10 of the Best Towns Near Bryce Canyon National Park
These cities and towns near Bryce Canyon National Park get you close to the famous orange hoodoos and stunning sunsets at the popular Utah destination.
If you’re looking for the closest town to Bryce Canyon for your next trip to the Utah national park, this list will help you narrow down your options. It has all the best places to stay near Bryce Canyon National Park for hiking, hoodoos and sunrise colors.
Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its orange rock stacks and unique formations that fill a big basin. At the park, you can hop between lookouts, walk along a rim trail, or trek down into the canyon to get up close to the hoodoos.
After a few Utah national park road trips, I’ve compiled this list of where to stay when visiting Bryce Canyon that includes both towns and very small cities near Bryce Canyon. On my last trip, I stayed in Tropic while I visited Bryce Canyon — read on to find out why!
Cities and Towns Near Bryce Canyon National Park
These towns near Bryce Canyon have the closest hotels, cabins, and campgrounds to the national park. You can click to open and save the Google map below that shows where each one is located in proximity to the park.
Bryce Canyon National Park Campgrounds and Lodge
Bryce Canyon has just one hotel and two campgrounds within the national park, but if you can secure a reservation, you’ll wake up steps from the scenic overlooks.
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon has rooms, suites and cabins near Sunrise and Sunset viewpoints, plus a seasonal restaurant and general store.
The North Campground near the visitor center and Sunset Campground near Sunset Point both have tent and RV sites but limited amenities with no sewer, water or electric hook-ups and no showers.
Bryce Canyon City
Bryce Canyon City, or just Bryce on some maps, encompasses the hotels right next to the national park and is the closest town to Bryce Canyon. Staying in Bryce Canyon City provides the quickest and easiest transit to the national park. Accommodations here do tend to be pricier than in towns a few miles outside the park, though.
A little commercial district near the park entrance has a couple of restaurants, shops, a general store and gas station. The park-and-ride lot and shuttle pickup for the national park are within walking distance from most hotels, so it’s a convenient place to stay near Bryce Canyon.
Where to Stay in Bryce Canyon City
Tropic
Tropic is the next closest town near Bryce Canyon National Park, about 10 miles from the entrance. With a few small inns, bed-and-breakfasts and cabins to choose from, it’s pretty easy to find a budget hotel near Bryce Canyon in Tropic.
While the town is very small, there are a few restaurants and a grocery store along Main Street, so you’ll be able to pick up supplies if you’re road-tripping or camping.
This is where I stayed on my last trip to Utah, since the prices were lower a few minutes outside the park. I still found it really quick and easy to get to the entrance and park and ride.
Where to Stay in Tropic
Cannonville
Cannonville is one of the most convenient towns near Bryce Canyon National Park, just 15 miles from the entry. It’s also 7 miles from Kodachrome Basin State Park, where you can hike amongst towering red rock formations.
There are just a handful of places to stay here and even fewer amenities, but the larger town of Tropic is just 5 miles up the road for restaurants.
Where to Stay in Cannonville
Panguitch
If you’re looking for the closest cities near Bryce Canyon, Panguitch is less than 30 minutes away from the national park. Less than 2,000 people live here, so it definitely has more of a small-town feel.
The old-timey Main Street district in Panguitch has a few places to eat and shop. The retro motels and small inns here tend to be more affordable than spots just outside the national park.
Where to Stay in Panguitch
Escalante
For small cities near Bryce Canyon, Escalante is worth a look. It’s nearly an hour east of the park, but it’s a great midway point if you’re driving in from Capitol Reef National Park or a base for exploring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
There’s a Main Street that runs through the center of town with a inns, shops, eateries and outdoor outfitters. A few popular sights nearby include Lower Calf Creek Falls, the slot canyons along Hole in the Rock Road, and Kodachrome Basin State Park.
Where to Stay in Escalante
Hatch
Hatch is one of the best towns near Bryce Canyon, located just 25 miles west of the national park and 50 miles from Zion. Amenities are limited, but you’ll find hotels and a couple of cafes along the highway, and ranches and retreats in the nearby countryside. You’ll really feel far from the crowds in this spot.
Where to Stay in Hatch
Glendale
The teeny town of Glendale is about 50 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park and 20 from the Zion National Park east entrance station, so it’s a great base if you’re looking for towns near Bryce Canyon and Zion. The hotel supply is pretty limited, though.
Where to Stay in Glendale
Orderville/Mount Carmel Junction
Orderville spans several miles of the U.S. Route 89 west of Bryce Canyon and includes small, unincorporated communities like Mount Carmel and Mount Carmel Junction. If you’re looking for towns near Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park, it’s one of the best central locations.
Accommodations and amenities are scarce and scattered, though. Orderville is about 55 miles from Bryce Canyon and less than 20 miles from the east entrance to Zion.
Where to Stay in Orderville
This is How to Plan a Zion and Bryce Canyon Trip
Kanab
While Kanab is about 75 miles from the national park, it’s a great base for exploring famous destinations in southern Utah and northern Arizona. The small town near Bryce is also centrally located to Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon North Rim, and Page and Lake Powell — all less than 80 miles away.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Buckskin Gulch slot canyon, the Toadstool Hoodoos, and tons of other adventures and hiking trails are even closer.
The town is set up for tourists, with restaurants, shops and an array of lodging near Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, including some national chains, small hotels, and local inns and hostels.
Where to Stay in Kanab
