell service is extremely limited to non-existent in much of the park.
• The total drive takes about 40 minutes from the Visitor Center to the Southern Scenic Viewpoints.

What To Do In Bryce Canyon In One Day

Early Morning: Sunrise Point

• Trail Length: .4 mile
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

Get to the park early. Sunrise Point is about a 5-minute drive south of the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before local sunrise to catch the full effect as the sun rises. This will give you amazing canyon views, and the sunrise colors are indescribable.

There is plenty of parking, a little store to purchase snacks, and good bathrooms here.

Take the .4-mile out-and-back easy walk down the path to see the sunrise looking down into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. Once you’ve taken enough Instagramable pics, take the trail down to Queens Garden. 

Mid-Morning: Queen’s Garden Trail

• Trail Length: 1.8 miles
• Duration: 1- 2 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

From Sunset Point, connect to the trailhead for Queen’s Garden Trail. This trail descends about 450 feet down the canyon side. Take it easy when walking down this path to the Queen’s Garden area below because the loose gravel can be slippery.

If you have knee problems or need a little extra help, a pair of good trekking poles would definitely come in handy here.

What’s cool about Bryce Canyon is how the landscape and temperature change from the top of the rim trail to the bottom of the canyon floor. When you reach the bottom, you’ll be surrounded by pointy spires that look like the tops of a building or tower. Welcome to Queen’s Garden!

The trail continues beyond this point, but you should turn back once you have crossed the last footbridge if you’re not up for an extended hike.

Trekking back up is not as easy as coming down, especially when hiking at 8,000 feet! But if you’re up for a challenge, continue on to the Navajo Loop Trail.

Navajo Loop Trail (when combined with Queen’s Garden)

• Trail Length: 2.9 miles
• Duration: 2- 3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate

This is the most popular and recommended hike for first-timers. You’ll find towering canyon walls, unique hoodoos, and the famous switchbacks.

Before continuing on this trail from Queens Garden, wear the proper hiking boots or trail running shoes and have enough supplies, including food, water, and sunscreen.

I made this mistake, didn’t plan accordingly, and ran out of supplies during this hike in the middle of summer. Not very smart on my part!

You can also access the Navajo Trail from Sunset Point. Since this route is planned from the Queen’s Garden Trail perspective, be prepared for some steep switchbacks at the end. Oof! I wasn’t expecting that, and those switchbacks kicked my butt after hiking in the dead of summer!

Ascend from the Navajo Loop to Sunset Point, then walk the rim trail back to Sunrise Point, where your car is parked, or hop on the shuttle to your next stop.

Early Afternoon

Lunch Break

By this time, you’ll probably have worked up an appetite! Grab your picnic lunch and find a spot at one of the many tables throughout Sunrise Point, or head straight to Inspiration Point.

Inspiration Point

Just 8 minutes down the road from Sunrise Point is Inspiration Point; this is an awesome spot to check out the Amphitheater. I swear it looks like another planet!

Although the parking lot gets packed (especially in the summer), there is plenty of parking here. Park at one of the many spots at the long overlook and take in views both to the north and south down the canyon.

Although no trails go down into the canyon from this spot, it’s a great place to take a breather after the killer hike you completed in the morning. The viewing areas at Inspiration Point offer 3 unique perspectives, which is really cool.

Bryce Point

• Trail Length: .3 mile
• Duration: 5 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

Just two miles south of Inspiration Point, Bryce Point provides yet another fantastic viewpoint looking eastward into Bryce Amphitheater, which sinks nearly 1,000 feet below.

What sets this viewpoint apart from the others is the absence of trees obstructing the view, allowing for about 180 degrees of the canyon to be visible. From this eastern side, the sun’s angle allows the perfect photo ops to capture the backlit fiery hoodoos.

You can walk easily along the paved path to the narrow rock fin that extends from the viewpoint. You’ll feel like you’re being suspended right over the canyon’s depths.

Bryce Point faces south, so you can look beyond the park boundaries into the remote Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Kaiparowits Plateau in the distance.

Natural Bridge

Continue driving south on the main park road for signage pointing to Natural Bridge, about 20 minutes from Bryce Point. True to its name, a weathered massive 85-foot arch spans a short slot canyon.

Park at the small lot if there’s space and follow the short walk on packed dirt to viewpoints at each end of the natural bridge’s span. It’s a brief photo stop that showcases diverse landscapes in one small area.

