Zion & Bryce
with Kids
Hoodoos, red rock canyons & Angel’s Landing — Utah’s most dramatic national parks
Is Zion & Bryce Worth Visiting With Kids?
Short answer: yes — and it might surprise you how much. Two of Utah’s most jaw-dropping national parks sit close enough to pair into a single trip, and they could not feel more different. Bryce Canyon’s otherworldly hoodoos look like a landscape from another planet, while Zion’s towering red sandstone cliffs and the legendary Angel’s Landing hike are unlike anything else in the country.
With kids, the pacing is forgiving: most of the standout hikes are short, shaded, or stroller-adjacent, and the drive between parks runs through red rock country that’s a sightseeing day in itself. Flying into Las Vegas turns the logistics into a bonus — you get the parks on the way out and a night on the Strip on the way back. In hindsight, we could have easily used two more days — plan for six if you can swing it.
Angel’s Landing now requires a permit. Zion runs a seasonal lottery for the chain section of the hike — if it’s on your list, enter well before you travel. Everything else in both parks is first-come, no permit needed.
Bryce Canyon Hoodoos
The Navajo Loop + Queen’s Garden combo drops you straight into Bryce’s amphitheater of orange spires — surreal, and very doable with kids
Angel’s Landing
Dad’s solo sunrise mission up one of the most iconic — and most exposed — hikes in the US. Permit required, book months ahead
Emerald Pools
Three tiers of spring-fed pools tucked into Zion’s cliffs — the best family hike in the park, accessible and beautiful
Las Vegas Strip
The perfect bookend — the Bellagio Fountains are free and genuinely magical for kids, and the Rainforest Cafe volcano was a hit
Our 4-Day Zion & Bryce Itinerary With Kids
📍 Las Vegas → Bryce → Zion
In hindsight: We could have easily used 2 more days. If your schedule allows, plan 6 days total — you’ll have time for the trails we missed and won’t feel rushed.
Fly into Las Vegas (LAS), check into a hotel on or near the Strip, and unwind. Easy first day — save your energy for the hiking ahead.
Drive from Vegas to Bryce (~2.5 hrs), arriving around 11 AM. Straight to the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail combo — the trip highlight. The hoodoos are absolutely surreal and the combined trail is very doable with kids.
Scenic drive from Bryce to Zion (~1.5 hrs) — the drive itself through Utah’s red rock country is stunning. Afternoon: Riverside Walk, the starting section of the famous Narrows hike. Easy, flat, and beautiful for all ages.
Dad woke up early for Angel’s Landing — one of the most iconic hikes in the US. Note: permits are now required, book well in advance. Later, the whole family hiked Emerald Pools Trail — beautiful, accessible, and kid-friendly with multiple pool tiers.
Drive back to Vegas (~2.5 hrs). Spend the evening on the Las Vegas Strip — Bellagio Fountains are free and amazing for kids, and the Rainforest Cafe volcano show was a hit with our little ones.
Morning flight home from Las Vegas. Already planning the return trip to hit the trails we missed!
Where to Stay in Zion & Bryce With Kids
Book early. The hotels closest to each park entrance are limited and fill up months ahead — and prices spike hard as your dates get closer.
Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn – Bryce
The most convenient option for Bryce Canyon — right at the park entrance. Comfortable, well-located, and a solid base for early morning hikes before crowds arrive.
✓ Best Bryce LocationHampton Inn & Suites Springdale – Zion
Excellent location in Springdale, right at the entrance to Zion National Park. Great amenities and easy access to the park shuttle — highly recommended.
✓ Best Zion LocationLas Vegas Strip Hotel
For arrival and departure nights. Plenty of points options here — Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Hyatt all have strong properties on or near the Strip.
✓ Use Points Here💸 We Paid Cash — Here’s the Points Play Today
Full honesty: we weren’t in the points-and-miles game yet when we booked this trip, so all three hotels went on the credit card the old-fashioned way. If we did it again today, two of the three stays could easily go on points — here’s where they work, and where cash still wins.
Slim pickings for major-chain points hotels right at the gate — Ruby’s Inn runs on Best Western Rewards. Cash is the realistic play here.
💵 Cash-friendlyThe Hampton Inn we stayed at is a Hilton property — bookable straight up on Hilton Honors points.
✓ Hilton pointsPoints paradise. Marriott, Hilton and IHG all have strong Strip properties for your arrival and departure nights.
✓ Marriott / Hilton / IHG🏆 New to points? A trip like this is a great first one to plan around hotel rewards. See the cards we travel on in our What’s in Our Wallet →
Best Hikes in Zion & Bryce With Kids
📍 Bryce Canyon
Navajo Loop + Queen’s Garden Trail
Trip highlight. This combo gives you the best of both worlds — Wall Street’s towering hoodoos and the amphitheater views from Queen’s Garden. Very doable with kids.
✓ Our Top PickTrails We Missed (Next Time!)
Figure 8 Trail, Fairyland Loop, Bristlecone Loop — all on our list for the return trip. AllTrails has great kid-friendly filters for Bryce.
📋 Next Trip List📍 Zion National Park
Emerald Pools Trail
Best family hike in Zion. Three tiers of pools — lower, middle, and upper. Beautiful, accessible, and the kids loved every section. Highly recommend.
✓ Best Family HikeRiverside Walk
Flat, paved, and stunning. The official start of the Narrows hike — perfect for little legs and strollers. Great intro to Zion’s canyon scenery.
✓ Stroller FriendlyAngel’s Landing
Dad’s solo early morning adventure. One of the most iconic hikes in the US — chains near the top, serious exposure. Permit required, book months in advance.
⚠️ Permit RequiredTrails We Missed (Next Time!)
Pa’rus Trail (paved, bikeable), Watchman Trail, Canyon Overlook Trail — all kid-friendly and on our list for the return trip.
📋 Next Trip List🎒 Favorite Gear
Deuter Kid Comfort Active Child Carrier
Our son had the best views on the trail and it was super comfy for Dad. If you’re hiking with a toddler, this carrier is a game-changer. Highly recommended for any national park trip.
✓ Highly Recommended