National parks near Cedar City, Utah
Zion National Park is the closest national park to Cedar City, Utah — 26.1 mi (42 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 57 min behind the wheel.
Zion and Bryce Canyon make a full day trip — leave early. Capitol Reef, Great Basin, Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches, and Death Valley are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Cedar City gates the entrance itself, but 8 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Cedar City has a population of about 30,184.
National parks near Cedar City
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zion National Park | 26.1 mi (42 km) | 57 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | 48.8 mi (78.6 km) | 1 hr 36 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Capitol Reef National Park | 109 mi (176 km) | 3 hr 2 min | Best as a weekend |
| Great Basin National Park | 112 mi (181 km) | 3 hr 6 min | Best as a weekend |
| Grand Canyon National Park | 123 mi (199 km) | 3 hr 22 min | Best as a weekend |
| Canyonlands National Park | 174 mi (281 km) | 4 hr 35 min | Best as a weekend |
| Arches National Park | 202 mi (325 km) | 5 hr 14 min | Best as a weekend |
| Death Valley National Park | 230 mi (370 km) | 5 hr 54 min | Best as a weekend |
| Mesa Verde National Park | 253 mi (407 km) | 6 hr 27 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Petrified Forest National Park | 264 mi (424 km) | 6 hr 41 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Cedar City
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon | Tuweep Area Day Use Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Zion | Angels Landing: Fall (Hikes on September 1 – November 30) | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Bryce Canyon | Bryce Canyon National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Capitol Reef | Backcountry camping permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Canyonlands | Canyonlands National Park Day Use Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Arches | Arches National Park Canyoneering Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Death Valley | Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Petrified Forest | Wilderness backpacking permit | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Cedar City
Within reach of Cedar City, 21 campgrounds across 9 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 5 at Great Basin, 3 at Zion, 3 at Grand Canyon, and 2 at Bryce Canyon, plus 5 more parks with fewer sites.
Morefield at Mesa Verde does not take reservations, so it never shows up as bookable inventory — in busy season that means arriving before mid-morning rather than planning around a confirmation.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Zion National Park is generally best March through May, then October through November, with February and early December as the quieter shoulder either side.
Summer highs regularly clear 100 °F / 38 °C. Winter is pleasant by day but nights drop below freezing at elevation.
Summer heat is the real hazard, not the crowds. Hike at dawn, skip exposed trails after mid-morning, and never rely on finding water.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Cedar City are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Zion → Bryce Canyon | 51.2 mi (82.5 km) | 1 hr 40 min |
| Bryce Canyon → Capitol Reef | 70.2 mi (113 km) | 2 hr 7 min |
| Zion → Grand Canyon | 100 mi (161 km) | 2 hr 49 min |
| Bryce Canyon → Grand Canyon | 105 mi (169 km) | 2 hr 56 min |
Planning a trip from Cedar City
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Iron County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Cedar City?
Zion National Park. It is about 26.1 mi (42 km) from Cedar City, roughly 57 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Cedar City?
Yes — Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park are within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Cedar City?
10 parks are within reach of Cedar City, 2 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Cedar City?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 8 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Angels Landing: Fall (Hikes on September 1 – November 30) at Zion, Bryce Canyon National Park Backcountry Permits, and Backcountry camping permit at Capitol Reef. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Cedar City?
Recreation.gov lists 21 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Cedar City. They are spread across 9 of those parks. One of them is first-come, first-served, so it never appears as bookable inventory.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Cedar City?
For Zion National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then October through November. Either side of that, February and early December stays quieter.