I am just going through the final planning stages of our trip and can't seem to find this(maybe there's a reason) what, if any, food options there are inside the parks. We plan to do several of the hikes inside both Bryce & Zion (not the real long hikes, though). What do most people do for food options--I see nothing about that on the utah.com website, so should we just be prepared to pack our backpack with snacks??

Zion has a decent restaurant in the Lodge. http://www.zionlodge.com/Red-Rock-Grill-880.html If you're looking for groceries, Springdale's your best option.

For Bryce, I suspect Ruby's your closest place. They have both sit-down eating and groceries.

Both Bryce & Zion have in-park restaurants. I think in Bryce it's quite busy and you might want to make reservations ahead.

Just outside Zion is Springdale with a good choice.

Just outside Bryce in Ruby's there are 2 restaurants. One is a regular sit-down (casual) and the other is billed as a diner but really it's like a Mac or BK. Not that that's bad. Just so you know.

Ruby's also has a general store that's quite over-priced but it's there and that's life.

Thanks to both of you. Is it more convenient just to fill the backpack, if wandering around the parks hiking various trails, or is it not that a big deal to stop, leave and go back out to the restaurant/stores available? Not ever gone there, it's hard to picture...

I don't quite understand.

I kept bottles of water in my trunk. I always had 3 in my backpack.

I also had granola bars and other snacks in the backpack as well.

I really didn't refill supplies during the day. That doesn't mean you couldn't but less convenient.