Bryce Canyon National Park guide · 1 min read
One Road, One Entrance: Shuttle and Parking
Bryce Canyon has a single 18-mile main road running north to south. Its one entrance and exit means every car and shuttle bus passes the same gate.
The Bryce Amphitheater, the park's busiest stretch, sits along the first three miles and holds most of the day hikes.
The Bryce Canyon Shuttle is free with park admission. It reaches the four most popular overlooks: Bryce, Inspiration, Sunset and Sunrise Points. Allow about 50 minutes for the ride itself, not counting stops. A bus comes to each stop roughly every 15 minutes, and the Bryce Canyon Shuttle Tracker shows arrival times. Every bus has wheelchair access, but pets cannot ride along.
The Shuttle Station in Bryce Canyon City, north of the park, is a practical spot to leave your car and board. The Additional Visitor Center lot, reached by a left turn just past the Visitor Center, works too, and both lots link to the Shared-Use Path. Guests at park campgrounds or the Bryce Canyon Historic Lodge can park at their site or unit and ride free. Oversized vehicles face restrictions at several amphitheater viewpoints.
Anyone heading to the far south can drive or book an approved commercial shuttle provider, because the bus stops short of that end. Beyond the amphitheater, the Southern Scenic Drive adds roughly 15 miles, ending at Rainbow and Yovimpa Points at the park's highest elevations. Several viewpoints stretch from Swamp Canyon down to Rainbow Point, and plan to pull over at them on the return trip north, when they sit on your right.
Heavy snowstorms are followed by plowing and sanding on the roads. Some roads may be shut briefly during and just after storms, reopening once plowing ends. Check current conditions before driving in winter.
