Utah boasts five stunning national parks near its southern border, called the Mighty 5. They include Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches.
The closest major city—Las Vegas—is just a few hours from Zion National Park. The best way to experience the unforgettable journey to all five of these dramatic, rugged national parks is in the comfort of a rented RV.
The entire drive to visit all five destinations is 1,000 miles round trip from Las Vegas—see them all or pick a few to explore more thoroughly. Consider an RV in Las Vegas from Blacksford to explore all of Utah’s Mighty 5.
Visiting Utah’s Mighty 5 from Las Vegas
Start your trip by flying into Las Vegas and picking up your new, low mileage, luxury Winnebago RV from Blacksford Las Vegas. Blacksford’s white glove service will pick you up at your hotel or the airport, give you a thorough tutorial on operating and enjoying your RV or campervan, and will even stock it with food, upon request.
Your first stop in your Winnebago RV or campervan is Zion National Park, 190 miles away.
1. Zion National Park
Imagine red and orange sandstone cliffs and gorges with rushing streams. This is Zion, America’s third most-visited national park and it is a hiker’s and photographer’s dream.
Consider staying in a campground in nearby St. George, Utah, which is becoming one of Utah’s coolest and fastest-growing towns.
Zion has three in-park campgrounds (reserve early!), and there are campgrounds in nearby Virgin and Springdale, Utah.
Top Zion attractions:
Hiking a popular trail with gorgeous views and scenery: The Narrows, Lower Emerald Pools, Weeping Rock, Angels Landing, and Canyon Overlook.
Exploring the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, which offers stunning views of the surrounding canyon.
Take a guided tour of the park to learn about its history and geology.
Attend a ranger-led program or hike to learn about the park's flora and fauna.
Visit the Zion Human History Museum to learn more about the park's cultural history.
Take a leisurely walk to the Lower Emerald Pool to soak in the beautiful scenery.
Try canyoneering, which involves rappelling and hiking through canyons and gorges.
Spend the day rock climbing on one of the park's many climbing routes, suitable for climbers of all levels.
2. Bryce Canyon National Park
Brilliantly colored Bryce Canyon National Park is on the smaller side—at only 35,000 acres—but its dramatic “hoodoos” create an unforgettable experience. Hoodoos are unusual tall rock spires with irregular shapes, and Bryce has more of them than anywhere else in the world!
Visitors can take in the breathtaking views of the canyon by walking along the Rim Trail or admiring the brilliant colors of the hoodoos at sunrise and sunset. Venturing below the rim, hiking on Queens Garden or navigating the famous Navajo Loop will offer visitors a thrilling experience.
Star gazing is also a popular activity in Bryce Canyon as visitors can enjoy the park’s clear, dark skies or join one of the many ranger-led astronomy talks. Camping, horseback riding and fly-fishing are also available.
Top Bryce Canyon attractions
Grab your hiking boots for popular hikes - Queens Garde, Rim Trail, and Navajo Loop.
Enjoy gorgeous overlooks - Sunset Overlook, Sunrise Point, Bryce Point Overlook, and Inspiration Point.
Explore the hoodoo-filled Bryce Amphitheater by taking the Queen's Garden and Navajo Loop trail.
Hike the challenging Fairyland Loop trail, which is less crowded than other hikes in the park.
Attend a ranger-led stargazing program to gaze upon the crystal clear skies.
Take a horseback ride through the canyon with one of the park's guided tours.
Visit Thor's Hammer, one of the park's most iconic hoodoos.
Walk along the Rim Trail for breathtaking views of the canyon.
Visit the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center to learn about the park's history and geology.
Go on a scenic drive to view Rainbow Point, Natural Bridge and Agua Canyon.
Attend a special event like the annual Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival which offers unique stargazing opportunities and informative workshops.
READY TO EXPLORE UTAH’S MIGHTY 5?
3. Capitol Reef National Park
This hidden gem has 241,000 acres and 1.2 million annual visitors. The park is home to spectacular rock formations like the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long fold in Earth's crust. Visitors can marvel at the towering cliffs and narrow canyons created by this natural wonder.
The scenic drives in the park are a must-do, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can also explore miles of hiking trails and discover hidden treasures.
Capitol Reef is also famous for its stargazing, as the park boasts some of the darkest skies in the USA.
