You can see Bryce Canyon's main viewpoints and hike down among the hoodoos in one day. The hike we would pick is the Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop, 2.9 miles and 2 to 3 hours by NPS's figures. Bryce Canyon is about 85 miles from Zion (Visit Utah) and about 270 miles from Las Vegas airport (NPS). We read the NPS Bryce Canyon pages on 14 October 2026.
A plan for one day
Note: NPS's trip idea for a 4 hour or longer summer visit says to focus on the first 3 miles of the park, the Bryce Amphitheater. Stop at the Visitor Center, then Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point and Sunrise Point. A flat 1.0 mile Rim Trail walk joins Sunset and Sunrise Points. An optional extension is a drive of about 40 minutes on the Southern Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point and the 1 mile Bristlecone Loop (NPS trip idea, updated 24 Aug 2026, read 14 Oct 2026)
This is our order, built from the NPS list. The times are our estimate, so adjust them.
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Early. Bryce Point or Sunrise Point for the first look. NPS gives no sunrise or sunset times, so check them for your date.
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Mid morning. The Visitor Center, which is 1 mile inside the park boundary, then Inspiration Point.
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Late morning to early afternoon. The Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop. NPS recommends going clockwise: down Queen's Garden from Sunrise Point, up the Navajo Loop to Sunset Point, then back on the Rim Trail.
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Afternoon. Drive south to Rainbow Point for the Bristlecone Loop, or walk the Rim Trail between Sunset and Sunrise Points.
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Evening. Stay for sunset on the rim. NPS runs ranger and night sky programs in summer, but we did not check this year's schedule.
Bryce Canyon hikes
Note: Distances, times and elevation change from NPS's Bryce Canyon trail pages (updated 10 Oct 2024 to 15 Aug 2026, read 14 Oct 2026). NPS calls Queen's Garden "the least difficult of the trails descending from the rim." The Navajo Loop is 515 feet on one NPS page and 550 feet on its trailhead page. The Fairyland Loop page gives both 8.0 and 7.8 miles
| Hike | Distance | Time | Elevation change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset to Sunrise Point (Rim Trail) | 1.0 mi | 1 hr | 40 ft |
| Bristlecone Loop (Rainbow Point) | 1.0 mi | 1 hr | 200 ft |
| Mossy Cave (north end, 4 miles east on Highway 12) | 0.8 mi | 1 hr | 150 ft |
| Queen's Garden (from Sunrise Point, not a loop) | 1.8 mi | 1 to 2 hrs | 450 ft |
| Navajo Loop (from Sunset Point) | 1.3 mi | 1 to 2 hrs | 515 to 550 ft |
| Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop | 2.9 mi | 2 to 3 hrs | 625 ft |
| Tower Bridge (north of Sunrise Point) | 3.0 mi | 2 to 3 hrs | 760 ft |
| Swamp Canyon Loop | 4.0 mi | 3 to 4 hrs | 800 ft |
| Hat Shop (from Bryce Point, not a loop) | 4.0 mi | 3 to 4 hrs | 1,380 ft |
| Peekaboo Loop (from Bryce Point) | 5.5 mi | 3 to 4 hrs | 1,560 ft |
| Fairyland Loop | 8.0 mi | 4 to 5 hrs | 1,900 ft |
NPS lists the Figure-8 Combination Loop, which joins Queen's Garden, Peekaboo and Navajo, at 6.4 miles, 4 to 5 hours and 1,575 feet of climbing (NPS Figure-8 Combination page, updated 15 Aug 2026, read 14 Oct 2026). In one day, the Combination Loop is the better fit than the longer loops. Every trail below the rim ends with a climb back up.
The visitor center sits at 7,894 feet (NPS directions page, updated 1 May 2024). The air is thin, and the climb out is the hard part. Take water.
The shuttle
Hours: 2026 shuttle: 3 April to 8 May, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 9 May to 20 September, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 21 September to 18 October, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The last bus leaves the Shuttle Station at 5:45 p.m. in April, early May and from late September, and at 7:30 p.m. from 9 May to September. The page lists the summer period as ending on both 20 and 21 September, so check near that date (NPS shuttle page, updated 14 May 2026, read 14 Oct 2026)
Note: The shuttle is free with park admission. You need proof of admission when you board outside the park. It runs about every 15 minutes on a loop of about 50 minutes without stops, with 15 numbered stops: Shuttle Station, Old Bryce Town, the Best Western+ Grand Hotel, Ruby's Inn and campground, the Visitor Center, Sunset Campground, Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon Lodge and Sunrise Point. It takes two bikes on a front rack and does not allow pets. Riding it is optional. Fairyland Point has no shuttle stop (NPS shuttle page and trip idea, read 14 Oct 2026)
NPS's hours page (updated 14 Aug 2026) says the shuttle "Operates April to October 20," while the shuttle page ends on 18 October. We did not settle the difference. NPS's directions page says the shuttle is encouraged but not required, and that no public transportation reaches the park.
