Two Days in Bryce Canyon: Steal My Itinerary!

Imagine spending two magical days exploring Bryce Canyon National Park, hiking amongst giant orange hoodoos, strolling between the oldest trees in the world, and enjoying pizza while watching sunsets from the rim of the amphitheater.

Make this happen by using my adventurous two-day Bryce Canyon itinerary!

On my road trip to all five Utah National Parks, Bryce Canyon was the one that surprised (and impressed!) me the most. And I cannot wait to share my itinerary with you!

With my 2-day Bryce Canyon itinerary, you’ll get to stroll through a grove of the oldest trees in the world, hike amongst a maze of bright orange pillars, venture to the highest point in the entire park, and of course, enjoy pizza with some pretty epic views.

Let’s go exploring!

Table of Contents

Two Days in Bryce Canyon: Steal My Itinerary!

hiking the figure 8 combination in bryce canyon national park

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Getting to Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is tucked between Zion National Park and Grand Staircase National Monument in southwestern Utah.

If you’re not local to Utah or don’t live within driving distance, the easiest way to get to Bryce Canyon is by flying into Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.

From the airport, rent a car and drive less than four hours to the park entrance.

Pssst: This is a great second stop on a Utah Mighty Five National Parks road trip!

Where to Stay When Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park

If possible, plan on staying three nights so you can spend two full days exploring Bryce Canyon National Park.

I recommend camping inside the park or staying in Bryce Canyon City. Here are the best places to stay:

North Campground – in-park year-round campsites that can be reserved 6 months in advance, just steps from the Rim Trail and Fairyland Loop
Sunset Campground – in-park seasonal campsites that can be reserved up to 2 weeks in advance, located across the road from the Rim Trail and Sunset Point
Bryce Canyon Lodge – in-park lodge just steps from the amphitheater between Sunrise and Sunset Points
Best Western + Ruby’s Inn – no-frills hotel just a short shuttle ride from the park entrance

When to Visit Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon is beautiful (and open) year-round, but I recommend visiting in the spring or fall to avoid the crowds, extreme cold temperatures, and snow.

We visited in late September, and conditions were absolutely perfect!

2 Day Bryce Canyon Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Scenic Drive + Rainbow Point + Fairyland Loop

Day 2: Figure 8 Loop + Rim Trail + (Optional) Horseback Riding

Day 1: Scenic Drive + Rainbow Point + Fairyland Loop

natural bridge in bryce canyon national park

tower bridge in bryce canyon national park

First up on the itinerary? A scenic drive through Bryce Canyon!

You are allowed to drive your vehicle everywhere in the park, but to prevent traffic and congestion, shuttle buses pick up and drop off visitors throughout Bryce Canyon City and around the amphitheater.

However, if you want to continue further than the amphitheater to Rainbow Point, you will need to hop in your personal vehicle. No shuttle buses venture to Rainbow Point anymore.

So first I’d recommend hopping on the shuttle bus to get a free ride around the amphitheater. Jump on and off at different viewpoints, or just sit back and relax and let the driver take you on the entire loop and give you the grand tour.

Below is a map of the shuttle bus route. Click here to get the current shuttle schedule.

Next, hop in your personal vehicle and make the drive to Rainbow Point!

The 18-mile scenic drive from the park entrance to Rainbow Point, the highest elevation viewpoint in the park, is incredibly picturesque.

Along the route, there are endless viewpoints to stop at. My favorites past the amphitheater are Natural Bridge and Agua Canyon!

beautiful overlook at bryce canyon national park rim

At the end of the road is a surprise: you can wander through a grove of the oldest trees in the world by hiking the short nature walk through the Bristlecone Pines. How unique is that?!

Next, it’s time to think about lunch. You can either enjoy a casual meal at the Bryce Canyon Lodge, or grab some quick bites at the in-park General Store to take with you on the trail! (The latter is my personal choice)

Okay, get ready to step away from the crowds and dive into a quiet, hoodoo-filled oasis by hiking the 8-mile Fairyland Loop!

Starting behind the North Campground off the Rim Trail, the Fairyland Loop dips into the amphitheater, winds around a sea of hoodoos, skirts past a towering natural bridge, and passes by some unique pillar formations like the Sinking Ship, Chinese Wall, and Boat Mesa.

It’s a quieter, equally spectacular version of the Figure 8 Loop (on tomorrow’s agenda!), just without as many crowds!

Finally, I can’t think of a better way to cap off your first day in Bryce Canyon than grabbing a pizza and watching a gorgeous sunset on the rim.

Conveniently, order a delicious pizza from the in-park pizzeria, next to the Bryce Canyon Lodge.

Then take it to the rim to watch the sun sink behind the hoodoos and the colors paint the sky. Though Sunset Point is the most popular viewpoint to watch the sunset along the rim (due to its name), there honestly isn’t a bad spot along the amphitheater!

Day Two: Figure 8 Loop + Rim Trail + (Optional) Horseback Riding

Welcome to Day 2 in Bryce Canyon! First up, a sunrise hike on the Figure 8 Loop!

The Figure 8 Loop is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park. This loop combines the three most popular hikes in the park: Navajo Loop, Queen’s Garden, and Peek-a-boo Loop.

Along this trail, you’ll descend iconic switchbacks, wander amongst the clusters of hoodoos, and stroll along the rim floor with towering pillars rising above you.

This hike starts from Sunrise or Sunset Point (your choice), dips down into the amphitheater at a steep grade, traverses down some scenic switchbacks, and winds around the hoodoos and incredible formations.

Leave the rim and the noise in your rearview as you wander amongst the tall hoodoos.

Expect a bit more crowds on this trail than the Fairyland Loop. However, if you go at sunrise, you likely won’t see many people on the trail. We didn’t!

Next, slip a picnic lunch inside your backpack (grab some snacks and lunch food from the general store, if you’d like) and hike a section of the Rim Trail!

From Fairyland Point to Bryce Point, the Rim Trail skirts the rim of the Bryce Canyon amphitheater. Each section boasts a new and unique vantage point of the sea of orange pillars.

If you choose to do the entire 5.5-mile (one-way) hiking trail, you’ll pass by points of interest like Sunrise Point and Sunset Point!

And if you get tired, you can hop on the shuttle at one of the many points along the Rim Trail! Just make sure you check current shuttle hours before relying on this transportation.

If you have any extra pockets of time before dinner and sunset, I’d recommend taking a horseback riding tour! You’ll gain a new perspective of Bryce Canyon in a more leisurely, relaxing way.

The NPS designed 4.5 miles of horse trails that you can utilize on either a two- or three-hour tour with experienced wranglers.

I didn’t do this during my visit to Bryce Canyon, but I definitely will during my next one!

Lastly, I have two options for you to end your final night in Bryce Canyon, and both involve dinner and a show.

Dinner and a show from Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill. Enjoy Western entertainment, music, and a buffet!
Takeout from Ruby’s Inn and take it to the rim. I know you just did this last night, but we did this both nights and didn’t regret it! Enjoy a natural show by watching the sunset along the amphitheater rim.