Visa

No visa is required for U.S. citizens or residents. Check the link for foreign travelers.

COVID

Fully open. The last remaining vaccine requirements for foreign travelers ended in May 2023.

Not as grand, but still a circle, with the most stunning parks of Utah and Arizona.

Small Circle

Embark on the ultimate road trip with all the parks and regions of the Grand Circle.

Full Grand Circle

Grand Circle

This is the best time to visit all the parks. March might be a bit unpredictable with snow still covering some trails, but April and May feature perfect weather with some green fields to contrast with the outworldly landscapes. And there are no summer crowds yet.

Spring

Summers feature warm sunny days, but it comes with hoards of people and brief but heavy rainstorms in some regions. Aim to hit the trails in Grand Canyon and Zion at 9 am latest if you plan to enjoy them.

Summer

Fall is another sweet spot for this trip with lesser crowds and cooler days for strenuous hikes. But some roads and hotels start closing with the first snowfall in November, so plan accordingly. Also, make sure all-season or winter tires are installed on your rental car.

Fall

Winter snow usually affects Grand Canyon and Bryce regions, but the rest of the parks are fully open. Some high-elevation trails can be closed or difficult to navigate. We only recommend this season to advanced travelers with winter gear.

Winter

The Grand Circle

America’s Road Trip

The Grand Circle – America’s Road Trip

Inspiration Point is a popular viewpoint in Bryce Canyon, offering panoramic views of Bryce Amphitheater, a natural amphitheater that is filled with thousands of hoodoos, spires, and other rock formations. The viewpoint is located at an elevation of 8,100 feet (2,470 m) and offers stunning vistas of the park's colorful rock formations.

The viewpoint is particularly famous for its stunning sunrise and sunset views. You can witness the hoodoos and other rock formations bathed in warm, golden light during sunrise, while the same formations glow in rich shades of orange and red during sunset. It is also a popular spot for stargazing at night, as Bryce Canyon is one of the few dark sky parks in the world.

Inspiration Point

Bryce Canyon’s amphitheaters filled with whimsical hoodoos glow in hues of orange and pink at sunrise and sunset, offering a surreal landscape to explore on foot or from panoramic viewpoints.