Zion and Arches are both iconic Utah parks, but they suit different trips — pick Zion for serious canyon hiking and pick Arches for accessible, iconic scenery with less planning.
Yosemite and Zion are a full day’s drive apart and very different in character — pick Yosemite for iconic granite landmarks, family-friendly access, and first-park variety, or Zion for dramatic canyon adventure and slot-canyon hikes you cannot find anywhere else.
Grand Canyon and Zion sit about 160 miles apart — a natural Southwest pairing. Plan 3 days at Grand Canyon for the scale and geology and 2-3 days at Zion for the trails; if you only have time for one, this guide breaks down the call.
Zion and Bryce Canyon sit just 1.5 hours apart on Utah’s classic road trip circuit — the honest answer is to see both. If time forces a single choice, pick Zion for canyon hiking and monumental scale, or Bryce Canyon for otherworldly hoodoos and cooler summer temperatures.