The Moab to Bryce Canyon drive is one of the most popular driving routes in the United States. It runs from the southern part of Utah through Grand County, Utah and on to Zion National Park, located in southwestern Utah. So, what is to see Moab to Canyon?
The canyon road is closed to vehicles during the winter season and opens up again in April. This guide will help you take a look at this beautiful drive with stunning views across some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America.
The Moab towards Bryce Canyon stretch of the Colorado River is one of the most spectacular and iconic stretches of the entire river. It’s easily accessed from just about anywhere along the length of the Colorado River in North America, but it can be a tough drive with many short sections that are either very steep or remote.
What Is There To See Between Moab And Bryce Canyon
Despite being so close together, there isn’t a lot to see between Moab and Bryce Canyon. There are relatively few landmarks on this stretch of the Appalachian Mountains that divides North America stretching from Canada through Utah into Arizona.
The very southern section is where most of the canyon-front property can be accessed for camping along with numerous places to get fresh water during your journey up river valley or across barren strip land in Grand County and beyond!
Parts of State Route 95 between Grand Junction Colorado (near Montrose) near long stretches have beautiful sandstone formations such as Fanning Flats Arch – this is a great place to stop and get some inspiring photos.
What Can You See At The Park Site
Bryce Canyon National Park’s location in southwestern Utah places it within view of several other parks, including Zion National Park (Utah), Natural Bridges/Vermilion Cliffs State Monument, Lake Powell, Grand Staircase-Escalante NM located just south of Colorado off Interstate 70 – these are all good daytrip stops on a road trip through the area.
The Moab Valley overlook offers stunning views; opt for a shuttle here as you won’t be allowed to drive at the site. The interpretive center is part of a massive open pit coal mine operated by Peabody Energy (you will see workers, trucks, and extraction equipment in production areas), currently targeted for closure as off-shore natural gas supplies increase demand and improve climate policy outcome.
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Moab to Bryce Canyon National Park Drive
Driving from Moab to Bryce Canyon National Park can be a great experience, provided you’re aware of the precautions you need to take. Here are some tips to help make the trip safer and more enjoyable:
- Make sure your vehicle is in good condition – A major factor in avoiding accidents is taking care of your car. Make sure your brakes are working properly, your tires are at the correct pressure, and your headlights are properly adjusted.
- Drive defensively – The scenic drive through Bryce Canyon is definitely worth the trip, but it’s also a dangerous one. Make sure to drive cautiously and obey all traffic laws. If you see something that looks suspicious, don’t hesitate to call the police.
- Carry all the proper gear – In addition to following traffic laws, make sure you have proper gear on hand in case of an emergency. This includes a first-aid kit, a map of the area, and snacks and water for the long drive.
- Plan for detours – No matter how careful you are, accidents happen. In case of an incident, be prepared to take a detour or exit the highway entirely. Always have a back-up plan just in case things go wrong.
Hopefully these tips will help make your drive to Bryce Canyon National Park as safe and enjoyable as possible!
Bryce or Arches, Which is the Better Choice?
This question is a hotly debated topic among the park goers and nature enthusiasts alike. So, without further ado, let’s get into it! If you’re looking for a geological wonderland to explore, Bryce Canyon National Park is definitely worth a visit. The park features amazing rock formations such as the Bryce Amphitheater and the Towers of Thornburg.
Arches National Park, on the other hand, is home to some of the most iconic arch formations in the country. Some of these arch formations include The Windows and The Park Avenue Arch. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. If you’re a fan of natural wonders and stunningly beautiful rock formations, then Bryce Canyon National Park is definitely worth a visit.
If you’re more interested in arches and other iconic Americana landmarks, then Arches National Park should be at the top of your list. Whichever park you choose, make sure to take advantage of all that it has to offer!
Cost to drive from Moab to Bryce Canyon
It can cost anywhere from $27 to $40 to drive from Moab to Bryce Canyon depending on the time of year and traffic conditions. Generally speaking, the more popular the destination, the higher the traffic will be and the higher the cost of gas will be.
Traveling to one of the most popular national parks in the country is going to cost a pretty penny! Anything past Bryce Canyon National Park will require you to drive on either State or Interstate highways.
Moab has both and these routes are costly as well. If your budget allows, it would be best to park at Grand View Point just outside of Arches National Park for $15 per vehicle and walk/hike around Arches instead before driving back over continued costs on gas and additional entrance fees that must be paid while traveling back into Utah through other scenic destinations such as Zion National Park.
Which Is Better Bryce Canyon Or Moab?
