pumpkin

Hi! We are going to the Park City area the last week in June, but prior to that we would like to drive down to Bryce Canyon. What is the most expedient way to get there (route) and how long do you think it would take? We need to get there, explore it, and get back to Park City.

Thanks for your help,
Jean

utahtea

Bryce isn't really a day trip from Park City, Utah. It's 540 miles round trip just to the park entrance and it's 573 if you plan to drive the scenic park road to the end. You are looking at between 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 hours of JUST driving time.

If you go take I-15 down to Hwy 20 and cut across to Hwy 89. Travel south on Hwy 89 to Hwy 12. Take Hwy 12 to Bryce. If you want a little different route back then stay on Hwy 89, then take I-70 east to Salina, then head north on Hwy 50 back to I-15. Just a few minutes longer, but a different route.

Utahtea

pumpkin

Thanks for the reply. No, not a "day trip" Before we go to Park City we want to go to Bryce. So is that 9.5 - 10.5 hours to be divided in half for each way or do you mean 10.5 hours each way. I'm using Park City as my "measuring stick". We actually may approach Bryce from a different angle.

Simply put...how long does it take to drive to the park entrance by going down I-15 then cutting across? (have no idea of road conditions, mountains, etc.)

utahtea

I miss understood when you said " We need to get there, explore it and get BACK to Park City.

The miles and times I gave were approx. round trip from Park City to Bryce and back so it would be half the miles and half the time.

Utahtea

pumpkin

Thanks! Yes, I can see that my statement wasn't very clear.

Appreciate your help,
Jean

CozAnnie

To Utahtea: I just saw a Travel Channel show on Zion-Bryce this morning and have decided we need to add that to our trip in September. We will be traveling with a 5th wheel RV and should arrive in that area the week after Labor Day (hoping to miss the crowds). This will be our first time to Utah (we actually live in Cozumel, Mexico all year and spend Aug-Sept. in the states where it's cooler). Just wondered if you knew a nice, scenic RV park close to either Zion or Bryce. Thanks!

utahtea

Hi CozAnnie,

After Labor Day will be a great time to visit. We like to stay in the parks when ever possible. Watchman Campground in Zion National Park is scenic and has electrical hookups. No water or sewer at the campsites but there is a dump station. No showers in the park. Most of these pictures I took from the campground.

http://www.utahtea.lithium.com/pages...n2003/zion.htm

Zion Canyon Campground is just on the other side of the Virgin River across from Watchman, but in the little town of Springdale and has full hookups & showers. The pads are very close together and you feel like your camping right on top of your neighbor. You do get some views.

http://www.zioncanyoncampground.com/

About 14 miles from Zion is Zion River Resort. I've never stayed there. It's a little to far from Zion for me. It's in a scenic location, but you don't see Zion from here. It also very new and looks a little baron for my liking.

http://www.zionriverresort.com/

At Bryce the two campgrounds in the park. They are in nice forest settings. No hookups at all, but there are showers.

Just outside the park is Ruby's Inn Campground. It's OK as far as a private full hook up campground goes.

To get the 5er from Zion to Bryce you either have to pay for the escort though the Zion Tunnel (which I read is going up to $15.00) or you have to travel around going back to Hurricane, then taking Hwy 59 and 389 to Kanab, Utah which is 75 miles longer and about two extra hours of driving.

Where else in the area will you be traveling? Lake Powell has a new campgroud that is really nice with full hookups.

Utahtea

happytrailstoyou

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