dcheung

I am planning to spend two days to tour Bryce Canyon in late June. Will start from Salt Lake City, stay one night somewhere near Bryce Canyon and drive back to SLC at the end of the second day. How long does it take to drive from SLC to Bryce? My wife and I like moderate hiking of 2-3 hours. Any recommendation of hiking trails around Bryce? Also, where is the best place to stay overnight ? Is it too ambitious to cover also Zion in two days? We need to be back to SLC at the end of the 2nd day.

spirobulldog

Navajo/Queens Garden Trail is probably the best one there. I would stay at Bryce Lodge, 2nd choice would be Ruby's.

sharondi

It takes about 4.5 hours from SLC to Bryce using I-15 to I-70. Not sure what time you plan to arrive at Bryce, but you will need a couple of hours to do the Navajo/Queens Garden Trail. If you are staying in Bryce both days, you might consider doing a longer hike - you can add the Primitive Trail to the Queens Garden for a longer, slightly more strenuous hike. Incredibly scenic!

With such a short trip, I would suggest spending the time at Bryce. Zion is only 1.5 hours from Bryce but you don't even have a full day to explore. Be sure to get reservations ASAP! I had trouble getting a room for one night in the fall.

bigtyke

We stayed in nearby Tropic. Between there and the entrance is the Mossy Cave trailhead - a not too long but very scenic trail.

StantonHyde

Rubys Inn is a great place to stay!

spirobulldog

Ruby's has slightly more to offer than the lodge with two exceptions--location and decent food(Ruby's has more choices in food, but I think Bryce Lodge food is much better--of course, you can eat at either reguardless of where you stay). They both have a lot of history. Ambience is better at the lodge, IMOP. Staying in a Tepee at Ruby's has always looked interesting to me for some reason. Ruby's does have a pool, but I don't really go on vacation to swim in a pool. I fully understand that a lot of people with children enjoy this, but that's just never was our families idea of a good time(unless it was a waterpark or something like that-we love to swim, but not in hotel pools)

RVvagabond

All lodging recommendation are valid. Ruby's buffet is the best value meal. I'm not sure if they offer a breakfast buffet.
If you are on a lodging budget, the town of Panguitch (Big Fish I Paiute Indian language )offers a variety of motels (as does Tropic). Google Panguitch motels. Owens Travel (truck stop) is the most austere 435 - 676-8986.
In any case, we recommend Cowboy's Smoke House BBQ in the center of town. Best BBQ in the entire area.
Note: General Store in Bryce has free Wi-Fi.
Vaga

InSandy

One time I took my mother on a one nighter like you have planned. Only our focus was on Zion NP. We drove to Springdale and were able to get to the Temple of Sinawava at the end of the main canyon before dark. We stayed in Springdale.
Next morning we went back for another quick look and short hike. Then we drove to Bryce.
At Bryce we explored the main viewpoints and then drove home.
It was a very quick trip. We didn't do any hiking as she was unable to do that. And this was not her first time visiting these places, but we fully expected it would be (and has indeed proved to be) her last.

We were able to see the parks and enjoyed getting away. It was not by any means the best way to see them, and if you want to hike then you'd need longer at each place. But I just thought it might be helpful to share our experience of what is possible.