Bryce Canyon is the more popular for its size and it is a “must-visit”, but both offers great opportunities to find interesting geological features on your journey. There are over 2000 natural sandstone arches in Bryce, while there are just five or six at Moab Valley.
One entrance to the park (on UT 12) enters near Sunset Point where you can see an overlook of Zion National Park’s amazing red rock reservoir that supplies drinking water for many homes throughout southern Utah – not just locals! Colorado at the end of US 189 offers stunning views.
The ironic part is that this park’s name honors John Wesley Bryce , an interior secretary in Utah who promoted opening up public lands in 1903 and was instrumental in creating a law known as The Antiquities Act –
You can read about him on Wikipedia . He spearheaded the creation of some National Parks, including Canyonlands! So visit and enjoy the beauty, but do so with conscience. Each footstep you take in Bryce Canyon: Paria River to Zion National Park is a step toward conservation for many years to come!
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Is One Day Enough For Bryce Canyon National Park?
The Park lies between Tropic and Bryce Canyon forks of the Paria River at elevations ranging from 5,900 feet to 10,500. Researchers have estimated that in a typical year there are 360 days where water can be found within the park’s monthly watersheds. In other words, you will certainly not run out of options for exploring this area!
Every month sees more than 25 million people visit these top-ranked parks – one day is definitely not enough time to explore all awe-inspiring sights in this National Monument!
– so I would recommend a two-week span with lots of days in between. If you want to experience Bryce Canyon for full immersion, book your trip a whole year!
A Popular Destination:
Continue on north and visit Grand Staircase National Monument which is the destination located just outside of both Zion National Park and Capitol Reef Country, yet receives less than half as many visitors annually.
Is One Day Enough For Bryce Canyon?
North of the Paria River in Utah, just south of Colorado, is another stunning National Monument (and National Park) – this one is called Grand Staircase.
The park has a total area of 390 square miles . This area lies above the Escalante Canyons and between Glen Canyon NWR and Lake Powell Reservoirs at elevations from 6100 feet to 8800 feet.
Many photographers are drawn to this region for its breathtaking landscapes where sandstone domes poke up out-of-the way over flat desert plains.
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Time Do You Need At Bryce Canyon
Inside Bryce Canyon NP there are nearly 80 miles of hiking trails spanning from the steep Grand Staircase Escalante to near the canyon rim at Sunset Point, with more than 15 overlooks (many very close together) providing spectacular views.
Lately a few new gateway viewpoints have been developed so you can drive in without even getting out of your vehicle!
Time You Need For These Parks
When fully contemplating recreational activities we will also factor other kinds piece-of-mind into it – that is about our entire decision process. We generally like to be safe and understand what scientific information we have about safety and choose activities that work well for us.
Before you start asking how much time to these parks will take, make sure you read the sections above – because it takes more than one day to learn all this information!
Bryce Canyon has several scenic routes and backpacking trails that can be hiked in a single 3-2 day loop hike or better yet 4 days which works out great if multiple of your family members really want to go on vacation together but their schedules don’t mesh at just the right time (because so many options!) & Bryce canyon also allows 2-5 day permits.
Most people will spend from 1-4 days at Bryce Canyon NP — There is only one very remote section of the developed portion actually in a park area, about 4 miles on Navajo land (that’s why it says BLM right above) and no roads go there (well maybe one road leads to a parking lot but that passes through private property).
The best way is of course by car or you could also offer mule rides if you have access to horses & packs/backpacks can be carried with permission as long as they stay on trail which means no trespassing!
Driving Directions From Moab To The Bryce Canyon
- Take I-70 from Moab , exit north on 20 to Cactus Jacks;
- Go 1 mile (going straight) then pull over and look for a white, closed gate in the BLM boundary fence at the northeast corner of Dixie Mine road w/ no signs – take that dirt trail under all that barbed wire, you’ll notice fresh river water flowing through here & Indian ruins will be visible thru way … this is old indian campsite with such artifacts as stone arrowheads! Thru open gates @ lightguard go 0.3 mi south ~ turn left on this road then go 1 mi > plus 38′ (this is an easy hike to rim of redwall cliffs, with short route to White Rim trail and through interesting caves)
Is Bryce Canyon Open In Covid?
Bryce Canyon National Park is open 24 hours on a year-round basis. It has campsites that can be reserved in different tiers of usage features, such as drive-up camping. Bryce Canyon National Park has campsites that can be reserved in different tiers of usage features.
