Utah's Mighty 5 by motorcycle
Five national parks, one loop, about a week. This itinerary strings our three ride guides together and starts and ends in Salt Lake City, where most riders fly in. Every day is paved.
The loop at a glance
- Parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion
- Days: 5 riding days, 6 with a rest day in Moab or Springdale
- Distance: about 1,000 miles in total (estimate; check your map app)
- Best for: touring and cruiser bikes; adventure bikes if you want gravel side trips
Day by day
Day 1: Salt Lake City to Moab. About 235 miles (estimate). Over Soldier Summit and down through Green River. Full guide: SLC to Moab.
Day 2: Arches and Canyonlands. Stay in Moab. Ride into Arches in the morning (no timed entry needed in 2026, pass required: TownLift), then out to Canyonlands' Island in the Sky in the afternoon. Short miles, lots of stops.
Day 3: Moab to Torrey via Capitol Reef. I-70 and UT-24 through Hanksville and along the Fremont River through Capitol Reef. Overnight in Torrey. First half of Moab to Bryce.
Day 4: Torrey to Bryce Canyon on Scenic Byway 12. Over Boulder Mountain (Homestead Overlook, 9,400 ft), across the Hogback, through Escalante to Bryce (Visit Utah). Second half of Moab to Bryce.
Day 5: Bryce Canyon to Zion. Red Canyon, US-89 south, then UT-9 west through the Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel and down the switchbacks into Springdale. Zion to Bryce, ridden in reverse.
Day 6: back to Salt Lake City (or ride on to Las Vegas). The fast way north is I-15, about 4.5 hours (estimate). For a slower, prettier ride, take US-89 north through Panguitch.
Park fees on a motorcycle
- Zion: $30 per motorcycle for 7 days (NPS). The other four parks charge their own fees.
- With five parks in a week, an annual America the Beautiful pass usually beats paying at each gate. Non-US residents: the 2026 nonresident annual pass is $250 vs. a $100 per-person surcharge at Zion, Bryce and other listed parks (TownLift).
When to go
Spring and fall are the sweet spot. Summer is hot in Moab and Zion, and the high country around Bryce and Boulder Mountain can see snow early and late in the season. Check road conditions before each day.
Before you go
Read Riding in Utah for helmet, eye-protection and lane-filtering rules.