Planning a multi-park road trip across the country from Georgia to Utah with just 11 days off work might sound impossible—but we pulled it off, and it was one of the most unforgettable adventures we’ve ever had.

We made the decision to visit Utah’s Mighty Five somewhat last minute and knew we’d need to be efficient if we were going to make it from Georgia to all five national parks—Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion—and back in under two weeks. Armed with our Ford Transit AWD camper van, a fridge full of groceries, and a rough itinerary, we hit the road in mid-February hoping to beat the crowds and soak up some winter temperatures in the desert.

From long drive days and campsite logistics to sunrise hikes and snowy hoodoos, this trip pushed us in the best way—and left us wanting more. Here’s how each park played a part in our Mighty Five adventure.

Arches National Park

After driving for nearly three days straight, we rolled into Arches National Park around 1:30 p.m., eager to swap our van seats for hiking boots. Rather than doing the popular scenic drive, we explored the park on foot—starting with Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch right from our campground loop. These short trails were the perfect warm-up after our cross-country push.

We stayed at Devil’s Garden Campground, which was peaceful and well-located for hikes. Sunrise at Delicate Arch was absolutely worth the early wake-up—it’s a bucket list moment that felt even more magical with only a handful of other hikers nearby. If you’re going to hike to Delicate Arch we highly recommend that you do it early, as there is no shade and it will be crowded later in the day. That evening, we took in sunset at Double Arch, where the light hit the sandstone just right, and the crowds were minimal. We capped off our time with the Windows Loop, Park Avenue Trail, and a taste of Devil’s Garden Trail, where we turned back before the rock scrambling sections.

Arches gave us a deep appreciation for the desert Utah landscape—and set the tone for the rest of the trip.

a cell phone screenshot of the Arches National Park entrance station with a van waiting at the gate
That’s us at the gate!

         

Canyonlands National Park – Island in the Sky

Just a short drive from Arches, Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky District delivered epic views, a little bit of snow and a quieter vibe. We camped at Willow Flat Campground and enjoyed the solitude (and deer sightings!) as we settled in.

Our time here was split between classic overlooks and short hikes. Mesa Arch at sunrise was a bust due to the weather (and also crowded!), while Grand View Point offered panoramic scenes of endless canyons. We just kept saying “wow” throughout our visit here. Aztec Butte challenged us with steep slickrock—confession: I bailed near the top when the ledges got too intimidating. We also checked out Upheaval Dome and stopped at Shafer Trail Viewpoint. From here you can watch 4x4s tackle the switchbacks below (or do it yourself), however no one was driving the road when we visited.

If we’d had more time, we would’ve explored the other districts like The Needles or The Maze—but even just scratching the surface of this park left a lasting impression.

A crowd with cameras at Mesa Arch
The crowd that was already in place for the sunrise at Mesa Arch when we arrived. The crowd only grew as we waited for the sun.

Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef was the biggest surprise of our trip. We stayed at the Fruita Campground, surrounded by mule deer and historic sites. It was clean, quiet, and felt like stepping back in time.

We managed to hike three trails here before heading out: Cassidy Arch (one of our top three hikes of the entire trip), the scenic Grand Wash Trail, and Hickman Bridge. The Cassidy Arch trail, in particular, was intimidating at first—I was nervous about heights—but it turned out to be totally manageable and unbelievably rewarding. We also stopped at the Petroglyph Panel for a short walk to view ancient rock stories.

With no crowds and warm sun lighting up the red rocks, Capitol Reef gave us the solitude and scenery we didn’t know we needed.

A man standing on Cassidy Arch

Bryce Canyon National Park

We made a last minute decision to shorten our trip to Bryce Canyon National Park due to the cold forecast. We arrived early in the morning and hiked the Figure 8 Combination Loop—Queen’s Garden, Peekaboo Loop, and Navajo Loop—capped in snow and glowing orange in the winter sun. It was another of our top three hikes and absolutely worth the effort.

The trail was slick and steep in places—in fact we both fell pretty hard. My tailbone hurt for a full week after my fall. If you’re going to visit in the winter consider hiking in microspikes. We wrapped up with a quick walk to Mossy Cave, where we saw massive icicles hanging from inside the cave.

Even though we only spent half a day here, the contrast of snow, forest and sandstone made Bryce Canyon feel like something out of a dream. We’ve added a return trip during fall foliage season to our bucket list.

Snowy hoodoos at Bryce Canyon

Zion National Park

Zion was our final stop—and the busiest. We arrived on a Saturday to sunny skies, 70 degree temps and packed trailheads, but we managed to find moments of peace. Scout Lookout via the West Rim Trail was another favorite hike (yes, that’s all three of our top hikes now), complete with jaw-dropping views and the famous Walter’s Wiggles switchbacks. We took a snack break at the lookout and watched other hikers brave Angels Landing while we continued just a little farther up the ridge.

Later, we explored the Emerald Pools via the Kayenta Trail and scoped out The Narrows on the Riverside Walk—but opted out due to water conditions. Instead, we found a slot canyon near Canyon Overlook that gave us the thrill of a rock scramble without the icy plunge. We also made a quick visit to Springdale for gear and beer (Zion Brewery was a great place to relax after back-to-back hikes).

Zion felt like the perfect place to end the trip—iconic, majestic, and full of miles of challenging hikes.

A gray van at Zion National Park

Final Thoughts

In total, we drove 4,400+ miles, hiked nearly 68 miles, and saw five national parks in just 11 days. It wasn’t always easy—there were long drives, cold mornings, and missed turns—but we wouldn’t change a thing.

If you’re thinking about planning your own Mighty Five adventure, I put everything we learned into a downloadable Utah Road Trip Guide, with our full itinerary, maps, campground info, trail recs, and more. Whether you’re traveling in a van, car, or RV, this guide can help you maximize your time and avoid the overwhelm. I wish we had had a comprehensive guide like this when we set off on our trip.

👉 Grab the guide here
📌 Save this blog for your future road trip planning!