The Ultimate Utah National Parks RV Road Trip: A 7 to 10 Day Itinerary from Las Vegas
The Utah National Parks RV road trip from Las Vegas is one of the most iconic routes you can drive in the American Southwest. Five national parks, dramatic red rock country, slot canyons, and some of the most photographed landscapes on the continent.
This route covers approximately 1,200 miles round trip and works whether you have 7, 8, 9, or 10 nights to spend. The order matters: we route counter-clockwise, leaving Zion for the end of the trip when you’re already comfortable with the RV and the drive home is short.
We’re not going to tell you how many nights to spend at each stop. That’s up to you, your travel style, and what you want to see. What we will tell you is the route, the drive times between stops, and what’s worth your time at each one.
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Important Note for RV Travelers in 2026 and Beyond
Starting June 7, 2026, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and tunnel are permanently closed to most Class C motorhomes and larger vehicles.
Vehicle restrictions:
- Height limit: 11 feet 4 inches
- Width limit: 7 feet 10 inches
- Length limit: 25 feet 9 inches
This route was designed specifically to enter Zion from the south via Springdale, avoiding the tunnel entirely. Do not attempt to drive through the tunnel in a Class C motorhome.
For current restrictions, visit nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/large-vehicles.htm.
Highways 14 and 143 are also off-limits to RVs. These are steep mountain roads with sharp grades. Do not route through them, even if your GPS suggests it.
The correct route from Bryce to Zion is Highway 20 to Interstate 15, which adds time but is safe, scenic, and the only RV-friendly option.
Before You Leave: What to Handle in Las Vegas
Before you start your Utah national parks RV road trip, there are a few things to handle in Las Vegas that will make the whole trip smoother.
Pickup and Groceries
Your RV pickup is at the Walmart Supercenter near Harry Reid International Airport, about a 10 minute Uber ride from the terminal (expect $15 to $20). This is intentional. You can stock up on groceries, snacks, and supplies before you hit the road, so your first campsite feels like home the moment you arrive.
Expert tip: Pre-order your groceries for easy pickup. It saves time and means you’re not navigating the store with a tight pickup window.
Every Nomad Rentals RV comes fully stocked with kitchen essentials, bedding, and everything you need to cook and sleep comfortably from day one. One guest described arriving at camp on her first RV trip: “The kitchen is stocked with everything necessary, even a great knife.” Visit our Guest Resources page for more details.
Your direct booking includes 100 free miles per day and 3 free generator hours per day.
Reserve Your Campsites in Advance
Book through Recreation.gov for national parks and the Nevada State Parks website for Valley of Fire. Moab, Bryce, and Zion campgrounds fill out months ahead, especially March through October. Page and Kanab have private RV parks that book up too. If your dates are flexible, weekday arrivals open up more options.
Buy Your Park Passes Ahead of Time
Park passes are required for entry to national parks and state parks. Purchase ahead at the America the Beautiful Pass for national parks and the Nevada State Parks for Nevada sites. The America the Beautiful pass is good for one year and covers all national parks, so if you’re hitting four or more, it pays for itself.
Download Offline Maps Before You Leave
Cell service disappears fast, especially in Monument Valley, Capitol Reef, and most of the canyon country. Download Google Maps or Gaia GPS offline for your full route before leaving Las Vegas.
Check Weather Before Each Stop
Weather conditions in this region change fast and can be extreme, especially in summer. Always check before you arrive at each park.
- National parks: nps.gov (search the specific park, then check current conditions and alerts)
- Valley of Fire and other Nevada state parks: parks.nv.gov
This matters most at lower-elevation desert stops where summer temperatures can hit dangerous highs. More on that below.
The Utah National Parks RV Road Trip: Key Stops in Order
Total distance: Approximately 1,200 miles round trip.
Interactive Route Map
Stop 1: Las Vegas to Kanab, Utah
Drive time: About 3 hours, 15 minutes
Kanab is your gateway into red rock country and a great first night because the drive is straightforward and the town has everything you need. On the way in, stop at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes for sunset. The contrast of pink dunes against red rock cliffs is something you won’t see anywhere else on the trip.
Kanab itself is a base camp town. From here you have access to:
- Off-road vehicle rentals if you want a backcountry day
- Easy access to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend tours (you’ll do these from Page, but Kanab is close enough to do them as a day trip if you prefer)
- A full grocery store, propane, and fuel before you head deeper into the route
Campsite: Dark Sky RV Campground is our recommended option in Kanab. Full hookups, easy access to town, and as the name suggests, exceptional dark sky views overhead at night, a great way to start the trip.
