Why Bryce Canyon Deserves A Place On Your Summer Road Trip Itinerary

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If you ask us, Bryce Canyon in Utah is one of the most underloved national parks in the entire country. It’s quieter than the Grand Canyon but offers similar sweeping canyon views. However, where the Grand Canyon can overwhelm with its sheer mass and iconic reputation, Bryce Canyon feels more approachable. Bryce Canyon feels like a mixture of Monument Valley, Arches National Park and the Grand Canyon.

The red rock landscape of the park is centrally located, so it’s easy to roll into a visit to other parts of the Western United States. Here are three different ways to incorporate the park into your summer road trip plans.

Itinerary 1: The Day Trip Stop Along The Way

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Bryce Canyon is located within a stone’s throw from a handful of other stellar national parks. So if you’re doing the grand tour this summer, you can reach Bryce on your way to or from Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches and Canyonlands national parks.

Itinerary 2: The Long Weekend

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It’s only four hours from Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon, so you can easily combine a long weekend journey from the Utah capital with a stop at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We vote for a Saturday full of hiking to start things out strong.

Itinerary 3: A Week From Colorado to Utah

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Starting out in Denver, your first day will be in the Rocky Mountain city before moving on to Rocky Mountain National Park the next day. Day Three is Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The deep gorge and popular rock-climbing spot is a five-hour drive to the south. You can also ride the historic train in Silverton to alpine Durango. Push through to Moab, Utah for the evening, so that the next day can be spent in Arches National Park. Your fifth day is staked out for Bryce Canyon. Day Six is for Zion National Park, another stunning canyon landscape, before spending your last day in Las Vegas.

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