The majestic vistas of the American West can provide an unparalleled experience for a family vacation, as evidenced by our epic campervan adventure that took us through Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks and one state park. As we hiked up sloping switchbacks to reach the Watchman peak in Zion National Park, it was evident that this trip would be unlike any other.
Zion is the third-most visited national park in the country, yet our stay at the nearby campground allowed us to avoid the typical inconveniences of large crowds. We enjoyed sleeping in, walking over to the trailhead and starting our hike without having to worry about parking or waiting for shuttle buses. This made the experience even more enjoyable as we took in the beauty of the crimson slickrock paintbrush flowers and prickly pear cacti that lined the trail.
Our campervan, named “Hulk HoVan,” allowed us to visit each of Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks – Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands – as well as a stop at Goblin Valley State Park. We took full advantage of our oldest daughter’s “Every Kid Outdoors” pass, which granted her family free entrance to the national parks.
We flew to Las Vegas, picked up our campervan from Native Campervans and began our journey that would end in Salt Lake City. The outfitted Ram ProMaster van provided sleeping spots for four people, with one double bed and a pop-up rooftop tent. It was equipped with a pull-out Yeti cooler, camping stove, cooking gear, dishes, and a five-gallon water container.
One of the highlights of our trip came when we arrived in Zion after nearly a three-hour drive from Las Vegas. We booked a late-afternoon excursion with Zion Canyon Horseback Rides and enjoyed crossing the Virgin River on horses, following the trail through the stunning Court of the Patriarchs, complete with its three peaks named Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This was our youngest daughter’s first-ever trail ride, and she smiled the entire time.
We spent a day at Bryce Canyon National Park, descending into the beautiful Bryce Canyon Amphitheater on the Queen’s Garden trail. Our boots squished in the mud as we marveled at the towering red hoodoos around every corner, including one named Queen Victoria that is supposed to resemble a London statue of the monarch.
We made a stop in the town of Panguitch for barbecue and continued on to Capitol Reef National Park, arriving at Fruita Campground under a full moon illuminating the road. Capitol Reef, named for both a white Navajo Sandstone dome that resembles the U.S. Capitol and a long ridge that served as a “reef-like” barrier for travelers, boasts striking rock formations and heirloom orchards planted by Mormon pioneers.
This park is less crowded and more low-key than the other Utah parks, which allowed us to unplug completely due to a lack of cellular service while we stayed there for two nights. We were able to reserve campsites in Zion and Capitol Reef about four months before our trip; however, spots in the last two parks on our list – Arches and Canyonlands – were already gone. Instead, we parked Hulk at a Bureau of Land Management campground outside of Moab called Ken’s Lake, where we stayed for two nights. This campsite was more bare-bones than our previous locations (you have to bring your own water), but it provided an authentic camping experience that felt like a real adventure.
We began our day at Arches National Park with a hike to the stunning Mesa Arch, which is especially popular at sunrise when the arch glows orange. Even late in the day, the keyhole view was amazing and made for a memorable picnic at Panorama Point before driving on to Canyonlands National Park’s Island in the Sky area. With limited time, we opted for a ranger-recommended hike on Mesa Arch Trail – an incredible experience that showcases the vastness of this 337,598-acre park, which is the largest of Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks.
For more information about visiting these stunning destinations and booking campervan rentals through Native Campervans, visit their website at nativecampervans.com or check out visitutah.com for additional resources on planning your own epic road trip through the American West.