National parks in Utah

Utah has 5 national parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion.

Arches National ParkUT
Red sandstone fins and natural arches in the Utah desert. Easy to see a lot from short walks near the road.
Bryce Canyon National ParkUT
Pink and orange hoodoos in a high Utah amphitheater. Short rim walks give you most of the classic views.
Canyonlands National ParkUT
Wide canyon country where the Green and Colorado rivers meet. Big overlooks, rough roads, and sparse water.
Capitol Reef National ParkUT
A long wrinkle of colorful rock (the Waterpocket Fold) in Utah. Orchards, cliffs, and quieter than the famous Utah parks.
Zion National ParkUT
A red-rock canyon in southern Utah with a river and steep walls. The main canyon shuttle is the usual way in when it’s running.

Other parks within reach of Utah

Parks ranked by distance from the centre of Utah
Park	Straight-line distance	Estimated drive	Realistic trip
Capitol Reef National Park	161 mi (259 km)	4 hr 16 min	Best as a weekend
Great Basin National Park	161 mi (259 km)	4 hr 16 min	Best as a weekend
Arches National Park	176 mi (284 km)	4 hr 37 min	Best as a weekend
Canyonlands National Park	189 mi (305 km)	4 hr 56 min	Best as a weekend
Bryce Canyon National Park	200 mi (321 km)	5 hr 11 min	Best as a weekend
Zion National Park	226 mi (363 km)	5 hr 48 min	Best as a weekend
Grand Teton National Park	239 mi (385 km)	6 hr 7 min	Worth a longer road trip
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park	260 mi (419 km)	6 hr 37 min	Worth a longer road trip
Mesa Verde National Park	293 mi (471 km)	7 hr 23 min	Worth a longer road trip
Yellowstone National Park	296 mi (476 km)	7 hr 27 min	Worth a longer road trip

5: Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Zion National Park.

Capitol Reef National Park, roughly 161 mi (259 km) out and about 4 hr 16 min of driving from the centre of Utah.