Top Capitol Reef attractions
Take one of these two stunning scenic drives: Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, Scenic Highway 24.
Explore the park's unique geological features, including the Waterpocket Fold.
Go on a guided ranger tour to learn more about the park's history and geology.
Hike one of the many trails in the park, such as the Cassidy Arch, Hickman Bridge, Chimney Rock, Cathedral, Sunset Point, Capitol Gorge, Grand Wash, Fremont River, and Cohab Canyon.
Visit the historic Fruita historic district, showing original fruit orchards, a blacksmith shop, and homes that display life in early Mormon settlements.
Enjoy a star-filled night sky in one of the park's designated stargazing areas.
Go on a horseback ride through the park for a unique perspective.
Visit the park's visitor center to learn about the park's history, geology, and unique features through interactive displays and exhibits.
4. Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is a vast and rugged landscape, known for its stunning canyons, mesas, and unique rock formations formed by erosion over millions of years.
The park is divided into four districts: Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the rivers themselves. Visitors can explore the park by hiking its trails, taking a scenic drive up to the top of the Island in the Sky mesa, or joining in one of the park's many ranger-led tours.
Canyonlands is also a hotspot of adventure sports, offering visitors rock climbing, mountain biking, and river rafting in the Colorado and Green Rivers.
Top Canyonlands attractions
Visit Island in the Sky, the most accessible district in the park, and explore its stunning viewpoints along the mesa rim.
Hike the spectacular Needles district, which boasts over 60 miles of trails that lead you through towering rock pinnacles, hoodoos, and canyons.
Experience the park's incredible backcountry by joining a multi-day guided tour such as backpacking, canyoneering, or river rafting.
Take a scenic drive on the White Rim Road or Shafer Trail for amazing views across the entire park.
Explore the Maze district, a remote and rugged backcountry region that is accessible only by 4WD vehicles (not Blacksford RVs!).
Attend one of the park's ranger-led programs to learn about the park's history, geology, and unique features.
Visit Grand View Point Overlook in Island in the Sky, which offers one of the best views in the park.
Go mountain biking on one of the park's many trails, such as the Lathrop Canyon Trail or the White Rim Trail.
Stargaze in the park, where the dark skies offer incredible views of the Milky Way.
Go rock climbing in the park's many climbing areas, known for their challenging sport routes and scenic views.
5. Arches National Park
Arches National Park is renowned for its 2,000+ natural sandstone arches, including the iconic Delicate Arch, as well as natural bridges, spires, and other geological wonders. The fiery red and orange rocks create a striking contrast against blue skies and make the park a photographer's paradise.
The park is small but busy – 1.5 million adventurers a year enjoy its 76,000 acres. Visitors can hike some of the 18 trails in the park, including the incredibly scenic Devils Garden Trail or the Fiery Furnace trail which features narrow canyons that make for an unforgettable hike.
Visitors should not forget to also experience the night sky in Arches where it is possible to see stars, planets and even the Milky Way galaxy..
Top Arches attractions
Hike to the iconic Delicate Arch, the park's most famous feature.
Go on a scenic drive through the park, with stops at viewpoints such as Park Avenue and the Windows Section.
Walk the easy and accessible trails like Balanced Rock, Landscape Arch or Double Arch.
Take a ranger-led Fiery Furnace Tour, which offers a close-up view of the park's narrow canyons and spires.
Go stargazing in the park's dark skies, where millions of stars are clearly visible.
Visit nearby park attractions, such as Dead Horse Point State Park or the town of Moab.
Hike the Devil’s Garden Trail to see a wonderful variety of arches including Landscape Arch and Tunnel Arch.
Explore the lesser-known areas of the park such as Klondike Bluffs or Tower Arch.
Go rock climbing on some of the park's challenging routes.
Photograph the stunning red and orange rocks at different times of day for unique lighting and shadow effects.
Visit Utah’s Mighty 5 in a Blacksford RV
Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks offer an unforgettable adventure to those who want to explore the beauty of the American West. With all five parks located in the same region, the journey can be long, but Blacksford Las Vegas offers a convenient and comfortable way to travel by renting an RV or campervan.
Blacksford's white glove service provides everything you need for your trip, from fresh linens and kitchen supplies to camp chairs, a coffee pot and more. Start your adventure by flying into Las Vegas, picking up your rental from Blacksford, and experiencing the beauty of Utah's national parks in style.