How far is Bryce Canyon from Zion and Las Vegas
Note: Zion: about 85 miles, from Visit Utah's 10 day plan. NPS Zion figures work out to about 87 miles. NPS Zion notes that the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway is slow, usually under 30 mph (our Utah national parks road trip page, read 14 Oct 2026)
Note: Las Vegas (LAS) and Salt Lake City (SLC) airports are each about 270 miles from the park. Cedar City airport is 80 miles and St. George airport is 125 miles away (NPS Bryce Canyon directions page, updated 1 May 2024, read 14 Oct 2026)
The NPS page lists no drive times. We did not drive these routes and did not find an official time, so we show miles only. Check your map app on the day, and allow extra time on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Our Utah road trip page puts Bryce Canyon on day 2 or 3 of the five park loop.
Fees for 2026
Price: Private vehicle $35. Motorcycle $30. On foot or by bike $20 a person, free for ages 15 and under. Annual Bryce Canyon pass $70 for US citizens and residents. America the Beautiful pass $80 for residents and $250 for non-residents. Non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 each, unless they enter with an Annual or America the Beautiful pass (NPS fees page, updated 14 May 2026, read 14 Oct 2026)
Note: The fees page says "This park does not accept cash." It also lists checks as payment, which conflicts with its credit and debit only lines. Call the park at 435-834-5322 to confirm (same page)
By our arithmetic, a non-US resident adult in a car pays $135 at the gate, which is $35 plus $100. NPS says no advance reservation is needed to enter (NPS hours page, updated 14 Aug 2026).
In winter
Note: The park is open 24 hours a day all year. Temperatures fall below freezing nearly every night from October to May. December to February is the coldest and snowiest, and March and April storms can still bring heavy snow. Average highs and lows are 37 and 15 F in January and 80 and 53 F in July. Roads can close during and after storms (NPS hours page, updated 14 Aug 2026, and weather page, updated 31 Oct 2022, read 14 Oct 2026)
Note: NPS says the Wall Street side of the Navajo Loop closes every winter, and to wear traction devices on trails. NPS says you can buy them at the Bryce Canyon Association bookstore in the Visitor Center. For the combination loop in winter, use the Two Bridges side of the Navajo Loop (NPS winter trip idea and Combination Loop page, read 14 Oct 2026)
For road closures, NPS points to its current conditions page and the Utah Department of Transportation traffic site. We did not check today's conditions.
Where to stay
Note: Bryce Canyon Lodge and its motel buildings "offer 114 rooms including lodge suites, motel rooms, and cabins." NPS says reservations are highly recommended and gives no season dates. For towns near the park it points to the Garfield County Tourism Bureau (NPS lodging page, updated 9 Apr 2024, read 14 Oct 2026)
Hours: 2026 operating dates from the lodge operator: main lodge and suites 1 March to 30 November, Sunset Motel 1 March to 30 November, Sunrise Motel 27 March to 9 November, and cabins 22 April to 26 October, weather dependent. The front desk is open 1 March to 1 December and closes at 11 a.m. on 1 December (The Lodge at Bryce Canyon, stay page, read 15 Oct 2026)
| Where | Why pick it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bryce Canyon Lodge | Inside the park, a shuttle stop, near the rim | Not checked |
| Ruby's Inn area | Next to the park entrance, on the shuttle route | Not checked |
| Towns on the roads to the park | More choice. Ask the Garfield County Tourism Bureau | Not checked |
Sunrise and sunset on the rim are the reason to sleep close. If you only have one day, you can also stay in a town on the way and drive in. We did not check any booking site or rates.
What we checked and what can change
Checked on 14 October 2026: NPS Bryce Canyon pages on fees (14 May 2026), the shuttle (14 May 2026), the trail pages for each hike (10 October 2024 to 15 August 2026), directions (1 May 2024), lodging (9 April 2024), hours and seasons (14 August 2026), weather (31 October 2022), the 4 hour summer trip idea (24 August 2026), the winter trip idea and the Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop page (15 August 2026), plus Visit Utah's Zion to Bryce figure as used on our Utah road trip page. Read on 15 October 2026: the stay page of The Lodge at Bryce Canyon (visitbrycecanyon.com) for the 2026 operating dates.
Not confirmed: drive times to Zion and Las Vegas, the road miles from Zion on an official page, sunrise and sunset times, the lodge's rates, the 2026 ranger program schedule, hotel prices, today's road conditions, and the shuttle end date (18 or 20 October). Fees, shuttle dates and trail closures can change, so read the NPS pages the week you go.