Stop 2: Kanab to Page, Arizona
Drive time: About 1 hour, 15 minutes
Page is small but punches above its weight. This is where you can do Antelope Canyon (guided tour only, roughly $100 per person, book in advance), Horseshoe Bend (the iconic overlook above the Colorado River), and kayaking on the Colorado River at Horseshoe Bend itself.
If you only have a few hours, do Horseshoe Bend at sunset. If you have a full day, the kayaking is unforgettable. Antelope Canyon requires a guided tour, so book before you leave home if you want a specific time slot.
Stop 3: Page to Monument Valley, Utah
Drive time: About 2 hours
Monument Valley is one of those landscapes you’ve seen in dozens of films without realizing it. The Mittens, Merrick Butte, and the Totem Pole are the postcard images. There’s no developed national park system here in the traditional sense. Monument Valley is on Navajo Nation land and the experience is mostly about scenic driving, sunrise, and sunset.
This is one of those stops where what you do is sit, look, and take it in. Catch a sunrise or a sunset. The light here is unlike anywhere else.
Stop 4: Monument Valley to Moab, Utah
Drive time: About 2 hours, 45 minutes
Moab is the hub for Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, plus a full-service town with grocery stores, propane, fuel, restaurants, and laundromats. Plan to do your major resupply here.
From Moab you have access to:
- Arches National Park: Delicate Arch (the one on Utah’s license plate, 3 mile round trip hike), Devils Garden, Park Avenue, Windows Section. Note that Arches uses a timed entry reservation system during peak season, separate from your campsite reservation.
- Canyonlands National Park: Island in the Sky district has the most dramatic mesa views and is the most RV-friendly. Avoid the Needles or Maze districts in a larger vehicle.
Campsite for Arches: Devils Garden Campground is the only campground inside the park and one of the most sought-after in the entire national park system. Reserve months in advance at Recreation.gov. If you can’t get a spot, Moab has a number of commercial campgrounds with full hookups.
Campsite for Canyonlands: Island in the Sky Campground (Willow Flat) is first-come, first-served. Visit the nearby Upheaval Dome area for a one mile loop hike to an overlook.
Propane: Available in Moab. Grocery stop: Full grocery in Moab. Stock up before heading west.
Stop 5: Moab to Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Drive time: About 2 hours, 25 minutes
Capitol Reef is one of the Big 5 Utah parks and the one most people skip, which is exactly why it’s worth the stop. The Waterpocket Fold (a 100-mile wrinkle in the earth’s crust) is one of the most distinctive geologic features in the country.
Campsite: Fruita Campground is open year round, no hookups, waste dump nearby. Peak season runs March through October and reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance at Recreation.gov. Fruita sits in a historic orchard where you can pick fruit in season.
The roads through Capitol Reef are paved and accessible. Even if you’re just stopping through, the scenic drive and the petroglyph panels along Highway 24 are worth a few hours.
Stop 6: Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Drive time: About 2 hours, 20 minutes
If you have time, Escalante is on the way and worth a stop. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is one of the most rugged and remote landscapes in the lower 48, and even a quick drive through gives you a sense of the scale.
Bryce Canyon itself looks like another planet. The hoodoos (those towering spires of orange and white rock) are unlike anything else on this loop. Bryce sits at higher elevation than the rest of the trip, so pack layers even in summer.
Campsite: Ruby’s Inn RV Park has full hookups and is the nearest RV park to the Bryce entrance. Inside the park, North Campground or Sunset Campground are both reservable at Recreation.gov. North Campground puts you within walking distance of the rim and main viewpoints.
Key viewpoints: Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, and Bryce Point for the classic amphitheater views. The Navajo Loop Trail drops down into the canyon past Thor’s Hammer and is one of the best short hikes on the entire route. Check the Bryce Canyon official website for up-to-date weather conditions and trail closures.
Another guest, who took his family of four on their first RV rental to Zion and Bryce, put it well: “The videos sent ahead of time and in-person walkthrough made us extremely comfortable with the ins and outs of the RV so there were no worries.”
Stop 7: Bryce to Zion National Park, Utah
Drive time: About 2 hours, 30 minutes (via Highway 20 to I-15)
This is where the Carmel Tunnel closure changes the route. You will go from Bryce on Highway 89 to Highway 20, then south on Interstate 15, and into Zion via the western entrance through La Verkin and Springdale. Do not route through Highway 14 or 143. They are off-limits to RVs.
On your way, you can stop at Red Canyon Arch in the Dixie National Forest, just outside Bryce on Highway 12. It’s a quick scenic stop and a beautiful drive-through arch.
