Utah’s Mighty Five loop or Utah Scenic Byway 12?
Utah’s Mighty Five loop or Utah Scenic Byway 12? Both routes compared: length, driving time, best season, tolls and road limits, with our recommendation.
| Utah’s Mighty Five loop | Utah Scenic Byway 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Las Vegas → Las Vegas | Bryce Canyon National Park → Torrey |
| Suggested days | 8 | 3 |
| Distance | 1,498 km (931 mi) | 169 km (105 mi) |
| Driving | 16 h 37 min | 1 h 53 min |
| Stops | 11 | 6 |
| Best time to go | April–May and October | May and October |
| Tolls and vignettes | None expected | None expected |
| Good to know | Size limits for motorhomes: Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel, Zion NP (UT) (height 11 ft 4 in (3.5 m)). | – |
Our recommendation
Choose the Mighty Five loop if you have eight days: about 1,498 km from Las Vegas through Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands, returning past Monument Valley. The Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel has an 11 ft 4 in height limit for motorhomes, and Arches often needs timed-entry reservations in peak season. Pick Scenic Byway 12 if you have three days: about 169 km from Bryce Canyon over the narrow Hogback ridge and Boulder Mountain to Torrey and Capitol Reef. Both are hot in summer, so aim for spring or October, and fill up whenever you can.
