Towering monoliths, sandy washes, and golden sandstone cover the landscape of this stunning Southeastern Utah destination. You’ll have the chance to visit all of the highlights on a Capitol Reef one day itinerary.
I’ve been to Capitol Reef twice and each time it amazes me how little people talk about this park. Gorgeous sandstone rocks rise up on either side valley and create a dramatic scene. As you spend time exploring, your eyes 👀 will dance all around as stunning formations surround you.
I’ve created this blog with everything you need to plan a one day trip to Capitol Reef. It includes where to stay, what to do, and when to go. So, you’ll be ready to plan the ultimate trip to this incredible park!
CAPITOL REEF IN A NUTSHELL
Short on time? Read this quick overview for your trip to Capitol Reef with everything you need to know!
- Where to Stay: Stay in the Fruita Campground or hotels in Torrey, Utah like the Cougar Ridge Hotel
- Getting there: The closest airport is Grand Junction, but Salt Lake City is 3 hours away and offers a lot more flights
- How to Get Around: Drive a car or take a tour if you want to access places that are only 4WD accessible. Rentalcars.com has the cheapest rates for rental cars
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and Fall
- Things to Do: Eat pie at Gifford Homestead, go on a hike, and watch the sunset at Panorama Point
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Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip to Capitol Reef
How to Get to Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef is one of the most underrated parks in Utah, but that might be because it’s hard to get there. It’s located right outside of Torrey in the Southeastern part of the state.
The closest airport is in Grand Junction, Colorado, which is about 2.5 hours away. But, the Salt Lake City Airport is 3 hours away and has a lot more flights. ✈️
Luckily, it’s an easy park to add to if you’re going on a Utah National Park road trip, because it’s just 2 hours from both Bryce Canyon and Moab, Utah. My favorite way to get there is to drive Scenic Byway 12. It’s one of the most stunning drives in the country!
Things To Know Before You Go
💵 Capitol Reef National Park has a $20 fee per vehicle that lasts a week. You can also use an interagency pass to get in like your America the Beautiful Pass.
🥾 Trails are subject to closure in Glacier due to snow or bear activity. You can check updated trail conditions here.
☀️ Weather changes quickly and there can be flash floods with less than half an inch of rain. So, be careful and when it’s sunny bring plenty of water!
⛺️ Fruita Campground is the only developed campground in the park. There are 71 spots and you can make reservations in advance.
🦮 Pets are only allowed in a few specific areas of the park like parking lots and the Fremont River Trail. They must be on a 6 foot leash at all times.
⚠️ There are occasional closures in the park for weather or construction. You can always check the NPS website for updated closures.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it
Getting Around Capitol Reef
Although Capitol Reef is not as large as some other parks, you will still want a car to get around. Unlike other Utah parks, there is no shuttle to take you around the park.
While most of the park is accessible with 2WD vehicles, some remote areas like Cathedral Valley and Temples of the Sun are only accessible with a high clearance 4WD vehicle. If you want to visit these areas, you can rent a 4WD car or take a tour!
Rentalcars.com compares prices among all rental car companies to offer you the cheapest rates! 🚗
Best Time to Visit Capitol Reef
Although Capitol Reef is gorgeous year round, like most of the Utah parks, the best time to visit is the spring and fall. These times of year are less crowded, have wonderfully pleasant temperatures, and most things are open.
Summer is the most popular time to visit the park with lots of visitors!
Late summer is monsoon season, which means heavy thunderstorms. Although these showers often pass through in the afternoon. They can lead to flash flooding ⛔️, so if you’re visiting you should be careful and get to high ground during a storm.
While winter is a much quieter time to visit, it’s still beautiful! Just know that some trails can close when there are icy or snowy conditions.
Where to Stay Near Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef is right outside of the small town of Torrey, Utah. This town has a number of great places to stay including hotels, RV parks, free campsites, and established campgrounds.
However, if you want to stay in the park, then you can try and get reservations at Fruita Campground. This campground has 71 spots, with picnic tables and fire pits. There are restrooms and water hook ups, but no showers.
I’ve traveled to Capitol Reef by camervan on numerous occasions. I’ve stayed in both free campsites and RV parks. Both were incredibly scenic and peaceful. But, if you choose to free camp, just make sure to clean up after yourself!
Below, I’ve listed some of the very best hotels to stay near the park!
Best Hotels in Torrey:
One Day Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary
Hike to Hickman Bridge and/or Cassidy Arch
There are a number of great hikes throughout the park, but my two favorites are the Hickman Bridge and the Cassidy Arch trail. Each of these trails will take just a couple of hours, so you can decide to choose between them or do them both!
Hickman Bridge
Hickman Bridge is a wonderful trail to take in the park for people of all hiking abilities. You’ll take a beautiful scenic hike through this gorgeous landscape before getting to a wide arch at the end.
Along the way, you’ll see unique geographic features, which you can learn more about if you grab the interpretive brochure at the beginning of the trail! It will tell you about the landscape and the history.
This was one of my favorite areas of the park and I couldn’t stop staring all around me! The landscape is gorgeous along the way. At then end, you’ll be able to grab a photo under the arch. 📸
Hickman Bridge Hike Details
Distance: 1.7 miles
Elevation: 416 feet of gain
Type: Out and Back
Length: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Cassidy Arch
Cassidy Arch is named after the infamous Butch Cassidy who robbed banks throughout the Southwest. While this hike may not feature the man itself, this arch is still impressive.
You’ll walk through the wash before turning left to the trailhead for the arch. Once you get to the arch, you can stop and admire it from across the way or walk onto it if you dare! It’s a great family friendly hike that has great views along the way!
Once you get back to the turn off for the trail, you can decide to walk a bit of the Grand Wash Trail. This trail is 4.7 miles, but you can choose to just do part of it before turning around.
Cassidy Arch Hike Details:
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation: 685 feet of gain
Type: Out and Back
Length: 1.5-3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Get Pie at Gifford’s Homestead
Located within Capitol Reef is the beautiful Fruita Rural Historic District. Here, you’ll find remnants of history with abundant fruit orchards, the historical home, and the former kitchen turned into the Gifford House.
The Gifford House is open from Pi Day (3/14) to November ever year! 🥧
The Gifford House is somewhere that you don’t want to miss! They sell homemade pies, utensils, and other kitchen items they would have used back in the day. The pies are delicious and tend to draw a crowd, so you want to get there early. We tried a variety of flavors last and they were all delicious.
It is open from 9 am to 12 pm with a short 45 minute break, and then it reopens from 12:45-4:30 pm.
Drive the Scenic Drive
You must drive the scenic road on your one day itinerary in Capitol Reef. This road takes you through the park and meanders through the Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge. Overall, the paved drive is just under 8 miles and takes about an hour and a half to complete.
It almost appears as if an ocean of sandstone is rising up above you on either side and it’s utterly awe inspiring. So, head out on the open road and take all of this natural beauty in!
Watch the Sunset at Panorama or Sunset Point
After a long day of exploring through the park, it’s time to end the day by watching the sun go down. Panorama and Sunset Points are both along the scenic drive and are the best places to admire the sky change. As the sun reflects off the red stone, you can feel satisfied from a day well spent.
If you are up to it, consider staying in the park a little longer until it gets dark. Capitol Reef is a Dark Sky Park, which means it’s a remarkable place to star gaze! 💫
Final Tips for Crafting Your Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary
Now, you’re all set to visit Capitol Reef in just one day! But, before you go remember to download maps, make a plan, and get places early to escape any crowds. You’ll have a great trip if you follow these tips.
Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this guide
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