How to Drive from Zion to Bryce Canyon

To get from Zion to Bryce Canyon, drive east through Zion National Park on UT-9, then take US-89 north, UT-12 east and UT-63 south into Bryce Canyon National Park. For vehicles too large for that road, NPS describes the Highway 20 route as roughly 150 miles and 2.5 hours. Public transportation to Bryce Canyon National Park is not available.

The Zion to Bryce Canyon Route

The direct drive from Zion to Bryce Canyon follows UT-9 east through Zion National Park, then US-89 north, UT-12 east and UT-63 south into the park. The National Park Service gives this as its route to Bryce Canyon from the south through Zion. The route ends at the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center, 1 mile inside the park boundary.

NPS describes the Highway 20 detour as roughly 150 miles and 2.5 hours, 63 miles and about 42 minutes longer than the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway route.

The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway usually moves at under 30 miles per hour, while the state highways on the Highway 20 route are much faster. Vehicles that are too large cannot drive the stretch between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance, so they take the Highway 20 route described below.

Turn-by-Turn Directions on UT-9, US-89, UT-12 and UT-63

The direct route from Zion to Bryce Canyon uses four highways, with three turns after UT-9 carries you out of the park. The steps below start at the Interstate 15 (I-15) exit for UT-9.

• Take I-15 exit 16 and follow UT-9 east into Zion National Park. If you are already in Zion Canyon, pick up UT-9 heading east.
• Stay on UT-9 east past Canyon Junction. From there to the East Entrance, the road is the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, so plan for speeds under 30 miles per hour.
• Leave Zion at the East Entrance. Mt. Carmel Junction is 13 miles farther east on UT-9.
• Turn north on US-89.
• Turn east on UT-12.
• Turn south on UT-63 and drive into Bryce Canyon National Park. The visitor center is 1 mile past the park boundary.

Both parks charge entry. Zion requires the park fee or a valid pass, and driving a private vehicle into Bryce Canyon costs $35 at the entrance station, free for pass holders. A Bryce Canyon vehicle pass also covers everyone in the car on the park shuttle, and if you plan to see both parks, price an America the Beautiful pass before you go.

The Highway 20 Alternative North of Cedar City

Highway 20, north of Cedar City, is the route to Bryce Canyon for vehicles too large for the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. It takes about 42 minutes longer than the drive through Zion, and its 63 extra miles run on faster state highways.

Oversized vehicles reroute through Springdale to the South Entrance. From there, the route runs north and then east:

• From I-15, take exit 95 for UT-20.
• Drive east on UT-20 to US-89.
• Turn south on US-89, then east on UT-12.
• Turn south on UT-63 into Bryce Canyon National Park.

The current size limits sit on a large-vehicle page linked from Zion's directions and transportation page, so look up your vehicle there before choosing a route.

A third route leaves I-15 at exit 59. Go east on 200 North, south on Main Street to Center Street, and east on UT-14 to US-89. Then follow US-89 north, UT-12 east and UT-63 south, a drive Bryce Canyon describes as very scenic in summer and early fall.

Bus and Shuttle Options from Zion to Bryce Canyon

Public transportation to Bryce Canyon is not available. The transit that does exist stays on the Zion side of the drive.

SunTran, a bus service based in St. George, runs a Zion Route linking St. George, Washington, Hurricane, La Verkin, Virgin and Springdale. Free shuttles also carry visitors through Zion Canyon and Springdale during the shuttle season. None of these lines continue to Bryce Canyon.

At Bryce Canyon, the free park shuttle starts at the Shuttle Station in Bryce Canyon City, north of the park, so it only helps once you have driven there. The three-hour Rainbow Bus Tour is not offered. Commercial buses are allowed at the same viewpoints as the shuttle.

Airports for a Zion and Bryce Canyon Trip

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas is the closer major airport for a trip covering both parks, and Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC) is the closest airport to Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon sits about the same distance from Las Vegas and from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), so the difference shows up at the Zion end. Las Vegas is 170 miles from Zion and Salt Lake City is 300.

St. George Regional Airport (SGU) is 49 miles from Zion and 125 from Bryce Canyon, with flights from Salt Lake City and Denver. Cedar City Regional Airport is 60 miles from Zion and 80 from Bryce Canyon, with flights from Salt Lake City.

Fly into St. George if you need a Denver connection and want to start at Zion. Fly into Cedar City if you want the shortest drive at the Bryce Canyon end, and choose Las Vegas if you need a major airport.

Shuttle and Park Hours at Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park is open year-round, and its free shuttle runs from April through mid-October. Roads are plowed and sanded after heavy snowstorms, though some may close for a short time during and right after a winter storm. The visitor center sits at 7,894 feet, so read the Bryce Canyon weather guide before a winter drive from Zion.

The shuttle is optional but recommended, and it costs nothing beyond park admission. The 2026 schedule ran April 3 through October 18.

• Shuttle Station (Stop 1) in Bryce Canyon City: free all-day parking, park passes for sale and a shorter boarding line. It sits north of the park, so you can stop there before the entrance.
• Visitor Center (Stop 6): park in the Additional Parking Lot across the street, because the visitor center lot has a one-hour limit.
• Frequency: buses usually arrive every 15 minutes, and the full loop takes about 50 minutes without stops.

The loop reaches Bryce, Inspiration, Sunset and Sunrise Points. Vehicles 23 feet or longer cannot park at those viewpoints during shuttle hours, and pets are not allowed on the buses.

Nights to Plan at Bryce Canyon

Plan at least one night near Bryce Canyon after the drive from Zion. A same-day round trip from Zion Canyon means driving the route twice. A night near the park lets you plan around the shuttle, which runs April through mid-October, and leaves the evening free for the sky.

With the shuttle, a full day on the rim can follow the Rim Trail between the four main viewpoints. Bryce Point to Inspiration Point is 1.5 miles, Inspiration to Sunset Point is 0.7 miles, and Sunset to Sunrise Point is a flat, paved 0.5 miles. The Bryce Point section closes in winter, and from Sunset Point you can start the Navajo Loop Trail.

A day trip works if you only want the viewpoints on the shuttle loop and your car fits the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway. If your vehicle has to take Highway 20, the detour adds time in both directions. Two nights give you one full rim day with an evening on either side of it.

Staying Near Bryce Canyon for the Night Sky

Staying close to Bryce Canyon shortens the morning drive to the shuttle and keeps the evening free for stargazing. Several hotels and both campgrounds on the shuttle route have their own stops, so guests there can board without moving the car. The guide to where to stay near Bryce Canyon covers the options.

At Dark Light Collection, we are building glass pyramids on private land about 15 minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park, with Red Canyon about 10 minutes away. Each pyramid is designed with a king bed positioned for sky-gazing, a private deck with a fire pit and a personal deck telescope. The Bryce Canyon pyramids open in 2027, and founding deposits are open on the reservation page.

Before you leave Zion, enter the Bryce Canyon address (UT-63, Bryce, Utah 84764) into your navigation app.