Day trip, about 2.5 hours
A Bryce Canyon Day Trip from St. George
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Bryce Canyon looks like nowhere else on Earth, a bowl full of orange stone spires called hoodoos, and it is a doable day trip from Sunshine Suites at about two and a half hours each way. It is higher and cooler than St. George, which makes it a great escape on a hot summer day. Here is the drive, the 2026 entrance fee, what to see, and how to pair it with Zion. It is the one big day trip we tell guests to commit to fully or skip, not try to squeeze in.
Bryce at a glance
- Drive: about 160 miles, 2.5 hours from the house
- Entrance: $35 per vehicle, valid 7 days (2026)
- Known for: hoodoos, the most on Earth
- Elevation: 8,000 to 9,000 feet, cooler air
- Source: National Park Service, nps.gov
How far is Bryce Canyon from St. George?
About 160 miles and two and a half hours each way, which makes Bryce the longest of the easy day trips from the house. The drive is mostly Interstate 15 north, then east on the highways that climb up onto a high forested plateau, and it stays scenic the whole way as the red rock desert gives way to pine country. Bryce sits at roughly 8,000 to 9,000 feet, so it is noticeably cooler than St. George and the air feels different the moment you step out of the car. The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle and covers seven days. Because it is a full day, the rhythm our guests use is to leave by about 8 a.m., spend the middle of the day up on the rim, and drive back in the evening. Plenty of families do it comfortably in one day, and the scenery on the way is genuinely part of the trip.
What is there to see at Bryce, and what does it cost?
$35 per vehicle gets you in for 7 days, and the hoodoos are the whole show. The easiest way to see them is from the rim viewpoints, with Sunset Point and the paved rim trail being the simplest stop for any age. Here are the quick facts, including the 2026 entrance fee from the National Park Service.
| Bryce Canyon | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drive from the house | About 160 miles, 2.5 hours |
| Entrance fee (2026) | $35 per private vehicle, valid 7 days |
| Known for | Hoodoos, the largest concentration anywhere |
| Elevation | About 8,000 to 9,000 feet, cooler than St. George |
| Easiest view | Sunset Point and the paved rim trail |
Can you do Bryce and Zion in one trip?
Easily, and a lot of guests do exactly that from the house, hitting Zion one day and Bryce another. They are very different: Zion is a deep red canyon you walk into, while Bryce is a high rim you look down from. For the closer of the two, see our Zion day trip guide.
What should you know before you go?
Two things. First, Bryce sits high, around 8,000 to 9,000 feet, so it is noticeably cooler than St. George and can be chilly even in summer mornings, bring a layer. Second, it is a long day, so we tell guests to leave by 8 a.m., bring water and snacks, and have a card for the entrance gate. We point everyone to the official plan-your-visit page before they head up in shoulder season, when snow can linger. The rest of the area is on things to do near Sunshine Suites.
Source: National Park Service (nps.gov). Updated Jun
By Marchele Oldham, Owner & Host · Updated June 2026
I host Sunshine Suites, our 7-bedroom home for big families and groups at Paradise Village at Zion in Santa Clara, Utah. After years of welcoming reunions, teams, and multi-generational trips, I write these pages from what our guests actually ask and experience. Questions about your dates? Call or text +1 801-400-9274.