Zion is the dramatic finale of this route. The canyon walls, the Virgin River cutting through, the iconic Angels Landing trail. Most guests tell us Zion is the part of the trip they remember most, which is exactly why it works as the closing stop.
Key hikes: Riverside Walk (easy, paved, great for families), The Narrows (requires water shoes, incredible), Canyon Overlook Trail (moderate, big views for low effort).
Campsite: Watchman Campground is the best option for RVs, with electric hookups, flush toilets, and the canyon entrance right outside. Book at Recreation.gov. South Campground is a nearby alternative but fills fast.
RV note: Personal vehicles are not allowed on the main Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during peak season. Park your RV at Watchman and use the free shuttle to access trailheads. The shuttle runs frequently and the system works well.
Generator note: Generator use has quiet hours in national park campgrounds. Check the posted rules at Watchman, generally no generators before 8am or after 10pm.
Grocery stop: St. George, Utah is about 45 minutes away if you need to resupply before the final stretch.
Optional Stop: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Drive time from Zion: About 2 hours Drive time from Valley of Fire to Las Vegas: About 1 hour
If you have time and want one more stop on the way back, Valley of Fire State Park is one of the most underrated red rock landscapes in the Southwest. The red Aztec sandstone formations glow orange and crimson at sunset. Most people drive right past it.
Important: Summer temperatures at Valley of Fire are extreme. Daytime highs can exceed 110°F from June through August, and the park has very limited shade. Always check current weather conditions at parks.nv.gov before you go. If you’re traveling in summer, plan to visit early morning or evening, carry significantly more water than you think you need, and skip exposed hikes during peak heat hours.
Campsites: Valley of Fire takes reservations through Nevada State Parks. Atlatl Rock Campground and Arch Rock Campground both have RV-friendly sites. Reserve in advance, especially for spring and fall weekends.
Worth seeing: Fire Wave (a short, easy hike to a swirled sandstone formation), Elephant Rock, the Beehives, and the petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock.
Final Day: Return to Las Vegas
Drive time from Zion (direct): About 2 hours, 45 minutes Drive time from Valley of Fire: About 1 hour
The drive back on I-15 is straightforward. Plan to return your RV clean and with the tanks managed according to your checkout instructions.
What to Know Before You Go
- Effective June 7, 2026, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and tunnel are permanently closed to most Class C motorhomes. Route from Bryce to Zion via Highway 20 to I-15
- Highways 14 and 143 are off-limits to RVs due to steep grades
- Check weather before each stop. National parks at nps.gov, Nevada state parks at parks.nv.gov
- Valley of Fire summer temperatures can be extreme. Plan early morning or evening visits in June through August
- Reserve campgrounds at Moab, Bryce, Zion, and Valley of Fire as far in advance as possible
- Antelope Canyon requires a guided tour (book ahead, roughly $100 per person)
- Cell coverage disappears in Monument Valley, Capitol Reef, and most of the canyon country
- Generator use has quiet hours at national park campgrounds. Check rules at each site
- Propane is available in Kanab, Moab, and Springdale
- Major grocery stops: Kanab, Moab, St. George
- Park passes required for entry. Purchase the America the Beautiful Pass for national parks and reserve at parks.nv.gov for Nevada state parks
- Direct bookings include 100 miles and 3 generator hours per day
First-Timer? Here’s What Past Guests Say
If you’ve never driven or stayed in an RV before, the Utah national parks RV road trip from Las Vegas is a great introduction. The route is all paved roads, the size is manageable, and Nomad Rentals walks you through everything at pickup.
One guest, a first-time RV renter, described his experience: “Dale’s thorough walkthrough during pickup was incredibly helpful, and his instructional videos made everything easy to understand for us as first-time RV renters.”
Another guest, who completed an 8-day trip through Zion, Bryce, Antelope Canyon, and the Grand Canyon, wrote: “This was our first experience with an RV so we were a little nervous, but we got the hang of it.”
And a guest who called the trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience with his daughter said: “It was geared up with literally everything we needed. Everything was well organized and made the trip that much easier.”
The Utah loop is not a beginner trip that requires expert skills. It requires a little preparation, good campsite reservations, and an RV that’s ready to go. The rest takes care of itself.
Ready to Book?
Nomad Rentals LV is based in Las Vegas with pickup near Harry Reid International Airport. Every RV is fully stocked, professionally cleaned before your trip, and comes with a thorough in-person walkthrough and instructional videos.
Ready to start planning your Utah national parks RV road trip from Las Vegas? Browse our fleet and book direct for the best rate.
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