Bryce National Park is home to hoodoos – natural stone pillars. Thousands of them cram into Bryce Amphitheater and more are scattered along the canyon. They create a bizarre, alien-like environment that is like nothing else you will ever see.
You can see them en masse from the rim or hike down among them and see these incredible formations up close. The unique environment puts this firmly on my list of the best national parks in the United States.
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Bryce Canyon National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: Utah
⭐ Main attractions: Hoodoos
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Itineraries for Bryce Canyon National Park
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These are not your average blogger itineraries, which tend to be short summaries of things that they did on their one visit there. These itineraries are all about YOU and helping you have the best time.
They will take away the overwhelm that often accompanies planning a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park. They’re a combination detailed hour-by-hour itinerary (with options for different activity levels), guidebook, hiking guide, driving directions, travel tips, and more. You’ll need nothing else to plan your trip – it’s all done for you (but you still have choices).
One-day or two-day detailed itineraries for Bryce Canyon National Park available for purchase:
EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT WITH BRYCE CANYON ITINERARIES
Bryce Canyon Travel Guide
Planning a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Use this Bryce Canyon National Park guide for all your trip planning. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and answers to your questions.
How to Plan a Trip to Bryce Canyon National Park
This guide will help you with what you should AVOID doing when you plan a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Read More: 7 MISTAKES TO AVOID IN BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Here are my top travel tips for Bryce Canyon National Park
Entrance Fee for Bryce Canyon National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website.
To avoid long lines and save money, if you are planning to visit more than just Bryce Canyon National Park this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes entrance at sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers. It covers the fee for entrance for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here.
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Center
There is one entrance to the national park and one Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is located approximately one mile south from the park entrance on UT-63. It’s open daily except Christmas Day. The Visitor Center Bookstore is also closed on Thanksgiving.
Best Tours of Bryce Canyon
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Bryce Canyon National Park
Things to Do at Bryce Canyon National Park
Even though it’s a relatively small national park, there’s a surprising number of things to do in and near the park.
Read More: BEST THINGS TO DO IN BRYCE CANYON
There are multiple viewpoints of the canyon in the national park.
Read More: BEST BRYCE CANYON VIEWPOINTS
The iconic scenic drive is one of the main highlights of the park.
Read More: BRYCE CANYON SCENIC DRIVE
Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park
There are some really great hikes, ranging from very easy to challenging.
Read More: BEST HIKES BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Where to Stay In and Near Bryce Canyon National Park
There is one lodge and two campgrounds in the national park.
Lodge inside Bryce Canyon National Park
🛏️ The Lodge at Bryce Canyon has lodge and motel style rooms and cabins. It’s in the main Bryce Amphitheater part of the national park. The lodge and motel rooms are generally open from late March to early November and the cabins are usually available from mid-May to the end of October. Exact dates can vary depending on the weather.
Campgrounds inside Bryce Canyon National Park
⛺ North Campground is in the main Bryce Amphitheater part of the national park across the road from the Visitor Center. It’s open year-round.
⛺ Sunset Campground is also in the main Bryce Amphitheater part of the national park close to Sunset Point. It’s open from typically open from mid-April to the end of October.
Where to Stay Near Bryce Canyon National Park
The main place to stay is just outside the park’s only entrance in Bryce Canyon City. This is dominated by Ruby’s Inn, but there are several other options. There are also accommodations in nearby Tropic.
➡️ Find a hotel in Bryce Canyon City on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental near Bryce Canyon on VRBO.
How to Get To Bryce Canyon National Park
The most common ways to get to Bryce Canyon National Park are to drive or fly into one of the nearby airports and pick up a rental car there.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO BRYCE CANYON
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Nearest Airports for Bryce Canyon National Park
This guide tells you about all the airports near Bryce Canyon National Park with the pros and cons of each of them.
Read More: THE AIRPORTS NEAR BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
This is the closest airport to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Read More: CLOSEST AIRPORT TO BRYCE CANYON
✈️ If you’re looking for flights, use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals.
How to Get Around Bryce Canyon National Park
There is a free shuttle that runs throughout the peak season in Bryce Canyon National Park. It runs from Bryce Canyon City outside the park and makes several stops in the main Bryce Amphitheater area, including the campgrounds and lodge, the Visitor Center, and the main viewpoints in Bryce Amphitheater.
However, it doesn’t run to Fairyland, Mossy Cave or the scenic drive. There is a separate shuttle that goes along the scenic drive; however, it hasn’t run for several years.
The roads are all paved and there aren’t restrictions on RVs or trailers.
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
The Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
The park is open all year, though it gets lots of snow in winter and the scenic drive closes if it gets snowed in until the NPS can clear the road again.
A quick summary of the best time to visit the national park for different interests and priorities.
Take a look at what the park’s like in each season and month to help you decide when to visit Bryce Canyon National Park.
Read More: VISITING BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
How Long to Spend in Bryce Canyon National Park
How many days you should go to Bryce Canyon National Park for depends on when you have time off, how much time you have, your budget, and your interests. You can see the basic highlights in one day, but I recommend at least two days in the park to see more of the park and do some hikes.
Let’s take a look at how much time to spend at Bryce Canyon National Park and what you can realistically expect to see and do while you’re there.
Read More: HOW LONG DO YOU NEED IN BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK?
Travel Insurance for Bryce Canyon National Park
In addition to working out the logistics of your trip using this travel guide, Bryce Canyon National Park planning should also include travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
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About the author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.