Forum Discussion

Flapper's avatar
Flapper
Explorer
Sep 10, 2016

To Zion and Bryce routing

Heading out for a month to Utah, itinerary/reservations all set. Trying to finalize two legs of the route:
Page, AZ to Zion
and Zion to Bryce.

Yes, I know about the Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy 9 and its tunnel. Previewing on YouTube, it seems manageable with my fifth wheel.

Mapping software suggests from Page to Zion, to dive south through the Kaibab reservation, then back up to Hurricane, to bypass Hwy 9.

Ditto for Zion to Bryce - loop over the top, using I15.

Any comments on the "scenic" quotient of the alternate routes? If I'm comfortable with Hwy 9, is one alternate preferable over the other, even if not as dramatic? Just don't want a "pretty boring, but it gets you there" day of driving. But if one of the alternates is kinda cool, then I don't have to drive Hwy 9 twice.

Or should we just plan on the alt's while towing, and drive Hwy 9 separately when off tow, taking more time to enjoy the pull-outs (but at the expense of doing other things in the Zion area)?
Roads and Routes
  • Gonzo42's avatar
    Gonzo42
    Explorer
    Sep 10, 2016
    There are limits to what you can take through the tunnel:

    Zion Tunnel restrictions

    If you can't or won't use the tunnel, I recommend you use hwy 20 which is an easy drive, not too high in altitude. We were just there a couple months ago.

    Some of the other roads are high elevation with narrow roads plus no guard rails (I was told).
  • azjeffh's avatar
    azjeffh
    Explorer
    Sep 10, 2016
    Had no issues pulling our previous 29' fiver thru Zion and the tunnel. While you'll see many switchbacks, they were nothing to be concerned about. Just keep your eyes on the road and ignore the beautiful scenery :)

    IIRC, the entry pass we purchased was good for 7 days and we stayed 9. Not wanting too purchase another pass just to get through the tunnel, we took the route thru Hurricane for our return home. It was an easy pull with great views as well.
  • PawPaw_n_Gram's avatar
    PawPaw_n_Gram
    Explorer
    Sep 10, 2016
    I would recommend that you get out a tape measure and verify your total vehicle length is less than the maximum 50 feet. Your rig should be a foot under the maximum height - but verifying that wouldn't hurt.

    We will have to route away from the tunnel when we make the Bryce Canyon to Zion trip next month. My total length is close to 62 feet.
  • boogie_4wheel's avatar
    boogie_4wheel
    Explorer
    Sep 10, 2016
    Unless it is the 'off-season', don't pull through Zion, small vehicle traffic is terrible, the road is tight, you won't be able to find parking easily, and you will be a bottleneck. Take 89 and stay in Mt Caramel or Glendale. Then drive just the truck through the park to the west side and do your running around. Then you can just continue north on 89 to Bryce.

    389/59 to Hurricane is a safe and easy road. The 20 from I-15 to Panguitch is a strap pull with the sharp turns on the east side as you head downhill. It's not bad, take a 30' horse trailer that route often.
  • azdryheat's avatar
    azdryheat
    Explorer
    Sep 10, 2016
    I just went through Zion and Bryce but on my Harley. Yeah, you could take your RV through there but why? I'd unhook and drive the truck.
  • 2gypsies1's avatar
    2gypsies1
    Explorer III
    Sep 11, 2016
    If you want an alternative to Hwy 9 from Hwy 89 at Mount Carmel, from Page get to Fredonia, AZ (or if you're coming from Flagstaff you could also take Hwy 89A to Fredonia rather than going to Page); from Fredonia take AZ 389 which becomes UT59 into Hurricane, Utah and then east on Hwy 9 to Zion. This is a scenic, very pleasant drive with a RV.

    From Zion to Bryce - either Hwy 9 east to 89 and north to Hwy 12 then east to Bryce.... OR.... Zion on Hwy 9 and take Hwy 9 west to I-15 then north to Circleville, UT. Pick up Hwy 20 east to 89 and then south just beyond Panguitch, UT and east on Hwy 12 to Bryce. Off I-15, Hwy 14 is very steep and curvy. Hwy 20 is the best way across from I-15.
  • Hank85713's avatar
    Hank85713
    Explorer
    Sep 11, 2016
    we stayed at a nice little rv park in Hatch ut when there last year. It also has a motel and thats is where all the UTAH HP stayed when they were used to monitor the vehicles going into bryce. Hatch is in between both zion and bryce and not that far from cedar city and Cedar Breaks Nat Monument. Up in Panguich there is a KOA and actually more because in Hatch there is NOTHING for shopping. Forget the name of the place but it was on south side of the town. I would stay away from the one down by the river on the north side. Just had no real appeal to make ya want to stay there. My oldest kids came in from colo springs and liked the ability to be in between and they are the ones that rode bikes and hiked all over on day trips. Hatch is on hwy 89.
  • lbrjet's avatar
    lbrjet
    Explorer
    Sep 11, 2016
    As Gypsy said take any other route but Hwy 14 from Zion to Bryce. Down through Fredonia is pretty and easy.
  • Flapper's avatar
    Flapper
    Explorer
    Sep 11, 2016
    Current routing for first leg is:
    Page, AZ to Kanab, UT, then to Fredonia, AZ, through Colorado City to Hurricane, UT and the to Zion River Campground in Virgin for 4 nights.

    Second leg:
    From Virgin, up I-15, exit on Ut-20, then down 89 to Cannonville/Bryce Valley KOA for 3 nights.

    Not my first/second/third choices for camping locations, but you take what you can get when you dawdle too much before looking for open spots to reserve.

    Sounds like I should not plan on towing through Zion, and just enjoy it as a drive when off hitch!

    Thanks all for the advice!

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