Rainbow and Yovimpa Points/Bristlecone Loop

• Trail Length: 1.3-mile loop
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

From Natural Bridge, drive another 10 minutes south toward the end of the main scenic drive, leading you to Rainbow and Yovimpa Points. This will be your southernmost stop within the national park boundaries and the highest as well (approx. 9,000 ft). You can easily access both viewpoints by following the canyon rim trail, perfect for a short walk.

Start by parking and walking out to Yovimpa Point first, overlooking the southern tip of the Amphitheater. Then, hike the quarter mile back to Rainbow Point. 

Late Afternoon

Paria View

• Trail Length: .3 mile
• Duration: 6 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

From the southern tip of this national park gem, start driving back down the scenic drive into the main section of the park. Kill a little time at Paria View, a wide-open picnic area and overlook about 6 miles south of the park visitor center along the main park road.

By the way, this is a great lunch spot alternative as well. Multiple picnic tables are positioned on a vast plateau that provides one of the most spacious lunch spots compared to other overlooks.

While less dramatic than viewpoints into the heart of the hoodoos, this will also give you an alternative elevated angle towards the southern end of the Amphitheater and the Paria River Valley.

Bryce Canyon Lodge

Before calling it a day, travel about 6 minutes back up the park road to slow down for some late-afternoon hospitality at the historic Bryce Canyon Lodge.

Sit down for a tasty meal at the Lodge’s restaurant. They’re known for their signature bison meatloaf or smoked trout fresh from nearby mountain streams. Seating is on a first-come-first-served basis.

Sunset Point

Back to where it all began! I usually don’t like to backtrack on my trips, but this sunset view is worth it. Walking to this viewpoint from the parking lot is super easy as it’s only about 500 feet.

What I like about many of the park’s overlooks is that many are paved and accessible. You can also check out some cool rock formations, like Thor’s Hammer. 

Where To Stay

For visitors short on time, I recommend staying in the Bryce Canyon City area right outside the National Park Service entrance gate near Ruby’s Inn to be closest to the sights. This keeps you conveniently near trailheads while also offering the amenities of a small tourist town. Other nice areas to stay in are Tropic or just south of the park near Red Canyon in the Dixie National Forest.

Best Hotels Near Bryce Canyon National Park

Hotel Name	Benefits
Budget: Ruby’s Inn	– Steps from the park entrance – Extensive facilities and nice buffet breakfast
Mid-Range: Bryce Trails Bed and Breakfast	– 10 minute drive from the park – Free exceptional breakfast – Family-owned homey atmosphere
Luxury: Bryce Pioneer Village	– Cottage-style rooms a short drive from Bryce – Campy vibe with live music and free s’mores at the fire pit – Outdoor pool and hot tub
Luxury: Bryce Canyon Lodge	– Iconic property inside the park – Some rooms have hoodoo views

Campgrounds In Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon has two main campgrounds: North Campground and Sunset Campground.

The campgrounds cater to tents, trailers, and RVs, with some sites offering electrical hookups. They are open spring through fall, with limited winter availability.

Reservations are recommended during the peak season of May through September. Sunset Campground is the one that accepts reservations. 

Campground Name	Description
North Campground	Located near the visitor center and Sunset Point. It has over 100 sites, restrooms, and drinking water. Sites are first-come, first-served.
Sunset Campground	This campground is in a pine and juniper forest setting near Sunset Point. It has over 100 sites, restrooms, and drinking water. Some sites can be reserved in advance.

Places To Visit With More Time

While this itinerary packs in the main highlights for a one day visit to Bryce Canyon, there are always other worthwhile activities to add to the adventure.

Other Things to Do in Bryce Canyon

• Hike down into the Wall Street slot canyon, an eerie narrow passage between sheer orange cliffs.
• Explore the lesser-visited northern section of the park near Fairyland Loop Canyon.
• Camp overnight and experience stargazing in a Dark Sky Park.
• Join a park ranger-guided geology talk to understand more about the science behind the hoodoos.
• Splurge on a horseback ride through the canyon.
• Mossy Cave Trail: A lesser-known trail that leads you to a cool, mossy overhang and a beautiful waterfall.
• ATV Tour in Bryce Canyon: If you’re up for an adrenaline rush, this guided tour offers an adventurous way to explore the park’s off-road trails.

Day Trips Near Bryce Canyon

Since you’re in the heart of southern Utah’s national park country, why not explore the surrounding areas too? Combine these other incredible stops with your time at Bryce Canyon.