Such as drive-up camping (also known as “hike-in sites”) and backcountry permits. This is the only park where a hike-in site can primarily be used by motorized traffic 24 hours per day/ 7 days per week !!
Do I Need Reservations For Bryce National Park?
Yes, Bryce Canyon National Park campsite reservations can be made in two tiers: hike-in sites and backcountry. There are also “backpacker/walker-in” campsites which may only be reserved for groups that would plan to stay on trails & single individuals if traveling by themselves.
Can We Hike Into The Canyon?
Yes, a popular access point is via Tusayan border crossing with Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument from where you will find multiple parking lots along the way but beware – there are no bathrooms or trash cans past here!
I hear it’s better to bring water and decent food/beverages bc there is no store or anything at the border, just a couple of outhouses. There will be signs pointing you in your general direction to get closer via paved roads w/o having to hike far into it (took about 2 hours from my location).
Moab To The Bryce Canyon
Moab to the Bryce Canyon is 65 miles or so one way via unpaved roads along the Colorado River. These are popular for off-road driving but we wouldn’t recommend them unless you have a solid vehicle equipped w/ long-travel suspension, 4WD and high gearing (even then!).
However it’s certainly doable if they aren’t too rough along your route. In addition keep an eye out for daytime wildlife – bighorn sheep in particular might be encountered!
How Much Does Transportation Cost?
The season runs May 1st through October 31st arriving on any date will give access until December 31st. Transportation prices are prorated year round. See the complete list of day-rate transport prices
For a small group (1~4 people per car)—privately arranged—we recommend paying for a private transfer in advance with these rates: starting price of $448 to start your adventure and return, plus insurance, gas & tolls (if applicable) from Moab or visitors center at Bryce Canyon NP – great deal !
What Should I Not Miss In Bryce Canyon?
- Paria Museum and art gallery in the park – incredible collection, lots of southwestern artists.
- One particular hike worth doing is called “Kolob Arch” with a permit at $40 or without for day hiking that’s 1 mile round trip to reach this famous Slot Canyon formation after hitching up w/the 2 big HWY bridges built over it! No reason not to see what all the fuss is about since it takes only about 20 minutes from outside by car…just don’t fall down or drive through any water as there have been fatal accidents here. Be on guard w/a spare tire while your here as well – though you’re driving in, others may be hitchhiking!
- Bryce Canyon’s “Big Tree Grove” of living sequoias and other arboreal giants & trees (another day trip option miles away from the park just north) worth seeing before or after a visit to the canyon near Tropic, Utah for those interested in ancient vegetation .
Conclusion
Moab is a town in the southwestern corner of Utah, United States. It is located on the Colorado River, just upstream from its confluence with the Green River. Its population was 8,169 at the 2010 census.
The area around Moab was settled by Mormon pioneers in 1864. The town’s name is derived from a Paiute word meaning “fat water”, which refers to the abundant wildlife found in the area when early European-American settlers arrived.
Bryce Canyon National Park lies approximately 22 miles (35 km) west of Moab and covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 km2). Bryce Canyon is renowned for its scenic beauty and geological features such as hoodoos and teddy bears’ heads. I hope now you know what is to see Moab to Bryce Canyon.
FAQ’s [ Frequently Asked Questions ]
What Is Unique About Moab, Utah?
Just outside of Bryce Canyon National Park lies the town of Moab. This city offers year-round outdoor activities for visitors in many fields, including off-road bike tours, hang gliding and canoeing locally on the Colorado River just a few miles from downtown.
What Can I Do In Moab?
There are many outdoor activities in the area, including sports and recreation. Some of them include Mountain Biking, Scuba Diving, Hang Gliding and Snorkeling to name a few.
Where’s The Best Place To Stay?
There is no shortage of lodging options available for guests traveling through town on their travels across America or visiting Utah as a whole. With numerous hotels in the surrounding areas all close by one another making it easy for those who want information on accommodations before they book there trip then there are some interesting choices that are ideal for individuals on a more tight budget as well.
How Can I Get To Moab, Utah?
Just south of town you will find Highway 313 which takes you north to Grand Junction and towards Denver or south into Arizona with the towns of Escalante and Kayenta in between.
What Are Some Good Local Restaurants?
For those looking to dine out and enjoy an authentic Moab experience, there are a few excellent choices. Some of the most popular establishments in town include Tso Provisions, Poppoposco Deli & Grocers with great fare menu selections for both breakfast and dinner times.
How Long Does It Take To Get From Here To Moab?
It usually takes about two hours but can vary due to traffic flow.