Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef on Highway 12
The drive from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef takes about three hours on SR-12. Here is how to plan the leg, what to see at each end, and where it fits in a Utah parks loop.
- Route
- Drives Between Parks
- Mapped
The drive between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef takes about three hours on SR-12. This guide covers the route, what to see at each end, and how to plan the leg without surprises.
Utah Highway 12
Utah Highway 12 connects US-89 near Panguitch to Torrey, and along the way it crosses Dixie National Forest and goes by Bryce Canyon National Park.
The whole highway is 123 miles.
Starting at Bryce Canyon
Visit Utah lists Bryce as the town for Bryce Canyon National Park. The park sits high. The visitor center sits at an elevation of 7,894 feet, and it sits 1 mile inside the park boundary.
Bryce Canyon has one main 18-mile road that runs north-south through the park. The Bryce Amphitheater is along the first 3 miles of that road. The four most popular overlooks are Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point.
The full length of the main road is known as the Southern Scenic Drive and leads to Rainbow Point. If you have the time, drive it to the end before you leave.
Visit Utah describes Bryce Canyon National Park as an alpine forest with as many red rock hoodoos as trees.
Getting to Highway 12
Bryce Canyon is reached from the north by I-15, UT-20, US-89, UT-12 and UT-63. From the south, it is reached on UT-9 east through Zion National Park to US-89. One route leaves I-15 at exit 59 and follows UT-14 east to US-89.
If you flew in, the closest major airports are in Las Vegas, Nevada and Salt Lake City, Utah, each about 270 miles from the park. Smaller airports are in Cedar City, Utah, 80 miles away, and St. George, Utah, 125 miles away. Public transportation to Bryce Canyon National Park is not available.
The drive between the two parks is on SR-12.
The drive on Highway 12
Utah Highway 12 is a 123 mile highway that connects US-89 near Panguitch to Torrey. It crosses Dixie National Forest and goes by Bryce Canyon National Park.
Take the drive slow. Three hours is the drive time between the parks, not a deadline.
One side trip to consider: Cedar Breaks National Monument. Its directions list 60 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, and the route there uses Utah Highway 12, U.S. Highway 89 and Utah Highway 143.
Arriving at Capitol Reef
Visit Utah lists Torrey as the town for Capitol Reef National Park. Utah Highway 12 connects US-89 near Panguitch to Torrey.
The Capitol Reef visitor center is in the center of the park, off Utah Highway 24. Travelers on Interstate 70 also reach Capitol Reef by taking Utah Route 24.
Your first stop should be the visitor center.
Planning the leg
A few things will make this drive go smoothly.
Check the park's own website for both parks before you go. Road conditions in high country can change, and the park pages carry the current news.
Give the drive more than the bare three hours.
Fitting it into a bigger trip
This leg can follow the Zion to Bryce Canyon drive on a Utah national parks road trip.
If you are building a full loop, see our Grand Circle road trip itinerary. For a park that asks for different planning, with two rims and no road between them, read about Black Canyon of the Gunnison. And if your loop stretches west into Nevada, Great Basin makes an unusual add on.