• Red Canyon (20 minutes): Dramatic red hoodoos and scenic trails located in Dixie National Forest
• Kodachrome Basin State Park (1 hr 10 min): Colorful sandstone spires and rock layers unique to southern Utah
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (1 hr): Massive canyon landscapes perfect for scenic drives or hardy hikes
• Zion National Park (1 hr 20 min): Iconic red cliffs, narrow slot canyons and emerald pools to explore
• Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (1 hr 10 min): Huge sand dunes perfect for sledding down or taking photos
• Cedar Breaks National Monument (55 min): “Mini Bryce Canyon” with an amphitheater of eroded red limestone hoodoos
• Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (1 hr 20 min): America’s largest no-kill animal rescue/adoption center in Kanab, Utah
• Capitol Reef National Park (3 hours): Just under three hours away, explore arches, cliffs, canyons, and other geological wonders.
• Great Basin National Park (3 hours): This lesser-known national park is about a 3-hour drive northwest, just over the state line into Nevada.

Is 1 Day Enough For Bryce Canyon National Park

While it may seem rushed, seeing the top viewpoints and trails of Bryce Amphitheater in a single day is absolutely achievable. If you learn how to plan a trip in advance, any condensed itinerary (like this one) can pack all the must-see features into one active, full day on your feet.

You’ll probably miss some of the lesser-known hikes and additional landmarks, but this greatest-hits road trip will definitely give you a satisfied feeling after a day in Bryce Canyon.

Getting there before dawn, hopping between overlooks on the best driving routes, skipping long sit-down meals, and wrapping up after sunset made this ambitious adventure possible. Also, avoid wasting time by backtracking or getting stuck in traffic.

Best Time To Visit

The best seasons to visit Bryce Canyon are Spring (April – May) and Fall (September – October). In both seasons, moderate temperatures range from 50-70°F, with lower crowds compared to summer months, and cheaper hotel rates. There might be leftover snow at higher elevations in spring, while the changing fall foliage colors are perfect for photography in the fall.

On the other hand, Summer (June – August) brings the warmest temperatures, reaching the 80s-90s°F. It’s hot and peak crowds during school vacations make it a busy time to go. Winter (November – March) is the least crowded time in the park, with frigid temperatures below freezing being ordinary. Deep snow can limit access and shut down roads.

How to Get There

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in a pretty remote area of southwestern Utah, USA.

By Air: The nearest main airports are McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s a scenic drive of approximately 4-5 hours from either of these airports to the park.

Use Expedia to find the best flight prices and use DiscoverCars to find rental car deals.

By Public Transport: Unfortunately, there’s no direct public transportation to the national park. However, you can take a Greyhound bus or Amtrak train to major cities like Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. You can rent a car or join a tour group to get to the park from there.

By Shuttle: During peak seasons, shuttle services operate from nearby towns, including Bryce, Tropic, and Ruby’s Inn. These shuttles drop visitors to the park’s main attractions and can be convenient if you stay nearby.

Major City	Distance (Miles)	Approximate Driving Time
Salt Lake City, UT	270	4 hrs 30 mins
Las Vegas, NV	260	4 hrs 15 mins
Phoenix, AZ	400	6 hrs 30 mins
Denver, CO	600	9 hrs 30 mins
Los Angeles, CA	430	7 hrs

Final Thoughts: Day Trip to Bryce Canyon

Even on a tight 24 hours in Bryce Canyon National Park timeframe, if you’re determined, you can capture many of the park’s natural highlights. Prioritize scenic drives up and down the park road, weaving between viewpoints, stopping for achievable short hikes like Queen’s Garden Trail down among the hoodoos.

With clever planning, optimizing routes, and taking quick breaks, even the busiest traveler can conquer this one-day itinerary. 

If you’re already planning your next adventure, perhaps in another stunning corner of Utah, check out our other Utah travel articles filled with insider tips.

Before you Close That Tab…Where to Next in Utah?

Utah may very well be one of the most underrated, beautiful places in the world. I’ve traveled all through this great state, snowboarding down some of the best resorts and hiking through godly monoliths. If you’re heading elsewhere in Utah, check out these posts.

• One Day in Zion National Park Itinerary for Adventurers
• One Day in Arches National Park Itinerary for First-Timers
• Perfect One Day in Canyonlands Itinerary for First-Timers
• Perfect One Day In Salt Lake City Itinerary For First Timers 
• Perfect One Day In Bryce Canyon Itinerary For First-Timers

MY FAVORITE TRAVEL RESOURCES

✈️ Find amazing guided tours and experiences with Viator to maximize your time! 🏘️ Plan ahead and secure your accommodation with Booking.com in advance. 🧾 Rent a car with Discovercars in advance and get the best prices for your day trip adventures.